My Favourite Books of 2025: Part 2 😊

Manni Coe and his partner take a risk and buy ‘The Corner’, a crumbling but beautiful 150-year-old farmstead tucked into a remote valley in Andalusia, surrounded by olive trees. From landscape and poetry to family and friendship, Little Ruins is a heart-mending exploration of human connection, nature’s gifts and the power of love in all its forms.

It’s rare that I ever call a book “perfect” but there are no other ways to describe this book. It is perfectly addictive. It’s sad but joyous and hopeful and, amongst all the trauma, there is such an uplifting soul about it. I would put this into every single person’s hand if I could.

It’s 2050, a decade after a heatwave that killed four hundred million across the Persian Gulf, including journalist Marcus Tully’s wife. Now he must uncover the truth. Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species.

It is full of twists and turns, some you have a inkling about, and others that completely surprise you, and they’re all marvellously woven in. It’s like nothing else I’ve read before. It’s thrilling and frightening, but there’s also a lot of humanity and hope. A real first-class, five-star read.

When a body is found, it is only the beginning. Soon there will be seven more. In the city’s hospital, renowned surgeon Beth Waterfall is grieving. Her beloved only daughter fell prey to a vicious stalker a year previously – and now he’s coming for her too. Time is running out, and The Watcher is already set on making Beth Waterfall his next victim…

This book grabs you instantly. It is fast paced and tense and doesn’t let up from the first word to the last. This was an incredible book. The twists and turns with a big reveal I would NEVER have seen coming.

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal. But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who’s in trouble, kidnap and death are hot on their heels once more.

I read it in one sitting. It’s relatively long but so quick to read. It has really whet my appetite for the upcoming movie adaption (which I have now watched). This is a five star read and I think it’s the best of the lot.

‘To be, or not to be…’ – printed on orange card with no explanation – appears one morning. Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the noticeboard of her local café could change her path forever.

Sally has this ability to write about painful experiences but infuse it with such light and love and happiness and hope. It’s a real joy to read. I  have never left a book feeling anything other than uplifted. They’re good for the soul. It’s a passionate plea about the importance of friendship, community, and how family is more than just blood.

Pandora is the first human woman – made by the gods on Olympus for one simple to love and be loved by her new husband, the titan Epimatheos. The only problem? He wants nothing to do with her. What do you do when faced with an all-powerful love that just happens to threaten the end of the world?

Bea has done it again. A pitch perfect mythological retelling, and possibly my favourite. And on a personal note, as a fat woman, to open a traditionally published book and see one of the most beautiful women in Greek mythology drawn in a way that reflects my body…it’s just stunning. A stunning read.

Jesse is 15. She loves her friends, her little brother and her parents. But most of all, she loves playing video games. Even from her hospital bed. Alex is 29. His desk at work, as VR games designer, is empty, much like his life feels sometimes. Then Jesse makes a wish. A simple a video experience made of her life, something to be there, just in case she isn’t.

It is about more than just a dying child. There’s heart and love, family, friendship, anger, despair, frustration, forgiveness, stubbornness. It’s about accepting what you can control and forgiving what you can’t. It’s knowing you tried your best but not every battle can be won. It’s about how important hope and joy and fun and love are in such situations.

It’s been ten years since I saw my ex. Now his mother says I killed him. How could I possibly have killed Jacob? Why would I? I see the cold, angry stares and realise I’ve made a terrible mistake coming back. But does what happened all those years ago mean I’m now in danger, too?

This is very character heavy which I loved. It’s not a very long book and yet she’s packed so much into it but still manages to make it fun to read and not overwhelming. Each book is slightly different but where I think she has always excelled is in her character creation and development.

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined.

Now and again you read a book that makes you think, what’s the point in trying to write a book because it will never be as good, and that is what Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere has done. I have no notes. Perfect.

One dead wife is tragic. Two looks like murder. When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to the enigmatic Will, father to her young daughter’s best friend. But Will’s devastating past holds questions that nobody knows the answer to.

