In this episode of The Bookish Key, I’m looking back at my reading life during the last quarter of 2025.
From quiet favorites to books that surprised me (and a few that didn’t quite work), this is a reflective wrap-up of everything I read and how each story fit into that season of my life.
Rather than rankings or scores, I’m sharing honest thoughts, lingering feelings, and the moments these books created: what stayed with me, what challenged me, and what I might still be thinking about long after turning the last page.
A gentle, personal recap for anyone who enjoys looking at reading as a timeline of moods, curiosity, and growth — and maybe finding a few new additions for their own TBR along the way.
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Join our seasonal bookish challenge!
Discord: https://discord.gg/mPkkexxbQw
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/926b868b-6dd3-45da-9a2c-0dfb9047b36d
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/25073-snow-white
Books mentioned:
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien › https://amzn.to/47ivpH3
Il Principe della Nebbia by Carlos Ruiz Zafon › https://amzn.to/4nkQuVG
Landline by Rainbow Rowell › https://amzn.to/4qqkS3Z
Dracula by Bram Stoker › https://amzn.to/4owYOTj
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang › https://amzn.to/4oBuAP1
Good Guy by Kate Meader › https://amzn.to/42XHRt1
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black › https://amzn.to/4qqunQz
Pumpkin Spice and Not so Nice by › https://amzn.to/3L7Hiqq
Il Battesimo di Sangue by Natascia Luchetti › https://amzn.to/4qJO4mP
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie › https://amzn.to/4oBFNiK
Green Tea by J. Sheridan Le Fanu › https://amzn.to/4reVP3N
Mr. Justice Harbottle by J. Sheridan Le Fanu › https://amzn.to/4rbtpYC
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu › https://amzn.to/4rDIvG6
Imaginary Friend by Steven Chbosky › https://amzn.to/3L6Nf79
Notes On a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig › https://amzn.to/4qzf7B9
Alchemised by SenLynYu › https://amzn.to/4qsj8He
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig › https://amzn.to/4rCIIZR
›› all links are affiliated
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Hi, I'm Elly (she/her) and I'm an educational content creator.
You can find me elsewhere as Ellyskey, sharing my reading life and reflections on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Pagebound, as well as on social media for cozy content, body-doubling, creativity, and slow moments.
✨Where to find me:
twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ellyskey
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellyskey
tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellyskey
bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ellyskey.bsky.social
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ellyskey
storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/ellyskey
pagebound: https://pagebound.co/users/ellyskey
more: https://beacons.ai/ellyskey
contact: [email protected]
Intro jingle by @UncleGuaro - https://zaap.bio/uncleguaro
