These Were Our 5 Most Popular Stories of 2025—And You Won’t Want to Miss Them!

You read, you saved, you shared—and honestly? You have great taste. Throughout 2025, you showed up for the stories that sparked curiosity and made everyday moments a little more exciting. From surprising facts to travel hacks to feel-good news, our stories quickly became your favorites.

At the heart of everything Reader’s Digest publishes is a simple goal: to create content our readers genuinely love. Our mission is to inspire, inform and be “a trusted friend in a complicated world.” Whether we’re helping you discover new places, make sense of what’s happening or find joy in the little things, we’re here for you. That’s why we’ve compiled our Best of 2025, aka our top five stories of the year, along with a few honorable mentions (it was so hard to choose!), that reflect exactly that.

So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable and read on for the stories you loved most—and the ones you may have missed.

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Reader’s Digest’s top 5 stories of 2025

While our most popular stories may seem very different at first glance, they all have one thing in common: curiosity. Four out of five of the top picks are things you’ve probably wondered about but never had the answer to—well, now you do!

Here’s Why Flight Attendants Pay Attention to Your Shoes

Think flight attendants are just smiling at passengers during the boarding process? Think again. They’re actually looking at your shoes—not to judge your style (well, maybe a little) but for a very important safety reason. Believe it or not, your fancy footwear could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. Dramatic? Maybe … but it’s true. They’re also thinking about health and hygiene issues that could affect your overall comfort on the flight. And trust us, once you know what could happen, you’ll never travel the same way again. Click below for the full story.

Here’s Why Making This One Request Is Essential When Checking In to a Hotel

Checking into a hotel can feel like a blur—swipe your card, grab your key card and hope the room is OK. But it turns out there’s one small request savvy travelers make at check-in that can make your stay much smoother. It’s the kind of tip that makes you go, “Why didn’t I think of that before?!” Longtime travel writer and regular Reader’s Digest contributor Melissa Klurman uses this trick all the time and has some bonus tips to make your request go smoothly so you can get exactly what you want.

Here’s Why So Many Flight Attendants Wear Red Lipstick

Yep, another travel story made our top 3 of 2025! Flight attendants are back in this popular piece, but the focus is on them this time around. Now, you’ve probably noticed flight attendants with that classic pop of red lipstick, but it’s not just a style choice—it’s actually a tradition and a strategic decision that goes back decades. Can you guess what it is? Click below to read the full story and see if you’re right.

I Watched All 12 Hours of Ken Burns’s Revolutionary War Documentary So You Don’t Have To

This documentary from Ken Burns isn’t your typical history lesson. This six‑part, 12‑hour documentary dives into the real stories behind the fight for independence, from unsung civilian heroes to famous figures like George Washington. It shows the Revolutionary War as messy, complicated and surprisingly human, far beyond the dates and battles we all learned in school. And this doc is fascinating … but did we also mention that it’s 12 hours long? Well, never fear! We were here to give you the (ahem) Reader’s Digest version detailing its most interesting facts. You’ll want to share what you learned with everyone you know.

Here’s What the “A” in Chick-fil-A Stands For

Chick‑fil‑A has been around for decades, starting way back in 1946 with a tiny diner called the Dwarf Grill in Georgia. Of course, it eventually grew into one of America’s most popular fast‑food chains. And while its chicken sandwiches are the star of the show, there is one head-scratching detail that we’ve always wondered about as we stuff our faces: that capital “A” at the end of its name. There’s actually a reason behind that quirky letter that goes beyond branding, and we have the answers for you right here.

Honorable mentions

But wait—there’s more! We felt compelled to mention these two bonus stories that kept readers well-informed and well-fed this year.

Costco Just Introduced the Kirkland Product We’ve All Been Waiting For

Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand has been around since the mid‑’90s and is basically a love language for members, from its famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken to everyday staples that turn into cult favorites. So when a story popped up about a brand-new offering from Kirkland that readers had been clamoring for, we had to share the big news. Hint: It’s crunchy, salty and (at least when you buy it) frozen. Even better? You’ll get a whopping 5 pounds of it for the price of a latte. See if you can solve our Costco riddle before clicking the link below.

This Fast-Food Restaurant Was Just Rated Top Burger Chain in the U.S.

One of the more delicious stories that got readers talking this year was about which burger chain came out on top in 2025 and what makes its fans swear by it. This new report from Yelp highlighted the standout qualities of the winning brand and showed how our burger tastes are evolving. So do you agree with the No. 1 pick and the rest of the top 10? We sense a debate coming!

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Details About the White House Renovations

Travel Rules That Changed This Year

The Goodreads Choice Award Winners

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Will Cicadas Destroy Your Garden? 10 Things You Need to Know

It’s easy to wince thinking about the mass emergence of insects like cicadas. Their numbers can reach millions per acre, creating a near-deafening buzzing chorus. So it’s understandable that questions like, “Will cicadas eat my plants?” immediately spring to mind. But cicadas are also pretty fascinating and play important roles in the ecosystem. “Cicadas inspire wonder in our world!” says Jennifer Hopwood, senior pollinator conservation specialist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “They spend most of their life underground next to the same plant roots. Somehow, these creatures are able to track the years that pass by and time their emergence with other periodical cicadas in the region to overwhelm predators. They are amazing little critters.” Here’s a rundown of what to know about cicadas, good and bad, including whether or not they eat plants and how to protect your trees during an emergence. Get Readers Digest s Read Up newsletter for more gardening, humor, cl...

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