Olivia
2025 has been a year of interesting reading for me. I've found a lot of the books I read and enjoyed have been the ones that were chosen for the in-person book club I run for my football club.
[Side note: we're called 'You're Booked!'. Please appreciate my ability to make a pun about reading and football.]
I've been seemingly drawn to books that would fall under the mystery umbrella, particularly surprising myself with a re-read of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Not only had I completely forgotten the twists and turns of the novel, but I felt like I was able to appreciate the themes and general vibes of the book much more after an intense 2-hour discussion over foamy beer and ripped-open bags of crisps. (thanks, book club!).
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak was an absolute stunner of a novel. Immersive, romantic, and illuminating, Shafak's ability to weave history, narrative and character together into one large literary tapestry is something I've been shouting about since I finished it. I read this via audiobook and the narration really enriches Shafak's storytelling. It's bold in scope, going back and forth in time, told both from the perspectives of an ancient fig tree and that of the book's central Turkish-Greco Cypriot family. It's a beautiful exploration of identity, trauma and love, with some of the best descriptions of nature I've come across in my reading.
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka was a read that I went into confident in the knowledge that I'd love it. It's a crime book that avoids falling into the stereotypical trappings of the crime and mystery genres. The victims are placed front and centre of the story and the complexities of crime are not reduced to categorising people as evil. The book loses none of its pacing, however. It's well-written, propulsive and gripping from page 1.
Marianne
So many books, so little time! 2025 has been a year of varied reading for me, some classics, some non-fiction, and a few titles I wouldn’t normally choose that came to me as recommendations. As always, I didn’t have the time to read all the books I wanted to read, but they’ll be there next year.
I began 2025’s reading strong with Orbital by Samantha Harvey, 2024’s Booker Prize winner, which I loved. This is slender book set in the International Space Station. As it completes each of its orbits they watch weather patterns, seasons and continents on the surface of the earth, and news reaches them about events below. This is a beautiful and awe inspiring read, written with great warmth and humanity.
I also really enjoyed The Horse by Willy Vlautin. This was the first of his books that I have read, but I am now looking forward to reading others by him. In The Horse, Al, an ageing musician and alcoholic is trying to eke out a life on an old mining homestead. As it begins to snow a horse arrives, and he battles to save its life.
My favourite read of 2025 was Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon. Set in the aftermath of war in ancient Sicily, two friends with a love of Greek poetry attempt a reckless and audacious staging of a Greek tragedy by Greek prisoners of war, who are imprisoned in an old quarry. This is simultaneously funny and heartbreaking, and is a love song to art, friendship and love, and despite it’s ancient setting has plenty to say about ordinary people coming to terms with rebuilding themselves, their neighbours and their community after conflict.
Alisha
I’m sure it feels like it to everyone, but 2025 has really flown! My reading has been a little bit of a mix of genres this year with fantasy, contemporary, classics and historical fiction all thrown in there. I’ve really enjoyed finding new authors to read and opening up books that have been waiting for me on my bookshelf. And I really can’t wait to see what books I find in 2026.
At the beginning of the year, I read The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and I absolutely loved it. I loved it so much, I’ve recommended it to everyone who’s been looking for a new fantasy book to read this year. A time-travelling space opera with an ancient prophecy connecting the three main characters, it felt like a nonstop ride that I didn’t want to end. With only the first book published, I’m eager to get my hands on the next book in the series when it’s out!
During the summer, I finally had a copy of The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden and I remember sitting in my garden in awe of the story I was reading, as well as the fantastic writing too. Another book I’ve recommended to people too, everyone needs to know about it. I loved everything about this book- the history, the setting, the story and characters. I wish I could forget all about it so I could read it again for the first time.
And, finally, Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb has always been a book and author I’ve seen on countless fantasy fiction lists and shelves, so with a push from a friend, I finally picked it up and honestly, I don’t know what I was waiting for! I’ve been reading the second book in this trilogy (The Farseer Trilogy), so it’s safe to say, I really enjoyed the first instalment. Following Fitz as he grows up in the royal household, you can’t help endear yourself to him as he finds his place. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the trilogy and any other Hobbs books I can get my hands on.
Aishah
I’ve found myself re-reading lots of previously favourite titles and also half-reading at least a dozen books still piled on my bedside table. I managed to experience some incredible reads this year, particularly books that have been adapted, as well as those that contained mixed media, particularly manga.
One of my favourites this year is Strange Houses by Uketsu. I’m a big ol’ scaredy cat so I generally stay away from horror and gory thrillers. But I also love an interesting mystery, so I picked it up while browsing! It's an accessible manga to people who are new to it, and has been adapted into a novel, too. It had the right balance or intrigue to keep me hooked but was creepy enough to send a shiver down my spine and make me turn on all the lights. I thoroughly enjoyed the first four volumes and I’m eagerly waiting the release of the fifth in January!
It should be absolutely no surprise that Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins was going to be on this list. It’s a no-brainer for anyone who has read the original trilogy. It's a great books for teenagers but I also think a lot of adults would really enjoy them.
Another one this year that has long been on my TBR is Supergirl Women of Tomorrow by Tom King. The new Superman movie was incredible and with the Supergirl movie on its way, it felt like the perfect time to finally sit down and read it. Like how Strange Houses is a good entry-level manga for people, this Supergirl is the same for comic books. It is a standalone with a strong overall plotline and is a really good introduction to the character and their background. It contains absolutely gorgeous artwork by Bilquis Evely. It’s full of heart and if you enjoyed that aspect of the 2025 Superman movies, think about picking this one up.
Also I can’t help to put in an honourable mention for Freiren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada!
