And here we have it – another year gone! Everyone says as you’re growing up that the older you get, the faster the years go and that really is so true. It feels like I’ve blinked and this year has gone. So much has happened, it feels mad it’s all been crammed into just 365 days!
This year, I also managed to read 70 books! I actually failed my reading challenge (we’ll come back to that), but I did manage to read a diverse range of books across both genres and ratings, and read some amazing new books this year.
If you’ve been reading my writing for a while, you’ll know that every year, I do a review of my year in books. If you’re new here, don’t panic – I’m not going to review all 70 books! Some I already have reviewed anyway, and that would be a very long post…so here’s how it is going to work. I’m going to list all the books I read this year and their ratings, share a few reviews from each rating, then share my top books for every month this year, my honourable mentions…and then, of course, share my top book of 2025!
Note: Whilst some books are rated low, these are all my own opinions. Just because I didn’t like a book, this doesn’t mean it will be the same for everyone! This goes the same for the higher-rated books…sometimes a book is our cup of tea, sometimes not. These are all just my opinions.
So with that being said, this is a relatively long post, what with me summarising a whole year, so get yourselves comfy, get a drink and a snack, and let’s look at my literature for 2025…
A complete list of all the books I read this year, in order:
Books with an * mean they were sent to me in exchange for an honest review. Some of these books I have already reviewed on this website; I will share their links next to the books.
Total number of books read this year: 70
Nineteen steps – Millie Bobby Brown – 3 stars
Tristan and Lancelot: A Tale of Two Knights – James Perischetti – 3.5 stars
This Feast of a Life* – Cynthia So – 4 stars
This is How You Fall in Love – Anika Hussain – 3 stars
Daughter of Chaos – A.S. Webb – 4.5 stars
I Shall Never Fall In Love – Hari Conner – 4 stars
The Science of Racism* – Keon West – 4 stars
The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King* – Harry Trevaldwyn – 2.5 stars
Lies We Sing To The Sea – Sarah Underwood – 4 stars
Outrage: Why The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won* – Ellen Jones – 4 stars
The Bones Beneath My Skin* – TJ Klune – 5 stars
Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertalli – 3 stars
Salutation Road* – Salma Ibrahim – 3 stars
The Manual for Good Wives* – Lola Jaye – 5 stars
The Burnout – Sophie Kinsella – 3 stars
She and Her Cat – Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa – 4.5 stars
The Cat Who Saved The Library* – Sosuke Natsukawa – 3 stars
Almost Sunset – Wahab Algarmi – 3.5 stars
One Yellow Eye* – Leigh Radford – 4 stars
The Comfort Book – Matt Haig – 2 stars
What Does it Feel Like – Sophie Kinsella – 5 stars
Dungeons and Drama – Kirsty Boyce – 4.5 stars
The Eyes of Gaza* – Plestia Alaqad – 5 stars
The Fox Maidens – Robin Ha – 3.5 stars
Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins – 5 stars
Racing Legends: Lewis Hamilton – Maurice Hamilton – 3 stars
The Poppy War – R.F. Kuang – 5 stars
The Neighbour Favour – Kristina Forest – 4 stars
Fyn Carter and the Legends from Atlantis* – Ian Hunter – 4 stars
Queer Up – Alexis Caught – 3 stars
Sunset – Jessie Cave – 4 stars
Paddington in Peru – Anna Wilson – 3 stars
Ride With Me – Simone Soltani – 4.5 stars
Not So Fast* – Karen Booth – 2 stars
This is How You Lose the Time War – Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar – 3 stars
Drown Me With Dreams – Gabi Burton – 5 stars
The Ellyrian Code: The Treaty of Edriendor* – B.F. Peterson – 5 stars – already reviewed, you can read that here: The Ellyrian Code | A Magical, Mischeivious And Wonderous New Epic Fantasy Book | Book Review
A Queer Case* – Robert Holtom – 3 stars
When the Museum is Closed* – Em Yagi – 2 stars
The Second Chance Convenience Store* – Kim Ho-yeon – 4.5 stars
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong – 2 stars
Strange Pictures – Uketsu – 5 stars
Rooms for Vanishing* – Stuart Nadler – 2 stars
The Ashfire King* – Chelsea Abdullah – 5 stars – already reviewed, you can read that here: The Ashfire King | A Mesmerising And Fantastic Continuation Of A Series | Book Review
The Enchanted Greenhouse* – Sarah Beth Durst – 4 stars
Think Again – Jacqueline Wilson – 2 stars
How it All Blew Up – Arvin Ahmadi – 3.5 stars
The Teller of Small Fortunes – Julie Leong – 3 stars
The Book of Heartbreak* – Ova Ceren – 5 stars
No Friend to This House* – Natalie Haynes – 5 stars
Crash Test* – Amy James – 3.5 stars
I Wish You All The Best – Mason Deaver – 4.5 stars
The Menu of Happiness* – Hishashi Kashiwai – 3.5 stars
Soyangri Book Kitchen* – Kim Jee Hye – 3 stars
The Shoe Creeper* – Ian Hunter – 4 stars
The Night House – Joe Neesbe – 3 stars
