Read With Jenna's 2025 Book Club Picks Ranked By Reviews

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Jenna Bush Hager's Read With Jenna book club has added another 12 months of books to its shelf, and what a well-read year it's been. The "TODAY Show" host recommended everything from romance novels, to classic literature, to bi-author literary works, making for one of her most varied collections since the former first daughter founded the book club in 2019. Though the diversity is good, so much choice can make it tough to browse through older recommendations, and decide what to read next. But checking out reviews can make that process so much easier.

Each month, as soon as Bush Hager's book choice is confirmed, readers take to Goodreads, and Amazon, where they can add their reviews, and sift through existing ones, finding each book's average star rating out of five. If you like to gather some insight into your next read before spending your hard-earned cash on it, the reader comments and ratings can be a total godsend, and immensely helpful in weeding out which Read With Jenna book picks aren't worth your time. The same goes for her 12 selections of 2025, ranked here by reviews.

"This is a Love Story" by Jessica Soffer was deemed the lowest rated Read With Jenna book of 2025 halfway through the year — and, unfortunately for Soffer, nothing's changed. At the time of writing, February's romance fiction recommendation has a 3.23 rating on GoodReads, and a slightly better 3.7 rating on Amazon, putting its overall number at 6.93 out of 10.

The book follows the love affair of Abe and Jane, and centers around New York City's Central Park, where the two have shared many years of memories. After Jane learns she doesn't have long to live, the couple spends time in the location that means so much to them while reminiscing about their life together. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including Central Park's.

Reviews were mixed for this heart-wrenching work of literary fiction, Read with Jenna's most common genre. On Goodreads, the novel has mostly 3-star reviews, though a 1-star review criticized the author's writing style. "The continuous repetition of 'I remember' and 'You remember' was not innovative to me — just annoying. Then when I got to Alice's section [and] the short, simplistic sentences — well, I was just done," the reader wrote. While the constant repetition was highlighted in many other reviews, Jenna Bush Hager was much more complimentary. "'This is a Love Story' is a beautiful story," she said in an Instagram video, sharing that the book made her reminisce about her own memories in Central Park.

Fairing slightly better than "This is a Love Story" is Read With Jenna's March pick, "The Dream Hotel" by Laila Lalami. The book has a 3.61 rating on Goodreads, and 3.8 on Amazon, scoring a total of 7.41 out of 10 at the time of writing. 

The protagonist of this dystopian, sci-fi book is Sara, a woman who gets apprehended at the airport, and told that data collected from her dreams has suggested she may be about to hurt her husband. Now considered a danger, she's locked away in a less-than-luxury women's detention center for months — until a newbie arrives, and changes everything.

"I started this book. I read it in a weekend. I could not put it down. It is really relevant. It's a meditation on freewill, sisterhood, the power of love, and the power of hope," Jenna Bush Hager gushed in a video on Instagram. On Goodreads, though, not all readers were so enthusiastically complimentary. "On a conceptual level I enjoyed this book's messages about technofascism, the exploitation of prison labor, and how people who stand up against injustice are often the ones who are most punished," read one 3.5-star review. "That said, I found the structure of the novel a little middling and that it focused more on plot than character-building." Others also criticized the overall lack of character development.

Based on combined ratings from Amazon, and Goodreads, "The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus" by Emma Knight, Read With Jenna's choice for January, ranks in 10th place. At the time of writing, it's amassed a score of 4.0 on Amazon, and 3.44 on GoodReads, for 7.44 out of 10. 

The coming-of-age novel tells the formative story of Pen as she goes from Canada to Edinburgh for college. While across the pond, she catches up with an old family friend, discovers some serious family secrets, and experiences falling in love for the first time.

On Goodreads, a 3-star review stated, "Overall I liked the story. But the pacing felt off and it was boring at times. For a first novel, I felt that the author was trying way too hard." Others also expressed confusion over the metaphorical octopus referenced in the title. But Jenna Bush Hager had a lot more praise for the novel. "It's a beautiful book," she said in an Instagram video. "It's about motherhood and love. It's filled with heart, and it also has some steamy romance."

Making it a little further up the list is Claire Lynch's "A Family Matter," Read With Jenna's choice for June. This book combines a 3.71 rating on Goodreads with a 4.0 rating on Amazon, for a total of 7.71 at the time of writing. 

The historical fiction book starts in the 1980s with Dawn, a young mom and wife who finds herself enthralled with a woman named Hazel. Dawn struggles with the expectations put upon her by others, and doesn't feel like she can truly be herself. The novel also adopts the perspective of a man named Heron, in 2022, as he struggles to tell his daughter about a sad health diagnosis, and the secrets he's been keeping from her for decades.

