The best books of 2025

This list is part of the best books of 2025.

Join 1,210 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2025

Book cover of The Path of Ascension

❤️ loved this book because...

Book ten in an engrossing litrpg series. Amazing power fantasy with an MC who actually deserves his power (no AH MCs here), and supporting characters who are both fascinating and well developed.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Immersion 🥈 Character(s)
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By C. Mantis ,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked The Path of Ascension as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Orphaned by monsters, Matt must power-up to save others from the same fate.. Matt plans to delve the rifts responsible for the monsters that destroyed his city and murdered his parents. But his dreams are crushed when his Tier 1 Talent is rated as detrimental and no guild or group will take him.. Working at a nearby inn, he meets a mysterious and powerful couple who give him a chance to join the Path of Ascension, an empire-wide race to ascend the Tiers and become living legends.. With their recommendation and a stolen Skill, Matt begins his journey to the…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2025

Book cover of Mark of the Fool

❤️ loved this book because...

The series is just masterfully written. It manages to systematically build very complex systems while keeping things interesting the entire time. The characters are regularly hilarious, and the limitations on the main character provide constant constraints that at SO satisfying to see him get around.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Story/Plot 🥈 Character(s)
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By J.M. Clarke ,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Mark of the Fool as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The gods chose him. He said no.

After his parents died, Alex Roth had one desire: become a wizard. Through hard work, he was accepted into the University of Generasi, the world’s greatest academy of wizardry...

Fate, however, had other plans.

On his eighteenth birthday, he is Marked by prophecy as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the Ravener, his land’s great enemy. But his brand is 'The Fool'. Worst of the marks.

Rather than die or serve other Heroes like past Fools, he takes a stand, rejects divine decree…and leaves. With his little sister, his childhood…


My 3rd favorite read in 2025

Book cover of Time to Play: Apocalypse Parenting, Book One

❤️ loved this book because...

I identify with the mother in this series so much. Having to wrangle kids and keep them safe during the literal end of the world is a terrifying prospect, and provides endless tension and a fresh perspective to the genre. Meghan can't be a power hungry battle maniac like so many litrpg protagonists. She has to keep her children safe, which means building them up, herself up, and the society around her up.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Emotions 🥈 Originality
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Erin Ampersand ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Time to Play as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A few minutes ago, Meghan Moretti's biggest concern was getting the kids' athletic clothes washed in time for practice this evening.

Now, it seems that Earth has been forced into participating in some high-stakes intergalactic reality television. All electrical wiring has been slagged, and most combustibles neutralized. Some kind of evil space rodents are appearing on the front lawn, too.

Like any parent, Meghan's first instinct is to keep her young kids safely away from the monsters, but an odd stroke of luck has her coming into some advanced information about this dangerous game. She learns that her kids will…


Book cover of The Path of Ascension
Book cover of Mark of the Fool
Book cover of Time to Play: Apocalypse Parenting, Book One

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