Best of 2025

Hello, Book Nerds! Welcome back to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if you are new. As always, my name is Hannah and I am your captain on this journey into my bookcases.

The end of 2025 has finally come. The final Wednesday of the month is here. As is tradition here on RHRML, it is time I reflect on the year, the accomplishments of the blog, and list my favorite books of 2025.

Twas a calm year here at Reading Has Ruined My Life. Save for Halloween’s double feature where Frankenstein’s Monster proved yet again why he is the GOAT. There were reviews galore, nonsensical listicles, me devolving into madness, and so much more. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to read a post or two. I’m very grateful to all of you and hope you’ve enjoyed your time here. I’ve had the most fun reading and reviewing all the books on my TBR pile, new titles, and old favorites. Cheers to the new year!

Now let’s get into the reason we’re all here. What were my favorite reads from 2025? What titles have stuck with me through the months? What books have not left my mind since picking them up? Let’s find out! These are my favorite reads of 2025!

5. The Vengeful Dead by Darcy Coates kicks off this list. I’m obsessed with this series, and The Vengeful Dead is an amazing send off to The Gravekeeper series. I really would love Darcy Coates to continue this series. But I am more than fine with the story stopping where it is. The Vengeful Dead boasts not only a great conclusion to the overarching series, but it has a side quest where Kiera unmasks a serial killer. That’s great content right there. Ten-out-of-ten.

4. Next up is My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna Van Veen. I fully believe My Darling Dreadful Thing needs to be on the required reading list of Gothic literature. Unreliable narrator, a slow descent into madness, a haunting manor house setting, details for days, and those disturbing, dark secrets buried within the manor’s walls; all hallmarks of the Gothic genre and all fabulously done in My Darling Dreadful Thing. Another ten-out-of-ten read. If you want more of my thoughts on this read then click here to read my review.

3. The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas is in the third spot. I only recently read The Hacienda. It snuck onto this list at the last minute. And I’m very upset with myself for not reading Isabel Cañas’s debut novel sooner. I could not put this read down! I ruined my sleep schedule for it, which is something I haven’t done in quite some time. You can also read more of my thoughts on The Hacienda by clicking here for my review. Also, this is another ten-out-of-ten.

2. In the penultimate spot is Slewfoot by Brom. The story is filled with gorgeously grotesque imagery and an atmosphere that makes readers feel like they are trapped in the same oppressive world as the main character Abitha. Slewfoot is disturbing in the best way possible, and the included illustrations done by Brom are grotesque, unsettling, and haunting. I love this book! Ten-out-of-ten. And if you want to hear me wax poetic about Slewfoot, then click here for my review.

1. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is in the number one spot. I didn’t review Sunrise on the Reaping, I read it for fun and emotional devastation. It left me feeling like a hollow husk of a human. Honestly no one should really be surprised with Sunrising on the Reaping taking the top spot. The latest entry to The Hunger Games series was one of the most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint! 100-out-of-10.

Thus endeth our list! Thank you for joining me today and for the entirety of 2025, Book Nerds. Another year of the horrid 2020’s is over. Thank you again for joining me here on RHRML for another year of reviews, listicles, Death Matches, and the trials and tribulations of falling in love with a new book nearly every week. I will see you all again in 2026 for more reviews and book related nonsense. Though you can follow the blog over on Instagram (@ReadingHasRuinedMyLife). I post there almost daily so come back often to revel in literary goodness. You can also follow the blog on Twitter and BlueSky (@RHRMLBlog). If you would like even more nonsense from me, then check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. The show stars me and two of my dearest friends as we talk about everything and anything. The show will be celebrating its second birthday in the beginning of January so stop by and celebrate with us. You can listen to the show on Spotify and YouTube.

Until next year, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me.

See y'all next year, bye!