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The Best Books I Read In 2025
- Jennifer Peaslee
- Dec 16, 2025
- 2 min read
I'm a really big fan of Goodreads and tracking what I read. I started using it consistently during the pandemic, and I set a reading goal of 100 books a year. Last year, I read 107 books. This year, 54—that's much closer to my average.
I try to write reviews as often as possible, but sometimes I only do star ratings. (As a writer, I am begging y'all to leave reviews/ratings!) Here are some of my favorite books I read this year:
Favorite Horror: The Eyes are the Best Part
I mentioned The Eyes Are the Best Part in my October post on horror reads, but it's so good it's getting mentioned again. It's a tale of feminine rage from a Korean-American perspective. The main character is not likable or trustworthy. It is awesome.
Favorite Thriller: Pretty Girls
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter is a disturbing, fast-paced thriller with elements of extreme horror. It's also a story about sisterly bonds, which I am a sucker for.
Favorite Anthology: Laughs in Space
Laughs in Space is filled with speculative stories with a hilarious bent and effective worldbuilding. The humor ranges from dry to outrageous, so I think there's something for everyone who likes comedy.
The collection starts strong with "The Schadchen of Venus," ends strong with "Killing Time," and doesn't drag in the middle. One of the middle stories, "Shelf Life," was probably my favorite.
Favorite Cozy: What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball
What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball is a cute and cozy book that tells the tale of what can happen when a commoner attends the ball. (Spoiler: it's love. Love is what happens.)
It's a retelling of Cinderella, but like, just barely. And the original bits are the most interesting anyway.
Favorite Indie: You Are All Charlotte
You Are All Charlotte is a messy time-travel story that is fast-paced, angsty, and violent, with a cast of characters that I disliked...and then liked...and then loved, despite their flaws.
Favorite Nonfiction: Sex with Kings
Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge is an older book (2004) that I read in college, but it's so good, I had to read it again. It's a truly fascinating look into the, um, personal lives of kings.
Favorite YA: Monday's Not Coming
Monday's Not Coming is a devastating young adult book about a missing girl, and nobody but her best friend even seems to realize something is wrong. There's also an interesting plot development that I did not see coming.
What were your favorite reads this year? Drop a comment and let me know!
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