Every year, I try to narrow down all the books I read to a top 12 list. I select the books based on feeling. I chose the books that I am still thinking about and made an impact on me, not necessarily all the books I gave a 5-star rating to. Now you’ll notice below that I have way more books than 12, but I count books in a series that I read in the same year as one book (that makes sense to me). Of the 127 books I read this past year, here are my top 12 reads of 2025 (in no particular order);
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Published Date: May 2025
Genre: Dystopian
How I Read: Kindle
An event occurred many years ago that altered some of the population and left them with varying abilities. Now the government is against these modified people and either kills them or sends them to labor camps.
Wren hides her abilities, but once her uncle gets captured, she has the choice of being thrown in the stockades or training for the Silver Elite division of the military. Maybe she can help the resistance from the inside? But feelings for her commanding officer might be clouding her judgment. It’s sexy and predictable but there were definitely a couple of twists I didn’t see coming at the end. I am very excited for the next book.
Published Date: September 2025
Genre: YA Romance
How I Read: Kindle
Dani and her mother are moving to Minnesota to finish out her senior year. She hasn’t been in touch with Alec, her best friend from childhood, for many years and he lives in the same town.
Alec is a hockey star at school and Dani is hopefully bound for Harvard. They each need a little assistance with their goals so they agree to fake date. Will feelings get confused? Will they ever figure out what actually happened in the past to their relationship?
Published Date: February 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy
How I Read: Paper
Two years ago, there was a revolution where the ruling witches were overthrown and all witches and witch sympathizers were killed.
Rune is the Crimson Moth – a witch vigilante rescuing other witches from being purged. Gideon is a witch hunter and the older brother of Rune’s best friend. Gideon needs to find the Crimson Moth and fears the person is hiding in plain sight.
There’s magic, romance, plot twists, and more. Book two is even better than the first!
Published Date: July 2024
Genre: Fantasy
How I Read: Paper
A cozy, magical read about a librarian who must flee the capital city to her original island home. Accompanying her is Caz, a talking plant. Kiela starts to use spells (illegally) from the books she rescued from the library to help the island. Will she be punished for her acts?
Published Date: January 2025
Genre: Fantasy
How I Read: Kindle
This is the third book in this series. There’s war, many secrets, dragons, travel, love, family, friendship, and a lot that goes on in this book. You need to read the first two books before this one.
Published Date: January 2025
Genre: Fiction
How I Read: Paper
Two poor kids from Illinois become ice dancing partners. They get the opportunity to train with an Olympic medalist in California alongside her twins. The drama that ensues is beyond. There is changing of partners, relationship blowups, backstabbing, injuries, and some want Olympic gold more than others.
Published Date: November 2024
Genre: Memoir
How I Read: Audio
Cher’s memoir starts with the history of her family, including all of her mother’s marriages. The book tells of how Cher ended up in Hollywood and shares some of her chance encounters with celebrities. Honestly, her life was absolutely bonkers even before she became famous.
Then the book continues as Sonny comes into Cher’s life and completely ruins her financially. She discusses her children and a lot about her career. I can’t wait for part two!
Published Date: November 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
How I Read: Audio
The most incredible series that gets better and better with each book. Be warned – the first book is boring. Don’t stop. You will fly through these journals. Number 8 was perfection and I’m dying for the author to publish journal 9.
The journals are written by Emma, a young woman in London, 1883. She is about to inherit her deceased parents’ home and Emma comes up against some financial struggles. The story is an absolute pleasure. The characters are funny and the town is quirky.
Eventually, she finds immense friendship with three males who bring comfort and protection to her life. The reader is constantly guessing if one will become a love interest.
Published Date: June 2024
Genre: Fiction
How I Read: Audio
A small southern town is changed when a white woman’s book ban bender leads her to put a little free library in her yard full of “wholesome and appropriate” books. Unbeknownst to her, one night, someone switches all of her books with the banned books by sneaking them under the “appropriate” book jackets.
Chapters focus on how these banned books affect different people throughout the town and their personal stories. The book concludes with a mayoral race, a community fight about the local Confederate statue, and many personal secrets are revealed publicly.
Published Date: December 2024
Genre: Romance
How I Read: Paper
It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance involving Maddie’s dead brother’s best friend. Her brother left Dom and Maddie letters to be opened at eight destinations in eight different states, where they are to spread some of his ashes. In the letters are also instructions to follow.
Published Date: February 2017
Genre: YA
How I Read: Audio
Starr’s world comes crashing down when a (black) friend gets shot by a (white) police officer while she is the only passenger (and witness) in the car. The story follows the court proceedings, her emotions at home/school, plus her relationships with her siblings, her (white) boyfriend, and her black/white/other minority friends.
Published Date: October 2024
Genre: Fantasy
How I Read: Paper
Diem is a young mortal woman, a healer like her mom, who is discovering that her life is full of secrets. Her mother has suddenly disappeared. Plus, Diem’s best friend/boyfriend is shockingly part of a rebellious group that wants to challenge those in power – the Descended.
Diem’s main goal is to keep her brother in school, but her anger over the injustices in her world and the laws by which the Descended rule are making her take more and more risks, especially when the Prince takes notice of her.
A fantastic series that is not yet complete.
Want to check out more of my favorite books? Take a look at my Best Reads of 2024!
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