I quit tracking my books on GoodReads a couple of years ago because it became cumbersome and took joy out of my reading life. Instead, I’ve been compiling an end of the year reading list primarily recalled through pictures on my phone. I’m sure I’ve missed a few but this is most of what I read this year with a few notes. Titles that are bolded are books that I recommend, and titles that are italicized are in my Top Ten of the year. Here we go –

January

Long Island Compromise – Taffy Brodesser-Akner (shout out to my son for getting me a signed copy after hearing her speak). This book is fun, irreverent, and deals with generational trauma – really great way to start a reading year.

Always a Reckoning and Other Poems (Jimmy Carter) – We looked at poem written by President Carter when we watched his funeral in class, and I decided just to read the whole collection. Simply lovely.

Small Things Like These (Claire Keegan) – We were off two days for snow (SNOW in Georgia), and I spent one afternoon reading this book in one sitting. The literal perfect way to spend a cozy afternoon.

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man (Emmanuel Ancho) – This book had been on my list since hearing Ancho speak at a conference, and I wanted to start the year with intentionality in the area of racial reconciliation. The book delivered honest, personal, and practical advice.

Circle of Hope (Eliza Grizwold) – My husband and I listened to this audiobook on a long car ride. It tells the story of a church in Philadelphia and their struggle in racial and social justice issues. I only don’t recommend because it’s particularly niche and seems unnecessarily long at times but was definitely worth our time listening.

February

The Brothers Karamazov (Fyodor Dostoevsky) – I started this book over the holidays and didn’t finish until February. If you’ve read it, you know why. this is definitely not a fast read, but WOW – what a story. Now that I’ve read and got the plot down, I want to reread for the pure appreciation of the masterpiece and nuances of characters and themes.

The Fraud (Zadie Smith) – I LOVE Zadie Smith but just could not finish The Fraud. I may it over half way then just gave up. Wrong time? Wrong head space? Just not the novel for me? Not sure. I’ll try again in a couple of years but just did not get the hype about this novel.  

How to Sell a Haunted House (Grady Hendrix) – I simply LOVE Grady Hendrix (Southern Gentlemen’s Guide to Slaying Vampires), and this book checks all of the boxes for me: retro horror, Southern gothic elements, quirky, yet fun – perfect easy read.

March

My Husband (Maud Ventura) – Sign me up for an unhinged female narrator anytime. This book in translation is a quick read that gives Gone Girl vibes.

Prophet Song (Paul Lynch) – I read this novel a second time for my book club. The writing is so beautiful but this dystopian novel is haunting because is feels too real at this moment in history.

Six White Horses (Sarah Gordon) – A friend gifted me this poetry collection from a Southern professor who took me to a place – as all good poetry does – of asking more questions instead of having more answers. Highly recommend this collection.

April – Shout out for Spring Break reading!! I always read on a Kindle or Audible when I travel because I know I’ll be reading multiple books in a short amount of time.

Theo of Golden (Allen Levi) – Every man in my age range LOVES this book. I enjoyed this sweet story that has elements of mystery and causes a reflection on life and legacy. If you’re looking for a last minute holiday gift for your dad or spouse, this is the book. Bonus – Georgia author.

Florida (Lauren Groff) – It’s no secret that I have a girl crush on Lauren Groff and honestly can’t believe I haven’t read this short story collection before now. I’ll definitely be rereading some of these and plan on using a couple in the classroom as well.

Between Two Kingdoms (Suelika Jaouad) – It’s girl crush April – next up, Suelika Jaouad. I subscribe to Suelika’s Substack and finally settled in for her memoir which is so much more than her journey with leukemia – it’s about ending worn out relationships and embracing new ones, remaining curious while in hardship, and a cross-country road trip with a dog. Bonus: we saw her husband John Batiste in concert this month as well.

Convenience Store Woman (Sayaka Murata) – I loved this novel narrated by a woman who is seeking to meet societal and cultural expectations as well as her own identity. While the book deals with some heavy topics, this book feels quirky and light.

Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put (Annie B. Jones) – I have been following Georgia bookstore owner Annie B. Jones for a while now and was excited to read her first book. Her honest reflection on often feeling left behind while others are doing “extraordinary” things hit home for me.

May

Run for the Hills (Kevin Wilson) – I absolutely LOVED Nothing To See Here, and while this novel doesn’t reach that bar, it was still a fun end of the school year read.

Queen Hereafter (Isabelle Schumer) – A friend and fellow AP Lit teacher gifted me this novel that her daughter wrote! It’s a prequel to Macbeth; I always love a good Shakespeare spin-off novel.

What Loss Can Teach Us: A Sacred Path Toward Growing and Healing (Beth Taulman) – This book written by a college friend is such a great resource for grief – and not just death – but grief of the loss of a job, a relationship ending, or regret. Highly recommend if you’re in this space.

June – Between the AP Reading, APSIs, and the end of the school year, June in general is not a big reading month for me. All of this paired with my mom’s passing in May, I was just too tired – mentally, physically, and emotionally – to read this month. And that’s okay.

Unspoken Feelings of a Firefly (Javon Alitagtag) – Javon was a participant in one of my summer workshops, and he released a poetry collection this year! I was so excited to read a fellow teacher’s work!

