Everything I Read in 2025…

Here’s everything I read in 2025. Had some real highs and some real clunkers in here. Probably too much romance. I always know it’s too much when my cynical side takes over!

Novels Read in 2025

54. Beyond the Door of No Return

A fictional account of Michel Adanson’s search for a mysterious woman who was sold into slavery and managed to escape back to Senegal.

• Author: David Diop
• Translator: Sam Taylor
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Historic Fiction
• Location: Paris & Senegal
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THOUGHTS

God this book was so beautifully written and translated. On the surface it’s a story within a story (within a story) but when you really dig in, it does so much more. The choice to make the main narrator a fictionalized version of Michel Adanson, a French botanist who traveled Senegal during the 1700s was so smart. The way he talks about Maram and his journey from Saint Louis through the Lompoul Desert and the Island Gorée is so romantic and lofty, it reeks of “not like other” colonists. The last chapter is especially just PERFECTION.

Diop does such a cool job of intertwining the concept of an unreliable narrator, Eurocentrism, African colonialism, and real history with descriptions of historic Senegal, the Atlantic slave trade, and Gorée Island. I read this while in Senegal and after visiting the Door of No Return in Gorée, and it was incredible.

53. Gold Coast Dilemma

Ghanian heiress Ofosua Addo has a few things on her plate. Her fairytale wedding ended in disaster; she’s been given her own imprint at her fuddy, duddy publishing house, and she has to run said imprint with her one time hot kiss/now enemy, Cole Drake. Dual POV.

• Author: Nana Malone
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: NYC, USA
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THOUGHTS

This is such a cute freaking romance!!! I love Ofosua and the commentary on both micro aggressions and racism in publishing and the complications of being a Ghanian-American. Her and Cole are very hot, and it’s a very cute love story!!

52. Love on the Brain

Bee’s dream job on a NASA neuroengineering project and potential way out of academic hell turns into a nightmare when she must co-lead with Levi Ward, a man who made it clear he disliked her all the way back in undergrad.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Houston, TX
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THOUGHTS

My final Ali Hazelwood book for now! I can’t tell if I’m just overall charmed by Ali’s style or what but usually a quirky FMC like Bee would annoy the hell out of me, but I loved her even when she was denser than a rock. I loved the element of neuroscience and Levi Ward was such a fun MC.

Really my main note after reading nearly all her books this year — please, we do NOT need to keep describing penises as so big they almost don’t fit. It does not sound pleasant, and the sex scenes are just fine without the need to describe then like that!!

51. The Reckless Oath We Made

Zee’s always been independent but when life hands her just a few too many challenges all at once, she finds herself leaning on Gentry, an autistic man who believes he is a knight and his mission in life is to protect her.

• Author: Bryn Greenwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Contemporary Fiction
• Location: Wichita, KS
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THOUGHTS

I read Bryn Greenwood’s other book, All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, after a friend recommended it saying it was either the best or worst book she’s ever read. On the one hand I hated how she tried to normalize the pedo relationship. On the other hand, I really liked the way she brought her characters and world to life in this realistically poetic way.

When I saw this book available on Libby, I decided to give it a shot and am glad I did. It’s a sweet story within a chaotic world, and I love the unlikely romance between Zee and Gentry. Sweet Gentry!!

50. Love, Theoretically

Elsie is an adjunct professor in theoretical physics by day, a professional fake girlfriend in her free time, and neither has been an issue until she learns her favorite client’s older brother is her arch nemesis, Jack Smith Turner. Not only did he nearly ruin her field before she even got a chance to enter it, he could ruin her chances at a dream MIT position.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: MI, MA
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THOUGHTS

Oh this was a very lovely story and one of Ali’s best of all I read. Elsie is such a fun character, and I really loved her journey from people pleasing to figuring out what she wants. Jack is a great male lead and good at pushing her to think for herself. The little twists and look into theoretical physics were fun. The only thing that made he head scratch was the amount references to Japanese porn. Like was that really necessary???

49. Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff is obsessed with Cathy. Cathy is obsessed with Heathcliff. He’s beneath her so she marries the neighboring Edgar Linton. Heathcliff proceeds to make this everyone’s problem through to the next generation.

• Author: Emily Brontë
• How I Read: Physical/Kindle
• Category: Classic Literature
• Location: The Moors of England
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THOUGHTS

I first read this in either late middle school or early high school, and I also was swept up in the obsessive love I thought Kathy and Heathcliff had. A love so intense and passionate and doomed, it nearly ruined the next generation! It probably didn’t help that I watched the Laurence Olivier movie right after and to this day I have not witness a man as beautiful as Olivier as Heathcliff. Not even Laurence himself was ever that beautiful before or after.

Anyway as an adult with a fully formed brain and free of teen hormones, I read this book again and wowza. First of all, this is not a love story. Like at all. It’s obsession and unhealthy codependence born out of isolation. I was shocked reading some of it in 2025, I cannot imagine how crazy Victorian England would’ve reacted???

Also Heathcliff is so violent, good lord. I started highlighting every time he threw hands or threatened it because this man turned pure evil by the time he grew up. Cathy was such a pick me brat, and while Edgar and Isabella weren’t particularly charming characters, you can’t help but feel bad at them getting sucked into the toxic vortex of the Earnshaw chaos.

