Time to wrap up 2025’s year of books
I reached 128%* of my Goodreads goal of 60 books, and many of them are well worth recommending.
Here’s a list of my 2025 five-star reads, grouped by genre.
I read many more cosy novels last year than I generally do. I suspect that’s because it was a difficult year in some other ways.
Books always help.
Literary Novels:
These stories stayed with me, aided by the beautiful writing and the evocative settings.
Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy
The Land in Winter, Andrew Miller
Sci-Fi and Fantasy:
This is where I am most at home. I write detailed reviews for Aurealis, and so I encounter quite a lot of speculative fiction. I’m currently fan-girling about a Holly Black series, but that will have to go in a later post because I haven’t finished it.
Two Twisted Crowns, Rachel Gillig
Stone and Sky, Ben Aaronovitch
This Haunted Heaven, Reggie Oliver
The Invisible Woman, James P Blaylock
Cosy Fiction:
THE ENTIRE PHRYNE FISHER SERIES (yes I read all 24 of them!), by Kerry Greenwood. I was excited to get my hands on #24, Murder in the Cathedral, in November. Vale Kerry.
Murder on North Terrace, Lainie Anderson
The Last Death of the Year, Sophie Hannah
The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin, Alison Goodman
The Impossible Fortune, Richard Osman
Murder Before Evensong, Richard Coles
Popular Fiction:
I know – you’ve all already read these two! And seen the series!
I’m late to the party, and I have audio books to thank. Yes – I’m a very late convert to audio books too. I’m fairly particular about the reader’s voice. But as the year grew darker, I stopped listening to news podcasts and discovered my lovely local library’s BorrowBox! Sheer magic.
This is going to be a wonderful way to catch up on books I *should* already have read.
Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus
Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty
Recommendations
So there you have it, my recommended books from my 2025 reading. I’d love to hear what you think of any of these. You are probably way ahead of me.
The good news is that it’s only the 9th of January and already I have a list of three books to recommend in 2026!
Onwards
My own fantasy novel is proceeding apace, and I’ve commissioned an editor to give it a manuscript assessment, as well as seeking feedback from my trusty beta reader (to whom I am forever grateful!). Creating something that’s already spilling over 120,000 words and virtually writing its own sequel is a different kind of juggle.
More about that soon. In the meantime, if you’d like some procrastination fodder, you can check out the Pinterest board I’ve started for the project at: The Traitor Regent inspiration board at https://pin.it/2JhOmjdlM
Until next time – stay safe!
Clare