Editor’s Note: As the holidays approach and 2025 winds down, book lovers everywhere are looking back on their favorite stories of the year. Recently, Woman’s World caught up with New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey—who has penned beloved novels like The Peach Tree Bluff series, The Summer of Songbirds, A Happier Life and more—to discuss our top reads of the year. During our chat, we noticed a common thread: So many of 2025’s standout books were written by women and centered on unforgettable FMCs (female main characters). So this year, instead of listing our editors’ top picks, we asked Woodson Harvey to share her favorite books of 2025—and she delivered!
“This year was full of great reads and wonderful book events—and I feel like there was a resurgence of enthusiasm for reading as well,” she tells Woman’s World. “It was nearly impossible for me to narrow down my favorite books—that proves it was a fantastic year for reading! So many of my favorite books this year featured strong, unforgettable FMCs. So I decided to pick my seven favorite female-centric escapes of 2025. I hope readers can lose themselves in these sweeping stories during this busy time of year.”
Keep scrolling to discover Harvey’s favorite books of 2025—in no particular order—from bestselling authors like Elin Hilderbrand, Dolen Perkins Valdez and more.
From freshly fallen snow to steaming cups of hot chocolate, roaring fires and decadent holiday sweet treats, we can’t think of a cozier time of year than winter. And what better way to spend the coldest months of the year than curled up on your couch with an immersive page-turning tale set in the past? […]
One Golden Summer is the story of photographer Alice, who returns to Barry’s Bay for the first time since a transformative summer at 17, hoping to recapture some of that old magic with her beloved grandmother, Nan. But her quiet plans are upended by the reappearance of Charlie Florek—the once-carefree boy from a yellow speedboat, now an irresistible man who sees straight through her. As old memories resurface and sparks fly, Alice is forced to confront the past—and the possibility of a future she never saw coming. This delicious and much-anticipated return to Barry’s Bay absolutely did not disappoint. [Editor’s Note: We also adored this book—and featured an exclusive excerpt before its release—and we suggest reading its prequel, Fortune’s debut, Every Summer After, too!]
This book features a transportive Italian setting, intricately drawn characters and historical details brilliantly interwoven. At once a gripping page-turner and a poignantly rendered study on love, female friendship and family connection, The Unraveling of Julia is a pulse-pounding, propulsive novel that fans of psychological thrillers absolutely shouldn’t miss. I couldn’t put this one down!
Meagan Church’s novel introduces Lulu, a 1950s housewife who appears to be grappling with what would have been called “hysteria” then. Church immerses us in the culture of the day—right down to the gelatinous salads—in a novel with big twists and a somewhat unreliable narrator that will leave readers questioning what they think they know to be true, both in the story and in their own lives. I flew through this one!
This novel is a deeply fascinating story of a woman who goes home to help her ailing grandmother, hoping to solve the mystery of her estrangement from her mother. Instead, she learns that her great-great-great-grandmother was once queen of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a community of freed people in North Carolina—and discovers that it might just be up to her to save her family’s legacy. As a North Carolinian, I loved learning about this little-known piece of my state’s history wrapped inside an unputdownable family saga.
This tale will sweep you away to the Lake District of England as you solve a decades-old literary mystery right alongside the delightful Clara and her plucky daughter Winnie. A historical novel brimming with heart, the read delivers Callahan Henry’s luscious prose with a dose of the sense of magic she lends to all her work!
Dazzling details about the past, long-buried secrets, sweeping dual timelines, intricate puzzles separated by decades…there’s something irresistible about getting lost in historical mystery books. This subgenre of historical fiction blends the intrigue of bygone eras with the fast-paced suspense of a whodunit—and in recent years, it’s one of the more popular literary genres. And when […]
I loved this book! It’s a breathtaking tale of an octogenarian jewel thief that I did not want to end—with twists and turns I never saw coming! It is the perfect, all-the-feels novel to lose yourself in that combines little-known World War II history with a charming present-day storyline. History comes to life in Harmel’s skilled hands, and readers will find themselves rooting for Colette’s happy ending.
The Academy marks the return of the boarding school novel! The book follows Tiffin Academy students and staff over a school year filled with romance, friendship woes and a new app that is outing everyone’s secrets. And we’re not just talking about the students here. Surprises come to light that will change every single character’s life—and the story draws to a thrilling conclusion that has me clamoring for book two!
Final editor’s note: Looking ahead to 2026—new novels and anticipated reads!
In addition to looking back at the best reads of the previous year, December is also a time to look forward to new books releasing in the next 12 months. As we ready our own list, Woodson Harvey says she’s looking forward to 2026 because she has a new book releasing this spring. “I’m really, really looking forward to Summer State of Mind (out May 5) releasing next year,” she says.
When we asked Harvey what’s on her 2026 Most Anticipated list, she said her list is growing every day! Books on her TBR list include Nicola Harrison’s Island Club, Kristin Harmel’s Meet Me In Paris, Royal Spin by Omid Scobie and Robin Benway, Francesca Cocchi’s Have a Great Summer, Stephanie Burns’s debut, Far From The A-List, and Susan Zurenda’s No Way Out But Through. “And I can’t wait to get my hands on Mary Kay Andrews’s Road Trip! All that to say, it’s going to be an excellent year for reading.”
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