Mid-Year Book Freakout: The Best Stories I’ve Read in 2025
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
There’s something about a mid-year book freakout that makes you stop and think—not just about the books you’ve read, but about the stories that stayed with you. The favorite new releases that made your heart race. The new authors whose words cracked something open in you. Maybe your reading goals shifted, maybe you lost track of time in a series that felt like coming home. Whether it was a free afternoon, a long audio session, or a stolen late-night chapter, the book moments of this year have written themselves into the margins of your life.
This is my yearbook so far—my most unforgettable reads, the surprises, the ones I couldn’t stop thinking about, and the texts that felt like they were written just for me. If you’re looking for your next adventure together or trying to fall in love with reading again, this list might be the sign you’ve been waiting for.
1. Favorite book of 2025 (so far)?
The best kind of book is the one that lingers—and The Knight and the Moth hasn’t left me since I turned the last page.
It’s the kind of story that slows time, folding grief, longing, and quiet bravery into every line. I didn’t just read it; I lived inside it. The text was tender and sharp in equal measure, the kind that shifts how you think about sacrifice and softness. It wasn’t just a new favorite, it felt like finding the right book at exactly the right time.
There wouldn’t be a Mid-Year Book Freakout list if it didn’t include The Knight and The Moth. And, if you’re going into the second half of the year looking for something to crack your chest open, this is the one I’d press into your hands.
2. Spiciest book you read this year?
Glory by Rhianna Burwell wasn’t trying to be something it wasn’t, and that’s exactly what made it unforgettable.
This book is pure, unfiltered smut, and I loved every second of it. From the first page, it grabs you by the throat (in the best way) and doesn’t let go. I had to take a break with myself more than once to breathe. It’s raw, messy, and deliciously intense, the kind of story that makes your heart race and your cheeks burn. If your reading goals this year include losing yourself in something filthy, fierce, and freeing, Glory belongs at the top of your list.
Glory is a book I wasn’t expecting to add to this Mid-Year Book Freakout list, but I am so glad it’s here.
3. Most rereadable book so far?
Some books don’t just beg to be reread; they demand it. Eclipsed Empire by Tessa Hale and the entire Wolves of Crescent Creek series have wrapped themselves around my heart in that exact way. This is one of the easiest books to add to this Mid-Year Book Freakout list.
I’ve returned to these stories more than once this year, not because I forgot what happened, but because I wanted to relive the experience. The text is rich with tension, found family, and slow-burn longing that builds over time.
Each line feels like it’s been waiting for you to come back to it. If you’re looking for something to add to your comfort list or just want to fall in love with a cast that feels like home, this is it.
And if you haven’t read my full review of Crescent Kingdom and Eclipsed Empire after you finish this Mid-Year Book Freakout, head over and read those.
4. A book you didn’t expect to love… but did?
I went into Forged in Blood with zero expectations, and now I can’t stop thinking about it, or the entire Broken Bloodlines series. I didn’t expect to fall in love with Sadie’s characters, or how effortlessly her text pulls you under. This story grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s sharp, addictive, and emotionally layered in ways that surprised me. These are the kinds of books that sneak up on you, that demand more of you the longer you read. I still catch myself thinking about certain lines at the most unexpected times. If you’re the kind of person who loves stories that make you feel a little unhinged in the best way, add this to your list immediately.
5. A book that didn’t live up to the hype (for you)?
This one’s tough because both books came from authors I’ve admired. But if I’m being honest, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie and Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones didn’t fully land for me.
Both authors are deeply respected, people love their work, and I’ve loved Joe’s stories in the past. However, this year, something about these particular reads felt just slightly off-kilter. The text didn’t hit as hard, the emotional pull didn’t hold the way I expected, and I found myself more distant than engaged. Perhaps it was a matter of timing, or perhaps just not the right read at the right moment. It’s not that they weren’t good; they just didn’t become the kind of book I’d reach for again.
6. A book that met or exceeded every expectation?
I didn’t know what to expect when Sadie Kincaid traded her usual paranormal world for a contemporary one, but The Perfect Fit is the perfect fit for this Mid-Year Book Freakout list because it exceeded every single one of my expectations.
This book gave me everything I didn’t know I needed: a broken man, a “why choose” romance with real emotional depth, and a story that stayed with me long after I finished the last page. The characters felt raw, messy, and unforgettable in the best way. I went in curious and came out with one of my top 10 reads of the year. If you’re looking for a read that delivers on heat, heart, and healing, this one deserves a spot on your list.
7. A book that changed how you think about something?
The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot didn’t just shift my perspective; it felt like a natural step forward in my spiritual journey.
