I don’t know about you, but 2025 was a great bookish year for me. I got to spend loads of time with my favourite characters and meet great new friends, too. Certain authors, like Rachel Gillig, joined my insta-buy list and blew my socks off with lush, incredible worlds.

Other reads were misses for me, but I realised in 2024 that it’s important to read those books, too. That way, I learn what I don’t want to include in my own novels.

Once again, my Libby app worked perfectly for me. This isn’t a sponsored post—I just really love the app and will always recommend it. Additionally, none of the books/authors mentioned offered me compensation—all of the opinions are my own.

My Favourite Reads of 2025

• I started the year strong with re-reads of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. This series has become such a comfort to me, and I listened to/read every book in the series at least twice. Mercy remains one of the most real characters out there, with really relatable struggles and a well-rounded personality. She also pulls the best pranks. Besides that, I LOVE the fresh way in which Briggs portrays alphas, especially Adam. Many of the books in this series are 5-star reads for me, and the fourteenth book, Winter Lost, didn’t disappoint!
• I borrowed a skip-the-line copy of One Dark Window and loved it so much that I instantly purchased it and its sequel, Two Twisted Crowns. It’s so rare that both books in a duology blow my mind, but this pair totally did. If I could give more than five stars, I would. If you’re interested in lushly gothic worlds with a unique magic system, I can’t recommend these books enough. So. Good.
• I re-read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame in time for Onyx Storm, and OH MY GOODNESS, what a book! My little brain is still scrambled. As per uge, I re-read and listened to each book in the series multiple times because I just can’t get enough. In many ways, Fourth Wing saved me. This series found me in a time when everything was weird, and slapped a massive Band-Aid on my heart. Everything feels better when I’m riding dragons. 🙂
• I absolutely devoured A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston. I loved stepping into Elsy’s favourite bookish world and exploring it with her. If you need a book to give you a warm hug, this is the book for you!
• I read many viral Booktok stories last year, but only a handful kept my attention. Quicksilver by Callie Hart and Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry did just that. I really enjoyed both, but Odessa instantly became one of my favourite heroines.
• Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole was another instant 5-star read for me, though I will admit that I didn’t enjoy the next books in the series as much. I have high hopes for Book 4, though!
• An honourable mention goes to the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. I know that fandom might find this blasphemous and storm my house with pitchforks for saying this, but I found some of the books a bit long-winded and didn’t really connect with Aelin or Rowan, and that’s why I didn’t give any of the books in the series 5 stars. I often find myself more interested in Maas’s secondary cast, and oh holy wow, does Manon Blackbeak prove why. I would read EVERY long-winded book about Manon and the Thirteen and love every second of it.

What was your favourite read of 2025? Can you recommend a book that I’ll love? Let’s chat in the comments!

Until next time.

Yolandie