The book is one of Read With Jenna's picks containing vital LGBTQ+ representation. It has predominantly 3- and 4-star reviews on Goodreads, with one 4-star review calling it, "Gripping, heartbreaking, beautifully written, hard to put down and thought provoking." However, others criticized the book for not fully fleshing out the fictional environment. "More of a message than a story. Characters are shallow, storytelling is dry, and the world the author builds is lacking," another reader wrote. While discussing the book in an Instagram video, though, Jenna Bush Hager recommended it to anyone who loves twist and turns, and poignant family stories. "This book is about first chances, second chances, and the beautiful, messy ways families hold together and fall apart," she said.

The eighth most positively reviewed book from Jenna Bush Hager's 2025 recommendations is "Happy Wife" by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores. It was chosen for July and, at the time of writing, it has a rating of 3.72 on Goodreads, and 4.1 on Amazon, bringing the total score to 7.82. 

"Happy Wife" is about Nora Davies, a woman whose wealthy husband goes missing the day after she throws him a birthday party. Nora looks back on their romance, searching for clues about where he may have gone, while also finding out if he has any skeletons in his closet.

In an Instagram video, Bush Hager read an excerpt from the mystery thriller, and told fans that she loved the book. Many Read With Jenna followers apparently appreciated the novel just as much, as 44% of its reviews on Goodreads are 4-star. "Wasn't 100% crazy about the ending, but omg the ride was FUN. Twisty, sparkly, and dangerously addictive," one review said. However, some questioned Bush Hager's choice, with one Goodreads user writing, "I am also surprised to see it as Jenna's July pick? I feel like she goes for more thought provoking novels ... and this was more breezy."

Read with Jenna's October selection, Heather Aimee O'Neill's debut novel, "The Irish Goodbye," ranks seventh on the list. It has a score of 7.93 out of 10 at the time of writing, made up of a 3.83 rating on Goodreads, and 4.1 on Amazon. 

"The Irish Goodbye" centers around three sisters heading home for Thanksgiving, 20 years after a horrific boat accident left a family friend dead, and resulted in the suicide of their brother. All three sisters hold secrets, and guilt over the incident. Tensions rise as the trio tries to heal old wounds in close proximity.

Jenna Bush Hager shared how much she loved the book while recommending it in an Instagram video, sharing, "'The Irish Goodbye' is the perfect fall read ... It's so much fun, it's kind of like a soap opera. You'll love it." Although not all reviews were as positive, an impressive 48% of them on Goodreads give the book 4 stars. "'The Irish Goodbye' sits just under 300 pages and while I wish we could stay with this family for a bit longer, it packed a punch with [its] story and characters," one of them said. However, others claimed there wasn't a lot of meaty action in the book, and some found it too quick to read (though this is what makes it one of Read With Jenna's short and sweet books to help you meet your reading goal.)

Narrowly missing out on a spot in the top five is Read With Jenna's August recommendation, Emma Nanami Strenner's "My Other Heart." It has a 3.86 Goodreads rating, and a slightly better 4.3 on Amazon, for a combined score of 8.16 out of 10.

This moving novel begins in the 1980s, when Mimi Truang's daughter goes missing in a U.S. airport while they're making their way home to Vietnam. Mimi returns to the country 17 years later to find her, and while there, she meets Kit, and her friend Sabrina. From there, so many secrets become unravelled. 

Though some readers weren't fully impressed by Nanami Strenner's character development, in one 4-star Amazon review, a reader shared, "It's well-written, kept my attention, and had me experiencing a healthy range of emotions. If you like coming-of-age stories, this is one you should definitely add to your TBR." And Jenna Bush Hager would likely agree. "I love this book so much. It's the story of mothers, daughters, friendship. It's full of heart and full of twists. I could not put it down," she wrote on Instagram.

At the time of writing, "Heartwood" by Amity Gaige has an average Goodreads rating of 3.95. Combine that with its average Amazon rating of 4.3, and it's got an impressive 8.25 out of 10. 

Read With Jenna's April pick explores Valerie Gillis' despair after she gets lost on the Appalachian Trail. Knowing she's in danger, Valerie begins to write heartfelt letters to her mom. Meanwhile, rescuers desperate to find her include amateur sleuth Lena, who searches for clues about Valerie's whereabouts at her retirement home. Amid Lena's attempts to track Valerie down, it soon becomes clear that the disappearance may not be accidental.

Speaking about the story on Instagram, Jenna Bush Hager said, "Amity Gaige wrote this incredible book that is somehow genre-bending. In moments it feels like a propulsive thriller-mystery, and at other moments it's so tender, and it's a love story between mother and daughter." She continued, "I love it, I love it, I love it. I promise you, if you open this book, you will not put it down." Readers shared a similar sentiment on GoodReads, where more than half of reviews gave the book 4 or 5 stars. "Overall, this novel delivers a gripping mystery with a heartfelt exploration of motherhood, self-discovery, loneliness, and resilience. While the pacing is slow at times, the well-drawn characters and suspense kept me invested, eager to find out Valerie's fate," read one review.

