Over the final quarter of 2025, I’ve enjoyed some of the best stories and writing that I’ve ever encountered. In fact, I think it wouldn’t be hard to say that 2025, overall, has seen me read the best selection of books I’ve ever been exposed to in one calendar year. Here’s my favorites since October, followed by my personal favorites of 2025.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

A mystery from the first page, written from two perspectives, and yet, the two talk to each other without ever saying a word. It’s a quick read, but forces you to choose between what you’ve been told is right and what you feel is right. Especially when your feeling is being reflected back to you in another. Intriguing, heartbreaking, funny, and unique.

10/10 Don’t start a Time War, unless you are prepared to lose (or have the Doctor on your side)

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

I love mystery. I love suspense. I love thrill. And, I love magic. Wrap those up into a story about time travel that slowly reveals details of the earlier parts of the book, and you have The Book of Doors.

Imagine being able to open, or even just touch a book, and gain super powers! It’s fun while being serious. It asks some deep questions and poses some hard answers. But, most of all, it throws you into a world where you’re asking the same questions as the narrator.

10/10 time (and space) travel via books

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

What happens when the rampaging barbarian orc hangs up her weapon? Why, she opens a café of course! This fun and cozy world set after the adventure springs to life with a little help from strangers. And whoever said strangers couldn’t become friends? And maybe even more. While this tale is not free of strife (and what tale worth telling is?), the strife is not the driving force for this one. Keep your swords sheathed and get your orders ready.

10/10 Don’t ever say a ratkin can’t bake

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

I’ll be honest. I thought my copy of this book was missing the first chapter when I started. That’s how much I felt the confusion and absolute chaos facing the main character from word one. And it didn’t become much clearer until a few chapters later. How to prevent a death that has already occurred thousands of times? What small interaction could be the key? Which viewpoint is the missing piece?

12/10 Do not sign me up for whatever designed this form of rehab

Best of ’25

Dystopian Fiction

Sunrise on the Reaping

Patriotism versus propaganda. Sacrifice versus entertainment. The struggle of the oppressed. The hardship of a working life. The all encompassing power of grief.

Fantasy Mystery

The Book of Doors

Imagine being able to open, or even just touch a book, and gain super powers!

Runner Up: Lightfall by Ed Crocker

Cozy Fantasy

Legends & Lattes

Keep your swords sheathed and get your orders ready.

Runner Up: This Is How You Lose the Time War

Fantasy

The Silmarillion

It is a history book built with epic tales and poetry. It is a Creation story and romance in one.

Runner up: Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

Historical Fiction

The Women

A historical fiction painted with a brush of reality, The Women portrays the story of female nurses in Vietnam. The women who “weren’t in Vietnam.”

Runner Up: A Man At Arms by Steven Pressfield

Mystery

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

I felt the confusion and absolute chaos facing the main character from word one.

Runner Up: Relic by Douglas Peterson

Sci-Fi

Red Rising Trilogy

Our young hero, Darrow, is forced to abandon his home and everyone he knows and loves to fight for a dream that isn’t even his.

Runner Up: Stilleto by Daniel O’Malley

According to my Goodreads tracker, I finished 36 books this year, that’s 7 more than last year. And I even read 5 of the 7 Chronicles of Narnia, but it’s technically one book, so I haven’t counted that one yet. A large part of that increase was the multiple roadtrips I had the time to take and thus, the time to listen to audiobooks, thanks Audible.

I’m in the middle of Alchemised, The Silver Chair, Iron Gold, and The Blacktongue Thief right now, but please send me any recommendations.

2025 Also Ran: The Defense by Steve Cavanagh, Reliquary by Douglas Peterson, The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, Never Lie by Freida McFadden, Open Season by C.J. Box, Safecracker by Jesse DeRoy, The Teacher by Freida McFadden, Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig