Victoria’s Favorite Reads of 2025
ROUND UP
Victoria’s Favorite Reads of the Year!
Out of the 279 books I’ve read this year, these are my most highly rated and most frequently recommended.
Reading is transformative. Books can transport us to different worlds. They can drag us into the deepest darkest depths of emotional turmoil. Books can unravel truths we refuse to acknowledge. And if you’re lucky enough, books can change your life.
I’m not promising that the following books will alter your being, but they certainly had some sort of effect on me. Of the 279 books I’ve read this year, these have remained at the top of my mind. They may not have been published this year, but they made their way off my TBR list and earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. They are the books I recommend when someone asks for a good read. They are the books I’ve already re-read (or plan to), even if they’re not 5-star reads. And now you have the full list.
Overall, the books that make this list made me feel more. I laughed a little louder, cried a little harder, sighed a little heavier. Sometimes a book would push and pull from one emotion to another, a pendulum swinging between witty humor and agonizing trauma. Sometimes the story would lodge itself on one end of the spectrum and deliver a single assault of pure emotion, and I’d find myself sobbing in the darkness, shoulders shaking uncontrollably as the intensity of the narrative sat heavily in the room with me. And other times, it would all take me by surprise — I’d have completely underestimated a book based on the vague description on its back cover or a Reddit post only to be knocked on my back, completely blindsided by the adventure I unknowingly consented to.
From the dark depths of Carnage from Shantell Tessier’s L.O.R.D.S series to the intricate web of walls and memories designed by SenLinYu in Alchemised to the beautifully vivid picture BK Borison paints of Baltimore in First-Time Caller, I hope you enjoy these recommendations.
Happy reading!
Feel-Good Reads
WHEN YOU WANT TO GIGGLE: Beg Borrow or Steal by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
Now, you know I love a next-door romance. Mix that in with some fiery enemies-to-lovers with juicy secrets, pranks and a blossoming friendship, and that’s pretty much a recipe for success in my book. In classic Sarah form, the dialogue is crisp, the banter is witty, the quips are refreshing. Much like the town of Rome! The characters are dynamic, beautifully complex, yet insanely relatable. The chemistry is off-the-charts and their friendship makes you wish you lived in their neighborhood just so you could witness their exchanges IRL (and maybe even partake in the hi-jinx).
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING NOSTALGIC : Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely (Amazon)
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Friends to Lovers is exactly why I struggle with the combination of friends to lovers and second chance tropes. It just feels like someone has ripped my heart out and keeps squeezing it until it’s about to burst. This is where young love hurts… when you’re fearful, hesitant of losing what you have that you get in your own way and settle for what you think is the right thing to do instead of risking pain and loss — only to face it all anyway. Because when you deprive yourself of that love, you’re still losing. But being brave and taking the leap could mean you have everything to gain. Sally Blakely strikes that chord perfectly.
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING FRISKY: The Alchemy Series by Elodie Hart (Amazon)
The Alchemy series which features the hottest sex club I’ve had the pleasure of reading about. It’s adventurous, it’s taboo, it’s so magnificently spicy… definitely don’t read this in public, but definitely do read this when you’re in need of inspiration. From age-gaps to kink exploration, there’s something in this series for everyone to enjoy.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5-4/5
WHEN YOU NEED INSPIRATION: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Amazon)
A historical sapphic love story for your list! The way I sobbed through the final 10% of this book.To witness life through the lens of these characters is a blessing. I felt like the smallest speck of life as the characters stared at the dark sky full of stars and zoom out into space and simultaneously the grandest being to be able to see the beauty of the world around us and know the fortune of getting to embrace the magic of it all. Get ready to be inspired by people going after and achieving their dreams— these characters break glass ceilings.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
WHEN YOU WANT SOME NYC MAGIC: It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard (Amazon)
A beautiful love letter to autumn in NYC. As unrealistic as the brownstone situation may be, I can’t deny that the way the West Village, SoHo, Brooklyn, UWS and Central Park are described actually made the city sound homey. This second chance friends-to-lovers (with a loooooooong separation) had me on the edge of my seat, it was such a slow burn, high tension read.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.75/5
WHEN YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! This is THE ultimate summer read. You’ll pick it up when you’re heading to the lake in early summer then re-read it when you’re at the beach at the end of summer, only to pick it back up when you’re craving those perfect summer days when life is care-free and falling in love is the easiest thing you could do.
Read my Sneak Peek.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
WHEN YOU NEED A SUMMER ROMANCE: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (Amazon)
Dare I say this might be one of my all-time favorite books by Ali?! Audiobook lovers, this should be on your list! The narration is spectacular from the Irish/Scottish accents to the deep timbre of the male characters’ voices to the breathy moans.
Read my New Release review.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
WHEN YOU NEED A HOPE: Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club Pick! If you want a book that captures what it feels like to find your life’s big love and describes in painful accuracy that desire to be together and a love worth risking everything just for a chance to fight for each other, the fire of that want… this is it. All of that comes across crystal clear with Wren and Ellis. Even when they’re not together, they’re connected. They belong. And I think their story also underlines the importance of communicating dreams, fears and desires. Especially when life gets hard.
Read my New Release review.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Favorite Scene
“I have never wanted anything as desperately, as ungovernably, as persistently as I want you. Not a single goddamn thing. Not my dead mother back. Not revenge. Not the well-being of the people I love. Not professional success, not even my own happiness. Absolutely nothing has consumed me as mercilessly as you have.”
- PROBLEMATIC SUMMER ROMANCE by Ali Hazelwood
Moody Reads
WHEN YOU NEED A SECOND CHANCE: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! I read this book three times this year, and every time I couldn’t put it down. Lauren Connolly shows us the strength of found family and demonstrates different manifestations of grief through the loss of a sibling, a child, a best friend and a partner. But it’s the second-chance love story that will simultaneously fill your heart up and rip it to shreds with each turn of the page.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
WHEN YOU WANT TO LEAN INTO HEARTACHE: The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura (Amazon)
I started this book at midnight and pulled an all-nighter because this emotional rollercoaster had me hooked! The tension between the sisters will quench your thirst for drama, and if it doesn’t, Ares’ dirty mouth should hydrate you right up. While the storyline enters a bit of a never-ending loop and the writing itself was rather mid, the plot was addicting enough to make up for it.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING SPORTY: Crash Test by Amy James (Amazon)
This might be my favorite F1 romance yet! The drama is intoxicating and addicting, the heartbreak is brutally frustrating. The friendships are heartwarming and inspiring. The sport politics are somewhat believable, if not aspirational. But the romance is memorable — full of fear, anguish and hope. If you’re in the mood for a heart sqeeze and a little cry, this one’s a good pick.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.25/5
WHEN YOU NEED A CRY: Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! While I was laughing out loud in the opening chapters of this book, I wasn’t prepared for the emotional pendulum that is this love story. Or the framing of memories in the lens of witnessing and living life. Say You’ll Remember Me weaves in heart-wrenching truths about dementia, loss, and love through fresh, witty banter. Abby Jimenez balances the lightness of humor and laughter against the heaviness of grief and anxiety. She incorporates perfectly-timed full-circle moments and comedic breaks to lighten the darkest moments, which only made the characters more relatable and more human. Abby Jimenez holds no punches in this long-distance romance.
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WHEN YOU’RE THEORY-CRAFTING MID-SERIES: Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros (Amazon)
I happily satiated the overwhelming craving for more Empyrean theorizing with the latest book in the series. I’m honestly not sure if I enjoyed reading this book or the subsequent conversations I had with friends afterward. Either way, if you’ve begun this series, definitely keep going until you’re caught up. Otherwise, start with the Fourth Wing (and here’s a Reading Guide).
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE ENGULFED BY DARKNESS: The L.O.R.D.S Series by Shantel Tessier (Amazon)
If you’re trying to get emotionally wrecked and/or inspired by adventurous scenes, dive into the darkness of the LORDS series (especially Carnage). I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but I needed a college bully romance to satisfy an itch. I stumbled upon this series and 100000% judged the book by its cover (and by that, I mean I very quickly added it to my read-list) and I was not disappointed. Note: This series is not for the faint hearted and you’ll want to start with The Ritual (L.O.R.D.S. #1) (Amazon) for the best reading experience.
