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2025 Five Star Reads
11
items I've read over 100 books so far in 2025, and these were my favorites! I'm very, VERY picky with what books I rate five stars, so these truly are the best of the best (in my opinion).
Sections
4
Sci-fi/fantasy
Romance
General fiction
Nonfiction
Sci-fi/fantasy
I fell in a Dungeon Crawler Carl hole at the beginning of the year and didn't resurface until I'd reached the (current) last book in the series. What starts out as a silly/goofy/fun sci-fi series evolves into what I think is an incredible critique of...
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
This is book 2 in the Liveship Trader's Trilogy. I recommend the whole trilogy, but book two was my favorite! I also recommend that you check out Hobb's first trilogy, the Farseer Trilogy before this one.
Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
Another reread for me, and the best of the series in my opinion! This is peak YA dystopia, and the best of that genre in my opinion.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Romance
This was a reread for me, and it's one of my favorite romances of all time! The characters and the banter are absolutely incredible. Fair warning: Heyer writes historically accurate regency romances, which means 1) No spice, and 2) Sometimes the roma...
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
Ali Hazelwood's books aren't that deep, but for some reason they're completely addictive to me! This is one of the best light, popcorn romances I've ever read, it's just a blast.
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
This is my favorite romantasy I've ever read, and to be honest it's not even close. I love that the couple are in their 30s, and this book made me fully obsessed with T Kingfisher.
Swordheart by T Kingfisher
General fiction
This is an absolutely devastating book. It follows a girl growing up in the 1950s as the daughter of a Cherokee man and a white woman, with an unflinching depiction of the racism she suffers. This is incredibly well written- I would absolutely check ...
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
I love all of Emily Henry's books, and this is no exception! I will say that unlike her other books, this is not a pure romance- it's more literary fiction with a romance subplot. I love the switch up, and I think it's absolutely incredible.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
This was my first Fredrik Backman and I now get the hype. I am fully obsessed. His writing style is absolutely immaculate, and the way he uses words is just mesmerizing.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Nonfiction
An absolutely stunning biography about a woman who was pivotal in the fight for women's rights. Kate Moore's writing style is extremely accessible, and as someone that rarely enjoys non fiction I loved this one.
The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Shocking Story of a Woman Who Dared to Fight Back by Kate Moore
You should read this book if 1) You enjoy essay collections, 2) Love cats, or 3) Are from Tucson. I'm all three, so I loved it.
Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson