I tried to list a Top Ten for this year but nope, couldn't do it. There were just too many good books that took me on unforgettable journeys in 2025. Some made me laugh out loud. Some left me in tears. A few took me on emotional roller coaster rides. There were surprises with twists that left me stunned. There were exquisitely written, deeply romantic tales that I felt deep in my soul. And...there were more than a few characters who are still living rent-free in my mind and probably will for some time to come.
Here are my seventeen favorite books of 2025, in no particular order.
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune
You know those special books that transport you to a specific time and place, speak to all your emotions, evoke memories of times gone by, and hold you spellbound from start to finish? One Golden Summer, for me, is that book. I read it in one day and once I finished all I wanted to do was go back to page one and read it again, only slowly this time, savoring every perfectly placed word designed to elicit laughter, tears, and swoony sighs.
SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
by Olivia Dade
Second chances, banter for days, emotional depth, laugh-out-loud humor, body positivity, slow-burn romance, a terrific supporting cast, and a lead couple who stole my heart and had me cheering them on every step of the way. Second Chance Romance is a funny, endearing, warm hug of a book that kept me engaged and entertained from beginning to end.
PITCHER PERFECT by Tessa Bailey
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey is one of those unicorn books that flowed like hot maple syrup over a stack of yummy pancake perfection. It grabbed my attention from the first page, never lagged, never wavered, and kept me happily flipping pages until the final word. There's enemies-to-lovers romance, fake dating, forced proximity, unexpected vulnerability, family wilderness games (with accompanying snort laughter...and tears), banter for days, thought-provoking family dysfunction (but also love and humor), self discovery, surprising twists, delicious steam, adorable nicknames, and sigh-worthy words - and actions - of growing respect, admiration, and love. Basically, everything that makes my reader's heart happy.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA
by Sonali Dev
There's something special about There's Something About Mira. It's my favorite of all the books Sonali Dev has written. I usually enjoy her stories but this is the first one that has kept me reading until 3:00 in the morning and still thinking about the characters many days later. There's Something About Mira is a beautifully nuanced story about parental expectations, social issues, fate, finding yourself, and opening your heart to both love for yourself and the love others choose for themselves.
WHEN WE HAD FOREVER by Shaylin Gandhi
I read this book in January. In one day. Turned the last page around 1:00 AM then was awake at least another hour thinking about these characters, their journey, the unexpected revelations. Fell asleep and dreamed about them. Woke up thinking about them. It is now December, almost a full year later and I'm still thinking about them, about their journey. That is the impact of Shaylin Gandhi's writing.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH
by Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan is a force. While a book written by her is always a reading adventure, it is also an emotional, all-consuming, visceral experience. In Can't Get Enough, I didn't just read about these complex characters, I lived their journeys with them. They filled me with hope, anguish, accomplishment, fear, solid supportive friendship, chosen family, and soul-deep, enduring, hard-won love.
CRUEL SUMMER by Maisey Yates
Raw. Real. Heartbreaking. Healing. Empowering. Romantic. Unforgettable. This is an immersive story of heartbreak, growth, healing, and forgiveness. It's also a heart-tugging journey of learning to value your needs, your worth, and your right to love and be loved for your complete, authentic self. I couldn't put it down.
ALONG CAME AMORby Alexis Daria
This one was worth the wait. Not only is Along Came Amor my favorite book of Alexis Daria's exceptional Primas of Power trilogy, Roman and Ava are one of my favorite couples this year. Complex characters, rich Puerto Rican representation, dysfunctional family, a super swoony hero, a sympathetic heroine, funny, steamy, poignant, and deeply emotional. I loved it.
SUMMER IN THE CITY by Alex Aster
This book. What an absolute delight. I couldn't put it down. No, really. I read it in one day with a smile on my face the entire time. It's incredibly immersive. The chemistry, the sparkling banter, the swoony, slow-burn romance. Summer in the City is a fun, steamy, can't-put-it-down story that kept me flipping pages late into the night while dreaming of New York City pizza, champagne galas, early mornings in Central Park, found friendships, heroes who cook (yay!), cozy coffee shops, and hard-won happy endings. It has my highest, joyful recommendation.
