The Best Books of 2025! My Top 10 of the Year!

It’s the best time of the year! An opportunity to look back at all the incredible books I read this past year and pick out my absolute favorites.

I love creating this post because I tend to forget what I read earlier in the year and this gives me a chance to revisit them. It’s also interesting to see how my highly rated books early on stack up against more recent reads.

This was a great year for a variety of genres, which means romances, thrillers, and fantasy books are all well represented on my list!

Once again, I decided to rank my Top 10 this year and name an official Best Book of 2025! 

Share your favorite books in the comments or let me know what you think of my selections!

 

 

10. Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator is honestly incredible. She incorporates buckets of emotion into the story – it’s so impressive. Especially since the main character, Lenny, is an absolute mess as she tries to just survive after the loss of her best friend.

Lenny takes a short term nannying job for an overworked mom and her adorable, quirky daughter, Ainsley. Unfortunately, Ainsley’s grumpy uncle keeps hanging around. Miles eventually gets Lenny to open up about her grief after he reveals he’s also dealt with a significant loss. He offers to help her basically survive these first few months if she will help him connect with Ainsley. It turns out his severe, stoic demeanor is hiding an insecure man who desperately wants to be a part of this family.

Cara Bastone tackles the worst parts of grief head on. As well as the complexities of families and kids and how difficult they can be to navigate. This is one where you’ll absolutely get lost in the story and laugh and cry along with the characters. There’s so much humor alongside the grief, making this a book you won’t be able to put down. |  Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

 

9. Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I FINALLY got around to reading it this past month. I was waiting for the audiobook on Libby and I’m so glad I did because the character narration was masterful.

The lies keep adding up for Sloane Caraway and she’s perfectly happy about it. She’s always been this way, telling little half truths to make her life seem more interesting. So, when she sees a young girl crying in a park, she gets the attention of the attractive dad by saying she’s a nanny.

Soon, she’s completely invested in this family’s life, living in their brownstone and taking their daughter to her elite school. It seems like the ideal situation, all because she was willing to play pretend for a bit. Except Sloane eventually realizes that she’s not the only one keeping secrets. And the game she’s in could be much darker than anything she’s done in the past. | Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

8. The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison

I was not expecting to end up sobbing my way through the end of this book!! I thought it was a fun, little time travel / dual timelines romance. And it definitely was, but it was also a deep look at grief and how we carry that with us throughout our lives. Meg is a lead actress on a popular TV show, but as she faces down more demands from the network and rumors this is the final season, she gets the itch to get away from everything and books to the town in Ireland where she and her late childhood friend always dreamed of moving.

However, when she gets there she steps into an alternate reality where everyone knows her and believes she’s lived there since college. A timeline in which her friend is also alive and well. Meg is no longer famous, but slowly sees this as a second chance, one she can fully appreciate after understanding the downside of being a celebrity, what she thought she always wanted. As time passes, Meg realizes how much Aimee’s death had affected her life choices, but deep down she realizes she can’t stay here forever. 

This  book was both lighthearted, comical, and incredibly moving. It walked that line between a romance and a story about female friendships so well. A must read! | Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

7. Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Camilla wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and a cryptic note in his place. She’s supposed to be dropping her daughter off at daycare for the first time and returning to her job as a literary agent. However, her world is upended when she gets a call about an ongoing hostage situation. As we all would assume, her first thought is that her husband is one of the hostages. But no, he’s the gunman.

Now, his note takes on a whole different meaning and she has to decide what to do next. We as readers are right there alongside her, as she makes impossible choices and faces an unimaginable situation. The novel takes a turn from this initial situation that I wasn’t expecting at all! Slowly over the course of the novel we get glimpses into Luke’s history and eventually piece together the circumstances that led to the hostage situation. 

There were so many aspects of this book that took me by surprise. It isn’t all focused on just that one day, but I really enjoyed the narrative that covers both before and after the incident. Plus, the ending was incredibly satisfying! All around a five star thriller and a unique addition to this genre that will be unlike anything you’ve read. Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

6. Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

I had a blast reading this sports romance and I’m obsessed with the softball hearts on the sprayed edges! I don’t know how Tessa keeps writing books in this series that get better and better but this one may be my new favorite!? Robbie meets Skylar when his hockey teammates face off against a group of baseball players and let’s just say they don’t get off to a good start.

But Skylar needs help getting the attention of her crush, her brother’s best friend, so she brings Robbie along to an annual family competition to give her advice and pretend to be her boyfriend to make the guy jealous. It’s classic Tessa, with all sorts of sarcastic banter and a man who is down BAD for his girl. Robbie tries to keep his distance but falls hard and fast. It was a little ridiculous that Robbie went from the biggest player in the league to being ready to settle down with one girl in a matter of weeks, but I loved going along with it anyway. Grab this deluxe edition now while you still can! | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

5. Out Of The Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

This is the sequel to Out On A Limb and I didn’t think it was possible but I might like it even more?? Sarah and Caleb got married young and are clearly meant for each other, but she’s struggling to figure out who she wants to be as an adult. Caleb has always been there to rescue her, but she’s tired of needing help and wants to make something of her life on her own.

