Top 5 Books of 2025 + Every Book I've Read So Far!

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett. I love this Sherlock inspired fantasy world and series. A great setting, great characters, and a mystery that'll keep me on the edge of my seat. I love it.

A Little Hatred and The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie. Book one and two to the Age of Madness series. Adoring this so much. Both of these were five out of five star reads. Maybe my favorite Abbercrombie so far.

And then I did read Annihilation, probably the second weirdest book I've read so far this year, and I would give this a four out of five stars. You want to just be like confused and a little bit creeped out, Jeff Vaneir is definitely the author for you.

Then we have Beauty Land, which was such a tender and beautiful story, which I would give five stars.

I cried so hard reading both of these books. If you want like a short story collection, really contemplating on like the human condition, fantastic.

Then I read Born by Jeff Vandemir, which I'd give a 4.5 out of five stars. Probably the weirdest book I've read so far this year.

City and Glass by Nevo, beautifully written, four stars.

Convenience Store Woman by Saiaka Marada. 3.75 stars. A wild ride that I did enjoy.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Beautiful writing. a great romance and great romantic pacing. 3.75 four stars for this final novel in this duogy.

Grave Empire by Richard Swan. I love everything Richard Swan is doing. Another fantasy horror mix. This one even more spooky scary than his other releases. Five stars.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. This was like a 3.5 stars for me. Honestly, a similar note and feeling that I had for the Abby Jimenez release this year. It was good, but not my favorite from this author.

The Whisper Wixs, The Labyrinth of Lost and Found. The only middle-grade fantasy I've read so far this year, and this was a delight. Five out of five stars. Probably one of my favorite middle-grade fantasies I've read in years.

Long Island Compromise. I honestly really enjoyed this book, but I fully realize this is not going to be for everyone because it centers an incredibly unlikable cast of characters. But I found the narration and the plot to be riveting and I'd give this like a four stars.

And then lastly to wrap up everything I've read so far this year, we have Northwoods, a litfix story centering a multitude of different perspectives of all the different residents of one house. And overall, I found it to be pretty interesting. I'd give it like four stars.

Then we have Oathbound by Tracy Dion. Another fantastic YA fantasy series. Even if you don't read YA fantasy, I still think this is worth checking out. centering our theory and tale and legend, family, magic, legacy. This was a 3.75 stars for me.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snider, a reread for me and honestly held up. I'd give this like a 3.5 out of five stars.

The Rag Picker King by Cassandra Cla, five stars. the only romanty series that's truly hitting it for me on every single mark that I've read in a while. Both installments, book one and book two, five star reads. So good. The romantic pacing is chef's kiss.

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. I would say this is like a 3.2. 25 3.5 out of five stars. Not my favorite by this author, but I still did enjoy it.

I also read Tales from the Cafe and Before Your Memory Fades, Toshi Kazu Kawaguchi. I gave both of these books five stars. Heartwarming, endearing, the perfect combination of bittersweet.

First, we have A Teller of Small Fortunes, which I would give a 3.5, 3.75 stars. This is a very sweet, cozy fantasy story. If you're looking for like a quest with a little bit of romance, this is a fun one.

Then we have The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence. Book two to the library series of his. An amazing twisty time of a fantasy read with one of my favorite fantasy settings of the moment, which is this massive magical library. Five stars.

The Bridge Kingdom and The Trader Queen by Daniel L. Jensen. I would give both of these like a 3.25 two five stars, a decently fun romanty series.

Then we have The Devils by Joe Abbercrombie. Another 4.5 out of five stars. I love a fantasy story with religious horror. And this also has a ragtag group of individuals going on a quest.

The Echo Wife. Probably my most disappointing read of the year so far. I'd give this like a 2.75 out of five stars. It was just fine.

The Killing Moon by NKGeem. NKGeem continues to prove that she can do no wrong. Four stars. Such an interesting world. I honestly feel like it kind of gave vampire vibes.

The River Has Roots by Amal El Motar. Five out of five stars. A Fay Story centering sisters in a magical grove of trees. I ate this up.

The Bridge Kingdom and The Trader Queen by Daniel L. Jensen. I would give both of these like a 3.25 two five stars, a decently fun romanty series.

A Little Hatred and The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie. Book one and two to the Age of Madness series. Adoring this so much. Both of these were five out of five star reads. Probably my favorite series of his so far.

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez. Simon Jimenez continually proving to me why he's one of my current favorite authors. Five out of five stars. A sci-fi read this time and definitely worth your time.

Tokyo Yuneo Station by Yumieri. This is a beautiful and somber story. I can definitely understand why it won the National Book Award.

Water Moon. A Ghibli inspired like quest adventure story in a dreamlike landscape. very viby like 3.75 stars.

What the River Knows by Isabelle Ias. This was so much fun. A perfect example of why YA fantasy can just be a blast. Centering archaeology in Egypt with a fun romance. 4.5 stars.