Five-Star Reads of 2025: Books Loved, Revisited, and Still Recommended

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So, it’s officially the end of the year, and somehow I read 208+ books in 2025. A few of them were accidentally lost to Goodreads along the way, but even so, this year felt full in the best possible way. Not rushed. Not performative. Just a steady rhythm of reading, listening, revisiting, and letting stories fit into my life the way they were meant to.

Subsequently, 2025 also became the year of the reread for me. I found myself returning to familiar words and worlds. Beloved characters and series that already knew how to make me swoon inside and giggle like a teenage girl. But tucked in between those returns were discoveries. Stories that took me by surprise. Books that have no chance of ever leaving my heart. Reads that earned their place without question.

The kind of five-star reads that make time feel like it’s been suspended in the abyss, and remind you why you fell in love with books in the first place.

This list is a record of that feeling. These are the five-star reads of my year. The books I loved, the stories that held me close, and the reads I would of course give all the stars possible. Whether I found them for the first time or returned to them again and again, each one earned its place here.

On my shelf, in my memory, and in the long arc of my reading life.

⭐ = First-time five-star

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig- I won’t lie, it took me a little while to sink into this one, but that time was brief. And once it clicked, it clicked. Moody. Atmospheric. Patient in the way only a true slow burn can be. This book is the reason I finally admitted that I love a slow burn when it’s done right. Bartholomew the gargoyle has my whole heart. And I have not stopped thinking about that ending since I read the final sentence and screamed out loud. Dear Orbit Books, please send me The Knave and the Moon. I will be forever grateful.
Sinner by Sierra Simone- The queen that is Sierra Simone continues to keep me in a chokehold. And NEVER lets up. She can do no wrong in my eyes, and Sean Bell will forever have my loyalty. I immersed myself in reading this one completely, and the audiobook was equally engaging. H O T. The kind of experience that makes you see your lord and savior. Honestly…I think a reread is inevitable.
Broken Bloodlines Trilogy by Sadie Kincaid- I found Sadie this year, and picking up this trilogy was one of the best reading decisions I have made this year. I’m obsessed, and I have my reasons.
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham- Five stars and one frayed nerve.
Ascension by S.T. Gibson- The story spirals through secret societies, demon summoning, and the fragile threads of power and love — but at its core, it’s a deeply human tale about ambition, identity, and the ache of wanting too much.

As I said, it’s been a good reading year…

Glory by Rhianna Burwell- There is no plot, all smut, and it was exactly what I needed!
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi- This isn’t a fast-paced slasher—it’s a slow unraveling, one thread pulled at a time until the whole story comes loose.
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire- I’ve been reading Seanan McGuire’s interconnected standalone novellas for over a year now—maybe even two. Every time a new one releases, it feels like a gift, and I drop everything to sink into her worlds. Adrift in Currents, Clean and Clear is no exception. It might just be one of my top three favorites in this series, and that’s saying something.

The Wolves of Crescent Creek trilogy by Tessa Hale- Books one and two were rereads, and the final book was a new discovery. A rate case where returning to a world made the ending hit even harder. This trilogy reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place, and why some stories are worth coming back to before saying goodbye.
Lyonesse trilogy by Sierra Simone- Hear ye, hear ye. This series, for the foreseeable future, will be my ENTIRE personality. To pull away from reading it long enough to sleep or eat was like pulling teeth, and I never want to do something like that. I never want to be without those three. This year has been filled with Sierra.

More Books That Earned Their Five Stars

Portal to Pleasure by Viano Oniomoh- a portal to hell and three demons step through to pleasure you…what more could you ask for
Halloween (Monster F**kers) by B.L. Wilde- 5 stars. No notes.
The Demon and the Fairy by Laura Greenwood- It was cute. This should be a full novel. I wanted more, getting into how being mates worked with their families. And how their characters and romance develop.
Gifted to his Dad by J. Wilder- Another 5 stars. Absolutely NO NOTES.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison- Good Spirits is such a cozy, magical holiday romance. I honestly don’t know what I was expecting, but I know that it surprised me in the best possible way. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. And as soon as I finished, I immediately wanted to reread it.
Masked Men series by Jaye Pratt- Masked Men who knew? I loved every second of them.
Theirs for the Holidays by Eva Ashwood- I want three HOT, sexy, rugged brothers to come share me the way they shared Violet….and no, I will not be settling for less.

🔁 = Reread, still five stars

The Bonds That Tie series by J. Bree- After a year and a half away from Ollie and the guys, I reread the entire series, and it still sits firmly in my god-tier category. It gives me everything, every single time—laughter, tears, obsession—and somehow leaves me wanting to start over again the moment I finish. *side note* Will someone drop a set of the Bookish Box or Arcane editions of this set on my doorstep?
Dragons of Ember Hollow by Tessa Hale- The Dragons of Ember Hollow trilogy is perfect. It has great pacing, keeping readers engaged with great tension and character development. Although it has some “insta love” moments and lacks world-building, the dynamic between Hayden and her protectors, who are dragon shifters, adds a magical and passionate element to the tale.
The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid- Throughout the year I was feenin’ for Fitch, West, and Zeke, and finally got a dose of the medicine that are those men. Plus, Sadie put out a short little bonus chapter of The Perfect Fit Christmas (which was only available if you’re subscribed to her newsletter). I love these characters! I love Zeke!

Five stars aren’t something I give lightly (well, sometimes I do). This list isn’t about perfection. It’s about the books I connected with. The moments that reminded me why I keep coming back. And why some reads stay with you far beyond the year you found them.

If any of these five-star reads are calling to you, I’ve gathered them into a few easy lists depending on how you prefer to shop. I always encourage supporting indie bookstores when possible, but choose what works best for your life and your reading habits.