I was talking to my friend, and I was like, “You know how there are some books where the whole book is just like a personification of the setting?” That’s what this is. This story is the personification of the Moors, idk how to explain it better!

48. Cover Story

Bel’s a somewhat scrappy investigative journalist; Connor’s a “completely derailed my finance career to try journalism” intern with a stick up his ass. Too bad they have to fake date so she can investigate a potentially huge story. Dual POV.

• Author: Mhairi McFarlane
• How I Read: Physical/Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: Manchester, UK
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THOUGHTS

Mhairi’s latest and I believe the first time she’s done a dual POV. As with all her books, the chat is top notch and everyone is so fun. I actually enjoyed Connor’s passages, and it’s one of the few male POVs I’ve read where he’s not just horny half the time. Also friggin’ LOVED Bel. She’s so offbeat and funny, I’m obsessed with their dynamic.

47. First-Time Caller

Aiden’s a jaded radio host who runs a relationship advice segment; Lucie’s a single mom who hasn’t had time to date since…well, ever. Can he fight off his attraction as he helps her find love with all of Baltimore listening in?

• Author: BK Borison
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Baltimore, MD
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THOUGHTS

I feel like this is a cute story that I just couldn’t get into. I blame it more on me than them because it’s not like there was anything wrong with it and I actually loved that it was set in Baltimore. Maybe it was just too realistic for what I was in the mood for? Idk! I do remember getting half way and going, “I’M ONLY HALF WAY???”

But, again, I put the onus on me and not the story or the writing.

46. Long Bright River

A string of mysterious murders has Philly cop, Mickey, worried her estranged, addicted sister, Kacey, could be a potential target.

• Author: Liz Moore
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Contemporary Thriller
• Location: Philly, PA
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THOUGHTS

This is less thriller than it is a character study and a commentary on addiction and grooming. I really enjoyed it though the subject matter is both heavy and incredibly sad.

45. Cruel Seduction

A spin on Hephaestus and Aphrodite which includes Pandora, Adonis, and polyamory.

• Author: Katee Robert
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Fantasy Romance
• Location: Fictional Olympus
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THOUGHTS

I was either painting or decorating and needed something light to listen to. This was available on Libby and as a sucker for anything Greek mythology-related, I downloaded to listen to despite it being the 5th in a series.

I was NOT expecting a polyamory story!! Honestly it was fun and like 90% sex with 10% plot. Was it an amazing piece of literature? No. Was it absolutely wild and provided exactly what it promised? Absolutely.

44. Slow Dance

Carey was the best friend who got away. Now Shiloh, a single mom still stuck in Omaha like she never wanted, is hoping to see if something can be rekindled 14 year later at a wedding of their mutual friend.

• Author: Rainbow Rowell
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Omaha, Nebraska
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THOUGHTS

I liked this though I couldn’t tell you anything remarkable about it. Like nothing particularly crazy happens and technically it’s even more realistic than First Time Caller, so I should’ve been bored. But I don’t know, Rainbow fleshed out this really sweetly mundane second chance romance and I loved it. My main criticism is that Carey as a character and narrator does not feel remotely fleshed out. Like nothing from his POV is independent of Shiloh.

43. The Geographer’s Map to Romance

Elodie and her estranged, grumpy husband of convenience (whom she secretly loves), Gabriel, must work together to prevent a magical catastrophe in Wales. Oh, and he’s totally, secretly in love with her and all her quirks too.

• Author: India Holton
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Historic Romantasy
• Location: Fictional Wales
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THOUGHTS

I picked this up on a whim at a bookstore and had no clue what to expect. I hadn’t even realized it was the 2nd book in a series! Easily one of my favorite reads of the year. India Holton knows how to write a truly and utterly charming book with all the right elements of whimsy, silliness, and romance mixed in! Elodie and Gabriel are so funny together and, yeah, the magical elements don’t always make 100% sense to me, but who cares? Can’t wait to read the other books!

Also Gabriel and Elodie’s chemistry is absolutely perfect.

42. The Hunting Party

A group of 30-something Oxford alumni friends gather in the Scottish Highlands for their annual get together.

• Author: Lucy Foley
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Thriller/Mystery
• Location: Scottish Highlands
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THOUGHTS

I also enjoy Lucy Foley novels but somehow it’s like I finish one and proceed to completely forget what it’s about and what the twist was. Kind of like candy thrillers? And this is my third of hers, and I’m pretty sure I read the other two physically. So odd but I keep coming back!

41. Cleopatra and Frankenstein

Cleo is a young, delicately beautiful artist who marries Frank, a charming businessman 20 years her senior for a green card. What ensues is all the challenges to their marriage.

• Author: Coco Mellors
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Contemporary Fiction
• Location: Mainly NYC
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THOUGHTS

There are elements of a really good story here that are absolutely bogged down by meandering prose, pointless tangents, absolutely zero emotional journey.

Also: so. much. TELLING.

What I Liked:

• How Coco Mellors puts together a sentence. Idk if that makes sense, but I like how she writes even if I don’t like what she’s writing. I think a stronger editor would’ve been able to really shape this story beautifully so it’s kind of sad it was published as is.
• Cleo. I feel like Mellors did such an injustice to Cleo as a character that when she tries to kill herself, I was just kind of like “Oh.” She could’ve really explored the depression and isolation of a young, ethereally beautiful artist in a quickie marriage to a man 20 years her senior but… she just didn’t. There were hints of it but instead of writing through that discomfort, she switched narrators and fast forwarded time.

What I Disliked:

• The constant narrator changes. I fucking hate when an author cycles through narrators for no reason. I hate it even more when they change from third to first for no particular reason. If you name a book for two characters, don’t you think you should, idk, focus the book on those two characters?
  • Examples: Why is Eleanor is first person and why do I care about her story or her dad dying? Why do I need to read through Quentin’s druggie clubbing early in the novel for him to become a completely inconsequential character the rest of the book? Anders also disappears and we have to sit in his narration too. Omggg it was random and annoying especially when it took up story space that SHOULD’VE been dedicated to Cleo & Frank’s relationship.
• Every single character is such a typical trope, it’s not even funny.
• So much telling and almost no showing. Frank emotionally cheating. Cleo cheating with Anders. Her suicide attempt. The sugar glider’s death. Eleanor’s dad dying. The marriage crumbling. Cleo’s depression. Quentin’s addiction. Frank’s addiction. Literally so much is told me as a reader and so little is shown. I was not emotionally invested in anything, and I should’ve been icked, uncomfortable, and then devestated.
  • Example: We’re told Cleo and Frank love each other but we hardly ever saw it AND it literally goes Prologue — meeting, Chapter One — getting married, and oh btw he fingered her in the stairwell. God forbid we write about that when it’s happening the chapter before, we’ll just slide it in as an after thought.
• Worse than all the telling, it’s told-ing. As in we jump ahead in the story and are told things that happened in the past offhand.
  • Example: The sugar glider we spend so many pages on, dies from neglect, but we’re told way, way later as an aside.
• The beautiful willowy sad blonde angel vs sturdy ugly Jewish girl trope. Omg that was fucking ANNOYING. Coco Mellors literally looks like her descriptions of Cleo, so what was the point of everyone constantly talking about how low key ugly Eleanor was in comparison. To make ugly girls hope that an old fart like Frank will choose them over their young, angelic looking wives?

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL POINT

I FUCKING HATED FRANK. He’s 44-46 in this book. Cleo is 24. Eleanor is “in her thirties.” Siri play “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter because THIS GUY SUCKS. He sucked the whole way through and never once did I see his appeal. He treated Cleo like a sexy baby until she was too depressed and angry and upset with him over his alcohol addiction. Then he emotionally cheats with Eleanor who works for him, btw. He’s just annoying and whiny and there is not enough discussion about how icky it is for a 44yo man to get with a 24yo woman in a stairwell and marry her months later when her green card is about to expire.

He also made Eleanor wait to have sex for whatever reason and when they finally do have sex, they fumble a bunch and he lasts 30 seconds. So you jerked this woman around while her dad was dying and couldn’t even make the first time half decent? (AGAIN we’re told this sex happened well after the fact when he’s checking in on Cleo).

Oh, and the end when he tells Cleo he came to see her because Eleanor wanted him to? GOD FORBID YOU WANT TO SHOW SOME EMPATHY TO YOUR WIFE WITHOUT THE WOMAN YOU WANNA FUCK TELLING YOU TO?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

40. Northanger Abbey

Catherine Moreland loves a good novel maybe a little too much!

• Author: Jane Austen
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Classic Literature
• Location: Bath, UK
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THOUGHTS

You know what, this book actually loses steam about half way through. Austen does such a gorgeous job of capturing that first crush and hoping to see your crush out and about without being obvious so perfectly in the first half. And then it’s like she absolutely speed runs through the rest of the plot. I’m not kidding when I say the climax and denouement of the book happen in the last four pages.

Still it’s very cute and charming. I more loved the first half set in Bath!

39. Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

The latest Finlay book — this time a body is discovered in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard.

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Murder Mystery/Thriller
• Location: NoVA
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THOUGHTS

I mean, considering this is like the 4th or 5th book in the series, I’m obviously enjoying them enough to continue. They are, indeed, incredibly fun and I like whoever the audiobook reader is. This one centers more on Mrs. Haggerty, Finlay’s nosy, crochety neighbor!!

38. Mate

Sequel to Bride, this one is all about Serena and the challenges she faces as a Human-Were hybrid while having to rely on her mate and alpha of the Northwest pack Koen.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Werewolf Romance
• Location: Fictional PNW
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THOUGHTS

I had a feeling I’d like this one more than Bride and I was right. I’m not super into vampires so a fully werewolf book is more up my alley and I found Serena to be a compelling character in the first book. Overall I enjoyed this! If you’re new to werewolf romances, this is a fun entrance. If you’re already familiar with them, all of the mystery will be glaringly obvious.

My only complaint is that Koen’s insults read like some preteen boy logging into his first video game. Like so unnecessary and made him significantly less attractive.

37. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

When Javi, Vero’s old boyfriend, is kidnapped, Finlay and she find themselves in Atlantic City under the guise of a girls’ weekend. Except Finlay’s mother, ex-husband, and kids insist on coming too.

