My Top 10 Books of 2025!

There’s no better way to end the year than to share my top favorite books! Here are some notable reads of books I read in 2025 that I enjoyed and/or left a lasting impression on me. As always, it was hard to narrow down this list, but I did it!

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And So I Roar by Abi Daré -I loved Daré’s writing voice so much that I was eager to read the sequel of Adunni’s story from The Girl With The Louding Voice. I actually ended up crying by the end of this novel by its heartfelt story. This sequel was anything but flat and only added to its predecessor. Adunni’s story is beautiful, but heartbreaking coming-of-age story. Her spirit of resilience against the many obstacles she faces makes the reader feel hopeful and motivated to take on any challenge

Ace of Spades by – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé – I am not the biggest Dark Academia reader, but reading this novel towards the beginning of the year got me back into the sub-genre. The novel is thrilling, suspenseful, and has many plot twists to keep the readers engaged. I like that it shows an authentic view of high school life, but is laces with important social commentary. This novel kept me guessing all the time which made it such a standout read for me.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield – The lyrical nature of Bromfield’s writing kept me constantly immersed with the story and its dimensional characters (many of whom are unlikable). At its core, it is a story about a teenage girl’s search for love, acceptance, and dealing with her sudden steps to womanhood. I will say this book may not be for everyone due to its intense nature, but I think it is a powerful story that discusses many important topics.

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 A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury – This is an incredibly rich story full of suspense, action-packed scenes, fantasy elements that will surprise the reader, and a highly immersive world to get lost in. I was excited to read every new chapter! The epilogue leaves a promising and interesting cliffhanger that will leave the reader wanting more. This is a Dark Academia novel that offers supernatural thrills and chills, while also adding a fresh story to the sub-genre as a whole.

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie – As a whole what made this reading experience so memorable for me what that it was so humorous. Doris (the main character) is a well-written fleshed out leading lady with snark and witty banter that rivals many of her encounters in the novel. I was surprised at how much I laughed throughout the book. I feel like that is the definite strength of McKenzie’s writing of how she is able to balance humor with serious topics throughout the novel. I enjoyed every moment of the story and my only complaint is that the novel ended to soon for my liking.

The Black Girl Survives in This One – Being a long-time horror fan, it’s no secret that the Black character always dies first in a lot of horror media. This anthology flips that negative trope around so that in each story the Black girl is the Final Girl who lives to tell the tale. There is such a rich variety of tales within this anthology with all types of horror. It’s rare that each story in an anthology is a five star read for me, and this collection does just that!

All The Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis – Davis has such a way with words, and her writing style makes the story captivating and engaging. It encourages the reader to challenge their way of thinking as do the characters in the novel. I felt that Aiden’s autism and discussions that come from in the novel are handled with compassion and break down some of the stereotypes that surround being on the spectrum. Readers will be engrossed with Aiden’s self-discovery journey and watching him come into his own.

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Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan – I know I’m late to reading the Skyland series, but better late than never right? Ryan is a master of words in this novel and does a fantastic job of crafting and emotional and raw love story that stays with you long after reading it. I listened to the audiobook for this novel and that only enhanced my reading experience and gave much emotional depth to the complex situations the characters are dealing with. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Elevator Pitch by Evelyn Leigh – A very spicy but heartfelt romance novel from a new to me author. Thank you to the book community for sending this book rec my way. It follows a neuro-divergent Black woman navigating her journey of self-discovery . This novel (like the one above) does also address sensitive topics such as domestic violence and mental health. This novel is a solid start to her Hapless In Love series and I can’t wait to read more from Leigh!

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What books made your top list for 2025? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.