My Favorite Books of 2025
Welp. We’re already almost a full month into the new year. How’s your 2026 reading goal going so far?
For the record, I don’t think your goal needs to be number-based. It can be something as arbitrary as finally picking up that book your friend has recommended to you 17x. You know, the one you SWORE you were going to read last year…and then absolutely did not.
As a mood reader, I’m that friend. The one who can’t just pick up ANY book as my next one. What if I’m in the mood for a thriller instead of a romance? We can break that down even further: what if I’m more into stabby-stabby than cozy mystery? True crime vs. unreliable narrator?
There is honestly no rhyme or reason. We are truly going off vibes over here lol.
And while I know not everyone is a mood reader, some of you seemed to enjoy My Favorite Books of 2024 post from last year. So we’re running it back again lol.
Whether you’ve made it your 2026 mission to get back into reading or already (re)started your literary ventures, I figured I’d provide some of my favorite books from 2025 that you can consider for your next read.
Per usual, a couple of notes:
These books weren’t necessarily published in 2025. I just read them in 2025.
I’ll link each book to the respective blog post on my website in which it was reviewed. That way, if you want to see a more elaborate explanation as to why a specific book made the cut for this blog, you can. 🙂
Fantasy/Romantasy
FANTASY/ROMANTASY
The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig
Basic Premise: Sybil Delling, a Diviner bound to a cathedral for nine years, foresees the future through prophetic dreams sent by the Omens. When her fellow Diviners begin to mysteriously disappear, she’s forced beyond the safety of the cloister and reluctantly teams up with a heretical knight to confront gods, danger, and a fate she never dreamed of choosing.
Read if you like: Gothic, atmospheric fantasies, slow-burn romances, simpler magic systems, character-driven quests, a side character that will make you cackle out loud at 2AM from their one liners then make you cry in the same breath from how endearing they are.
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Falling in Love - Brigitte Knightley
Basic Premise: Hermione Granger, a brilliant Healer and medical researcher on the brink of a major magical breakthrough, is forced to accept protection from Draco Malfoy, an Auror neither of them particularly wants involved.
Read if you like: Beautifully written fanfiction, slow burns, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, equally swoony and cringey situations, Harry Potter nostalgia but with a twist that you can appreciate as an adult lol.
Young Adult (YA) Fantasy
YOUNG ADULT (YA) FANTASY
Rebel Witch - Kristen Ciccarelli
Basic Premise: Hunted for being a witch, Rune Winters is forced into a dangerous alliance to overthrow the Republic, putting her directly at odds with Gideon Sharpe—the witch hunter who once loved her and now wants her dead. When an impossible bargain forces them to work together, old feelings resurface and Gideon must choose between saving the world he fought for or the woman he can’t stop loving.
Read if you like: regency era romances, enemies-to-lovers, simple magic structures, a kick ass and feisty heroine that just can’t seem to follow the rules, phenomenal duologies, books that make it hard to do anything productive because you just can’t put it down.
Side note: I read a physical copy as soon as I could get my hands on one and then proceeded to listen to it again via the audiobook about a week later lol.
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Basic Premise: Sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is thrown into the fiftieth Hunger Games, where twice the usual number of tributes are forced to fight to the death during the brutal Quarter Quell. Set up to fail, Haymitch must decide whether to simply survive or turn the Games into an act of defiance that reaches far beyond the arena’s walls.
Read if you like: Hunger Games nostalgia, prequels done well, heart-racing situations, knowing how this book ends but still being emotionally unprepared for it, backstories that make you whisper “THIS is who hurt you omg” with every tragic moment.
Mystery/Thrillers
MYSTERY/THRILLER
Listen for the Lie - Amy Tintera
Basic Premise: Years after being found covered in her best friend’s blood and branded a suspected murderer, Lucy has built a new life—until a hit true crime podcast drags her back to her Texas hometown to reopen the case. With no memory of the night Savvy died, Lucy must uncover the truth, even if it means proving she’s the killer.
Read if you like: books that are unputdownable, true crime, formats that incorporate excerpts from podcast conversations, switching timelines, unreliable narrators.
The Frozen River - Ariel Lawhon
Basic Premise: In 1789 Maine, midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine a man found frozen in the river, whose death may be tied to a rape she recorded months earlier involving powerful townsmen. When her findings are dismissed, Martha launches her own investigation, risking her reputation and relationships to uncover the truth.
Read if you like: strong female protagonists, historical fiction, women busting out of the box society put them in, mansplaining to a man lol.
Romance
ROMANCE
Not Another Love Song - Julie Soto
Basic Premise: Rival musical prodigies Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne clash when Gwen lands the coveted First Chair role he’s always wanted, turning professional tension into undeniable chemistry. As their rivalry transforms into a high-stakes romance, fame and publicity threaten to derail both their careers and their growing relationship.
Read if you like: a fantastically done slow burn, YEARNING, enemies-to-lovers but make it orchestral, “I respect your art, but also want to cut your bow strings,” books that make you feel like you totally understand music when you can barely hold a tune.
