Favourite books I read in 2025.

Welcome back to my blog people. Today I am going to be sharing my favourite books that I read last year. In 2025 I read quite a bit and found some great books throughout the year. The books in this list are the favourites that I read...


1: The Testaments (2019) by Margaret Atwood.

Atwood's 2019 dystopian novel The Testaments is the follow up to her classic The Handmaid's Tale (1985). The Handmaid's Tale came back into the bestseller book charts with the 2016 election in the United States of America, considering who ended up becoming president. The harsh cutting or women's rights from all angles led to a television series of The Handmaid's Tale and then came the follow up novel. The Testaments is a magnificent book that had me gripped from the start of the book to the end of the book. It is a book that had me scared, gave me hope and delivered a stark reminder to me of the dangers that some people face in society. This became my second favourite book and you can read my review from last year to find out my about it.




2: On Beauty (2005) by Zadie Smith.

This book is very, very, very, very funny! Zadie Smith's third book follows the lives of two families - .The Belsey's and the Kipps's. Howard Belsey cannot stand right-wing Trinidadian Monty Kipps and often the two families come together in good or bad ways. Here is a close examining of marriage, family life and a clashing of politics, tarnishing personal lives in the process... I loved it so much it is now my third favourite book. I spill the whole tea on my blog post, reviewing the novel last year in March. Do have a look if you want to know more.



3: Release the Best: A Drag Queen's Guide to Life (2021) by Bimini Bon Boulash.

Another book that happens to be hilarious. Bimini, from Rupaul's Drag race wrote this non-fictional book that happens to offer the best advice, told in a extremely funny manner. The other reason why I love their book so much was that they gave useful advice and they gave made me understandable. This book is just one of the best! It now happens to be my joint third favourite book alongside Jackie Kay's Trumpet (1998).




4: Shuggie Bain (2020) by Douglas Stuart.

This is the 2020 Booker Prize-winning debut novel by Scottish author Douglas Stuart. It is a heart wrenching tale of alcoholism, abandonment and growing up as both gay and poor in 1980s Scotland. This novel is an impressive novel that I loved to read! Ever since I read one of Douglas Stuart's short stories, I knew I wanted to read his debut novel. What makes Shuggie Bain stand out tall is how it is unafraid to be honest; that is why I loved reading it so much! On my list of top ten favourite books, this is 6th.





5: Q&A (2005) by Vikas Swarup.

Vikas Swarup's magical debut novel follows a man named Ram Mohammad Thomas who is arrested on suspicion of cheating in a game show to win a million. Here we see how his chaotic life has led him to know answers to questions that he otherwise might not have known. It highlights what is right, what is wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel! On my list of top ten favourite books, this is 7th.





6: White Teeth (2000) by Zadie Smith.

As far as debut novels go they do not come much better than this beauty of a book! There is just something about Zadie Smith's work that captivates me. I am never disappointed reading something of hers. This mangled, meaty and mighty debut is no exception. It is brimming with life, cultures, opinions and a wonderful mix of characters. Whatever you read, curl up on the sofa and digest this one for sure.




That concludes my list of favourite books that I read this year. Do let me know in the comments if you had an favourites that you loved from last year.


Until next time,


Thomas.

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