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Every book I read in 2025 that got me out of my reading slump
30
items I love reading and collecting books but I hadn’t read much more than a handful of books since becoming a mom. This year I wanted to change that - I read 30 books this year!
Sections
9
Dungeon Crawler Carl Series
ACOTAR
The Empyrean Series
Kindred’s Curse Saga
Non-fiction
Stand alone fiction
Dungeon Crawler Carl Series
First book in the series. Absolutely a fun time. The books only get better as the world expands.
Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl Series #1)|Hardcover
Book 2 in this series! I could not put them down at this point!
Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl #2)|Hardcover
Book 3! Carl and Donut are my new favorite duo. Just trust me on this and READ THIS SERIES.
The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Dungeon Crawler ...
Book 4! Things are getting wild and the stakes are high!
The Gate of the Feral Gods (Dungeon Crawler Carl #4)|Hardcover
Book 5 of this series! I love that we get to see the crawlers fight back in this one! One of my favorites from this series.
The Butcher's Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl Series #5)|Hardcover
Book 6 of this series! Okay the premise of this one is so unique and is both gut wrenching AND a good time.
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #6)|Hardcover
Book 7 in this series! This is an EPIC story with so much happening all at once. This is my favorite one yet.
This Inevitable Ruin (Dungeon Crawler Carl #7)|Hardcover
ACOTAR
I caught up on the ACOTAR books I had not read yet. This was the first book I read this year and it wasn’t a great start. It’s a novella and not a ton happened in the story. But it is important to character growth in the series overall so in the end ...
A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series)|Paperback
This is the most recent published story in the ACOTAR series and it surprisingly had me *sobbing* during the main character’s breakdown in the middle of the forest. I love a metal health journey in the middle of a Romantasy plot.
A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #4)|Hardcover
The Empyrean Series
I joined a book club and this was the first series we talked about. I had to catch up to them quick before the third book came out, so it’s a good things these books are a vibe! I absolutely loved each book and can’t wait for more!
Fourth Wing|Special
2nd in the series and it’s full of betrayal and miscommunication and grief. It’s a beautiful to sequel to build upon the story of dragon riders who don’t know yet where their loyalty should lie.
Iron Flame (Wing and Claw Collection)|Special
3rd book in the series. This one is more complex because the world expands. There’s many more new characters and dynamics and unanswered questions to deal with. If you can’t stand cliffhangers you’re gonna want to wait to read this one until the next...
Onyx Storm (Wing and Claw Collection)|Special
Kindred’s Curse Saga
Okayyy this series SURPRISED me in the best way. The FMC can be frustrating in her denial sometimes but the MMC is *perfect* and the story is so unique.
Spark of the Everflame: A Novel|Paperback
Book 2 in this series. Things escalate quickly at this point in the series. You get to know some new characters while the story deepens and the lines declaring who is right and wrong begin to blur
Glow of the Everflame: A Novel|Paperback
Book 3 in the series. YES. this one is my favorite by far because you get to explore so many new places in this world and meet the most interesting characters! There is so much action that it can feel like hope is lost now than once for these charact...
Heat of the Everflame: A Novel|Paperback
Non-fiction
FOR THE GIRLIES: THIS IS A MUST READ. I’ve read this twice this year and I plan to read it again really soon. It’s such a good book with practical wisdom and insights that changed the way I think about how I plan each season of my life.
The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius
If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you will love this. Only a piece of it is about Kelly’s time on the show but it’s a beautiful look into her life and her love of art and the people around her.
The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir|Hardcover
This book is probably on most lists this year and it deserves to be. It is insightful and got me thinking about my choices and relationships in a way I never have before.
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About|Hardcover
Stand alone fiction
Tbh I wasn’t sure I liked this book at ALL when I started it. The narrator has a very dry and isolated view of the world. And at first it was off putting. But as I kept reading, I understood her strange choices and thought patterns because I began to...
Rules for Visiting: A Novel|Paperback
This one surprised me. I haven’t read many retellings or books about mythology but this one pulled me in right from the start. It’s the story of the Trojan War entirely from the perspective of the women of the story. The writing is beautiful and capt...
A Thousand Ships: A Novel by Natalie Haynes, Paperback
MY FAVORITE READ THIS YEAR. This one had me in a chokehold. I was fully obsessed with this one and thought of little else for weeks after I finished it. I don’t even want to tell you much more because you need to read it for yourself. Go into it blin...
Blood Over Bright Haven: A Novel|Paperback
Oh my goodness. This is a heartwarmingly beautiful story about an octopus and the humans he knew in his short life. It sounds strange but if you love a good story about love and loss, you will love this one.
Remarkably Bright Creatures|Paperback
This was nothing like I thought it would be but I loved it. It’s flawed and doesn’t really tackle the trauma these characters endure in the way it should but it was a kind of cozy read and definitely worth picking up.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay (Reese's Book Club)|Hardcover
A story of life and love with NASA and space exploration in the 70s-80s as the backdrop?! Whew. This one will absolutely enthrall you.
Atmosphere: A Love Story (GMA Book Club Pick)|BN Exclusive
Thrillers
Thrillers are palate cleansers for me. Quick reads that pull me in because my mind LOVES a good puzzle to solve. This book (and its sequel) were exactly that for me. If you’re a true crime or thriller junkie, you’ll love this one.
The Perfect Marriage|Hardcover
Here’s the sequel to the perfect marriage and it honestly did not disappoint. I loved every second of it. And while the direction of it felt predictable, I was still surprised by a few twists and turns. Does anyone else use thrillers as pallet cleans...
The Perfect Divorce|Hardcover
An excellent psychological thriller that will keep you guessing! It was the perfect quick read between more epic books.
Count My Lies (GMA Book Club Pick)|Hardcover
No thanks
Books I didn’t vibe with
Not every book is for everybody and this one is not for me. I’ve seen this series listed as a favorite for many but I just can’t keep reading after this one. I found the characters to be shallow and the story to be kinda boring. I was rooting for no ...
Gild|Paperback
Honestly… I hated this one. I know many others that LOVED IT but for me it did not hit the way I wanted it to. Maybe the movie will be better?!
Verity|Paperback
Fae & Alchemy Series
Another book club pick that surprised me in the best way! I was avoiding this book because all the hype had me suspicious. But I was fully wrong for waiting. This is an action packed story with all your favorite fantasy tropes but told in new ways. I...
Quicksilver (Deluxe Limited Edition)|Special