Here it is again, one of my favorite posts to do each year: the top ten reads from the year. I ended the year with 167 books read (thanks in part to a sprint of reading some short reads at the end of the year). It was one of those years where I would be way ahead of my reading goal and then behind by quite a few books (my goal was 150). My reading was in fits and spurts, instead of being consistent. I guess that is pregnancy and early motherhood for you.

You can see all my reading stats here. Here are the highlights:

Total books read: 167

Longest book: The Woman in White

First book of the Year: Becoming Elisabeth Elliot

Last book finished: Revive My Heart: A Year of Daily Reflections

Now, for my top ten reads!

10. The Trial by Charlotte Mary Yonge

This is the sequel to The Daisy Chain, which I read in 2024. I read this with my good friend Kelsey. I loved seeing this large family grow, mature, and change. Younge is one of my favorite Victorian writers. I am slowly reading all of her books. They are so wholesome and well-written.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

9. Firmament: Progenitor by J. Grace Pennington

I've fallen behind in this series, so it was nice to pick it back up. I have loved it from the first installment. I so enjoyed getting to catch up with the characters. This is such a fun series that is like a Christian Star Trek.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

8. Labor with Hope by Gloria Furman

I found out I was pregnant in March, and by the summer, I was reading a lot of parenting books. This was one of the few books I read about pregnancy and labor, and I loved it. It was so steeped in the gospel and biblical hope. It was personally very encouraging.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

7. Mind the Gap by Erynn Mangum

I like Erynn Mangum a lot. This book had a good message, but it was also so much fun. It made the list because I haven't had as much fun reading a book in a long time.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

6. Parenting by Paul David Tripp

So far, of all the parenting books I've read (and I've read quite a few), this has been my favorite. It's so saturated in biblical wisdom. I know I will be coming back to this book again and again to remember what is most important as a parent. 

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

5. Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff

While I read this book in my quest to find parenting resources, I found this book incredibly helpful for me. It helped me understand some of the things I had struggled with as a child. I think reading this will help me in the future with my children, but it also helped me process some of my past.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

4. Just Like Molly and Other Stories by Elizabeth Allen

I love everything this author has done. I enjoyed as my husband read these stories aloud to me. I love each seasonal collection and know I will be revisiting these in the years to come.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

3. 936 Pennies by Eryn Lynum

This book was beautiful. It's written to remind parents of the limited time they have with their children. I found this book to be thought-provoking and a pleasure to read. I just love it when wisdom and powerful wordsmithing are combined.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

2. The Curious Inheritance of Blakely Houseby Joanna Davidson Politano

About halfway into this book, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, other than (as usual) Politano's storytelling was amazing. In the end, I adored this book. It was beautifully written, had a hint of allegorical truths without being heavy-headed, and had a fantastic setting. I've found myself thinking about it often in the months after I read it.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

1. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret

This book was impactful. It was one I read with a friend, which made it even better. Yes, the style is old-fashioned, but I found myself thinking back to this book throughout the year, remembering so much of the wisdom stored in it. I love how Hudson Taylor always put his relationship with God before is activities for God.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

What were your favorite reads of 2025?

The Arctic chill has hit central Texas. Freezing rain is expected to make roads impassable for a while. I am sitting here, catching snatches of writing time between nursing my little girl. My sweet husband is watching our little girl off and on, so I can write. I am also just soaking in the coziness of knowing that I get to have my husband with me for almost 48 hours without anywhere we need to go.

As we start 2026, I am thinking back. I'm thinking back to 2024, when I entered the year with a tiny life inside of me, only to be told before the end of the month that our baby had died. Here I am entering 2026 with a two-month-old in my arms.

I'm thinking back to entering 2021, struggling to navigate my single status and stressed about a lot of things, and exiting the year, married to my best friend. Here I sit, watching my husband of four years, playing with our little girl.

I enter 2026 with so much to be grateful for. So many hopes and dreams from my early days have been fulfilled. I always wanted to be a wife and mom, and now I am. Yet, no life is ever perfect. Sin will mar everything in this world until Christ returns and all is made new. I told the ladies of my community group I entered this year, tired of praying for a situation and wondering if anything would ever change. 

I feel like I have so many words bottled up inside of me. Since my daughter seems to wake up the moment I set her down (or start crying), my time to spill those words out is very limited. I'm excited because my mom is planning on coming once a week to help with my little girl and give me some writing time. My first priority is to finish editing the last Kate's Case Files book. My second priority is finishing The Weekly Mercies of Pam Ellis. 

I am looking forward to more blogging too, though it will have to be while my little girl is being held by others, or she is sleeping.