Top 5 Books I’ve Reread (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome back to day five of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

It’s so hard to believe we only have two more days! If you’ve read my previous posts (Day #1, Day #2, Day #3, & Day #4) this week, feel free to skip on down to today’s theme. And if not, here’s a brief recap.

Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers are sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

Today’s theme is all about books I can’t stop rereading! There are so many books I make sure to read every year or two, simply because I have good memories of them and they’re comfort books. It was honestly difficult to pick just five, so a couple of these are favorite entire series that I’ve been working through again lately… I’m excited to share them!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

Beyond the Bright Sea

Author: Lauren Wolk

Genre: Historical Mystery

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I don’t know how to describe this book other than beautiful. Although the prose is very simple, the themes and truths explored, the glimpses into the characters’ hearts and how real they were, are far from it. The simplistic prose actually helps shine a brighter light on the content itself. I’m rereading this right now, and am continually struck by how honestly and effortlessly hard truths are addressed. It’s refreshing.

I absolutely love the characters I’m meant to love, detest the ones I’m meant to detest, and the book as a whole is so hard to put down. I’m very glad I found another middle-grade that feels very real and allows a deeper glimpse into complicated people.

The setting itself is also so charming, with islands, sailing, and small village life on the coast. The descriptions are precise and vivid, and I could almost smell the sea and feel the wind on my face. I also absolutely loved the themes of adoption, family not always being blood-related, and unconditional love, even in the hard times. Definitely one I’ll keep coming back to.

Tricky Content: Leprosy and illness, ostracization and themes of prejudice, some violence and fighting, sad recollections, a character struggling with feeling like she doesn’t belong and wanting a family

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and older that enjoy slow, sweet tales of belonging, acceptance, and love, written in a charmingly simple and honest style. Bonus points if you like adoption stories and island settings.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

Genre: Children’s Historical

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve yet to know how to voice my true thoughts about this book, because it’s the story I’ve read the most times throughout my life, starting from a young age, and it means a lot to me. I’m not even entirely sure why it hits so deeply.

I recently reread this, and watched the movie, and I think I finally realized that at least the heart of my love for this book is in its raw honesty and hope. It’s a crushing book – exploring grief, loss, and dysfunction through the lens of a young and struggling boy – and I always gravitate toward books that feel real in its portrayal of hard emotions and complicated people. It’s a snapshot of real life.

This by no means has a happy ending, but there’s beauty in the character growth we see by the final pages. Where there was once dysfunction and a boy struggling to see/experience the joy in life, we see a family realize their lack of affection, a boy realize it’s okay to be creative and silly and enjoy imagination, and we also see him pass that hard-earned lesson to someone else. We see the wide-spread impact of a girl unafraid to live life to the fullest and see the beauty and possibility in everything. It’s so hard to compress all my thoughts, but something about those themes has always stuck with me and I love it.

Tricky Content: some language (including several instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain), death of a child (not shown), grief, characters wrestle with the idea of God and church and what they mean

I’d Recommend It To: Readers (maybe 10+?) that enjoy bittersweet, middle-grade, “glimpse of real life” stories that stick to your heart and make you think. (My mom still thinks I’m crazy for liking it, haha)

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Harry Potter Series

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I greatly enjoyed rereading this series this year, listening to the audiobooks this time! This is one of my all-time favorite series, and I enjoy working through the books every couple of years. The world-building, attention to detail, lovable characters, and uniqueness are always so fun to me, and an inspiration for my own stories.

I know these books are controversial (and totally respect each person’s stance on them ), but in my most recent read-through, I’ve been fascinated by some of the deep themes and unintentionally Christian themes weaving their way through the plots and character growth. It’s always a pleasant surprise to find deep truths in books that aren’t necessarily trying to place them in there. These books are a lot of fun, gripping in their mystery and tension, and I love that I can finish them smiling, stressed, and feeling like I learned something all at the same time, haha.

Tricky Content: The books start off much more middle-grade, and gradually become “older” and darker. There is a magic system (“witches and wizards”, spells, wands, mystical beings like goblins, trolls, etc.), possession element in the first book, and – especially in the later books – violence, fighting, and deaths. Several kisses (nothing more), typical teenage drama and crushes, injuries and sicknesses, and lightly-described torture. Frequent uses of mild British swears, and some slurs/insults unique to the world.

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of vividly-described and unique fantasy worlds – especially centered around a magical academy, strong friendships, adventurous vibes, and constant mystery and intrigue.

Here’s the link to add book #1 on Goodreads!

The Hunger Games Series

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: This series is one of my go-to rereads (just referring to the main three books for this review). While the writing style isn’t my usual cup of tea – often more juvenile and jarring – I can’t put these books down once I start, despite knowing the story in and out at this point.

They’re written so well, so evocatively, showing flaws with human nature, morality, the need for entertainment, and broken societies so clearly, that I have no trouble believing it could be an extremely accurate depiction of what life would be like in a Hunger Games world. And that’s scary, which I believe is the point. It’s very thought-provoking!

In addition to the vivid settings and fascinating themes, the characters feel very real and nuanced. Katniss isn’t the typical heroine I expect from modern YA dystopians. She’s angry, irrational, illogical, emotional, brash, and bad with people. She’s far too blunt, doesn’t think carefully enough, and struggles with love. But she’s relatable, honest, and real. She’s not always the most likable, but her unapologetic humanity makes me care. And that’s the case with every other character. They all have backstories and valid reasons to get involved (or not). I care about them, which keeps me coming back to these books again and again.

Tricky Content: Deaths, violence (fights, poisoning, etc.), injuries, manipulation & emotional distress, non-described kisses, characters laying together, intent to commit su*cide, drunkenness

I’d Recommend It To: Readers (probably 16+) that enjoy mostly fast-paced dystopian action books that also dive into romance, political intrigue, and mental health/PTSD exploration and representation.

Here’s the link to add book #1 on Goodreads!

Wishtress

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: Christian Fantasy Romance

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: First of all, THAT COVER. Second, this remains my favorite book by Nadine Brandes, and I love every story she writes. I’m currently reading this one again and loving it!

As always, the prose is absolutely beautiful, and I was hooked from the very beginning. I love all of the characters, except for the ones I’m meant to hate, haha. Myrthe, Bastiaan, Runt, Anouk…the cast is so fascinating and realistic, and I really like all the interweaving among relationships and past events. How everything ultimately connected by the end was stunning. There were many times when I actually stopped and gaped at the book because I couldn’t believe how a connection worked out.

Though I tend to be picky, the romance was a thumbs up from me too! This was very sweet, and I enjoyed watching the two protagonists grow together. And gracious, that ending… it wraps up far better than I thought it would and I like the bittersweet hopefulness. The worldbuilding was so intricate and unique, and there were many times I could practically feel the frostbite and howling winds, the descriptions were so vivid. And as always, the themes are powerful — subtle but hard-hitting.

Tricky Content: Brief non-detailed kisses, deaths, illness, magical elements (more so the world vs spells, etc.), references to a girl being sold as a prostitute, violence and fighting, tension

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy rich and vibrant fantasy worlds, lovely character growth, adventures/journeys, wintery settings, and deep themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared? Do you have any favorite stories you return to again and again? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #6 — the final day!

Don’t forget to enter that giveaway HERE!

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