Here’s my Reading Guide.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.75-4/5
WHEN YOU’RE AT THE LOWEST OF LOWS: The Ever Trilogy by Jasinda Wilder (Amazon)
Don’t let the mid-rating discourage you from this series. I couldn’t look away from the running tally of horrible events that made up this series. Each event snowballed into a more horrific one that left me so speechless, I ran to the next book. The trauma and grief in the first book escalates to the point of discomfort. So if you need a good cry, some pain and plenty of suffering, this should be your next read.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3-3.75/5
WHEN YOU CRAVE DISCOMFORT: Something in the Way Series by Jessica Hawkins (Amazon)
What do you do when you meet the potential love of your life, but he’s forbidden because of an age gap? And what do you do when your sister sets her sights on him making him completely off-limits? This series is IT for those craving a heart-wrenching OW romance. Jessica Hawkins has masterfully crafted complex characters who felt so real that their experiences triggered my anxiety and made me question everything I previously considered right and wrong.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5-4/5
WHEN YOU NEED A PAINFUL TRAUMA READ: Rose’s Duet by Lola King (Amazon)
This duet absolutely wrecked me (in the best way). I could not sit still while reading this book. I paced around our house with my Kindle in hand because I had so much pent up energy. If I could, I would have dove into this series to take on monsters I had no business challenging to fight… including the love interests. The spice level is sky-high in this dark bully romance with BDSM scenes that were worthy of a safe word (IMHO).
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WHEN YOU WANT TO RAGE AGAINST THE WORLD: Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder (Amazon)
The synopsis will make you think this is simply an opposites-attract forced proximity small-town romance. It’s that, but so much more. In the heart of this book lives a multi-layered story about personal growth and healing — learning to love oneself and learning to open oneself to love, understanding what we each deserve and embracing the value we bring ourselves and to the world.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Favorite Scene
“When you helped me, I could breathe. When I could breathe, I could see you.”
- PS I HATE YOU by Lauren Connolly
The Best of the Best: Victoria’s Top Picks
WHEN YOU’RE READY TO SWOON: First-Time Caller by BK Borison (Amazon)
A front-runner for my favorite book of 2025 from the very beginning of the year and an HoH Book Club pick! THIS BOOK WAS SO WELL-WRITTEN. I basically read every page aloud to James because I *needed* to share BK’s unworldly use of metaphor — she painted the most vivid scenes. You’ll read / hear the words, but you’ll *feel* them in every inch of your body from the squeeze of your heart to the free-fall of your stomach as it fills with butterflies.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
WHEN YOU CRAVE BRAVO-LEVEL DRAMA: The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Amazon)
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, this should be on everyone’s list ahead of the sporting event. The on-and-off-ice drama is worthy of a gold medal, the vivid descriptions of sport had me holding my breath for the majority of the book, and the romance had me at the edge of my seat. I was utterly disappointed to finish this book and return to my real life… but I was also grateful because my heart couldn’t have handled much more.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WHEN YOU WANT DARK MAGIC: Alchemised by SenLinYu (Amazon)
How does one go about summarizing this epic novel? James and I read this together, and we had to stop multiple times to discuss our theories, call out references to earlier chapters, compare nuances we each caught and discuss details the other may have missed. This book covers such an epic scope, yet it’s so well-done I imagine we’ll read it multiple times and find new details with each read.
A Reading Guide is coming!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
WHEN YOU YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR HARRY POTTER (BUT ADULT): Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (Amazon)
I was on the edge of my seat and turning the pages faster and faster. I could not stop fidgeting. I mean, the freaking auction. I read dark romance for fun, but this had my heart POUNDING in anticipation even though I knew what to expect from the synopsis. But really, Julie delivers so much more.
Here’s my Sneak Peek and Reading Guide.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
WHEN YOU’RE GRIEVING: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone (Amazon)
A heartwarming, slow-burn romance you’ll revisit through life’s milestones. I feel like this is a book I’m going to pick up when I need quick childcare tips, when i feel down and dejected and need-a-breakthrough tips, or when I need reminders on how to show up for friends. You’ll love the strong foundation of friendship between the MCs and then you’ll fall for their sweet love story. Cara balances humor and lightness against the darkness of loss and grief — a reminder that the two can coexist.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