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Murder Mystery/Thriller
• Location: Atlantic City, NJ
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THOUGHTS

We’re leaving NoVA for shiny Atlantic City this book! I still can’t stop laughing thinking of Finlay getting suddenly saddled with her entire family while trying to track down Javi with Vero. Also Javi, swoon!

36. Romantic Comedy

Sally is convinced hot men don’t go for plain, funny women and her stint on The Night Owls has only cemented this belief. That is until pop star Noah Brewster takes an interest to her.

• Author: Curtis Steinfeld
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: NYC, Kansas City, & Hollywood
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THOUGHTS

I liked the first chapter because I thought the premise was fun even if the veil between fiction and SNL was so thin, it might as well have been transparent. This book felt like it would be a slow burn while Sally learned to not be so self-loathing, and we got more discourse on the slovenly man/hot woman but never in reverse phenomenon.

But then it literally pulls a gotcha and becomes a flippin’ PANDEMIC romance — one that feels completely unearned by the way. There is literally never any real emotional gut punch or obstacle and it just feels so shallow and casual and rushed.

Also the mfing emails. Sally Rooney did this in a book and it made me want to tear my hair out

35. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

Finlay and Vero find themselves in hot cop, Nick’s citizen police academy while searching for a potential mole in the force.

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Murder Msytery/Thriller
• Location: NoVA
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THOUGHTS

Still fun but looking back probably my least favorite of the bunch. I’m just not into Nick, and I think this is the book where she really cements choosing him over Julian. Boooooo.

34. Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

As annoying as her ex-husband is, Finlay doesn’t want Steven dead, and now she and Vero must figure out who wants him that way.

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Murder Mystery/Thriller
• Location: NoVa
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THOUGHTS

The second Finlay book and this one is more focused on her good-for-nothing ex!! This book made me realize the guy is JUST like my friend’s brother who has this annoying charm about him even when he is saying and doing the most dipshit things. I guess we should make sure Steven lives, ugh.

33. Loved One

What exactly do you do when you finally hook up with your ex-boyfriend and long time best friend only for him to ghost you and then die? Oh, and he’s a semi-famous singer with a mother in Barcelona and an recent ex-girlfriend in London.

• Author: Aisha Muharrar
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Contemporary Fiction
• Location: LA & London
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THOUGHTS

Absolutely adored this book. It’s such a beautiful story about grief when you still have a million questions. I like when these kinds of stories have elements of humor, and there were parts that I burst into laughter in between feeling sad. Julia is such a good character trying to navigate her own confusing grief as well as getting answers and trying to do right by everyone else grieving. And, of course, it’s a true love letter to Barcelona, London, and LA!

Side note: I learned later that Aisha has worked on “Parks & Rec,” “The Good Place,” and “Hacks”!!

32. What Happens in Amsterdam

Unsure of what she’s doing in life, 30-something Dani moves to Amsterdam where she proceeds to literally run into her teenaged first love, Wouter.

• Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
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THOUGHTS

Given I almost moved to Amsterdam, I enjoyed the bits about moving there right down to their stupid tiny sinks. Otherwise though I found the plot really unrealistic and financially confusing. It’s also so odd that she moves there without mentioning Wouter until they literally run into each other and apparently he was a high school flame that got away??

It also falls into a plot that I’m not interested in. She doesn’t fall in love with Amsterdam on her own; everything she does is through him and this weird fake marriage plot. There’s no real tension and I just didn’t need MULTIPLE comments on his balding. Türkiye is a few hours away, buddy.

And lastly, for a book that reads very Hallmark-ish for the most part, the sex scenes were very bizarrely graphic. Like finger in the booty hole graphic which just seemed so unnecessary compared to the tone of the rest of the book.

31. Alchemised

Once upon a time Helena Marino was an alchemy student and in the inner circle of the Eternal Flame. Now she’s a prisoner of the High Reeve and her own mind as she struggles to survive in a post-war Paladia and with inexplicable lost memories.

• Author: SenLinYu
• How I Read: Physical Book
• Category: Fantasy
• Location: Fictional Paladia (inspired by “Singapore, the British slums, and Kowloon Walled City)
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THOUGHTS

As someone who was emotionally destroyed by Manacled, I’ve been waiting for Alchemised since SenLinYu announced it would be getting published!! She did some crazy world building to make this happen so it might feel like a lot of info dumping in the beginning especially if you’re not familiar with alchemy and resonance and necromancy. But don’t worry about trying to take notes, it all starts to make more sense as it goes.

Helena Marino is such a compelling character and my heart broke seeing her get consistently beat down during the war. It’s very much a gruesome fantasy war novel and considering necromancy is a huge element, be prepared for some very blood curdling descriptions.

I would say my only complaint is similar to how I felt when I finished Babel. I wish it had been split into 2-3 books instead of one giant tomb!

30. The Sun Sets in Singapore

Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are three Nigerian expats in Singapore facing their own problems.

• Author: Kehinde Fadipe
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Women’s Fiction
• Location: Singapore
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THOUGHTS

Ahhh the expat life. This almost makes me miss it! I actually really love that this falls squarely Women’s Fiction and not in romance at all. Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are facing their own set of problems, and I enjoyed following as they dealt with them.

