Best of 2025
A list of my favourite books of the year!
As always, this list is an opinion list and not even a definitive one as my feelings on what I read changes constantly. These books are less to do with what rating I gave them, and more to do with the experience I had while reading them and how that experience has stuck throughout the year.
01
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
A standalone fantasy that gives complex world-building, a unique magic system, thoughtful character development and an epic ending that gut punches you. Truly an outstanding novel that has so many layers to it and refuses to let you forget what happened here.
02
Story of a Murder by Hallie Rubenhold
My new obsession is reading Hallie Rubenhold books. She's incredible at giving a voice to the women in history who have been overlooked and wronged by time. This latest novel is another fascinating read that flips the narrative on a murderer who was not particularly clever or justified in his crimes, though sickeningly he was romanticised even in his own lifetime.
03
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
Hmm, how to describe this one. Well, it's bloody hilarious and although set in Ancient Greece, it's extremely Irish. It's also extremely human and goes into really dark topics but not in a lecturing kind of way. It's just a beautiful read that will have you smiling throughout and make you reflective about humanity in the least pretentious way possible.
04
The Strength of the Few by James Islington
Although The Will of the Many was my top read of last year, I didn't think I would put this on in my top 10 even as this was released quite late in the year and I was so damn confused at the start. But by the end I was yet again blown away with the world building and feeling all the feels for the characters. This is fantasy done masterfully.
05
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
This reads like a come-to-life theatre production. It has prison escapes, bandits, treasure, duals, assassinations, love affairs, long lost kids... And the way people got their comeuppance! Everything was written as if Dumas was putting on a show just for you - and you can believe I was sitting right in the front row with my popcorn.
06
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
Have you ever bought a book you knew you would give 5 stars, only to... not read it? Yeah, that was me with this book but I was determined to get to it this year and thankfully I did because - shocker - I gave it 5 stars. This is a stunning book. I was wrecked in the first 100 pages. If you loved In Memoriam or The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, you have to pick this up.
07
The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
Yep, she made the list twice because damn, Rubenhold can pull you into history and completely change your thinking of an even you thought you knew about. She does it with Jack the Ripper here, focusing on his victims and showing how society let these women down long before they met their murderer.
08
Flesh by David Szalay
What I loved about this was how human the experience was. I felt like I was inside this characters' brain. Living his life. That's what I want my fiction to be. Something real and human and I don't care what gender or worldview that comes from as long as it says something and makes me feel something. Flesh does that, right down to its ending, haunting line.
09
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Another Booker Prize winner! Not my usual picks, but I did love this one as well. A book that's short and yet reads long as it kind of felt like I was meditating throughout. And maybe that doesn't sound appealing but I really loved how mindful it made me. It's a beautifully poetic novel that encourages you to both look inside and outside of yourself.
10
To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth
This series! If you want fantasy and folklore and found family but you don't want the trillion epic page count - this is the one. I really loved the uniqueness of When Among Crows, the vibes and characters are just excellent. But the sequel... it got me obsessed. These novellas are proof that a book doesn't need to be a brick to take you on an epic journey.
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