There’s something special about revisiting a beloved book, whether it’s a childhood favorite or a recent discovery. Rereading allows us to reconnect with characters and stories that have shaped our perspectives and imaginations.

As we grow older, our understanding and appreciation of these stories can deepen, revealing new insights and themes that may have gone unnoticed during our first encounter. Whether you’re a parent seeking to relive cherished memories with your children or an individual looking to reignite a passion for reading, rereading favorite books offers a unique opportunity to explore how our experiences and perspectives evolve over time.

Keep reading to discover favorite books to reread - sourced from a very special group of folks!

You may be following along with the 2025 Reading Challenge from Homegrown Book Picks. As April approaches, our challenge is to reread a favorite book.

What better place to receive recommendations than from the community that is so active in this challenge - our Homegrown Book Picks FB group ? I put out the call for favorite books and got a wonderful response!

As you can see, our members are reading books for ALL ages - some are reading solo, while others are reading with their children. This is a book challenge for EVERYONE!

I’ve already put several of these books on reserve at my library - and purchased a couple, too!

I would love to hear from you - what is YOUR favorite book? Leave me a comment below — or join me on Facebook and/or Instagram to keep up with the challenge!

(Mine is a toss-up between A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry.)

The response to the 2025 Reading Challenge has been overwhelming! What fun chatting books with you all this past month has been.

(Visit the original challenge post if you have no idea what I’m talking about and would like to join us for the rest of the year!) Don’t forget that kids can join us, too. I’ve heard from some of you that you’re including your children, which makes me extra happy!

What people love about this reading challenge is that it is NO STRESS. If you want to participate, that’s fine. If you don’t, you can watch from the sidelines. Some of you have been very active chatting books in our Facebook group and on Instagram. Others observe. (Whatever floats your boat - I’m just happy we’re all reading!)

What I Read in January

Choosing a book with the word “winter” in the title proved to be a bit difficult. There were several suggestions, and I ultimately chose one I already owned and wanted to read - Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher.

My review from Instagram:

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A post shared by Mary @ Homegrown Learners (@homegrownbookpicks)

As you can tell, this was a five-star book for me. The characters I could fall in love with, a cozy setting, and redemption throughout will make this a favorite of mine for all time.

February Homegrown Book Picks Challenge

In February our challenge is to read a classic. That’s a broad category, isnt’ it?

I’ve decided to read Jane Austen’s Emma. This is a book I haven’t read, and it’s perfect for a month when we celebrate love. A special shoutout goes to a young lady I’ve known since she was little. We talked books as she was growing up, and she is now in college and still an avid reader. She suggested to me that I read this classic!

I purchased this sweet Puffin in Bloom edition at the beginning of the year, too!