Narrowly besting "Heartwood" is "The Names" by Florence Knapp, which Jenna Bush Hager put on our radars in May, making it one of Read With Jenna's 2025 summer hits. Knapp's debut novel has an overall rating of 8.35 at the time of writing, and is the first book on this list to have a 4-star rating or higher on both Goodreads (where it has a 4.15 average) and Amazon (where it sits at 4.2.)

"The Names" delves into what's really in a name as Cora registers her son's birth. The story spins into three alternate versions of the child's life, exploring how things would be different for him if he had a different name — the one Cora gives him, the one Gordon gives him, or the one chosen by his sister.

On Instagram, Jenna Bush Hager told her followers, "I'm obsessed with this book ... It's a debut novel that is so, so beautiful." She added, "It's a book about second chances. It's a book about family. It's a book about hope. I think you will love it." And plenty did. On Goodreads, 41% of the novel's reviews are four-star, and 38% are five-star. Though some felt the characters were not fully developed, one 5-star review declared, "...By the time I reached the final chapter, I was overwhelmed with emotion. 'The Names' is filled with poignant moments, deeply relatable characters, and a message that lingers long after the last page."

Oyinkan Braithwaite's "Cursed Daughters" ranks in the top three of the most positively reviewed Jenna Bush Hager picks of the year. At the time of writing, it has an average Goodreads rating of 4.07 stars, and 4.4 stars on Amazon, which combined give it an impressive 8.47 out of 10. 

The fantasy story, which Read With Jenna chose for November, is about Eniiyi, who is born into a cursed family whereby any man they grow close to meets a tragic fate. The family believes Eniiyi is the reincarnation of her late cousin, and as such, she is forced to walk in their footsteps. But after falling in love, Eniiyi has to decide if she's going to let the evil curse take over, or if she'll break it once and for all, thus freeing herself to live her own life.

Writing about the story on Instagram, Jenna Bush Hager told fans, "This book made me laugh, cry, and reach for a pen to underline its truths. It's one you'll want to share with every woman you love." A notable 47% of readers on Goodreads seemed to agree, giving the novel 4 stars. One review called it "A gorgeously written immersive story of mothers and daughters, curses, reincarnation and what it means to inherit both beauty and burden. Such an easy read with short chapters." Others praised its dark humor, and Braithwaite's mature writing style.

Landing in second place is Patrick Ryan's "Buckeye," Read With Jenna's September pick. With 43% of its Goodread reviews 5-star at the time of writing, this book has a 8.54 rating (made up of 4.24 on Goodreads, and 4.3 on Amazon.) 

The story starts around World War II, as two couples' lives become entwined. There's Cal and Betty, who are having trouble because Cal doesn't believe his wife when she claims she has the gift of speaking to the dead, and then there's Margaret and Felix. Felix is stationed on a wartime ship when Margaret receives heartbreaking news that suggests that he could be in danger. But as it turns out, Cal and Margaret have a secret — and, years later, it and other secrets are uncloaked.

One 5-star Goodreads review of the nostalgic tale stated, "Written with so much heart and tenderness, 'Buckeye' is one of those remarkable stories that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. I loved each of the characters and Patrick wrote their flaws so beautifully." Others also praised Ryan's strong writing skills, and Jenna Bush Hager's review was just as glowing. "I found it really interesting to think about [war] from a human standpoint," she said in an Instagram video.

Easily the most positively reviewed Read With Jenna book of 2025 is December's pick, and a literary classic. Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" (featuring a forward by Nicola Yoon) towers above the year's other books with (at the time of writing) an overall combined rating of 9.0. That number's the sum of a 4.29 average on Goodreads (where 55% of all reviews are 5-star) and a 4.8 rating on Amazon. 

The world famous novel, first published in 1813, tells the coming-of-age story of Elizabeth Bennet, a member of high society, and one of five children. It follows her life as she deals with the difficulties of growing up and, of course, falling in love with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

One 5-star Goodreads review praised multiple aspects of the book, from the plot to Austen's writing. "Overall, the writing could not have been better. It was descriptive, lush and brilliant. The story could not have been more engaging or intelligent and the characters could not have been more magnificentastic," it read. Others were enthralled by how timeless the book remains. Jenna Bush Hager and her co-star, Savannah Guthrie, both described the classic as one of their favorite novels on the "TODAY Show," when the former confirmed her final book pick for the year. "If you haven't read Jane Austen, I hope this is your gateway," Bush Hager said.

To rank Read With Jenna's 2025 book club picks, we looked at each book's average Goodreads star rating (out of five) at the time of writing. We combined that number with the book's star rating on Amazon (also out of five) to create a score out of 10, then ranked the choices in descending order. We also considered the consensus of both negative and positive reviews to determine what the average reader liked and disliked about each recommendation.