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My Top Reads of 2025
37
items A year shaped by tension, chemistry, and stories that refused to let go. This list is a mix of comfort rereads and unforgettable first loves, spanning swoony sports romances, sharp enemies-to-lovers banter, dark and forbidden pulls, and richly addict...
Sections
5
First in Series
Sports Romance
Dark/Taboo Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Bonus: Pretty Special Editions I Think Everyone Needs to See
First in Series
This section highlights the series that kept me hooked all year — the comfort rereads, the chaotic favorites, the darkly addictive romances, and the cozy small-town escapes. These are the worlds I kept slipping back into, filled with slow-burn tensio...
A comfort-reread that feels like slipping back into a world full of found-family warmth, slow-burn magic, and bonds that pull you in all over again. Cozy, addictive, and just as enchanting the second time around.
The Bonds That Tie — J. Bree
A charming, small-street romance with cozy humor, soft chemistry, and the perfect touch of neighborhood chaos. Warm, easy to sink into, and the kind of read that feels like a comfort blanket with a wink.
The C*ck Down the Block — Amy Award
A moody, cozy paranormal romance wrapped in Vegas nights and whispered secrets—immortality meets quiet longing, and it’s hauntingly comforting. Perfect for midnight reading when you want something mysterious but gentle on the heart.
Bitten by Death — Holly Roberds
A myth-touched comfort reread that feels like sinking back into velvet darkness and slow-burn tension. Cozy, addictive, and lush — the kind of Hades & Persephone retelling that wraps around you like warm night air.
A Touch of Darkness — Scarlett St. Clair
A dark-heart reread that still hits — tangled emotions, raw edges, and that pull you can’t shake off. Rough around the edges, deep in angst and heat… and impossibly hard to put down.
Hate — Tate James
A gloriously unhinged, dark-humored romance where feral banter meets unexpectedly soft devotion. It’s morbidly funny, knife-sharp, and secretly tender — the perfect blend of chaos, chemistry, and comfort in the darkest corners.
The Butcher and the Blackbird — Brynne Weaver
A wickedly fun paranormal tease. All smirks, sharp fangs, and that “I shouldn’t want him” tension that only gets hotter. Flirty danger, addictive banter, and a vampire neighbor who is absolutely trouble in the most delicious way.
Hot Vampire Next Door - Nikki St Crowe
A soft, breath stealing romance filled with coastal nights, aching hearts, and that slow, steady love that feels like sunrise after a storm. Warm, emotional, and deeply comforting; the kind of story that wraps around you and stays with you, quiet but...
Say You Swear — Megan Brady
A playful and heartfelt sports romance filled with chaotic fangirl energy, sharp banter, and slow-building chemistry that feels warm and electric at the same time. It is flirty, fun, and wonderfully swoony in that signature Tessa Bailey way.
Fangirl Down - Tessa Bailey
A comforting small-town romance full of gentle longing, cozy charm, and the kind of slow burn love that feels like coming home. Warm, hopeful, and quietly romantic; the kind of read that wraps you in softness and leaves you smiling.
Always Mine - Laura Pavlov
Sports Romance
A collection of stories filled with competitive heat, playful banter, and slow-building chemistry. These romances mix athletic intensity with soft, heart-thudding moments, creating the kind of swoony escapes that feel both fun and addictive.
A swoony sports romance with high-stakes chemistry, slow-burn tension, and enough heart to keep you hooked all the way through. It’s flirty, emotionally charged, and perfect for when you want romance with a kick and a little adrenaline.
Deep End — Ali Hazelwood
A spicy, puck-filled romance that balances athletic intensity, slow-burn tension, and the kind of fierce attraction that feels electric. Rough edges kissed by softness, sizzling chemistry on the ice — a perfect mix of grit, heat, and heart.
The Pucking Coach's Daughter — S. Massery
A slow-burn masterpiece where tension builds in patient glances, silent walls, and careful steps toward trust. Emotional, grounded, and deeply satisfying — like the perfect, heart-softening payoff after a long game.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me — Mariana Zapata
A soft, charming friends to lovers sports romance filled with flirty moments, quiet longing, and the cutest slow-burn spark. It feels bright and heartwarming with just the right mix of humor, chemistry, and athlete-next-door sweetness.
The Cheat Sheet — Sarah Adams
A playful and steamy hockey romance filled with sharp banter, big chemistry, and all the fun chaos of falling for someone who shouldn’t feel so irresistible. Bold, fast-paced, and addictive in the best way, with just enough heart to make the heat hit...
Body Check — Elle Kennedy
A coming-of-age sports romance filled with independence, quiet confidence, and an easy, slow-building attraction. It feels like late nights, new cities, and discovering who you are when no one else is watching. Warm, romantic, and gently empowering.
Girl Abroad — Elle Kennedy
A dynamic sports romance that turns rivalry into irresistible chemistry. Sharp competition and heated tension evolve into something deeper and sweeter, with characters who push each other hard on and off the field. It feels bold, playful, and totally...
The Kennedy Rule — K.C. Carmichael
Dark/Taboo Romance
Stories that slip into shadow, blending danger, longing, and forbidden heat. These books carry sharp tension and emotional depth, perfect for when you want romance with a darker, irresistible pull.
Dark, moody, and seductively atmospheric — this romance dives into gothic energy, emotional shadows, and slow-burn heat that grips you. It feels like a midnight whisper in candlelight: beguiling, intense, and deeply intoxicating.
