Bookish Brewing

As the year slowly turns its last page, I find myself thinking about the things that truly made this year meaningful. Travel gave me memories. Conversations brought clarity. And books continued to be the quiet companions that walked beside me through every season.

I have always been the kind of reader who chooses books by instinct. I do not follow reading trends very strictly. Instead, I pick what feels right for the moment. Sometimes it is a book written years ago. Sometimes it carries a strong sense of history. Sometimes it is a new release reflecting the world we are living in now. My shelves are always a mix, and that mix is exactly what shaped my reading this year.

There is something magical about finishing a book and realizing it has quietly taken root inside you. These ten reads did exactly that. They challenged my assumptions, softened my edges, and showed me parts of life I had not paid attention to before. More than entertainment, they felt like conversations that linger quietly in my thoughts.

Here are the ten books that shaped my reading year and why they mattered to me.

1. Legacy — Uche Blackstock, MD

This memoir is powerful in a grounded way. It is not loud, yet it hits deep. Blackstock writes about medicine, race, history, and family with honesty that feels brave. I read slowly, wanting to absorb every idea. It reminded me how deeply systems shape lives and how speaking up can become an act of healing.

2. Mother Mary Comes To Me — Arundhati Roy

Roy’s writing feels like a quiet storm. This book blends reflection, faith, politics, and ordinary lives caught in complicated worlds. It made me pause, reread, and sit with emotions instead of rushing past them.

3. Dark Matter — Blake Crouch

Fast, thrilling, and emotional at its core. It asks a simple question: who might we have become if life had gone differently? I kept thinking about choices, regrets, and what “home” truly means.

4. They Both Die at the End — Adam Silvera

Even knowing the ending did not prepare me. This story is a reminder that time is limited, yet presence is powerful. By the end, I wanted to tell people I love that they matter.

5. November 9 — Colleen Hoover

Messy feelings, complicated love, and characters shaped by old wounds. It shows how we sometimes rewrite our pain to survive it. This one stayed with me longer than I expected.

6. Finding My Way — Malala Yousafzai

Calm, thoughtful, and deeply hopeful. This book shows courage not as noise, but as persistence. It reminded me that every voice matters, especially when it stands for education and dignity.

7. Before the Coffee Gets Cold — Toshikazu Kawaguchi

A simple café, a chance to go back in time, and a cup of coffee that must not get cold. Instead of changing the future, the characters learn to understand the past. Gentle, emotional, unforgettable.

8. Memoirs and Misinformation — Jim Carrey and Dana Vachon

Strange, funny, philosophical, and slightly unsettling. It blurs truth and fiction in a way that makes you question what identity even means. I enjoyed its boldness.

9. Ghost-Eye — Amitav Ghosh

Haunting and atmospheric. Ghosh blends myth, memory, and climate fears into a story that feels both ancient and contemporary. It made me reflect on responsibility and history.

10. Code to Zero — Ken Follett

A gripping thriller to end the year with. A man wakes with no memory, and the truth becomes more dangerous with every step. Smart pacing and addictive tension.

Why These Books Felt Special

These books arrived when I needed comfort, challenge, or quiet reflection. Some mirrored my thoughts. Some surprised me. A few arrived like unexpected teachers.

If you are curious about quotes, themes, and personal takeaways, I would love for you to read along as those posts go live.

Reading is never just about finishing pages. It is about the version of ourselves that each story gently shapes. If even one book from this list brings you clarity, comfort, or courage, then sharing this list was worth it.

Here we are, closing the final chapter of 2025.
Cheers to 2026 — to new stories, new ideas, and many more books yet to come.