Top 10 Reads of 2025

2025 is officially over and that means another year of books in the... well, in the books. There were highs, there were lows, and there were a LOT of books: 80 to be precise, 10 over my original goal! Instead of just picking from my 5-star reads, I wanted to share some that had a big impact on me even if they didn't *quite* hit the 5-star mark; I have a structured rating system, but just because I knock a star off for a specific element doesn't mean I didn't get something out of it. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite reads from the year!

1. The Mercy Thompson series - Patricia Briggs
   An urban fantasy series in which a shapeshifting mechanic navigates an uneasy alliance between werewolves, vampires, and witches. Supernatural adventures, a strong female lead, and swoon-worthy romance await!
2. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson
   It's not what you think. Okay, it is, but not the way you think. A darkly funny, twisty whodunnit that will also have you feeling A Certain Kind Of Way™ by the time all is said and done. The second book in the series is also excellent!
3. Beauty and the Beast - K.M. Shea
   Elle is an indentured spy to the crown and gets injured while on patrol at the Beast's chateau, prompting an unexpected stay. Expect hilarity, angst, and some quality character development, as well as a very fat dog. My favorite Beauty and the Beast adaptation EVER!
4. The Good Part - Sophie Cousens
   Haven't we all wished we could skip to "the good part" at some point in our lives? When a magic wishing machine allows Lucy Young to do exactly that, she finds that the future's not all it's cracked up to be and learns to appreciate the value of living in the present. This book wrecked my life for 3 weeks straight (in the best kind of way) and if you struggle with wishing your life away too, I HIGHLY recommend adding it to your list. 
5. The Assistant to the Villain series- Hannah Nicole Maehrer
   Peppy and very unemployed village girl finds herself accepting a job as assistant to the kingdom's most notorious, very brood-y villain. Sunshine x grumpy to the max, banter for years, and a royal frog will accompany you on the quest to really ruin the king's life.
6. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin 
   An author's journey to maximize happiness by focusing on different areas of her life over the course of a year. She shares her own ideas, what worked, and what didn't. I entertained a brief obsession with this book and it became my entire personality for a hot minute, but it was totally worth it.
7.  Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
   Elderly widow Tova works as a cleaner for an aquarium and spends her nights talking to its inhabitants, especially Marcellus the octopus, to keep from getting lonely. You have no doubt heard this referred to as "the octopus book" and for good reason as it's narrated by Marcellus. You think it sounds weird now, but you'll change your mind when you're bawling at the end of the book and recommending it to everyone you know.  
8.  Outdated: Find Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed - Jonathan Pokluda
   A moment of silence for all of us trying to navigate today's dating scene. This book takes a faith-based approach to finding love and making sure you're prioritizing the right things along the way. In each chapter, Pokluda debunks common societal myths about dating and then reworks them from a biblical standpoint. As a chronically single person who was worried about all the wrong things, this book really helped me take a step back and evaluate what I want in a partner and why.
9. The Delta Anomaly - Rick Barba 
   Starfleet cadet James Kirk and his friends find themselves embroiled in the hunt for an alien serial killer after an attack at a local club. This is the first of the new Starfleet Academy books, all of which are excellent; they're true to the characters, funny, and have exciting plots. The Assassination Game is probably my favorite, but I love them all!
10. Authentically, Izzy - Pepper Basham
    Izzy's well-meaning cousin makes her a dating profile, but she's sure it's a prank when she meets a seemingly perfect match from the other side of the world. With jobs and families at stake, how far will they go for love? 

And that's it! Please note: these are not in any kind of order, unless you count the order of "scrolling through my Goodreads list". I am physically incapable of selecting a single favorite book and I'm not about to start narrowing it down now. I hope you found something on the list you can carry to your 2026 TBR, but either way, happy reading!