In Episode 213, Sarah and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) wrap up the year with the Best Books of 2025 Genre Awards. They reveal their Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction) and a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, they share the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah's Bookshelves Live Member Community.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Announcements

The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)!

Highlights

Podcast reflections from 2025 — including top episodes based on download stats.
A brief overview of Sarah's and Chrissie's 2025 year in reading.
Their favorite books of the year: overall and by genre, including the SBL Member Community's picks.

2025 Genre Awards [12:39]

Sarah

The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:45]
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:32]
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:13]
One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:48]
The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:47]
August Lane by Regina Black (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:03]
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:54]
Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:36]
This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:00]
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:59]
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:44]
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:29]
Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:10]
The Elements by John Boyne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:10]

Chrissie

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:42]
Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36]
Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland, 3) by Anthony Horowitz (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [21:39]
The Pretender by Jo Harkin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:51]
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:28]
To Clutch a Razor (Curse Bearer, 2) by Veronica Roth (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:39]
The Love Haters by Katherine Center (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:03]
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31]
The Zorg by Siddarth Kara (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:11]
Misbehaving at the Crossroads by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:09]
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38]
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:11]
Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:16]
Future Boy by Michael J. Fox (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:23]
Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:06:07]

SBL Member Community

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:43]
The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:02]
Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) |