A Year in Books
A look back at my favorite reads of 2025, a peek at the books I can’t wait to read in 2026, and plenty of delightfully silly book awards.
🎶🥂Meet me at midnight…
Hi Book Lovers,
It’s that magical time of year where we pop the bubbly and celebrate all the books that stole our attention—and our hearts—in 2025. And yes, this is one of my favorite newsletters to write all year. There is something so fun about looking back at the stories that completely had us in a chokehold, and even better, seeing how much overlap there is between what you loved and what I couldn’t stop talking about.
Some picks were no-brainers (Carley Fortune and Annabel Monaghan, I see you and I thank you), but I was genuinely delighted by how many new-to-me authors showed up. Digging through your favorites, your comments, and your very passionate opinions was an absolute joy—and only added fuel to my ever-growing TBR. As if it needed the help…
So cheers to a year spent screenshotting quotes at 2 a.m., falling way too hard for male leads who don’t exist, and generally losing all sense of perspective. Inside you’ll find my 2025 reading stats, my favorites, your favorites, our book club’s top picks, the STBR Awards—crowning the swooniest MMCs, the books that earned every chili pepper rating, and the characters I can’t stop thinking about—and a generous helping of other nonsense my Kindle has quietly judged me for. If you read with me this year, none of this will surprise you. If you didn’t…welcome!
Here, we read for fun (and we don’t feel guilty about it!!)
My 2025 Reading Stats (An Extremely Serious Analysis)…
In 2025, I read 97 books across 36,771 pages, a number that looks productive on paper but really just confirms how emotionally invested I was in fictional people this year.
76.14% of those books were audiobooks (or audio + physical tandem reads)
55.68% of my reads were romance, a statistic that surprises absolutely no one.
Enemies-to-lovers (27.27%) led the pack, proving I love tension, banter, and two people pretending they don’t care until they very clearly do.
Grumpy × sunshine (22.73%) followed closely behind, because I will always fall for an emotionally guarded man being slowly softened.
Fake dating (15.91%) came in strong, confirming that I will never get tired of watching people lie to everyone - including themselves.
Small-town romance (14.77%) rounded it out, which explains my soft spot for quirky and lovable side characters, charming settings, and town hall meetings chaotic enough to rival Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow.
Taking all of this into account, my official reading age is 15 going on 35.
Now I want to know—what’s yours?What’s Your Reading Age?
(Vote in the poll below 👇)
05 – You like your plots simple and your characters lovable
15 – Your reading life is emotionally volatile and chaotic
25 – You think every plot twist is about you (spoiler: it’s not)
35 – You’re firmly in your sexy reading era
95 – You’re an old soul with very specific bookish rituals no one understands
My Favorites of 2025
Choosing favorites feels a little illegal, but here we are. These are the books that I couldn’t stop thinking about, wouldn’t shut up about, and immediately started recommending to anyone who would listen. These are books I read this year and were not necessarily released this year.
Three wildly different fiction books, all captivated me.
My Friends by Frederik Backman
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
A new-to-me genre! I always assumed historical fiction wasn’t for me—too stuffy, too serious, maybe meant for a different stage of life. Turns out I love it. And yes, I’m fully aware this might mean I’ve reached that stage of life…
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Names by Florence Knapp
This category was painful to narrow down to just three, so naturally I’m already planning a Top 10 Romances of 2025 list. These are the three that made me feel the most—consider them the highest on the butterfly meter.
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
This is consistently the hardest category for me because I’m very difficult to surprise with a plot twist. And yet, I still love the genre—and all three of these very different books won me over.
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Pictures of You by Emma Grey
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Another category that was painfully hard to narrow down. These are the final three that rose to the top of my list—yes, even beating out Brimstone.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
I’d forgotten how much I love a good dystopian read, and this year I found myself reaching for them again and again. I’m obsessed with all three and have no plans to stop aggressively recommending them.
Conform by Ariel Sullivan
The Compound by Aisling Rawle
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
I loved too many romance books this year, so naturally I created an extra-spicy category as a completely valid loophole.
Wild Card by Elsie Silver
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
STBR Favorites of 2025
I asked the STBR Book Lovers on Instagram to share their favorite reads of 2025. Below are the top ten books released this year, along with the top ten backlist favorites (titles released in prior years).
Who Voted?
Mostly women: 99.0% of respondents identify as female; 0.9% as male; 0.1% as non-binary.