This was a phenomenal read. I read dozens of thrillers every year – it’s my most read genre – and they have a tendence to get a bit samey, but this was completely new to me. It was tense, but in a quiet way, which made it even more thrilling. The characters are not all good but fabulously written. I think it’s my first of her books (although I do own others) and she has automatically become a must-read.

Will Davenant has known more tragedy than laughter. But in an unexpected twist, he inherits his grandfather’s copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare, and makes a surprising discovery. As the last living relative of Shakespeare, Will can summon the Bard’s heroes from the pages.

Oh this was beautifully addictive right from the off. It’s so much fun and is so creative. It’s a great mix of fun and mayhem, magic and emotion – oh so much feeling! You’ll be laughing and crying on the same page.

Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily finds the peace and quiet she need. After selling his business, Lars is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs. as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.

There was so much I loved about this book, from the characters to the setting to the temperament and the storyline.  read this at a particularly difficult time, I was not in a good place mentally and emotionally and I had lost my reading mojo. But I eventually picked this up and Jessica gave me exactly what I needed in that moment – hope.

Two academic rivals at Cambridge, Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, must journey to hell to retrieve their recently deceased professor’s soul. They are forced to work together to navigate the underworld to rescue their advisor’s soul.

I had absolutely no idea what was going on for the majority of this book, and yet I loved it. Kuang’s ability to create a world, write compelling characters, and just draw you in is second to none. I can’t really explain to you what it’s about but I can explain to you just how much I loved it.

Innsbruck 1485. Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband’s house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.

She is a master storyteller, an adept hand at blending history with legend and fantasy and feminism, but keeping it real and true and familiar, it’s just beautiful. I had been in a bit of a reading slump before this, unable to focus on much, but I read this in a matter of hours, it was so absorbing that I couldn’t part from it. I

Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse, sealing the the hall from top to bottom. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within.

This was a good old classic, nostalgic murder mystery, with comparisons to Agatha Christie richly deserved. For a story to take place in one location and over about a week, you need to have a thrilling plot and very well-created characters to keep this interesting, and this book had it in spades. It is captivating and addictive and definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year.

London, 2015. When art appraiser Eve shakes the hand of a silver-haired gentleman in her London office, the warmth of his palm sends a spark through her. His name is Max Everly – the same name as Eve’s favourite composer, born one hundred sixteen years prior.
The White Octopus Hotel, 1935. Decades earlier, high in the snowy Swiss Alps, Eve and a young Max Everly wander the winding halls of the grand belle epoque White Octopus Hotel, lost in time.

This had me hooked instantly, it was so fabulous. It all feels so real like you’re being drawn into their world, and I didn’t want to leave. It’s sad and tragic and hopeful and magical and beautiful and tender and absolutely gorgeous. It is a beautiful, delicious story.

When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try – for better or worse.

Generally speaking, I do not ask for longer books. 350 is my sweet spot so at about 320 pages, this should be perfect. And it was. And because of that, I wanted more. I couldn’t bear the idea of leaving this world. I read it in one day, I just couldn’t tear myself away at all. It’s a beautiful book.

Franca left the Netherlands behind to start her new life in England with Andrew. Andrew suggests a dinner party that Franca must plan and shop and cook and clean for. A dinner party where everything she once was and everything she now is comes together and she feels like she might implode.

It isn’t your straightforward thriller. Yes there are obvious traditional thriller elements but it’s a quiet thriller. There’s suggestions hints, secrets, claustrophobia; there’s this heaviness about it, this fear, sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for the jumpscare. It is chaotic, messy, frenzied, frantic – in all the good ways.

To high society, Estella is the perfect lady. But her fair face hides dark secrets what has she done with her husband? And will her past crimes come back to haunt her? To mete out her own brand of dark justice she must risk everything. Even if it means she cannot survive.

 Barbara isn’t trying to live up to Dickens. She is putting her own spin on it, her own voice, whilst maintaining the heart of Dickens. She is the closest to matching the pedestal I put Dickens on. I planned to take my time with this, read it slowly, savour it. But truth be told, I flew through it in a day because I just had to know what happened next.

