2025: Books That Surprised Me The Most

I always love it when a book surprises me. Whether that being a twist I didn’t see coming, or me enjoying something more than I thought I would. I’ve had quite a few book surprises this year, in both positive and negative ways. So here are ten books that surprised me this year, and the reasons why.

The Kindred Curse Series by Penn Cole

Why Did It Surprise Me?
I had heard a lot of mixed things about this series. In particular, about how annoying and stupid the FMC was. So I went into this one in January pretty sceptical about it. And I loved it. I even loved the ‘stupid’ main character because I absolutely understood her. I ended up reading all 3 books in this series this year, which is unheard of for me. There were twists I was shocked at, and this is honestly one of my all time favourite romantasy series. So this one was a big surprise for me, in the best way possible.

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Why Did It Surprise Me?
Honestly, this one surprised me because I expected to absolutely love it, and sadly I didn’t. I honestly struggled all the way through this book, and I almost DNF’d it quite a few times. After loving The Serpent and the Wings of Night by the same author, I was really surprised I didn’t love this one too. I read this one via audiobook at the start of the year, and I am going to try this one again in 2026, as I feel like my dislike of it stemmed from me not loving the narrator. So while this one was a surprise in a negative way, I am going to give it another shot.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

Why Did It Surprise Me?
Honestly, with this one I think I just enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. As I read this one as an ARC, I didn’t really know what to expect going in. But I found it so addictive and just a whole lot of fun. I also didn’t see the twist coming at the end, so I loved that this one surprised me. I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book in the duology when it releases in 2026.

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

Why Did It Surprise Me?
I am not a contemporary girlie. Honestly, contemporary books often really bore me, and I never end up finishing them. So when we read Morbidly Yours for my bookclub, it was so surprising to me how much I flew through it. I absolutely loved this book and found it really adorable. Ivy Fairbanks is on my auto-buy author list, and that was one of the biggest surprised for me this year.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride

Why Did It Surprise Me?
This is another one that unfortunately surprised me in a negative way. I heard about this book and thought this sounded like the perfect book for me. However, I ended up DNF’ing it. I had an instant dislike of the FMC and it seemed too fast paced where I ended up not really feeling anything for any of the characters because there didn’t seem to be any character development happening. It was one of the biggest disappointments for me this year.

An Heir Comes to Rise by Chloe C Peneranda

Why Did It Surprise Me?
I was in such a book slump when I decided to listen to the audiobook of An Heir Comes To Rise, and it brought my out of my book slump immediately. I fell head over heels in love with this book. It reminded me of Throne of Glass, which is one of my favourite series. I cannot wait to dive into book 2 in 2026!

The Goldens by Lauren Wilson

Why Did It Surprise Me?
When I first picked The Goldens up, I was about to call it a day with YA Thrillers. I’d read so many that I had just ended up being disappointed in and I was about to admit that I had outgrown the genre. Enter The Goldens, and I raced through it and loved every moment of it. I am so thankful to The Goldens for reigniting my love of YA Thrillers. I cannot wait for Lauren Wilson’s 2026 release!

Girls of Dark Divine by EV Woods

Why Did It Surprise Me?
I truly just loved this one way more than I thought. This book is inspired by Phantom of the Opera, which I adore so much and as I don’t read blurbs before I read the book it was a pleasant surprise to me. This is dark and gritty and just such a phenomenal book. Honestly this one is probably my biggest surprise of the year. Absolutely loved every moment of this book.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Why Did It Surprise Me?
Honestly, this should have been a favourite of mine. I am such a big lover of cosy fantasy. I love everything cosy and witchy and so this should have been perfect for me. And I still can’t really put my finger on what it was that made me DNF this one, but it really just wasn’t for me. I am still so heartbroken that this one wasn’t for me.

A Language of Dragons by SF Williamson

Why Did It Surprise Me?
I knew I would love this one… and I did. But I did not expect to love this one quite as much as I did. I absolutely raced through this book. I was buddy reading it with my bookish bestie, Han and we agreed on 50 pages a day, and I loved it so much by Day 2 of the buddy read I was 200 pages in. This was the biggest surprise for me, because for such a big book I read it in less than a week, which is very fast for me. I truly loved every moment of it.

What books were the biggest surprises of the year for you?