The year has come and gone. I read over 60 titles this year (to include a few DNF ones.) I’d like to say it was challenging to pick my three favorite books; it wasn’t. In fact, one of these titles received its own ‘favorite book of 2025 so far’ post. Luckily, it never got booted off.
The other two titles I picked were obvious candidates for me. In fact, one of them I read at the start of the year, and it quickly became my favorite book of all time. The last and final pick of my three was a recent read. The order of these books does not indicate that one was better than the other. Think of all three of the below titles as equals, ranked together. Let’s dive in.
I raved about this book by Helena Merriman when I first read it back in June of this year. Tunnel 29 is a non-fiction historical text that reads like a spy-thriller.
In 1962, as the Berlin Wall divides families and lives, a young engineering student named Joachim Rudolph—a refugee who had escaped East Germany himself—joins a secret team tunneling under the Wall to help others flee to freedom. With homemade tools, limited resources, and constant danger from the Stasi (East German secret police), they dig a tunnel nearly 140 meters long, right under the heavily guarded border.
The story weaves together suspense, historical detail, and personal narratives, including that of a British journalist who filmed the operation for the BBC, and the defectors who risked everything for a better life. The book follows the stories of those involved with the building of the tunnel, as well as the Stasi agents assigned to monitor those attempting an escape from East Berlin.
As I noted in my original praise of the book:
One of the greatest aspects of this book is that it is packed with suspense and betrayal, and leaves the reader with a vernacular feeling between chapters. I can’t recall when a factual and historic book had me on the edge of my seat, making it challenging to put down; always wanting to read the next chapter. It was challenging to put this book down, and, while I love historical books, I have never “felt” like I NEEDED just one more chapter before bed. You will quickly lose the understanding that you are reading a work of non-fiction. It’s just that good!
I cannot say enough good things about Tunnel 29 apart from you should read it!
I told you at the start of this post that one of my top 3 picks was a book that I had recently read; well, here it is. Not only that, but I have been on a solid Stephen King kick since this summer (thanks to the Dark Tower series).
My wife and I read 11/22/63 during our honeymoon road trip. FANTASTIC book, by the way. Billy Summers follows a similar trope, but, once again, Stephen King brings brilliance to the pages.
Billy Summers, a hitman who lives by a strict moral code of only killing “bad guys,” accepts one final, lucrative job before retirement, embedding himself in a quiet town under the guise of an aspiring writer. His carefully laid plans are disrupted when he rescues a young woman named Alice, forming a complex bond that complicates his escape after the hit goes awry and his employers turn on him. Forced to go on the run, Billy and Alice navigate a cross-country journey of revenge and redemption, transforming a crime thriller into a deeper meditation on trauma and the healing power of storytelling.
Although this novel follows similar themes to 11/22/63, it is much shorter and felt more action-packed.
I still think that Stephen King is regarded by most as a horror writer. I thought this rang true before I really dug into his books this past year. It is true that most will know him from classics—like IT and Pet Sematary—but I invite anyone remotely interested in thrillers to read his latest works; you’re in for a treat! In my review of 11/22/63, I noted that there were some sluggish moments about halfway through the book, and it felt like some pages were filler material. I did not find myself holding a similar sentiment while reading Billy Summers.
I don’t usually reread books (in fact, I don’t think I ever have), but East of Eden might be the first. Like so many others, this book changed my perspective on human suffering and the nature of man.
This was also my first Steinbeck novel as an adult (admittedly, it took me a while to remember that this was the same author as Of Mice and Men that most of us read in high school). Needless to say, I think I hit the jackpot with this book.
One of the most impactful themes in this book is that of devastation and betrayal. Steinbeck does a brilliant job insofar as he allows the reader to fall in step with a character, only to rip that novelistic band-aid right off with devastation and betrayal.
Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this multigenerational saga intertwines the destinies of the Trask and Hamilton families, serving as a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The narrative centers on Adam Trask and his twin sons, Cal and Aron, who must grapple with the dark legacy of their manipulative mother, Cathy, and the heavy burden of inherited sin. Ultimately, the novel culminates in the exploration of the Hebrew concept of timshel, asserting that humanity is not enslaved by fate but possesses the profound power to choose between good and evil.
I think EOE ruined Grapes of Wrath for me insofar as the former is just. so. good. I mention this because I had high hopes after reading this exquisite Steinbeck novel; sadly, that ship sailed once I sank into Grapes of Wrath.
If readers want a book that will challenge their perspective on the human condition, this one’s for you. I will be sure to report back if/when I read this one again.
That’s all, for now. I mentioned to a few blog readers that, for 2026, I am going to do shorter reading lists that simply contain the books I am reading (possibly along with some thoughts), but I will not be doing actual reviews on those posts. To be honest, they are starting to feel forced, and they aren’t fun to write anymore. Instead, I will be doing dedicated reviews 1-2 times per month for books. I think this will lead to better quality content and be more impactful for my blog readers.
Aside from that, have an amazing New Year and I plan to release a full reading list, like always, at the end of this month.
Cheers!