This Christmas, Malcolm is determined to give his dearest friend Rev Ruth the perfect festive lunch – a heartfelt thank-you for her boundless generosity. But when Ruth’s kind spirit turns their quiet meal into a community feast, Malcolm’s dreams – and nerves – begin to unravel.

Oh it’s only 100-odd page and I’d have loved for it to have been more. It gave me everything I wanted, but when it comes to Sally’s writing, I will always want more. The Christmas Day chapter was probably one of the best chapters of any book I’ve read. It really is perfect and drew a tear or two from me.

Sergeant Nix Marr left her dark past buried beneath the sea. Then Kessandra, the people’s princess (and Nix’s much-loathed ex), recruits Nix for a covert mission, to investigate a massacre in the under-water city of Fall.

It’s got everything. There’s romance and fighting and monsters and death and blood and heads rolling (literally), it ‘s so fast paced and exciting. I read another review that described this as “lesbians fight zombies on the Titanic”, and quite frankly, whilst that may be a bit simplistic, it is totally correct.

Hayden has always felt most comfortable with his hands in dirt, nurturing life. When he finds himself suddenly a widower, his garden becomes the resting place for the ashes of his wife, Shelly, and he’s thrown into an unexpected vortex of pain, shock, and guilt.

Cassondra has perfectly explored grief and all the emotions that come with it – anger, despair, longing, fear, sadness. It’s not too much and it’s very sensitive. It is a relatively short book and quick to read. I read it in an afternoon as it was so absorbing. I loved Cassondra’s style of writing.

Her locs transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity-not as a victim, but as a vigilante-and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.

It was really fantastic. It draws you in right from the off, it’s so enticing. There are so many mythological retellings nowadays and I have read a lot, and they can get a bit samey and lose their impact, but this was so fresh and new, yet it keeps the essence that makes the genre so successful.

It’s the summer of 1985 and the residents of Delmont Close are preparing a neighbourhood barbecue to watch the biggest music event in history: Live Aid. A day like no other that will end having reached millions and changed the lives of all who attend.

It’s another one of those books that makes you question whether you should even try to write a book, because it will never been as good as this one. I know she’s only two books in, but I can say hand on heart that I will read everything she writes – even her grocery list if she’d let me. I sure hope she has a long writing career because I, and everyone else, needs her talent on their bookshelves.

Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out.

I love Rosie’s books and this was as great as I hoped for. It gives us everything we know about the Medusa legend, but adds a different flavour to it so it’s not stale. It’s fun and fierce and scary and powerful and a really great read.

Venice. Moonlight on the canals. A luxury cruise. The perfect setting for romance. And for long-kept secrets to come out. Following Disa, Molly, Jamie Milo, and Kayla in a delicious new romantic read.

There’s romance, adventure, love, humour, jealousy, secrets, second chances, friendship – old and new, sadness, happiness, grief, hope – it’s just got everything and more. I know I say this with every one of her books but this is definitely her best one yet.

It is Baby’s birthday, but Grace has not seen her first born in 26 years. Now a wife, mother, and owner of a successful medical clinic, Grace has carefully constructed a new life. And now, the secret she’s kept for decades is about to resurface – and it could destroy everything.

If you’ve ever wondered what people mean when they say something was an emotional gut punch, then read this book. It’s not trying to be overly heart-breaking, but the beauty of her writing and the subject matter is wonderfully sad.

When Tilly receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock, because Joe died five months ago. The gift is simple – 12 carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.

This is Libby’s best book to date, no question. Every single aspect – plot, characters, narrative, writing, feeling – is 100% perfect. I cannot say more than that, although I have tried to. It’ll definitely be a book I recommend to everyone I know, especially those who have experienced recent grief.

In 1996, there was no avoiding the story that America’s biggest teen pop star had plunged to his death on a rollercoaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England. Now, 27 years have passed, and what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?

