It's finally time to share the best books I read in 2025, and I can't wait to share them all!
Because I read over a hundred books most years, I usually split my 'best books' lists up into two posts, one featuring new releases from that year and one featuring backlist titles. This year, however, I somehow didn't end up with as many as usual so I'm combining them all into one single list of my favorite books of the year plus a list of honorable mentions, which feels very weird for me, haha.
Let me know if you've read any of these books and what your thoughts are (it's okay if you don't like them!) and if you have your own list, please feel free to link it below so I can come check it out!
And just as a quick note, my annual yearly reading stats post where I take a look at what genres I read the most of, what format of book I read the most, where I got my books, etc. will be up within the next week, so stay tuned for that!
Let me know if you've read any of these books and what your thoughts are (it's okay if you don't like them!) and if you have your own list, please feel free to link it below so I can come check it out!
And just as a quick note, my annual yearly reading stats post where I take a look at what genres I read the most of, what format of book I read the most, where I got my books, etc. will be up within the next week, so stay tuned for that!
Now, since you're probably here for the books and not my rambling, let's just get into the list! (Please note that these are in no particular order because picking favorites is hard enough, I'm not about to try to rank them, also.) For those that I've reviewed, I've added a link to my review next to the title for you to check out if you want to know more than whatever I vaguely ramble about it.
The Wolf and His King genuinely stole my heart a little bit--and it may have also made me cry a little bit as well. It's beautifully written and emotionally devastating in a myriad of ways. It's a story about loyalty, love, identity, and so much more and hit me so much harder than I expected. And did I mention it's beautifully written? Every sentence flowed effortlessly and was that type of gorgeous prose that feels like a gift to read that I could just keep reading over and over. It's a gorgeous story and you must read this one!
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson - Review
This was possible one of the more surprising favorites I read this year simply because I had absolutely no idea that I would end up as captivated by this book as I was. It's intelligent, witty, intricately plotted, and utterly compelling and cleverly written with so many twists and turns that truly took me for a spin--and I loved every minute of it. Not to mention how well-developed both main and secondary characters were, which made it even easier to fall into this world and become invested in it. It felt like a fresh new fantasy that draws on many familiar tropes and elements, but elevates them to new levels in some very surprising and engaging ways. I genuinely cannot wait for a sequel.
The Strength of the Few by James Islington
As one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, this book had a lot of pressure on its back. Fortunately, Islington did not let me down and delivered a masterful work of fantasy that has me constantly amazed at the sheer complexity of his world-building and plotting. I had no idea what to expect from one page to the next, and the stakes have somehow escalated even more in this book. I am a huge fan of how Islington crafts his characters and found myself really fascinated by some of the directions he went in this book (I'm sorry this so vague, but I'm avoiding spoilers!), and I'm eager awaiting the next book already.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - Review
This was one of those that I had ridiculously high hopes for because everything I'd heard about it made it sound like something I'd love, but that also made me that much more nervous to finally read it... and it ended up being just as amazing as I'd hoped it would be. This book is a deeply unsettling slow-burn horror that really thrives on the atmosphere of unease it creates and builds upon throughout the story. This is the type of book that really seeps under your skin and plays around with memory, space, and all sorts of uncanny ideas until you're no longer sure what's real. Highly recommended, but definitely for those who don't mind when things get a bit funky. (And if you've seen the movie The Endless from Moorhead and Benson, you might like this!)
Vita Nostra, the first book in this series, is one of my favorite books, and I finally got around to reading this one this year and continue to find myself blown away by the minds of Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. This book was utterly surreal, metafictional, unsettling, and so many other crazy things that just keep my mind spinning in the best way possible. This book bends genres, expectations, and even reality until nothing in life feel stable anymore, and I'm pretty sure that's exactly the point.
Grave Empire by Richard Swan - Review
I wasn't surprised to love this one as much as I did, but that didn't take away from how impressed I was, once again, by Swan's creative depth and ability to craft worlds and stories that grab you immediately and don't let go. Grave Empire easily merged fantasy with horror to create an ambitious and utterly compelling new world and story. There's heavy political intrigue, ethical questions and explorations of power, and characters that quickly pull you in.
Alice With a Why by Anna James
Despite my lukewarm feelings about Anna James' previous series, Alice With a Why was a genuine delight and took me completely by surprise with how much I loved it. It is completely overflowing with wit and whimsy and perfectly captured the heart and whimsy of Lewis Carroll's writing while still managing to make this story her own. I think any Alice in Wonderland fan (and even those who may not be fans) would appreciate this one!
The Blackfire Blade by James Logan - Review
This was another highly anticipated release of mine that did not let me down despite a rocky start at the beginning when I wasn't sure if this was going to hit the same way as the first book. The Blackfire Blade is an exceedingly excellent epic fantasy sequel and exactly the way I wanted it to be: twisty, fast-paced, great character growth and development, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Even parts that frustrated me a bit ended up feeling more intentional than bad writing or planning. I have loved what James Logan has done with this fantasy and appreciated how character-driven it is with some incredible emotional beats, while also maintaining a genuinely compelling plot with excellent pacing that leaves all of us readers dying for more.
