2025 Reading Wrap-up

Hello, all!

Let's take a look back at my reading year.

Once again, I swore I would slow down my reading, and yet here we are finishing out the year with over 300 books 😅

Now, for a stats breakdown:

Average rating: This was slightly higher than last year, so I'm happy with that. I also don't think a 3-ish rating is bad, but I'd like to try and get it up a bit more for 2026.

Format: These tend to be around the same every year, but it's still satisfying to see.

Genre: I love seeing this breakdown every year. I had a goal to read more classics this year, and I'm proud of myself for sticking to it!

Source: This is another I love to see every year. I tried to shrink my physical TBR down this year, and I did a pretty good job with it.

And lastly, my favorite reads of each month:

1. Wizard of Most Wicked Ways- Charlie N. Holmberg: This is the latest installment in the Whimbrel House series, and it's safe to say that this is one of my favorite series of all time. It had me tearing up and I'm not an emotional reader. I need the next book ASAP.

2. The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye- Briony Cameron: I picked this book up on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. It's a historical fiction based on a real female pirate, and it was full of adventure, revenge, found family, and queer romance. 

3. Sunrise on the Reaping- Suzanne Collins: If you're wondering if I've ever gotten over the gut punch that was this book, the answer is no.

4. The Frozen River- Ariel Lawhon: This was another banger historical fiction following a midwife who takes it upon herself to uncover a killer in her smalltown. It was absolutely fantastic, and I'll read whatever she comes out with next.

5. One Golden Summer- Carley Fortune: I haven't loved her last few releases, but this one had me kicking my little feet. I loved Charlie and Alice so much.

6. Wearing the Lion- John Wiswell: I loved this Hercules retelling and it's definitely one of my favorite Greek mythology reimaginings. 

7. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping- Sangu Mandanna: Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for this one since I thought her previous book was just okay and I don't always love cozy fantasy, but I ate this book up. It felt like a warm cup of tea.

8. Wild Reverence- Rebecca Ross: This was a bit of a slower read for me, but stunning nonetheless.

9. The Second Death of Locke- V.L. Bovalino: Medieval fantasy was big this year, and this was my favorite that I read. The world-building and the characters were so good, but the yearning is what really made this book shine for me.

10. The Everlasting- Alix E. Harrow: Another lady knight book that deserved its flowers. If you liked her short story, The Six Deaths of the Saint, then you'd love this one.

11. Play Along- Liz Tomforde: I binged the entire Windy City series this November, and have not stopped thinking about this book. This is definitely one of my new favorite romance books, and I'm mad that Isaiah Rhodes isn't real.

12. In Your Dreams- Sarah Adams: This is the last installment in the When in Rome series, and I'm so sad that it's over, but I loved finally seeing Madison and James's story play out.