And millennial women were among the most voters. Participant age splits out as follows:
18 – 24: 1.0%
25 – 34: 19.8%
35 – 44: 44.3%
45 – 54: 22.4%
55 – 64: 9.8%
65+: 2.6%
Top 10 New Releases
10. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
9. First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
8. What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
7. The Favorites by Layne Fargo
6. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
5. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
4. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
3. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
2. My Friends by Frederik Backman
1. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
7 of the STBR Book Lovers Top Ten also made it on my own personal favorites list!
Top 10 Backlist
10. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
9. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
8. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
7. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
6. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
5. The Wedding People by Allison Espach
4. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
3. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
1. The Women by Kristin Hannah
I see many readers are quickly reading books before screen adaptations are released!
Your Favorite Dreamcast
This might be my favorite section for entirely obvious reasons. I looked back at all of our 2025 dream casts and rounded up the five most popular picks for male leads.
5. Milo Ventimiglia
4. Glen Powell
3. Brendan Sklenar
2. Henry Cavill
1. Theo James
Theo James de-throned Henry this year in our STBR dreamcasts!
Romance Book Club Favorites
Our book club is romance-only, so I asked the group to share their favorite romance of 2025. I’ll admit—this was my first time posting an open prompt instead of a poll, and it disappeared a little faster than expected. Live and learn! Still, here are the romances that our book club loved!
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Because someone has to hand out the accolades that truly matter. I had the most fun looking back on my favorite scenes and quotes for this one. For reasons I can’t fully explain, I was blasting Murder on the Dancefloor while writing this (I think the word dancefloor convinced me it was very New Year’s Eve coded). Anyway, for your reading pleasure…
🔥Steamiest MMC
Charlie Florek - One Golden Summer
Charming and so damn cocky. Mentally I’m on a yellow speedboat with him.
😤 Grumpiest MMC
The Guardian - Shield of Sparrows
Brooding, intense… and somehow irresistible. He had me at “My Queen”
💚Best Green Flag Book Boyfriend
Xavier- Say You’ll Remember Me
Looks like Rhysand (ACOTAR), saves animals, will fly across the country for you. Can. Do. No. Wrong.
🌶️Hotter Than Expected
Thought the age gap would be tricky… turns out, very, very hot.
🦋 Swooniest Scene
Jack Bennett - Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Who knew blocking scenes could be sexy as hell? Apparently, Sarah Adams did.
👀 The Heartthrob Side Character
Carrion Swift - Brimstone
Obsessed. Need a full side series, please.
😏 The Tease Award
Charlie Florek — One Golden Summer
Flirting and banter done to absolute perfection. Yes, him again. Sorry not sorry.
🖤 Ride or Die Character
Ridoc “Good thing I f*ck like a third” Gamlyn - Fourth Wing Series (Onyx Storm)
I need him in my life. Don’t do me dirty RY.
🍹The Girls’ Girl
Lenny - Promise Me Sunshine
I just want to grab margaritas with her and be best friends.
🎉Most Fun Book
Pure steamy joy, zero regrets!
💔 The Heartbreaker
Frank - Broken Country
My chest still aches.
💬 Favorite Quote
“I love you and I believe in you” – My Friends
✨The Quote That Made My Heart Flutter
“I think you’re the magic” – First Time Caller
Tell me in the comments, who would you give these awards to—and where am I completely wrong?
Looking ahead to 2026, there’s plenty to be excited about—even if a few of our favorite authors are keeping us guessing. As of now, Emily Henry hasn’t officially announced her next book (though she has one more book left on her contract so optimism feels reasonable), and Ali Hazelwood has said she doesn’t have a new release planned. That said, last year she surprised us all more than once, so I’m choosing to stay cautiously hopeful. Sarah J. Maas could (I beg) release the next book in the ACOTAR series…I’m typing it out, sending it into the universe, and hoping manifestation is real.
On the bright side, Sarah Adams readers don’t have to wait at all—In Your Dreams, originally slated for 2026, was happily bumped up to a December 30 release. Below you’ll find the 2026 books I’m personally keeping an eye on, along with the titles you told me you’re most excited about, in no particular order.
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
And Now Back to You by B.K. Borison
Rites of Starling by Devney Perry
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
My Husbands Wife by Alice Feeney
The Shippers by Katherine Center
The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams *Out now
Fever Dream by Elsie Silver
The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig
So let’s raise one last glass to 2025—to the books that kept us company, the fictional men who raised the bar, and the reading choices we stand by proudly. Thank you for reading with me, recommending wildly, disagreeing respectfully, and generally getting it. Here’s to another year of swoony MMCs, unhinged town meetings, slow burns that test our patience, and stories that make us feel something.
Cheers to 2026.
Lovely post and a great overview of your 2025 reading life!! I particularly love the STBR Awards and Ridoc is on there!!
Can I be both 15 and 35?! 🤣