In January 2025 I made a list of my favorite books published in 2024. So I thought I’d continue this new tradition on my blog with a list of my favorite books published in 2025. None of these received five stars from me (I’m rather stingy with my 5-star ratings), but I still enjoyed them quite a bit. Each of the titles links to my review, if I reviewed it. If I didn’t review it, then the book title links to Bookshop.org for a full synopsis.
Favorite Fiction Books Published in 2025
- THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow (review forthcoming!)
- SECRETS OF THE PURPLE PEARL by Kate McKinnon (I highly recommend the audiobook!)
- THE WHITE OCTOPUS HOTEL by Alexandra Bell (review)
- THE FAERIE MORGANA by Louisa Morgan (review)
- TUSK LOVE by Thea Guanzon (review)
- THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig (review)
- GREENTEETH by Molly O’Neill (review)
Favorite Nonfiction Books Published in 2025
- POETS SQUARE by Courtney Gustafson (Perfect for cat lovers!)
- CARELESS PEOPLE by Sarah Wynn-Williams
- EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS by John Green
- 107 DAYS by Kamala Harris
I meant to review POETS SQUARE after I read it. However, I got distracted with life and just plum forgot. Since I read it well over three months ago at this point, I don’t remember it well enough to review it. But it’s a great memoir about this woman who moved to a rental house that, to her surprise, was surrounded by 30 stray cats. It’s about how she helped them and how helping them allowed her to reflect on various aspects of her life and give back to her community (which then spun into helping unhoused folks).
I read the last three books in this short nonfiction list via audiobook. I never review audiobooks because my audio processing and retention isn’t the best. But I still found these three books very interesting. John Green is also a phenomenal narrator, which does help me remember a little bit more than the average audiobook.
Did you read any of this books in 2025? And, if so, are any of them on your list of favorite books published in 2025?
I quite enjoyed John Green book too, it was more captivating than what I expected, and I am really happy to have read it! And I had some highs and lows wiht The Knight and the Moth, but that book made me fangirl like crazy!! *_*
Agreed! I wasn’t expecting a book about tuberculosis to be as captivating as it was. I’m waiting for it to come out in paperback so I can have my own copy.
Lovely list! Greenteeth and The Everlasting made my list too. I had less 5 star reads last year, but I’m very stingy as well!
Yay for us being stingy 5-star reviewers haha! I hope I have more than one 5 star read this year, though, lol.
I really want to read The Everlasting. So many books, so little time!
I totally feel that! The Everlasting was good…not a five-star read for me, but quite good. My review will go up probably at the end of January.
You’ve mentioned a couple of books here that I cant believe I havent gotten to yet. The Everlasting (which I own) & The Knight And The Moth (which I basically havent read because I keep hoping I can get hold of the Fairyloot edition for a reasonable price if I keep watching out for a secondhand copy). Im also eager to try The Faerie Morgana & Greenteeth though.
If I moved to a place surrounded by stray cats there’d probably be no room left for me as I gave all the comfy corners away to cats 😂🙈
Im glad you found some new favourites in 2025. It looks like a lovely mix. Here’s hoping 2026 brings even more your way, including a few five star ones this time around 🤞
I think you’ll really like both The Everlasting and The Knight and the Moth. I totally get wanting to secure a special edition of the latter book, though I imagine it’s super tough to find one for a reasonable resale price since it was so popular. I loooooved The Faerie Morgana, but that’s probably a given since it’s Arthuriana.
At the moment it’s proving to be a challenge. Im hoping it’ll go down in price in time. Or else that more copies will release due to demand 🤞 I may have to cave and read it via the library in the meantime though as I dont think I can wait much longer 😂 I really cant wait to try that one. Oh and on the subject of Arthur inspired books H G Parry’s upcoming novel is one, although you may already know that.
Oh yea, I think I saw that about Parry’s new book! I’ll have to make sure it’s on my tbr. Thanks for the reminder!
Poets Square is my favorite non fic of 2025!
It was a good one! I might seek it out in paperback once that version gets published.
I somehow managed to miss that Tusk Love was a Critical Role thing until I saw it in the Mighty Nein adaptation over Christmas. So now I have more interest in reading it.
And I know nothing about Critical Role, but thankfully I didn’t need to, haha. It’s a shorter fantasy romance, but somehow it works really well.
The Everlasting was so good! I was a little worried because I was warned about the time travel (which I struggle to love if it is included in a book) but Harrow is amazing. I need to read Starling House by her this year.
I’m glad you liked THE EVERLASTING! I also still need to read STARLING HOUSE…I’ve been putting it off because I’m not really into gothic stories, but I have a special edition of it, so I should read it.
I need to read The Everlasting! I also enjoyed Everything is Tuberculosis, but it didn’t quite live up to my personal expectations of Green’s nonfiction after The Anthropocene Reviewed.
I definitely want to read THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED now after reading his tuberculosis book. For some reason I thought his first nonfiction was super long, so I wasn’t interested in it. But it’s not, so it feels more accessible for me.
It’s also nicely broken into little bite sized essays about different things so it goes by quick imo!
I haven’t read any of these but will definitely be reading The Everlasting. Poet’s Square sounds great too.
I hope you enjoy The Everlasting when you get to it!
Been seeing EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS a lot on year favourite lists. I’ll have to keep the audiobook in mind for when I maybe possibly try audiobooks this year haha.
I’m not surprised you’re seeing it everywhere…it really is quite good! Audiobook or physical/ebook, either would be good…there’s lots of interesting history in there. I think I’ll get myself a paperback copy once it comes out.
Greenteeth was one of my favorites too. I’m also listening to The Everlasting on audiobook right now and I’m really into it.
Greenteeth was fun in that it was a more unique kind of Arthurian fantasy. I thought it was great!
I’m glad to know your selections were excellent reads because I have some catching up to do on my reading!
Haha yes we always have catching up to do on reads!! My bookshelves are begging me to read what’s on them.
I still need to read The Everlasting and The Knight and the Moth… I’m glad to see Greenteeth on this list because it was a great book that I rarely see people talking about.
Whoa I’m surprised you haven’t read THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH yet! Did you already preorder the sequel??
You know… I honestly don’t remember. Probably? 🤣
A few of these are on my tbr, however I did listen to the Kamala Harris on audio since she narrates it. Really enjoyed it.
I also liked that she narrates it!