2025 far surpassed my expectations.
It’s one thing to meet your reading goal, but to meet that goal in May? Unheard of! (For me, at least.) That was my experience. I kept updating my goal until I decided that 55 was a reasonable target. It was. I read 64 books, 13,604 pages, and listened to 296.17 hours in 2025. That is 51 more books than I read in 2024. Of course, not all the books I read were gems. I had a few misses here and there. But I was introduced to new authors who are most likely to be some of my favorite authors to read.
So, let’s get to talking about my books! We’ll dive into my top -rated in this post. The lower-rated books will be in the P.2.
To Start–Some Stats
I gathered these stats from fable.co. I’ve linked my profile, where you can keep up with what I am currently reading this year.
I challenged myself to read genres that I had not given much of a try. One of those was thriller/horror books. Amazingly, I quite enjoy reading this genre. Some books are a miss, if I am being honest. Yet, the horror and thriller genre is vast. So there’s bound to be a book you enjoy out there! I will say, I doubt I will ever head down the route of extreme horror. I don’t like watching extreme horror. Which means I do not want to read extreme horror. There is only so much desensitization I can take.
Although my ratings seem low, I don’t usually give books anything less than 2 stars. If it’s less than 2, I thoroughly did not like that book. I don’t know. I feel bad rating them lower than 2. I also don’t give many 5-star reviews either. I’ve come to the realization that ratings are subjective and change from person to person. We all have metrics for how we rate. Someone’s high rating can be your low rating.
For me, a rating of 3.75 or higher means I enjoyed the book. 3-stars and lower means I probably forced myself to finish. Or it wasn’t memorable, and honestly mid. I did DNF one book this year. That honor goes to Deep End by Ali Hazelwood, my first try at reading one of her books. Maybe I’ll try reading another of her books this year. We’ll see. The pure romance genre and I don’t mesh that well together. Or I just haven’t found the right book.
The “5-Stars”
Finished: January 23, 2025
A YA historical mystery fiction by author June Hur. This book has an average rating of 3.93 on Storygraph, 4.0 on Fable, and 3.96 on Goodreads.
I gave this book 4.95 stars, and it was one of the first books I read in 2025. I’ve enjoyed Hur’s earlier books, and this did not disappoint.
This book is for the K-drama lovers who don’t mind the way a plot can seem slow-moving. It has yearning, murder, and high stakes. A perfect K-drama setting if you ask me! Both of our male and female leads are relatable in a sense. You want to root for them to succeed!
“…if by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then I will find you in the next–or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again.”
Finished: April 18, 2025
A historical literary fantasy fiction novel. Babel is a polarizing book (R.F. Kuang is a polarizing author!), where many love it, and just as many dislike it. With themes dealing with racism, anti-colonialism, and misogyny, this book had much to tell.
My official rating was 4.95, but it is one of my favorite reads of the year. It has an average rating of 4.33 on Storygraph, 4.2 on Fable, and 4.14 on Goodreads.
This book is for the dark academia lovers, the ones who want to get hit in the gut with emotions.
“That’s just what translation is, I think. That’s all speaking is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.”
Finished: May 7, 2025
A YA Romantasy Mythological Retelling by Axie Oh.
My most polarizing rating! I gave this book a 4.9. The average rating is 3.79 on Storygraph, 3.9 on Fable, and 3.78 on Goodreads.
I liked the simplicity and premise of the book. Did it read YA? Yes. But I’ve noticed a lot of Romantasy focuses on the Romance part of it. This means more mature scenes than I would like. Due to this being YA, I got to read a fantasy romance that made me go: awww.
The first of a duology. I’ve yet to read part two, so I am left hanging.
This book is for those who love retellings of myths, and an action adventure between star-crossed lovers.
“Remember that, Sunho. Even in darkness, there is always light.”
Finished: May 10, 2025
A children’s fantasy fiction classic by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
A true 5-star rating from me. This beloved classic made me cry. I feel the older we get, the more we understand what this story was about. Actually, this is a timeless story that can have different meanings as you grow older.
Average rating is 4.26 on Storygraph, 4.3 on Fable, and 4.33 on Goodreads.
This book is for anyone and everyone who has wanted adventure.
“Goodbye,” said the fox. “Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”
Finished: December 31, 2025
A nonfiction historical science and health book.
Just under 200 pages, John Green managed to fill this book with information. I gave this book a 4.9 rating. Average rating is 4.44 on Storygraph, 4.4 on Fable, and 4.35 on Goodreads.
A clutch read for me. It was one of the two books I was working towards finishing last year. I needed that Goodreads badge! (For my own personal ego.)