Gladiator Goddess* – Morgan H. Owen – 4 stars
Gods and Monsters – Mythological Poems – Ana Sampson – 3.5 stars
Memory and Magic* – D.M. Beucler – 3.5 stars
Katabasis – R.F. Kuang – 3.5 stars
Idol Burning – Rin Usami – 3 stars
Horrorstor – Grady Hendrix – 5 stars
The Housemaid’s Secret – Freida McFadden – 3 stars
Alchemy of Secrets – Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
The Circus Train – Amita Parkih – 5 stars
The Very Merry Murder Club – Robin Stevens, Serena Patel – 3 stars
The Little Match Girl Strikes Back – Emma Caroll – 3.5 stars
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters – Rick Riordan – 5 stars
Under the Whispering Door – TJ Klune – 5 stars
Orbiting Jupiter* – Gary D. Schmidt – 3.5 stars
So, like I said – a good range there, and not one book rated below two stars! However, that may be because if I’m really not enjoying a book, I just won’t finish it – they’re the books that if I did finish, would be less than 2 stars…here’s those ones that I didn’t make it to the end of…
Pole Position – Rebecca J. Caffery
To Kill a Kingdom – Alexandra Christo
The Last Passenger – Will Dean
Spellbound – Georgia Leighton
With This Kiss – Carrie Hope Fletcher
Nightbitch – Rachel Yoder
Instructions For Heartbreak* – Sarah Handyside
Three Hours – Rosamund Lupton
Throttled – Lauren Asher
Women Are Angry – Jennifer Cox
Not too many abandoned books across 12 months, but sadly, these *really* did not click for me. Now, next up – here are a couple of reviews from each rating…
2 stars
When the Museum is Closed – Emi Yagi
I read Diary Of A Void by this same author, and even though I thought it was quite a strange book, I enjoyed it nonetheless, and this book was very much on the same wavelength.
This is a hard book to review – it’s one of those that everyone will have a different reading experience and take something different away from it. I think it’s a really cleverly written book in the way there’s a lot of messages subtly interwoven into the story; the suffocating pressures we find ourselves struggling with, being controlled by people in various forms, exploring our identities and trying to live our lives as truthfully as possible, and the theme I found most prominent – freedom, in any and all capacities.
When the Museum is Closed is a book to read if you don’t mind not fully grasping what’s happening. It’s quite surreal with a unique writing style. It’s very much an ‘out of the box’ style of book, and it won’t be for everyone (spoilers…somehow a human sleeps with a statue? Yeah, I don’t know either)…but it’s still quite intriguing.
Considering it’s only a short book, I feel the author manages to fit a lot of exploration within those pages, so even though it was a quick book for me to get through, there was substance to the text.
An imaginative and cleverly constructed book, When the Museum is Closed is a unique book that cannot be compared to anything else.
Rooms For Vanishing – Stuart Nadler
Rooms For Vanishing is a book that is dense in the literal sense; it’s not a lighthearted book to read as you fall asleep, but one that captures your full attention. At times, the lines are blurred between what’s real and what’s not, and sometimes you’re never clear which is which! Once I stopped trying to understand everything and just went with what was in front of me, I found this to be a fascinating way to explore grief, memory and separation.
I do find at times the book was a little hard to follow, so whilst I get what the author was trying to do, it didn’t always work for me, but I could appreciate the writing and narration style nonetheless.
Told through multiple points of view, this book felt almost like we were just having an insight into everyone’s thoughts as they came into their heads; I personally think this narration reflected the way grief can be sometimes, lots of thoughts one after the other with no structure, so I thought this was a really clever writing technique!
Whilst this book is quite chunky, it’s one that I got through quite quickly thanks to the short chapters. A unique and more conceptual kind of historical fiction.
2.5 stars
The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King – Harry Trevaldwyn
This was very much a case of I can see why others will like this book, but it really was not for me. I can read and enjoy middle-grade and young adult books, but sometimes I really do notice when I’m too old for them, and this is one such book. I spent most of it cringing with second-hand embarrassment. Not a bad book at all – it’s a fun, cheesy LGBTQ+ romcom that is so unserious, and reminded me how big a deal everything feels when you’re a teenager wanting to be loved. There was a fun mix of drama club drama, romance drama, and finding your feet in life drama…it just was not my cup of tea. It didn’t help that I didn’t really like the main character, but I think that had I been younger, maybe I would have enjoyed this a lot more than I did.