This book expanded what I already sensed to be true: that the reality we live in is malleable, layered, and deeply connected. It reframes the world not as something fixed, but as a living text, a hologram where we’re not just existing, but co-creating alongside the universe. The ideas here didn’t feel foreign—they felt like remembering, like coming home to something I hadn’t yet put into words.
If you’re someone who seeks a story not just for escape but for transformation, this is a must-read that will stay with you over time.
8. The most YOU book you’ve read this year?
This Mid-Year Book Freakout question was hard—2025 has been a year of comfort rereads and rediscovering old favorites. But if I had to pick a book that felt the most me, it would be The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate.
There’s just something about a story that leans into softness and surrender, one that layers emotional depth with that perfect dose of praise. I didn’t just read this—I soaked in every line. It’s the kind of text that made me feel seen in the most unexpected way.
Tender, steamy, and unapologetically affirming. If you’ve ever wanted to feel completely undone and adored at the same time, this one belongs on your list.
9. A line you still think about weeks later?
There’s a line in Eclipsed Empire that stopped me cold:
“I’m just so tired,” she whispered. “Tired of running. Fighting. I just want to be done.”
Girl. Same.
That line hit me in a place I didn’t even know needed healing. Wren’s exhaustion felt like my own—like something I’ve carried quietly. This book didn’t just tell a story; it held space for the parts of me that are worn thin. That one moment, that single line, still echoes in the back of my mind weeks later. The whole text is layered with that kind of emotional honesty, but that line? It stayed. If you’ve ever felt like you were holding too much for too long, you’ll think about it, too long after you’ve read the last page.
10. Which story cracked you open and made you stay that way?
God of War by Rina Kent caught me off guard in the most brutal, beautiful way. I didn’t expect to love Eli and Ava this much, but this story unraveled me. It was emotional wreckage, the kind of book that doesn’t just leave a mark—it carves one. Their pain, their need, the sharp edges of who they were and what they survived, it all broke down pieces of me that won’t return the same.
I’ve read plenty of intense romances, but this one? This one stayed. It echoed. It cracked me open and made no promises about putting me back together. If you’re the kind of person who craves emotional destruction wrapped in devotion, God of War belongs at the top of your list.
11. If you could scream about one book until the end of 2025, which one would it be?
If I had to scream about one book until the end of 2025, it would be Dreamcursed by C.K. Franziska.
The world she builds is lush and immersive, every sentence dripping with lyrical magic. The characters are beautifully flawed, real, and raw in ways that made me feel everything all at once. I loved this book so much, it carried me through the entire trilogy — even though book three wasn’t my favorite, Dreamcursed remains the heart of the story for me. It’s a read that stays with you long after the last page, the kind of story you want to shout about from every rooftop. If you haven’t discovered this gem yet, add it to your 2025 list — trust me, it’s worth it.
12. Which book felt like a diary entry you didn’t know you’d written?
Eclipsed Empire by Tessa Hale isn’t just a story I read—it’s a mirror I didn’t realize I was holding.
Wren is me, and I am Wren. She’s been through so much, and her journey gripped me by the shoulder and refused to let go. Writing my review poured straight from my soul, raw and unfiltered, because this book unlocked feelings I didn’t know I had. Even now, I find myself thinking about rereading it just to experience that powerful connection all over again. This book felt like a secret diary I never wrote but always needed. If you crave a story that sees you deeply and stays with you, Eclipsed Empire belongs on your list.
13. Which world would you live in, no questions asked?
Without hesitation, I would live in the world of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings by Nina Frost.
The kingdoms she built are breathtaking—a place where dragons soar, flight schools train the chosen, and people with wings carry stories on their backs. The magic, the majesty, the vivid details of The Dragons of Tirene series feel like a world I could get lost in forever. It’s the kind of place that invites you to breathe differently, dream bigger, and believe in the impossible. If you crave a story where fantasy feels real and every page sings with wonder, this book and series belong at the top of your list.
14. Which author made you want to underline every single line?
If you’ve made it this far, you know there has been a lot of Tessa on this Midyear Book Freakout list, so it was no surprise that Tessa Hale has easily become one of my favorite authors. And in 2025, she earned that title all over again. I loved her work in 2024, but the Wolves of Crescent Creek series truly sealed the deal.
Every book, every sentence, every stolen moment feels like it’s written in a language my heart already understands. Her text is filled with tension and tenderness; her stories are rich in emotional depth, and I’ve found myself underlining not just for the beauty of the line, but for the truth it conveys. If you’ve ever wanted to read something that makes you feel seen, undone, and held all at once, Tessa Hale is that author. This year, she reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.
Read This Next:
It’s the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2023 Edition!
Can You Survive Book 3 of the Veil of Fire Series?
How To Guide For Annotating Books Like a Pro!
It’s All About (The) My Bookish Favorites Tag
10 Must-Read Books of The Year
