Book Talk Etc. – "Best Books of 2025!"

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) & Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)

Episode Overview

In this celebratory episode, Tina and Hannah reflect on their reading year and unveil their top books of 2025. Sharing honest insights, reading superlatives, and favorite creators, the duo looks forward to renewed reading intentions and exciting changes for the podcast in 2026. Whether you’re seeking standout backlist gems, buzzy new releases, or hidden genre favorites, this episode overflows with authentic recommendations and bookish candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reading Year Reflections

• Both hosts express the unique challenges and triumphs of their 2025 reading experiences.
  • Tina completed 161 books, well above her target, while grappling with the urge to "chain smoke books" and wanting deeper reads (02:40, 27:34).
  • Hannah describes her year as "hazy" and seeks to recapture intentional, personally driven reading:
    “My reading life in 2025, if I were to give one adjective to describe it, would just be hazy.” (20:41)
• Both discuss the pressures and quirks of reading while making bookish content and vow to prioritize genuine passion reads over algorithm-driven picks.

2. Creators & Entertainment—“Loving Lately”

• Tina’s picks:
  • Me Snarky (pop culture, witty, ethical true-crime-adjacent storytelling) (05:07)
  • Cult of Megs (YouTube series on Judy Garland and pop history) (07:05)
  • Tina values “straight up entertainment that I’m not also being productive with” (07:04).
• Hannah’s pick:
  • Pinch of Yum (website/Instagram for flavorful, accessible recipes; top rec: burger bowls with ranch fries) (11:40)
• Both appreciate entertainment that scratches an itch for storytelling and learning.

3. Joint Latest Read: "Best Offer Wins" by Marissa Cascino (13:00)

• Set in competitive Washington, D.C. housing market; Margot Miyake goes to extreme lengths to win her dream home.
• Tina: Loved the blend of “dark, biting, and laugh out loud funny”; appreciated the flawed, unhinged protagonist and “massive secondhand embarrassment.” (14:53)
  • “I get so embarrassed for characters because I’m like, you are absolutely not going to get away with this.” (16:16)
• Hannah: Enjoyed the journey, but expectations of a reveal altered her satisfaction with the ending; acknowledges reading buzz impacts experience.
• Both agree it’s ripe for discussion, especially character development and nuance.

4. Reading Life & Podcast Philosophies (22:00)

• Hosts affirm their commitment to authenticity: reading what excites them, not just the buzzy new releases.
• Tina:
  “The best way is we just read what’s calling to us as individuals... the people will hear that excitement, they’ll hear that authenticity.” (22:01)
• Hannah:
  “Don’t read to create content. Create content around your reading.” (23:41)
• Announce 2026 format plans: inclusion of “Bookstore Browse” episodes with independent booksellers, more variety, and support for indie stores (25:15).

5. Superlatives of 2025 (31:23)

- Favorite Cover

• Tina: The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (“nostalgic, 90s magazine vibes”) (31:23)
• Hannah: Hot Air by Marcy Durmanski (“inflated, bubbly hot air balloon aesthetic”) (32:28)

- Best Debut

• Tina: Julie Chan is Dead by Leon Zhang (“unhinged, are-you-serious energy”) (33:46)
• Hannah: Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (unique, dark child-narrated mystery) (34:47)

- Biggest Disappointment

• Tina: The Tenant by Frida McFadden (“an insult to mystery readers”) (36:33)
• Hannah: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (audio was good, but book didn’t connect; teasing another secret disappointment to be revealed later) (37:31)

- Best Title

• Tina: A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar (“so clever; not as straightforward as you think”) (38:30)
• Hannah: The True, True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine (“funny, inventive, reveals character relationships”) (39:50)

- Best Audio Experience

• Tina: The Favorites by Lane Fargo (multi-narrator, oral history, Johnny Weir steals the show) (41:58)
• Hannah: Heartwood by Amity Gage (mixed media, interview format, “better to be experienced on audio”) (42:27)

- Biggest Surprise

• Tina: Katabasis (“thought I’d like, ended up loving; hype is worth it”) (43:20)
• Hannah: A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig (Scottish folklore-based, “hard to put down, memorable”)(43:49)

Top 10 Books of 2025 (Ranked Countdowns)

