The Books Our Team Could NOT Stop Talking About in 2025
Check out our team’s best 2025 book recommendations of the year!
Our team loves diving into new reads! We’ve been sharing our favorite book recommendations over the last year, and now we’re recapping our favorite reads of all! 🤩 If you’re looking for a great book to read to kick off the New Year, don’t miss these!
Here are our team’s top book recommendations for 2025:
1. The Women made our top list last year and again this year after Collin shared how much it touched her.
The Women – $19.57+
“The Women is hands-down my top read of 2025. It was Bryn’s favorite of 2024, and now I totally get why. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be the same after reading it. Kristin Hannah doesn’t just write stories; she makes you feel them. Like, I was right there with Frankie, the main character, living through the chaos and heartbreak of the Vietnam War. You fall in love with her early on, and then your heart just shatters as you read her go through the unthinkable.
She starts off as a sheltered young nurse and ends up a woman who’s seen too much, hurt too deeply, and still somehow finds the strength to keep going. The way these women were erased from history? Ignored, dismissed, left to carry their trauma alone? It made me furious. But the friendships…the resilience…the fight to be seen and heard? It gave me chills. This book is powerful. It’s haunting. And it’s honestly one of those reads that changes how you see the world. If it’s not already on your list, add it. And maybe grab some tissues while you’re at it.” – Collin
Our Hip sidekick, Jessica, also said The Women was her top book of the year.
“I finally read The Women this year! I love historical fiction, and this one kept my interest from beginning to end. It was one of those reads that you’re sad you finish because you want it to keep going. I already have another Kristin Hannah novel on deck to start after the holidays!” – Jessica
2. This book changed how I view my pregnancy and gave me a new appreciation for my kids.
Babies Are Cosmic – $11.49
“It takes a reallllllly good book for me to not want to stop reading it, and I haven’t been able to put this one down. With 20 pages left, I can say this is the best book I’ve read all year! When I read something, I want to feel like I learned something and gained new knowledge, and this book completely transformed my perspective on babies and toddlers. I feel connected to my baby on a much deeper level than I ever did with my other 3 children. I would encourage any expecting parent or parent to little ones to read this book if they feel a spiritual calling.” – Sara
3. Denise still refers back to this book and said it’s been a game-changer that helped her worry way less.
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – $11.50+
“I’m a huge worrier as I’d imagine most women are, but sometimes it’s all-consuming for me and I shut down. I had a SUPER stressful event this year, and the worrying started affecting my health. That’s when I found this book. It’s story after story about how to overcome worry, and I frequently refer back to it when needed. It’s such an eye-opener for anyone who worries, and it makes you wonder why you were worried in the first place.” -Denise
4. Krystal is still recommending this dark and creepy book that left her shocked.
The Butterfly Garden – $9.60+
“The Butterfly Garden is dark, creepy, and one of those books you think about way after you’re done. I finished it and immediately thought, “What did I just read?” In the best way! Seriously, I’ve been recommending this book to everyone who asks, “What have you read lately?” It’s the first of a series, but in my opinion, it’s the best one; the other books that follow didn’t grab my attention as well as this one did.” – Krystal
5. Chelsey read this in less than a day and immediately mailed it to her best friend.
Rock Paper Scissors – $8.49+
“I consumed this in like 6 hours total – I could not put it down. Then I recommended it so fast to my bestie (we try to read the same books since we live in different states), but I couldn’t wait for her to actually order it, so I sent her a copy myself. LOL! It’s one of those books that’s just a complete 360.” – Chelsey
6. Kelli finally read this book after her daughter recommended it for years, and it’s now her favorite, too.
The Echo of Old Books – $9.51+
“It’s not a new book, but I read it this year. The Echo of Old Books is a magical, romantic mystery about a rare-book dealer who can feel the emotional “fingerprints” of previous owners. When she finds two unpublished books telling opposite sides of a doomed love story, she’s pulled into a decades-old secret and tries to solve the mystery. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite books ever, and she’s been telling me to read it for ages. I’m so glad that I did. All the feels.” – Kelli
7. Alli still thinks about this book often, and she reads multiple books per month.
The Names – $14.99+
“I still think about this book! SO heartbreaking and beautiful! I truly believe that is the best way to sum it up. You’ll root for each character and cry alongside them. Definitely worth a read.” – Alli
8. Liz can’t wait for the second book in this series to come out in May, and after reading countless books, this one topped them all.
