My Favorite Reads 2025
Look, did I read around a hundred books this year that completely wrecked me—in the best way possible? Absolutely. Every single one had me laughing, crying, swooning, or clutching the pages like my life depended on it.
Now, I could sit here and gush for hours, turning this into a 100-page love letter to all the authors who stole my heart and my sleep. But I’ll spare you that (for now).
Instead, I’ve narrowed it down to the books that truly owned me this year—the ones that made me go absolutely feral, left me with a massive book hangover, and reminded me exactly why I adore reading.
So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s talk about the stories that stole my soul, broke my heart, and made me fall in love with fiction all over again.
1. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
This book was everything for me, like, I’m talking full-on emotional chaos, heart palpitations, and feral-level obsession. There’s no debate to be had; I absolutely lost my mind over it in the best possible way. I don’t usually lose myself over fictional men, I can typically separate reality from the fantasy world on the page. But Kingfisher? Oh, he broke every one of my rules. There’s something magnetic, untouchable, and dangerously captivating about him that had me completely starstruck.
I even turned to my husband and said, “Listen, if this man ever emerged from a puddle of quicksilver, I’d be gone.” The look he gave me? Pure disbelief. He’s questioned my sanity before, but this time he knew it was gone for good, because honestly, he’s right. When it comes to Kingfisher, all logic flies out the window.
This story had everything: action that kept my pulse racing, moments so tense I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and plot twists that had me whispering “what just happened?” at 2 a.m. And let’s not even pretend the spice didn’t have me completely undone, because it did. It was the perfect balance of heat and heart, danger and desire.
I loved it so much that one copy wasn’t enough. I own multiple editions already, and you can bet I’ll be collecting every single special edition or sprayed-edge copy that comes out. This isn’t just a book I read, it’s a book I experienced.
FERAL. Completely and unapologetically feral.
2. Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline
This book will forever hold a special place in my reading journey. It was one of the first alien romances I ever picked up, and honestly, it changed the game for me. This year has felt like an awakening, my dive into adult romance at 38, and it’s been such a thrilling evolution. I’ve always loved YA for that rush of first love, that sweet ache of discovery, but something in me has shifted. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s growth, or maybe it’s just that this book opened a door I didn’t even realize was waiting for me to step through.
From the very first chapter, I was captivated. The author weaves political injustice and social commentary into the story so seamlessly that it never once feels heavy-handed — it just works. The world-building is lush and fascinating, set in a society so advanced and so different from ours that it had me questioning everything I thought I knew about power, respect, and love. Imagine a world where women are revered, cherished, and protected by law, where speaking harshly to a woman is literally illegal. A world where women hold the choice, the freedom, and the authority. It’s intoxicating.
And then comes the romance, a slow burn that crawls under your skin and stays there. The heroine’s journey is steeped in trauma, healing, and rediscovery, and the way she learns to trust again had my heart aching in the best possible way. And the male lead? Oh, he’s everything. Brooding, self-conscious, convinced he’s unworthy… and yet completely magnetic. The way she chooses him, the “ugly,” angry alien who can’t see his own worth, made me melt. Because underneath that armor of pain and pride is a man who loves deeply, fiercely, and without restraint.
By the end, I was absolutely feral for this story. It’s the kind of book that makes you stay up too late, grinning and gasping and clutching your chest because you feel everything. It’s not just an alien romance, it’s a story about choice, healing, and the quiet power of seeing someone for who they truly are.
If you’re looking for something that blends romance, depth, and a world that will make you wish it were real, this book is it.
3. Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean
Okay guys, this one is a little different, but in the best possible way. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I have a type when it comes to my reading habits. I’m a total sucker for a good monster romance. And let’s be honest, whether you want to admit it or not, the fae and vampires absolutely fall under that deliciously dark category.
Now, Voidwalker takes that love to a whole new level. Our fierce FMC isn’t your typical heroine, she’s a contraband smuggler who travels between worlds to get what she needs. Think of her as a cosmic Robin Hood: bold, clever, and with a moral code that doesn’t quite fit the rules of her world. Everything she earns, she pours back into her struggling town, helping the people who would otherwise be forgotten.
But here’s where things get dark and fascinating, this world isn’t kind. There are creatures that literally feed on humans, and to keep the peace, a twisted treaty was formed. Every year, someone is sacrificed to the local leader to satisfy their hunger and maintain a fragile balance. It’s brutal, haunting, and sets the stage for an unforgettable story.
