Books I’ve Loved Lately: A Cozy Fall & Winter Reading List
Before the year winds down, I wanted to share the books I’ve been reading lately - the stories that carried me through fall and into these cozy early-winter weeks. I’ve done a couple of roundups already this year (spring break reads and summer book recs), but these are the books I’ve loved most since then.
From compulsively readable thrillers to beautifully written literary fiction to a couple of books that might end up as all-time favorites (looking at you, The Correspondent and Sandwich), this little stack brought me so much joy. If you’re curling up indoors more these days or need a few last-minute additions to your winter reading list (or gift list!), I hope these feel like the perfect companions.
As always I’m linking to Amazon and bookshop.org today. The first is a wealth of reviews and commentary and the later is a great way to support independent booksellers. Of course most or all of these books can be found for free at your local library, either in paper or audio format (the Libby App is great!).
Sixteen of my favorite reads from 2025
Spectacular Things, Beck Dorey-Stein
A sweeping sister story set in small-town Maine, this novel follows Mia and Cricket as they grow up, chase big soccer dreams, and reckon with the weight of family history and loyalty. It’s tender, ambitious, and full of the kind of emotional tension that sneaks up on you. A beautiful read about love, sacrifice, and the bonds that shape us.
(amazon, bookshop.org)
The Correspondent, Virginia Evans
My favorite read of the season! Sybil Van Antwerp has spent her life writing letters to friends, to authors, and to one person she’s never dared send a message to. When unexpected letters from her past arrive, she’s forced to revisit an old wound and finally confront what forgiveness might look like. A tender, wise novel about aging, connection, and the quiet ways we make sense of a life.
Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy
Set on a remote, storm-battered island near Antarctica, this novel follows the Salt family. When Rowan washes ashore during a brutal storm secrets surface - sabotaged radios, hidden pasts, and a grave no one will explain. The story becomes a haunting blend of survival, longing, and trust. This one is beautifully written.
All That Life Can Afford, Emily Everett
Anna arrives in London hoping to reinvent herself, only to tumble into the intoxicating world of a wealthy family who open doors she never imagined - and complicate everything she thought she wanted. A smart, addictive story about class, ambition, and choosing who you want to become.
Sandwich, Catherine Newman
Set over one week on Cape Cod, this novel follows Rocky as she navigates aging parents, almost-grown kids, and her own messy, hilarious, heart-tugging midlife shifts. Newman captures family chaos and tenderness with such specificity that you’ll laugh one minute and tear up the next. One of my absolute favorites from this list - it’s so human and so beautifully done.
Pictures of You, Emma Grey
After a tragic accident leaves Evie Hudson unable to remember her late husband, the only person who can help her rebuild the pieces is her high-school best friend - and maybe her truest love. As memories return in flickers, Evie begins to question the life she built and the one she actually wanted. A tender, character-rich story about grief, second chances, and choosing yourself.
These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean
When Alice Storm returns to her family’s Rhode Island island estate for the first time in years, she’s pulled into her late father’s high-stakes inheritance game - one week, one sprawling mansion full of secrets, and one too-handsome second-in-command watching her every move. Old wounds, buried truths, and new sparks collide as the Storm siblings unravel what their father left behind. This one is juicy and mysterious and filled with a swoons reliance. Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook!
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
Part memoir, part meditation, this slim book explores how running shapes famed-author, Haruki Murakami’s, writing life and inner world. It’s thoughtful, honest, and full of the kind of quiet insights that make you want to lace up your shoes - or sit down to create.
Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid does what she always does best: creates emotionally rich characters you immediately care about. Set against NASA’s 1980s shuttle program, Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a brilliant physics professor who is selected as one of the first women to train as an astronaut. As Joan works through training, she falls in love with a fellow female cadet. The two hide the relationship as both compete to get a spot on the upcoming space shuttle. This one is sweeping, emotional, and completely addicting!
The 5AM Club, Robin Sharma
Part fable, part motivational guide, this book makes a strong case for reclaiming your mornings and using that early time to reset your mindset, focus, and creativity. It’s bold and a little dramatic at times, but the core message - quiet mornings can change everything - really resonates. A great pick if you’re craving structure or a fresh start in the new year!
The Compound, Aisling Rawle
Lily wakes up inside a high-stakes reality show set in the desert, where twenty contestants compete for survival, luxury rewards, and maybe escape from a world outside that's crumbling. As the producers push the group into increasingly dangerous situations, the line between strategy, desire, and desperation blurs fast. Dark, addictive, and disturbingly plausible, I tore through this one!
(amazon, indiebound)
The Last Mapmaker, Christina Soontornvat
Technically a young adult novel, we listened to this one with our kids on the way to Thanksgiving (we all liked it!). It’s a beautifully-imagined fantasy and coming-of-age tale about a young apprentice mapmaker who joins a dangerous expedition into the unknown. This one is full of secrets, identity questions, and shifting loyalties.
Gospel According to Coco Chanel, Karen Karbo
A witty blend of biography and life advice, this little book pulls lessons from Coco Chanel’s bold, unconventional approach to style, work, and womanhood. It’s light, charming, and surprisingly grounding - perfect when you want inspiration with a French twist.
Isola, Allegra Goodman
Inspired by a true 16th-century story, this novel follows Marguerite, a young woman abandoned on a remote island after a brutal betrayal. Once a sheltered heiress, she’s suddenly forced to fight for survival and reckon with the strength she never knew she had. Moody, gripping, and beautifully written - a perfect winter read.
August Lane, Regina Black
This one’s been all over the ‘top books of the year’ lists. A washed-up country singer gets offered the shot he’s been waiting for but with a catch. He has to return to the hometown he swore off write a song with the high-school girlfriend he abandoned a decade ago. Old wounds clash with undeniable chemistry, and both must decide whether to cling to the past or risk something new. Warning, this one is a bit spicy but the writing and characters are so good!
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, Kristin Harmel
A jewel thief with a code of honor, Colette has spent decades outrunning the trauma of WWII until a missing diamond bracelet connected to her family’s past resurfaces in a Boston museum. As she begins tracing its path, long-buried secrets about her mother, her sister, and a devastating night in 1942 come to light. A sweeping, emotional story about justice, memory, and the courage it takes to face the truth.
(amazon, bookshop.org)
Have you read anything great lately? Drop your favorites in the comments - I’m already building my 2026 list.
❤️ Happy reading!
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