Silver Elite – $9.99+
“My favorite read of the year was Silver Elite by Dani Francis! It was SO good. It’s an adult dystopian/fantasy romance that gave me Hunger Games/Divergent vibes. It kept me entertained the whole time, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. Just a heads up, it does end on a cliffhanger. The second book is dropping next May!” – Liz
Did you miss our year-long series? Here’s everything we read (and loved) in 2025:
January 2025 book recommendations we read:
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
- Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner
- The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
February 2025 book recommendations we read:
- A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
- Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach
- Cher: Part One: The Memoir by Cher
- The Family Experiment by John Marrs
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire
- The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
- The One by John Marrs
March 2025 book recommendations we read:
- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
- The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
- Bridesmaids for Hire by Meghan Quinn
- Bridesmaids Undercover by Meghan Quinn
- The Wedding People by Alison Espach
April 2025 book recommendations we read:
- Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
- So Not Meant To Be by Meghan Quinn
- A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn
- Untying The Knot by Meghan Quinn
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
- Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
May 2025 book recommendations we read:
- Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass *Book 1 of 7 of this entire series!
- The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto
June 2025 book recommendations we read:
- The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
- The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel by Allison Pataki
- Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
- The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
- Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
July 2025 book recommendations we read:
- One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
- Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn
- My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher
- The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
- Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
- Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes
- The Stand by Stephen King
August 2025 book recommendations we read:
- Always You and Me by Dani Atkins
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
- Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
- The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
October 2025 book recommendations we read:
- The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
- A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre
- Six Summers to Fall by C.W. Farnsworth
- Hockey Holt Book Series by C.W. Farnsworth
- Educated by Tara Westover
- After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
November 2025 book recommendations we read:
- The Names Novel by Florence Knapp
- Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
- Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
The Women reset my perspective for 2025. I don’t know if anything I read next year will top it!!
Wow, it sounds like The Women made a lasting impression and set the bar sky-high for 2025! 🎉 Here’s hoping you discover even more incredible reads to keep that momentum going—happy reading! 📚✨
Butterfly garden is an amazing book! It’s a 4 book series and all of them are excellent 🙂
This book seems right up my alley 🦋🔪 I ♥️ these book recommendations hip2save certainly keeps my book shelf and wallet full 😉 thank you guys!
You’re most welcome, Monique! 🥰 SO glad we can help keep your bookshelf stacked and your wallet happy—definitely the kind of balance we love to hear! 📚💰 Happy reading! 💕
Thanks for sharing, petra! Great to know the whole series is worth the read! 📚🎉
Added 2 of these to my list. Enjoyed some of your previous recommendations. Thanks!
YAY! Very happy to hear you’ve enjoyed past recommendations! 📚 You’re welcome, eemommy! ❤️
I look forward to these post every month. Thank you for all the recommendations!
Aww, you’re so welcome! 💕 Thanks for letting us know you’ve been loving this monthly list! Enjoy!
The Let them Theory was a great read put everyday life in perspective and regarding stress.
*Money saving tip “Don’t forget to use your library to read these books for free 🙂
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell is good. It’s also a YA so appropriate to pass along to your kids if they are old enough.
Awesome! Thanks so much! 🙌
I love these posts so much!
Awesome to hear how much you love these posts, BW! Thanks for commenting! ❤️
The best book I’ve EVER read is Theo of Golden. Highly recommend it!
Thanks a bunch for the recommendation, gail! 💕
While,I liked The Women, I LOVED Nightingale. Also read Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club. Both amazing Hist Fic. Highly recommend them both.
Thanks a bunch for sharing these recommendations, Catherine! 💖
I suggest reading Winter Garden by Kristen as well! I loved it even more than nightingale
Wow, that’s High praise! I’ll do just that, thx.