3 stars
The Cat Who Saved The Library – Sōsuke Natsukawa
The Cat Who Saved Books – the book by this same author that came before this one – took me completely by surprise; I went into it not knowing what to expect and I completely fell in love with every page of that book, and it really made me think of the way books and reading as a whole are viewed and treated in this current generation.
The Cat Who Saved The Library is the sequel to that first book. A whole new story with a new protagonist, but still, our familiar furry friend returns. Similar to the first book, it’s a heartwarming read, but I don’t necessarily think this is a sequel we needed.
When I finished the first book, it felt quite conclusive, like there wasn’t any hint of a sequel coming. To hear there was a sequel coming made me really happy, as I adored the writing style and the way the book cleverly addresses the themes of how we handle books & literature, woven together in a heartwarming, layered book – even better with a cat as a main character!
I went into the sequel with high hopes, maybe a bit too high – as I felt this book just didn’t hit the mark as much as the first one did.
I do still think this book told a relevant and important story for todays generation – this was a brilliant way of discussing reading books that matter and make you think vs books that are just flat and add nothing to your life, censorship and the importance of libraries; I thought these were great themes to use for book two, so that The Cat Who Saved The Library isn’t just adding to The Cat Who Saved Books, but is rather telling its own, different story.
The writing style still felt like a heartwarming, layered read, but I just felt like there was something missing. I can’t pinpoint what. Perhaps this is one of those examples where the first book was just so incredible that it was hard to match that again.
Having said all this, I did still enjoy this book, and spending time with Nanami and Tiger, and I’ll definitely read more of Natsukawa’s writing.
Alchemy of Secrets – Stephanie Garber
Alright. This review may be a bit controversial, but here we go…I honestly can’t express enough how heartbroken I am that this book is only a mid-reviewed one from me…everyone and their cat knows by now how much I love the Caraval universe, and I was so, so excited to read more of Stephanie Garber’s writing in a whole new world and with a fresh new story. It was still an enjoyable book, but I just wanted so much more. Considering this was meant to be an adult fantasy, it didn’t feel any different to her YA – I’d hoped for more layered writing, or some tonal shift from YA to adult, but there was no evidence of that. I also didn’t feel the story had the depth or excitement her last books did. It felt very two-dimensional, and I felt the focus was less on a good story and more on ‘what writing will work for the romantasy fans’. I loved the premise and idea, I just wish there was more to the follow-through. I am intrigued enough to carry on the series, but I won’t be in a rush to do so. My heart genuinely hurts as this is probably my biggest disappointment of the year.
3.5 stars
The Menu of Happiness – Hisashi Kashiwai
This is a book for people who love literary fiction – even more specifically, translated fiction, and/or someone who is a foodie. As I’m all of the above, it’s no wonder I loved this book. The Menu of Happiness is a small but mighty book. I loved how it explored that food can be a way to show love, to connect us, to bring us back to moments in time, and to remember. Every dish was described so beautifully, I desperately wanted to try it all! This book had similar vibes to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but I actually preferred how this book was carried out. I felt all the emotions so vividly from the characters and the individual stories, and the resolutions I found really heartwarming. As this is a short book, I’m hoping for more stories from the restaurant in the future!
Katabasis – R.F. Kuang
Look. I love R.F. Kuang, I think her writing is amazing, and I did enjoy this book…l just think her other books set the bar too high for me. After Babel and The Poppy War, Katabasis just didn’t hit as hard for me as those books did.
I loved the writing style in the book, I loved the concept… I just wanted more. I wanted to spend more time in each of the areas of hell and learn more about them, and I feel like the end was so fast compared to the slower pace of the rest of the book. I also felt this book bordered on being very info-dump heavy at points – it felt like sometimes the plot would stop for an info-heavy section on something, for the plot to then continue. I understand why – it’s a very cleverly constructed book, so this meant everyone understood all that was happening, but it meant we lost the pace as a consequence.
Having said all this, I really did enjoy the book, I swear!
If this had been my first RF Kuang book, I know I’d have rated it higher. I think it’s a super cool plot, I loved the way the different interpretations of hell were addressed, and I loved how we got our characters’ back stories gradually, and their histories made everything make that much more sense.
A mixed bag of a book for me, but I’ll still read anything and everything RF Kuang writes.
4 stars
The Enchanted Greenhouse – Sarah Beth Durst
This book kind of reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors, if the plants were friendly. It was so unique, wholesome and a perfect book to read and lose myself in. The writing was so atmospheric – I so badly want to visit this island myself!
Whilst I wasn’t instantly sold on the romance, I did love all the characters and loved going on the adventure with them. Lottie definitely stole my heart and left me wanting my own talking plant friend!
Despite there being many characters introduced to us, I never struggled to keep track, as everyone had their own distinct voice and personalities that jumped off the pages. With so many plant characters alone, this was an impressive feat!
