Looking Back on 2025: Stories, Songs, and Films I Loved

By Yasmin Chaudhary

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on all the stories, songs, and movies that shaped my year — the ones that made me laugh, cry, escape, or simply pause for a moment of reflection. As a writer, reading has always been a source of inspiration and joy for me, and it’s something my mother instilled in me from a young age. She read constantly, and I grew up following in her footsteps, sharing books with her and soaking up her love for stories. Some of my fondest memories include reading Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells together. Those shared moments nurtured my imagination and fueled my love for storytelling — a love that continues to influence my own writing today.

Movies have been another way I’ve unwound this year. I enjoy relaxing and escaping into a story, and thanks to HBO Max (which I snagged during the Black Friday sale), I had plenty of options at my fingertips. Sinners quickly became my favorite film of 2025 — not just because it’s an incredible story with a star-studded cast, but also because Michael B. Jordan… let’s be real, I was lusting over him 😂😂😂. I even went to see it in theaters with my husband, and it was everything I hoped for. Other films also offered amazing experiences and memorable storytelling that made the year richer.

Music, of course, is always with me. I’ve been deeply immersed in R&B this year — some familiar voices, some new favorites. Artists like Chris Brown, Mario, Kehlani, Leon Thomas, SZA, Coco Jones, Summer Walker, and Alex Isley provided the soundtrack to my days. Even songs that came out last year still captured me in 2025, like Good Good by Usher ft. Summer Walker and 21 Savage — I just love Usher and always will. Music is my constant companion, whether I’m writing, riding in a rideshare, or just relaxing at home.

Some of these picks are widely acclaimed, some quietly brilliant, and a few I’m shamelessly biased about — yes, I’m talking about Silent Triggers. Sharing my favorites isn’t just about listing what I loved; it’s about marking a year, honoring the moments that stuck with me, and celebrating the small ways art comforts, inspires, and connects us.

So here’s my collection of 2025 favorites: the books that captivated me, the movies that thrilled and entertained me, and the songs that kept me company. I hope you find something here that sparks your curiosity, makes you feel something, or simply reminds you of the power of stories, music, and film to enrich our lives.

Books

• The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe – James Patterson
• Better in Black – Cassandra Clare
• The Seven Rings – Nora Roberts (The Lost Bride Trilogy #3) — a haunting finale blending suspense and romance.
• The Glass Unicorn: Part 3 & Part 4 – Yasmine Galenorn (Quest Wars)
• The Bookstore Keepers & The Bookstore Family – Alice Hoffman (Bookstore Sisters series, part of Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories)
• The Sunflower House – Adriana Allegri
• Silent Triggers – my own book, and yes, I’m completely biased about this one 📚✨

Movies

• Sinners
• One Battle After Another
• Nezha 2
• Weapons

Songs

• Moan – Mario
• Mutt – Leon Thomas ft. Chris Brown
• It Depends (Remix) – Chris Brown ft. Bryson Tiller & Usher
• Folded – Kehlani
• Not Fair – Leon Thomas
• 30 for 30 – SZA ft. Kendrick Lamar
• On Sight – Coco Jones
• Pookie’s Requiem – SAILORR (I’ve quoted part of this on my personal IG)
• Ms. Good Two Shoes – Alex Isley
• Baby – Summer Walker ft. Chris Brown
• Good Good – Usher ft. Summer Walker and 21 Savage