#top5

My favorite fiction novels of 2025!
Total books read: 78
Female Author(s): 45
New Author(s): 30
Top Genres: romance, fantasy, mystery and YA
Top Author(s): Fredrick Backman, Richard Osman and Emily Henry
45% of all authors were Americans (24), 26% British (14). Also there were one or two authors from Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden.

@cseydel
#readingbracket2025
#BookoftheYear 2025 #bookbracket #bookoftheyear #favourite #5starsread

And the winner is - My Friends by Fredrick Backman!

#DecemberWrapUp #DecemberReads 2025

Total books read: 5
physical book(s): 4
e-book(s): 0
audiobook(s): 1
Female Author(s): 4/5
New Author(s): Mark Edwards, Daisy Garrison and Kristen Ciccarelli
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/3

Entertaining, impressive and captivating book with a satisfying and emotionally resonant finale. Sacrifice, betrayal, courage and love. Worth the read!

Sad, quite dramatic and weirdly written. Not what I was expecting...

It is a disturbing, creepy and nasty story. The book felt too long and quite far fetched

The story felt so messy and unrealistic, too fictional...

The plot is engaging, the world building is complex, the banter is entertaining, the romance is so conflicting - enjoyable read. But that ending!

#NovemberWrapUp #NovemberReads 2025

Total books read: 6
physical book(s): 5
e-book(s): 0
audiobook(s): 1
Female Author(s): 3/6
New Author(s): Katherine Rundell, Thomas Schlesser, Laura Steven, Daniel Hurst
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 1/2

In this sequel there is too much dry text and a lot of repetition, there were some parts that were too unrealistic... It;'s simple and read quick read, but it's not a memorable one. Anyway, I'm curious about the next sequels.

I don't agree that this story is a story about comfort and healing or that it is an optimistic book... I'd say it was a book about a children experiencing big, difficult emotions, facing violence, death and loss. There is darkness, and sacrifice, and tears. There is also magical creatures and friendship, ecological message, but it doesn't save the story.

None of the characters are likable, the plot was rather predictable, but it was a quick read. I am interested in the sequels.

Atmospheric, imaginative and entertaining read. You get pretty invested in the story.

The premise was so promising! But the idea wasn‘t executed well enough. Nevertheless, it was quite captivating and unique. Everything is OK, but not quite great. It's a book I enjoyed reading, but not something I would re-read.

The idea of the book should have been perfect - each chapter was focused on a specific piece of art , but the execution wasn't so great. The story was boring and uncompelling, unemotional and with unbelievable characters.

#OctoberWrapUp #OctoberReads 2025

Total books read: 10
physical book(s): 4
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 5
Female Author(s): 7,5/10
New Author(s): Rachel Gillig, Ruth Ware, Elizabeth O'Roark, J.T. Geissinger, Padraig Kenny
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/2

Interesting premise, quite unique fantasy world, but the romance felt unconvincing and the story was rather bland and rather boring...

After watching TV adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10 I read a sequel to the first book.
Not too tense, entertaining and twisty. But the story felt dragged-out and Lo Blacklock was so annoying. And this obsession with iPhone adoration... 😕

Cute, lovely, delightful and fun. Lynn Painter did it once more! And Wess Bennett has some competition :)

Amazing!
Clever, emotional and engaging story, memorable characters and genius writing - another stellar entry to an already incredible series. Highly recommend!

A quick and easy read with great banter, but the story was quite uneventful and rather unbelievable :)

Engaging, twisted and suspenseful. Had a similar feel to The Girl on the Train or The Woman in the Window , but it is truly an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the first book in the series much more, but the sequel was also OK. The chapters are short, the pace is fast, but some of the dialogues seemed strange, a little spasmodic and repetitive. Julia Stark was more annoying in this book.

All short stories in the series “Scared Sexy“ were paranormal, quick and fun, spicy and unbelievable, with unique approach toward Halloween :)
For me - the best was “Spicy Little Curses“ by J.T. Geissinger

Gothic, eerie and spooky tale of friendship and monsters.

Cozy, but unconvincing. The relationship evolution felt pretty weak to me... The drama felt forced, but it was nice “to see“ everyone from Dream harbor again :)

Total books read: 9
physical book(s): 5
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 3
Female Author(s): 8,5/9
New Author(s): Hwang Bo-Reum, Ali Brady, Alex Ahndoril, Luana Lewis, Katie Holt
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/0

It was a nice blend of historical fiction, mystery, and family drama.

It was way too cringey and clichey. Nothing original, very predictable and even childish. Annoying characters and terrible writing. Should have DNF'ed it...

A bit philosophical, preachy at times, simple, slow and light - description “healing fiction” suits :) The book had good thoughts about about work-life balance. But it seemed plotless, monotonous and dragged-out.

I enjoyed this book. It was quick, not very brutal, intriguing and engaging. A lot of impact on deduction.

Funny and sensitive, positive and sweet. Feel good romance :)

Quick and quite intriguing read, but I didn't like it :)

Compelling, spooky and sad story about dysfunctional family. The premise was exciting. The ending was very unusual and feebly, but the book was interesting.

Unexpectedly it was the most boring, cringeworthy, ridiculous and non-romantic Lynn Painter book...

The premise was very intriguing, but the book felt overdone in some places, generic and flat in others. I doubt that professional psychologist and psychiatrist would be so misled by all other characters.

#AugustWrapUp #AugustReads 2025

Total books read: 9
physical book(s): 5
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 2
Female Author(s): 8/9
New Author(s): Andy Weir, Sabine Bohlmann, Asako Yuzuki
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 3/2

Magical and cozy stories about closeness to and love of nature, friendship and adventures. The books had some things that weren't handled so well (prejudices against other people, intolerance to different eating habits, the handling of the financial situation and others), but those are nice and simple fantasy stories.

It wasn't a bad story, but it wasn't a rom-com. More like a survival trauma bonding story. I couldn't relate.

Light and entertaining, cute and funny enough. The book was quite good but it‘s not something new or mind blowing.

The history seemed well researched, but the ending... I expected something more.

So sciency, so nerdy - like physics fiction :) But the ending... I'm not sure how I feel about it :)

The sequel also had secrets, lies, relationships, unconventional investigations and traditional food. Quite enjoyable read, but I liked the first book so much more :)

I was excepting something a bit more... Overall, the book felt weird and boring. I'd say there really is no thriller or mystery element. The 'murderer' is not even a murderer.

#JulyWrapUp #JulyReads 2025

Total books read: 6
physical book(s): 6
e-book(s): 0
audiobook(s): 0
Female Author(s): 6/6
New Author(s): Shalini Boland, Annie Lyons
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 2/2

I was curious to know who and how did it, but the whole story was very unconvincing, so unbelievable - certain aspects were so far-fetched. The premise of the book was so promising and intriguing, but characters were pitiful and delusional, writing style was boring.

Better than the Movies was a reread: I still enjoyed it very much - charming, cute and funny, but this time Liz seemed truly infuriating and frustrating.

Nothing like the movies - I expected a light-hearted and funny story again, but it was sad and heartbreaking and not very romantic. Nothing like the first book...

Entertaining series :)

It was quite interesting story, but it didn't feel authentic. I really wanted to like this book more, but I wasn't fond of the characters.

#JuneWrapUp #JuneReads 2025

Total books read: 4
physical book(s): 2
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 1
Female Author(s): 2/4
New Author(s): Alan Hlad
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/0