
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy-Reader Girl
Hello everyone! Today I am going rogue and posting my Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2025!
First though, I want to thank the little book fairies that gifted me last week! Thank you so much!!
My absolute favorite read of the whole year was a heartwarming, simple book. I absolutely loved it. Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero. It just is so full of love and kindness and found family.

The rest of these are in no particular order.


I don’t ordinarily read romances, but I read three this year! I really liked them all, but Jewel of the Isle was my favorite. It was just so funny and sweet and took place in Michigan. I should probably read other books by Kerry Rea!
Ok. I am including The God of the Woods despite the ending because I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book. I had so many thoughts and feelings about this book which always signals a good read.


Chlorine was a crazy read, a bit disturbing, but I couldn’t stop reading it, and it is another one that made think so deeply about different themes. It was such a powerhouse of a little book.
Another one I am including despite a weak ending is A Land so Wide. I really enjoyed this book until the end. I felt like Craig did a great job building a world here, that was foreboding and mysterious, and I would have loved to spend more time in the village honestly.


Home Before Dark, because I love a good haunted house story and Sager is a master.
I love the Monk and Robot series so much. It is such a gentle, thought provoking series and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy was just as beautiful as the first book.



Of course there will be cozy fantasy on this list. It’s my favorite genre currently!
The Spellshop is the epitome of cozy fantasy in my opinion, and Uncharmed was also just so fun, with big Mary Poppins’ vibes and I love Mary Poppins. Finally, Of Salt and Shore was so unexpected. I read it and just fell in love with the characters, especially the resilient Lampie.
Wyatt’s favorite book this year he said was The Phantom Tollbooth, and Billy’s favorite was Dungeon Crawler Carl.


And that my friends is it! Have you read any of these?
And just when I thought I was done, a book squeaked in at the last minute. I literally just finished this and omg it was sooo good. I literally could not stop reading it! (Dec. 29th, 4:35 pm)

And now, that really is it. I am looking forward to the books I will discover and live through in 2026!
The God of the Woods and Chlorine are two I’d love to read next year. Awesome list!
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I adored the Monk and Robot series.
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I’ve read a few of these: God of The Woods (which I really didn’t like), Spellshop, and the Phantom Tollbooth.
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I haven’t read a one of these but they all look like they might be fun! I love seeing what people read!
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I love it when bloggers go rogue. What a great list, Erin! Uncharmed sounds like so much fun. I loved The Phantom Tollbooth. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-most-recent.html
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Thanks for sharing your favourites!
Thanks for sharing your #TTT, and wishing you a happy new year
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I did my favorite reads of 2025 too!
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I went rogue today, too, and posted my favorites of the year. Your list looks great and I really have to get Cat’s People. My library has it.
Happy New Year!
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I will be checking out some of these – especially The Monk and the Robot. I have been enjoying Beck Chambers Wayfarer series.
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There you are – one crept in! And that’s why I’m not posting my best-of until tomorrow!! Great choices, though, and I’ll forgive you for posting a day early …
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I gave Spellshop a try, and struggled to connect with it. I’m glad you were able to enjoy it though.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/anticipated-2025-releases-i-still-havent-read/
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I like simple reads sometimes, and fantasy. 🙂
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The cover on Cat’s People is the BEST.
One day I am going to read Dungeon Crawler Carl.
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I told my husband I would read it – I think I might later this month. It seems to get a lot of love!!
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We really enjoy A Phantom Tollbooth as well. I am glad you found so many to love this year!! Happy New Year!
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I was sort of shocked he liked it as much as he did! You never know!
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I really liked Home Before Dark and Cat’s People looks amazing.
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Cat’s People was just so good. Like good feeling. I loved it!
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No harm in going rogue. Cat’s People looks great, will look it up. Hope you have a lovely 2026 especially in reading.
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I hope that you do as well! Cat’s People is just such a kind and loving read.
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I need to know your secret…when do you find the time to read? You are so busy with homeschooling, your group (I can’t remember the name…sorry), and caring for your animals. I can’t wait to read the by Silvia Morena-Garcia. I loved Mexican Gothic though it was so eerily gross.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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I have no idea how I have time to read sometimes. LOL. Usually though when Wyatt is asleep at night, or his nap. His morning meds usually make him sleepy and he takes a quick 20 minute disco nap. And rather than do anything, I read.
This one had some gross parts too. Bleh. But it was still sooooo good. So atmospheric and foreboding and chilling.
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The Spellshop has been on my TBR for a while. Hopefully, I’ll get to it this year. I’m glad you enjoyed all these books. May 2026 hold more wonderful reads for you😊.
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/top-ten-tuesday-most-recent-additions-to-my-bookshelf/
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It is a very easy, simple, feel good book. 🙂 Thank you Marwah, I hope that you have a great year of reading too!
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I got The Spellshop for Christmas. I’m looking forward to it.
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I hope that you enjoy it too!
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I’m hoping to read A Land So Wide and Dungeon Crawler Carl this year. I keep hearing how great they are! Happy New Year!
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WoW! I haven’t read a single of these, nor have I heard about most of them! Thanks for sharing them, I’m off to learn more!
Wishing you a lovely 2026!
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Thanks Melissa!! And Happy New Year to you as well!
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