I know the year isn’t quite finished yet. I’m about 65% of the way through Never Flinch by Stephen King, and I’m really enjoying it. My hold for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab may or may not come through before the end of the year, and I have a few other books lined up before I close out 2025, but December aside, I have compiled a list of my best reads of the year.
Favorite books of 2025 (in no particular order):
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Genre: Historical fiction
A coming-of-age tale that weaves together themes of family, loss, and prejudice. Where the Crawdads Sing is an ode to nature with beautiful depictions of the marsh and Kya’s journey of fortitude in the face of adversity.
Goodreads rating: 4.37
Check out my full review:
My Most Memorable Read of the Year (So Far).
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Genre: Thriller
I admire the confidence in coming out and telling the reader the story isn’t true right in the title and still having the payoff of the twist. I think thriller is a tough genre to write but rewarding to read. I enjoyed this one, especially following along with an increasingly bizarre Josie Fair. She just gets more unsettling as the story progresses.
Goodreads rating: 4.08
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Genre: Mystery/thriller
This book was one from my Most Anticipated Books of 2025 list, and it didn’t disappoint. I know some readers are tired of the miscommunication trope (if it can be called a trope), but I thought the characters each had justifiable reasons to keep information to themselves.
What happens when a mysterious woman washes ashore at a remote island managed by an equally mysterious family? Lies and half-truths—what really happened on this island?
Goodreads rating: 4.13
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Genre: Sci-fi
A unique apocalyptic scenario sends Ryland Grace into space searching for answers and ends with a satisfying twist. If you liked The Martian, this is the book for you (it’s a similar premise and character: one man surviving alone in space).
Goodreads rating: 4.50
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical fiction
This might be my favorite of this list. A beautifully written, heart-wrenching story that brings together unlikely characters in Saint-Malo, France, during WWII.
Goodreads rating: 4.31
Check out the full review:
Honorable Mention: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
(If you like YA)
Genre: Mystery/thriller (YA)
This is a thriller/mystery for young adults, with a twist that some people said they saw coming, but I did not (maybe I’m too trusting of a reader). There’s a TV series adaptation of this, but I didn’t get past the first episode. Maybe I’m just too old at this point to be the target audience.
Goodreads rating: 3.65
Thanks for reading—stay inspired!
Janine Eaby is the author of Beyond the Water’s Edge—a Young adult fantasy book series influenced by her faith, love of nature, and desire for adventure. Ideal for fans of portal fantasies to other worlds like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
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Janine Eaby – Author | Beyond the Water’s Edge Portal Fantasy Series 
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