2025 was the year I entered my book girl era. I read a little to zero books yearly in the past, and it was one of my major goals to read 30 books this year. And guess what? I read 37! Welcome to my bookish wrapped – a fun, carefree blog post no one asked for, but you are getting.
Let’s get into my reading stats, 6-star books, and DNF list (yup, there will be controversy), and let me know your favorite book of 2025.
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Bookish Wrapped At A Glance
My 2025 reading vibe: sleep-deprived. I channeled my inner bibliophile, and she took over my life. Not complaining though. Here is my year at a glance:
- Total books read: 37
- Most read genre: Romance
- Most read author: Ali Hazelwood
- Favorite author: Jennifer Hartmann
- Favorite book: The Wolf King & The Night Prince
- Longest book: Redeeming 6
- Shortest book: Hot For Slayer
- Average star rating: 4.25 (I am easily entertained)
- Best month: April
- Worst month: November with zero reads (I blame it on my Wolf King slump)
My Top 10 Books Of The Year
This was not easy. I tried ranking them, but failed miserably. So, in no particular order, here are my top 10 reads of the year.
My favorite reads by far! I went on a rollercoaster ride that left me whiplashed.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- This is my favorite love triangle since The Vampire Diaries. The yearning and angst will demolish you. Don’t get me started on the world-building and the lore. It was a work of art. Oh, and Blake…
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “Let me have you. Just once. Please.” Iykyk.
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Outlander, but make it Scottish werewolves.
Bonus points because this is the prettiest cover I’ve ever seen.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- I adored the characters and the world. Rune and Gideon are one of my favorite book couples. I also loved the tension between them without being overly spicy.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “You are not the things that happened to you.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Dark Academia… but accessorized with romantic tension and dramatic cloaks.
I am not a sports fan, least of all rugby. But this story had me in a chokehold for months! Chloe Walsh, you made me cry at 2 am too many times this year.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- The story was raw and real. Also, Johnny Kavanaugh should be the blueprint for all fictional and real-life men. I am a sucker for a tear-jerker, and this was it.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “For keeps?” “For keeps.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- A complicated rugby boy hits a soft-spoken girl with a rugby ball and then keeps her.
I am a Joey stan. This man had it rough and deserves a break.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- Joey’s life experience felt immersive. His emotions felt valid, his guilt heartbreaking, and his redemption arc realistic. Also, Edel and Joey are a good time.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “Are you going to marry her?” “If that’s what she wants.” “What do you want?” “Her.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Broken boy who cannot get rid of a hardheaded and good-hearted girl.
If I had to rank my top 10, this might get 2nd or 3rd place.
- WHY IT GOT ME IN A CHOKEHOLD:
- The word ‘slapped’ felt wrong here. This book wasn’t just a cinematic masterpiece where two people trauma-bonded; it was how it played out post-trauma – the co-dependency and guilt. There are no words to describe this book.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “Look at me, Cora. Keep your eyes on me. Listen to my voice.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Dark, messy feelings that somehow end up making you weirdly hopeful.
Ali’s writing style is unmatched. She makes me laugh out loud and curl my toes.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- The angst and yearning between these rivals is something to experience. It is also the book with one of my favorite love confessions.
- THE BEST LOVE CONFESSION:
- “Okay, then. Honesty.” He tilts my face backward, lips brushing against my ears. “I want you, Elsie. All the time. I think of you. All. The. F*ing. Time. I’m distracted. I’m shit at work. And my first instinct, the very first time I saw you, was to run away. Because I knew that if we’d start doing this, we would never stop. And that’s exactly how it is. There is no universe in which I’m going to let you go. I want to be with you, on you, every second of every day. I think—I dream of crazy things. I want you to marry me tomorrow so you can go on my health insurance. I want to lock you in my room for a couple of weeks. I want to buy groceries based on what you like. I want to play it cool, like I’m attracted to you and not obsessed out of my mind, but that’s not where I’m at. Not at all. And I need you to keep us in check. I need you to pace us, because wherever it is that we’re going . . . I’m here. I’m already right here.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Adorable nerd chaos meets quiet, steady man who actually communicates.
