My Favorite Books of 2025 (So Far)!

Many readers like to set reading goals for the year- a number of books they want to have finished by the end of the year. Having a reading goal is not at all necessary. However, they can be fun and a great source of motivation if you want to read several books a year. They can also help you set aside time for reading if you have a hard time doing so. You can set a reading goal to any number you wish. I’ve seen tons of readers set goals of 100s of books a year. Personally, I can’t read that many books a year, and I having too high of a goal stresses me out and takes the fun out of reading for me. So, I set my reading goal 24 this year. I thought committing to two books a month was a very reasonable goal for me. However, we are a little over halfway through the year and I have left my reading goal in the dust! I have read 27 books so far this year.

You can keep track of the number of books you’ve read in a multitude of ways. Of course, you could always write down what you’ve read or keep a note in your phone. However, there are also tons of apps you can use to keep track of your reading. If you’re a Kindle reader (which I am most of the time) your Kindle app will keep track of the number of books you’ve read for you. You can also use Goodreads (though the new update has linked Goodreads and Kindle),Fable, Storygraph, Bookmory, and lots more.

Because it’s a little over halfway through the year and my reading goal has been defeated, I wanted to share my top 5 favorite books that I have read so far this year. They will be in no particular order because I don’t think I could ever possibly rank them. This list also excludes any rereads because I reread two of my favorite series this year- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas and The Ever Seas by LJ Andrews.

If you don’t already know, Fourth Wing is one of the most popular romantasy books. It’s practically a reading requirement for the genre. It’s series (The Empyrean) currently has three of 5 books available. The first book, Fourth Wing, is about Violet, who has studied her entire life to be trained as a scribe at Basgiath War college, but then is suddenly thrust into the (dragon) rider’s quadrant. The quadrant is brutal and actively encourages students to maim and kill one another, because if you’re not tough, why would a dragon ever want you as their rider? There she has to fight for her life as the weakest link in the quadrant and the daughter of the general who sentenced many of the other students’ parents to death.

It’s fun. There’s tons of tension. AND the dragons are hilarious.

Iron & Embers is the first book of The Ashes of Thezmarr series. It’s a second generation series based in the same world as The Legends of Thezmarr. Iron & Embers follows the Wren, the younger sister of Thea (the main character from the previous series), who has turned into an assassin since the end of the war. Her goal is to assassinate all those whose war crimes went unpunished. However, when a threat against the royals of the Midrealms puts Wren at risk, she is sent to the alchemy academy Drevenor. But of course she isn’t going alone. Her former love interest turned enemy is assigned to protect her.

Helen Scheurer loves to end her books with the most emotionally devastating cliffhangers! I have been desperately waiting for answers to this book and am SO excited that part 2 is finally releasing this month!

The Road of Bones is book one of a planned 5 book series (The Ashen Series). Currently books 1 and 2 are available, as well as a novella. This book is a dark romantic fantasy set in a Viking inspired world. It discusses issues such as anxiety, addiction, and agoraphobia.

Silla is in great danger and is travelling alone for the first time in her life. to find safety she must travel north along the infamous Road of Bones. When she becomes tired and stows away on a cart for part of the journey, she quickly realizes it was a mistake. She has snuck onto the cart of the Blood Axe Crew, deadly warriors, who may just kill her. She has to prove her worth if she’s going to travel with them.

Metal Slinger is part one of an unfinished romantic fantasy series. I could not possibly begin to explain this book without spoiling it for you. It has twists upon twists that will leave your head spinning. I still have not recovered from this one. Personally, I think this book is best to go into completely blind, but you can definitely read the blurb on the back of the book. Just know, this one is painful.

Technically, I haven’t actually finished this one yet, but I’m counting it because I’m almost finished and I’m loving it! Plus LJ Andrews is one of my new favorite authors. This is part one of the Stonegate Duology. It’s a romantic fantasy based in a Viking/ Nors inspired world. (I’m loving Vikings this year!). The main female character has been hiding her entire life because she has a rare magic ability that the crown covets and exploits and the enemy kingdoms want to destroy. The main male character is her protector and cannot speak. There are tons of mysteries that still haven’t been unraveled and I’m sure will leave me wanting more when it’s through.

Let us know what you thought of these awesome reads!