The books I read in 2025

My usual reading round-up is a bit late – I’ve been putting it off – but better late than never: I’ve finally managed to post it in May… It might give you some inspiration for the warmer weather!

If you’ve been following my reading reviews over the past few years, you’ll know that reading became part of my daily routine again in 2021 and that, even though my reading pace is rather inconsistent, I always enjoy picking up a novel and, through it, switching off from screens, escaping reality and giving my imagination a workout. You can find my previous reading reviews ( 2024 here, 2023 here et 2022 there) si vous cherchez des idées.

 

READING AT MY OWN PACE

As with many things, I don’t like setting myself targets. The same goes for reading. This year I’ve continued to read at my own pace, sometimes reading one book after another or spending several weeks on a single one. I still managed to get through 19 books, a mix of essays and novels. There are still quite a few novels related to Japan, but not exclusively, and two books read in English. So, I’ll leave you to discover my 2025 reading list… perhaps we have a few in common!

 

MY FAVORITES 

LETTRES D’AMOUR DE KAMAKURA by OGAWA ITO
I’m still just as big a fan of Ogawa Ito’s writing as ever, and this third instalment follows on from « The Tsubaki Stationery Store » and « The Republic of Happiness », which I’ve already talked about before. We meet Hatoko again, a few years on, with a growing family, who, after a break of several years, decides to resume her work as a public writer at her famous stationery shop in Kamakura. The warm sentiments are as well-balanced as ever and conveyed without being too cheesy. Gentle, sensitive and as comforting as ever. (My more detailed review here)

THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by MAGGIE O’FARRELL
A novel I would never have read if I had not followed the glowing recommendation of Dan Smith, from my favourite band Bastille. The author of « Hamnet » (a novel I haven’t read, but I’ve seen and enjoyed the film adaptation) draws inspiration from the story of Lucrezia during the Italian Renaissance, who was married at the age of 15 to Duke Alfonso. I enjoyed the visual and sensory details, the narrative style (this time I opted for the translated version rather than the original) and the plot, which at times verges on the chilling atmosphere of a thriller.

HUNGER GAMES : SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by SUZANNE COLLINS
I absolutely loved this prequel to the Hunger Games series, set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s Hunger Games and 40 years after the games in « The Ballad of the Snake and the Singing Bird ». I was really intrigued by the story of the 50th Hunger Games, in which the famous mentor Haymitch Abernathy took part when he was younger. I’ve set out in detail everything I loved about this Instagram post, if you’d like to hear my full thoughts. But I can already tell you that I can’t wait to see the film adaptation of this novel in November!

HOPES & FEARS, LYRICS AND HISTORY by KEANE
A collection of archive documents, photos and interviews with members of my favourite band, KEANE, about their debut album *HOPES & FEARS*. A collector’s item and a real treat for a fan like me.

 

MY FAVORITE READING MOMENTS

YELLOW FACE by REBECCA F.KUANG
I read it in the original language and don’t regret it, as the pace (along with the first-person narration) was fluid and dynamic. It offers a deep dive into the world of publishing and explores the issue of cultural appropriation in a thoroughly gripping way.

TOKYO EXPRESS by SEICHŌ MATSUMOTO
I really got caught up in this story of a double suicide by lovers set against the backdrop of Japanese trains. A short, easy-to-read crime novel.

WABI-SABI, À L’USAGE DES ARTISTES DESIGNERS, POÈTES ET PHILOSOPHES de LEONARD KOREN
It’s always very inspiring to read about minimalism and the beauty of imperfection, even if it didn’t really teach me anything new.

INSTANTANÉS D’AMBRE by YŌKO OGAWA
Having read « The Memory Police »  in 2022, I was drawn to this novel by Yōko Ogawa, who remains true to her strange and poetic world. The story of these children cut off from the outside world is at once mysterious, contemplative and unsettling. Although it took me a while to get through it, I enjoyed reading it.

VU À HARAJUKU by VANESSA MONTALBANO
An analysis of dress codes in Japan, highlighting what they reveal about Japanese social norms and pressures

TOKYO CRUSH by VANESSA MONTALBANO
I really enjoyed this diary of the author’s ‘dates’ – she’s an expat in Japan – and this insight into romantic relationships in the Land of the Rising Sun.

ÉLOGE DU PEU by KOIKE RYUNOSUKE
Just a gentle reminder of the need to let go of material things in order to focus on what really matters. Not everything is crystal clear or easy to put into practice, but it’s still inspiring.

 

Y RETOURNERAI-JE ? by FRANÇOIS SIMON
A guide to top spots by food critic François Simon, interwoven with poetic reflections, quotes and other musings on the virtues of taking one’s time, the joys of good food, and good (or bad) taste, in the style of the videos on his Instagram account.

RÉSISTER by SALOMÉ SAQUÉ
A well-researched and concise essay (I read the first edition, but a second, updated edition has since been published) offering practical and interesting ideas for combating the rise of the far right. An accessible and essential book.

SLENDEUR ET MISÈRES DES GROUPIES by SOPHIE BENARD
I really enjoyed this essay, which restores the groupie’s reputation, examines the meaning of the term and the misogynistic stereotypes associated with it. As I am a groupie myself to varying degrees, I found it particularly interesting.

A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN by VIRGINIA WOOLF
A feminist classic I’ve wanted to read for a long time. I really appreciated the substantive reflections (on the financial independence necessary for creativity, and on confronting the male gaze and misogyny), but I was less taken with the somewhat disjointed style, which reads like a stream of consciousness.

 

BOOKS I MODERATLY ENJOYED

LA MAISON NOIRE by YUSUKE KISHI
I really enjoyed *Lesson of the Evil* by the same author, a thriller set in a school. Here, we’re plunged into the world of insurance. I was really drawn into the plot right up until the ‘plot twist’. After that, I found the escalation into horror a bit over the top. (Not for the faint-hearted, mind you)

BEAUTÉ FATALE by MONA CHOLLET
This is the first book by Mona Chollet that I’ve read, and although I appreciated her incisive analysis of the alienating aspects of physical appearance for women, I must admit I was a little disappointed by the slightly moralising and condescending tone. It’s still worth reading, though, to reflect on your own relationship with fashion and beauty.

PETITES BOÎTES by YŌKO OGAWA
Although I’m starting to get used to Yōko Ogawa’s fantastical world, I found this novel a little too contemplative and slow-paced. Despite its metaphorical nature, I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, as I would have liked more answers on certain topics.

BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE

Henrik Ibsen’s original play vs the stage adaptation in London in May 2025, starring Ewan McGregor (Hello François ;-))

THE MASTER BUILDER by HENRIK IBSEN
I read this Norwegian play (in English) solely to prepare myself for the production of « My Master Builder » in London, which I saw in May 2025 because my dear Ewan McGregor was starring in it. I preferred the adaptation to the original play (a fine performance and clever staging really lifted the whole thing). Several themes are explored, such as ambition, grief and the clash between different generations, but I really struggled to connect with the characters or find them interesting, which left me rather underwhelmed.