One thing I will say is that The Enchanted Greenhouse is kind of like a sister novel to The Spellshop. Technically, this is a sequel, but although The Enchanted Greenhouse can be read independently to The Spellshop, I think if you read them together, you get a bit more understanding of the world.
A beautifully crafted book, this is a definitive reminder of what cosy fantasy is. I also loved how, although at face value it’s a sweet book about magic and talking plants, there are so many secondary layers and messages – being true to ourselves, doing what’s right over what is easy, the importance of community and opening our hearts to others…The Enchanted Greenhouse is simply lovely from start to finish. I loved The Spellshop, I loved this book…and now I will wait for the next book from Sarah Beth Durst!
Gladiator Goddess – Morgan. H. Owen
You know when you read the first chapter of a book, and you can tell already it’s going to be a book you’ll end up loving? That was me with Gladiator Goddess.
I love books set in ancient times – whilst I’ve read a lot set in ancient Greece, I’ve only read a series once set in Ancient Rome, so I loved how this is set in Pompeii! The book has a really good pace – I’d fly through so much of the book in next to no time!
What else I love is that, yes, this is a feminist book, but the historical context is taken into account. It’s not just ‘our most badass warrior is a woman, yay feminism’ – but Gia also has to contend with going against the tide and the box she’s been shoved into just because of her gender. The queer romance felt like a natural progression for the characters, as did the plot development of the Roman goddesses coming into contact with the humans and the eruption of Vesuvius; nothing felt forced or circumstantial – it all felt authentic, and therefore the emotions impacted just as I would hope for.
4.5 Stars
I Wish You All The Best – Mason Deaver
I loved this book! Whilst everyone deserves to be accepted and have a loving family, I love how this book demonstrates that not everyone is that lucky, and this isn’t always the case. I loved the character growth, and I think this could be really comforting to young people who feel alone. Whether the themes within this book are something you can relate to either in yourself or someone you know, or you can’t relate or identify at all, I still think everyone could take something from this book.
5 stars
What Does it Feel Like – Sophie Kinsella
This is a small book that packs a mighty punch, even more so since Kinsella has passed away. This is a raw, emotional and honest story of a young woman and how her brain cancer is impacting her in every aspect of her life. The confusion, the heartbreak, the love, hope and gratitude that run through every page of this book are so impactful. A hard-hitting book that stays with you long after reading.
Drown Me With Dreams – Gabi Burton
The sequel to Sing Me to Sleep, this is a brilliant sequel! I loved the first book, and I loved this one just as much. This felt like a perfect continuation of the story; we got a lot more detail on the world and political and magic systems, and so much more character development and growth. Whilst the plot thickened and there were darker themes, Drown Me With Dreams was every bit as exciting and absorbing as the first book. The end was far from predictable and felt like a fitting conclusion for this magical duology.
And there you have a few reviews of every star rating! Now for the next part – my top book for every month this year…
January – Daughter of Chaos – A.S. Webb
Daughter of Chaos is an epic fantasy based around Greek mythology, and wow – what a wild ride this book is! An epic adventure from start to finish.
Equally divided between a fast-paced, gripping plot and brilliant characterisation and development, I was completely hooked and immersed in this world; I flew through the book, and was so intrigued where Danae’s story would take her next!
This is a clever and fresh take on oracles and Greek mythology in a fun and unique new series. I loved the links to other Greek myths and legends intertwined into the story, and feel the book is brilliant at being entertaining regardless of whether you know your Greek history or not – they’re fun links if you do, but if you don’t, everything is still clear and easy to understand.
A captivating and heroic book, Daughter of Chaos is one I couldn’t get out of my head even after I’d finished reading it. I could barely put it down and couldn’t get enough, and now I’m already eagerly anticipating book two and more of Danae’s adventures, which comes out this year! If book one is anything to go by, I cannot wait to see what the next instalment will have in store.
February – She and her Cat – Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa
What a delightful book! I went into this expecting a lighthearted book about cats and their owners, and yes, I did get that…but also so much more. As I have found is usually the case with translated fiction, you have a face value story, but then also so much in the subtext of the story too. This was very much the same, with a layered and gorgeously written book, where the stories are cleverly linked. I loved getting to be inside the cat’s head rather than the humans, and even though this was a little book, it had a lot of heart.
March – Dungeons and Drama – Kristy Boyce
This book took me completely by surprise, and I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. Combining gaming and theatre, this was right up my street! Yes, it was a little cheesy at times, as can be expected from a romance, but it was fun. And sometimes a lighthearted and heartwarming romance book is just the tonic needed to make me smile and lighten my heart, for which Dungeons and Drama more than did the trick. And considering I wouldn’t typically call myself a romance reader, I’d say that’s pretty good!
