Paula’s top 10 New Releases from 2025
I just want to start off by saying, I don’t read a ton of new releases, although I read more then I thought as I have a top 10 and these are not all of the new releases that I read from 2025! These were the books that stayed with me, that stole my heart and that I’m eagerly awaiting for more of! These are the first books I’ll recommend when talking about those released in 2025 and I have no regrets.
These will be listed in no particular order (because assigning them a placement like that freaks me out and makes me want to cry) and for everyone, I share the important info (name, author, genre)as well as a synopsis and a little about why I loved it. I will also attach links to the titles of each book for you to adopt your own copy.
Title: Brigands and Breadknives (#3 in Legends and lattes series) by Travis Baldree
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
What’s it about? Our rattkin friend Fern finds herself entangled in an adventure with famous one eared elf Astryx and they attempt to turn in a chaos goblin for bounty after drunkenly passing out in Astryx’s wagon one night.
My feelings: With more action and higher stakes then the first two in the series, it somehow still feels cozy! Of course, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Fern (if you haven’t already and how could you have not?!)and the red-haired chaos goblin herself. And I think I love the talking weaponry more then I should.It left me wanting more!
Title: Sunrise on the Reaping (#5 in the Hunger Games series)by Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA/Dystopian Fiction
Synopsis: Haymitch Abernathy has been thrust into the 2nd Quarter Quell in the Hunger Games and this year there are twice as many competitors then usual and somehow he has to survive and, if he’s lucky, those he cares about will survive, too. But how lucky is he really?
My feelings:This quickly became my favorite Hunger Games book. While it’s not any less violent or cruel then the others, I’ve come to really like Haymitch over my Hunger Games journey. Some of it might also have to do with getting to see characters from the first 4th books. Unlike the other books, I found myself looking forward to and excited to dive back into to it each day rather than prepare myself for extreme cruelty with characters I didn’t yet love. Because it’s taken a while for me to love most of the characters. Finally, I appreciated how much insight and understanding I gained by getting to learn more about Haymitch’s own journey and how everyone was connected in little ways, or bigger ways, here and there.
Title: That’s a great question, I’d love to tell you by Elyse Myers
Genre: Non-Fiction/memoirs
Synopsis: Elyes, the popular influencer across platforms, Elyse shares some of the most life changing moments of her life thus far. Or, at least, moments that live rent free
in her head which she supposed must be important…
My thoughts: There’s just something I love about Elyse’s content so when I saw she wrote a book, I knew I had to read it.And then, when I learned that I could read her book in her voice as she narrated the audiobook, I knew that was the way to go! I’ve recently realized that I find something so comforting about hearing the awkward stories of other people who are neurodivergent. It might have something to do with being able to laugh with someone about shared experiences, knowing that both parties involved are in on the joke and the reality… even if the author doesn’t actually know you’re laughing with them, cheering them on and raging for them. But I prefer to believe that they do, in fact and we are now friends.
Title: Mellifluous: Circle of Sixths Pt. 1 by Imogen Pyre
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Rueben finds his life as a indentured prostitute complicated when a hidden vampire, Everic, hires him for services for an almost unheard of absurd amount of money. His magic and substance of choice no longer able to act as the crutches he’s come to depend on. Soon he finds himself
questioning his relationships, his priorities, his feelings and his identity.
My thoughts: I was introduced to this author via Tik Tok, more specifically, my husband’s Tik Tok as he shared her video talking about a book there. I went in knowing little more than it was a m/m romantasy (it doesn’t take much to make me excited when it comes to books). I will be honest, there were times while reading it that I questioned if this was really the book for me, but by half way through it, I was hooked. I was intrigued and now I can’t wait to see what else Imogen Pyre has in mind for this magical world of secrets!
Title: Problematic Summer Romance (companion to Not in Love) by Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Synopsis: Maya has secrets, secrets that her brother would not approve of! So when her brother decides on a destination wedding with the love of his life, Maya knows that she’s going to have to face her brother’s best friend Connor. Who just so
happens to be the guy Maya has had a crush on for a while. He’s the guy who got away. And the guy her brother doesn’t approve of her being with, not that she’s with him. But,she wouldn’t say “no”,either…
My Thoughts: Going into it, I didn’t realize that this was a companion to Not in Love. I’d read Not in Love, but well, I wasn’t in love with it or the characters. It was messy and while I didn’t hate it, it’s not the first of Ali Hazelwood’s books I’d recommend. But This, Maya’s story, this I liked so much more! I was actually kind of sad when I realized that, had I realized the connection to Not in Love, I wouldn’t have picked it up. And, while I wasn’t Connor’s biggest fan in Not in Love, I liked him more in Problematic Summer Romance. This book turned out to be a happy surprise.
Title: The Lamplighter’s bookshop by Sophie Austin
Genre: Romance/Fiction
Synopsis: Evelyn Seaton’s life isn’t what others think it is. She’s got secrets and she’s about to add to them. While her mother wants the world to think everything is fine and just as always, Evelyn toils with the idea that her life may not look the way she thought it would.