Gothikana — RuNyx
A dark, haunting romance that feels like slow‑burn obsession wrapped in secrets and danger. Raw emotion, intense atmosphere, and a story that lingers long after the last page. It is quiet, heavy, and strangely magnetic.
The Five — Lily White
A tense and addictive forbidden romance filled with slow-building heat, sharp intensity, and that pull toward someone you know you should resist. Dark, emotional, and gripping in a way that keeps you turning pages, it delivers temptation wrapped in d...
Two Wrongs — Kimberly Carrillo
Slow‑burn tension wrapped in a risky bargain that feels both intoxicating and impossible to ignore. Dark heat, sharp intensity, and the constant pull of something you know you should resist. It is addictive, emotional, and holds you in that delicious...
The Deal Dilemma — Meagan Brandy
A beautifully heavy romance shaped by longing, trauma, and the slow healing that only love can unravel. Deep, aching emotion woven through dark edges and tender moments. Haunting, intimate, and quietly devastating in the best way.
The Fabric of Our Souls — K.M. Moronova
A dark, gripping romance that feels more like a slow‑burn thriller with raw emotion and a twist that hits hard. Tense, haunting, and impossible to ignore, it pulls you deeper with every letter and keeps you on edge until the end. Heads up that it lea...
Pen Pal — J.T. Geissinger
A bold, addictive forbidden romance with slow‑burn tension and rise‑and‑fall emotion. Quiet moments in a shared house turn electric, with stolen glances, dangerous longing, and a pull that feels impossible to resist. Deeply captivating, intense, and ...
Birthday Girl — Penelope Douglas
Enemies to Lovers
My favorite kind of chaos. These are the stories where sparks fly before feelings do, where sharp banter turns into slow-burn tension, and where hate softens into something irresistible. Filled with clash and chemistry, this section is for the romanc...
A sparkling enemies-to-lovers romance full of sharp banter, office tension, and that delicious moment when dislike turns into something unexpectedly warm. Playful, witty, and utterly addictive, it’s the kind of story where every glance feels electric...
The Hating Game — Sally Thorne
A brilliant mix of sharp chemistry and emotional depth that moves from push-and-pull tension toward something tender and undeniable. Smart, flirty, and full of cozy heart, it combines humorous unease with the warmth of a connection that blossoms in t...
Bride — Ali Hazelwood
A playful and steamy contemporary romance where forced proximity and sharp banter slowly thaw walls built around love and lust. Two ex-acquaintances agreeing to pretend to be a couple in a sleep study find that sharing a bed sparks tension that is cl...
Bed Chemistry — Elizabeth McKenzie
A clever and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance where professional rivalry slowly melts into something much more irresistible. Sharp wit and awkward tension blend with genuine heart, creating a story that feels both fun and deeply satisfying.
Academic Affair — Jodi McAlister
A sharp, bookish enemies-to-lovers romance filled with witty banter, reluctant attraction, and soft moments hiding beneath all the sarcasm. Smart, cozy, and emotionally satisfying, it’s a love story that celebrates sharp edges, big feelings, and find...
Book Lovers — Emily Henry
A clever and heart-warming enemies-to-lovers romance with sharp chemistry, playful science flair, and emotional depth. Quick banter and competitive sparks give way to slow-burn warmth, making this feel both witty and deeply satisfying.
Love on the Brain — Ali Hazelwood
A raw and intense slow-burn romance that starts with sharp words and distant letters and grows into something unexpected and deep. Emotional, edgy, and beautifully imperfect, it pulls you in with tension, vulnerability, and that unforgettable connect...
Punk 57 — Penelope Douglas
A delightfully grumpy-to-soft holiday romance that starts with sharp edges and festive tension and melts into something warm and irresistible. It feels playful, cozy, and full of that Christmas magic where scowls turn into smiles and chilly hearts fi...
Resting Scrooge Face - Meghan Quinn
Bonus: Pretty Special Editions I Think Everyone Needs to See
A little bonus corner just for the books that are as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. These special editions are pure eye candy, from sprayed edges to stunning covers, and they make every shelf feel extra magical. Perfect for reade...
A delightfully quirky and heart-felt romance with a playful supernatural twist, wrapped in a cover that’s as charming as its story. Warm, witty, and just a little mischievous, this special edition deserves a spot where you can admire both its story a...
My Funny Demon Valentine — Aurora Ascher
A cozy and charming small-town romance wrapped in a truly lovely edition with designed edges, spot gloss, and chapter art that makes each turn of the page feel special. Full of heart, humor, and the feel-good warmth of second chances, it’s the kind o...
Story of My Life (Deluxe Edition) — Lucy Score
A breathtaking collector’s set that transforms an already beloved series into a treasure you’ll want to display with pride. With unique Velaris-themed dust jackets, printed page accents, and officially licensed design elements, this edition turns eve...
Velaris × ACOTAR Special Edition Box Set
A breathtaking collector’s edition that transforms an evocative fantasy into an artful keepsake. With deluxe touches like exclusive cover design and limited-run presentation, this edition feels as rare and compelling as the myths it explores. A must-...
The Book of Azrael: Deluxe Limited Edition
A breathtaking collector-worthy edition of a modern classic, where the haunting beauty of Addie’s story is enriched with illustrations that make every page feel like a work of art. Elegant, emotional, and deeply unforgettable, this edition turns the ...
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Illustrated