Month: December 2025

2025 End of Year Book Survey

Posted December 31, 2025 by Jana in About Me / 6 Comments

I love doing Jamie’s End of Year Book Survey every year, although I’ve added a few of my own questions and removed some of hers in order to make it work a little better for me. This survey helps me look back and remember all the wonderful (and terrible) books I’ve read throughout the year! Also… buh bye 2025. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Can 2026 please be better? I know I say this every year, but wow I could use a good year. (Note: If I’ve mentioned books more than once, I’m only linking to them the first time so my post doesn’t look spammy!)

2025 Reading Stats

Number of books you read: 46 (all of them can be found pictured below)
Number of re-reads: 0
Number of books you DNFed: 41
Number of pages you read: 9,518 (not including all the pages I read of the books I DNFed. lol)
Most read genre: Contemporary romance. I read 25 of them!
Number of new-to-you authors you discovered: 21. That’s a lot!






Firsts and Lasts

First book you read: Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise
Last book you read:
Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express by Rebecca Raisin
First 2025 release you read: Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise

Best In Books

1. Best book you read in 2025:
This is hard, so I’m dividing it up by genre:
Contemporary: Acting Merry by Martha Keyes
Historical: Desert Island Duke by Kate Bateman
Fantasy: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t:
My biggest disappointment of the year was The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst. After raving about The Spellshop last year (it stole so many answers to my 2024 end of year book survey), I could not even finish this one. It lacked all the warm and fuzzy whimsy that I loved so much about the first one.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read:
Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson has a cover that would lead you to believe that the book is a fun contemporary romance with some fantasy elements. NOPE. It’s a straight-up monster romance, which is fine! But I’ve never been interested in that subgenre because they tend to be higher spice and have more explicit, often uncomfortable (for me) content. I love the Loch Ness Monster and was so excited about this book, but it gave me the ick a few times.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did):
Acting Merry by Martha Keyes

5. Best first book in a series you started in 2025. Best sequel of 2025. Best series ender of 2025.
First: Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
Sequel: Snowed In by Catherine Walsh
Ender: Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross (this is the second book in a duology, so not technically a series but it’s the only ending book I’ve read this year and I loved it!)

6. Favorite new-to-you author you discovered in 2025:
This is HARD, but I’ve narrowed it down to two authors in two genres:
Contemporary: Jillian Meadows (Give Me Butterflies)
Fantasy: Rachel Schneider (Metal Slinger)

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone:
I didn’t jump too far out of my comfort zone this year, but I think it’s because I’ve expanded my comfort genres a lot over the years! But maaaaaybe Falling by Christina Lauren? I do not like fallen angel stories at all, but I loved this.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year:
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. I blame Onyx Storm for my months-long reading slump that made me hate a ton of what I read this year. lol

9. Book you read in 2025 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Acting Merry by Martha Keyes might become a holiday re-read every year!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2025:
The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle.

11. Most memorable character of 2025:
The Ghost of Christmas Past, Nolan Callahan from Good Spirits by B.K. Borison! He makes me swoon.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2025:
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Rebecca’s writing is stunning.

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2025:
No thoughts this year. lol.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2025 to finally read:
I read a lot of newer releases this year, but I can’t believe how many years it took me to find The Promise of a Kiss by K.C. Bateman. I adore The Mummy movies, and am always looking for ancient Egypt/treasure hunting books. This is like a spicy The Mummy! SO good.

15. Favorite quote from a book you read in 2025:

“It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”
― Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

16. Shortest and longest books you read in 2025:
Shortest: You Deserve Valentine’s Day Brunch by Sarah Hogle (15 pages)
Longest: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (758 pages)

17. OTP of the year (you will go down with this ship!):
Nolan and Harriet from Good Spirits by B.K. Borrison.

18. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year:
Violet and Tairn (and Andarna) from Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

19. Favorite book you read in 2025 from an author you’ve read previously:
Good Spirits by B.K. Borrison

20. Best book you read in 2025 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else:
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

21. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2025:
Newest? That would be Cole from Acting Merry by Martha Keyes

22. Best 2025 debut you read:
Another Fish in the Sea by Amy Lee. This is probably the best novella I’ve ever read! LOVED it.

24. Most vivid setting you read this year:
I have to hand this one to Rebecca Yarros. The world in the Empyrean series (so, Onyx Storm) is so vivid and amazing.

25. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read:
Desert Island Duke by Kate Bateman

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2025:
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

27. Hidden gem of the year:
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer. This was really sweet, and nobody is talking about it!

28. Most unique book you read in 2025:
The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle. This book is so wacky and I loved it!

39. Book that made you the maddest (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it):
The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe. This made me soooooo mad, and I hated this book more than I’ve hated any other book this year! Give my review a read if you’re curious!

My Blogging/Bookish Life

1. Favorite review that you wrote in 2025:
So… I only wrote 14 reviews in 2024. That’s bad. I will do better. But I love all of them because they’re my thoughts and I do wish they got more attention, but oh well!