April – The Eyes of Gaza – Plestia Alaqad
This feels like an odd book to review – reviewing someone’s diary, their experiences, their life. But this is truly a book unlike anything I’ve ever read before and ever will again. This book is harrowing, heartbreaking, eye-opening – and completely necessary. In a way, I wish this book didn’t need to exist, as that would mean Palestine is free and people are getting to live the lives they deserve. But out of such tragedy, I am glad this book exists, and I think it should be essential reading.
It would be impossible to read this and not feel grateful for all you have, least of all your life. To not feel empathy and heartbreak for people who have lost everything. To not feel furious that such atrocities are ongoing and allowed to happen. To not feel inspired and in awe of the courage, bravery and resilience people have had no choice but to display. Plestia Alaqad is a remarkable person, and to share such vulnerable pieces of her life with the world is generous and courageous, and her words cannot be praised enough.
This is honest and vital writing. I’d like to thank her for helping the world wake up. I hope the world reads this, stands up and uses their voices. Palestinians need and deserve that.
May – Ride With Me – Simone Soltani
Simone Soltani’s Formula 1 romances are just the perfect books for me. From the word go, this book captured my attention and maintained it the whole way through. After reading and loving Cross The Line so much, I had high hopes and Ride With Me absolutely matched up to them. The way Soltani writes Formula 1 romances has a brilliant balance of the sport and the romance, and the emotions always feel so genuine, with characters who are more than adequately developed. Yes, it’s a romance and probably not going to change the world, but as sports romance books go, specifically Formula 1 romances, there’s a reason Soltani’s are my favourites.
June – The Ellyrian Code – B.F. Peterson
I have already reviewed this book on my website, so you can read that full review here: https://oneshowatatime.co.uk/2025/08/03/the-ellyrian-code-a-magical-mischeivious-and-wonderous-new-epic-fantasy-book-book-review/
A snapshot of my thoughts from that review – The Ellyrian Code is a book that came along and completely took me by surprise. This book ticked all the boxes for what I love in an epic fantasy. A magical and transportive story, this book serves as a reminder of just how epic fantasy can be and for me personally, exactly why I love reading.
This book has it all; whilst it has similarities to other fantasy books, I found The Ellyrian Code to be completely unique. A brilliant balance of characterisation, plot and world building. There’s also a good balance of the lessons, the magic and politics, the emotional themes and the tense, action scenes. All combined, they lead to one brilliant book.
By the end of the book, Estem University felt like home to me and the characters all felt so familiar. I didn’t want the book to end, nor to say goodbye! I am so excited to hear news on book 2 and to read more of this magical universe.
A magical, mischievous and wonderous new epic fantasy.
July – Strange Pictures – Uketsu
A lot of books this year have been taking me by surprise, and Strange Pictures is another book that ticked that box. With all the hype surrounding it, I wondered if I’d be disappointed, but far from it. I never once successfully guessed any of the reveals, and the book was very twisty and dark and kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to read more. The use of pictures and words combining to tell the stories was so clever and effective. The storytelling was unsettling and left me very excited to read the next instalment!
August – The Book of Heartbreak – Ova Ceren
The Maiden Tower is such a significant location in Türkiye, one that every Turkish person grows up knowing. The Book of Heartbreak puts a whole new spin on this location; a unique and imaginative story, it takes a place so steeped in myth and history and breathes life into it in a new way, which is so creative. I loved every page.
I could so easily have finished this book in 2 days. I had to force myself to slow down my reading! I was completely hooked from the first to the last page & became totally immersed.
What I love is how, at the heart of this story, a main theme is love, in all its forms. There were questions such as is the pain of heartbreak worth loving at all, and who are we without love? I thought this was such a fantastic central theme to have.
I will say, don’t expect *too* much Turkish culture. The book is set in Türkiye, based around a Turkish landmark, so there are elements, but mostly this book is about a girl discovering more about herself, her mother’s past and the history behind the Maiden Tower. All in a beautifully whimsical way.
I really enjoyed joining Sare on her adventure. I laughed, cried, hoped and despaired at every step with her. And the angelic system baffled me – to think of all the planning, creativity and detail that must have gone into that. This is the first time I’ve ever come across angels and the afterlife being written in such a way; it was a completely fresh and unique take. I want a whole book just about the angelic system!
Words truly can’t quite describe how much The Book of Heartbreak made my own heart so very happy. This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, and it more than met my hopes. I am British born and bred, and growing up, there were never any Turkish fantasy or YA books I could read, so not only is this a wonderful book I really enjoyed, but I think it healed part of my heart for past Leyla.
Magical, enchanting & beautifully captivating.
September – Crash Test – Amy James
Crash Test was described to me as Red, White and Royal Blue meets Formula 1, which I think is the perfect description. The book opens with the crash, wholeheartedly throwing you straight into the heart of the action. From the first page, I was completely hooked, and I got through the book in just a few days, which is fast for me!
