Mid-Year Book Wrap-Up: Books I've Read in 2025 (So Far)
Updated: Jul 18, 2025
7/15/2025
We’re halfway through 2025, and I’ve read 35 books as of the end of June! These books came to me through all kinds of media: physical copies, audiobooks, and e-books.
At the start of the year, I made a New Year’s Resolution: read at least one chapter a day. Reading was an integral part of my life until college, and then, somewhere between textbooks and late-night study sessions, my love for reading for pleasure fizzled out. This resolution has brought it back to life, and it’s been incredibly rewarding so far.
At the moment, my book picks are mostly guided by my curiosity and suggestions from friends. My picks have bounced from history and chemistry, religion, writing advice, and finally, some much-needed fiction. Lately, I’ve been craving more novels to balance things out — sometimes, my brain needs a break from absorbing so many facts!
Below is my list so far, complete with the media of choice, any DNFs (Did Not Finish), and a quick note on why I didn’t finish a book. (I didn't include blurbs for every book because I want to treat my first book update as a list rather than a review.)
What I’ve Read So Far
January
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer — Physical book
The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum — Physical book
Radium Girls by Kate Moore — Audiobook
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham— Physical book
February
The Bait of Satan by John Bevere — Audiobook
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson — Audiobook
The Right Side of History by Ben Shapiro — Audiobook
Half Lives by Lucy Jane Santos — Physical book
Chain Reactions by Lucy Jane Santos — Physical book
The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum — Physical book
March
The Awe of God by John Bevere— Audiobook
Material World by Ed Conway — Physical book
Intro to Design Thinking by Uijan Park — Physical book
The Age of Radiance by Craig Nelson — Audiobook
DNF - By this point, I was becoming burnt out on chemistry topics and the Manhattan Project. I listened to about 50% of the audiobook and moved on.
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel— Physical book
April
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan— Physical book
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman— Physical book
The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser — Physical book
May
The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora, MD — Physical book
On Writing by Stephen King — Physical book
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean — Physical book
June
Public Speaking as Storytelling by Renna Nightingale — Physical book
Demons: What the Bible Really Says About the Powers of Darkness by Michael S. Heiser — Physical book
DNF - I couldn’t focus when I started reading this one. I skimmed portions of it and ended up returning it to the library a week after I checked it out.
The League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin — Physical book
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup — Physical book
Cults: The Truth Behind the World’s Most Notorious Cults by Nigel Cawthorne — Physical book
100 Novels That Changed the World by Colin Salter — Physical book
DNF - I read about the novels I had read and skipped the ones I had not read. I also picked it up to see if it inspired new book recommendations. I had no intention of reading the book from start to finish.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell — Audiobook
Write Like Hemingway by R. Andrew Wilson — Physical book
DNF - I picked this up for the same reasons I picked up On Writing. I was hoping for inspiration, but I found the content to be dry. I noted the main points and moved on.
Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners by Ben Hubbard — Physical book
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman — E-book
Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson — E-book
July (so far)
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Physical book
The Shining by Stephen King — Physical book
Carrie by Stephen King — E-book
Top 3 Books So Far
(Not ranked, but the ones that stuck with me the most!)
On Writing by Stephen King — As a budding writer, I found this book to be funny, relatable, and genuinely helpful. I wish I’d picked it up sooner! This was my first taste of Stephen King’s work, and now I think I’m hooked.
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan — Eye-opening and hauntingly fascinating. I love reading true stories about women, and I had no idea about the hidden history of the women behind the Manhattan Project. The writing is phenomenal, and the stories stayed with me long after I closed the book.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman— So much fun and binge-worthy! It’s hilarious, weird, and gave me a level of escapism that my previous book choices lacked. I can’t wait to keep going with the series and see how it all ends!
Closing Thoughts
My goal for 2025 is to read 70 books, and I think I’m on track — halfway there already! Right now, I’m reading the second book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman, Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, Emotional Victory by Deb Molder, and re-reading Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M.M. Blume.
I hope this post inspires you to open that book on your nightstand, check out something new at the library, or take a trip to your local bookstore.
Happy reading!
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