100% Engagement – Happy pub month for Brian and me! This project has been a long time in the works, and we learned so much about writing and teaching. No official work, but we’re dreaming and planning but another project . . .

July 

Lonesome Dove (Larry McMurtry) – I sent an article from The Atlantic on summer reading to my book club admitting that I had never read Lonesome Dove. As it turns out, no one else had read it either (with the exception of one member who vaguely remembers reading it in middle school because her parents wouldn’t get cable tv), and we dove in. This is by far my favorite book of the year and now holds a spot in my Top Five of all time list. I am finishing the year with its sequel, The Streets of Laredo. Brian even joined in the reading, and our text thread for the month of July was amazing LOL.

August

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zewin) – I reread this book for a second time in preparation for this year’s AP Lit and Lang summer reading discussion. Sadie and Sam’s relationship is so complex that I know I could reread again today and still come away with new insights. Just love this book!

Shark Heart (Emily Habeck) – I first heard about this book from Kate Bowler (girl crush #3 in this post) and a student mentioned it the same week as her favorite novel. I needed no other encouragement to dive in. This book is an extended metaphor for grief and is so odd yet beautiful. I cried through the last third of the book. Easily my second favorite book after Lonesome Dove this year.

Franny and Zooey (J. D. Salinger) – I saw an IG reel where Ann Patchett any time she felt stuck in her writing, she reads Franny and Zooey; thus, I immediately had to read it. I loved the idea of a story told over two sittings in a day or two. Great dialogue and conversation!

September

King: A Life (Jonathan Eig) – Brian started this biography, and I decided to join in. Being from Atlanta, I know a lot about MLK Jr. (his memorial, birthplace, and Ebenezer church are in our school district), but I had never read his story from start to finish. Hearing it all at one time instead of in bits and pieces made even more of an impact.

Interior Chinatown (Charles Yu) – A friend asked me to read this as she is thinking about using it in multi-cultural literature. This coming of age story is told through a film script which is so fun and original! I liked – not loved – the story but the structure alone makes this book worth reading.

George Washington Gomez (Americo Paredes) – My friend, Jose Aranda from Rice University, is always talking about this novel, and I wanted to read it 1 – because I trust his recommendations and 2 – as a pairing with Lonesome Dove. I LOVED this classic bildungsroman in spite of the ending that felt so abrupt and unfulfilling (which is the point I think). Added bonus: I’m going to Zoom in to Jose’s class this spring when he lectures on this!!!

October

A Moveable Feast (Hemingway) – I spent a few days in Paris over fall break and read all about Hemingway’s Paris jaunts while I stayed in and walked the streets of St. Germain. Giovanni’s Room was also on my list to read while I was there, but I didn’t get around to it. I guess I’ll have to go back!

The Color Purple (Alice Walker) – This was another book club read that only one of us had read before. How have I never read this book? Georgia author. Pulitzer Prize winner. I have now, and I just loved it recognizing early on that this is not a story of Black women oppression but rather Black women empowerment in spite of oppression.

Teaching without Teaching (Scott Parker) – This short booklet serves as a teaching manifesto calling teachers to remember what’s important in our calling and why we choose to spend our lives in the classroom. Great reminders.

November

The Correspondent (Virginia Evans) – My third favorite book of the year, and this one came out of nowhere for me (and everyone else). I grew to love the protagonist Sybil who tells her story through a series of letters detailing her life details, annoyances, and regrets. Thanks to Brian for introducing me to this book which we in turn used for our first MuchAdoAboutTeaching book club in November. We have so much fun reading this in community!

My Friends (Frederick Backman) – Everyone loves this novel but me. I didn’t love A Man Called Ove either. I have so much respect for Backman pulling so many people into reading but his work falls flat with me for some reason.

Birnam Wood (Eleanor Catton) – Another miss, and I had such high hopes for this novel. The last fourth of the story was good but a real slog until then.

December

Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) – Historical, both character and plot driven, and saucy, I’ve always enjoyed epic stories and series like this. Wolf Hall is amazing. Cue parts two and three for 2026.

Holy Envy (Barbara Taylor Brown) – I heard BTB speak with Jen Hatmaker at this year’s Decatur Book Festival and picked up a copy of Holy Envy that day. Brown accounts her time as a religion professor and how learning about other faith traditions strengthened her own faith. I have been a big BRB fan for decades, and this book did not disappoint.

The Streets of Laredo (Larry McMurtry) – I just started this book, and it will be my last read of 2025. I am excited to pick up where Lonesome Dove left off and continue the journey with these characters. Stay tuned for my review (which I already know will be good).

What should I read in 2026?

Susan Barber teaches AP® English Literature at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as co-chair of the AP® Literature Development Committee. She is the coauthor of The Norton Guide to AP^® Literature: Writing & Skills (Smith, 2022) and 100% Engagement: 33 Lessons to Promote Participation, Beat Boredom, and Deepen Learning in the ELA Classroom (Stabnik, 2025). Susan is most proud of the work she does on a daily basis in E216 and never tires of the beauty and chaos of the classroom.