So Yun Um

So's Digital Diaries

Welcome to So’s Digital Diaries. In order to diversify my means of communication, I am consolidating my posts from substack, mailchimp, and other social media posts here. Horray to no ads and evil conglomeration spying on us.

My Favorites of 2025 ❣️🍿📚💋🎶

NOTE: This post was originally posted on So’s substack — The Moon is Reaching For You..

2025 was the year of the snake and as a snake, I can officially say, I had one of the most transformative and memorable years of my life!

In honor of “my year” I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried new things for the first time like pottery, online dating, taking a firearms class through Progressive Shooters, reading a lot more, making new friends, re-connecting with old ones, starting new projects (Americana Bang Bang!!!), & so much more.

While life continues to rapidly change and challenge me as a whole, the one constant that keeps me going are my love for films, books, music, and everything in between. I mean, what is life without these small pleasures?!

TOP 10 FAVORITE FILMS OF 2025 🎥

Here are my top 10 favorite films of 2025. It’s no surprise why I like these films and why they resonated so much with me. Especially for a top 10 list, I picked films that made me feel alive, that challenged and expanded on the film form in interesting ways, and reaffirmed my love for cinema.

One film that went under the radar that I absolutely adored was Nia DaCosta’s HEDDA (now on Amazon). I always say Nia DaCosta is a baby genius even though we’re the same age because I just think she’s so brilliant as a writer and director. I watched HEDDA and was stunned at the precision and talent that was oozing from the screen. I found Tessa Thompson to be completely magnetic and the storytelling simply hypnotic. To think that she made this and 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE back to back. Now, THAT’S what I call range!

With award season upon us, I don’t think I need to explain why OBAA and SINNERS are certified bangers and exactly to my liking. HOT TAKE: I haven’t been THIS emotionally connected and in love with PTA’s work in so long and of course, it’s a film that’s politically charged and so relevant to today’s biggest issues: immigration, ICE, fighting facism, etc. It has everything I love about films—it’s ability to impact perspectives and minds on current issues especially during a time where everything little thing feels/is so divisive. And does SINNERS really need an explanation? It’s about vampires so yeah, I’m IN. (Also remember when I wrote how vampires are recession indicators? Vampires are so hot right now.)

The rest of the list speak for themselves. Better yet, check them out and you’ll see exactly why they’re not only my favorite but also the best films of the year.

Also check out my general Top Films of 2025 list.

FAVORITE BOOKS 📚

I’m the SLOWEST reader but I’ve challenged myself these past few years to start reading more. I read about 15 books in 2025, mostly through audiobooks (via Hoopla and Libby) and physical books from the library. I’ve been into more dark academia lately and still currently reading R.F Kuang’s KATABASIS. It’s been interesting thus far.

Out of the 15 books I read though, my favorite has been Monika Kim’s THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART, which is a horror novel that follows a Korean American woman who basically becomes a serial killer. Sounds very much up my alley!

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Ali Hazelwood’s DEEP END

NOTE: I’ve been tracking all my reading on StoryGraph which I highly recommend over Goodreads.

FAVORITE TUNES 🎶


If you know me, I usually strictly listen to K-pop all year round. But as the season change, I’ve expanded (a little). As a millennial through and through, I naturally gravitate towards pop or depressing songs. There is no in between.

At the top of the year, I was enamored with everything ROSE. She is my Blackpink bias after all. Her album was one of my most listened to albums of the year. I’m so glad all the Blackpink members were able to carve out their own identity but Rose has been a standout for me. She broke records with APT (fastest song to hit 1 BILLION views on YouTube?!) and SHATTERED the goody two shoe K-pop image by sharing an on-screen kiss (?!) with Evan Mock in the ‘toxic till the end’ music video. Maybe that’s being a bit too dramatic but for a female K-pop idol, IT’S A BIG DEAL!

And then on the other side of my music taste spectrum, there is NOT FOR RADIO, The Maria’s very own front woman, María Zardoya’s solo project. As a hopeless romantic, any songs about yearning and unrequited love is right up my alley. And who does it better than Maria. There is such pain and softness in her voice that pulls on my heart strings. I can’t wait for the day till I can hear her live but until then, her album, MELT, will be on repeat.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

So Yun Um