As the year winds down and I reflect on all the stories that swept me away, I’m thrilled to share my top 10reads of 2025! This year's list is a mix of magic, fantasy, sweeping historical fiction, and soul-stirring contemporary tales.
These ten books lingered long after I turned the last page, and I can’t recommend them enough.
Whether you’re hunting for your next TBR gem or reminiscing over what you’ve loved reading this year, I hope you enjoy our round up! Let’s dive in.
1. Alchemised by SenLinYu
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Epic Romance
A haunting, poetic, and visceral fantasy debut.
Why you’ll love it:
- Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers with devastating tension
- A morally gray necromancer who will live rent-free in your mind
- War trauma, magical caste systems, and memory loss
- A heroine fighting to reclaim her identity in a shattered world
This book ripped me apart and stitched me back together with threads of alchemy, ash, and longing. Helena and Kaine’s story is seared into my soul one of the most beautifully tragic romances I’ve ever read.
📖 Read the full guide to Alchemised →
2. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Genre: Dystopian / YA
Return to Panem with this gripping fifth installment in the Hunger Games universe.
Why you’ll love it:
- Haymitch’s backstory
- Raw, emotional, and unforgettable
- Heartbreaking social commentary
- A haunting look at what it means to fight when you've already lost everything
This was a gut punch in the best way. If The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was about power and control, Sunrise on the Reaping is about love and survival. One of the best YA reads of the year.
📖 Read the full review of Sunrise on the Reaping→
3. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction / Science + Romance
Love, ambition, and space...this book was stellar in every sense!
Why you’ll love it:
- Women in STEM blazing trails in NASA’s early shuttle program
- Found family, forbidden romance, and big emotions
- 1980s setting that feels vivid and cinematic
Joan Goodwin is one of the best protagonists I’ve read this year. Reid captures the ambition of science, the ache of longing, and the wonder of space. I cried. More than once.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Thanks for supporting my book-loving habits!
4. The Art Spy by Michelle Young
Genre: WWII Historical Nonfiction
A thrilling and inspiring account of the woman who saved Europe’s art from the Nazis.
Why you’ll love it:
- Think Monuments Men, but real, and female-led
- Spies, stolen art, and Resistance secrets
- Rich with atmosphere and utterly cinematic
Rose Valland’s story captivated me. I can’t believe we haven’t all been shouting about her already.
📖 Read the full review of The Art Spy→
5. The Correspondents by Virginia Evans
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Epistolary
A love letter to the art of letter writing and to a life fully lived.
Why you’ll love it:
- A sharp, warm, and witty heroine writing through her decades
- Reflects on grief, purpose, and the passage of time
- For fans of The Authenticity Project and Eleanor Oliphant
This book made me cry and laugh in equal measure. Sybil is a literary treasure.
6. The English Wife by Anna Stuart
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction / Biographical Novel
The untold story of Clementine Churchill’s role in history.
Why you’ll love it:
- Courage, resilience, and a behind-the-scenes look at WWII
- A powerful portrait of a woman in the shadow of a famous man
- Heartfelt and beautifully written
This one gave me chills. Clementine’s legacy finally gets the spotlight it deserves.
📖 Read the full review of The English Wife→
7. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Genre: Gothic Romantasy
A prophetess, a heretical knight, and a taking gargoyle.
Why you’ll love it:
- Misty moors and cathedral magic
- A slow-burn enemies-to-lovers quest
- Lyrical, lush prose with a spine-tingling atmosphere
This book gave Ninth House meets The Bear and the Nightingale vibes. I am truly obsessed and cannot wait for the next one!
📖 Read the full guide to The Knight and The Moth→
8. Road of Bones by Rebecca Thorne
Genre: Viking Fantasy / Enemies to Lovers Romance
A perilous journey, a fierce heroine, and sizzling slow-burn.
Why you’ll love it:
- Viking mercs, shadowy assassins, and shield maidens
- Found family and fierce banter
- Adventure + romance in perfect balance
This one surprised me in all the best ways. Silla is the kind of fierce female lead I love!
9. The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Genre: Sports Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
An Olympic skating partnership burned into the world’s memory.
Why you’ll love it:
- Childhood-to-champions love story
- Toxic fame, media obsession, and second chances
- A uniquely structured narrative that pulls you in
Think Daisy Jones on ice, with all the tension and heartache to match!
📖 Read the full review of The Favorites→
10. Arrow of Fortune by Sienna Archer
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Adventure Romance
Magic, mystery, and mythology collide in colonial India.
Why you’ll love it:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark meets feminist historical fantasy
- A motley crew of academics, rogues, and dog sidekicks
- Banter, danger, and heart
The Raiders of the Arcana series has quickly become a favorite, and this one didn’t disappoint! They seriously keep getting better!
Final Thoughts
This list was so hard to narrow down, but these were the stories that truly stayed with me long after the last page!
Have you read any of these? What were your top books of the year? Comment or follow me on Instagram @inkandimaginings and let’s talk favorites!
