My Favorite Books of 2025

Hi everyone

Looking back at my reading year, I realize I must have been very critical in 2025. Out of the 95 books I read, only 13 earned the full five stars from me. But those five-star books; they were so worth it!

Here are the stories that stole my heart, made me think, or just swept me away completely:

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons  

- Ilona Andrews: Magic Strikes 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy 

- Roald Dahl: Matilda 

- Jonathan French: The True Bastards 

- Eowyn Ivey: To the Bright Edge of the World  

- Cameron Johnston: The Maleficent Seven 

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Harriet Muncaster: Isabella Maan gaat naar de kermis 

- Emma Newman: Before Mars

- Terry Pratchett: The Fifth Elephant 

- Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost  

- Jen Williams: The Ninth Rain 

Each of these books stood out for a reason; whether it was the characters, the world, or the way they made me feel. They’re the ones I’ll remember, recommend, and reread for years to come.

What were your favorite reads of 2025? Did any of these make your list too? I’d love to hear what five-star books you (re)discovered! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: April 2025

Hi everyone

April was wonderful; we had plenty of sunshine breaking through the typical Belgian grey skies, and I read a ton too! I’m excited to share what I dove into. 

Here's what I read:

- Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

- Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

- Stephen King: The Dark Half 

- Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane 

- Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

- Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

What about you? How was your reading month? Did you find any new favorites or re-read an old beloved book? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!
Helena

Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Hi everyone

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers.
I read this on my e-reader only because I couldn’t find a physical copy anywhere (though I’d love to own this series in paperback someday!). 

"After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.
They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.
Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?
They're going to need to ask it a lot." 

This book was really, really lovely. It’s sweet, cozy, easy, optimistic, and warm; perfect for when you need something light that leaves you feeling all warm inside. Chambers has a gift for creating worlds that feel gentle yet profound, and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is no exception.
The dynamic between Dex and Mosscap is pure joy.  Their journey, both physical and emotional, is full of small, meaningful moments that add up to something beautiful.
The themes, what it means to be human, the value of connection, and the beauty of simplicity, are woven in so naturally that they never feel preachy. Instead, they feel like a warm hug.

The only thing I didn’t love was the length of the book. I felt like we skipped too much, too many travels, interactions, and little adventures that I would have loved to read about. The story moves very quickly, and while that keeps it light and breezy, I couldn’t help but wish for more.

If you’re looking for a book that’s gentle, uplifting, and full of heart, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is perfect. (Like all other books by Becky Chambers I've read.) It’s the kind of story that restores your faith in humanity (and robots!) and leaves you with a smile on your face.

Have you read this series? Did you love it as much as I did? Or do you have another cozy, feel-good book to recommend? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: December 2024

Hi everyone

December, the last month of the year, the final chance to dive into the books you’ve been meaning to read all year, or to finish those series you’ve been putting off. For me, it was a mix of wrapping up old favorites and exploring new stories. 

Here’s what I read last month:

- Brian McClellan: Blood of Empire

- Muriel Barbery: A Single Rose

- Emma Newman: After Atlas

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot

- Lucy Jones: Matrescence 

- Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan: The Gutter Prayer

- Mike Bockoven: Fantasticland 

- Marie Brennan: Driftwood 

- Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

- Terry Pratchett: Jingo 

Did you finish any series or discover a new favorite last month? I’d love to hear what you read, let’s swap recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena

Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

 Hi everyone

A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the first book in Becky Chamber's new bookseries; Monk and Robot. I could not find it in paperback so I read it on my e-reader.

"Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend.
Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. Chambers' series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?"

I enjoyed this so much. In the style I’ve come to expect from Becky Chambers, A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a true feel-good novel. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile, sigh with contentment, and feel all warm inside. It’s lovely, charming, cozy, hopeful, and full of heart.

What makes this book so wonderful is its gentleness. Chambers doesn’t rely on action or drama, instead, she focuses on connection, kindness, and the small joys of life. The world is so inviting and the dialogue is warm and thoughtful.

Have you read A Psalm for the Wild-Built? Did it make you feel as cozy as it did for me? Or do you have another feel-good book to recommend? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Becky Chambers: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Hi everyone

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is Becky Chambers’ debut novel. This is the first book in the Wayfarers series.
My copy has 404 pages and I got it from Book Depository.

“Somewhere within our crowded sky, a crew of wormhole builders hops from planet to planet, on their way to the job of a lifetime. To the galaxy at large, humanity is a minor species, and one patched-up construction vessel is a mere speck on the starchart. This is an everyday sort of ship, just trying to get from here to there.
But all voyages leave their mark, and even the most ordinary of people have stories worth telling. A young Martian woman, hoping the vastness of space will put some distance between herself and the life she‘s left behind. An alien pilot, navigating life without her own kind. A pacifist captain, awaiting the return of a loved one at war.
Set against a backdrop of curious cultures and distant worlds, this episodic tale weaves together the adventures of nine eclectic characters, each on a journey of their own.”

I loved this book so much.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is stunning, brilliant. It’s touching, interesting, funny, it has a lot of depth, it has meaning and it’s different from anything else I’ve read so far.

The characters are great; they’re complex, well-developped, completely unique and they feel true. The book is very character-driven. There are some truly unique and very diverse species (in all aspects) and I loved the way they interacted. Most of them try their hardest, but it’s clear it’s not easy to live with or to communicate with someone from a different species. I loved these parts; their doubts and uncertainties, the thoughts about their own and others’ behaviour and the way each of these species communicate. They feel real and they act with real emotions. I felt so connected to them!
There’s so much love in this book and it warmed my heart to read it. Very touching.

The setting is absolutely fascinating. Chambers’ worldbuilding is amazing and I love the universe she created. We get some history about this universe as we travel through it but it never feels like an info-dump. It feels bigger than the book and I mean that in the best way possible.There’s an untold history here that’s only hinted at. Same goes for the other worlds. There’s so much more I want in this universe.
There’s not much to the plot because it’s mostly about the crew’s daily life but I found it to be incredibly entertaining.

The writing is very elegant.
There are lots of details about the food, scents, clothing and many other things.

Chambers can be a bit preachy though. The moral messages she wants to put forward are rather blatant and obvious. It doesn’t make it any less enjoyable but it is something to keep in mind.
What did annoy me was how the book was split into different parts; one for every character. It felt like she just went over her list of characters, giving them all some time to shine.

This book is not for you if you want lots of action, if you’re not interested in the emotions or the small problems of the characters because this book is definitely character- and worldfocused.

It has been compared to Firefly a lot and it’s true. I’m sure that if you love Firefly, you’ll adore this.
The book made me smile and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy reading it.

I absolutely loved this. 

5 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena