My Highest Rated Book Each Month So Far This Year

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It’s officially September, and with the changing of seasons comes a look back at the stories that carried me through the year so far. From January to August, I’ve been chasing books that made me feel something—books that kept me up late, scribbling notes in the margins, or just staring at the last page in silence. And since I know a TBR is never truly finished, I’m here (yes, to make yours a little longer) to share the highest-rated book from each month of 2025. Consider this a mix of book recommendations, personal favorites, and the kind of stories that remind you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

So let’s rewind to January—the very first book that set the tone for my reading year.

Best Book I Read in January: Dreamcursed by C.K. Franziska

Every once in a while, a fire book comes along that feels impossible to put down and for me in January without a doubt, that was Dreamcursed. From the very first chapter, I knew this story was something special. The author, C.K. Franziska, has a way of crafting content that pulls you in immediately, building a world so vivid that every detail feels true even when it dances with the fantastical.

What makes this book stand apart is its balance: the style is lyrical yet sharp, the tension unrelenting, and the atmosphere impossible to shake. The dual moons of Heliosia and the rising threat of Shadowfall aren’t just background—they are woven into the very fabric of the plot, creating a clear sense of urgency that keeps you turning pages. At a count well worth every second spent, the story spirals into something darker, something unforgettable.

Its ability to refresh the familiar tropes of dark fantasy while still feeling wholly original makes it one of those rare editions that lingers long after the last page. If you’re looking for a book that presses you to the height of anticipation and then tips you into the abyss, Dreamcursed is the one.

Check out my full review of Dreamcursed.

Best Book I Read in February: The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

If January was strong, February completely wrecked me—in the best way. My standout read was The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, a story that feels like a lavender-drenched dream, part romantic fairy tale and part medieval Pan’s Labyrinth.

This book is special. It’s more than just a romantasy with a slow burn romance. It’s about transformation—about becoming your own person, defying the roles others have written for you, and paying the cost of freedom with everything you have left to give.

Gillig’s dreamy prose wraps you in atmosphere: haunted abbeys, windswept moors, and diviners who vanish into the abyss. Sybil Delling, a prophetess cloistered for a decade of service, finds herself on an impossible quest with Knight Rodrick, a man with dark eyes and secrets buried deep. Together, they navigate twisty parables, unearthly figures, and terrible things lurking beneath the surface.

Why should you read it? Because this isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. It’s the kind of book that lingers, reshapes you, and ruins you for everything else. If you loved One Dark Window or authors like Leigh Bardugo, Hannah Whitten, Alix E. Harrow, or Jennifer L. Armentrout, this will be your next obsession.

Atmospheric, lyrical, and devastatingly beautiful—The Knight and the Moth is easily one of the best books of 2025 so far.

Check out my full review of Rachel Gillig’s The Knight and The Moth: A Book Review Full of Intrigue

Best Book I Read In March: Bound in Blood by Sadie Kincaid

Then came March, and with it, a book that shifted my mood entirely—different vibe, same obsession with Bound in Blood. This trilogy has been such a ride, and there’s no doubt Bound in Blood gave me exactly the kind of finale I wanted. The third book picks up straight after the second—and if you’ve read it, you know book two absolutely gutted me, stitched me back together, and then gutted me again.

In Bound in Blood, Ophelia finally leans into her powers, becoming who she was always meant to be (and I was here for it). She’s protecting her fated mates, trying to uncover what really happened with the vampire who sired them, and fighting to keep the darkness from swallowing everything whole. The stakes are higher, the secrets cut deeper, and every choice drags her into that deliciously messy space between good and evil.

Sadie’s books are always a good time. I’ve yet to pick up one I didn’t love. I know whenever I dive into a Kincaid book, I’m getting chaos, spice, and characters that make me absolutely feral (she writes broken boys so well, and I will always fall for the broken boy). But this trilogy felt different. It was fast-paced and fun, yes—but it also hooked me with these vampires (I don’t usually read vampires, but now I’m convinced they’re a must), addictive twists, and a finale that tied up every loose end without ever feeling predictable. And the spice? was on FIRE! Hot enough that I was side-eyeing the pages in public.

For her first paranormal series, this was such a win. And as a finale, Bound in Blood wrecked me, satisfied me, and left me months later still a little sad it’s over. This is how you end a trilogy.

Best Books I’ve Read in April: Ascension by St. Gibson

By April, I realized this year’s reading wasn’t just good, it was unforgettable—and this book proved it. April was a month of books that pulled me under — and none did it quite like Ascension by international bestselling author S.T. Gibson. This second book in the Summoner’s Circle Series proved why Gibson’s name deserves every bit of praise I keep seeing on Goodreads and across the book community.

From the very first chapter, Ascension reminded me why I fell in love with Evocation. We see beloved characters return — Rhys McGowan, Moira, and David — but this time with new scars, deeper love, and choices that cut closer to the bone.

Rhys has stepped into his new role as High Priest of Boston’s premiere secret society, but peace doesn’t come easily. Instead, a strange ritual rocks Boston, opening cracks that even the strongest spells can’t hide. It’s here that Gibson’s gift for weaving traditional urban fantasy with raw human emotion shines.