THESE SUMMER STORMS
by Sarah MacLean
There's a reason readers and media outlets worldwide raved about this book all summer. I read the entire book in one day. Could not put it down. This flawed, fractured family reeled me in and absolutely refused to let me turn away until I turned the final page. I'm still thinking about them months later. These Summer Storms is immersive, superbly written, emotionally driven, frequently messy, and ultimately hopeful. I loved it.
GOOD SPIRITS by B.K. Borison
Oh, my heart. This is one of those books that leaves an indelible mark on my soul. So incredibly romantic. So immersive. I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to read faster to discover what would ultimately happen (because my heart was crying out for something that felt impossible) while also wanting to slow down to savor every single word, action, and emotion. Good Spirits is one of those special stories that I will be turning to again and again in the future whenever I feel the need for a comforting warm hug of a book. Straight to the keeper shelf!
THE AMALFI CURSE by Sarah Penner
This book has it all. Italy's Amalfi Coast (If you've visited, this will take you right back. If not, you'll be aching to go.). Sea witches (I believe). Dual timeline (I was equally invested in the stories and characters from both). Intrigue. Betrayal (I did not see some of those twists coming!). Forbidden love (in one timeline). Maybe fated love in the other? Complex, well-developed characters who tugged at my heart. Shipwrecks...sunken treasure...twists...turns...and OMG, what just happened??? I gasped. I cheered. I turned the final page with a big ole happy smile, wanting nothing more than to go pack to page one and read it all again.
THUS WITH A KISS I DIE by Christina Dodd
I highlighted so many brilliantly witty and downright hilarious passages in this book it would be easier to tell you what I didn't highlight than what I did. Hijinks, hilarity, danger, and a bit of romance had me gasping one second, laughing out loud the next, and begging for the next book in this series the second I turned the final page of this one. I'll travel back to fair Verona any - and every - time Christina Dodd wants to take me there.
A NEW YEAR IN THE KEYS
by Hope Holloway
I have so much love for these characters, for this family. I sighed, I cried, I cheered. I don't think it's possible for Hope Holloway to write a book that does no touch me emotionally but even among the many heart-tugging stories from her various book series, this one stands out. It celebrates life, love, and multiple generations of family. It's achingly romantic and, to my delight, it features soul-stirring romance for a vibrant character in her seventies.
It is never too late to fall in love.
EARL CRUSH by Alexandra Vasti
So many feelings. How could I not fall in love with these beautifully depicted characters and their hard-won happy ending. In addition to emotional depth, this book has impeccably placed humor, witty banter, zebras (yes, zebras), a mystery, a bit of danger, chemistry, meddling family (bio and chosen), road romance (Yay!), and did I mention yearning? So much yearning. I laughed, sobbed, and held my breath as Lydia and Arthur navigated the ups and downs of mistaken identity, meddling family, espionage, kidnapping, and falling in love. I was with them every step of the way, right up to - and through - one of the most swoon-worthy, deeply romantic, heart-tugging epilogues I've read.
SPILLING THE TEA
by Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson has written 150 books, hitting both the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists in the process. Spilling the Tea, in my opinion, is one of her best and one of my all-time Jackson favorites. This author has a way of luring readers into her stories with intriguing characters, relatable circumstances, and emotional engagement. In this book she seamlessly interweaves the stories of two couples using flashbacks of the past with unfolding events of the present and the unlikely twists that bond them together. The end result is an emotional dual-timeline story with strong family dynamics, heart-wrenching emotion, sensual romance, closely-held secrets, and another Madaris HEA.
A TROPICAL REBEL GETS THE DUKE by Adriana Herrera
Adriana Herrera saved the best for last. A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, book three in Herrera's Las Leonas trilogy, is a steamy, compelling, endearing, action-packed story that I did not want to put down. A Caribbean woman in Paris, fighting for her independence and right to care for other women. A Caribbean man determined to avenge his father and honor his mother's memory by claiming his rightful place in the peerage (fiery Black duke for the win). Adversaries to lovers. Danger around every corner. Found family of the heart. Hard-won happily ever after. This book has everything I love...and then some.
Those are my favorites. What books had you jumping for joy this year?
Two people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, December 26 will each receive a surprise package of books from my stash.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
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