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2025 is the first year in a long time that I didn't hit my 100 book goal... and I'm surprisingly okay with that. I don't do audio books (I tried this year and while I wish I could, it's just not for me) and I've had a lot of DNFs this year, so I missed the mark on a lot of goals (few non-fiction books, few French books, and a general lack of interest in a lot of reading). I did a lot of cross-stitch and puzzles this year, which has definitely eaten into my reading time.
2025 READING RECAP
78 books total
8 non-fiction
1 in French
16 rereads
TBR: those shelves are looking remarkably full
Top Books of the year:
* Wolfsong by T.J. Klune - this series is a bit of a slow read because the passion and drama are muted, subtle. The world and the characters are absolutely charming though, and I really enjoy how each new book revisits the same world with a new POV, picking up the story through new eyes without recapping or moving too far backwards. There is something cozy but sad about it all.
* Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - I was so skeptical after the Songbirds and Snakes disaster, but this was everything I wanted, capturing the essence of the Hunger Games and Haymitch so well.
* One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune - These books continue to rip me apart emotionally and I love it.
* The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim - I hesitated about this one but the story and the characters were captivating. It took a long time to build up but the mythology, the world-building, and the story have remained in my head for months afterward.
* Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - the author at her best, with all the 90s vampire vibes I needed.
* Loveless by Alice Oseman - I devoured this in a day and it now lives permanently in my brain. One of the best depictions of asexuality and aromanticism I've read.
MOVIES & TV 2025
Movies have been hard this year - the attention span hasn't been very high. I did see two movies in theatres (Wicked and Ballerina, I think).
* Wicked (part 1) (2024) - perfect
* K-Pop Demon Hunters (2024) - perfect
* The Old Guard 2 (2024) - just as satisfying as the first one
As for TV, I watched all of Sandman, lots of Great British Baking Show (and it's Canadian equivalent), finished off Call the Midwife, started watching Fringe, and probably a million other shows I can't even remember now.
SHOWS & EXHIBITS 2025
- ONE OK ROCK with Stand Atlantic at Place Bell (Laval) - seeing them in a much larger setting (not quite stadium but way bigger than Club Soda!) made for a whole new experience. I miss the intimacy but loved the way Taka can reel in the audience
- Hamilton at Place des Arts - all of it was so well done, so well cast... except Aaron Burr, who I didn't like at all. I ruined some of my favorite songs but I really enjoyed the show anyway!
- Music Man at Orpheus Theatre - Lily had a small part so several of us from work went; it was my first local musical production and it was surprisingly good.
- Annie at Orpheus Theatre - another production Lily was in (though a much smaller part). Not my favorite but well done.
- I had tickets to both Donovan Woods and Mother Mother this year but was sick for both of them, so missed out.
NEW MUSIC 2025
- new obsessions for 2025 included NF, Kelsea Ballerini, Citizen Soldier, the new Florence + the Machine album "Everybody Scream", the new HAIM album "I Quit", Tyler Braden, and VOILA
2025 READING RECAP
78 books total
8 non-fiction
1 in French
16 rereads
TBR: those shelves are looking remarkably full
Top Books of the year:
* Wolfsong by T.J. Klune - this series is a bit of a slow read because the passion and drama are muted, subtle. The world and the characters are absolutely charming though, and I really enjoy how each new book revisits the same world with a new POV, picking up the story through new eyes without recapping or moving too far backwards. There is something cozy but sad about it all.
* Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - I was so skeptical after the Songbirds and Snakes disaster, but this was everything I wanted, capturing the essence of the Hunger Games and Haymitch so well.
* One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune - These books continue to rip me apart emotionally and I love it.
* The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim - I hesitated about this one but the story and the characters were captivating. It took a long time to build up but the mythology, the world-building, and the story have remained in my head for months afterward.
* Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - the author at her best, with all the 90s vampire vibes I needed.
* Loveless by Alice Oseman - I devoured this in a day and it now lives permanently in my brain. One of the best depictions of asexuality and aromanticism I've read.
MOVIES & TV 2025
Movies have been hard this year - the attention span hasn't been very high. I did see two movies in theatres (Wicked and Ballerina, I think).
* Wicked (part 1) (2024) - perfect
* K-Pop Demon Hunters (2024) - perfect
* The Old Guard 2 (2024) - just as satisfying as the first one
As for TV, I watched all of Sandman, lots of Great British Baking Show (and it's Canadian equivalent), finished off Call the Midwife, started watching Fringe, and probably a million other shows I can't even remember now.
SHOWS & EXHIBITS 2025
- ONE OK ROCK with Stand Atlantic at Place Bell (Laval) - seeing them in a much larger setting (not quite stadium but way bigger than Club Soda!) made for a whole new experience. I miss the intimacy but loved the way Taka can reel in the audience
- Hamilton at Place des Arts - all of it was so well done, so well cast... except Aaron Burr, who I didn't like at all. I ruined some of my favorite songs but I really enjoyed the show anyway!
- Music Man at Orpheus Theatre - Lily had a small part so several of us from work went; it was my first local musical production and it was surprisingly good.
- Annie at Orpheus Theatre - another production Lily was in (though a much smaller part). Not my favorite but well done.
- I had tickets to both Donovan Woods and Mother Mother this year but was sick for both of them, so missed out.
NEW MUSIC 2025
- new obsessions for 2025 included NF, Kelsea Ballerini, Citizen Soldier, the new Florence + the Machine album "Everybody Scream", the new HAIM album "I Quit", Tyler Braden, and VOILA
