Can you believe we are more than halfway through 2025. This year is flying by and it doesn’t help that between work, keeping up with a toddler, twin babies, and just living life I haven’t been making as much time for reading! Partly because I fall asleep so fast these days, and partly because I keep starting books and never finishing them. My attention span is short lately so if I’m not obsessed within the first couple of chapters, I’m picking up something else. At 52 reads completed so far, I’m well on my way to NOT finishing my goal of 125 books for the year. Oh well.

I’ve read 52.5 books so far this year and these are the ten that have stood out the most to me. While most of these books are 2025 releases, this list is inclusive of older releases as well. I’ve been inundated with Advance Reader Copies and haven’t been making my backlist much of a priority lately, so you’ll actually find that all of these books have or are going to be coming out in 2025. This was completely unplanned and I promise I’ve read some older books this year, they just didn’t make the cut for my favorites.

If you are looking for some great reads to take into the second half of the year with you, then you are in the right place. Below, I’ve listed my favorites in no particular order. I’ve also highlighted briefly why it’s a favorite and linked my review as well. You can also find this list in my Amazon and Bookshop storefronts.

Amazon Storefront | Bookshop

I hope you find something to read, but if you are still looking for something else give my Most Anticipated Lists and some of my other Favorite Lists a look.

*Note I am missing a few reviews but will have them up this week. *

Everything I’ve Read in 2025 So Far

Summer 25 Most Anticipated

spring 25 most anticipated

2024 Favorites

2023 favorites

2022 favorites

2021 favorites

2025 First Half Top 10

1. Every Sweet Thing is Bitter – REVIEW
   • I loved the deeply layered characters—especially Providence—whose return home unfolds as a powerful, slow-burn family drama. The debut’s beautifully intricate relationships and rich emotional depth kept me completely hooked, even if the ending felt slightly off‑beat
2. The Women of Wild Hill – REVIEW
   • I used this book to shake off a reading slump, and Kirsten Miller delivered of course. I loved the small easter egg her earlier works and the histories of each of the women were *chef’s kiss*
3. Passion Project – REVIEW
   • After moving to NYC in grief, Bennet’s journey through depression into hope grabbed me. The blend of emotional depth and feel-good romance had you binge-reading in one evening, delivering just the warm fuzzies I needed
4. The Ghostwriter – REVIEW
   • Julie Clark’s mix of family drama, mystery, and evocative 70s flashbacks had you hooked from the start. I adored the clever scavenger-hunt clues and multi-perspective depth, and even though I spotted a few twists, the story’s heartfelt resonance made it one of my favorite reads of 2025
5. Head Cases – Review
   • This police procedural hit all the right notes: a serial killer hunting serial killers’ premise, neurodivergent FBI lead, and a strong team dynamic. It filled the Slaughter-shaped void in my TBR, delivered gripping action, and featured a standout audiobook performance that sealed it as a favorite
6. Fun for the Whole Family – Review
   • This family saga resonated deeply. Siblings reuniting after years brought intense emotional highs and lows. The multiple POVs and flashbacks felt so real, I finished it teary-eyed and inspired to reach out to my own siblings
7. We are All Guilty Here – Review
   • Karin Slaughter’s dual-timeline thriller had me hooked despite missing Will Trent. I was fully invested in Emmy Clifton’s emotional arc. The small-town secrets and tense pacing had me staying up late despite somewhat predictable twists
8. Someone Knows – REVIEW
   • This psychological thriller was addictively twisty: every time I thought I’d figured it out, the floor dropped again. Elizabeth’s self-doubt pushed the tension to the brink, and I loved how unreliable memory, and red herrings made me question everything.
9. When the Wolf Comes Home – Review
   • Returning to her childhood home to confront dark family secrets, Jess leds you through an atmospheric and suspenseful blend of horror and fantasy. You loved the narrator’s compelling performance and the unique supernatural twist, with characters that kept the tension alive throughout.
10. Jane and Dan at the End of the World- REVIEW
    This story was a delightful surprise that pulled me out of a reading rut, with its dual perspectives adding perfect complexity to Jane and Dan’s relationship. Its pure, uplifting tone struck the perfect balance and left me with a joy that lingered long after closing the book

I hope you found a book or books that you are truly excited about in this post. Let me know what books your favorite have been so far this year by commenting below or by messaging me on Instagram @speakingof_books or Tiktok @speakingof_books Don’t forget to follow me to get weekly updates and new reviews!