2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog:
I didn’t post any discussions this year, but I always love the comments in my Top Ten Tuesday posts!

3. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.):
No events this year.

4. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views):
My Top Ten Favorite Items I’ve Crocheted got the most comments this year (70)!

5. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.):
No new discoveries, I’m afraid!

6. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year:
This was a roguh reading year for me, so I dropped my original reading goal from 52 books to 45 back in September. I read 46 books this year!

Looking Ahead in 2026

1. Book you are most anticipating in 2026 (non-debut):
Grim Tidings by B.K. Borrison, Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst, and Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider.

2. 2026 debut you are most anticipating:
I hate this I have no debuts on my to-read list yet!

3. Sequel you are most anticipating in 2026:
Light Wielder by Rachel Schneider!

4. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging life in 2026?
I make this goal every year, and every year something happens that messes me up… But I want to review every book I read!

Do we have any answers in common?

Pick a question or two and answer them in the comments! Let’s discuss!

Wishing you a happy 2026, full of great books!


Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf [Post-Christmas 2025 Edition]

Posted December 29, 2025 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 19 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas last week, and that you got lots of books or gift cards for books. I thought it would be fun to make this week’s topic “Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelf ” so you can share your holiday haul! I can’t wait to see what you got! Here’s everything I received this Christmas. Several of them are from people who sent me books after last week’s TTT. Please read my thank-you’s below. <3

The first three are from my TBTB Secret Santa, Theresa (The Calico Books)!

Acting Merry by Martha Keyes
This is my favorite of all the Christmas books I read this year, and I’m so happy to have a copy for my collection!
The Endless War by Danielle L. Jensen
I love this series!
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

These next three are from my mom!

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle
Take Me Back by Meghan March

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Susan from Bloggin’ Bout Books sent me this! Funny story… this arrived with no gift note so I had no idea who to thank. My friend told me that Amazon sometimes helps if the item was bought off a wishlist. I did a live chat and the person I spoke with told me he could only give me the first letter of your first name, but that if I could guess the right name he’d confirm it. Unfortunately, I know many people whose names begin with “S”. lol. After guessing wrong twice, he finally gave up and told me it was from Susan! I remembered the comment you left on my TTT last week and immediately knew it was from you. Thank you so much! I will be making this my first read of 2026.

My Merry Mistake by Courtney Walsh
Cindy from Cindy’s Book Corner sent me this, and I’m so excited! This was at the tippy top of my Christmas TBR this year and I’m going to try to squeeze this one in after my current Christmas read. I think I can do it! Thank you, Cindy!

A Suitable Arrangement by Martha Keyes
The gift note says this is from R. I know you’ve sent me a book before, and I still can’t figure out which R you are! But thank you SO much for this book! I have fallen in love with Martha Keyes’s books over the last couple years and this will be my first of her historical romances! I’m so excited.

The Secret Mistletoe Promise by Cressida McLaughlin
This was on sale on Christmas Day (and it’s still on sale at the time of writing this post), and I had to buy it with some of my Amazon credits!

What books have you added to your collection lately?
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
I hope 2026 brings you happiness, good health, and lots of page-turners. I’ll see you next year!


Merry Christmas 2025!

Posted December 25, 2025 by Jana in Bookish Little Christmas / 6 Comments

Merry Christmas to all my friends! Thank you for coming back to visit me time and time again, for your comments, for your participation in Top Ten Tuesday and my Secret Santa events, and for all the support you’ve given me over the years. I had no idea when I started this blog over 14 years ago that this place and the people in the book community would become such a huge part of my life. I love sharing my love of books with you all, and I love what we’ve created together. You are one of my greatest gifts this holiday season.

Wishing you joy today and always. 

 

 

Joy to the World image credit: depositphotos.com


Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings [2025 Edition]

Posted December 22, 2025 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 9 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! In the spirit of Christmas, this week’s topic is Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes. Bookish Wishes is a popular topic, and one I host twice a year (around Christmas and again in June)! List the top 10 books you’d love to own and include a link to your wishlist so that people can grant your wishes. Make sure you link your wishlist to your mailing address or include the email address associated with your e-reader in the list description so people know how to get the book to you. After you post, jump around the Linky and grant a wish or two if you’d like. Please don’t feel obligated to send anything to anyone!

The Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
Never Gamble You Heart by Lindsay Lovise
My Merry Mistake by Courtney Walsh
Hail Marry by Martha Keyes
Love in the Scottish Christmas Village by Beatrice Bradshaw
Date Me Like You Mean It by R.S. Grey
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
A Suitable Arrangement by Martha Keyes
Dashing Through the Snow by Melissa Ferguson
Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk

Here’s the link to my wishlist on Amazon. These and many more books can be found on there!

Have you read any of these?

I hope you have a very merry Christmas! I will see you back here next week for the final TTT of 2025!


