TOP AUDIOBOOK
This was my first TJR book, and it was STUNNING. The audiobook was narrated by Julia Whelan, who is consistently amazing. This story takes place in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the space program, specifically the women involved. It was fascinating to learn about their training and roles in early missions. And the love story that happens along the way is phenomenal. An easy 5-star listen that had me sobbing in the school pickup line.
TOP BINGE READ OBSESSION
I fell down the Dungeon Crawler Carl rabbit hole and never really climbed out. While this is the only non-romance on the list, that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. This wild and wonderful series is action-packed, has a talking cat, and completely hijacked my TBR for a solid 2 months in 2025. AND it’s in Kindle Unlimited!
BIGGEST SURPRISE
I think Emily Henry is one of the greatest writers of our time. I love her voice and find her characters fully fleshed out and amazing. But I wasn’t sure about this one going in. I’d seen mixed reviews (from trusted sources), so I took my time and didn’t immediately read Great Big Beautiful Life. But I was blown away by the story. The romance was nuanced and layered. And the secondary narrative that was woven throughout was equally as compelling. And it has my FAVORITE Emily Henry ending of all of her books. Just a ridiculously fantastic story.
COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow completely sucked me in. It was magical and disturbing and everything in between. With flawed characters and a twisted backstory, Starling House kept me up at night. The writing was visceral and enchanting. I can’t wait to read more by Alix.
MOST UNPUTDOWNABLE
This rich and immersive fantasy romance is easily one of my favorites of the year. The romance is top tier, and it doesn’t get overshadowed by the fantasy elements (which often happens in romantasy, in my opinion). The MMC is so swoony and utterly devoted to the heroine. And the magic system in this one is SO unique. I was obsessed from the first chapter.
BEST BANTER
Ally Carter writes insanely entertaining books. They’re always action-packed, clever, and inviting. The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold had some of the best banter I’ve read in a long time. There’s an enemies-to-lovers element, which always clicks for me. And I so enjoyed this one.
FAVORITE HERO
This is an Ali Hazelwood stan account, for sure. And I think I’ve found my favorite hero of hers (and my favorite hero of the year). Koen and Serena have outstanding banter. Paired with Ali’s witty writing and entertaining voice, I was basically kicking my feet throughout this whole book. If you want a man/werewolf who yearns, look no further than Koen Alexander.
FAVORITE HEROINE
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt is a fantastic small-town romance. It has all the elements that make the genre so lovable: quirky characters, meddling family members, adorable animals, etc. And Sage Byrd is the romance heroine you want to be best friends with. She’s relatable and funny, soft but strong. And one of the most memorable characters I read all year. AND you can read Savor It over in Kindle Unlimited!
FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR
T. Kingfisher is a new-to-me author, and after reading Swordheart, I cannot wait to tackle her backlist. This cozy romantasy made me a big fan. The characters are delightful, and the story is filled with so much charm and whimsy. Definitely worth checking out.
MOST READ AUTHOR
2025 was the year I became obsessed with the Accidental Alien Brides series by January Bell. These are all in Kindle Unlimited. Were they all 5-star reads? No. Did I have a good time with every single one? Yes. Yes, I did. I love a big, broody alien who becomes obsessed with their human mate. So these really worked for me. I read all 8 books in the series and then hopped over and read two more spin-off series. No regrets.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cat Sebastian came in second in the most-read category. I read and loved the London Highwaymen series, The Cabots, Two Rogues Make a Right, Page & Sommers. At the time of my writing this list, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb was only $1.99. Cat writes such cozy, delightful stories. I find myself smiling often as both characters PINE RELENTLESSLY for 200+ pages before they get a clue. It’s a fantastic experience. And the writing is wonderful.