Hello, everyone! I’ve had this post sitting in my drafts for quite some time, anticipating my typical mid-year interest in returning to blogging after an unannounced hiatus (I think I can officially call it a trend after 2023 and 2024). I haven’t quite met my blogging/social media goals for the year so I’m looking to readjust.
How’s your year been thus far (reading and otherwise)? I’d love to hear!
Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2025
I’ve never been much of a nonfiction reader but Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan G. Wooldridge singlehandedly persuaded me to be more open-minded. This book impacted me in such a huge way; it’s really shaped a lot of my life this year (I can’t promise it’d have the same effect for anyone else but it was definitely big for me)!
Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2025
I mean, what else could I put here but Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)? Fans (myself included) have anticipated Haymitch’s prequel for years, and I think Suzanne Collins delivered something great! At times I did wonder if it was too much pure fanservice but I do think the story contributed to the series thematically, particularly in terms of propoganda and censorship as well as with further depictions of totalitarianism. (I considered putting together a review but I read it so late, it felt like old news talking about it — so there’s a very mini spiel!)
New Release(s) You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To
One of my goals that I actually have accomplished so far this year is to focus more on backlog books than newer ones. Because of that, I’m almost entirely out of the loop with new releases — which is how I want it for the time being. Next year will probably be my catchup year…
Most Anticipated Release(s) for the Second Half of the Year
I’ve not read much science fiction, but I’ve been following K.M. [Kris] Fajardo’s authortube channel and am so interested to see the product of all of her hard work. Local Heavens comes out in the fall (expected publication: October 14, 2025 — one of the few new releases I’m aware of!), and I preordered it as quickly as possible!
Biggest Disappointment
I don’t know if I can really call Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons a disappointment as I wasn’t familiar with it before reading it, and I pretty much disliked it from the start. Since it was such a short read (a little over a hundred pages), I decided to give it a chance. Unfortunately, it didn’t get better. I found the young protagonist’s arc uninspired and a little distasteful. And, otherwise, I found it quite boring. Definitely not for me.
Biggest Surprise
I’ve read a lot of books I’ve liked this year, and I hate to do a repeat in the list, but Poemcrazy was one I didn’t expect to love and really did. So it gets two spots for this post!
Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)
This year I’ve mostly read books by people I’m already familiar with or one-off authors. I did finally read Brutes and, while a little conflicted about it, I mostly liked it. I think I’d be interested to read anything else Dizz Tate puts out.
Newest Fictional Crush
I don’t read much romance so I never have a very good answer for this prompt. Maybe next year!
Newest Favorite Character
Most of the novels I’ve read this year don’t have particularly likable protagonists (not a bad thing!). I did quite enjoy the new characters in Sunrise on the Reaping (Maysilee Donner; Wyatt Callow; etc.) so I’ll just dedicate this prompt to that whole cast!
Book(s) That Made You Cry
This one is definitely going to Sunrise on the Reaping (so much for no repeats…). I cannot tell you the last time I wept over a book like I did with this one (yes…I wept…) — maybe it was Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3).
Book(s) That Made You Happy
I wouldn’t say I’ve read the happiest books this year (or maybe any year?) but I’ll go with The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, #1) by Rick Riordan!
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year (Or Received)
Any books I’ve gotten this year have mostly been old battered paperbacks. I do have The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel on preorder, though, and I’m loving the illustrations I’ve seen so far, if that counts!
What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year?
Probably my biggest goal for this year was to read more high fantasy, and I’ve only just barely done that. I’m a decent way into Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson but with my tendency to read a gazillion books at once, it’s gotten a bit lost in the shuffle. I really want to finish it, as well as read The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and perhaps A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.
Tag Prompts:
- Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2025
- Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2025
- New Release(s) You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To
- Most Anticipated Release(s) for the Second Half of the Year
- Biggest Disappointment
- Biggest Surprise
- Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)
- Newest Fictional Crush
- Newest Favorite Character
- Book(s) That Made You Cry
- Book(s) That Made You Happy
- Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year (Or Received)
- What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year?
Books I’ve Read (and Reread) in 2025 So Far
Books Completed: 16*
Most Read Genre: Science Fiction / Mystery / Nonfiction
Top Intended Audience: Adult
*With a reading goal of 35 books for 2025, I’m a little behind — I’m not too worried about it though, and I’m not so far behind that I think I can’t catch up!
I’m excited about the books I’m reading presently and the ones lined up next, so I hope to be posting more again. I’ve resisted putting out more book lists because they’ve felt so recycled; hopefully I can do a better job keeping it fresh!
Have you read any of the books mentioned here? Did you enjoy them? Why, or why not? What are some of the favorites you’ve read during the first half of this year? Least favorites? Any personal answers for the questions presented in this tag? (Consider yourself tagged!) I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Little Bit of All That 