This year, I read 52 books.

The books overlapped and intersected with each other, but somehow tidily added up to one book a week.

Searching for themes, it’s easy to see my grief for my cat, Torby, processed in book form. I lost her just as 2025 began, and found comfort in every cat-related piece of media I could get my hands on. The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa is easily my favorite book I read this year, and I will always be so grateful that it was there for me when I needed it.

2025 was also the year I grew my Japanese studies beyond manga and began reading novels (for grown-ups!). キッチン by Banana Yoshimoto is one of my favorite books in English, and I loved reading it all the more in its original form. Yes, I still read plenty of manga — including the first nine volumes of ナナ as part of an online book club with fellow language-learners.

One of the most unexpected favorites of 2025 was Kelly Bishop’s memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. I understand why she chose to title the book as she did, but Bishop’s story — and her storytelling — transcend the label. Her raw stories of life as a dancer in 1970’s New York City have more in common with Just Kids than the fluff of Bishop’s Gilmore Girls co-star Lauren Graham’s Talking as Fast as I Can.

Stray Observations:

• I read Honey by Isabel Banta in a single sitting while camping earlier this year. I can’t remember the last time I did that!
• The excitement surrounding Heated Rivalry honestly sustained me during a tough end to this year. I adore the show and the books are equally as brilliant.
• It’s rare for me to downright hate a book. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I love to be a hater. But when it comes to literature I try to be as open-minded and curious as possible. The books in the “not for me” category are books that I did not enjoy reading, but that I respect nevertheless. The books in the “kindling” category are genuine abominations.

What Will I Read Next Year?

Middlemarch. Mostly so I can stop talking about how I need to read Middlemarch.