20 Books, One Year: My 2025 Reading Recap
2025 was a year of grace. Cozy, slow, and a little selfish in the best way. And unexpectedly rooted in community.
Reading followed that same rhythm.
To be transparent, I set a goal to read 25 books in 2025, and I did not reach it. I experienced reading burnout (yes, that is a thing, and yes, one specific book is absolutely to blame). There were weeks where I barely touched a book at all. Eventually, I remembered something important: reading is not a race. It is something you return to when you are ready.
What made the biggest difference this year was community reading. Sharing books, thoughts, and moments through The Griot’s Cellar, which I unofficially and officially launched last December, reminded me why I love reading in the first place. Not just for the stories, but for the conversations they spark.
A good book and a bean bag.
The 5 Books That Stayed With Me
These are the books I still think about. They made me laugh, lingered with me, challenged me, or gave me just what I needed at the time.
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
Why I picked it up: This book was part of a book exchange I hosted through the Griot’s Cellar. Peace, one of the bookclub members, spoke so highly of it and emphasized how quick yet impactful it was.
What it gave me: Optimism! It was a good reminder that there are different ways to approach life and its constant changes.
How did I experience this book: A physical copy that I finished in about an hour.
Did this book change the way I think or feel about something: Yes. While this was a quick read, it highlighted the importance of adaptability. It reminded me that change is inevitable, and that how we respond to it often matters more than the change itself. A timely reminder especially at this stage in my life.
Who I’d recommend it to: Everyone! This is a must-read at different stages of life. It’s short and impactful. This will absolutely be my go-to Christmas gift for family members and close friends in the years to come.
Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
Why I picked it up: This was a bookclub read from Read and Wine about It a seattle-based bookclub. Though I have not attended one of their meetings in person yet, I always make sure to add the books they are reading to my TBR. Their book picks always align with the kinds of stories I enjoy, so I’m excited to see what they read in 2026.
What it gave me: Perspective. I appreciated how this book explored the impact of environment, access and circumstance. Sarai Johnson did an incredible job narrating how these different factors shape people over time and influence who they become based on what they have access to. A detail I found refreshing (minor spoiler) was to read about a wealthy Black character, a perspective we do not always see centered in fiction.
How did I experience this book: I read this book as a digital book on my laptop.
Did this book change the way I think or feel about something: Yes. It reinforced how access (or lack of it) influences decision-making and personal growth. It reminded me that people's paths aren't just about personal choice, but also about the options that are realistically available to them.
Who I’d recommend it to: Readers interested in womanhood and the long-term effects of circumstances.
Petit Pays - Gael Faye
Why I picked it up: I try to read at least three books in French each year to ensure I maintain my vocabulary. This book was trending on French Tiktok, so I asked Eli to grab me a copy while he was in France.
What it gave me: Laughter, chills, and sadness… within just a few pages of each other.
How did I experience this book: A physical copy, picked up by Eli (thank you, sir) from Decitre, a French bookstore. Reading it in French added an extra layer to the experience.
Did this book change the way I think or feel about something: Yes. It offered an intimate and personal perspective on history. I recently traveled to Rwanda and learned a lot about its past through real, intimate conversations with people who experienced it, as well as through museums. Petit Pays expanded my understanding even further as I did not realize how deeply the genocide impacted Burundi, its neighboring country. Reading about it through fiction helped connect those historical bits in a digestible way.
It was also refreshing to encounter French vocabulary I had not used (or ever heard) in years. This book is beautifully written!
Who I’d recommend it to: Anyone interested in learning more about the impact of a genocide from a perspective that feels personal rather than historical.
Maame by Jessica George
Why I picked it up: Deb recommended this book a while back, and I know I can always trust her book recommendations. Maame had been sitting on my TBR list for too long, and it finally felt like the right time to move it from “to be read” to “currently reading”.
What it gave me: Relatability! Maame felt like my fictive cousin. We have so much in common: Ghanaian, born and raised in Europe. Her curiosity, shyness, obedience and quick emotional growth all felt really familiar.
How did I experience this book: A physical copy, read before bed.
Did this book change the way I think or feel about something: Absolutely!! This book has a lot of different layers, but ultimately, it made me reflect on how I might approach raising daughters, especially around identity, independence and protection. Our Ghanaian mothers protect us fiercely, but that protection does not always set us up for success in every area of life.
Who I’d recommend it to:Anyone navigating identity, family expectations, and self-definition. Also anyone interested in exploring the layered experiences of African daughters raised in Europe.
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku
Why I picked it up: This book had been sitting on my TBR for a while. I loved the author after reading “All the Men in Lagos Are Mad” a couple years ago, and Goodreads kept pushing it to the top of my feed. I took this as a sign to read it. It was time, lol.
Also, the title and the cover made me excited and curious about what I was about to read. Sometimes you should definitely judge a book by its cover.
What it gave me: Laughter. Laughter. And more laughter. Every chapter felt unpredictable in the best way.
How did I experience this book: A physical copy, read in small doses because I kept pausing to process what I had just read or pausing mid-page to laugh.
Did this book change the way I think or feel about something: Not really, and that’s why I loved it so much. I’ve always known our parents were unhinged and had pasts just as wild as ours. Damilare only confirmed it, loudly and unapologetically.
What’s even more fascinating is her ability to capture gossip from different perspectives and tie it all together. That kind of storytelling requires a person well connected and fully immersed in other people’s stories… This level of insight does not come from imagination alone or from minding your own business. Teach me your ways, Damilare!
Who I’d recommend it to: Anyone who loves good gossip and good storytelling. Be ready to have your jaw on the ground.
Everything Else I Read in 2025
The books below are listed in the order I read them, along with my personal ratings out of five stars. This list includes fiction, nonfiction, classics and contemporary reads that shaped my 2025 reading year.
Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo (Memoir) ⭐️ (1/5)
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
La greve des battu by Aminata Sow Fall (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeze Emezi (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️ (2/5)
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Classic) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) This is the book that caused my reading burnout!!
Little Rot by Akwaeze Emezi (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Loving you Always by Kennedy Ryan (Romance) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
When you Are Mine by Kennedy Ryan (Romance) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
The Mom Test: How to talk to customers by Rob Fitzpatrick (Business / Product) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Be Mine Forever by Kennedy Ryan (Romance) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Grown Women by Sarai Johnson (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
The Heaven and Grocery Store by James McBride (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️ 2/5
Petit Pays by Gael Faye (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson (Nonfiction) 5/5
Maame by Jessica George (Fiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Philosophy) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (Nonfiction) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
My Goodreads 2025 Reading Challenge badge
What I’m Reading in 2026
First book of 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, I’m feeling curious again, and ready to expand beyond usual reading routine. I want my reading to support learning and growth, while still leaving room for what I enjoy most, fiction. I’m especially interested in exploring the following themes:
Health
Motherhood 👀 and family systems
Ancient Africa and precolonial history
Tech & product management, with a focus on leadership management
Food and wine, as culture and craft 9your girl is going for WSET levl 3)
Literary classics
I’ll share specific titles and reading updates on Instagram, TikTok and Substack as the year unfolds.
This was my 2025 recap! I’m excited to know what everyone is reading right now, or which book you find yourself recommending over and over again.
More book conversations, curated reads, and community-centered gatherings are coming soon. Until then, let’s keep the conversation going on Instagram and Substack 💬