She finds herself making choices that make her happy. One of them resulting in a job at a forgotten, whimsical bookshop. But while she’s seeking independence, she’s forced to work with William Morton. He’s got his own secrets and maybe more to lose then she does. Now, somehow, they must make the best of it, keep their secrets hidden and help the bookshop be remembered and beloved again, all while fighting against feelings building inside of them, trying to pull them together.
My Thoughts: Maybe my affection for this book comes from the story, or maybe the writing, or maybe that I was reading it during some of the hardest parts of my 2025 year. But it far exceeded my expectations while disappointing me at the same time. So, let’s start with the disappointment. The bookshop. That’s it. I thought the bookshop was going to have a bigger role then it did. But, while the bookshop was just a location in which the characters spend a lot of time, I found the book to comfy, comforting, whimsical, sweet and exactly what I needed at the time. The love story was sweet and cute with banter and flirting but nothing too intense and no spice.I loved it! And, even after I was done reading it, I couldn’t help but think about it and wish I could go back into that comforting, cozy place.
Title: Broken Souls and Bones (#1 in Stonegate Series)
Genre: Romantasy
Synopsis: Lyra is happy serving as a servant. She’s often ignored, never in the spotlight and she feels safe. There’s little chance that anyone will notice what makes her unique. Until Roark makes his way to the politician she works for home. It doesn’t take him long to identify Lyra for exactly what she is. She yields magic, a magic
the king is obsessed with and, as the prince’s guard, it’s his job to bring her to the King himself. Kicking and screaming, Lyra doesn’t make the silent guard’s job easy and, when Roark is ordered to protect her, she has no intention of making it any easier in the palace. Not even if she finds herself falling for the man who talks with his hands. Not even if she thinks he’s maybe falling for her, too.
My thoughts: It was the cover that grabbed my attention, but it was the story that made me fall in love. It didn’t take long to hook me and once that happened, I didn’t want to put it down!I was curious and engaged the whole time, rearly sure who I could trust and who I couldn’t while trying to unearth Roark’s secrets. The end only left me wanting more! Thank goodness the second book in the series comes out in March of 2026 (Heir of Twisted Lies)
Title: River of Spirits (#1 in the Underwild series)
Genre: Middle School Fantasy
Synopsis: Senka lives in the underworld as the ward of the ferryer,Charron,helping to usher those recently dead to their after life. But when a real live living person makes their way to the shores near where Senka lives, and Charron is nowhere to be
to found, Senka decides to prove that she can do more then Charron’s letting her. But the path isn’t as clear as she thought it would be. Rules might get broken and secrets might be revealed. Senka may learn far more then she’s bargained for, maybe even her life.
My Thoughts: This was a book gifted to me, and I’m glad it was! I love playing with mythology, especially when it gets adapted into a story that isn’t just the same stories we’ve heard a million times. I had so much fun on this adventure traveling with Senka and the living girl Poppy while trying to find answers to questions Senka didn’t even know she should have been asking.Since I put the book down, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the second to the series (Relic of Thieves coming out in March of 2026).
Title: Oathbound (#3 in the Legendborn series)by Tracy Deonn
Genre: YA Fantasy
Synopsis: Bree is bound to a demon, and not the demon you may hope for, either. But she hasn’t given up on Nick or Sel. She has to find them. She has to save them. One way or another, there has to be a way for the three to be reunited again. But nothing is ever easy, and Bree not
one to give up on those she loves.
My thoughts: I fell in love with this series the first time I read the first book, and I haven’t fallen out of love yet. I’m obsessed with the magic, the artherian underlay and plot points and the characters. This is one love triangle I can’t pick an either or team for. Can’t they just be a throuple?
Title: Eteral (#6 in the Infernal Guard series) by S.G.D. Singh
Genre: YA fantasy
Synopsis: The Satya realm is in portal peril as an army of vampires assemble and plan to unleash a terror unknown to so many of the people it will rain down on. When all they have left is their life, annailation is emanate and failure is almost certain, is it even worth the fight?
My Thoughts: This is another series I feel in love with! Yes, I do like Fantasy. I was lucky enough to get to dev read (read to help poke holes in the story and help the author find errors) for the last three books but, really, I was being selfish.I just didn’t want to wait until the next book was published to see what happened next. While my heart will always be with the first generation of Infernal Guards we met (they star in the first three books of the series)I’m sad to see this series come to an end. It’s been an epic journey, adventures like no other, filled with laughs, tears and love. (Please, S.G.D. Singh! Give me more!!!!)
Were your favorite new releases from 2025 on this list? If not, please let me know what they were in the comments. I didn’t read many of the new releases that came out, all things considered, but I’m thankful for the ones I did get to read. These 10 were just my favorite of them.
And, please let me know if there are any reads you’d like to recommend for me. I’m always up for a good book!
But that’s just what I think…
