We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s topic is a: Best Books I Read in 2025
In a fashion very unlike my last-minute procrastinating self, I’ve prepared this post ahead of time as I don’t think I’ll have enough time to post while I’m on holiday. So unless there’s a book I’m currently reading that will knock one of these out of the running, this is my 10 Best of 2025.
I’m just gonna say that this year was not what I thought it would be and despite having a decent number of 5-stars, there are very few (even of those 5-stars) that have really stayed front and center in my mind. I think that has much more to do with my (in)ability to focus on much throughout the year—2025 was like the year of endless brain fog, lol—but I do hope that 2026 will be different. But I digress!
When putting this together, I noticed that for the first time in so long my “best list” is dominated by books written by men! I honestly can’t remember the last time this happened (if ever) but considering that I still read books mostly written by women, I find that quite surprising! Now let’s get to this list of favourites (in no particular order)!
Best 10 of 2025
Dungeon Crawler Carl Series by Matt Dinniman*
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
* I would also like to note that I’m cheating with Dungeon Crawler Carl and I’m clumping the whole series into my favourites (not sorry)!
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Honorary Five
And because I just can’t help myself, in addition to my “Best 10” picks, I’ve also included five honorary mentions! 🤭
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Blades of Furry, Vol. 1 by Emily Erdos and Deya Muniz
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
What books made your Best 10 of 2025?
dinipandareads 
Lovely list! The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is on my list as well. And I also noticed that 4 out of my top 5 are written by men, but I certainly didnt plan it that way😁
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I semi follow figure skating and that group is now obsessed with Heated Rivalry, so I am seeing that everywhere!
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Great list! Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Heated Rivalry are both on my *priority* TBR.
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I just got Assassin’s Apprentice from the library!
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Looks as though you enjoyed a fun and varied reading year! Hope you have an equally great 2026 reading year. 🙂
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I’m reading The Tainted Cup right now and I can tell it’s going to be a good one.
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Despite what you say, it must have been a good year if you have honorary mentions! Though I know what you mean, and probably you’ve read a ton of books, so in comparison, it is not that much. I hope 2026 is better that way and you struggle compiling that list because there’s A LOT to include.
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I loved Becky Chambers’ series, in fact the first one was the one I liked the least. I’ve heard great things about Buffalo Hunter Hunter and I still need to read the Natural History of Dragons.
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Nice list, Dini. I do want to read Buffalo Hunter Hunter, but not sure when I will fit it in.
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I have read 10 of these and loved them. Some of these are buddy reads. I am SO EXCITED that Sword of Kaigen and A Man Called Ove are on this list! Diniiiii!! It makes me so happy because those are two of my favorite books! I hope you have the best 2026 and that brain fog is a thing of 2025! ❤
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I really want to check out The Tainted Cup. I’ve seen it on a few lists this week. I loved The Stardust Thief. I actually need to reread it, so I can finally read the sequel. Hope your 2026 is full of amazing reads!
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Ove was such a heartwarming story (after the pain). I loved the way the community embraced and adopted Ove.
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Ooh three of our buddy reads made your favourites, thats fantastic. Although I’m certainly not surprised to see The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Tainted Cup here. Both were divine 😍 and I did love We Used To Live Here as well. It was such a mind screw. I’m definitely going to have to try the authors 2026 release too.
I didnt know youd read Assassin’s Apprentice. Im planning to read it this month!! A Man Called Ove I’m also not surprised to see mentioned as I remember you discussing it back when you picked it up.
Yay for A Natural History Of Dragons getting an honorary mention 😍 as well as Emily Wilde. I still need to read The Stardust Thief 🙈
I hope you had/are having a lovely holiday. Happy 2026
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I knew Sword of Kaigen was going to be on this list, but I’m so happy to see The Buffalo Hunter Hunter as well. You added The Tainted Cup and The Natural History of Dragons to my TBR, and I’m hoping to get to them soon. I hope you’re having an amazing 2026 so far 🙂
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