Alysha Fortune Reads | My top 10 reads of 2025 and look...

My top 10 reads of 2025 and looking ahead to 2026

I’ve read 75 books this year (so far) and here are my top 10! This has been such a good reading year I even read my favorite book of all time this year.

Here are my top 10 reads this year and wow I had an amazing year. I started off really strong with finishing Light Bringer by Pierce Brown that ended up being my favorite read ever, and finished up my favorite series, Red Rising. Now I am anxiously awaiting Red God while also not wanting it to end and be over.

I started 2025 with the goal of reading more foundational Sci-fi fantasy books and I wanted to start my cosmere journey. I didn't really end up doing any of that; instead, I started to gravitate toward books that were more my taste.

Stand outs of my year were for sure The Daevabad Trilogy, The Greenbone Saga, The Broken Earth Trilogy, Raven Scholar, and Red City. I usually always gravitate toward female fantasy authors, and these were just so good!

For 2026, my goal is always 52 books. A book a week is something that I always strive for, even when I usually read more.

I don't have any other specific goals for 2026. I really just want to finish up the series I've started, continue to grow my fable book club engagement, and recommend you guys good books!

That being said, drop in the comments some books you'd like to see me read!

Did you reach your reading goals?

Poll: Did this convince you to read it? Red City. Wow, I have seen so many mixed reviews on this book, but I was completely blown away.

First off, third person is fantastic in this story. We follow two characters who are childhood friends but are unknowingly in opposite syndicates in the illusive sand industry. The magic system is really cool, Alchemy, allows people to transform any matter into different materials but uses a fragment of their soul. The applications are really cool and numerous, and I really enjoyed this. The storytelling was very vivid in my head and I could really visualize it.

The world reminds me of Jade City or a godfather-style story and I ATE IT UP. The third person style really works for me here where the story is elevated and it made me love the characters even more. The romance and yearning in this book were so good! I would not consider this a romantasy because I don't feel the whole point of the plot was the romance.

It had high stakes, cool magic, steamy romance, and characters to love. I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO. This book is being slept on and is CRIMINALLY underhyped. GO READ IT. This is officially on Alysha's hype team must-read.