Top 10 Books of 2025
Another year has passed. And with another year comes new books. Welcome to my blog post on my top 10 books from 2025. If I had to pick my favorite, I would choose Starflower by Anne Elisableth Stengl. Otherwise, the books are in no particular order. (You may notice some books have higher star ratings than others and think this is a contradiction. It’s not. I chose books that stood out to me the most, whether for their unique prose, or because they resonated with me.) So without further adieu, let’s dive in.
Starflower by Anne Elisableth Stengl
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Black Dogs are on the hunt. But who is their prey?
I love the fairytale style and romance of this book so much! Read my book review here.
Darkened by Crystal D. Grant
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5)
They call him the Dark Steward. But what side will he fight for?
This is the last book in the Gateway Trilogy, a medieval fantasy romance. The finish of this glorious trilogy felt a little bit like the Lord of the Rings. I enjoyed the closing of several character arcs and the renewing of the world. Read my review here.
A Study of Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only teachers know what really happens at a magic school…
This was my first time reading dark academia. I have only good things to say.
Read my review here.
Fifth Fjord by Isabel Marie
⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5)
Enter the school where only the strongest survive.
This was my second time reading dark academia. I was impressed by this young writer’s style and ability to tell a good tale. Her voice was sharp and well refined to fit the genre.
Read my review here.
Beauty by Robin McKinley
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5)
“Cannot a Beast be tamed?”
I was recommended this book by one of you! It’s a fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed the classical prose, and the strong female protagonist. A review on Beauty is coming soon.
Tainted by Morgan L. Busse
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5)
I read my first steampunk. It was an interesting mix between sci-fi and historical-fiction of the Victorian era. I am excited to read the second book in this duology. Review coming soon.
The Balter of Ashton Harper by Millie Florence
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Last year, I put Honey Butter on my list of favorite books from 2024. This year, I had the privilege of meeting Millie Florence at a conference! Of course, I bought another one of her books. It was just as good, if not better.
Read my review here.
Smithsonian Battles Map by Map
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is so cool. If you’re into battles and history, you should check this out.
Battles Map by Map contains step by step maps of various historical battles. It is so easy to follow, and so interesting to read. You may have heard of some of these battles in history class, but when you can picture it from a birds-eye view, it’s much more engaging.
Fight Write by Carla Hoch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to write believable fight scenes.
If you’re a writer who may write a fight scene at some point, you should get this book.
Inside Fight Write, Carla teaches us the Five W’s of writing a fight scene, the human factors to fighting, and the techniques and weapons your characters may use.
Even if you’re a non-writer, you’ll find interesting tidbits. Did you know the idea that carrots are good for your eyes originated from British propaganda during WWII?
This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How the Gospel transforms the teen years.
I really appreciated the seriousness and earnestness with which Jaquelle urged us to go back to the groundwork. Oftentimes, we think of the Gospel as normal. “Every Christian knows that.” We want a sudden new revelation.
But Jaquelle doesn’t give us a new revelation. She gives us the real, good news of the Gospel. The Gospel that transforms the teen years.
Thanks for reading my top 10 books of 2025. Have you read any of these? Tell me about it here! Or check out my post from last year: Top 9 Books of 2024.
Before I close out, would you consider using 5 minutes of your day to take my Reader Survey for 2025? I do this survey every year so I know how I can serve you. If you want better content, this is your chance to input into how I change my blog over the next few months. Remember to hit “submit!”
Have a blessed day!