The writing is so easy to lose yourself in and is paced well. This is also the first time I’ve actually read the miscommunication trope, and I loved the way it was carried out! This is how that trope should be done.
I loved the journey we went on with the characters – I genuinely thought the ending was going to be something completely different to what we got!
There are not huge amounts of F1 content in this book, as it’s more about the drivers recovering from the crash and their relationship, but it was still a brilliant read. Furthermore, as we see car crashes in F1 quite frequently, maybe this can be a stark reminder to some people that maybe wishing for a crash is as far from good sportsmanship as someone can get…!
I now think this is going to be a comfort read I return to when I want a pick-me-up. Having a book based around my favourite sport that also addresses some very honest emotions and themes resulted in one very heartwarming and enjoyable book. Perfect to read to pass the time when there’s no race on!
October – Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
A horror book set in a Swedish furniture store? Oh, that is right up my street…and the follow-through met up to the premise and was a perfect Halloween spooky read! Unsettling, unique, gripping, tense…this ticked all the boxes I was hoping it would. I was racing through the book, and I was on edge for a large majority of the time. The design of the book, being a catalogue, was an extra special detail that helped immerse me even more, and the gradual darker toner shift as the book progressed was fantastic. THIS is what a horror book should be.
November – not one best book for this month! A sad reading month.
December – Under the Whispering Door – TJ Klune
This book…I don’t know where to start. TJ Kune’s books are always so special. He has his own unique writing style and storytelling technique that always manages to deliver exactly what my heart and head need.
This was such a beautiful book. It takes a skilled author to make death, loss and grief into a heartfelt, emotional and heartwarming story, exactly like this book.
I hated Wallace at the start, as I’m sure everyone who reads the book does. To take someone so cruel and get readers on side and have a whole change of heart toward him shows just how amazing Klune’s characterisation and development is. The whole gang we met at Chron’s Crossing have permanently captured a piece of my heart; they all had their own distinct voices, and they felt as real to me as my own friends in real life.
At the centre of all of Klune’s books is love. Under the Whispering Door is no exception. Familial love, friendship and companionship, love, romantic love, and self-love. This is a book about community, grief, love and loss, healing, forgiveness…and that it is never, ever too late to change oneself. It is also this and so much more. I smiled, laughed, and cried. A lot. Like, I am deadly serious (sorry, bad pun) when I say that I cried so much in the last third of the book that I literally gave myself a nosebleed.
Under the Whispering Door made my heart lighter and made me feel so comforted and safe. It felt – like almost all of TJ Klune’s books do – like a warm hug. It made me feel a little less daunted by the idea of death and grieving and moving on.
I am a firm believer that you’re never too late to read a book; if you don’t read a book when it’s released and/or trending, but years later – that’s okay, because my belief is the right books find us at the right time. That is exactly how I feel about this book. And I know now, I’ll be returning to this book time and time again.
And they are my top books for every month this year! Well, 11 of 12 months, but I still think that’s pretty good.
Now, time for my honourable mentions. These are books that were very close to being the top books for that month, but not quite. These are all books I would also definitely recommend.
January – Honourable Mention – none!
February Honourable Mention – The Bones Beneath My Skin – TJ Klune
Cosy fantasy is a genre I could read all day, every day and never tire of…The Bones Beneath My Skin is not only a cosy fantasy, but an equally heartwarming and heartbreaking read that had me laughing on one page and crying the next. What a beautiful book.
TJ Klune is an author who I think largely kickstarted this fantasy subgenre, writing cosy fantasy, but also featuring queer characters. As queer people are more likely to have to form their own found families, the impact of this in his writing cannot be understated.
Characters are a big part of TJ Klune’s writing; detailed and vivid world-building brings the books to life, but the characters are at the heart of all his stories – The Bones Beneath My Skin being another example of this. Nate, Artemis and Alex have my whole heart. They are so vastly different, and that makes their relationships and interactions so fun and interesting to read about. They’re developed exquisitely and are as real to me as if they were sitting right next to me, watching me write this review.
With Klune’s own distinct voice and writing style, the book is warm and loving but also features such layered and complex characters and themes; this is a book about love, loss, identity, humanity, empathy, and so much more. There’s so much depth to this book that from start to finish, I was completely captivated. I flew through it in no time and was left with a smile on my face, wanting to go straight back to the start and begin again.
The Bones Beneath My Skin is a book that was so fantastic that it’s hard to put into words. Just go into it blind and let the story take you on this wonderful adventure. Poetic, lyrical writing, characters who will stay in your mind for long after finishing the book, and a unique, multi-faceted story, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a book that reminds me of how magical, transportive and remarkable books can be.