First-Time Caller - B.K. Borison
Basic Premise: When a viral call puts single mom Lucie Stone’s love life in the spotlight, she becomes the unexpected focus of a romance campaign led by Aiden Valentine, a jaded radio host who’s lost faith in love. As on-air matchmaking turns into real chemistry, both must decide whether their happily-ever-after belongs to the show or to each other.
Read if you like: fantastic banter, grumpy/sunshine, relatable characters, a male protagonist that sets the bar for sweetness, single-parent tropes, late-night radio shows and confessions, romances that aren’t about grand gestures but all of the little things added up.
Rewind It Back - Liz Tomforde
Basic Premise: Six years after a painful breakup, childhood sweethearts Hallie Hart and pro hockey player Rio DeLuca are thrown back into each other’s lives when Hallie unknowingly moves in next door and is hired to renovate his house. Forced into each other’s orbits, old wounds and long-buried feelings resurface, challenging everything they thought they’d left behind.
Read if you like: Forced-proximity, second chance romances, girl-next-door, the sweetest hockey player and evolved man, stories that make your stomach swoop and squeeze from the cuteness.
Fiction (Contemporary/Literary)
FICTION (CONTEMPORARY/LITERARY)
Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
Basic Premise: Grieving widow Tova Sullivan finds solace working nights at an aquarium, where she forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a brilliant and cantankerous octopus. As Marcellus pieces together the truth behind her son’s decades-old disappearance, he sets out to deliver the answers Tova has been waiting a lifetime to hear.
Read if you like: unlikely friendships, clever animals with big personalities, multiple POVs, character-driven stories, books that feel like wrapping arms around your heart and giving it a big SQUEEZE.
The Wedding People - Alison Espach
Basic Premise: At a lavish wedding weekend in Newport, Phoebe Stone checks into a luxury inn alone and is mistaken for a guest, hiding the fact that she’s there to nurse a broken heart and indulge in one last splurge for herself. When she unexpectedly bonds with the tightly wound bride, the two form an unlikely connection that upends both of their carefully laid plans.
Read if you like: perfectly and incredibly flawed main characters, witty narratives, awkward yet quirky situations, dark humor, found family, coastal grandma aesthetic.
Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Basic Premise: When astronomy professor Joan Goodwin is selected to join NASA’s first class of women scientists training for the space shuttle in 1980, her quiet life is transformed by ambition, friendship, and unexpected love. As she prepares for her first mission, a catastrophic event forces her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her future and her place in the universe.
Read if you like: to ugly cry in the middle of the afternoon because you thought you could casually finish this book during the workday, badass women in STEM, sapphic romances, slow-burns, stories that will absolutely WRECK you emotionally and yet the author has the AUDACITY to not include an epilogue…???
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - Robert Dugoni
Basic Premise: Born with striking red eyes and called “Devil Boy,” Sam Hill grew up feeling different, finding friendship and chaos in unexpected classmates. Forty years later, as a small-town eye doctor, he revisits his past and embarks on a journey that forces him to confront the events that shaped him and discover what truly matters.
Read if you like: Heartfelt coming‑of‑age stories, lifelong friendships, character-driven plots, multiple timelines, getting misty-eyed at the worst moments, books that make you want to give the main protagonist a big ‘ol cuddle and a cup of hot cocoa.
Historical Fiction
HISTORICAL FICTION
The Lion Women of Tehran - Marjan Kamali
Basic Premise: In 1950s Tehran, young Ellie finds friendship and joy with spirited Homa amid a life upended by her father’s death, only to drift apart when her family regains its former comfort. Years later, their reunion amid Iran’s political turmoil tests their bond, ambitions, and the impact of a devastating betrayal.
Read if you like: raw and gritty coming-of-age stories, exploring other cultures, resilient women, plots following evolving friendships that stretch decades, learning more about political uprises.
The Briar Club - Kate Quinn
Basic Premise: In 1950s Washington, D.C., the women of Briarwood House form unexpected friendships around the enigmatic widow Grace March, whose charm begins to heal their hidden wounds. But when a violent act exposes dangerous secrets, they must confront the true enemy among them.
Read if you like: multiple POVs, vivid 1950s imagery that suck you into the retro setting, books that include fun period details like recipes, female friendships, rich character development, A League of Their Own.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store - James McBride
Basic Premise: In 1972 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the discovery of a buried skeleton uncovers decades of secrets in the tight-knit, diverse neighborhood of Chicken Hill. Amid struggles with prejudice and injustice, residents like Chona Ludlow and Nate Timblin unite to protect their community and a deaf boy from institutionalization.
Read if you like: layered stories, quirky characters, fantastic audiobook narrators, unlikely friendships, books that explore race, community, and justice in the face of prejudice.
The Great Believers - Rebecca Makkai
Basic Premise: In 1985 Chicago, art director Yale Tishman navigates career success while the AIDS epidemic claims his friends, leaving him isolated with only Fiona, his late friend’s sister. Thirty years later, Fiona confronts the lasting impact of the crisis while searching for her estranged daughter, weaving together past and present struggles for hope amid heartbreak.
Read if you like: multi-generational stories that blend the past and present, character-driven plots, narratives about friendship and heartbreak, learning about important eras in our country’s history, crying while cleaning your kitchen because you’ve grown protective of a main character and want all the best for them.
West with Giraffes - Lynda Rutledge
Basic Premise: At 105, Woodrow Wilson Nickel recalls the unforgettable adventure of his youth: a twelve-day road trip in 1938 to deliver two rare giraffes to the San Diego Zoo amid the lingering Great Depression and a world on the brink of war.
Read if you like: fiction inspired by true stories, road trips with vivid imagery, unlikely friendships, animals with endearing personalities, rooting for an underdog, dual timelines.
Science Fiction
SCIENCE FICTION
Severance - Ling Ma
Basic Premise: When a mysterious plague devastates New York, Candace Chen survives alone, documenting the abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost. Her solitude ends when a group of survivors arrives, but their leader’s ambitions and her dangerous secret force her to decide whether to trust or escape them.
Read if you like: dystopian settings, thought-provoking narratives, satires, office life but make it apocalyptic, laughing while being extremely uncomfy, realizing the story you’re reading doesn’t feel too far fetched, asking yourself multiple times “what would I do in this situation tho?”
Classics
CLASSICS
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Basic Premise: This classic novel follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up in 19th-century New England, navigating family, love, and personal ambitions. Through joys and hardships, the sisters learn about resilience, sisterhood, and finding their own paths in a changing world.
Read if you like: cottagecore, coming-of-age, character-driven stories, charming sister bonds, books that feel like drinking a cup of warm soup.
The Princess Bride - William Goldman
Basic Premise: When Buttercup’s true love, Westley, is believed dead, she is swept into a tale of adventure, romance, and danger filled with giants, swordsmen, and cunning villains.
Read if you like: fantastic audiobooks, plots that are just absolutely silly, fairytale worlds, epic sword fights, witty banter, “book was better than the movie” books.
Non-Fiction/Memoirs
NON-FICTION/MEMOIRS
Dinner for Vampires - Bethany Joy Lenz
Basic Premise: Bethany Joy Lenz’s acting career skyrocketed with One Tree Hill, but behind the scenes, she was trapped in a manipulative cult that controlled her life and finances. Only after becoming a mother did she find the courage to escape, reclaim her autonomy, and begin healing from the years of trauma.
Read if you’re interested in: cult culture, Mormons, One Tree Hill, celebrities who went through an absolutely BONKERS experience no one knew about (peep: Paris Hilton).
Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton
Basic Premise: Dolly Alderton shares her hilarious and heartfelt journey through love, heartbreak, friendship, and self-discovery in early adulthood. Packed with personal stories, sharp observations, and unforgettable moments, it’s a celebration of friendship and learning that you are enough.
Read if you like: incredibly relatable memoirs as a millennial woman, “dating for the content” energy, dating disasters you can (mostly) laugh about later, memoirs that feel like late-night tea-spilling sessions with friends, chuckling through the mess and the lump in your throat.
Poverty by America - Matthew Desmond
Basic Premise: Matthew Desmond reveals how the wealthy and powerful perpetuate poverty in the U.S., from low wages to overpriced housing, creating stark divides between rich and poor. Drawing on research and reporting, he challenges readers to rethink the system and take action toward ending poverty and building a more just society.
Read if you like: learning just how corrupt the American government is, getting out of your comfort zone of knowledge, books that blend heavily-researched topics with compelling storytelling, educating yourself.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents - Isabel Wilkerson
Basic Premise: Isabel Wilkerson examines the hidden hierarchy that has shaped America, showing how an unspoken system of power determines who thrives and who suffers. Drawing on history, global comparisons, and personal stories, she reveals the deep impact of caste on individuals and society while exploring paths toward equality and shared humanity.
Read if you like: thought‑provoking explorations of race, inequality, and social hierarchies, making yourself uncomfy with the ugliness of our country’s history, discussions about society, justice, and human dignity, educating yourself ((looking at you specifically, white people). 👀
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma - Bessel Van Der Kolk
Basic Premise: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explores how trauma reshapes the body and brain, affecting emotions, behavior, and relationships. Drawing on decades of research, he highlights innovative treatments that harness the brain’s natural healing abilities to help survivors reclaim their lives.
Read if you like: to also psychoanalyze everyone you meet, psychoanalyze yourself, highly researched content supported by emotionally-moving anecdotes, to talk with your friends about what you recently realized about yourself during therapy lol.
Okie doke. Those are some of my recs based on my favorite books from the 143 I read last year. Hopefully something in there piqued your interest.
If you want to chat about any of these books, hit me up. Otherwise, I’ll be posting my reviews from the books I read this month sometime in the next few weeks!
And if you haven’t already… add me on Goodreads or StoryGraph.