These are books I read in 2025, not necessarily those published in 2025. I’m focusing on recent publications, though.

My third favorite book I’ve read (listened to) this year was This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Motar and Max Gladstone (2019 from Simon & Schuster). I started this book in October 2024 and just couldn’t. I couldn’t start it. I couldn’t get past the first chapter, so I abandoned it and started the Imperial Radch series (which – please go read immediately). I tried again this February and Time War quickly became one of my comfort books. It’s so gorgeous, and while, yes, it’s convoluted, I love the literary and historical references and the little winking nods at pop culture. And the language is so gorgeous. Amal El-Motar’s novella The River Has Roots (2025, MacMillan) shares some of the layered and poetic storytelling of Time War, and I really enjoyed it (as anyone who asked me for a book rec discovered), but Time War was so intricate and intimate that it earned a top place on my list.

Second place (so far) goes to The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee (2024, Gillian Flynn Books). I don’t read a lot of horror, even YA horror, because I’m a big baby, but The Dark We Know is gorgeous. I was frustrated with the characters even as I loved them, I was invested in the unraveling of the mystery, and I held my breath when the ‘monster’ was revealed. Isa’s characterization is so well-crafted, and her sexuality is only part of her identity. The story of how she discovered that sexuality and how she survived the sinister thing in her home felt gripping. I immediately re-started it when I finished.

And my absolute favorite book that I’ve read this year is These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs (2023, Hachette). I have lots of thoughts about this book, but what I’m going to say is HOLY SHIT THE TWIST. I think I actually screamed out loud. I immediately re-started this one too, but as much to find any clues Jacobs may have sprinkled through the book as for the story (which is fantastic).