Best Books of 2025

 

I haven't posted on this blog in years, although I have definitely been reading a lot... 

One of my resolutions this year is to spend more time getting back into my hobbies and things that I enjoy - hence why I am returning to my blog! I have missed talking about books on here a lot, although I have still been enjoying reading others' posts, TikTok's and Instagram posts. 

So I thought what better time to return than the beginning of a fresh new year, and with a post on my favourite books that I read in 2025. I managed to read over 100 books in 2025, but only a few of them were 5-star favourites. 

My Favourite Books of 2025: 

I think no one will be surprised, as I am sure this is on a lot of people's favourite books of the year lists. 

I am a huge Hunger Games fan and was waiting patiently for this to be released ever since it was announced. 

I absolutely loved this book. Haymitch was such a perfect character from the series to focus a book on, as when we met him in The Hunger Games, he was a very negative, jaded character who then went on a character arc. But I have always wanted to know how he got to be that person. 

This book gave us the perfect insight into Haymitch - his life before the games, during the games and after the games. I loved reading about his interactions with other characters (Maysilee Donner, my absolute favourite!) and seeing a few cameos of familiar characters or familiar names. 

This book had me hooked - I could not stop reading. Honestly, I think there is so much potential for Suzanne Collins to continue building upon this series, whether it is stories of the characters we already know, like Snow and Haymitch or someone we haven't encountered. 

I think if Suzanne Collins writes anything else in this universe, I will 100% read it. Very much looking forward to the movie!

Lisa Jewell is an author I discovered during my break from blogging, and wow, she is a new favourite author of all time!

None Of This Is True focuses on two women whose lives become incredibly intertangled during the recording of a podcast. 

Craziness ensued, and I could not predict anything that happened. Lisa Jewell writes such readable thrillers with crazy characters and unpredictable endings ... I am still reeling over the ending of this one!

Lisa Jewell is definitely an author I will be reading all of their back catalogue in 2026 .. hopefully!

One of the most talked about and covered up books of 2025! Careless People.

From an ex-employee at Facebook/Meta, Sarah Wynn-Williams dives deep into the horrors that were acceptable at the company during the time she worked there. 

I think everyone had some idea that Facebook/Meta is not a "good" company, but I had to pause so many times while reading this book to recover from the shocking details. 

From harvesting people's data without them knowing and repurposing it, using Myanmar as an experiment on controlling people's perspectives, corrupt government backhanders, sexism at work, and so much more. 

This was an unforgettable book that, if you are at all interested in business or peeking behind the horrible Meta curtain, I urge you to pick it up. 

This novel focuses on our main character, Tricia, who is house hunting with her new husband. While going to a viewing, a snowstorm hits and she and her husband are stranded and must stay in the empty house. The house once belonged to a successful Psychiatrist who disappeared 4 years ago. As Tricia moves through the house, she stumbles upon tape recordings of the psychiatrist's meetings with her patients.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden is the best book by her that I have read so far. She is also one of my new auto-read authors. 

This book had my jaw on the floor. Every twist shocked me; the characters were so well written, and the tape recording transcripts broke up the text and added another layer to the story. This is one of her best books, in my opinion, and I will always recommend this one. 

So those are my favourite books I read in 2025. Let me know if you read any of these, or what your favourite books of 2025 were! Hope 2026 is a brilliant year for us all. 

Review: Normal People by Sally Rooney

Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publication Date: August 2018
Source: Own 

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Blurb: 
At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers—one they are determined to conceal.

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

 This book is one I had been meaning to pick up for the longest time. It had been recommended to me by everyone and the BBC making a TV show of it definitely pushed me over the edge to picking it up. 

I was so glad that I did. 

If I had to describe this book in one word: raw. 

This book is just so extremely raw - emotionally, physically and in writing style. 

Relationships really drive this novel from its core. Whether from the characters relationships with themselves and with each other. The characters grow over the course of the novel in many directions. The novel takes place over many years from Connell and Marianne being in secondary school to going to college to their adulthood. This long journey of the novel really gives the reader a more complete and long view of their lives. 

One of my favourite characters in the novel was Connell's mum. Connell and his mother have such a loving and caring relationship. His family is working class and his mother is actually the cleaner for Marianne's family. Connell's mum is so straight-talking, opinionated, unapologetic, caring ad warm. She is one of the best mother characters I've read in a book ever. Connells mum calls him out on his bad behavior, praises him, looks out for Marianne and shows her real maternal love which she had never experienced. Their relationship is so beautiful and well written. 

Top Books of 2019

2019 has come to an end. It was definitely A YEAR, but not one for reading.. I only managed to read 33 books as I started a new job, moved out and had a lot of other stuff going on that just left me with very little time to get to much reading. But what I did manage to read, was fantastic!

