2025 Booklist Wrapped

I hated reading in school, it always felt like something to “get through” for a test. As an adult, I realized I actually love reading but just not on someone else’s terms. I love reading as a way to learn, wander, cope, and make sense of the world.

Inspired by Spotify’s annual Wrapped, here’s my 2025 Reading List Wrapped on Bookshop.org. The list is lovingly annotated and has some of my favorites and re-reads (yes, Ross Gay will always have my whole heart) from this year. The list is as eclectic as I am: spanning grief, rage, coping, resisting capitalism, imagination, and trying to stitch meaning together in a chaotic year.

And if you know me, you know I will forever champion independent bookstores. They’ve shaped so many chapters of my life: the Issue’s annex days at my store, photographing Laurel Bookstore, painting murals for @adanne.co in Brooklyn, countless visits to @lizsbookbar and designing @marcus.books pop-up in the Fillmore, an honor since Marcus Books is the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the country. Indie shops aren’t just retail, they are cultural infrastructure, the third spaces we crave, and a portal into so many worlds! This is why I don’t shop Amazon (for anything), but especially not for books. Which is why I buy all my books from indie shops or @bookshop_org who redistribute their earnings to independently owned bookshops across the country.

Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer 

This was a re-read for me, but it felt like a gentle balm on a tender spot. Being reminded of the technology, wisdom, and grace of nature brings me such peace but also a knowing that we already have everything we need if we just slow down enough to notice them. Growing up in Hawaii, it's in our culture to be more connected to and protective of nature. A frequent refrain is 'Malama Ka Aina' or 'Care for the Land'.

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates 

On the theme of linage, this Ta-Nehisi Coates book is written as a letter to his son, explaining his thoughts on the world we're in, his life experience and how it informed his parenting, and commentary on our society along the way. As a childfree person, it was an interesting perspective to read to get a glimpse into what parenting looks like especially as a Black man in America.

How to Do Nothing

Jenny Odell 

I'm constantly trying to resist capitalism's grip on my self-efficacy and sense of self. How to Do Nothing was a thoughtful read that I actually probably took 3 or 4 months to get through. I figured if she's taking her time, so should I. The author, Jenny Odell, is a fellow Oaklander so it was lovely to get little vignettes of her spending time in the Rose Garden and other Bay Area destinations.

The Artist's Way

Julia Cameron 

I've resisted this book for years. I'm not sure why, maybe it was all the 'God' stuff (which she means whatever you believe in, a figure, the universe, etc). But I finally did the 12 week's of the artist way and can say it was helpful to tapping back into some of my innate artist's tendencies. This book gained a lot of popularity after the the internet rediscovered Doechii's youtubes about doing the artist's way. Doechii's been one of my favorite artists for a while now (if you haven't heard spooky coochie, it's my favorite of her songs and has INCREDIBLE lyricism). If it's good enough for Doechii, it's good enough for me.

The Book of (More) Delights

Ross Gay 

The Book of Delights is a favorite of all time, so I was-- well, delighted, when I saw that there was The Book of (More) Delights. In the origjnal, Book of Delights, Ross Gay writes almost daily essay-etts, or attempts, to document the things that brought him delight in his day. The stories range from spending time in a community garden, to the licking of the side of a coffee cup, and believe it or not, even peeing your pants. I can't recommend Ross Gay's writing enough!

The Courage to Be Disliked

Fumitake Koga, 

Ichiro Kishimi 

Once again, looking to push against the dominant culture, this book is a philosophy book on adjusting your self perception. I appreciated the style of writing as a conversation. As someone who is constantly reading with a critical lens, it was a treat to have the doubts that popped up in my head actually spelled out as one of the character's questionings of the philosophy.

Atomic Habits

James Clear 

As an entrepreneur, I tend to "go for broke" and am not always patient enough for sustained effort-- it's my super power and kryptonite! Atomic Habits is a useful read on how to build stead growth, backed by science and also offers practical tips on how to habit stack and to sustain consistent effort.

Rage Becomes Her

Soraya Chemaly 

In 2025, a girls got a lot to be mad about. I listed to Solange's "A Seat at the Table" more times than I can count. In Rage Becomes Her, the emotion of rage, anger, repression, frustration, and sadness are explored from a the feminine lens and the ways in which women and girls are socialized in relationship to rage and anger. I've been joking that my goal for 2025 is to not necessarily "crash out" more but to just be willing to have a few more fender-benders.

The Rise of Wolf 8

Rick McIntyre, 

Robert Redford 

I didn't think the story of repopulating Yellowstone National park's wolf population would make me cry. This amazing story of the repopulation of the park and the tracking of the packs and an incredible little scraggly pup turned into an epic tale (maybe tail?) of familial bonds and weirdly enough social bonds and contracts.

Open Throat

Henry Hoke 

Open Throat is probably one of the most creative pieces of writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It's style is baroque , it has no puctuation-- but for good reason. It's written from the perspective of a gay mountain lion living under the Hollywood sign. Why would a mountain lion know about commas and periods?

Perfection

Vincenzo Latronico, 

Sophie Hughes 

As a bicoastal millennial, this books sort of read me. It's written about a couple who moves to a new country in search of satisfaction as 'digital nomads' and their frustration as the places they help gentrify become more gentrified. It's a story of searching, purpose, exploration, and reminds us that ultimately, wherever you go, there you are.

Tiny Experiments

Anne-Laure Le Cunff 

As someone who loves doing things for the plot, I loved this book written by a PHd in neuroscience. It speaks to the magic of tiny experiments and how we can tap into more creativity and free ourselves from the tethers of over promising, putting too much pressure on ourselves, and prioritizing discovery and curiosity above all else.

2025 was a tough year and so you'll notice some themes of coping, rage, resisting capitalism, and just trying to make sense of the chaotic times. I hope you find some inspiration and drop me a line on Instagram if you end up reading any of these (I'd love if you Dm'd or tagged me in a photo of your books).