February Honourable Mention – The Manual for Good Wives – Lola Jaye
The Manual for Good Wives is one of the most remarkable books I read this year, all about two fierce women with unending levels of strength. A fantastically written piece of literature. This book is a journey of identity, determination, forgotten voices in history and amplifying those voices now, to give them the recognition they so deserve – and more.
The characters in this book are brilliant. Temi and Landri both have their own distinct voices, and the two points of view are easily distinguishable. The writing style is clever; At face value, the two women are very different and living very different lives – Temi being an African princess who moves to Victorian England and navigates her new life and society there, Landri from modern-day England and seemingly settled in a life she is comfortable and familiar with, as well as with her own identity. However, as the book progresses, it’s clear both their lives are far from simple, and you can see elements of their characters, stories and unwavering strength mirroring each other.
The book is a rollercoaster of emotions. Equal parts plot and character-based, The Manual For Good Wives was hopeful, heartbreaking, inspiring, moving, and so much more. A plethora of themes and emotions are effortlessly woven into this powerful story. The book is sensitive and vulnerable and exquisitely written.
By the end of the novel, these characters felt so familiar to me, and I loved every page I spent with them. I think it would be impossible to read this book and not feel empowered. To read a story of these two remarkable women, Temi’s impact on Landri, and both of their resilience and resolve to live their lives for themselves only, to prioritise their own safety and happiness – well, that is something I think we can all relate to and strive towards.
March Honourable Mention – none!
April Honourable Mention – Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins
What a way to go back to The Hunger Games universe…Suazanne Collins truly never misses with her books, and this was no exception. As she expands the universe and we learn more about characters we have already met, the more heartbreaking everything becomes! Having read this, honestly…I’m just shocked Haymitch isn’t *more* broken than he is when we meet him! The newer books in this universe never feel like an unnecessary addition or cash grabs; they feel like they’re really adding to our knowledge of the history of Panem and the characters. The way they also echo elements of today’s society and comment on the way of the world as it is, is cleverly done and really impactful. Every book in The Hunger Games series I read only leaves me more heartbroken and horrified at such awful things humans are capable of, but in amazement at the imagination and detail that Suzanne Collins possesses. A brilliant expansion of an already brilliant series.
April Honourable Mention – The Poppy War – R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang is an incredibly talented author; I have put off reading this book for a while, because even though I love her work, I am not the biggest fan of military-heavy books, so I wasn’t sure this would be for me…wow, was I mistaken – and shocked by how much I loved it! A wild ride from start to finish, once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! The insanely intricate detail of world-building, politics and magic and character depth brought this world to life in vivid technicolour in my mind. Imaginative and unique, R.F. Kuang skillfully combines history with the themes of military and politics with fantasy in a fantastically written book. Mesmerising and immersing me from start to finish, The Poppy War is an incredible, breathtaking read.
May Honourable Mention – Sunset – Jessie Cave
Sunset is a brutally honest and raw depiction of grief. This book felt so vulnerable; the emotions seemed to seep out of the pages and affect me in real time. Frequently, I had to put the book down and take a break for a bit as it was so hard-hitting, but that’s also why it’s so fantastic. We will all go through grief at some point, and this is such an accurate representation of that grieving period. It’s not neat, tidy, pretty, or linear. This is honest, brutal and sensitively written. A remarkable book.
June Honourable Mention – The Second Chance Convenience Store – Kim Ho-yeon
The Second Chance Convenience Store is a book that I had such high hopes for, and these hopes were absolutely met. This is a beautifully written book about community, identity, second chances, and more.
This book was one that quietly packs an emotional punch. At first glance, it’s about a convenience store owner who gives a homeless man a second chance at life by employing him. On a deeper level, it’s a book that brilliantly demonstrates the difference a second chance, kindness and community can make.
The Second Chance Convenience Store is multi-layered, and I loved how all the characters and their individual lives and stories cleverly intertwine and connect. Whilst you do meet a lot of characters and get a peek into their lives, each story feels personal, and there is a good level of depth written into everyone.
I flew through this book in just a few days, but I was left thinking about it still after I’d finished reading. A truly remarkable read.
July Honourable Mention – The Ashfire King – Chelsea Abdullah – already reviewed on this website!
If you wish to read the review I wrote for this book earlier this year, you can do so here: The Ashfire King | A Mesmerising And Fantastic Continuation Of A Series | Book Review
A snapshot of my thoughts from that review:
The Stardust Thief is a book that felt like home to me and became one of my favourite fantasy books. When The Ashfire King was announced, I was so excited to see how the story would unfold, and I was so happy when I read the sequel. It was the perfect continuation of this series.
The Ashfire King delivers everything a sequel should: an expansion on the world and characters with a plot that thickens more on every page, and it left me only wanting more. There are new adventures, the familiar friends are back with some new faces, and of course, lots of chaos. Picking up almost from the moment The Stardust Thief ended, from the word go, the gang return with more mischief, more adventures and a gorgeous story one cannot help but lose themselves in.
