We're hardly the first ones to say that the holidays are a great time to catch up on reading — but it doesn't make it any less true! The daylight may be short, but that's all the better for making progress on our reading lists. We think peak comfort is truly achieved when snuggling up by a warm fire with a good book. (And as a bonus, tucking away with a paperback, hardcover, or e-reader is an effective way to escape family drama.) We’re proud bookworms here at KCM, and we’ve been sharing all sorts of book recommendations throughout the year — from breezy summer reads to swoonworthy romance novels. So we couldn’t leave 2025 behind without sharing our favorite novels, memoirs, and other titles from the past 12 months.
Katie Couric's favorite books of 2025
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston
With all due respect to the Dos Equis dude, after reading Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, I've decided Tom Freston really deserves the title of the most interesting man in the world.
Tom’s unconventional path to corporate success is full of twists, turns, and exciting locales. I love how he let his conscience and heart be his guide as he headed to far-flung places and met unforgettable people along the way. What followed was an unconventional life that shaped Tom's view of business and success — his character, humanity, and enthusiasm never wavered. Not only is Tom one of the coolest guys on the planet, but he’s also got a great mantra for life, writing: “I was always attracted to creative work. I never really focused on money. I wanted to be rich in experience, lead an interesting and useful life without compromise, see faraway places I read about as a boy, and leave some good behind.” He did all that and more, and even if we all can’t follow his path, we can ride shotgun on his journey by reading this wonderful book.
Hope by Cristina Mittermeier
Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier are not only two of my favorite photographers, but they're also two of my favorite people. Their soulfulness and compassion help them capture the most arresting images — their work literally takes my breath away! That’s why I’m so excited to be gifting Cristina’s book, Hope, to my friends who care about the planet — which fortunately, is all of them.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
If you’re looking for a book that slips under your skin and stays there, then The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a great pick. Told entirely through letters, it tracks 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp — a retired lawyer and occasional contrarian — as she navigates vision loss, a past she barely grappled with, and a life of constant writing that masks as much as it reveals. Evans weaves themes of regret, aging, memory, and connection (even the ones we didn’t intend) into a narrative that feels gentle and fierce. It’s not just a novel; it’s a letter to the reader that asks the question, "What have your unsent letters been holding?"
John Molner's favorite books of 2025
1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History by Andrew Ross Sorkin
This eye-opening book takes readers inside one of the most dramatic moments in American history. Through letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts, Sorkin shows how bankers, politicians, and investors genuinely believed they were saving the system — even as they helped bring it down. It’s a fascinating reminder that good intentions can spiral into catastrophe, and that history has a way of repeating itself if we’re not paying attention.
Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben
Nobody writes a page-turning, edge-of-your-seat thriller like Harlan Coben. In his latest one, a secret from former detective Sami Kierce's college days comes back to haunt him. Twenty-two years ago, Kierce — then a carefree college grad backpacking in Spain — woke up covered in blood, next to the body of his girlfriend. He had no idea what happened. Decades later, he sees the girlfriend he thought was dead all these years, and has to retrace that night once and for all.
Future Boy by Michael J. Fox
Fox’s funny and deeply moving memoir offers a reflection on what it was like playing two iconic roles at the same time — Family Ties’ Alex P. Keaton and Back to the Future’s Marty McFly. He incorporates new interviews with the cast and crew of both projects to give us a behind-the-scenes look fans haven’t had before.
Holding the Line by Geoffrey Berman
Berman is the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and served under Attorney General Bill Barr during Trump's first term. His explosive memoir — to borrow a phrase from someone we all know and love — isn’t afraid to go there. Holding the Line gives a blow-by-blow of how far Barr went to try to corrupt the independence of the AG’s office and the lengths Berman went to to try to preserve it. It also delves into casework related to Jeffrey Epstein, Sarah Lawrence College cult leader Lawrence Ray, Big Pharma execs, and others.
