My Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

My Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025

I decided for this list to only include the books that I do not have ARCs for. These are all coming out between July and December of this year. Below my list of ten, I've also put in some books I have or had ARCs of, which I will be reading by the end of the year. There are so many incredible books coming out in the next six months. 

1. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna- Release Date: July 15th, 2025

~ I enjoy Sangu's fantasy worlds, both in the adult cozy fantasy range and her middle grade books. This one has a semi-villainous talking fox, which makes me very excited to check it out. Also, I love how she writes her love interests. Cannot wait to get to this one very soon.

2. The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar- Release Date: August 5th, 2025

~ I loved Louis Sachar’s books as a child, especially The Wayside School stories. When I heard he was writing an adult fantasy book, I knew I would have to read it. Hope it has as much whimsy as his children’s books with an adult feel to it. 

 

3. Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer- Release Date: August 5th, 2025

~ I read the first book for my book club earlier this year and then read the second right after. Definitely looking forward to seeing what will happen in the third, especially after the ending of the second. The humor in these books is great!

4. Katabasis by R. F. Kuang- Release Date: August 26th, 2025

~ This might be my most anticipated book on this list. One of my favorite classics is Dante’s Inferno and this is said to be a cross between that and Piransei. Sounds absolutely perfect to me. I cannot wait for this to come out. 

 

5. For the Rest of Us edited by Dahlia Adler- Release Date: September 2nd, 2025

~ Love these story collections that are edited by Dahlia Adler. For the Rest of Us is filled with holiday-related stories from many different cultures. 

6. No Friend To This Home by Natalie Haynes- Release Date: September 11th, 2025

~ This will not be coming out in America until March of next year, but it is coming out in the UK in September. I'll keep it on this list because I may get a copy from Waterstones so I can read it this year. Natalie is one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait to read her version of Medea’s story. I’m sure she is going to do an incredible job with this, as she always does.

7. The Court of the Dead by Rick Riordan- Release Date: September 23rd, 2025

~ The Sun and the Star is my favorite of Rick’s books, and I am so happy he is continuing Nico and Will’s story in this book. 

8. Twice by Mitch Albom- Release Date: October 7th, 2025

~ Mitch Albom has been one of my favorite authors since high school, and I always look forward to his new books. This one sounds like a beautiful love story about a man who can have a second chance at everything. Such an interesting premise.

9. Cinder House by Freya Marske- Release Date: October 7th, 2025

~ I will forever love retellings, and this sounds like one of the best I have ever heard of. It is a queer novella based on "Cinderella." Ella was murdered at sixteen and is trapped as a ghost at her father's home. She is only visible to her stepmother and stepsisters. She finds a way to untether herself from the house, but cannot be seen or heard by anyone else. At the stroke of midnight each night, she finds herself back on the staircase where she was killed. She makes a bargain with a fairy to be able to have three nights of freedom and finally be able to be seen and touched. 

10. The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers- Release Date: November 20th, 2025

~  I love books about books, especially magical books and bookshops. This book sounds like the perfect standalone fantasy for me. 

 

Anticipated Books which I have/had ARCs of

     

 

I read an eARC of this book earlier this month, and it was great. Definitely, looking forward to adding it to my physical library when it comes out. Such a beautiful story. Nikita Gill is my favorite poet.   

 

I am currently reading a physical ARC of this book and it is absolutely wonderful so far.  

Favorites of Spring 2025

      🌷 My Favorites of Spring 2025 🌸

Below, I have listed some of my favorite music, movies, YouTube videos, and TV that I have watched or listened to this Spring. This has been a great season for some amazing entertainment. 

🎞️ Movies/Movie Trailers/ Specials:

1. On the Road Again: A Goofy Movie 30th Anniversary with Bill Farmer and Jason Marsden | Disney 🚖

~ This was a great special for the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie. I love that Bill Farmer and Jason Marsden still do stuff like this for this movie. Great video. 

2. Thor: Ragnork 🔨

~ A rewatch of one of my favorite Marvel movies. I think this a near perfect movie. I especially love Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston’s brotherly bond as Thor and Loki. The balance between emotional and humorous scenes was very good in this. It is a delightful movie. 

🎵 Music:

This year has been great for new music. Here are some of the best that I loved in Spring 2025. 

1. “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys

    🎼 I have been eagerly looking forward to this version of this song ever since it was first announced. It came out on May 2nd and it’s so damn good! I love it even more than the original. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the album in June. Rascal Flatts will always be one of my favorites bands. 

2. “Twilight Zone” by Ariana Grande

    🎧 I’ve been a fan of Ariana’s for many years but don’t listen to her all that often. She has many songs that I love and this is a new favorite. It sounds heavenly, especially the beginning. I could listen to this song on repeat. I love all her music on this new album but this song is perfect! 