Our main characters find themselves thrown together when their goals unexpectedly align. What starts as mutual disgust quickly morphs into a tense, fiery partnership that neither of them saw coming. There’s hatred, there’s learning, there’s reluctant trust, and under it all, this simmering desire that just keeps building. Both characters are caught between survival and transformation. I need this to survive… but I want to be different from what I am.
And let’s not forget, the romance and spice? Top tier. Absolutely elite. The kind that will leave you fanning yourself and maybe, just maybe, wishing for an extra appendage or two. 👀
4. Lady Killer by L.M. Ramirez
Girl. GIRL. G I R L.
If you haven’t picked up the Why Choose series yet and you call yourself a lover of a good reverse harem romance… what are you even doing? This series grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. I’m not kidding, I’m still craving these characters like an addiction I can’t kick. And Everest? Don’t even get me started. That man ruined me in the best possible way.
This series is dark academia done right. It’s haunting, twisted, and full of shadows that whisper secrets you’re dying to know. But be warned, there are heavy triggers here. If you like morally gray men with dark pasts and even darker obsessions, you’ll eat this up.
Our FMC, Luz, is accepted into a prestigious university on a scholarship, an outsider surrounded by wealth, privilege, and arrogance. She knows she doesn’t belong, not just because of her background, but because she’s Latina in a space that doesn’t welcome her. The book doesn’t shy away from that reality, there are racist remarks directed at her, moments that make you burn for her, root for her, and love her even more.
But things get really wild when a serial killer starts wreaking havoc in the town. Luz is suddenly thrust into the dark heart of the school’s secrets, face-to-face with the beautiful psychos who run the place—and that’s when the chaos truly begins.
Now, this is the second book in the series, and hands down my favorite. The first one set the stage, building the world, the tension, and the mystery, but this one? This one delivers the emotional punch, the romance, and yes, the spice we were all waiting for. You finally get to peel back Luz’s layers and dive into her backstory, her pain, and the men who are dangerously close to consuming her heart.
The only downside? It’s an unfinished series… and I am not-so-patiently waiting for the next installment. I need answers, I need closure, and most importantly, I need more Everest.
Okay, listen up because I am OBSESSED.
This book didn’t just hit a few of my favorite tropes, it nailed all three: alien romance, reverse harem, and fated mates. You know those stories that completely take over your life? Yeah, this was one of them. I devoured every single book in this series like my life depended on it. The world-building? Fan-freaking-tastic. I could practically see every alien city, feel the tension of their world, and taste the danger. This series officially locked me in as a lifelong fan of this author, I’ll read anything they write from here on out, no questions asked. And let’s just say… I finished all three books in two days because sleep was not an option.
Now, like many alien romances, this one kicks off with our FMC being stolen from Earth and thrust into an entirely new (and often dangerous) world. There’s this common trope in alien romance where human women are captured to… well, help populate alien species. And honestly? I’m so here for it. I know, I know, it sounds wild, but when it’s written with consent and chemistry, it’s absolute magic. Our girl handles it like a queen, and I couldn’t stop cheering for her every step of the way.
There are three books in the series, each focusing on one of her alien mates, yes, mates, plural. And each one of them is powerful, protective, and a little bit obsessed in the best possible way. But this book? It’s all about Hyt, the galaxy’s only police officer (seriously, this man deserves a whole intergalactic holiday named after him). Hyt has been fighting his attraction to our girl since book one, and let me tell you, he held out way longer than most would. When he finally gives in? Fireworks. Literal tentacled fireworks.
Hyt completely stole my heart. He’s funny, sarcastic, strong as hell, and doesn’t hesitate to throw hands (or tentacles) if anyone dares threaten what’s his. He’s the ultimate mix of protective alpha and charming rogue, and honestly? He’s the reason this became one of my top reads of the year. He’s everything you want in a book boyfriend, loyal, lethal, and with just the right amount of otherworldly flair.
If you love stories that are spicy, wild, and filled with heart, this series will ruin you in the best way
6. Bonus!
The Gods & Monsters series by Amber V. Nicole
but more specifically: The Throne of Broken Gods
Cause, FUCK 😫😭😍💟 Dianna!
She is literally my WCW every damn day. She's hot and funny and soooo powerful a girl could get lost in those eyes!
No comments:
Post a Comment