Kiss, Marry or Kill: 2025 Book Round-Up

My 5-star books of 2025, a chosen few rated a 6/5 (!), and a few I hate-read, so maybe I can spare you

Normally, this is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). Today, I’ll be categorizing my favorite (and least favorite, SORRY AUTHORS) books of 2025. Aside: You’ll find a lot of fantasy/magic in this list, but not in a 19-year-olds-doing-smut way. I prefer my spice more mature.

Kiss (my 5-star reads)

One Dark Window, Rachel Gillig (← read with my eyes)

Y’all owe me one, because I read this book (book one of The Shepherd King series) in June, got to the end, immediately went to buy book two, and realized it wasn’t out for months. MONTHS. This should be illegal, IMO. (It’s out now, you’re welcome.)

In this misty kingdom, Providence Cards lend magical powers at a brutal cost. The bad guys want to collect them all to rule the world. But one girl has a secret weapon: a wicked (?) spirit trapped inside her body, slowly taking over. It’s a race for the Penultimate card, the keys to the kingdom, and maaaaybe the love of a prince? The world-building was fantastic, the storyline escalated beautifully (if you have questions at first, stick with it), and the cliffhanger is why “book two coming soon” is just rude.

Gone Before Goodbye, Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon (←listened with my ears)

First, you must listen to this book, because Reese Witherspoon is masterful, and the full list of characters were perfectly cast. I’ll also say this: This book was a bit more critically panned than his others, but I don’t agree with the negative reviews. The storytelling felt very Harlan Coben, the twists were twisty (albeit a tiny bit unsatisfying), and if you don’t love Pork Chop with every bone in your body, I’m not sure we can be friends. What would you do for love, for power, for good? Do the ends justify the means? This was a fantastic “walked the dogs twice just to keep listening” listen.