It’s time to get excited about our 2025 reads, and today I’m sharing my most anticipated books for the first quarter—January, February and March. I always choose my top five books for each of those months, and next quarter I’ll let you know how many I actually read. And keep reading to see how I did last quarter. The titles are linked to Goodreads if you’d like to read more about the books. Also, I’m linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl’s Top Ten Tuesday!
January 2025 Most Anticipated:
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. My NetGalley request was never approved (or rejected) so I have this on preorder. This is a “drop everything and read now” book for me:-)
Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton. See above. My NetGalley request was rejected! And this is a publisher I work with so I’m confused. Oh well, I will definitely read Tartufo anyway, simply because I loved Buxton’s Hollow Kingdom series and can’t wait to see her follow-up.
Witchcraft For Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. Not Hendrix’s usual, but I still found a lot to enjoy. This is a very emotional but ultimately satisfying story.
The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks. This is a fun, scary sci-fi tale that’s giving me Dungeon Crawler Carl vibes. I know, I didn’t like that book, but I’m enjoying this a lot and will probably be finished when this post goes live.
At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce. Very excited to read Bruce’s new book. It’s getting good reviews and sounds creepy.
February 2025 Most Anticipated:
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis. One of my goals this year is to read my ARCs ahead of publication, and I’d like to read at least one book that comes out the following month. In other words, I’d like to read Wooing the Witch Queen in January, especially since it’s a highly anticipated book.
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett. I love following Emily and Wendell on their adventures, and I expect to enjoy this just as much as the first two books.
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel. Any time a blurb calls a book “laugh out loud” and “terrifying,” I’m going to read it!
Future’s Edge by Gareth L. Powell. Also, the words “gripping,” “heartfelt” and “horror-tinged” are a sure fire way to get me to pick up a book:-)
I just received a copy of Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill and I’m not sure I can wait to read it. This is a cozy fantasy with found family, and it sounds amazing.
March 2025 Most Anticipated:
In case you’re new here, I’m a HUGE Stephen Graham Jones fan, and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is one of my most anticipated books of the year. I’ll be reading this early for sure!
I adored Weyward by Emilia Hart, and of course I’m excited to read her follow-up, The Sirens.
Any year with a new Philip Fracassi book is a good one, and I can’t wait to read The Third Rule of Time Travel.
I believe Cynthia Pelayo is a hidden gem of an author and deserves more attention. I can hardly wait to start Vanishing Daughters.
And finally, M.R. Carey has a new dark fantasy out this year, Once Was Willem. This sounds very different from his other books but very good.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Results:
Oh boy, I totally BOMBED last quarter’s list. I’m almost embarrassed to post this! But here you go, I read a whopping five books out of fifteen:-( I just didn’t have any focus, and I kept stalling on books and setting them aside. I’m hoping to catch up with some of the ones I missed in 2025.
I really enjoyed The Way Up Is Death and I’m looking forward to reading The Third Rule of Time Travel (alas, no ARC, but I plan on purchasing a copy).
Oof, your December was rough, reading-wise. But you can chalk it up to the holidays, right? Who can stop you now that they’re over? ;D
Roberta R. recently posted…Mallory Pearson: “Voice Like a Hyacinth” (ARC Review)
I hadn’t seen that cover for The Sirens before, it’s really pretty.
Vanishing Daughters sounds very good, and by a new-to-me author as well 😀
It looks like you’ve got some fantastic books to look forward to over the next couple of months. I’m sorry about the expired request (I’ve had a few of those too) and the unexpected rejection. Maybe someone pressed the wrong thing by mistake
I’m very curious about At The Bottom Of The Garden and Beautiful Ugly in particular out of your January picks. I’m thrilled to hear that The Way Up Is Death is going so well despite having similiar vibes to a book you DNF’ed.
I adored the Emily Wilde book and hope that you do too. Hopefully Wooing The Witch Queen will be the gem you’re anticipating and I’m very curious about Greenteeth.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter will probably be my first read by the author (being vampires how could it not?) and I can’t help but find myself intrigued by Once Was Willem.
I hope you love all of these books and good luck with your goals. Maybe with the last quarter you got overwhelmed. I know in the past I had a phase where I kept putting down books, despite enjoying them, as I felt totally bogged down by books. Either way a third is still pretty good though.
I’m reading the new Emily Wilde at the moment and loving it! Listen to Your Sister certainly has an attention grabbing blurb! There’s a few more in here that I’d read if I had time, like Sirens (though I still haven’t read Weyward) and Wooing the Witch Queen.
I still think you did great with this project in 2024 overall. I see a few 2025 titles I have planned as well. I started Victorian Psycho last night and would say it’s one of my most highly anticipated January reads and am glad to say I am loving it. And don’t worry – The Reformatory is still sitting on my TBR as well!
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I’ve read Beautiful Ugly and my review is next Tuesday. I also have Wooing the Witch Queen and the Emily Wilde on my schedule. I haven’t gone through my widgets emails for 2025 yet so I may have more stuff yet. February is already packed though.
Seeing another M.R. Carey book is both exciting and disappointing. I’ve still not finished the Koli series. 🙂
I just posted my anticipated reads for the 1st half of 2025, and now I realize that I left off Emily Wilde! Such an oversight — I’m really excited for that book. Can’t wait for The Sirens too, and I”m curious about the Third Rule of Time Travel. Good luck — these all look terrific!
Emily Wilde is getting a LOT of love today. “Heartfelt” and “horror” don’t seem like a good match, but one never knows!
Stephen@ Reading Freely recently posted…Top Ten 2025 Releases
I can’t wait for Green Teeth!
There are so many coming out, it’ll be a great reading season!
I keep forgetting about Wooing the Witch Queen and it makes me wanna scream. I’ve gotta remember it! Also think Once Was Willem sounds really good but I might wait for your thoughts on it first. 😀
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025
I’m looking forward to Wooing The Witch Queen, too! Hopefully we’ll enjoy reading it.
One of these days I will start the Emily Wilde series…
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Quarter of 2025
I can’t wait for you to read Greenteeth Tammy! And I hope you will love it as much as I did!
I need to keep Witchcraft For Wayward Girls in mind for my wife — Grady Hendrix’s stuff has usually been too horror-adjacent to appeal to me, but by the same token, my wife adores it. XD
Good luck getting round to all of these!
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Lots of good looking books coming up! I hope you get as many read as you can and enjoy them! I’ll be waiting for your reviews.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…L-L-L-Little Reviews #70: December 2024 – Part 2 – Non-Holiday Reads
Great list and I like your post, it’s a nice way to keep track. Beautiful Ugly and Wooing the Witch Queen especially caught my eye. Happy reading!
Bookworm recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday 1/7/2025: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025
At The Bottom Of The Garden looks really interesting! I hope you’ll love these books 🙂
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairy.blogspot.com/2025/01/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-books-releasing-in-the-first-half-of-2025.html
I’m excited for BEAUTIFUL UGLY too. I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read by Feeney so far. I hope you enjoy all these!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
How many interesting books!! I never read anything by Alice Feeney, but I have some of her books on my TBR so who knows?! Maybe this year I will finally manage to read at least one!! I have already read Wooing The Witch Queen and had a lot of fun with it!! And I am looking forward to Greentheet!!