Earlier this week I posted a list of my favorite books published in 2025 that I read last year. To continue on that topic, today I have a list of my favorite backlist books of 2025. These are books I read last year that were published prior to 2025. Only one of these received a 5-star rating from me. But all of them are books I really enjoyed, obviously, since they’re on this list. The titles link to my review if I reviewed it. If I didn’t review it, then the title links to the Bookshop.org synopsis webpage.
Fiction Backlist Books
- THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty
- THE OTHER EINSTEIN by Marie Benedict
- EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett (review)
- EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L. Polk
- THE ROOMMATE RISK by Talia Hibbert (review)
- HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas
- HEAVENLY BODIES by Imani Erriu (review)
- A WIZARD’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING by T. Kingfisher
- THE MILLICENT QUIBB SCHOOL OF ETIQUETTE FOR YOUNG LADIES by Kate McKinnon (I highly recommend the audiobook!)
- THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas (Excellent audiobook.)
- A FEATHER SO BLACK by Lyra Selene
Nonfiction Backlist Books
- MINISTRY OF TRUTH by Steve Benen
- THE FRENCH INGREDIENT by Jane Bertch (review)
- LOVELY ONE by Ketanji Brown Jackson
As I mentioned in my favorite books of 2025 post, I don’t ever write reviews for audiobooks because my audio processing and retention isn’t super great. But I still really enjoyed (in a way) MINISTRY OF TRUTH and LOVELY ONE. The former was a good refresher on just how long outright lying has been used by well-known politicians to twist the narrative their way. I have a feeling I probably would’ve highlighted a lot of things in that book. There was a lot of stuff I’d forgotten about because the news cycle is so continuous and loud these days. LOVELY ONE allowed me to learn more about Jackson. Prior to reading her memoir I knew absolutely nothing about her. But she sounds like a great person to be on the SCOTUS.
Have you read any of these backlist books?
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking is still on my TBR, meant to read it in 2025 LOL.
I really liked this one (clearly, since it made the list), so I hope you do, too. It was a little darker than I expected for a middle grade book, but it’s definitely unique.
I hope to read more backlist books this year, and The Adventures of Amina Al-Serafi has been on my list for years. Now that the sequel has been announced, it’s time to get serious!
It is definitely time to get serious and read about Amina al-Sirafi! 😉
The Emily Wilde books are so good! I’m so glad I finally read them this year!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! The rest of the trilogy is on my TBR this year.
I read and enjoyed The Adventures of Anima Al-Serafi. Still debating if I’m going to pick up the sequel, but I probably will!
I’m kind of the same. I enjoyed it, and I probably will pick up the sequel at some point, but I don’t know if I’ll rush to it. I’m not big into sea adventures, so while the writing and characterization were great, I don’t know that I feel invested enough to jump to the sequel.
I loved Amina Al-Sirafi and not long to wait until the next one now!
I hope you like the sequel just as much!
I really loved The Adventures of Amina and am looking forward to the sequel later this year. I loved your review of The French Ingredient and that one is now on my TBR although my daughter has given me a different cooking memoir so I probably ought to read that one first
Yessss I’m glad THE FRENCH INGREDIENT made it to your TBR! I liked it so much I bought my own copy.
That’s definitely the sign of a good book
“The Hate U Give” remains a favorite book amongst my teen patrons (I’m a Teen Librarian).
I’m glad you enjoyed reading, “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.” I’m excited to read, “The Tapestry of Fate” this year!
This year, I plan on reading the entire “Fair Folk” trilogy!
I loved The Roommate Risk and The Hate U Give! I know I’ve mentioned this a million times now but Hibber is one of my favourite romance authors! 💜 I need to read Defensive Baking and Al-Sirafi. I’ve heard lots of good things about both and can’t wait to check them out.
I’m so glad you enjoyed The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Emily Wilde, and Heavenly Bodies. They are all some of my favorites. 🙂
Its very exciting seeing The Adventures Of Amina Al-Sirafi and Heavenly Bodies here – two books I 100% need to check out at some point this year. I’m also thrilled to see Emily Wilde and Heir Of Fire making your favourites. How far have you got with the Throne Of Glass series now? I dont tend to pick up much MG but Millicent Quibb kind of gives me ASOUE vibes and sounds like a lot of fun. Im glad The Hate U Give was such a hit too (and ashamed to say that I’ve still only seen the adaptation). I love that some non fiction titles made your favourites list too 🥰
It’s been awhile since I read The Hate U Give but I can imagine it still stands up well. Maybe 2026 will be the year I get to The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi!