Books that stuck with me in 2025

My relationship with reading is complicated.

As a member of the generation that, in recent years, has been criticised for it’s lack of attention span, cultural ignorance and lack of critical thinking skills, I feel a sense of obligation resist the rising tide of TikTok, brainrot and vape juice.

Whilst I resist the notion that younger generations should have to prove themselves to those who came before them - particularly when the state of the world at present does not exaclty suggest such generations have been faultless in their approach - I do believe in the importance of reading, and the role it plays in creating a future that is brighter and more hopeful.

So, with that grandiose and widely self-indulgent premise in mind, in January this year I set myself the goal to read a book a week.

I am proud to say, dear readers, I have gone above and beyond.

My record-keeping skills and organisation have always left something to be desired, but my current estimate puts me at around 90 books read this year.

Disclaimer: this does include audiobooks, short stories and pamphlets.

Given that I run an independent bookshop, I thought it might be nice to share with you just five of the books that made the most impact on me this year.

On Freedom by Timothy Snyder

Philosophy has always felt to me to be just beyond my reach. I would associate philosophy with the idea of long, unintelligible texts written in some archaic language. I would pick up books by famous philosophers, thinking I would have an immediate spiritual awakening upon reading their words, only to be left feeling disillusioned and deeply insecure about my inability to understand a single word.

From the moment I opened this book, however, I felt my mind shift and settle into the journey that philosophical investigation can offer.

Snyder has an incredible ability to make accessible some of the most complex and emotive aspects of our existence. His work as a historian specialising in Modern Europe has provided him with a unique and deeply personal understanding of the world around us, and the processes which have brought us to where we are today.

On Freedom, the latest in an extensive portfolio of critically acclaimed writing, explores the concept of freedom in all its complexities and manifestations, and how, time and again, we fail to understand it.

I am aware, as I write, that while my reverence for this book is apparent, I am failing to articulate just how readable this book is. It is so easy to rely upon flowery, descriptive - yet ultimately meaningless - language when discussing a book such as this, or indeed the topic of philosophy in general. But Snyder is a better writer than I, and in drawing upon vignettes from his life and discussions with real people and their understanding of Freedom, he makes accessible one of the most complex and challenging concepts that humans grapple with in our lives.

His discussions with political dissidents, philosophers, modern thinkers and politicians, alongside musings on the school drop-off, allowed me to confront and reflect upon my own understanding of freedom. My position in the world, my understanding of myself and the impact I have on those around me, and my understanding of the systems with which I, and we all, interact daily.

Breaking freedom down into five key aspects: Sovereignty, Unpredictability, Factuality, Mobility and Solidarity, Snyder makes clear just how shallow the general understanding of freedom really is, and how it fails to be afforded to so many.

I cannot express the intensity with which I recommend this book. In naming and breaking down the concept of freedom, Snyder finds hope amongst some of the darkest corners of our world and provides a light to follow as we move into the future.

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

Now, some of you may know that I am a long-term Non-Fiction addict. However, I have grown as a person this year and challenged myself to move out of my comfort zone and into the world of fiction. And boy am I grateful that I did. So Thrilled For You is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking, entertaining and emotive, witty and wistful, reflecting the real complexities of female friendships and womanhood in the modern world.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Holly earlier this year for an event we held at Alton Maltings, Women, Technology and Society. Her sharp wit, intelligence and passion struck me in our discussion as in her writing.

So Thrilled For You tells the story of a group of women who have been friends since school. Decades on, life is pulling them all in different directions, but they come together for a baby shower that seems doomed from the start.

Told from four different perspectives, the book allows each of the main characters to develop a deeply honest connection with the reader. With wit, humour and a sharp attention to detail, Holly sheds light on the miriad of contradicting and overwhelming pressures faced by women today.

Charlotte, the party organiser, is desperate for a baby of her own but battling the shame and frustration of a body that seems to be working against her.

Nikki is pregnant with her childhood sweethart, but things don’t feel right. The baby shower itself serves simply to remind her of the inescapable and unrelenting changes that are about to come crashing into her life.

Lauren is exhausted. Motherhood, in all it’s glory, is not what she expected it to be. The pressure, the sleepless nights and the endless toxic positivity of those around her are pushing her to breaking point.

Steffi is child free. With her career going from success to success, she should be the happiest she has ever been. But spending time with her childhood friends always leaves her feeling judged, as if she is failing in some way simply because she hasn’t pushed out a human from between her legs.

In these four characters alone, the contradictory pressures of modern womanhood are painfully evident. Also evident is the way in which society continues to oversimplify the aims of feminism.

‘But women can work now’

‘Men can take parental leave’

These things are true, yes, and are incredible achievements. But what is the everyday reality faced by women as they navigate motherhood, career, family and personal life?

Holly’s style of writing is intensley readable, and draws you in from the first page. I found myself desperately waiting for breaks in my schedule so that I could keep reading. There is so much skill in being at once lighthearted and entertaining and raw and emotive.

Bring this to every woman you know - and men too!

The Invisible Doctrine by George Monbiot & Peter Hutchinson

This one is a bit of a wildcard, but I would not be being honest if I didn’t include it. I sat and read this book in a single afternoon in June, and it has fundamentally changed the way I view the world (dramatic, I know). George Monbiot is a renowned writer and commentator on politics and climate change, and his passion and knowledge are evident throughout this book.

Succinctly and astutely, Monbiot and Hutchinson make clear just how the frightening political climate we see around us came into being, and the extent to which the voices of a powerful minority have altered the way each of us approaches the world.

Neoliberalism is a complicated word, with an even more complicated history. Some claim it is a fictional concept touted by left-wing conspiracy theorists, or that it is simply a lazy, catch-all term for late-stage capitalism.

The Invisible Doctrine charts a history of capitalism, pinpointing the moment at which we saw a shift toward Neoliberal ideology, and who was behind its immense, but invisible, rise to power.

if you are looking for an introduction into political writing that can contextualise the insanity we see around us, this book belongs in your hands.