This book is for those who like a deep dive into something that has been plaguing our world for centuries. Tickled with slight humor from Green.
We know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world.
The 4.75-4.25
Storygraph has this cool feature where you get to rate books on the quarter! Due to that, I can more accurately rate on Storygraph than on Fable or Goodreads. For these next ratings, I won’t make long individual comments on the books, considering I read 64 books. That’s a lot of commentating. I’ll summarize in parts.
4.75 rates:
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng introduced me to Kylie Lee Baker. I am looking forward to reading her upcoming novel this year and her past novels. This book made me feel visceral emotions of anger and horror. Asian ghosts are another level from Western ghosts. This book is a prime example that you need to listen to your aunt and take her talismans! There are trigger warnings for death. It is set during COVID. If you dislike books set during COVID, at least try this one first. You might like it.
Rating: 4.7 stars
Becoming is not a revolutionary book. It also isn’t a book to simply rave about without the context. It is a book that lets us look into the life of Michelle Obama. Before she became an Obama and after. I enjoyed this book because Michelle is so good at telling a story. Her stubbornness as a young child was funny to read about. She is more ambitious than me that’s for sure. Also, I learned Obama was a smoker, huh.
Rating: 4.75 stars
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha is a graphic novel that I found relatable. This is an autobiography about her migration from Seoul, South Korea, to Huntsville, Alabama. She faces dilemmas of not fitting in in either South Korea or the United States. An easy read that can relate to any child whose parents migrated to the U.S.A.
Rating: 4.75 stars
Behind Five Willows by June Hur (the second book of Hur’s read in 2025). This was an ARC. This book is expected to be released on May 26. I loved this book! It was an enemies-to-lovers story inspired by Pride and Prejudice. (A book I have regrettably not read yet, but a movie I love!) I will make a blog post about my thoughts on this book separately.
Rating: 4.8 stars
4.5 rates:
Finished: April 11, 2025
A science fiction novella by Martha Wells, and the first of a series. This book is funny, adventurous, and Murderbot is honestly a mood. I have more of the series to read, yet this, less than 200-page novella, was entertaining. It made me want to read the next books.
Finished: June 10
Second book in the Murderbot series. Not as funny as the first one, but still an enjoyable read. We are introduced to a new AI, in ship form! Also a mood. I related to this AI a little more, mainly from how “annoying” I can be. Ha!
Finished: June 2
A haunting read that deals with the ghosts of the past. Set in NC and taking place in a plantation turned into an amusement park/wedding venue. This book is a glimpse into how attempts to rewrite history have been made. Moving and angering. McQueen did a beautiful job.
Finished: May 21
A historical horror fiction set in Mexico (modern-day Texas) before the Spanish-American War. A star-crossed lovers and second-chance romance story with a mix of horror. Certain scenes made my skin crawl. A romance book hidden in this horror premise. A fun read.
Finished: December 28
A literary thriller that makes you ask why. You get a look into what the publishing world probably looks like. A self-aware novel that you can tell is based (a little) on Kuang’s own life. After this release, real-life “Yellowfaces” have happened. I felt like the book could have kept going with the way it ended.
Finished: February 25, 2025
Wow, it’s been almost a year since I’ve read this book. This book’s dust cover and cover get a 10/10! It is a beautiful cover. Beautifully written with nice, lyrical words, but did lack a few things. An odd book that is higher than 4.5, but not high enough to be 4.75. There is some insta-love, which is why I didn’t like it as much as I should have. I still tabbed this book to no end due to the number of quotable quotes.
4.25 rates:
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder finished: May 10. I liked following Pip as she tried to solve a past murder. It was both fun, exciting, and anxiety-inducing. Not a hard mystery to figure out, but the ride was fun. Pip did do a lot of questionable things, but I gave her a pass due to being young. I’ve been told by my friend and sister that the rest of the series isn’t as good as the first. Whether I’ll finish this series is up in the air.
A Curse for True Love finished: July 12. The last of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. This is my highest rating in the series. I enjoyed this “spin-off” series more than Caraval. Stephanie Garber was my most-read author of 2025. I read six of her books. It would have been seven had I gotten to her newest release before the year ended. Jacks is my favorite character ever, and anything with him in it, I like. Good thing he’s the main love interest in this series.
The God and the Gwisin finished: August 9. Part 2 and the ending to Fate’s Thread duology. I liked this book more than the first, by a little. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I usually dislike when current pop culture is used in stories, but this one did it seamlessly. I compared it to Voyage of the Dammed (a book that will be featured in P.2 of my year end review) because this one succeeded in what that book couldn’t do. A solid 4.3 stars.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom finished: May 2. This book … I don’t know. The more I sit on it, the lower I want to rate it. I did give this a higher rating because you saw that Shari was growing and learning. She is still young. That is why I was annoyed that she did not make the connection to what caused what happened to her. Her mother and the grooming have one common cause. I hope she may see it in the future. She also didn’t blame her father. I want to rate it lower because he needs to be held accountable for letting everything happen.
