Favorite Books I Read This Year (So Far)
Six favorites for the first half of 2025.
At the end of the year I like to do a round-up of my favorite books I read, but I thought it would be fun to do a mid-year check-in, too. It was nice to take a trip down memory lane and remember what it felt like reading some of these.
It was a happy little accident that I ended up with six titles, one for each month of the year so far. They don’t correspond to a month (I didn’t have any favorite reads in January, and I read three of my favorite books so far in February) but still.
Here they are!
James, Percival Everett
An absolute delight as an audiobook. The hype around this one is warranted, and if you haven’t picked it up yet, do it now before your brain turns off for the summer (it isn’t a light summer read.)
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton
If you want to get lost in a twisty, turny mystery, this is for you. It’s Groundhog Day if Agatha Christie wrote it, with a fun little “didn’t see that coming” at the end. Would be excellent on a rainy weekend.
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir
I will never stop yapping about this book. Please read it, even if sci-fi isn’t your thing. This is absolutely an any time of the year book, but get the audiobook if you can. Perfect for listening to next to the pool or at the splash pad to drown out the sounds of children yelling.
Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy
Atmospheric and moody, would be great to read during a heat wave to take your mind off of how sweaty you are. It takes place on an island off the coast of Antarctica, so major chilly vibes. Also, the mystery and the isolated setting might give you literal chills.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
I’m including this one mainly because I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I’m more of a romantasy than straight fantasy girly, but this one hooked me. Ocean’s Eleven meets Six of Crows, with capers and heists and underdogs you’ll definitely be rooting for.
Quicksilver, Callie Hart
Full review of this one coming in my June books recap, but this was a nearly perfect romantasy, in my opinion. If you’re looking for a new book boyfriend for the summer, let me introduce you to Kingfisher. (I know. I know his name is dumb. You won’t care once you meet him.)
I’m digging into my summer reads now and looking forward to making a serious dent in my TBR pile over the next few months, preferably while sitting on the beach or next to a pool, cold beverage in hand.
What are some of your favorite books you’ve read so far this year?
The Book of Lost a Found (early Lucy Foley before she went murder mystery genre and I actually preferred this Historical Fiction over her other novels- which I also have enjoyed in the past) , There’s Something about Mira by Sonali Dev, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid have all been 4.5-5 ⭐️ for me so far this year!
I also really enjoyed recently Every Summer After by Carley Fortune which is the prequel to One Golden Summer by the same author which just came out (which I also enjoyed), The Sirens by Emilia Hart (also read Weyward earlier this year and loved it), For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino, Say you’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, The Life we Bury by Allen Eskens, the Unhoneymooners by Christiana Lauren, The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan, and also loved James by P. Everett as well!