29. Finlay Donovan is Killing It

With a shitty, cheating ex-husband, a novel that doesn’t seem to be working, and two small children, the last thing Finlay needs is to be confused as a murderer for hire!

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: California
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THOUGHTS

My friend recommended this series for something fun, and she was so right!!! I loved this start to the series and the goofy ways she stumbles her way into accidentally being hired for murder. Also deeply in the camp that she should’ve murdered her ex. The kids can get over it.

28. You Belong with Me

A sequel to Who’s That Girl?, this one explores what Edie and Elliot’s relationship would realistically look like as his Hollywood star continues to rise.

• Author: Mhairi McFarlane
• How I Read: Libby Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: California
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THOUGHTS

A re-read (well this time I listened). Just needed something to listen to that I knew I would enjoy, and I loveeee Mhairi McFarlane. It’s a sequel to Who’s that Girl? so obviously read that one first! I just love Edie and Elliot and this just feels like an actual grown-up love story between two people who can communicate.

27. Bride

Misery, a Vampyre, must marry Lowe, a Were alpha, to broker peace between the two societies even if it means she could very likely die. She agrees for one specific reason.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Paranormal Romance
• Location: Fictional PNW
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THOUGHTS

Ali’s first dip into paranormal romance. It’s cute but not the strongest of her books or even of the genre. I really wish we’d done away with Lowe’s thoughts at the beginning of each chapter because part of the appeal of this book should be us truly confused over this guy wanting to kill Misery or be with her. With those bits, there truly is no tension.

26. The Love Hypothesis

Olive must beg curmudgeon professor, Adam, to be her fake boyfriend so her best friend can date her ex-boyfriend without guilt.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Standford University & Boston
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THOUGHTS

This was absurdly cute and it is very obvious Adam is into Olive the entire time even when we never get his POV. You can definitely tell how much Ali’s writing skills have grown from this book to her later ones.

I’m excited for the movie!

25. The Marriage Plot

Madeleine loves Leonard. Mitchell loves Madeleine. Leonard has bipolar. Literary attempts ensue.

• Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Literary Fiction
• Location: All Over
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THOUGHTS

I dunno; I find literary fiction often has this way of absolutely sucking the emotion out of a story that should otherwise be punching you in the gut. This book kind of reminded me of Beautiful Ruins and Astonish Me — two other books that promised really intriguing stories but felt weirdly devoid of emotion.

Maybe if he had focused on one character? Idk, I would never pick up a whole book about Mitchell’s white boi spiritual journey while traveling. Leonard’s manic depression plotline did not make me sympathetic to manic depression and, in fact, might’ve done the reverse. And Madeleine’s plotline which… actually is truly nothing besides being in love with Leonard and just following him around while “rebeling” against her rich parents who are funding everything, is like the last thing I’m interested in.

It is also painfully pretentious and reminds me of some people I studied English with in college lol. Madeleine is in love with Leonard but we’re really just told this; there’s nothing that convinces me otherwise. Honestly Mitchell’s love for Madeleine makes more sense.

I also hated the organization of setting a new section en media res and backtracking like crazy from different POVs to get back to that point in time.

Hmm what else? Oh, this could’ve used an editor big time. There were so many long scenes that had no pay off (like the candy store — was it to illustrate how manic depression can make you creepy? Bc we already got that from other scenes). At around 75%, I remember thinking, “Is this over yet?!”

And don’t describe a book as erotic when the most erotic thing I can remember from it is one of Madeleine’s old boyfriends being obsessed with circumcision and in particular his circumcised dong.

24. The Soulmate Equation

Single mom Jess does numbers not love, but she’s (financially) convinced to give grumpy Dr. River Peña a chance when his dating company, GeneticAlly puts them as a diamond match and could use the good press.

• Author: Christina Lauren
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: San Diego, CA
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THOUGHTS

Not nearly as strong as its sequel, True Love Experiment. I liked it fine but it wasn’t an amazing read. The concept is nice and the characters are cute but the pacing was off and there’s just not enough tension. I feel like people would slap “enemies to lovers” on this and that is just… not very true.

23. Georgie All Along

Forced to move back to her hometown along the Chesapeake Bay, Georgie wants to take this time to focus on herself. The problem? She’s forced to share her parents’ house with the town hermit and her old crush’s brother, Levi.

• Author: Kate Clayborn
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: Chesapeake Bay Small Town
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THOUGHTS

This got a little extra bonus from me because it’s sent along the Chesapeake Bay, and I got a good giggle from the oyster mentions which reminded me of my college science requirement.

Otherwise the book is cute but lacks any real tension or organized plot. They should’ve just done away with Levi’s POV because part of the appeal of a plot like this is not knowing what he’s thinking or what he’s about. Knowing that he’s just instantly in love with Georgie takes all the stakes away. Also the whole premise of her doing a list she made as a kid is abandoned pretty quickly.

Should add this is one of the many romance books on this list that read more PG/PG-13 and then just straight to X when they finally get it on!

22. The Wake-up Call

Izzy and Lucas hate each other but must work together to save the charming hotel responsible for their employment.

• Author: Beth O’Leary
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: England
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THOUGHTS

Beth O’Leary is such an instant read for me. I just love how her books come with fun main leads and a cast of quirky side characters! She always puts them all in some funny situations too. Izzy and Lucas are so delightfully antagonistic while so clearly falling for each other, and the cozy crew of Forest Manor had me giggling the whole time.

21. A Certain Age

Mrs. Theresa Marshall lives a somewhat charmed, if not restrictive, life as a WASP on Fifth Avenue with her philandering older husband and her sweet young lover, Octavian. Things get complicated when her brother, Ox, gets engaged to newly rich Sophie Fortescue.

• Author: Beatriz Williams
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Historic Fiction
• Location: NYC & Long Island, NY
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THOUGHTS

This was a re-read for me (well re-listen) and I enjoyed it just as much the second time! Beatriz Williams is another must-read author, and A Certain Age fits more in her larger world of WASP-y characters. Honestly just feel bad for Theresa especially because I read this after reading Cocoa Beach and The Wicked City series.

20. The True Love Experiment

Sequel to The Soulmate Equation, this one follows Jess’s bff, romance author, Fizzy Chen. Despite having a lot of romantic fun, she’s never been in love, so she agrees to be on a new dating show produced by single dad Connor and based on River’s genetics dating company.

• Author: Christina Lauren
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: San Diego, CA
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THOUGHTS

Another sequel I accidentally read first! Fizzy is SUCH a fun main character and I wasn’t mad at Connor’s accent the whole time. The dating show premise doesn’t really kick in til well after you know they’re totally into each other so it’s a bit weak in that sense. But their chemistry is so cute, I didn’t even mind.

19. Recipe for Persuasion

Ashna agrees to be on a celebrity cooking show in a last ditch attempt to save her dead father’s restaurant. The problem? She’s paired with soccer star Rico Silva who was both her first love and first heartbreak. And he still resents the way she dumped him.

• Author: Sonali Dev
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Romance
• Location: California
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THOUGHTS

I really loved Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors, so naturally when I saw A Recipe for Persuasion, I picked it up. My favorite Jane story and food? Yes! Turns out this was easily one of my favorite reads of 2026. Ashna’s story is so heavy and beautiful and the yearning between her and Rico is true perfection. The way Sonali Dev can create tension without the characters even touching for most the book MUST be studied.

18. You Deserve Each Other

Naomi and Nicholas are supposed to get married in three months but despise each other. Since whoever breaks off the engagement has to foot the wedding bill, they each try to enact their own psychological warfare on each other.

• Author: Sarah Hogle
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Wisconsin
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THOUGHTS

I read this because I am indeed excited at the idea of Meghann Fahy and Penn Badgley making a rom com together!! It’s a very fun book with lots hijinks and heartwarming moments. Naomi is ridiculously charming because I wasn’t annoyed at her truly dumb logic and normally I’m the first one to eye roll!

17. Caught Up

When they were teens dark Junior could never have light Lauren. Now she’s a sex worker both at a play club and online, and he’s her top client.

• Author: Naveesa Allen
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Dark Romance
• Location: Chicago
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THOUGHTS

I thought the first book was kind of silly so I don’t know why I read Caught Up. It was okay but not very hot or dark or dangerous. Props to normalizing the women who do cam work, I guess?

16. The Healing Season of Pottery

A story of how an overworked broadcaster quits her job in Seoul and rebuilds herself at a pottery studio in a small village.

• Author: Yeon Somin
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Slice of Life Fiction
• Location: Korea
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THOUGHTS

Sign me up for any and all Asian slice of life novels!! Such a charmer of a book with that lovely, slow, cozy vibe I expect. It even has a cat!

15. One golden summer

Sequel to Every Summer After! Alice is a photographer who’s lived life off to the side. When she goes back to the lake to help care for her grandmother, she runs into charming Charlie Florek and they decide to have the kind of summer she always wanted as a teenager.

• Author: Carley Fortune
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: California
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THOUGHTS

Perfect summer romance! Charlie was one of the best parts of Every Summer After, so I very much enjoyed a book focused on him and his flirtatious banter. Alice is a lovely main character who really finds her voice in the book. I’d say as far as Carley Fortune books go it’s number two behind This Summer Will Be Different!

14. Not in Love

The last person biotech engineer Rue Siebert should be attracted to is Eli Killgore. And yet even as his company forcefully takes hers over, they can’t get enough of each other.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: Austin, TX
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THOUGHTS

I read this after I realized Problematic Summer Romance is actually its sequel. Hands down my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel. I don’t know why but Eli’s POV didn’t make me cringe like most male narrators do in romance novels. Ideal man right down to the Clark Kent glasses and inexplicable but respectful obsession! Rue is also such a lovely character who’s clearly on the spectrum. It’s nice seeing how he helps draw her out!

13. Problematic Summer Romance

Sequel to Not in Love, this one is about Eli’s little sister, Maya, and his best friend and business partner, Conor Harkness. Set in Italy during Rue and Eli’s wedding! Maya and Conor want each other. The only problem? He’s way too old for her.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Taormina, Sicily, Italy
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THOUGHTS

Oh my gosh, this book is so fun. It was ALL over my feed and every single bookstore I went in this summer. After liking Deep End, I decided to give it a chance, and I’m glad I did because I freakin’ LOVED it. Usually, I hate age gap relationships but this one works. Conor is fine but Maya is such a hoot. Like what a fun, plucky main character to root for!! The setting in Italy is also incredible.

