My Favorite Reads of 2025!
Dec. 23rd, 2025 03:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wildhoneyheartI read a total of 115 books this year. Please don't read that as a brag. I have no social life. Really. At all. I work, I read, I write. I read mostly romance, but like to experiment with sub-genres and I do still really enjoy good literary fiction. I wanted to keep this list varied and not just use the same books over and over, but...that didn't work out. The books that I loved this year really stuck with me. And there are many I read that just didn't make it on the list even if I enjoyed them. I'm a big fan of books that either emotionally destroy me or feel like a literary version of a warm hug.
With that said, here are my favorite reads of 2025!
Book of the Year
5) To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders
4) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
3) Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
2) Wolfsong by TJ Klune
1) Severed Heart by Kate Stewart
Best Series
5) The Underdogs Series by Kate Stewart
4) The Ruinous Love Trilogy by Brynne Weaver
3) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
2) Green Creek by TJ Klune
1) The Ravenhood by Kate Stewart
Best Standalone
5) Southernmost by Silas House
4) Variation by Rebecca Yarros
3) Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann
2) Pen Pal by JT Geissinger
1) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Best Romance
Severed Heart by Kate Stewart. I don't think I could survive a love like this. But reading about it changed me.
Best Fantasy
Brimstone by Callie Hart. I was honestly shocked by how good this was. Quicksilver was enjoyable but not my favorite Romantasy by far. But this second book floored me. Now I can't wait for the next one.
Best Literary Fiction
Southernmost by Silas House. Subtle but weighty.
Best Audiobook
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath. Really any audiobook with a well done accent will have me feral. Especially Eastern European or Irish.
Most Emotionally Devastating
Exodus by Kate Stewart. I had to call my best friend for emotional support. I also stared at a wall for a solid hour after reading it.
Most Healing Read
One Last Rainy Day by Kate Stewart. She ripped my heart out AGAIN. But I feel like this book healed what Exodus broke in me in a weird way. It also convinced me Kate Stewart is a genius. Possibly an evil genius. But a genius.
Most Comforting
Game Changer by Rachel Reid. Just such a sweet romance.
Quietly Heartbreaking
Heartsong by TJ Klune
Most Unexpected Favorite
Saint by Siera Simone
Book I Didn’t Expect to Love
Caught Up by Navessa Allen. The first book was really fun, but I wasn't expecting to like this one even more.
Book That Snuck Up on Me
Reverse by Kate Stewart
(After already knowing how Kate likes to rip out hearts, I made sure to research this one and everyone said "Oh, it's much lighter than The Ravenhood- and yes. It is. But it's still heavy in a different way. I was pissed at everyone in this book at some point or other. Then I'd get over it only to be pissed again. Total rollercoaster.)
Most Underrated Read
Wolfsong and honestly, the entire Green Creek Series by TJ Klune. I never hear anyone talking about it and it's fantastic.
Biggest Surprise
A Soul To Keep by Opal Reyne.
(My very first monster romance. Lol. While it wasn't my favorite thing I've ever read, it was pretty fun. And kind of adorable. And also unhinged. Really not sure if monster romance is for me, but maybe someday I'll give another one a chance.)
Best Chemistry
Anything written by Kate Stewart. That woman KNOWS chemistry.
Best Slow Burn
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath. The other books in this series get into it pretty fast, but this one made me and wait and it's honestly one of my favorites in the series so far. So sweet. But also still true to Emily Rath...filthy and unhinged once you DO get there. Lol.
Best Emotional Payoff
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas. A few of the books in this series destroyed me. But thank God this one made it all better in the end. If it hadn't been for Kate Stewart, Throne of Glass would have dominated this list. I loved it, but I picked up The Ravenhood Series right after looking for an emotional reset (thinking it was a spicy good time) and got utterly destroyed in a way I didn't think was possible.
Most Intense Longing
Heated Rivals by Rachel Reid. Oh my God how these two WANTED each other so bad before they ever admitted it to themselves. I wanted to slap them and hug them the entire time.
Favorite Couple
Ellis and Lucky from To Catch a Firefly. Two cinnamon rolls and I couldn't possibly love them more.
Best Writing / Prose
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. How many times can you retell pieces of the Iliad before you run out of angles? I thought we'd past that point a long time ago, but this book was quietly, beautifully, brilliantly devastating. And the prose was gorgeous.
Best Character Work
The Ruinous Love Trilogy by Brynne Weaver. Such unique and quirky characters.
Best Dialogue
Quicksilver by Callie Hart for Carion Cross only. Because I love that man with my entire heart and he has some of the best one-liners of all time.
Best Ending
Pen Pal by JT Geissinger. I called the twist at the end pretty early on. But that's only because I'm an over thinker and as soon as things seem off I'm on the case, trying to solve the mystery. But it was beautifully done. Even guessing the end didn't spoil it for me in the least.
Best Opening
I have to give it to Brynne Weaver. The opening scene of Butcher and Blackbird. It was disgusting. It made me swear off orzo for most of the year. But it was damn memorable. And low-key hilarious.
Best Re-Read
Flesh and Fire (prequel to Blood and Ash) by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I was NOT a fan of the latest Blood & Ash book that came out this year, but the prequel series will go down as one of my all-time favorite romantasy series of all time.
Best “Just One More Chapter” Book
To Catch a Firefly. I couldn't put it down. Literally. I cooked dinner while holding my Kindle in one hand. I'm lucky I survived it.
Book I Immediately Recommended
Honestly, I can't just give one answer to that. Depends on who's asking. I like to find out what someone likes and then pick something that I think suits them. If you'd like a recommendation, tell me what you're looking for and I'll be happy to make a list for you!
