Last year I read some amazing books and some horrible books. I don't recall reading so many books that sounded good and turned out to just be horrible or very meh. I don't think i've given out so many one or two stars ratings ever. However, I was still pleased to find some wonderful books that made the top of my list, books that I would recommend to others and reread again.
 #20 (1 star) |  #19 (1 star) |  #18 (2 stars) |  #17 (3 stars) |
 #16 (2 stars) |  #15 (3 stars) |  #14 (4 stars) |
 #13 (3 stars) |  #12 (4 stars) |  #11 (5 stars) |
Top 10 books of 2025
 #10 (5 stars) |  #9 (4 stars) |
I took a chance with paranormal romance and read an author's debut, and although I don't read romance really ever, The Sunbound Curse was the perfect one for me to try out. The book moved along at a pace that reminded me of watching a Supernatural episode. The characters were interesting, and I can't wait to learn more about them in the sequels. Let Us Descend is magical realism about a young woman enslaved in the American south. I do love magical realism, although at times I know things go over my head. This book was beautifully written although the content was hard to take at times. However, that's the truth of our country's bloody past, and I appreciated the raw honesty of what black people experienced at the hands of white slavers.
 #8 (4 stars) |  #7 (3 stars) |
Banyan Moon is about three generations of Vietnamese women and how their choices they make as mothers and daughters affect each other. At times slow and frustrating to read because of understanding everyone's reasons for how they handled things, the book is well-written. While I only gave Sun of Blood and Ruin three stars, I love how new fantasy series are popping up that are based on the history and mythology of different parts of the world. This book takes place in Mexico and blends together Aztec mythology and the fight against Spanish colonial rule. I had some issues with how the story was told, but it was still a fun and refreshing fantasy novel. I'll probably continue on with the series.
 #6 (5 stars) |  #5 (5 stars) |
Matt Haig might be slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. The Midnight Library is only the second book of his that I've read, but he has a knack for writing humans in a way that makes me laugh and cry and love the messiness of humanity. His stories, at least the two that I read, include some fantastical elements, but each one provides a lasting lesson about what it means to be human. Speaking of favorite authors, Michael Crichton is definitely one. Everyone knows about Jurassic Park due to the film franchise, but the book is just as good. This was a reread for me inspired by the latest Jurassic World movie that came out in 2025, and it Is just as suspenseful as the first read through and movie. I highly recommend reading this book at least once if the story interests you at all.
 #4 (4 stars) |  #3 (5 stars) |
When I saw The Wager come out, I knew it was a book that I would have to read. I finally got around to reading it, and it mostly didn't disappoint. I felt like the summary made it sound like it was going to be about the investigation of what transpired to determine who the courts would side with, but that was a very small part of the end of the book. The book actually details the crew's experiences based on a couple men's personal journals. So maybe it was due to bad marketing that I didn't give it five stars, but overall it was a thrilling read and an incredible story about survival at sea. The Berry Pickers was challenging to read at times just due to the subject material. It's hard to say it was an "enjoyable" read, but it was an impactful story. I do not recommend finishing it in a public setting unless you are comfortable crying in front of strangers.
#2 (5 stars)
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Number 2 book of 2025A Sorceress Comes to Call was the first book that I ever read of T. Kingfisher's although most of her books sound fascinating. This book was a retelling of a fairy tale that I had never heard of before. I did look up a brief synopsis of the fairy tale before reading it, but that was not necessary. Part of me wishes I didn't know the story because then I wouldn't have been so focused on figuring out what parts connected to the original story. This novel had strong women friendships, adults who listen to adolescent characters, and a terrifying witch. This book left me feeling refreshed. If you like fairy tales, fantasy with a hint of horror, and are looking for a quick read to pull you out of a reading slump, give this a try. |
Number 1 book of 2025
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My number one pick of 2025 is hands down The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Even before reading it, I felt like this book was written for me: women pirates of the Indian Ocean? Yes please. As with Chakraborty's other books, the amount of research is evident throughout the story, with the setting, characters, and mythology. So many times I had to put the book down and research places and terms which led me down a path of learning. The most interesting thing I learned about was the island of Socotra. The first third of the book was kind of slow moving, but that might have been partly due to my research breaks. But once the crew was all assembled, the story took off. I will definitely be rereading this book again. I know there were plenty of clues and information that I missed the first time around that will help answer my questions. The second book comes out in May 2026, and i've already pre-ordered it.
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#1 (5 stars)
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