Year in books 2025 📚
The Murderbot Diaries
Martha Wells · Series · 7 books
I loved Murderbot! Everything from the world that it was set in to the cynical internal dialogue of Murderbot. I ripped right through these in the Spring while I was in Florida. Recommend them to anyone who enjoys sci-fi mixed with quirky cynical commentary.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Matt Dinniman · Series · 4 books
Didn’t really get hooked on the first book but they really pick up. The audiobooks are top-notch, and I had to double check that they were in fact voiced by only Jeff Hays and not an ensemble cast.
The Hyperion Cantos
Dan Simmons · Series · 4 books
These were amazing! I really enjoyed the world building, character development, and religious aspects of the books. The first book does take a little bit to get into due to it being structured around the shared journey of all the main characters. I am already considering re-reading them to absorb more of the story.
The Bright Sword
Lev Grossman · Standalone
Honestly thought I would enjoy this alternative retelling of the Arthurian legend more than I did. It was interesting how it focused primarily on everyone except Arthur, but it wasn’t enough for me. Solid 3/5.
Neuromancer
William Gibson · Standalone
I was trying to work my way through Hugo Award winning books this year, and I landed on this one. I was hopeful that I’d love its status as one of the founding works of Cyberpunk art, but I’ll be honest, I was pretty lost through a lot of the book. I think Gibson’s style may have been chaotic on purpose, but it lost me quite a bit.
The Book of Elsewhere
China Miéville & Keanu Reeves · Standalone
Did not realize going into this that it was set in the BRZRKR universe, but it was enjoyable by itself. I ended up reading quite a few of the graphic novels and that helped flesh out the universe quite a bit.
The Life Impossible
Matt Haig · Standalone
I’d enjoyed Matt Haig’s other book, The Midnight Library, so I was looking forward to reading this as well. It was a similar sense of supernatural mixed with personal discovery in a great setting. Very enjoyable read.
Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree · Standalone
It’s no secret this book fits into the ‘cozy fantasy’ genre. This book is just that. A very fun, slow, comfy read through a fantasy story. While there are twists and turns and ups and downs throughout, there is none of the exceedingly difficult or exciting climaxes that come with some books. Good read for a cold winter evening or even a beach.
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas · Standalone
My first foray into this genre and likely my last. Just didn’t enjoy it. Nothing against it in particular, but it just didn’t appeal to me. I started the second book but dropped it after a couple chapters.