The Socialite’s Guide to Murder finished: June 14. A cozy murder mystery. This book really was cozy, quirky, and enjoyable. The first in a series that I would like to finish, but not a high priority. Evelyn is purposely a caricature, which is half the fun. She also has agoraphobia, adding to the context of this hotel heiress. A lovely lead character that carried the story for me.
4.0 rates:
My highest number of rated books under 4 stars: 14. So buckle up!
For my sanity, I will be making a table. This way, I won’t get lost on what each book was rated and when it was read.
| Title | Rating | Finished | Thoughts |
| The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim | 4.2 | January 13 | A solid start to the Fate’s Thread duology. We meet Seokga, the trickster god and Kim Hani, the gumiho. This is an enemies-to-lovers story set in 1992 South Korea. |
| The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber | 4.1 | July 4 | The second book in the OUABH series. This book didn’t get as high a rating as the third. There was still a lack of world-building in this series. This book suffered the most from that and clichés. |
| Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke | 4.0 | April 26 | A historical nonfiction novel about Pan Am, its stewardesses, and the downfall. We follow five different Pan Am stewardesses in this book, and their fascinating stories. With fewer than 300 pages, this book packs a lot of information and reads slowly. |
| The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon | 4.0 | July 8 | This historical fiction is based on a real-life woman named Martha Ballard. This is one of those books that has stuck with me longer than I anticipated. So, I want to give it a higher rating. Slow at parts, but intriguing overall. |
| Legendborn by Tracy Deonn | 3.9 | December 17 | A solid start to a series, with some slight annoyances. Doesn’t read as YA as it is, which makes some situations jarring when you realize they’re 17. But pretty good, I’m willing to continue the series. |
| The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas | 4.1 | December 20 | Not as good as Vampires of El Norte, but still pretty good. I was left thinking, “What did I just read?” when I finished the book. Which could be a good or bad thing. Trigger warnings for possession and talk of demonic things. If you’re “sensitive” to that (like my mom says she is) you should skip this book. |
| Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukes | 4.0 | November 5 | A surprising read. I enjoyed this cozy “murder mystery” more than I thought. Actually, I’d like to sign up to solve a murder in a small English town as part of a vacation. |
| Fable by Adrienne Young | 4.0 | December 6 | I had to restart this audiobook twice because I was not paying attention, ha! Fable is not just the title of the book but of our main character. A pirate-ish adventure. I’d like to see how the series ends. |
| I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones | Graham Jones 3.9 | December 13 | A killer’s POV, but make it meta! This is a fun, yet gory read. I liked the meta-ness of the story. Think Scream, but in book format. Trigger warnings for gory scenes. |
| The Troop by Nick Cutter | 4.0 | March 11 | A horror book set on an island when a virus spreads. Yeah, it’s gory and sickening. But boy did I enjoy it. I wanted to punch Shelly because he was just a horrible kid. |
| The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong | 4.0 | April 12 | A cozy fantasy that has some bases related to real life. This is very cozy to the point where it feels like not much happened. An adventure that takes place. It may not be the cup of tea, though. |
| The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin | 3.95 | February 19 | This book was so much more than I anticipated. It follows two friends and their POV. It flashes back from their residency days at medical school to modern times in their late 30s. For medical drama lovers, this book is for you! |
| Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber | 3.9 | May 19 | A predictable, entertaining, and fast read. We meet Evangeline and Jacks (re-meet Jacks if Caraval was read first). We enter a fairy tale world, and it’s great! The start to the OUABH series I enjoy. For the fairy tale lovers out there. |
| Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV | 4.0 | April 26 | A graphic novel that is centered in a town where its children are going missing. Why? What is taking them? I don’t know! This was volume one, and I need to read on. |
Well, there you have it. The end of part 1. Looking back at all these books I read, there were a lot of good ones. (Obviously, these are the higher-rated books.) All of these, in one way or another, were fun to read. Some left bigger and longer impressions, but they expanded my genres. I know what I like and what I don’t like, for now. I feel the more I read, the more I learn what makes a book great or mediocre for me. I have noticed that I should read more memoirs and non-fiction. I am a mood reader, though. So, I’ll do my best to pick up more memoirs somehow.
Til next time! What were some of your favorite books?
The Scarlett Synopsis 
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