In an attempt to shake things up, they go on a weeklong wilderness adventure meant to help couples reconnect. I adore reading about non-nature people like me trying to survive an outdoor trip! The setting provided plenty of obstacles and moments of hilarity alongside the deeper scenes.

t’s so refreshing reading about a strong couple who still have issues they need to work through. It showcased how difficult life can be after the happy-ever-after. I would love to see more romances about married couples in the future!! | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

 

4. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

I DEVOURED this 500 page fantasy book in 27 hours because I couldn’t put it down once I started! The story focuses on a princess who is married off to a neighboring kingdom to fulfill a peace treaty. Except Odessa was never meant to be the Sparrow, her younger sister had trained her whole life for that role. The night before she left, Odessa discovers her father needs her to spy on the people of Turah and discover the location of their secret capital where they may be hiding knowledge.

Odessa is left reeling, with no skills or training to help her with this assignment. Her new husband, Zavier, barely speaks to her and his right hand man, the legendary Guardian, won’t stop pestering her. Over time, though, Odessa learns more about Turah and the people that are plagued by the atrocious beasts that roam the land, some of which are infected with a poison that makes them stronger and more ruthless than normal.

I love so many things about this book! First of all – Odessa isn’t our normal fantasy heroine. She’s literally terrible at everything, from fighting to running to playing politics. It was so refreshing and relatable to read about her initial attempts to train with weapons and develop stamina! And though she gets marginally better, she doesn’t magically become this amazing fighter.Also the slow burn between her and the Guardian was incredible!! He always seemed to pop up and annoy her with his teasing and she constantly peppered him with questions he probably shouldn’t be answering. There were a few twists that literally made me gasp out loud too! This is probably going to be my favorite fantasy of 2025!!  | Buy Deluxe Edition From Amazon 

 

 

 

 

3. Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Abby’s books are always a summer staple, and this is one you’re definitely going to want to add to your TBR. I think this may be one of Abby’s best book boyfriends – Xavier, a Greek God-esque veterinarian. However, his first encounter with Samantha is a disaster. She’s being stubborn and he’s rude and abrasive. A few months later, when she brings her kitten back, he apologizes and Samantha agrees to a do-over date. What happens next shocks them both.

They end up on the best (and longest) first date they’ve ever experienced, realizing their connection is something special. But Samantha is leaving the next day…for good. She’s moving to California to help take care of her mother. She begs Xavier to forget everything that happened. He tries, but eventually convinces her to attempt a long distance relationship. They both know they’re meant to be together, but life keeps throwing obstacles in their way.

I’ve heard from other readers who didn’t enjoy this book because it was really tough to read at times – there’s a lot of struggle and circumstances out of their control that keep Xavier and Samantha apart. However, I absolutely adored how much they fought for each other and did everything they could to show up, make an effort, and find solutions as a team!  | Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

 

2. Rose In Chains by Julie Soto

I knew back in August that this was going to be one my favorite books of 2025! This is a darker romantasy novel that was originally a Draco/Hermione fanfic!! Plus, you can still get this gorgeous Deluxe Edition from Amazon!

In Rose in Chains, our main female character is Briony, who’s just survived a horrific war but is facing the end of life as she knew it. Evil has won this time and now Briony and the other survivors are being captured and sold off. She’s been stripped of her magic and her title and was bought by Toven Hearst, who’s part of a family known for their cruelty. Are you seeing where the Malfoy family vibes are coming in??

This has the most delicious slow burn as Toven and Briony start to trust each other and Briony sees how his family isn’t what she expected. I adored both the present day situation and the flashbacks to their memories growing up and going to school together. Toven is the ultimate villain with a soft heart. This is an absolute must read!! | Buy From Amazon

 

 

 

 

1. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. I was BLOWN AWAY by it, completely taken by surprise at how invested I got in these characters. Absolutely masterful writing from TJR!

The story follows Joan, one of the first female astronauts at NASA as she endures training, finds her place in this world, and unexpectedly finds a love she never thought was possible. Intermixed with this narrative is Joan’s experience one day when she was assigned as the CapCom for the current mission. A disaster occurs and Joan finds herself fighting with her team to bring the astronauts, her friends, home safely.

This is both a thriller and a romance, all wrapped up in a beautiful love letter to the stars. It is incredibly emotional in all the best ways, as you experience heartbreak and terror and joy right alongside these characters. This book will change you. I guarantee it. | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

Share your favorite book (or all Top 10) in the comments!