My Best Reads of 2025

This year there are only three books on my best reads list.  I don't feel like I had very many really great reads in 2025, and unfortunately there was no mystery/suspense books that really stood out to me as a favorite this year. So, I have one fantasy that includes some romance. Some people have categorized it as romantasy but I didn't feel like it was quite that heavy on the romance. Then there are two romances that earned 5 stars from me. Maybe that means that I was really in the mood to read books with romance in them, I don't know. I'm hoping that I find more books that I love in the coming year. That's the goal, along with more spontaneous reads and less planned buddy reads. That's it other than a few rereads that I'm not including because I only include books I've read for the first time in this.

 

Favorite Fantasy- 

 

A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence #1) by Rebecca Ross 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre:  Fantasy, Romance
Content: a couple of mostly non-de-script love scenes between married couples.

 

Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t set foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind; plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.

As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.

 

I loved the author's writing style, the characters, the way the romance developed, the magical music, just everything about this book was so good. It reminded me a bit of Juliet Marillier's books. I should warn you that if you read this one , then you will need to read book two as well because of the way things are left at the end of this book. That would probably be my only critique of the book, the ending left me feeling frustrated. I did, however, find it worth it because of the way things end in book two.

 

Favorite Romances-

 

Isabelle by Sophia Holloway 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult, Clean Romance
Genre:  Romance, Historical Romance
Content: Clean

 

Isabelle Wareham, whilst caring for her beloved widowed father, has not seen much of the world. After his death, Isabelle finds she is no longer her own mistress but under the guardianship of her unscrupulous brother-in-law, Lord Dunsfold, who sees her as a way to improve his own fortunes.

The outlook looks bleak until events throw Isabelle and the impoverished Earl of Idsworth together. However, Dunsfold is determined to force her into a more lucrative match and Isabelle will need to rise above her circumstances to reach her chance of happiness. 

 

Sophia Holloway has become a favorite regency romance author of mine. I love the formula that she has with her stories. There is usually an older relative that decides to cause trouble for the main character and the love interest. This person meddles in things and it can be frustrating but also amusing when they're thwarted. There's just enough wit and humor combined with just the right amount of drama for me, and the romance is usually really well done.

 

 

 

 

When Stars Dance at Midnight (The Midnight Stars #4) by Tess Thompson 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre:  Romance, Historical Romance
Content: Clean

 

She’s sunlight in human form. He’s spent his life in the shadows.

Betsy- 

I’ve spent my life caring for others—easing pain, offering comfort, healing wounds no one else wants to touch. But mine? They’ve stayed buried deep, hidden beneath humor and smiles. When George died, something inside me broke. And falling for a man who’d lost his memory only reminded me how dangerous it was to love someone you couldn’t fully know. Now, I pour everything into my work as a nurse… until Dr. Gabriel Stone shows up, cloaked in secrets, and starts chipping away at the walls I swore I’d never lower again.

Gabriel- 
Grief sent me running. Away from home, away from guilt, away from everything I couldn’t fix. But then I met Betsy Westbrook. She’s sunlight in human form—too bright, too good, and far too tempting for a man who’s done as much damage as I have. Every moment with her feels like grace I haven’t earned. And I know that if I let her in, I’ll want more. Too much more.
 

I thought the third book was the last in this series but was pleasantly surprised that the author gave us a fourth book. I was actually really happy about that because I liked Betsy so much in the last book. I do think she deserved to have her own story. This was, for me the best book in the series. I've really enjoyed the characters, the drama, and the emotional turmoil. Also, the second chance aspect of this series is great. I love seeing the characters get to have a second chance at love after losing someone.