Each host presents their list in reverse order, with insights and memorable moments.
[Timestamps: 46:04–84:44]

Tina’s Top 10

1. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (epic Western, “reminded me why I love to read,” Augustus McCrae is an all-time favorite character) (80:48)
2. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (climate fiction, “apocalyptic but comforting,” top community book club pick) (74:10)
3. Dominion by Addie Kitchens (dark, witty family drama, “narrative voice is everything”) (71:38)
4. Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall (historical fiction with a love triangle, “messy, flawed, human”) (66:35)
5. What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (literary suspense, surprising elements, “edge of my seat”) (61:59)
6. One Yellow Eye by Lee Radford (grief horror/zombie, “made me sob, beautiful cover”) (54:23)
7. Bad Eater and Other Names for Cora Zhang by Kylie Lee Baker (horror with social commentary, “made me cry, high tension”) (57:45)
8. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (re-read for nostalgia and anticipation of new release, “never ages”) (50:47)
9. The Favorites by Lane Fargo (Olympics-set, “flawed, dramatic relationships”) (49:03)
10. Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher (historical, under-the-radar, “taught me things, moved me”) (46:04)

Hannah’s Top 10

1. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (historical fiction, “one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read; books of my life”) (81:57)
2. The Night and the Moth by Rachel Gillig (“romantasy,” talking gargoyles, “reminded me why I love to read”) (76:23)
3. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (“fall in love with unlikable characters, found family, emotional wisdom”) (73:26)
4. The Names by Florence Knapp (sliding doors/domestic abuse, “accessible yet literary and profound”) (68:13)
5. The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (haunted house horror, “memorable, scene-driven”) (63:53)
6. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (middle grade, WWII, “found family, worth reading at any age”) (61:28)
7. Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash (dark literary mystery, queer characters, “weekly think-piece for me”) (56:08)
8. Sandwich by Katherine Newman (family story, “reflective, generous, memorable”) (52:40)
9. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (“charming, memorable—kids catch fire!”) (49:20)
10. Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (literary fiction, “emotional, intersection of race and class”) (47:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On letting go of pressure:
  “I want us personally to have a really solid, good reading experience. And then, you know, the show and the content will follow.” –Tina (23:41)

• On content creation:
  “Don’t read to create content. Create content around your reading.” –Hannah (23:52)

• On favorite unexpected reads:
  “It’s Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. ...Am I a cowboy now? Do I need to go outside more?” –Tina (80:48)

• On crying while reading:
  “May maybe one or two books actually make me cry real tears every year, and this was one of them.” –Hannah, on Wild Dark Shore (75:44)

• On book covers:
  “Is it the patterns? ...It looks like the cover of a 90s magazine.” –Tina and Hannah, on The Wilderness cover (31:40–32:08)

• On unflinching honesty:
  “It was silly and an insult to mystery readers!” –Tina, on The Tenant (36:33)

• On annotation:
  “There’s nothing I like to see more than an annotated book, tip to tail.” –Tina, admiring Hannah’s copy of My Friends (73:54)

Announcements & What’s Next

• 2026 will see new episode formats, including monthly “Bookstore Browse” features with independent booksellers. (25:15)
• Both hosts will continue topic episodes, “Books on the Radar”, and “Easily Distracted by New Releases.”
• Read with BTE StoryGraph Challenge returns for 2026, encouraging listeners to shake up their reading adventures. (30:33)

Other Highlights

• Each host has distinct genre sensibilities—Tina separates mysteries/thrillers into their own list; Hannah often does the same for romance.
• The podcast community (listeners, Discord, patrons) heavily influences choices and reading experiences mentioned throughout.
• Both hosts highlight how personal context, expectations, and reading moods shape their enjoyment and reactions.

Closing Notes

The episode closes with both hosts sharing their "current reads":

• Tina: The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (dark, emotional thriller; recommended by Ashley Audrain) (85:13)
• Hannah: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (historical horror; “emotionally resonant horror book”) (86:45)

“Everything’s better with books.” –Book Talk Etc. mantra

For Further Reference

• Full lists of books mentioned will be available via show notes and linked storefronts.
• Connect with Tina and Hannah on Instagram and YouTube @booktoketc, or individually @tbretc and @handpickedbooks.