It is full of twists and turns and shocks, but they don’t feel overwhelming or too unbelievable, with one or two I couldn’t have predicted. This is another five star read from my favourite author, Laura Pearson.

When five old friends are invited to join Abigail at the launch of her luxury hotel in the Costa Rican rainforest, they jump at the chance to spend a week in paradise. But when a body is discovered during the hotel’s launch event, it soon becomes clear that one among them must be responsible.

My first of Tom’s books. I loved the setting of this isolated jungle, the claustrophobia and the feeling of being enclosed, it adds an extra element of fear, which is great for this genre. I read it in one sitting, late into the night, as I just couldn’t stop until I’d finished it.

Sim, Jeopardy and Nelson are enjoying a holiday in Rome, until they they are swept up in the mysterious disappearance of world-famous illusionist Kinetic. He vanished during a live broadcast from the Colosseum, but he never reappeared.

Once again it is full of magic and adventure, challenges and danger, fun, love, and friendship. I have loved this series as an adult and I would have loved it as a kid. And I really want many more instalments please.

Ginny usually loves Christmas. Not this year, though. After witnessing a traumatic accident and breaking up with her ex, she plans to spend it alone. But her mother, Evie persuades her to spend Christmas with her at an artist and writer’s retreat at Triskelion.

One of my favourite authors delivers again with this heartfelt, uplifting, loving, gorgeous festive tale. The characters are all fabulous, the plot exciting, and the festive feels absolutely perfect.

War has been declared and the lives of three sisters, Lydia, Peggy and Teddy, are about to be turned upside down. As bombs rain down on London, the girls will lose their homes, their things, and their loved ones. But they will find lost kittens, friendships, art, strength, and love.

I could see this being a wartime classic, like Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, or Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mister Tom. Both adults and children will absolutely love it. I know I did. One of my favourite books of 2025 for sure as it was perfect.

Emma had enough disappointing dates to have stopped believing in the one. Kieran is recently single and still heartbroken. He has sworn off dating for the foreseeable future. When they collide under the clock tower at Gare du Nord, sparks fly, and they begin a whirlwind romance spanning the Channel.

Oh what a delightful book this was. If you’re a lover of romance novels then you must get this one your radar now, you’ll love it. It was just a beautiful, beautiful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.

One cold January morning in 1980, on a beach in Kerry, the body of a newborn baby is found in its most sheltered sand dune. Local Garda Mary Shea is first on the scene. Mary finds more questions than answers and it becomes clear many locals conduct secret lives.

Yes it’s about a dead child, that’s the heart of the story and we shouldn’t forget that. But it’s more than that. It’s about community, family, friendship, finding your place, standing up for yourself, proving yourself, trusting your instant. Just fabulous.

DCS Kat Frank returns to work at the Future Policing Unit after a tragic loss, only to find herself thrust into a new high-profile case. On the night of Halloween a local MP is found murdered, with a taunting message written in binary code that seems to target Kat Catch me if you can.

An epic conclusion to one of the best crime thriller series I’ve ever read. It will be interesting to see where Jo goes now. It is rounded off nicely but I still can’t believe the series is over because it has been my most anticipated book most years. This book is perfect in every single way a book can be.

Who hasn’t wanted to murder an ex—figuratively, at least? Natalie’s seemingly perfect romantic life is on the verge of collapse as she uncovers a hidden history surfacing dark secrets that have deadly consequences.

Thrillers are my most read genre, and sometimes they can get a bit samey, but this is completely fresh and I loved it. You have to get this on your wishlist, it’s phenomenal. I have been looking forward to reading this since I got it in July, and I’m quite sad now that I’ll never get the chance to read it for the first time again.

A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

It is such good fun and reminded me of CJ Skuse’s Sweetpea series, which I loved. It’s morbidly hilarious, very dark humour, and it’s just really, really great fun. I believe this is M.K Oliver’s debut, and it’s very impressive and bodes well for the future. Keep ’em coming.