The Loss of the Star's Tranquility is an incredibly successful collaboration between Travis M. Riddle and Tobias Begley and delivers a rich, character-driven fantasy with thoughtful pacing and a compelling survival story that kept me fully hooked. There's a fantastic mix of some adventure, some tension and fear at what lies in wait for our characters, lore of the world itself, and some truly great character work. The world-building is immersive and the magic system felt complex yet also accessible, which made this a fantastic read that was easy to pick up and hard to put down.
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
I read a lot of incredible books by Indigenous authors this year, both fiction and nonfiction, but I feel like this one really encapsulated a lot of the themes and topics I read about and was incredibly well-written and researched. This book (and many others) should honestly be required reading (for US citizens, at least) for the sheer amount of incredibly needed information and perspective they provide about the history of Indigenous peoples in the United States.
The Uproar by Karim Dimechkie - Review
Okay, so this book was a ride. I felt so much anxiety while reading this book... and that's also exactly what kept me reading. It completely gripped me from page and was incredibly tense, immersive, and emotionally relentless in the best way. I was deeply invested in the protagonist's chaotic journey and the wonderfully nuanced explorations of themes around family, morality, power, what it means to be a "good person," and so much more. Life is messy, chaotic, and unpredictable, and The Uproar reflects all of this in a raw and authentic way--and it also highlights that there very often is no "right" answer and we are all always making mistakes. Definitely a book I'm still thinking about!
Dreambound by Dan Frey
I love a story with an LA setting, and even moreso when it's fantasy and plays with the boundaries of reality and fantasy in ways as compelling and intriguing as Dan Frey does in this one. I am so glad I finally got around to reading Dreambound this year and found Frey's storytelling to be so good that I struggled to put this book down and was truly hooked on the different ideas he played with in this story.
Okay, so this book was a ride. I felt so much anxiety while reading this book... and that's also exactly what kept me reading. It completely gripped me from page and was incredibly tense, immersive, and emotionally relentless in the best way. I was deeply invested in the protagonist's chaotic journey and the wonderfully nuanced explorations of themes around family, morality, power, what it means to be a "good person," and so much more. Life is messy, chaotic, and unpredictable, and The Uproar reflects all of this in a raw and authentic way--and it also highlights that there very often is no "right" answer and we are all always making mistakes. Definitely a book I'm still thinking about!
Dreambound by Dan Frey
I love a story with an LA setting, and even moreso when it's fantasy and plays with the boundaries of reality and fantasy in ways as compelling and intriguing as Dan Frey does in this one. I am so glad I finally got around to reading Dreambound this year and found Frey's storytelling to be so good that I struggled to put this book down and was truly hooked on the different ideas he played with in this story.
Honorable Mentions:
These are books that were also five star reads and that I loved and have stuck with me over the year, but perhaps not quite at the same level as the ones above. (Although, as a mood reader and generally indecisive person, my opinions may fluctuate at any time, so you can also just consider all of these books on this entire post my favorites. Don't you just love contradicting yourself?)
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
My overall excitement for this book has lessened slightly over time, which is why it's been placed in the honorable mentions, but I still had an incredible time reading this book and was absolutely captivated by every page. I actually agree with a lot criticisms of it for lacking subtlety and hitting hard with its themes, but I still found the character arcs, world-building, and magic system to all be incredibly well-developed and genuinely engaging. I highly recommend this one and think it deserves all the praise it has gotten!
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this one because I'm a little mixed, but overall I've found I still think about it a lot and I loved what it did with the idea of an epic sci-fi/space opera to the point that I really think it's one of the best books I read this year. Ruocchio's world-building has me salivating a bit to get to the rest of the series, and I cannot even begin to imagine where this narrative will end up, but I can't wait to find out. There are some seriously cool concepts going on in here and I think anyone who wants a big new story to fall into should give this one a read.
This was an incredibly visceral and unflinching horror story that isn't satisfied with simply scaring its readers with paranormal horrors, but instead wants to confront readers with the horrors of what humans do to one another. There's rage, grief, and body horror that are all equally raw and unforgettable, and I was really blown away by how intense and well-written this story was.
Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery by Mallary Tenore Tarpley
This was an incredibly informative and educational book about eating disorders and the current research around them (which, spoiler: there's not nearly enough done on them!) and I think it's a must-read for anyone interested in knowing more about a disease that affects an incredibly large portion of the population. Mallary Tenore Tarpley does an incredible job of thoughtfully diving into this subject and sharing her own experiences as well as those of so many others, and it's an absorbing read. I would add a quick note that if you are or were currently struggling with an eating disorder, this could be a difficult read at times, so just keep that in mind going into it.)