12. Great Big Beautiful Life

Alice and Hayden are two writers with very different outlooks on life. They meet on Crescent Island to compete over writing a biography of Margaret Ives, a former tabloid princess and heiress who hasn’t been heard from in years.

• Author: Emily Henry
• How I Read: Physical Book
• Category: Romance & Historic Fiction
• Location: Fictional Crescent Island, Georgia
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THOUGHTS

Another EmHen win in my book. Also probably her spiciest yet? I loved her experimenting with a story within a story, very Beatriz Williams vibes too. (I guess also Evelyn Hugo, which also reminded me of Beatriz Williams when I read it lol).

11. The Book of Longings

What is Jesus had a wife?

• Author: Susan Monk Kidd
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Historic Fiction
• Location: Jerusalem and Egypt
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THOUGHTS

One of my favorite reads of the year. It’s such a gorgeous, tender book and I loved following Ana’s story. It goes beyond wondering if Jesus had a wife and into what life for a woman in biblical times would’ve been like. I would say if you’re Christian and find the idea of this book blasphemous to still give it a try. I thought it was very respectful.

10. Psykhe

A take on the Psyche & Eros myth, known as Psykhe and Ambrose in this novel.

• Author: Kate Forsyth
• How I Read: Physical Book
• Category: Historic Fiction
• Location: Ancient Rome & Dolomites
• Get on Amazon (or in Australia)

THOUGHTS

Another favorite author this time with my favorite myth — Psyche & Eros!! I always love seeing how Kate Forsyth manages to weave in history and setting into her novels especially when she’s working with folklore and mythology. In this case, she ties in Italy while making Psykhe albino. I do wish the book was like 200 pages longer and we sat with the love story more!

9. Light’s Out

Aly is a trauma nurse who thirsts over a hot faceless man online. Josh is said hot faceless man and is obsessed with Aly to the point of breaking into her house.

• Author: Naveesa Allen
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Dark Romance
• Location: New England
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THOUGHTS

My friend recommended me this book for dark romance and I’m not gonna lie — it felt pretty goofy. The mob gets involved in one point and I just started laughing as I listened to it. Like OF COURSE.

I also could not get into Josh as a main character. If I read a dark romance, I do not need my dude to be anxious and chatty in his POV nor do I want his thing to be Tiktok thirst traps with a mask on.

I did enjoy Aly and her job as a trauma nurse!

8. My Dark Vanessa

What happens when your 42-year-old teacher grooms you as a teenager.

• Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Fiction
• Location: New England and NYC
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THOUGHTS

The book was like watching a horror movie in slow motion.

7. Deep End

Scarlett is a diver and Lukas is a swimmer at DI Stanford University. They embark on a consensual BDSM relationship that winds up being much more than they bargained for.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Stanford University, CA
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THOUGHTS

My very first Ali Hazelwood! I read it because I fully would like swimming to overtake hockey as a romance subgenre (though as I write this I know “Heated Rivalry” has torpedoed any gains Deep End made). It’s actually more about diving since Lukas is the swimmer and we don’t get his point of view. I over all enjoyed it enough to read nearly all of Ali Hazelwood’s books this year; I’m just really not into reading about college students anymore.

I will say it’s kind of long for a romance novel. As far as the BDSM aspect goes, I didn’t think it was particularly intense. Very light introduction to the concept. But my friend said she put it down because it was too much, so take with that information what you will!

6. People We Meet on Vacation

Poppy and Alex are polar opposites and best friends. Best friends who have traveled together since college. When an incident has them not speaking to each other for two years, Poppy tries one last trip to salvage their relationship.

• Author: Emily Henry
• How I Read: Kindle
• Category: Romance
• Location: All over but mainly in NYC and Ohio
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THOUGHTS

Reread one of my favorite novels to feel some sense of optimism. Loved it just as much as I did the first time and I will defend Poppy with my life against all you haters!!!

5. The Wedding People

Phoebe books a room at a fancy Newport hotel with the intention of killing herself. The problem? She’s the only guest not involved in the wedding, and the bride has NOT planned for a suicide.

• Author: Alison Espach
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Fiction
• Location: Newport, RI
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THOUGHTS

Another book that felt like it was everywhere and in front of every bookstore! Well, this one deserves the hype because it was so lovely and one of my favorite reads of the year! I cried, giggled, cried, and then fully belly laughed at some points. The way Alison Espach captured despairing loneliness and sadness is truly a feat. Kind of like what Madeline Miller did with Circe.

And you know I enjoyed it because normally I’d see the setting was a basic rich white person wedding and run for the hills.

4. This Could Be Us

Soledad is the perfect mother and housewife, which is why she doesn’t have time to crumble when her marriage falls apart. Enter Judah, the FBI accountant investigating her ex-husband.

• Author: Kennedy Ryan
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Fictional Skyland in Atlanta, GA
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THOUGHTS

First Kennedy Ryan and this one was so dang cute! Whoever did Judah’s voice, please voice everything.

