If 2026 were a book boyfriend-you can say that I have been-“playing the field.” This year I devoured stories that wrecked my sleep schedule, made me swoon, and forced me to sit in silence because my mind was blown. So grab your TBR list, cancel your plans, and prepare to judge me…just a little. Tentacles anyone? These are my top reads, my runner up’s, and honorable mentions of 2025.
Top Reads of 2025
- Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins
A heartfelt, funny, and deeply real take on body image and self-love. This novel follows three friends who met at weight-loss camp and now must tackle “skinny-someday” to “go to hell. I love me.” vibes. It’s equal parts laugh-out-loud moments and emotional truth bombs about friendship, growing apart, and learning you’re worth your own love more than anyone elses.
Buy this read here.
2. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
In 1741 France, Addie makes the boldest decision of her life and decides not be me married off as women often were during this time. She chose freedom over marriage-and as she runs into the woods away from her so-called obligations she runs into essentially a god/devil (depends on how you look at it). So from that moment on every time she leaves a room, she is forgotten. This goes on for CENTURIES. Until one day, she shoplifts a book and the shop keeper remembers her. From that moment on she wonder’s how this miracle happens and when she finds out…oooffff! This is the love of all loves. Heart-breaks of all heart-breaks. Soooo good!
Buy this amazing book here.
3. Wellness by Nathan Hill
This book will provide Wellness mentally to your noggin. It is like joining marriage and parenting book club with Oprah that will enthrall your noggin with all the facts that it spits. Life-hacks, Facebook algorithms explained, and why plane’s went from serving full ass meals to at times a miserable experience. At times was in awe of this book and at times I wanted to throw it across the room because why are humans so gross sometimes. I love the growth of the marriage, the worry that mother’s have, the existential crisis of most men…love this psychological novel of the human experience.
Understand with this book here.
4. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Okay, okay, okay- I know you have heard of this book but come ON! This whole series is quite epic and will go down in literary history. This book continues to follow Violet Sorrengail as she takes on dragon magic, messy alliances, and a love that refuses to chill and I am here for it! War after war. Fight after fight. Finding secrets that were kept from her (by those she now dominates) goes on to an epic cliff-hanger that I am still grasping on too.
Pick up this series here.
5. Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry
This is a gut-punch that goes straight to your head and causes chaos in your head like a fucking brick. This is not just a book. It is an emotional rollercoaster that makes you question how you see the parts shown by the worst of people. It will make you question your thoughts about justice, parenthood, and forgiveness. An honor-roll teen and an award winning swimmer who confession shocks his entire family. His mother has to question how far she is willing to go, to sacrifice, and to do the right and moral thing to protect her son. Even when he is in the wrong. Even when his sins are answered over and over.
Question everything here.
6. Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
This is not just your typical dark and twisty romance. This book pulls the rug out so hard you’ll be checking your pulse after. Kayla gets a cryptic letter from Dante, a man is, btw-is in prison and insist that he will wait for her forever because his love for her is that deep and engrained in his soul. Does she write back? Of course she does. But then, he shows up IRL and the intrigue deepens…
Find the mystery here.
7. Hurt for Me by Heather Levy
This is a dark, sexy thriller that refuses to just be tied down (pun intended)to one genre. This book is about Rea Dixon- a baddie that refused to be sex trafficed or abused any longer. Without spoiler’s she get’s away in the most traumatic but badass way-run’s away and happens to meet Mistress V, a dominatric running a thriving, upscale dungeon-meets-luxury spa. But then because no one can just have an easy life-Detective Dayton comes into their world and chaos proceeds. This book blends steamy explorations and trauma that lives in one’s bones.
Get tired up with this book here.
8. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
If you like Freida McFadden-then this book is for YOU. So Amber is used to being looked over. She is used to her L.L. Bean and mousy hair being mocked by rich bitches. But then one day she meet’s Daphine Parris, a glamorous socialite in the wealthy neighborhood of Bishop Harbor. Amber systematically worms her way into the Parrish’s life through the rouse of charity work. Jackson Parrish doesn’t pay Amber no mind until…he does. This book is cleverly twisted and highly entertaining with the deep dive into backstabbing between classes and women.
Worm your way into this book here.
9. The Tenant by Freida McFadden
This thriller is is about Blake and Krista. Blake just lost his successful high-powered VP job and his fiancé Krista convinces him to take in a tenant so they wouldn’t have to sell their home that they worked so hard for. That is when Whitney comes into the picture. She seems like the perfect tenant-background check and all. But then weird things start happening and Blake starts to question everything he believes to be true. This book gaslight’s the fuck out of your brain to make it believe that you are the crazy one.
Find the perfect tenant here.
10. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Dive into the silver with this romantasy that throws you from scorching desert sands into an icy fae realm with Saeris Fane. She does what ever she has too to take care of her brother after her mother is killed. Did she know that she had alchemist powers? No… no she did not. But then as she is running away to make sure she doesn’t get caught for stealing-she runs right into the world that contains the great Kingfisher. This is an enemies-to-allies-to-something more. There is danger. There is sex. There is tortured souls.
Fall into the Quicksilver here.
11. I Am Still Alive by Kate Marshall
This book is a survival thriller that is about Jess who is sent off to live with her father that she has never met that happens to live in the Canadian wilderness. Her father is a survivalist after he made some mistakes in the past. As much as she hates but wants to love her father, she does love his doggo Bo. Then some shit goes down and her father is…well.. you guess it-dies. She now has to teach herself how to forage, build a freaking shelter, make a fire, and overall-not die.
Find out if you can survive here.
12. The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
This book is about Millie, a reformed felon just trying to make it in this god-forsaken world that further judges those who have paid for their crime in our unrefined justice system. She ends up landing a job cleaning the luxurious house of the Garrick family. At first, Douglas seems like the ideal employer, but Millie quickly notices that the Garrick’s marriage isn’t…normal. Millie has to navigate the opulent yet creepy-AF world that she now lives in. This book gives hints of abuse, mystery, and cleaned up blood-stains.
Clean up this novel here.
13. Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
This book is about an amazing woman named Hendrix. She is fierce. She is ambitious. She is thriving in her 40’s and love’s every moment of it. Other than her mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She isn’t looking for romance-she has enough on her plate. But then during one amazing white party-she meet’s this fine ass man who…of course is off limits. Who is this off limit’s man? Maverick. A wealthy tech entrepreneur who lives low-key but every bit as ambitious has Hendrix. They are equals and their attraction to each other is equally as steamy. This book dives into identity love, generational care, and how romance can feel sensual and meaningful.
Fight the good fight here.
14. Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann
This is a YA/crossover romance that reunites childhood friends of Ella and Max in their senior year after a decade apart. When Ella returns to Juniper Falls, she has changed. Stained with the actions of her brother and judged by her neighbors from his crimes. But Max’s love…his love never left. Never changed. Never ends. He LOVES Ella-even if he has to let her go to prove it.
Cry over this book here.
15. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
This. Book. Is. SO. Funny. So Emma and Justin think that they are cursed in love. Every time they break up with someone, that person then finds “true love” immediately after. They meet on a Reddit thread and they agree to try to break the curse by dating just for the summer. But when Justin suddenly has to take care of his younger siblings and Abby had already agreed with her bestie to work in Hawaii…they both question if it has to be just for the summer. There is banter. There is wit. But more over there is comedy gold.
Get ready for the summer here.
16. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Okay-this books is so not what I thought it was. This chilling psychological thriller that sinks into the investigation of Claire and Lydia’s world after their baby sister Julia disappeared. Lydia is a recovering addict and Claire buries her head in the sand when it comes to relationships around her. Then Claire’s husband gets murdered right in front of her and the trauma, betrayal, and reconnecting sisterhood’s begin. You will not know who the killer is until the pee stained water-boarding begins.
Find the killer here.
17. The Best We Could Hope For by Nicola Kraus
This book makes you think differently about multigenerational family saga that blends emotional trauma and laughter. It starts with Jayne and Bunny. Two sisters that are very, very different and also goes down very different paths. Jayne-conventional. Conventional education. Conventional marriage. Conventional ideas. Bunny-well, Bunny loves music festivals and bad decisions. Bunny runs away after undiagnosed post-partum and leaves her three kids with her Jayne. This rocks the conventional idea of what is a family supposed to look like. This book has trauma and questions what legacies our parents leave behind.
Get into therapy over childhood trauma here.
18. The Unrequited by Saffron Kent
Educate yourself on the bold, edgy contemporary romance that soaks your brain with obsession and forbidden age-gap taboo romance. Layla, oh, Layla. A beautiful young woman who is desperate to let of of her past and ends up focused on her professor-Thomas Abrams. Thomas is brooding and just like all dark brooding men-is the poetry professor. Layla becomes obsessed and fascinated on what makes Thomas tick. Their loneliness reflects each other’s and they can feel the pain and rejection within each other. This book is raw and will not return your calls to explain why it ended.
Sign up for this class here.
19. Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Okay-yes it is another dark academia but this one has a creepy ass twist. Welcome to Dracadia University. This school is secluded and haunted by the wrongs of our tenured so-called adults. This is also where Lilia ends up getting her find education. She is haunted by her mother’s death right in front of her and she is determined to find the parasites that killed her. Professor Devryck happens to be an expert on these parasites to the point where he is given the nickname of “Doctor Death”. This is a slow-burn forbidden romance that crashes into action and medical mysteries.