I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally
Those may sound like harsh words coming from the restaurateur who brought NYC diners such institutions as Balthazar and Pastis — but McNally’s memoir isn’t just about fine dining. It begins with his angst as a child actor (who knew!) and traces his life story from visiting Kathmandu at 19 to his two failed marriages and beyond. Bill Buford calls it “a frickin’ masterpiece that will be read and talked about for a long time.”
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Dr. Fei-Fei Li’s memoir traces her journey from childhood in China to adolescence as an immigrant marked by financial hardship in the United States. We arrive at her emergence as one of the world’s leading AI researchers. Along the way, she reflects on the ethical responsibilities that come with building powerful technologies, arguing for a human-centered approach to AI that prioritizes dignity, equity, and shared benefit, and ultimately framing her life’s work as a story about seeing the world more clearly — and choosing how that vision shapes the future.
Read Your Mind by Oz Pearlman
If you haven’t checked out Oz’s jaw-dropping interview with Katie, you should start right here. Once you’ve gotten an intro into the world of Oz Pearlman, pick up a copy of his book. It won’t teach you how to become a mentalist, but it’ll do something even more important: show you how to sharpen your cognitive and emotional intelligence so you can beat self-doubt, overcome rejection — OK, and learn how to read people better and influence them.
KCM staff's favorite books of 2025
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang
Huang’s debut novel won a Lambda Literary Award, and her follow-up did not disappoint. The literary novel explores female friendship and rivalry, the intersection of art and technology, and jealousy. It was both beautifully written and deeply disturbing, the type of book that sticks with you long after you close it. – Sara Levine, managing editor of newsletters
The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich by Evan Osnos
As someone who feels sure I'll never be able to boast about being a billionaire (but feel free to surprise me, universe), I was riveted by this look at the world's wealthiest people. Meticulously reported by a New Yorker staff writer, this collection of short nonfiction peels back the curtain on fascinating, rich-people stuff, such as preparing underground shelters for the apocalypse and running a family office that's designed to protect money at all costs. My favorite was the chapter about megayachts, which captures just how petty these titans of industry are when it comes to competing with one another. (I'm still thinking about the person who fields their demands for premium dock placement so the boats can be viewed from the side, rather than head-on, lest any plebeian passerby be unable to gauge just how big they actually are.) – Ryan Buxton, features director
Julie Chan is Dead, Liann Zhang
This satirical novel centers on a set of twins who were separated as children, and it's fun ride perfect for those who like reality TV and true crime. One sister, Chloe, became a wildly successful influencer while the other, Julie, is struggling to get by — until Chloe dies. Julie is the one to discover the body, and instead of calling the police, she assumes her identity. At first, it's morbid but highly satisfying — full of designer shopping and a crash-course in influencing — until she's introduced to the rest of Chloe's influencer circle. Julie uncovers the darker demands of this industry and the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise. – Maggie Parker, site director
How to Lose Your Mother, Molly Jong-Fast
There’s nothing I read faster than a bittersweet, wholly complicated memoir about loss. Journalist and political commentator Molly Jong-Fast has had a brutal relationship with her alcoholic, emotionally unstable, celebrity writer mother, Erica Jong. But when Erica begins demonstrating signs of dementia, Molly has to arrange end-of-life care and dive headfirst into her mother’s confusing legacy as an author, a woman, and a mom. – Diana Valenzuela, assistant editor
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
This prequel/sequel hybrid continues the story of Bunny, Awad's 2019 novel that garnered a cult following for its radically fresh and darkly hilarious take on the horrors of MFA writing programs. As the follow-up begins, we find the narrator of Bunny bound and gagged — she's held hostage by her former foes, who want to set the record straight. As is the case in all of her work, Awad takes readers on a surreal roller coaster ride, and either you'll be on board for it or you won't. I personally loved reading it. Awad's razor-sharp, spectacularly unique prose never fails to entertain me, and I've never laughed harder at characters attacking one another with an ax. – Ryan Buxton
Everyone Is Lying To You by Jo Piazza
This fast-paced thriller tackles the trend on everyone’s minds right now: tradwives. It also skewers social media and influencer culture in general. This is the perfect travel book — I devoured it in one sitting. –Sara Levine
