A running ranking of the books that I have reviewed this year, updated and reranked after each book that I finish.

★★★★☆ Following the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the story continues in a longer and more polished follow-up that's a step up from Book 1.

★★★★☆ An homage to When Harry Met Sally in which two opposites form a deep platonic friendship before eventually wondering if it could be more.

From the early "enemies-to-lovers" attraction of Beach Read to the small-town charm of Book Lovers, Emily Henry has mastered the art of the literary rom-com. But with so many five-star hits, which one truly reigns supreme?

A running tally of the books that I have reviewed this year, updated and reranked after each book that I finish. Explore the latest reviews and discover hidden gems with insights from BarlinsBooks, your literary companion for top new releases.

★★★★★ A small town, a love triangle, a murder, and a trial form the foundation of this twisty, emotional novel set in mid-1900s England.

★★★★★ The most anticipated book of 2025 mostly delivers, as author Yarros continues the Empyrean series and Violet Sorrengail's evolution.

★★★★★ A young woman with special powers infiltrates a training program for the military while working undercover for a resistance organization.

Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2025. How do they compare to Barlin's Books rankings for the year? Where did they get things right, and where did

★★★★★ A photographer spends a summer at a lake house where she meets a cocksure man whose charms threaten their mutual vow of friendship.

★★★★★ Two writers compete for the opportunity to author the memoir of a reclusive heiress while coming to realize they might just be soulmates.

★★★☆☆ A 38-year-old nearly-divorced mother of three starts a summer fling with a dashing, slightly younger man. Can it last?

★★★★★ Yarros gives us a rarity -- a sequel to a force-of-nature debut that's just as good as the original, and in some ways possibly better.

★★★★☆ After a bit of a slow and clunky start, the story of a young human woman imprisoned in faerie lands barrels to an excellent climax.

Inspired by an underwhelming list from Goodreads, this counts down a far superior list of the Top 50 books of the last 5 years (2020-2024).

★★★★☆ When online banter turns to real-life dating, Emma and Justin must overcome significant obstacles to make their relationship last.

★★★★☆ Desperate for a place to stay after her fiancé cheats on her, Daphne moves in with the ex of the woman who broke up her engagement.

★★★☆☆ A rare ho-hum effort from an author I enjoy, Bardugo's novel of 16th century Spain struggles to blend history, fantasy, and romance.

★★★★☆ A funny and heartwarming romance novel in the style of Emily Henry about a woman who is cast as the lead on a reality dating show.

★★★★☆ A new set of characters and worlds from El-Arifi, but a book that is far more in the "romantasy" category than her previous novels.