Check out some of the amazing and wonderful books I read this year. Reviews I have posted will be linked and I'll give you 3 reasons why I loved each book - Let's go!

 Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Review Here)

Okay, this year I finally hopped back on the Cassie Clare fan-club. I read the entire The Infernal Devices series and finished The Mortal Instruments series.

Clockwork Princess was a fantastic read because:

#1 The couples - this book provides some great couple and relationship development for so many. From Charlotte & Henry, Gideon and Sophie and our ever loving Jem/Tessa/Will love triangle

#2 Be still my Jessa shipping heart

#3 Thinking about the epilogue still hurts. If you wanna feel pain? Read a Cassandra Clare book

 Simon Vs The Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Review Here)

Okay, this book had been on my TBR for years and I finally got round to reading it. Boy, was I in love with this book.

#1 The mystery romance was so gripping to read about

#2 This book actually had me laughing out loud. There were so many hilarious incidents and parts that I still find myself thinking about

#3 The characters were so three dimensional. Honestly I loved reading about every single character and wanted them to come out of the page. I could honestly read a book about each and every side character. I now need to read everything Becky has and will ever write.

Review: Simon Vs The Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Publication Date: April 2015
Publisher: Balzer + ray
Source: Borrowed from library

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Blurb: 
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Okay so I have NO IDEA why I put off reading this book despite the rave reviews...I completely regret it. So a preface to this review, if you have this book on your TBR- move that into currently reading ASAP. 

This book was the most heart warming, funny, happy, marshmallow fluffy book I've ever read. It completely captivated me from the first page and I sped through the book in 2 days. And that's pretty impressive as I was super busy but made the time to read the book because I just needed the joy in my life. 

The book focuses on Simon, an "in the closet" teen who finds himself becoming closer and close to a boy called Blue through email. Reading about their relationship and how much closer they were getting was so well written and cute. I loved how Albertalli portrayed their closeted emotions and the inner ups and down turmoil they were feeling in terms of self acceptance. Their conversations were totally adorable and I actually found myself re-reading their emails after I finished the book. 

Review: The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis

Publication Date: October 1st 2019

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

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Blurb: 

Aster. Violet. Tansy. Mallow. Clementine.

Sold as children. Branded by cursed markings. Trapped in a life they never would have chosen.

When Aster's sister Clementine accidentally murders a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape and harrowing journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge - in a country that wants them to have none of those things. Pursued by the land's most vicious and powerful forces - both living and dead - their only hope lies in a bedtime story passed from one girl to another, a story that only the youngest or most desperate would ever believe.

It's going to take more than luck for them all to survive.

 A huge thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. 

[* Trigger Warning*: rape, sexual abuse, PTSD, substance abuse, violence*]

This book completely took me by surprise. As a book sold to me as girl driven, western with slight paranormal aspects - I did not expect to be completely gripped and consumed by the novel within the first 50 pages. I honestly could not put this book down or stop thinking about it. This was so refreshing for me as I've been in such a reading slump lately. 

The book centers around 5 girls - Violet, Aster, Tansy, Mallow and Clementine. The girls have grown up in a world where they are second class citizens, Dustbloods, as they are born without a shadow. Raised in extreme poverty, their parents sell them to a Welcome House out of desperation. Welcome Houses are brothels where girls are raised from children to be slaves until they turn 16 where they are then sold sexually to men who come to the welcome house. 

Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: March 2013
Source: Borrowed from library 
Series: The Infernal Devices #3

Blurb: 
A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

So the last book in The Infernal Devices series hit me hard, even though literally everyone told me it would do so, I still felt overwhelmed. 
This review may contain spoilers for the other books in the series and possible this one as I cannot CONTAIN MY EMOTIONS FOR MUCH LONGER!

So here is your **SPOILER WARNING** . Stop reading if you have not read this book, but instead read my reviews of Cassandra Clare's novels here! 

Best Books I Read in 2018

Happy new year everyone! 2018 was a heck of a year for me, from being one of the most stressful years to being one of the happiest- there was some real ups and downs.
This year I graduated from college / university for the final time, traveled a little, went to festivals, had my first job rejection and managed to become a little happier and more positive.
Although there was great ups and downs, the year as a whole was wonderful. I wouldn't change it for the world.

As well as my personal achievements I managed to read some great books this year. I read 46 books, which is more than last year (link) and discovered some great books! I finally feel I am getting back into the swing of reading and blogging and hopefully can keep up a schedule of both for 2019.

Here's my favourites of 2018:

Review: White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock

Publication Date: May 3rd 2018
Publisher: Walker Books
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

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Blurb: 

Peter Blankman is afraid of everything and must confront unimaginable terror when his mother is attacked.

Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a maths prodigy. He also suffers from severe panic attacks. Afraid of everything, he finds solace in the orderly and logical world of mathematics and in the love of his family: his scientist mum and his tough twin sister Bel, as well as Ingrid, his only friend. 

However, when his mother is found stabbed before an award ceremony and his sister is nowhere to be found, Pete is dragged into a world of espionage and violence where state and family secrets intertwine. Armed only with his extraordinary analytical skills, Peter may just discover that his biggest weakness is his greatest strength. 

 You know the feeling where you are utterly caught up in a story and its characters you never want it to end? Well that is how I felt while reading this novel. Another huge thank you to Walker books for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my full honest review. 

This book is the kind of book that swallows you up and then spits you out! The novel centers around Peter, a math genus with severe anxiety disorder. When someone tried to assassinate is mother, his world is thrown into disarray. He must adapt and begin a journey to try to understand just why his world has been thrown into chaos. 

Review: All The Lonely People by David Owen

Publication Date: January 10th 2019
Publisher: Atom Books
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

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Blurb: 
Everyone tells Kat that her online personality - confident, funny, opinionated - isn't her true self. Kat knows otherwise. The internet is her only way to cope with a bad day, chat with friends who get all her references, make someone laugh. But when she becomes the target of an alt-right trolling campaign, she feels she has no option but to Escape, Quit, Disappear.
With her social media shut down, her website erased, her entire online identity void, Kat feels she has cut away her very core: without her virtual self, who is she?

She brought it on herself. Or so Wesley keeps telling himself as he dismantles Kat's world from across the classroom. It's different, seeing one of his victims in real life and not inside a computer screen - but he's in too far to back out now.
As soon as Kat disappears online, her physical body begins to fade and while everybody else forgets that she exists, Wesley realises he is the only one left who remembers her. Overcome by remorse for what he has done, Wesley resolves to stop her disappearing completely. It might just be the only way to save himself.

A huge thank you to Atom Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my full and honest review. This is one of my most anticipated releases of next year and let me say, David Owen has done it again!

I absolutely adored The Fallen Children when I read it, so I was looking forward to this but I was also apprehensive as I was scared it wouldn't live up to the previous novel. Thankfully, All The Lonely People met every expectation I had and surprised me in lots of ways. 

The novel centers around Kat, a girl who lives her life on the internet, who then becomes the target of a hate group. As a result, she shuts down all her social media and online presences to avoid the bullying. Slowly Kat begins to change, physically disappearing until no one can see her anymore or remember her! The only person who remembers her is her bully, Wesley. 

Best Books I Read in 2017

Hi everyone. As the year comes to a close, I thought I would share my favourite novels of 2017. I hope that 2018 brings you happiness. 

As a result of huge college work amounts and various other busy activities in my life in the past year, I only managed to read 30 books which is even less than last year. Although I read fewer novels, I feel like I discovered some greats this year, 

I really enjoyed all of the books mentioned on this list and you can see my full reviews of them linked below. 

Lets jump right in to my list of the best books I read in 2017; 

Best Books I Read in 2016

Hi everyone. Happy New Year ! I Hope that 2017 brings you happiness. 

So although I didn't read as much as I usually would have in 2016 because of college/ uni work, I still managed to read some absolutely amazing novels.

I absolutely adored all of the books mentioned on this list and you can see my full reviews of them linked below. 

Lets jump right in to my list of the best books I read in 2016; 

STILL FALLING by Sheena Wilkinson (Review Here) 

This was one of the very first novels I read in 2016 and what a great way to kick off the year! 

This novel absolutely blew me away.This novel focuses on the protagonists Luke and Esther and each chapter the novels point of view alternates between them. Their relationship slowly built up and went through us and down that read as being real and really drew me into the novel. They may be one of my new favourite book couples!

The novel focused on a lot of issues from school, new friends, fitting in and first love to deeper and darker ones such as epilepsy, faith, family and lack of family, and more. Sheena has obvious talent as the manner in which she dealt with each issue raised in the book was flawless and read as being so real. I really enjoyed reading about Luke's epilepsy as it is a condition I know very little about. The diverse themes and steady pacing of the plot kept me gripped until the very end. An all time favourite definitely! 

WHAT WAS NEVER SAID by Emma Craigie (Review Here)

This novel completely blew me away. This novel tells the story of 15 year old Zahra and her life after she has moved to England from Somalia. The novel deals with FGM (female genital mutilation) which is a torturous practise that is commonly performed on young girls the world over. 

This novel is not an easy read. For such a short novel, it packs an almighty punch. Although the subject matter of FGM is uncomfortable to read about, it is something we should be more and more aware of. 

This novel made me think good and hard about culture, practises, feminism and society's expectations of women. A harrowing, important and though provoking novel about such a cruel and excruciating practice.