Top Reads Of 2025

I do love a good book. Always have. There's nothing quite like cosying up on the sofa, or in bed (or anywhere really), with a good strong cup of tea and a tantalising read to digest. These days, I mostly buy books to read on my Kindle, purely for the lack of space in my home, but you can't quite beat the feel of a hardback in your hands, or the feel of the pages between your fingers as you turn them, or the new-book smell of the printed word on paper. Ahhh!

I haven't done this for a while, but I thought this year that I would share my Top Ten reads of 2025, beginning with my favourite at number one:

1. Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll Historical Fiction

   Ok, I can hear you mumbling that I am biased, as the author is my sister. Whilst there may be some truth to that, I can honestly say that I LOVED this novel from start to finish, and devoured it in a few sittings, and I'll explain why . . .

   
   

   Words can't do this novel justice. This historical fiction is full of twists, myths, gothic menace, gripping adventure and romance. Rich in descriptive language and lyrical prose, this captivating novel pulls you into the spellbinding tale of Clemmie, a young and intelligent independent woman who is ahead of her time, as she journeys up the Nile with one steely resolve: to restore what has been taken and undo an ancient curse. But there are many obstacles that stand in her way, and they come from unexpected quarters . . .

   
   

   Clemmie is a strong heroine that you can't help but admire and fall in love with, and each character comes to life vibrantly from the way they are vividly depicted by the author.

   It's clear this novel has been painstakingly researched for historical accuracy, and the superior style the author uses is sophisticated, tantalising and expertly crafted. I really enjoyed how the flashbacks were used throughout the story, which helped to piece together parts of the mystery that surrounds Clemmie's secrets and urgent mission in Egypt. Exquisitely told, this is a masterpiece of storytelling that had me spellbound from start to finish.

   
   

2. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Susan Stokes-Chapman Historical Fiction

   This easily has to be my close second favourite book of the year, and I relished reading this in the lead-up to Christmas, the perfect time of year to enjoy a cosy, festive novel. If you are a fan of Jane Austen and / or Downton Abbey, then you will be sure to thoroughly enjoy this gem of a book (and I had to buy this one in hardback as the design of the front cover is simply stunningly sumptuous!). I just adore the prose Susan uses to tell the twelve stories in this novel, and I love the style she uses with each chapter about a different character, and yet all the characters are connected and their lives intertwined throughout the book as a whole. Every chapter is cleverly named after one of the gifts from the classic Christmas song The Twelve Days of Christmas and is woven throughout that chapter as a subtle theme. I might just revisit this gorgeous novel every Christmas as part of my annual festive traditions! An exquisite piece of storytelling. Highly recommend!

   
   

3. The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn Historical Fiction

   Historical fiction seems to be my jam so far . . .

   
   

   Frances Quinn is another author I love to read, and this will be the third of her novels I have enjoyed so far. Quinn is a masterful storyteller and I love how she draws you in right from the get-go, and before you know it you are immersed in a whole other world, completely captivated with the central character and their story. In this tale, we follow a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage, oppressed by her husband's family and the constraints of the era of her time, and how she manages to escape their clutches into a new life in New York after that one fateful night when the Titanic sinks, taking her husband with it.

   
   

   Another fantastic historical fiction that I found hard to put down!

   
   

4. Sunrise On the Reaping by Susanne Collins Dystopian Fiction

   Susanne Collins' latest novel in the spine-chilling Hunger Games franchise did not disappoint. I'm a big fan of dystopian fiction, and especially of The Hunger Games. It was so good to finally go back in time and watch Haymitch's story unfold and follow his tragic story in the 50th Hunger Games. Another great novel from Susanne Collins, in a story that grips you from start to finish, and leaves your heart aching for our beloved Haymitch, a character you can't help but love and sympathise with as we finally understand all of the events that led him to the bottle. Truly heartbreaking.

   
   

5. Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell Literary / Historical Fiction / Family Drama

   This was an intriguing read, and something a bit different from what I usually pick up, but thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish. Set in the seventies, during the infamous heatwave that gripped Britain, we follow a family in their quest to locate Robert, a husband and father who mysteriously vanishes one day after going out for a newspaper and doesn't return. The characters are vividly drawn, and their individual stories of secrets captivate the reader throughout. I really enjoyed it.

   
   

6. The Elopement by Gill Hornby Historical Fiction

   I really enjoyed reading this beautiful tale (although it has a rather sad ending), and it has been expertly written by Gill Hornby. A true story, we follow Fanny Knight, the niece of Jane Austen, and her courage in daring to follow her heart and marry the love of her life, despite the marriage being forbidden by her father whom she had always obeyed and loved with devotion. Gill Hornby posesses a true gift in bringing true events to life on the page in a captivating way, that leaves you wanting more. Another novel I found hard to put down this summer!

   
   

7. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett Crime / Murder Mystery

   Written as a novella, this is another outstanding story by Janice Hallett. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading two of her other novels, The Appeal and The Examiner. Hallett has such a masterful way of presenting her craft, and this was no exception. It was such fun to return to Lockwood and see The Fairway Players in action again in The Christmas Appeal. Once again, written as a series of emails and text messages, this murder mystery will surprise you as you try to figure out who did it as you read through the messages, presented as the evidence for two young lawyers to sort through as they examine a case that was closed.

   
   

8. The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull Historical Fiction / Crime / Murder Mystery

   This is a lovely little novella to immerse yourself in over the festive season. I have really enjoyed Jessica Bull's other novels about Jane Austen solving crimes (namely Miss Austen Investigates and A Fortune Most Fatal) and this cosy novella is a Christmassy delight from start to finish. If you love Jane Austen and are a fan of crime novels, then this little cocktail mix of the two is sure to delight you! Join Jane Austen as she tries to solve the mystery of the skeleton discovered in the cellar of Dean Parsonage.

   
   

9. The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose Mystery / Crime

   The final book in the series of Molly the Maid. This has been a really enjoyable series, and I would recommend these books if you enjoy a cosy crime and something easy to pick up and read. I love the larger-than-life characters, who are so beautifully described they really come to life from the page, and trying to work out along with Molly who the guilty culprit is. And there's always surprises along the way! You can't help but fall in love with Molly, a very different but likeable protagonist. I really enjoyed how the final instalment in this series was written: one moment we are in the present, and in the next chapter we are reading from Molly's late grandmother's diary, which helps to shed light on the things happening in the present.

   
   

10. The Shadows of Men by Abir Mukherjee Historical Crime Fiction

    The fifth instalment in the Wyndham and Banerjee series! I must confess, I am cheating slightly, as I am currently reading this one; however, I have enjoyed this thrilling historical fiction series from Book One all the way through. Set in India during the 1920's, we follow a British officer, Sam Wyndham, and his Indian counterpart, Sergeant Banerjee, as they solve crimes and mysteries together. This series is a perfect blend of historical fiction and crime, learning about colonial India whilst soaking up a thrilling mystery! Would definitely recommend this series if you enjoy historical fiction that is littered with adventure and mystery.