It’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for… the unveiling of my ten favorite books of 2025! In terms of quality, I had a great reading year in 2025. I feel like I’ve really gotten good at identifying books I know I’ll enjoy. And when I’m not enjoying a book? I usually just DNF. But, even in a year with so much quality, some books are still a cut above the rest.
For the first time, I’m going to be ranking these books. Though, to be honest, I really only feel strongly about the placement of the top three and “bottom” three. Everything in the middle could change its placement from day to day, depending on which one is sitting most in my feelings. Really, they’re all about even in my heart.
But before we dive into the list proper, I need to tell you about my three honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention #1: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Blurb: Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina must survive the chaos of the early 2020s brought about by climate change and economic crises. She aims to protect her community and loved ones, while developing a brand-new faith called Earthseed.
My Thoughts: I mean, it’s Octavia E. Butler. What more do you want me to say? The only reason this didn’t make the list proper is because a large portion of the story is spent travelling, which is a hard sell for me.
Honorable Mention #2: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Blurb: Haymitch Abernathy is chosen to be a Tribute in the 50th Annual Hunger Games. This Quarter Quell there are twice as many Tributes. How did Haymitch survive?
My Thoughts: This book far exceeded my expectations. It was such an emotional read. I loved learning more about Haymitch and his past. I just… it took my breath away. However, as impactful as it was upon reading, it hasn’t stuck with me the way the other books in the series have.
Honorable Mention #3: Rose/House by Arkady Martine
Blurb: Rose House is a house powered by AI. No one is supposed to be able to enter the house, except the deceased creator, Basit Deniau, and his protege, Dr. Selene Gisil. But one day the house calls to report a dead body inside its walls, and it’s not Deniau or Gisil.
My Thoughts: I’m not even sure I fully understand what this book is trying to say, but I enjoyed it regardless. It just really didn’t stick in my memory as the year went on.
10. The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
Blurb: Alessa Li is abducted and forcibly enrolled at The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted, a school for dangerously powerful people. It promises redemption. But on graduation day, the faculty turn monstrous and start eating Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and a group of her classmates escape, barricading themselves in the library. Now they must provide a human sacrifice every night, or the faculty will break in and kill them all.
My Thoughts: This book was absolutely repulsive, and I loved every second of it. Cassandra Khaw is a very polarizing writer, but this book makes me think her work may well be for me. If you want world-building or concrete answers, this book is not for you. If you want bad people going through the worst day of their lives, then it might be up your alley.
9. Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston
Blurb: The supernatural world is at its lowest point, and so are Amari and her friends. Unless they can find the Despicable Wonders.
My Thoughts: I love Amari and this series so much. This installment actually made me cry. I don’t want to say too much since this is the third book in the series, but just know this is one of my favorite currently running middle grade series.
8. The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Blurb: Vanity Adams is a witch purged of her magic. And magic is drugs. Or mental illness. Or something. But Vanity’s twin sister Arrogance remembers how to do magic, leading Vanity and the other young witches to conduct experiments. And things get weird.
My Thoughts: This book was so weird and confusing. I loved it. Mikuta is very good at weird books, and I love her for that. I truly could not predict where this book was going, and not just because I wasn’t always sure what was happening. This interpretation of witches is so unique, truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen or read before.
7. Carmilla and Laura by S.D. Simper
Blurb: A faithful retelling of the classic vampire novel Carmilla, except Laura and Carmilla get a happy ending.
My Thoughts: Oh, I ate this up. If you love the original classic novella but wanted it to be even more explicitly gay, then you have to read this. This book is enthralling, the romance exquisite, and the characters true to Sheridan’s original. It’s so well written too! This is what self-published books should be! This was the first book I finished in 2025, and what a way to start the year!
6. The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
Blurb: Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food is running low and there has been no sign of rescue. Until the Constant Lady and her saints arrive, bringing feasts and bacchanalian madness. But things are not as they seem, and soon it is up to Ser Voyne (war hero), Phosyne (nun-turned-sorceress), and Treila (serving girl who just wants to escape) to save the castle.
