As a self-proclaimed avid reader, it should go without saying that I consume a decent amount of books in a given year.
Not as many as some other readers I know, but over 30 new books consumed, imbibed, and filed away feels like an accomplishment. But of all the books we read in a year, how many do we actually love and hunger for more from?
I’ll be the first to admit that I did not love or even like all of the books I read in 2025. And I’m comfortable saying that not every book I pick up resonates with me. Every book cannot speak to every reader. It’s like when you try to make everyone happy—it’s just not gonna work out. I am a firm believer that not every creation, be it a story, a work of art, a song, a film, etc., is meant for every consumer. But when the art, or in this case, words, resonate with our souls, it’s magic.
So, here are the books I found to be devourable, decent, and disagreeable this year. Disagreeable may be too harsh a word (I was going for the alliteration), but the books that fall into that category just didn’t do it for me, for one reason or another.
Devourable
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones: Quite different from the beloved Ghibli film but just as amazing, from plot and character development to imagery and banter. Howl remains that loveable/hateable wizard we all know, but even more fleshed out on the page.
Morning Star & Iron Gold by Pierce Brown: The third and fourth books in the Red Rising series are über violent and intense, and the twists are so damn good. I listened to both, and it’s honestly like you’re listening to movies.
The Dagger & the Flame by Catherine Doyle: Fun and dark with a francophone filter—practically any book with a French leaning will be a winner with me, as long as it’s appropriately enmeshed, and Doyle’s use of the culture was woven in well.
Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff: My top read of 2025. Crafting a sequel that measures up to a successful first tome (and tome these books are) is a challenge many fall short of, but Kristoff delivers, and then some. The depth, deception, denial, dialogue, and copious amounts of vampire death set this book at the zenith.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman: This was a wild ride that spoke to my Mario 64 and Skyrim days. As a child of the 90s, video games were a big part of my childhood, and now, with a new interest in Dungeons and Dragons, this series is right in my Q-Zone. The series is long, yes, but it promises to only get crazier with an equally deepening plot. (Missing from photo because I lent it to my brother.)
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig: Something about the writing style brought me back to another time in my life—there is a simplicity in its depth, and a depth in its simplicity. The magic system is fresh and unique, and the world is mysterious, minus a massive lore dump, which, at times, is much appreciated.
Honorable Mentions
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
A Daughter of No Worlds & Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Quicksilver & Brimstone by Callie Hart
Decent
These reads were enjoyable, but didn’t hit as hard as the aforementioned works of fiction. There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these books—they just didn’t resonate as deeply.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: An atmospheric dose of classic Gothic horror, this read can be confusing, thanks to its layers and unreliable narrator(s), but it is enticing nonetheless. I will need to re-read it once or twice to better grasp its nuances.
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole: I’m enthralled by the world magic and overall world-building encased between the covers, but the FMC, Diem, continually pushes me to the brink of frustration with her decision-making and lack of logic.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: The dual storylines bounce between the present day and an era long gone, which I enjoyed as a lover of the Golden Era of Hollywood and all things vintage and retro. It was also fun to read about freelance writers and their attempt to win the ghostwriting story of their lives.
Disagreeable
These reads fell flat for me. From less than three-dimensional characters and slow pacing to bad decisions and repurposed material, the following four reads hit the bottom of my 2025 book list.
Firebird by Juliette Cross: For me, the characters were not relatable or easy to connect to, which is odd because I’ve read other books by Cross with very relatable characters. As a rule of thumb, when I’m most connected to a tertiary character, that isn’t a good sign for the book overall. The end was anticlimactic and left me without the desire to pick up book two when it is released.
James by Percival Everett: While emphasizing our country’s history with slavery, this was merely a retelling of a tale many of us know, and I don’t believe the retelling was transformative enough from its source material to warrant a standalone novel. People will say authors have used other authors’ works as jumping-off points, throwing Gregory Maguire’s Wicked back at me, but, from my perspective, Wicked was far more transformative in nature.
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab: Aside from the pace dragging at times and wishing certain scenes were actually played out for readers to enjoy instead of just being told they occurred, this tale had an interesting premise that just ended up falling short for me, mainly because of the FMC and certain decisions she made or things she said in hindsight. Even though I could sympathize with her situation, I just didn’t like Addie.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry: Another situation of the pace being too slow and scenes/sections being dragged out. Most of the twists I saw coming early on, and I don’t think there was enough depth or explanation provided in the series’ first book. I don’t need 200 pages of lore dumped on me, but a little more why and how answers would’ve been appreciated. I did, however, appreciate that the FMC wasn’t perfectly skilled and poised.
DNF
Empire of Shadows by Jacqueline Benson
Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
2026 Books I’m Pumped to Read
Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher: The humor was great in Hemlock and Silver, so I can only imagine what’s to come once goblins get into the spotlight!
Burn of the Everflame by Penn Cole: Hopefully, Diem will make me want to rip out my hair less. (I do need to read books two and three still…)
ACOTAR 6 by Sarah J. Maas: Fingers crossed for a release date!
Dungeon Crawler Carl 8: A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman: The first book was a riot, and I’m on book three, so there’s a lot of reading ground to cover.
Fae & Alchemy 3 by Callie Hart: The series has been an enjoyable fae-ride, but I’m mainly here for Carrion, Onyx, Archer, and Lorreth.
TBR Books I Want to Read in 2026
Similar to other readers and book lovers, my TBR stacks continue to rise vertically with each passing year, and because of one thing or another—book clubs, event planning, novel drafting, and my job—I haven’t gotten to the books below yet!
The Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff (Full disclosure: I’ve already started this beast, but I’ll finish it in the New Year.)
A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
Anima Rising by Christopher Moore
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
Sonny Boy by Al Pacino
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah
So, there you have it: my thoughts on the 2025 books I’ve consumed, along with some recommendations and dissuasions. In 2026, my goal is to read even more books, and with my TBR list, plus reading lists for Lit with Literature and Breakfast Book Club, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
If any of the books I’ve mentioned strike your fancy, visit your local independent bookstore to snag yourself a copy! In my neck of the woods, we’re fortunate to have McLean & Eakin Booksellers, The Archives, Between the Covers, and Dockside Books, with the forthcoming addition of Dust & Blush Bookshop—so many options!
Cheers to you and yours, and your reading lists of past, present, and future! Happy reading for 2026!
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Monday, February 23