As with every year, I end up putting this off for far longer than I mean to. 😂 This year has just been absolute chaos, and I’m kind of shocked that we’ve already reached the end of it. So, it’s time for the End of the Year Book Tag — 2025 Edition! After the absolute madness this year, I’m kind of scared about what’s coming in 2026, but I’m also hopeful that it will be much better! 🤞🏽
Check out the End of Year Book Tag in previous years:
2019 | 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Let’s get on to the book tag now and see what’s up with 2025…
This tag was originally created by booktuber Ariel Bissett.
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Oh, yes. My “paused” shelf on my Notion tracker has been steadily growing throughout the year! 😅 I’m going to narrow it down to the top 5 that I hope to finish before the year ends.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
Same answer as previous years, I’m not much of a seasonal reader, but I think I read a few books this year that make good transition reads!
Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?
I honestly can’t think of any new releases I’m still waiting for at this point! I don’t think there are…
What are three books you want to read before the year ends?
At this point, I have no idea what I’m likely to read before the year ends because my reading mood has been all over the place! That said, it would be pretty nice if my mood could pick up so that I can read these three books… At least!
Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?
There are a couple of 2025 releases that I think have high potential to become my favourite this year. I think of the few I’m thinking of, two of them would be the biggest contenders and they are: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow and Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, Blood Over Brighthaven by M.L. Wang
As I’ve mentioned though, my mood and focus has been all over the place so I don’t know if I should pick them this year. I’m currently attempting to read the latter but I’m just feeling very confused with the magic speak right now and that makes me a bit sad? Haha. 😂
Have you already started to make reading plans for 2026?
I actually do have some reading plans for 2026 already. Unsurprisingly, I don’t have many ARCs to read because I’ve almost completely stopped reading them this year and have been very selective with them. I currently have one 2026 ARC to read, that said, I still have tons of backlist ones to get to! 🫣
I’m currently decided on one year-long reading challenge (Buzzword (Title) Challenge) but I’m not sure what other one I’ll do (or if I’ll do another one). Other than that though, Leslie and I are hosting a massive group read for Dungeon Crawler Carl! We’re doing all seven books until the release of the eighth—starting with books 1 and 2 in January! 🎉 I can’t wait to dive back into the books and see what I missed the first time around, lol.
I’m not tagging anyone but I’d love to see your answers if you do it! How was your reading in 2025? Are there any books that you hope to get to before the year ends? Any that could possibly be a new favourite?
dinipandareads 
Great post! I do think The Everlasting would be a contender for your favourite book, but I completely get what you mean about not being in the mood. There’s nothing worse than picking up an anticipated book and finding it meh cause you just weren’t in the right mood for it. I hope you manage to read some of these before the year is out 🙂
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Yep, exactly! That’s like the thing I fear most with anticipated reads and being a mood reader 😂 As much as part of me is dying to pick it up right now, I just now I won’t be able to focus on it the way the book deserves and I’m going to find myself annoyed by that. Hopefully, next year will be better, lol!
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I was working on this exact tag today!! hehe. I am so excited to see what you think of The Everlasting!! I hope you end up enjoying Blood Over Bright Haven more than earlier today. hehe. To an amazing 2026!!!
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It’s just the magic — the whole energy siphoning and industrial siphoning and all the terms that are kind of messing me up but despite that it has been pretty easy to get through (and I’m enjoying the audiobook—the narrator is fantastic)! I’ve only read it about 3 times on my train commute to and from work and I’ve read about 150 pages, which is pretty good considering my distractibility, haha. Here’s to an amazing 2026, indeed! 💜
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You have reminded me that I need to do this tag! You have put In A Second on my radar because I loved In A Jam!
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Kate Canterbary is one of my all-time favourite romance authors and I always get excited when she has a new release out! I can’t wait to read In A Second (just haven’t had the time to start it) but I hope you love it as well, if you check it out!
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I’ve also been putting this off…so busy! I also think The Everlasting could be a favorite of the year, but I feel like I’ve been reading it for forever because I just haven’t been in the right head space + busy holiday season!
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That’s exactly what I’m afraid of as well! I know it’s a book I want to be in the right head space to try and appreciate as much as possible. I think that’s why I’m going to leave it off until next year… But let’s see 🫣 I said the same thing about Blood Over Bright Haven and then I picked it up last week. I’m enjoying it although I’m woefully confused about the magic system, haha. I don’t want it to ruin my reading experience though!
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