I intended to keep up with what books were read when, and honestly, that all fell to the wayside with sick animals and catastrophes. Will this year be better? Here’s hoping I can keep all the books read reviewed within the same month, but hey, in the end, they are reviewed and I enjoyed reading them–which is the most important thing.

This year I read 62 books on kindle and 24 in paper form for a grand total of: 86 books. We are up 8 books since last year read in total, though to be fair, one was quite short, and four were graphic novels/manga. Regardless, they were read!

I had challenged myself to read 2 paper books a month to start weeding through my library of randomly begotten books so I could instead have a library of intention. While I did manage to get 24 paper books read, they were not read 2 a month as I had originally intended, and many were not necessarily ones I already owned. 5 of the books had been purchased during the year and 2 were gifted to me (and read). All in all, this process certainly has made me appreciate what paper books I hold on to more, and I have gotten much better at letting go of books that no longer serve me. I intend to read at least 24 books this year, and hope that I can decide whether many stay or go. 6 books were set to depart the library from this challenge. Of course, I bought 5… but so it goes.

On to what you’re actually here for:
The Recommendations!

In the series category we have:
Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney
The first book I read in 2025 was by far one of the best. Filled with pop culture but not enough to draw you away from the story, this book constantly had action, well developed characters, and breathtaking love. This is a retelling of The Great Gatsby and it was better than I could have ever imagined. Both Gatsby and Daisy are given depth, but the story shifts to fit in with our modern times, with a sprinkle of supernatural. I absolutely adored how the Gatsby/Nick/Myrtle/Daisy/Tom connection worked and that while Nick doesn’t remain the narrator, he is given more depth, backstory and love than the original story had. *Blurb taken from my original review posted on January 31, 2025.

Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper
Faery Godmothers have one of the best jobs; trying to make everyone’s life better by granting their deepest desires. Unfortunately, some of them have gone missing, so when Saffron Sawyer accepts a job opening to work there after so long dealing with a very different type of clientele that needs help, it seems like it was too good to be true. Enter the Devil’s Advocate, a dashingly charming faery who is looming around and you have a recipe for fae who are not going to let someone take their dreams (and dream jobs) away.

The Devil Made Me Brew It by Sarah Piper
It may break the third way by saying so itself, but this book is very much if Hallmark made Halloween movies. A witch down on her luck who is good at making teas that help with all sorts of things, and a demon who gets sucked into working with her, who have to find and grant her true desire in order to part ways. True desires aren’t always what they seem, because the outside view doesn’t always reveal what’s most important within. Warning: This book made making teas sound so good that I got a bunch of raw ingredients to infuse my own. It is not that simple. *As of right now, there is a lone book though it is listed as in a series online.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
Magic is the core of this book, and while there is certainly something dark and scary out there, Jessica wasn’t looking to become Merlin. Having been reprimanded from making a bad magical choice in her teen years, Jessica doesn’t usually associate with officials from the World Council of Witches (she was banned from the organization, after all). Imagine her shock when she learns that she has to be the one to save her town, whether or not all the other witches in it are good, all thanks to the handsome and so annoying Derrick. *As of right now, there is a lone book though it is listed as in a series online.

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
Lured into a mysterious and dangerous game, Genevieve finds that if she’s to survive and try to get answers about her mother’s past, she’s going to have to pretend to be desperately in love with Rowin, who has offered to compete with her. A dazzling and thrilling follow up to Phantasma that I likely recommend for those who love Dark Fantasy/Dark Romantasy.

Waifs and Strays by Helen Harper
Kit is a purple haired cat lady who seems nice and perfectly harmless. Enter a teenage werewolf who wants to rent her upstairs flat, and suddenly she’s embroiled with all sorts of mystery and magic-caused mayhem. Luckily for Kit, she is more than she may appear. The worst thing you can do is underestimate a cat lady.

The Ether Witch by Delemhach
Of the Ashowan children, Tamlin was the one who never needed to be worried about. Appearing anti-social, shy, and unapproachable he’s always lived in the shadow of his famous parents, and his loud and rambunctious sister. When he is saddled with a new assistant he definitely didn’t ask for, and the need to check on the stability of Zinfera, his own personalities and abilities finally get a chance to shine. *This book is in the same world/series as The House Witch and The Burning Witch. While they aren’t completely necessary to read this series, they are amazingly fun and addictive and I’d recommend all three trilogies.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
A very capable blonde widow ends up trapped by relatives who want to steal her inheritance, and ends up on a long adventure with a warrior who appeared out of a sword she unsheathed in her room. They must evade capture and gain help of those who upkeep the law while also traveling together without causing too much suspicion from anyone.

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar
Imagine a world in which you were born with a specific gift that the King would annihilate you for. Now imagine that you have to go to court for your rose season in which you’re supposed to find a husband, and that same King has declared this year he will find a wife–and his eyes appear to be on you. Political intrigue, magic, fantasy–you won’t be able to put this book down, and will wish the next installment was immediately available.

Season’s Schemings by Katie Bailey
A jilted on television nutritionist and the head hockey player of the team she ends up working for end up having a marriage of convenience to fix both their problems, but what if they fall in love? A holiday romance that is addictive, well written, and with clear knowledge of both hockey and nutrition. A fun, quick read that will have you immediately grabbing the second book in the series.

How to Survive a Fairy Bargain by Laura J. Mayo
Enter the world of the fae and so many hidden secrets, outspoken faerie familiars (here’s looking at you, Theo), and the sudden need to find who tried to stage a thousand year old assassination attempt. Mix in with the melancholy of missing a former familiar and the need for great haste in uncovering the mystery. An awesome follow up to How to Summon a Fairy Godmother.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
A lost sister in hiding, a fallen family, and a fae queen who requires that all females who come of age make a bargain with her. Bargains can better the lives of the families, and secure better matches, but with the fae something is often given in return. Enter the crown prince looking for a wife, and suddenly what was just a ceremony for a bargain becomes a series of tests to find the new princess–something that could save Ivy’s family’s social standing. Victorian style fairy tale esque, highly recommended for those who love romantasy.


And for standalone books I’d recommend:
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Lizzy is a strong and independent girl, who has to be, because her father has passed and her mother is stricken unresponsive after speaking with ghosts. She comes across Antony Carlisle while managing her parents floundering antique shop, whose sister is facing the same ailment as her mother. Together, they navigate the past, including that of a Yuletide story from long ago. They are both compelled to solve the mystery–no matter what it may bring to light.

Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Lilia watches her mother succumb to an unknown illness and knows that someday she wants to do two things: leave the city she is stuck in, and find out what killed her mother. Enter admission to a college she knows can help in her search, and Professor Bramwell, who is searching for something else entirely. Through research and forbidden relations, perhaps Lilia and Bramwell could find the answers they are searching for together. Dark Academia Dark Romance has never been written better.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Every ten years the Dragon comes to take a girl from the village as a companion. Agnieszka isn’t graceful, poised, or the most beautiful, yet she gets chosen. Agnieszka is not a maiden to be locked away in a tower forever when she can do something to help those she loves, even if the Dragon, a master wizard, has told her to sit tight. Fairy tale esque with lots of magic and interesting flora and fauna.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Everyone is willing to take when they don’t think they will have to repay anything, but Miryem is done living in squalor with all the money they had lent away. Good at her job, she soon has her own house sorted, and takes in another from the village to help as well. Words have a way of traveling, and when they reach the Staryk king from a winter land of snow, a fae of sorts, that she can change silver to gold, her future fate becomes entwined with his as they fight to do the impossible and save both of their homes from ruin.