Abdullah’s writing is stellar as ever, every bit as magical and immersive as before. She manages to write books that are beautifully detailed, rich with characterisation and world building and epic in every sense of the word. On top of that, she manages to balance a plot perfectly between tense action, heavier scenes, and the emotional and tender moments. The intricate writing style she has shows just what an imaginative and creative mind Abdullah has, and what a truly skilled storyteller she is.
August Honourable Mention – No Friend to This House – Natalie Haynes
No Friend to This House is another brilliant book from Natalie Haynes. At this point, she is an auto-buy author of mine; her books are always fantastic and never miss, and this book is no exception. This book was a highly anticipated read of mine for this year, and it did not disappoint.
Something I loved about this book is something Natalie Haynes is brilliant at in all her books: the rich characterisation and how she addresses the way people are seen in history; what makes someone good or bad? If their actions are justified, does this make it okay, or at least understandable?
No Friend to This House was another perfect example of this characterisation and this moral dilemma. There were a lot of POVs in this book, and I love how abstract some of them were! Each perspective had a different voice, and it was very easy to distinguish one pov from another. To read such an iconic adventure through so many different viewpoints made it such a unique retelling. The way this book was paced was also fantastic; I was so absorbed in the book that I flew through it in just a matter of days.
I’ve not read too many retellings based around Jason and the Argonauts, but I think this book has set the bar very high for any I now pick up! Another brilliant book from a brilliant author.
September Honourable Mention – I Wish You All The Best – Mason Deaver – already shared the review above
October Honourable Mention – Gladiator Goddess – Morgan. H. Owen – already shared the review above
October Honourable Mention – Memory and Magic – D.M. Beucler
I will always try to read a bit of every genre throughout the year, but a genre I will always run back to is fantasy. Memory and Magic is a fantasy book that is intriguing, atmospheric, and captured my attention from the first page.
This felt like a proper old-school fantasy book. There’s magic, mystery, intrigue, good and bad people and some characters who are a bit of both, or you can’t decide!
I really loved our two main characters, Tamsin and Rhys, and I honestly couldn’t guess the direction of the plot. I loved the world-building and all the details brought everything to life in my imagination brilliantly. The whimsical magic meeting the darker themes worked really well together. This book was a great one to read and escape reality for a while!
November Honourable Mention – None!
December Honourable Mention – The Circus Train – Amita Parikh
I will confess…I actually started this book last December (2024) and found that I really wasn’t in the mood for it, but rather than get rid of it, decided to wait. So, I tried it again this year, and oh my goodness, I loved it this time around! I expected a magic circus train and got so much more. I love how the magic is ordinary illusions, carried out by humans, helping people escape the horrors of the world. This is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story – it’s set during an awful historical period of time for humanity, and yet in such an awful time, this book demonstrates magic, love, hope, resilience and determination. An incredibly emotional book that made me laugh and cry, The Circus Train stayed with me long after I finished reading. I was surprised in the best way, I loved it!
And that is all my honourable books for the year! I’ve now typed the word honourable so much, it doesn’t look right to me…anyway. One last thing to discuss.
My top book of 2025. My book of the year, the one that took the top spot of the best book I’ve read this year. It was one that, as soon as I read it, it flew straight to the top and remained unbeaten. So, my top book this year is none other than…
The Eyes of Gaza – Plestia Alaqad
How could it be anything else? The fact that a book could come out of such horror and atrocities, when it could be argued that literature is not something of vital importance to Palestine right now, is nothing short of incredible. Whilst there are countless lives being lost and/or impacted every day, the raw, unedited, honest emotions and reality of the situation that has been published is moving beyond words. An indescribably harrowing, heartbreaking, hopeful, inspiring and overall brave book, it is no wonder this is my top book of 2025. You don’t need to be political or an activist or remarkably clever to read this book. You simply need to be human.
And there we have it! A whole year’s worth of reading encompassed in one website post. It is worth noting that I actually failed my reading challenge this year. I set out to read 75 books and only managed 70, but you know what…that’s okay! I read some absolutely brilliant books and found some new favourites that will stay with me, and at the end of the day, that is what matters.
I only have two reading goals for 2026 – read more non-fiction, and to stop being as intimidated by bigger books…I guess we’ll see this time next year whether I’ll accomplish those goals or not!
Whether you read one book or 100 this year, I hope you read something you enjoyed, and here is to us all discovering new stories we love in 2026.
If you made it this far and read the whole thing, thank you so much – it means more to me than I could write, to think that people care about what I have to say and to read what I work so hard on. I hope you enjoyed this post – maybe you’ve even discovered a book on here you want to go and read for yourself now! I hope everyone reading this had a happy, healthy and safe new year, and that is exactly what I wish for everyone in 2026 too.
One Show at a Time 