The Most Fun Books I Read in the First Half of 2025

One of my favorite ways to add a little fun to my everyday life is to read. I’ve always been a voracious reader and even majored in English in a quest to become a professional reader. For a few years in early adulthood, I tried to read 100 books every year. Then I had kids. But reading is still a big part of my life! So far this year, I’ve read 30 books. Some were Serious and Important (looking at you, The Sun Does Shine). Some were boring (I won’t name names). But I read quite a few fun books too! Today, I’m sharing my eight funnest (I’m an English major, so I can say that) reads from the first half of 2025!

Fun Book #1: Crocodile on the Sandbank

My college roommate and fellow English major Hannah recommended Crocodile on the Sandbank. I’d never heard of this mystery series published in the 1970s, and I’m so glad she recommended it. The protagonist is a Victorian-era archaeologist determined to solve the mystery interfering with her work in Egypt. If you loved the Boxcar Children, this is for you.

Fun Book #2: Tress of the Emerald Sea

My cousin recommended Tress of the Emerald Sea, and I finally picked it up when my book club selected it. I’d never heard of the author, but the husband of one of our book club members joined our meeting to give a guest lecture on Sanderson’s world-building. This book falls in the Fantasy genre, but even if that’s not normally for you, it’s worth a try. The characters are delightful, the world is unique and fun, and the story is fast-paced. For fans of The Princess Bride.

Fun Book #3: Well Lived

I love Sally Clarkson. Her books and her podcast, At Home with Sally, have been of great encouragement to me on my motherhood journey. “Christian living” books aren’t often fun, but Well Lived is an exception. Sally spent several years in Oxford to be near her oldest daughter, who was studying, writing, and raising babies. Well Lived includes Sally’s reflections on that time, beautiful photographs on nearly every page, and encouragement to live a life of joy. If you’re a fan of Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia or Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, you’ll love seeing their beloved city and university through Sally’s eyes.

Fun Book #4: Tom Lake

English major confession: Ann Patchett’s books always sound boring to me. Then I read them anyway and inevitably love them. Tom Lake was no exception. A mom tells her daughters a little bit about her young adulthood while they pick cherries during the pandemic? Sounds boring. But Patchett is a master storyteller, and I loved seeing the mother’s history unwind. I typically prefer plot-driven books, but this character-driven story held my attention.

Fun Book #5: Jane Eyre

Every once in a while, I like to go back to my English major roots and revisit a classic. I can’t remember what compelled me to pick Jane Eyre back up, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I don’t think I’d reread it since college, and now that I’m a few decades older than Jane, the absurdity of the story was more apparent to me. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a read. This Gothic novel is a good time.

Fun Book #6: Ordinary Time

I’ve enjoyed content from Annie B. Jones for years now, following her on Instagram and listening to her bookish podcast From the Front Porch. I’ve even made the trek to visit her bookstore, The Bookshelf, in Thomasville, south Georgia’s Stars Hollow equivalent. In her debut work, Ordinary Time, Annie shares what she’s learned as she learned to embrace small town life after believing she was destined for the big city. I found her essays charming, tender, and relatable. If you’re an elder millennial who loved American Girl, I bet you will too.  

Fun Book #7: Be Ready When the Luck Happens

I have a couple of Ina’s cookbooks but have never seen her show and didn’t know much about her. Still, this memoir was getting so much buzz that I thought it was worth a read. I’m so glad I picked it up. Be Ready When the Luck Happens was an unexpected delight. There were so many aspects of her story that were surprises to me. Is Ina’s reputation as a snob a bit deserved? Yes. But reading about her background will help you understand why she is the way that she is. She’ll inspire you to take a risk, plan a trip to the Hamptons, eat a brownie, or invest in real estate—or all four if you’re lucky.

Fun Book #8: The Inheritance Games

I shared about The Inheritance Games in last week’s reading recap, so I won’t belabor it here. We would not have read this YA novel in any of my English classes at UGA. But fun has its place in a well-read life, and this one was definitely fun.

What are the most fun books you’ve read this year? Will you be adding any of these to your TBR? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I receive a small commission, which I greatly appreciate!