3. Year of Wonders

Told through the eyes of Anna Frith, this is a tale of what happens when a village is infected with the plague and chooses to self-isolate.

• Author: Geraldine Brooks
• How I Read: Physical
• Category: Historical Fiction
• Location: Fictional Village based off Eyam, UK
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THOUGHTS

The first 3/4s of this book were shaping into one of my favorites of the year but then it just goes kind of buckwild the last 50 pages. I really liked how Geraldine Brooks described the breakdown of a community in isolation and illness but the main character, Anna, feels a bit… not flat but like I didn’t really get into her mind?

But seriously what the hell with those last 50 pages?!!

2. Twisted Love

What happens when sunshine-y Ava Chen falls for her brother’s brooding best friend, Alex.

• Author: Ana Huang
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Contemporary Romance
• Location: Washington DC
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THOUGHTS

Omgggg this was hot gar-baj. Normally, I say, “Let people read what they want; we all like different things at different times for different reasons.” However, if you genuinely enjoyed this book, I want you to get your head checked.

Let’s start with Alex, the main guy.

I hated him from the first chapter. WHAT A PICK ME ALPHA BRO. Boo hiss boo. I listened to this book and literally every time this man spoke or I had to listen from his POV, I just kept yelling, “Shut the fuck uppppp, you whiny bitch.” If I didn’t say anything it’s because I was rolling my eyes and gagging. Full body cringe every time he talked about sex. I swear no man I’ve ever met is remotely like this. They’d be laughed at mercilessly for even trying and told to go find Jesus or a good therapist.

Oh, and of course he’s a billionaire or something at like 26 and is soooooo good at everythingggg and is sooo smart which he reminds us by stating his IQ. Loser ass behavior.

Now for Ava.

She is such a typical Mary Sue with little depth or interesting attributes. Like of course, she bakes and sees the good in everyone and is sooo sweet and trusting and blah blah blah. Everyone is sooo protective of her because she’s just all that’s good and lovely in the world. BORING.

There is also soooo much telling. Soooo much. Nothing was believable or had any emotional pull. Like there were two goofy ass death plots and I just laughed when they’re supposed to be intense and devastating.

And sunshine as a nickname. 🤮🤮🤮

1. When the Moon Hatched

Raeve is an assassin for the rebel Fíur du Ath when she’s taken by the Guild of Nobles. Kaan Vaegor is king after losing his great love and killing the former king. When he stumble sinto Raeve in the Capitol’s prison, they realize there’s more to them than the present.

• Author: Sarah A. Parker
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romantasy
• Location: Medieval-esque
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THOUGHTS

Never listen to a fantasy book, always read it because there is just too much world building for listening only! I’m planning on rereading this when the second book comes out because I just know I missed so much.

Novellas Read in 2025

3. Below Zero

Part of the STEM novellas, NASA aerospace engineer Hannah finds herself stuck in the Artic and her only hope of saving is in her arch rival and star of her dreams, Hayden.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Northern Norway
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THOUGHTS

I think this was fine but I genuinely cannot remember anything significant from it. Like it was completely forgettable as soon as I finished.

2.5. Bound

Vero is a con artist who gets kidnapped by Dr. Viktor Ashworth so she can help forge an ancient manuscript for him.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Paranormal Romance
• Location: New England
• On Spotify or Audible

THOUGHTS

I think this was fine but I was never very drawn into it. Also whoever voiced Viktor Ashworth sounded a million years old and so stuffy.

2. Stuck with You

After sharing one hot day together, Sadie learns of Erik’s betrayal and has hated him ever since. Now they’re stuck in an elevator together.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: NYC
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THOUGHTS

Hated just about every minute of listening to this novella. Kinda had a borderline Daddy/Little Girl thing going on which I really hated. Sadie comes off ass this tiny, helpless, stupid manic pixie girl who needs big, strong Erik to guide her through everything including sex. Gag me with a spoon.

Also, also – I couldn’t gone my whole life without reading the bit about Erik implying Sadie cant have her bra back because he was jacking off into it. That shit is expensive!! If a man did this to me, I’d be Venmo requesting him $50 at least for a new one.

1.5. Under One Roof

Environmental engineer Mara inherits her mentor’s house in DC only to discover she’s stuck sharing it with Liam, her mentor’s nephew and a big oil lawyer. Ugh.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Washington DC
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THOUGHTS

My favorite of the three STEM novellas. I thought it was hot but definitely felt too short.

1. Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank

A little sidequest into Vero’s back story!

• Author: Elle Cosimano
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Murder Mystery/Thriller
• Location: Maryland & Virginia
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THOUGHTS

Very cute but you’re honestly not gonna care about this novella unless you’re already invested in the Finlay Donovan series.

.5 Two Can Play

Viola finally scores the dream job or making a video game from her favorite novel. Only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse Andrews who hates her. When their bosses plan for a wintry getaway for team bonding, she discovers there’s more to him than she thought.

• Author: Ali Hazelwood
• How I Read: Audio
• Category: Romance
• Location: Snowy Cabin Somewhere
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THOUGHTS

This was so cute, I wanted it to be ten times longer.

And there you have it! Everything I read in 2026. Made it over my 52-book goal!