Top Ten Books on My Winter 2025-2026 To-Read List

Posted December 15, 2025 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 30 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! Winter officially begins on Sunday here in the Northern Hemisphere, but it’ll be summer for many of you as well so please adapt this week’s topic for whichever season you’re in! I love seasonal TBR posts, and sometimes I actually stick to them! My winter to-read list is filled with some titles that sound cozy and fun for the snowy months (although, we’re unfortunately having one of the warmest Decembers on record)! Some of them are older releases, and some are upcoming releases that I’ve received for review. Can’t wait to grow my never-ending TBR this week!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents-who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and a golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance-or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.

Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.

As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel accepts a job from a mysterious tech mogul who shows an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This thrusts Kel into a conspiracy that endangers everyone she cares about, especially Coup, as her resentment ignites into something dangerously new.

Heart-pounding pages full of a fiery, slow-burn romance, jaw-dropping confessions, political scheming, and volatile phoenix magic culminate in a final battle that none may survive. Don’t miss this exhilarating young adult fantasy by debut author Mikayla Bridge — perfect for fans of Formula 1!

Hail Marry by Martha Keyes

His ‘hail marry’ proposal to a stranger might be the wildest play of his entire career.

LUCA
One enormous detail stands between me and my dream of being drafted to the NFL: a valid visa. With my student visa expiring and a past, unfortunate run-in with the law disqualifying me from the one I need, I’ve run out of options.
Then fate hands me a wild card: saving a stranger from a speeding truck.

TORI
When someone saves your life, a “thank you” card doesn’t quite cut it. So, when I find out Luca’s only path to the NFL finding a wife, how can I not offer? It’s only a formality anyway.
But paperwork turns out to be just the beginning of it. Playing pretend leads through a maze of immigration scrutiny and a lot more time together than either of us planned on. And keeping my heart out of the game? That might be the biggest challenge of all.

Hail Marry is the final story in the Sheppards in Love series. It’s a closed-door marriage of convenience, free of steamy scenes and swearing but with all of the swoon and laughs you could ask for!

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.

Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her. She can’t seem to find her direction, and to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her ex-best friend, has also resurfaced, distracting dimples and charming grin in tow.

Theo knew it was only a matter of time before he came back. The demons of his past once drove him to leave, but Fern River always seemed meant to be. So, when Theo’s boss, Arthur, announces he is selling his veterinary practice, it feels like the perfect opportunity. He just needs to show Arthur he’s sticking around for good. And when Fable—Fable, with her smart mouth and sexy curls—quite literally falls into Theo’s lap, an idea forms.

If they can convince the town that they’re madly in love, it could solve all their problems. Theo can prove to Arthur he’s settling down, and Fable can get some much-needed help fixing up the A-frame, a task she is determined to see through.

The only problem is, the more time they spend together, the blurrier the line gets between fake dating and falling hard.

She’s lost her way. He’s finding his path. Together, they might discover there’s no place like home.

Within the Space of a Second by Elise Helliwell

A slow-burn, swoon-worthy love story about two people separated by time and the dangerous secrets that threaten to tear them apart. A debut time travel romance for fans of The Seven Year SlipDivine Rivalsand A Discovery of Witches.

Limited copies with sprayed edges available for pre-order! 

Every morning, Mariella Adams wakes with a strange electrical energy buzzing beneath her skin. Terrified she has inherited her late mother’s mental illness, she tells no one. But when Mariella discovers her mother’s lost journals with an entry dated after her death, she’s desperate for answers.

The mystery only deepens when Mariella is approached by two strangers, Rose and Parker, who claim to be time travelers from the future. They say that interfering with the past – and Mariella – is forbidden, but they need her help to restore Parker’s ability to time travel before they’re caught in Mariella’s timeline.

Shocked, Mariella agrees to help them. After all, they might hold the answers she’s looking for. And the more time she spends with them, the more she finds herself drawn to Parker. As she fights to uncover the mysteries of her past and the secrets of his future, will Mariella discover the truth before time runs out – and Parker disappears forever?

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

Manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, Pax Nomen has one of the easiest jobs in all the known universes, unless you count the occasional plumbing disaster. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on a non-magical world, even Pax’s trusty Wayside Handbook can’t help him. How is he going to “reboot” the hotel and keep it on its magical journey?

Josie LaChusia is a single mom experiencing debt, having parenting doubts, and tipping dangerously toward depression when an ad pops up on her phone that an apartment is available in a building she’s never seen before.

Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a nudge to restart her life. In a building occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude, two souls from very different places come together to create a home like no other.

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

Two competing meteorologists are forced to find common ground in this opposites attract, When Harry Met Sally inspired romance, from New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison.

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.

Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.

But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn comes a gorgeously written fantastical adventure which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.

Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives…inside their favorite books.

The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?

Have you read any of these?
Do we have any picks in common?