Hello, everyone! Today I have my first year-end list of top books, my favorite backlist reads of 2025. I managed to narrow the list down to 10 books this year. I read all of these in 2025, but they were published prior to the beginning of the year. I’ll have a post with all of my favorite new 2025 releases sometime in the next couple of days. So, be on the lookout! All of the covers link to Goodreads in case anything catches your eye…

Stranger Skies by Pascale Lacelle – This was an excellent sequel to Curious Tides. It took the story in directions I never expected, and I can’t wait to see how it all ends in the final book next year.

The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap – This one was a surprise. I loved getting to explore the early medical schools in Edinburgh. Also, who doesn’t enjoy love blooming over corpse stealing? This was a really great historical MM romance.

Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu – This was one of my favorite romantasy books that I read this year. It utilized the classic star-crossed lovers trope really well, and I just really enjoyed the premise and the relationship.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn – I finally read this book and really loved it! I’m always a sucker for a new spin on Arthurian legend, and Bree was a such a cool protagonist. I liked the academic setting and secret society aspects of the story, as well. It was just a bunch of my favorite things all in one story.

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean – I loved this portrayal of life as a zookeeper. The ins and outs of working with all of the magical animals was so fun to read. The romance was a good subplot, too, and the main character showed a lot of personal and professional growth over the course of the story.

Tears of the Nameless by George Mann – This was one of my favorite books of the third phase of The High Republic. It had some of my favorite characters of the series and really delved into the mystery of the Blight and the Nameless.

On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs – This was a great continuation of an awesome series. It is some of my favorite sci fi that I’ve read in the last few years. It has politics, subterfuge, and some fascinating character dynamics.

Prince and Assassin by Tavia Lark – I’ve had a special edition of this book for a while, and I managed to actually read it this year. I’m so glad I’ve got the Rainbow Crate copy because I loved the story, and it is such a beautiful book. An assassin falling in love with the prince he’s supposed to kill? That’s an MM romance premise that was practically made for me. lol.

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan – I finally got around to finishing this duology this year. It’s safe to say that I loved it just as much as the first book. The story was epic and riveting while also being intensely personal.

Spellslinger by Sebastian de Castell – I loved this book so much that I’ve now bought the entire series. lol. It was entertaining and exciting with a good dash of humor. It had a squirrel cat with an attitude. Enough said.

There you have it. My favorite backlist reads of 2025! Do we share any favorite books in common? What were your favorite books of the year? Let me know in the comments!