Hi all! 

Today I am sharing my five favourite reads of 2025. Not all of these books were published in the last twelve months, but I did read them for the first time last year. I ended up finishing a total of 18 books! Without further ado, let’s get into it. 

1.) 11.22.63 by Stephen King 

In first place, we have 11.22.63 by Stephen King. I cannot believe I waited so long to read it! I don’t even have words to describe how wonderful, gripping and well-written it was. I have always been a sucker for time travel. Back to the Future is my favourite movie. Stephen King scratched that itch for me and then some. I truly believe he is one of the greatest writers of our lifetime. By the end, I was crying. I had lived many lives with Jake Epping. I went on a journey with him from 1958 to 1963. The message in this story is that the past is obdurate and doesn’t like to be changed, but really, the past shouldn’t be changed. 11.22.63 isn’t just about the prevention of the Kennedy assassination. It’s a love story. It’s about choosing the same person over and over again, no matter the consequences. I predicted it would be my favourite of 2025 and I was right! 

2.) Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

In second place, we have the Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. I truly commend Suzanne Collins for not disappointing readers in the slightest with this prequel. I cannot imagine the exorbitant amount of pressure to deliver something fans have been asking for, for years. To provide such a successful backstory, after all this time, is beyond impressive. She’s a master at breaking you into a million tiny pieces with a single sentence. The arena itself was brutal and unforgiving. You’ll be holding your breath from the moment Haymitch enters, until the moment he leaves. How she manages to keep creating these worlds, I’ll never know. 

Click here to check out my Drag King transformation of Haymitch Abernathy. 

3.) The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

In third place, we have Kelly Bishop’s autobiography: The Third Gilmore Girl. I am a massive Gilmore Girls fan. Check out my five favourite episodes here and why I love the character of Emily Gilmore here. She was born to play one of the most iconic roles in television history. Getting to learn about Kelly’s life was truly inspiring. She is a wonderful, hardworking, independent, intelligent and compassionate woman. I highly recommend reading her story. Furthermore, the foreword is written by creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, making it the perfect gift for any Gilmore Girls lover. 

4.) Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

In fourth place, we have Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. As always, she creates the most complex, multi-faceted characters that somehow feel like real people. I expected the romance to be the most touching part, but honestly, it was the familial storyline between aunt and niece that hit harder. Having said that, Joan and Vanessa’s partnership was absolutely beautiful. Their commitment, support and unconditional love stole my heart. Each connection had a relatable depth to it. I saw myself in Joan but also in the people surrounding her. That is the mark of a gifted author. I have not had such an intense emotional reading experience like this in quite some time. I should’ve known she would take me to another universe (pardon the pun). 

5.) Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Last, but not least, we have Survive the Night by Riley Sager. From what I’ve seen online, this is one of his most despised books. I, for the life of me, cannot understand why. I absolutely loved every second of it. I felt the tension from start to finish and was genuinely afraid at times. From what I’ve seen online, this is one of Riley’s most despised books. I, for the life of me, cannot understand why. I absolutely loved every second of it. I felt every single moment of tension and fear from start to finish. Yes, I wanted to scream at the protagonist to get out of the car, but I also sympathised with her. The main criticism is that she makes stupid decisions. To that I say a.) if she didn’t, there would be no plot, but more importantly b.) she was extremely traumatised. Could we truly expect her to think crystal clearly in the situation? I will admit, I saw the twist coming about halfway through the novel. Once you start to understand Riley’s formula, it’s easier to grasp what is happening. Nevertheless, it was still shocking when the reveal was confirmed. I also loved Charlie’s passion for horror-movie filmmaking. She made me feel seen. 

Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know your favourite reads of 2025! 

Peace & Love xoxo