Become infected with this book here.
20. The Troop Nick Cutter
This is a survival horror that begins innocently enough as most scouting trips do. Troop 52 goes on a camping weekend on a secluded island. But then a grotesque stranger stumble upon their cabin and Scoutmaster Tim, a doctor on the mainland, tries to help the ill man. This book isn’t just horror and it doesn’t just viscerally fuck you up with how the author describes what is crawling inside…but it bloody, brutal, and drenched in body horror. I am still shivering trying to get the visions out of my head.
Become infected here.
More than the top 20
So as you can see, 2025 was filled with heart-pounding thrillers, swoon-worthy romances, spicy scenes, and unforgettable characters. My top picks remind me to be brave, to have self-love, and always remind me that we meer mortals are complex creatures. But let’s not forget the runner ups:
Go to rehab and avoid being killed here.
Find the serial killer here.
Continue the thriller in hopes to find the killer here.
Become part of the girls school and twisted spines here.
Find out the recipe here.
Go on vacation here.
Find where your parents hide the bodies here.
Find your independence here.
Feel your books memories here.
Become a pirate with this adorable novel here.
Beat off the zombies here.
Find the kidnapped child here.
Honorable Mentions
Hidden Pictures- Jason Rekulak
The Spell Shop- Sarah Beth Durst
Wolf.E- Paisley Hope
The First Witch of Boston- Andrea Catalano
Razorblade Tears- S.A. Cosby
Torment (Part One)-Dylan Page
Torment (Part Two)- Dylan Page
Red Queen- Victoria Aveyard
Glass Sword- Victoria Aveyard
Kings Cage- Victoria Aveyard
The Rest is History- Sara Madderson
The Way I Hate Him- Meghan Quinn
The Graham Effect- Elle Kennedy
The Summer I Turned Pretty- Jenny Han
Maybe This Time- Cara Bastone
The DM Diaries- Tegan Hunter
Make it Sweet- Kristen Callihan
The Highland Fling- Meghan Quinn
Bully- Peneolpe Douglas
Unlikely Story- Ali Rosen
Things I Wanted to Say- Monica Murphy
Ryan Rule- Sadie Kincaid
Happily Letter After- Vi Keeland & Peneolpe Ward
Great and Precious Things- Rebecca Yarros
The Last Party- A.R. Torre
The Seventh Victim- Mary Burton
Cheater- Rachel Van Dyken
The Paris Appartment- Lucy Foley
The Sublet- Greer Hendricks
Of of Those Flings- Lauren Blakely
So Wrong- Abby Millsaps
The Devil Wears Black- L.J. Shen
Broken Bonds- J. Bree
Blood Bonds- J. Bree
Savage Bonds- J. Bree
Bitter Notes- Aly Beck
Right Man, Right Time- Meghan Quinn
A Very Bad Thing- J.T. Ellison
Stillhouse Lake- Rachel Caine
Killman Creek- Rachel Caine
When You Disappeared- John Marrs
Tis the Season for Revenge- Morgan Elizabeth
That Second Chance- Meghan Quinn
That Forever Girl- Meghan Quinn
That Secret Crush- Meghan Quinn
That Swoony Feeling- Meghan Quinn
Butterface- Avery Flynn
Muffin Top-Avery Flynn
Dangerous Beauty- J.T. Geissinger
Dangerous Desires- J.T. Geissinger
Dangerous Games- J.T. Geissinger
The Lies We Steal- Monty Jay
The Truths We Burn- Monty Jay
The Blood We Crave- Monty Jay
Salt and Broom- Sharon Lynn Fisher
Love & Other Killers- Brynne Weaver
Her Naughty Holiday- Tiffany Reisz
Hot for Slayer- Ali Hazelwood
Spicy Little Curses- J.T. Geissinger
Space Vampire- Ruby Dixon
Falling- Christina Lauren
My Boyfriend are all Monsters-Kimberly Lemming
Chasing the Wild- Elliott Rose
Best Friend for Never- Teagan Hunter
My Little Secret- L.A. Casey
10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace
The Marriage Auction- Audrey Carlan
Royal Valentine- Sariah Wilson
Phantom- H.D. Carlton
Christmas with the Marine- Candace Havens
Rock, Paper, Scissors-Alice Feeney
The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman
From Air- Jewel E. Ann
Nero- S.J. Tilly
Really wasn’t worth my time
I Am Watching You- Teresa Driscoll
King of Battle and Blood
Seven Years- Dannika Dark
Blood of the Gods- Sapir A. Englard
Den of Vipers- K.A. Knight
The Accidental Tourist- Anne Tyler
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