What I Read This Year: From the Good and the Great to the Spicy 🌶️

This is your New Year's week book episode to send off 2025 right - wrapping up the year with all the books I read, from the emotional to the adventurous to the absolutely spicy, complete with reading stats and spice levels. If you're looking for book recs to start 2026, this is it.2025 READING STATS: 27 books read (goal was 35, but last year was only 25 total!) 9,954 pages 12 days average per book Top moods: Emotional, Adventurous, Funny Top genres: Fantasy, Romance, ContemporaryMY ONLY 5-STAR READ: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - inhaled in under 24 hours, Adam Carlson is a certified yearner, low spice but exquisite tension4-STAR READS: Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood (vampires! low spice, Buffy vibes) Deep End by Ali Hazelwood (medium spice, steamy, one triggering scene - check warnings) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Master of Me by Keke Palmer (audiobook win) All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (my book husband is in this one)HONORABLE MENTION: Knot Falling For You by Winnie Aster (3.75 stars but lives rent-free in my brain) - cozy Omegaverse, my first in the genre, perfect balance of cozy barista life and medium spice with a doting partner who only wants the best for her (life goals), when you get to the spice it's CAP LOCKS BOLD ITALICSFrom discovering that Ali Hazelwood owns my heart to realizing Omegaverse might be my new obsession, this year taught me that books give us the emotional, adventurous, and fun experiences we deserve.We deserve levity. We deserve to do shit just because it brings us joy. These books brought me joy.Subscribe. Share. Remember that reading for pleasure is valid and valuable.Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨Download the free 2025 reading list! Organized by genre, ratings, and spice level - includes all books through December.Join the conversation! What was your top read of 2025? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari - I need recs for next year!Related Episodes: All About Love discussion, Empire of Storms Pt. 1 & 2, Heir of Fire analysis💬 LET'S CONNECT:Instagram | TikTokGrowing with Sol PodcastBuy Me a CafecitoSend in questions: contact+[email protected] might just have the same taste in books. Check out my Book List(Bookshop affiliate)🌱 LET’S GROW TOGETHER→ Schedule your discovery call→ 1:1 Life Coaching Coaching