I am always looking for a good vampire/wolf book (minus the cringe), and this one delivered! I mean – Lowe Moreland…
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- Bride has an interesting and original take on supernatural vs modern human life. The political world-building was creative and worked. The story itself was unique and refreshing.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “Her presence soothes him more than a full-moon run.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Fantasy romance but with the energy of a girl who’s just trying to survive her Tuesday.
I consider changing June First’s rating to a 5-star daily. I called my husband at midnight, sobbing over this book.
- WHY IT SLAPPED:
- First of all, it is forbidden love – one of my favorite tropes. June First has extreme yearning, and don’t get me started on the emotional scenes that wrecked me. Yup, I am changing this to a 5-star.
- THE QUOTE I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT:
- “If my father hadn’t murdered my mother, I would still just be the neighbor boy, and she would be the girl next door. Instead, he branded us with a label; forced me into something twisted. He turned the only girl I’ve ever wanted into the only girl I can never have.”
- THE VIBE CATEGORY:
- Childhood-friends-to-soulmates with a side of emotional turbulence.
The DNF List
Oof, this is gonna be harsh. I hate not finishing a book, but sometimes I just can’t get myself to complete it. I DNF’d 6 books this year… Disclaimer: No hate to these books or authors, they just weren’t my cup of tea. Let’s get into my bookish wrapped DNFs:
- Done & Dusted by Lyla Sage – I heavily disliked the spice.
- The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black – Everyone annoyed me except for Gavriel.
- Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy – Ugh, I wanted to love this so badly! Noah might be one of my favorite MMCs, but I just couldn’t take the rest of the characters…
- Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood – I think this was a ‘right book at the wrong time’ case.
- Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – Yes, this hurt me as much as it hurts you. I had such high hopes for this book, and I couldn’t do it. I think the writing and pacing were not my cup of tea. But I will try and re-read it next year.
- Married with Malice by Cora Brent – I struggle with mafia books in general. It is one of my favorite sub-genres; however, I struggle to find books I like. As for Married with Malice, I think they got together too quickly, and it felt like all their problems were something of the past very early on.
My Complete 2025 Reading List
Here are the 37 books I read with their ratings (yes, I am easily entertained):
- Paradys by Leon van Nierop – 3.5 stars
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros – 5 stars (mostly because it is the book that got me into reading this year)
- My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine – 2.5 stars
- Wild Love by Elsie Silver – 3.5 stars
- Bride by Ali Hazelwood – 5 stars
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood – 4.25 stars
- Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – 5 stars
- Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood – 3.5 stars
- Hot For Slayer by Ali Hazelwood – 4 stars
- Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh – 5 stars
- Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh – 5 stars
- Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh – 5 stars
- Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh – 5 stars
- The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori – 3 stars
- The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden – 4.5 stars
- The Inmate by Freida McFadden – 4 stars
- Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann – 6 stars
- Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann – 4.5 stars
- June First by Jennifer Hartmann – 5 stars
- Older by Jennifer Hartmann – 3.5 stars
- The Bodyguard by Katherine Center – 4.5 stars
- Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – 4.5 stars
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black – 3.75 stars
- The Wicked King by Holly Blac – 3.75 stars
- The Queen of Nothing by Holly Blac – 3.75 stars
- Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli – 5 stars
- Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli – 4.75 stars
- Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan – 4.25 stars
- Unwanted by Mia Sheridan – 4.25 stars
- The Bride by Julie Garwood – 3.75 stars
- The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells – 3.75 stars
- Faking Ms. Right by Claire Kingsley – 3.75 stars
- The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman – 6 stars
- The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman – 6 stars
- A Bargain so Bloody by Vasilisa Drake – 4 stars
- Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes – 3 stars
- If We Disappear Here by M Hayes – 4.5 stars
Conclusion
Whether you read one book or one hundred books, I am proud of you! Let me know your 2026 reading goal in the comments. I’m aiming for 40 books.
That’s my 2025 bookish wrapped! I hope you enjoyed.
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Have a great day wherever you are in the world, and happy New Year!
Love, Steph ♥