The prose is lyrical but never indulgent, measured in a way that reflects the inner spirals of its characters. Gibson knows how to play tug on your heart, how to let hell play in the margins without overshadowing the tender, quieter moments of love.

Not every thread lands perfectly — one subplot felt like a whisper instead of the shout I wanted — but that didn’t dull the emotional resonance. This book doesn’t just explore demons. It explores the ones we create inside ourselves and how we handle them.

My review of Ascension by S.T. Gibson: Gothic Desire, Divine Obsession is a MUST READ

The Book I Couldn’t Let Go of in May: The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid

When May rolled around, I stumbled into a story that felt like the perfect companion to longer days. The Perfect Fit was messy, magnetic, and absolutely unforgettable.

There’s a certain kind of magic in a romance that leans into morally grey characters, tension so thick it makes your chest ache, and a poly dynamic that refuses to follow the rules. Sadie Kincaid gave me all of that and then some. The slow burn unraveled into fire, the devotion sat right alongside jealousy, and the little moments of softness made the chaos even sharper.

Reading this book had me clutching my heart, laughing at the banter, and—yes—questioning my own relationship standards. Because suddenly, the idea of three emotionally complex, gorgeous men who protect, tease, and love each other just as fiercely as they love their heroine? That doesn’t sound unhinged to me. It sounds like exactly the kind of love story I didn’t know I needed.

The Unexpected Favorite of June: kingdom of shadows and wings by Nina Frost

June surprised me—the kind of read that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Among my fantasy books, one that stood out was Kingdom of Shadows and Wings by Nina Frost. At first, this book wasn’t love at first read. The pacing dragged, the dragons felt distant, and Lark’s character came across as too naive. But the longer I sat with it, the more this fantasy romance found its wings.

Once the story settled, I was hooked. I finished on my Kindle in a blur, flying through pages and falling for Sterling—the broody flight instructor who made me want to karate chop him one moment and swoon the next. This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning how Frost’s writing style blends tension, secrets, and slow-burn intensity. The world of Tirene may not be fully clear in book one, but it expands beautifully in the rest of the series.

If you’re a reader who loves fantasy worlds, dragons that break the mold, and romance threaded with betrayal and grit, this is a book series worth discovering. For fans of Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and Divine Rivals, Frost’s debut feels like the kind of story you can’t stop thinking about—messy, magnetic, and just the right amount of addictive.

Check out my review of Hidden Dragons, Forbidden Magic: Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

July Crescent Kingdom/Eclipsed Empire by Tessa Hale: The Books I’ve Read Three Times This Year and about to be a fourth

July was pure immersion, the kind of book that demanded iced coffee, late nights, and underlined pages. And honestly? That book was Crescent Kingdom and Eclipsed Empire by Tessa Hale.

Tessa Hale doesn’t just write stories—she casts spells. Crescent Kingdom isn’t a novel so much as a fever dream: wolf-bitten, mate-bound, and soul-healing in all the best ways. We first met Wren in Dragons of Ember Hollow, but here she ascends. Half wolf, half caster, she’s on the run from her father (evil incarnate), hiding, healing, and becoming something both dangerous and unforgettable. And then she crashes straight into the pack.

Let’s pause on the pack, because every single one of these men deserves their spotlight:

• ? Kingston: The alpha—strength wrapped in restraint.
• ? Locke: Golden retriever loyalist, sunshine through and through.
• ? Puck: The smirk, the spark, the troublemaker you can’t resist.
• ? Brix: The broken one whose silence aches louder than words.
• ? Ender: The anarchist, chaos incarnate… and maybe my favorite.

And the tropes? A full banquet:

?? Touch her and die
?? Fated mates
?? Found family
?? Heroine in hiding
?? Merciless wolves with hidden soft hearts

The spice? Not overwhelming, but simmering. That couch-in-the-gym scene? ? Enough to make you reread it slowly, just to savor. The pacing is near perfect—fast enough to binge, layered enough to make every moment hit. And that ending… I’m still recovering.

Read this if you love:
?? Paranormal romance with bite
?? Emotionally complex heroines
?? Found families that feel earned
?? Fast-paced reads that leave you breathless

Tessa must have heard my pleas because I get to read book three early!!! And don’t forget to read my full review on both Crescent Kingdom and Eclipsed Empire.

August: Court of Dragons and Crowns by G. Bailey

And finally, August wrapped up this stretch of reading with a surprise obsession: The Court of Dragons and Crowns by G. Bailey.

This series caught me off guard in the best way. I’ll be the first to admit—it’s not a masterpiece. The books could use more editing, and the repetition sometimes pulled me out of the story. But despite that? I devoured it. Truly devoured. I read three of the five books in a single day, and the other two only took longer because of things like… sleep. And maybe food. (Barely.) That’s how bingeable this series is—it sinks its claws in and refuses to let go.

And then there are the men. Swoonworthy and infuriating in equal measure, but isn’t that half the fun? I’ll always fall for the broken boy, the one whose edges cut even while his devotion softens everything else. The dynamics here are messy, addictive, and exactly what I crave when I want to escape into a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously but keeps me glued to the page.

So no, it’s not perfect. But it was fun, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

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