In this Season Two kickoff episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth look back at their Top 10 books of 2025, spanning sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, literary fiction, and standout nonfiction that reads like fiction. From epic, immersive reads and thought-provoking classics to surprising favorites and an audiobook honorable mention, they reflect on reading habits, bookish stats, and what makes a story truly memorable. Stick around to the end for the big reveal of the podcast’s 2026 theme.

00:56 Top 10 Books of 2025

02:31 Similar Books in our Top 10

03:59 Long Books and Epic Reads

05:27 Medical Insights in Fiction

06:57 Stephen King's Dark Tower Series

08:00 Romantasy Reads and Sequels

10:28 Book Club Favorites

13:31 More of Elizabeth's Top 10 Books

23:15 Rounding Out the Top 10

25:12 Andrea's Favorite Audiobook of the Year

26:16 Number of Books Read for the Year

27:07 Epic Trilogies for 2026

Books Mentioned

A Psalm for the Wild-Built — Becky Chambers (Andrea & Elizabeth)

The Dispossessed — Ursula K. Le Guin (Andrea & Elizabeth)

Awry with Dandelions — J.S. Fields (Andrea)

The Covenant of Water — Abraham Verghese (Elizabeth)

Wolves of the Calla — Stephen King (Elizabeth)

The Moonday Letters — Emmi Itäranta (Andrea)

Water Moon — Samantha Sotto Yambao (Andrea)

Quicksilver — Callie Hart (Andrea)

When the Moon Hatched — Sarah A. Parker (Andrea)

All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker (Andrea)

By Any Other Name — Jodi Picoult (Andrea)

Wellness — Nathan Hill (Elizabeth)

Bel Canto — Ann Patchett (Elizabeth)

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland — Patrick Radden Keefe (Elizabeth)

James — Percival Everett (Elizabeth)

Squeeze Me — Carl Hiaasen (Elizabeth)

In the Heart of the Sea — Nathaniel Philbrick (Elizabeth)

Blood Over Bright Haven — M.L. Wang (Andrea)

Honorable Mention: Best Audiobook

You Didn’t Hear This From Me: Mostly True Notes on Gossip — Kelsey McKinney, narrated by the author

Referenced Articles and Media:

New York Times: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

The Global Wellness Economy Hits a Record $6.8 Trillion and Is Forecast to Reach $9.8 Trillion by 2029

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/press-releases/the-global-wellness-economy-hits-a-record-6-8-trillion-and-is-forecast-to-reach-9-8-trillion-by-2029

The Smithsonian Magazine - The Snakes That Ate Florida

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/snakes-ate-florida-180972534/

Freakonomics Podcast - The First Great American Industry

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-first-great-american-industry/

In the Heart of the Sea - IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1390411/