A new year, a fresh start, and a towering TBR—what more could a reader ask for? The first three months of 2025 have been full of stories and emotions. From unforgettable characters to unexpected plot twists, this quarter had it all, although the number of books I read is quite small compared to most readers’ standards.
In this post, I’m diving into everything I read from January to March—the highs, the lows, the books that stole my heart, and the ones that didn’t hit as hard. Let’s take a look back at the first chapter of my 2025 reading journey!
January 2025
Jodi May delivers another gripping installment in Hillside Academy Volume 3, blending high-stakes competition, secret underground games, and raw, emotional character growth.
The Nox Ludos trials push every character to their limits, revealing new sides to them (Emily, I see you 👀). The dynamic between the students, especially with the introduction of rival schools, keeps the tension razor-sharp.
My heart is forever with sweet Elivia, who is so misunderstood and constantly spirals into bad decisions, putting her trust in the wrong people. Jodi May isn’t afraid to hurt her characters, making every twist and turn feel deeply personal.
If you love books that mix elite school drama with dark themes, this series is a must-read.
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book, and what a ride it was!
I should start by saying that this particular type of horror terrifies me, so I’m especially susceptible to it. I had to pause multiple times while reading, and I couldn’t even touch the book before bed because of how much it affected me. It got completely under my skin in the way only the best ones do. The fact that this is inspired by true events gives me the chills!
From a writing standpoint, I loved the unreliable narration and the slow, inevitable descent into madness Ryan experiences. As a reader, I found myself wanting to protect Amelia and Toby the entire time, much like Maddy.
The ending was exquisite—haunting, inevitable, and perfectly in line with the story.
February 2025
This one will be an all-time favorite :,)
That’s it, that’s the review.
Now I have to go water my plants with tears.
The dark premise of this book is really good. The first few chapters are emotional, haunting and heartbreaking, and really made me care for Carter.
Unfortunately after the auction, I struggled with how the story developed. The romance felt unnatural (Nathan makes it sound like he’s in love with Carter literally the morning after they met) and I couldn’t understand what was going on at the house and what the dynamic was between Nathan and his men. The reason for not telling Carter the truth is that he’s deemed too stupid?! :,) poor kid. As if keeping the truth from him didn’t make everything so much worse.
Overall, it felt like the plot was serving the dark romance, and not the other way around, which is what I prefer. But if that’s what you’re after in a dark romance, you’ll love it!
March 2025
I loved Love Tales from the Borun-Ma!
I’ve already read two stories set in this world, and what they all have in common is amazing world-building, complex relationships, and just-as-complex characters.
As always with Ruth Miranda’s novels, I love that no character is completely good or bad. In fact, I wanted to throw a punch at Song Yang more than a few times 😂
He’s spoiled, self-entitled, more than a bit misogynistic, and jumps to conclusions way too fast. But what makes this story great is that he’s meant to be this way, inviting criticism from the reader.
This series consists of adult books that don’t shy away from the gritty and the ugly, designed to provoke visceral reactions.
It breaks my heart that the series won’t be continuing for the time being, and I really hope more people find it and give it a chance.
For lovers of danmei, dark fantasy, and queer unhinged stories.
I discovered this book on TikTok and simply had to read it.
Gay vampires? yes please!
It was a solid 3-to-4 stars for me; cute love story, nice atmosphere, good character background. I was not invested a lot by the mystery and the secondary characters, and I would have loved to see Jonathan’s past trauma explored even more.
However it’s a good book, that felt carefully crafted to never go “too far” which I’m sure many readers will love.
And that’s a wrap! Have you read any of these books? What do you think of them? Let me know!