Book I’m Still Thinking About
Exodus. Everyday. For the rest of my life.
Please feel free to use this list as a template and make your own favorites list! Or just tell me what your favorite reads were this year. I love talking books and am always up for giving recommendations and love to receive them!
With that said, here are my favorite reads of 2025!
Book of the Year
5) To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders
4) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
3) Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
2) Wolfsong by TJ Klune
1) Severed Heart by Kate Stewart
Best Series
5) The Underdogs Series by Kate Stewart
4) The Ruinous Love Trilogy by Brynne Weaver
3) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
2) Green Creek by TJ Klune
1) The Ravenhood by Kate Stewart
Best Standalone
5) Southernmost by Silas House
4) Variation by Rebecca Yarros
3) Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann
2) Pen Pal by JT Geissinger
1) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Best Romance
Severed Heart by Kate Stewart. I don't think I could survive a love like this. But reading about it changed me.
Best Fantasy
Brimstone by Callie Hart. I was honestly shocked by how good this was. Quicksilver was enjoyable but not my favorite Romantasy by far. But this second book floored me. Now I can't wait for the next one.
Best Literary Fiction
Southernmost by Silas House. Subtle but weighty.
Best Audiobook
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath. Really any audiobook with a well done accent will have me feral. Especially Eastern European or Irish.
Most Emotionally Devastating
Exodus by Kate Stewart. I had to call my best friend for emotional support. I also stared at a wall for a solid hour after reading it.
Most Healing Read
One Last Rainy Day by Kate Stewart. She ripped my heart out AGAIN. But I feel like this book healed what Exodus broke in me in a weird way. It also convinced me Kate Stewart is a genius. Possibly an evil genius. But a genius.
Most Comforting
Game Changer by Rachel Reid. Just such a sweet romance.
Quietly Heartbreaking
Heartsong by TJ Klune
Most Unexpected Favorite
Saint by Siera Simone
Book I Didn’t Expect to Love
Caught Up by Navessa Allen. The first book was really fun, but I wasn't expecting to like this one even more.
Book That Snuck Up on Me
Reverse by Kate Stewart
(After already knowing how Kate likes to rip out hearts, I made sure to research this one and everyone said "Oh, it's much lighter than The Ravenhood- and yes. It is. But it's still heavy in a different way. I was pissed at everyone in this book at some point or other. Then I'd get over it only to be pissed again. Total rollercoaster.)
Most Underrated Read
Wolfsong and honestly, the entire Green Creek Series by TJ Klune. I never hear anyone talking about it and it's fantastic.
Biggest Surprise
A Soul To Keep by Opal Reyne.
(My very first monster romance. Lol. While it wasn't my favorite thing I've ever read, it was pretty fun. And kind of adorable. And also unhinged. Really not sure if monster romance is for me, but maybe someday I'll give another one a chance.)
Best Chemistry
Anything written by Kate Stewart. That woman KNOWS chemistry.
Best Slow Burn
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath. The other books in this series get into it pretty fast, but this one made me and wait and it's honestly one of my favorites in the series so far. So sweet. But also still true to Emily Rath...filthy and unhinged once you DO get there. Lol.
Best Emotional Payoff
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas. A few of the books in this series destroyed me. But thank God this one made it all better in the end. If it hadn't been for Kate Stewart, Throne of Glass would have dominated this list. I loved it, but I picked up The Ravenhood Series right after looking for an emotional reset (thinking it was a spicy good time) and got utterly destroyed in a way I didn't think was possible.
Most Intense Longing
Heated Rivals by Rachel Reid. Oh my God how these two WANTED each other so bad before they ever admitted it to themselves. I wanted to slap them and hug them the entire time.
Favorite Couple
Ellis and Lucky from To Catch a Firefly. Two cinnamon rolls and I couldn't possibly love them more.
Best Writing / Prose
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. How many times can you retell pieces of the Iliad before you run out of angles? I thought we'd past that point a long time ago, but this book was quietly, beautifully, brilliantly devastating. And the prose was gorgeous.
Best Character Work
The Ruinous Love Trilogy by Brynne Weaver. Such unique and quirky characters.
Best Dialogue
Quicksilver by Callie Hart for Carion Cross only. Because I love that man with my entire heart and he has some of the best one-liners of all time.
Best Ending
Pen Pal by JT Geissinger. I called the twist at the end pretty early on. But that's only because I'm an over thinker and as soon as things seem off I'm on the case, trying to solve the mystery. But it was beautifully done. Even guessing the end didn't spoil it for me in the least.
Best Opening
I have to give it to Brynne Weaver. The opening scene of Butcher and Blackbird. It was disgusting. It made me swear off orzo for most of the year. But it was damn memorable. And low-key hilarious.
Best Re-Read
Flesh and Fire (prequel to Blood and Ash) by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I was NOT a fan of the latest Blood & Ash book that came out this year, but the prequel series will go down as one of my all-time favorite romantasy series of all time.
Best “Just One More Chapter” Book
To Catch a Firefly. I couldn't put it down. Literally. I cooked dinner while holding my Kindle in one hand. I'm lucky I survived it.
Book I Immediately Recommended
Honestly, I can't just give one answer to that. Depends on who's asking. I like to find out what someone likes and then pick something that I think suits them. If you'd like a recommendation, tell me what you're looking for and I'll be happy to make a list for you!
Book I’m Still Thinking About
Exodus. Everyday. For the rest of my life.
Please feel free to use this list as a template and make your own favorites list! Or just tell me what your favorite reads were this year. I love talking books and am always up for giving recommendations and love to receive them!
