In Ep. 212, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books start the wrap-up of 2025 with the first of the two year-end episodes: Best Books of 2025 Superlatives. In this episode, they share their top books of the year from over 25 superlative categories, including Weirdest 5-Star Read of 2025, The Book That Made Us Furious, Most Underrated Gem, Too Dark Even for Me, and so much more!
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Announcements
- The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated the Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple’s 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)!
Highlights
Our best books of the year from over 25 categories, including:
- My First 5-Star 2025 Release of the Year
- Weirdest 5-Star Read of 2025
- The Book That Made Us Furious
- Most Underrated Gem
- Most Perplexing Book
- Best Book to Be Made into a Reality Series
- Too Dark Even for Me
- Most Crushingly Depressing Book I Loved
- Best Horror Book in the Victorian-Feminist-Gory Category
- The Crime Novel That Hit Me Hardest Emotionally
2025 Superlatives [7:32]
Sarah
- Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:58]
- What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:38]
- Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:22]
- Maggie; a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:43]
- The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:25]
- Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:22]
- The Dinner Party by Viola Van de Sandt (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:25]
- Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:35]
- When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (US release 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:37]
- Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:30]
- What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:53]
- Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:52]
- Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:06]
- The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:38]
- Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:07]
Catherine
- What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:58]
- The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:37]
- The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:31]
- Murderland by Caroline Fraser (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:53]
- Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:07]
- The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:13]
- Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:31]
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:12]
- Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:45]
- Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, 2) by Laini Taylor (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40]
- Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:39]
- Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:31]
- The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:18]
Other Books Mentioned
- Defending Jacob by William Landay (2012) [8:59]
- All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay (2023) [9:00]
- Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (2020) [10:40]
- I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) [30:25]
- The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan (2012) [33:08]
- Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [45:20]
- The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange (2023) [45:39]
- Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934) [46:13]
- The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) [48:34]
- Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler (2013) [48:35]
- Writers and Lovers by Lily King (2020) [51:32]
About Catherine Gilmore
Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 10 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Seattle, WA.
Next Episode
In two weeks (December 10), the second part of the year-end wrap-up with Chrissie: Best Books of 2025 Genre Awards.
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