My Thoughts: This was such a weird book. It’s got magic, it’s got horror, it’s got cannibalism, and it’s got a lesbian throuple. I’m obsessed. I read this book back-to-back with The Coven Tendency, solidly in my weird girl era at the beginning of summer. But if I had to pick a weird book that I prefer, it would be this one.
5. The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso
Blurb: Kembral Thorne is a Hound, someone who travels between parallel worlds, or Echoes. But tonight she is just a new mom trying to enjoy a few hours at a party. That is, until guests start turning up dead. And the only person Kem can trust is her nemesis, infamous burglar Rika Nonesuch. Together, the two fall into increasingly strange and dangerous versions of their city to solve the mystery and save the party guests… and the world.
My Thoughts: This was the most fun I’ve had reading a book in a long time. It reminded me of the old days of reading YA, except for adults this time. This was such a cool concept and I love these characters. I also adored the sequel, but love the first a little bit more.
4. Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta
Blurb: Angelina Sicco was born and raised in Cadenze, as was her entire family. She’s proud of her town. When Patrick’s best friend and ex-girlfriend, Jagvi, comes to town, an ancient evil wakes within the caves and attaches itself to Angelina. And only Jagvi’s touch keeps it at bay. The monster eats futures and suddenly, Angelina’s future is looking pretty tasty.
My Thoughts: It takes a little getting into, but ultimately, I loved this book. The monster is genuinely creepy and downright scary. I also enjoyed the complex relationship between Angelina and Jagvi. This book is a dissection and exposé of small-town bigotry, specifically in regard to lesbophobia and racism. The ways in which said bigotry impact Angelina and Jagvi in different ways and manifest in differing feelings on Cadenze provided a realistic conflict between the two women. Also, Jagvi is butch and uses a packer.
3. Carrie by Stephen King
Blurb: An unpopular teenage girl whose mother is a religious fanatic is tormented and teased to the breaking point by her more popular schoolmates and uses her hidden telekinetic powers to inflict a terrifying revenge.
My Thoughts: Carrie is the kind of book I want to discuss with people. While the writing was a bit rough at first, King found his groove and wrote an incredible novel. These characters have depth and hidden layers. I was most interested in Carrie and Sue.
I also felt so deeply while reading this book, glimpsing all the moments it all could have turned out differently. Even though I knew what would happen, a part of me couldn’t help but hope. The sense of dread building in my stomach as The Moment drew ever closer is something I haven’t felt while reading in a long time.
As is par for the course with King, there were a few weird comments here and there, but nothing close to what I know is coming in his future novels. I still refuse to read certain of his books, but this book changed my mind on writing King off completely.
2. The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri
Blurb: In London, people are born as part of tales, told over and over again. Each tale is fated to end the same way every time. One such tale is The Knight and The Witch, destined to fall in love and kill each other. Simran, the witch, and Vina, the knight, are determined to write themselves a new ending.
My Thoughts: This book is everything a romantasy can and should be. The push and pull between Simran and Vina as they begin to fall for each other, while also fighting against the confines of their tale was delicious. It’s not very smutty, but what smut there is is very sexy. This book takes turns you’ll never expect as you eagerly anticipate the tale of The Knight and the Witch finally ending happily ever after.
1. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Blurb: In 1980, Joan Goodwin is chosen to begin training as one of the first women to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. As Joan works toward her dream of going to space, she takes care of her niece and falls in love with a fellow astronaut-to-be, engineer and pilot Vanessa Ford. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.
My Thoughts: And here we have it… the best book I read all year! Truly, this is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s magnum opus. I cried so many times while reading this book. I also giggled and kicked my feet. The pain and dread were palpable. And I related to Joan and Vanessa’s struggles as a lesbian teacher in a conservative area. I experienced the full gamut of human emotion while reading this amazing book.
The romance between Joan and Vanessa was incredible. I also adored Joan’s relationship with her niece, Frances. I loved reading about NASA too. I thought the feminist points were occasionally too on the nose, but that hardly took away from my experience. I’m so glad I gave Taylor Jenkins Reid another try. Brava!
What were your best books of 2025? Let me know in the comments!
Strange Storyteller 
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