3. Life is a Highway: Refueled Duets by Rascal Flatts

    🎵 Rascal Flatts has been one of my favorite bands ever since I was a child. So I was excited to hear this remixed cd and it was perfect. I like how many of these songs has a bit of a different sound. Each one sounds great with the other singers too. My favorite of their songs will always be “Stand.” This new version was perfect! Makes me nostalgic for when I used to sit in my room and listen to their music for hours when I was in middle school. Beautiful album. 

5. “Love Me to Heaven” by Jonas Brothers

     🎶  Gosh, I adore Jonas Brothers music so much. Love the beat of this one. 

6. “End of the World” by Miley Cyrus

    🎼 A great new song from Miley.

📺 TV Shows:

1. Ghosts (Season 4)

~ This seems to be on every one of my favorites lists anymore. Definitely, my favorite show that is currently playing on tv. I’m so glad we are getting at least two more seasons. It is just so brilliant! 

2. Andor (Season 2) 

~ Andor is a perfect example of what can be done with Star Wars entertainment and I hope that they will learn from how well it is being perceived by the audience. It is an adult show and I mean that as the highest compliment. Tony Gilroy does an incredible job editing this show together. He is able to make you feel tension for characters who we know are going to survive because they are in later Star Wars media. There are so many incredible quotes that stand out. I adored every minute of this wonderful season. Brilliant storytelling, character work, and media. Definitely, the best we have gotten from Disney Star Wars. Watch this show! 

3. The Bad Batch (Season 1: Episodes 1-5)

~ I only just started this show this past Saturday (June 14th), so I’m only five episodes into it so far. Definitely, a great show to watch after the heavily emotional Andor. I love the found family elements between the Bad Batch and Omega. It’s so cute and fun. Looking forward to seeing what will happen next in the show. 

🖥️ YouTube:

1. BooksandLala- Kayla’s videos bring so much joy to my days when I watch them. We do not have the same taste in books all the time but I love listening to her talk about them and seeing her creative ideas. 

~ Reading Books that have been on my TBR for 10 YEARS

~ Guessing Your FAVOURITE BOOK Challenge ep. 2- YAY!

~ reading 2 brand new releases 🐝 📚 buzzword book vlog ep. 4- “There’s an 11-year old in the backseat.” Lol I love these vlogs with Kayla’s mom. They’re great. 

~ 24-Hour Reading Vlog ⏰ Revisiting my FIRST Ever Booktube Vlog- Little Liam is so adorable, oh my goodness. I remember when he was that little. 

~ Guessing Favourite Books Based on Your Zodiac Sign & Career- Probably my favorite of Kayla’s new series. Love these videos so much. 

~FINALLY a 5⭐️ Read|| Buzzword Reading Vlog ep. 5- Great video as always. Oh my gosh, I have to read The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton, very soon. Sounds so good. Maybe, I read it for this month’s Buzzword challenge like Kayla did. (I did not)

~ me + my mom + books 🌹 Buzzword Reading Vlog ep. 6- I love watching the clips with Kayla and her mom. 

~ Dreaming Up My Perfect Books 🧠📚- This is such a great idea. Definitely, going to turn this into a tag and do my own dream book concepts. 

2. Dominic Noble

~ Wicked~Lost in Adaptation- Yeah, I will never understand who read this book and thought it should be a Broadway musical, but I’ll be forever happy they did. 

~ Wicked~ Lost in Adaptation (The Film)

3. Charlie Hopkinson

~ Jedi Masters Learn Alderaan get’s exploded

~ Young Obi Wan learns how he dies

~ Qui Gon reacts to the Death Star getting destroyed

4. The Super Carlin Brothers

~ I got back into watching J and Ben’s videos this season. I don’t know why I stopped watching them but have really been enjoying seeing their theory and quiz videos again. I’m not going to list the videos I enjoyed of theirs because there are many of them. I like to listen to them in the background while I’m working on other projects. Such a great time. Love this channel so much. 

Other Favorites

1. Puzzles

~ This is my favorite puzzle that I have ever done. I love that it literally looks like a stain-glass window and that the light shines through it. It is stunning. Also, it has the Dodo bird on it who is my favorite character from the movie. 

~ Loved working on this puzzle while listening to a few audiobooks. 

2. Diamond Painting

~ Got this wonderful diamond painting from Michaels. It’s one of their Make Market kits. I absolutely love everything about this one, especially with it being on a wooden backing. Definitely one of my favorites I have done. Turned out beautifully. 

3. Food 

~ Salad made with spinach, grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a pickled egg: my favorite salad. 

~ Lunch: 

    -Spinach wrap with Lebanon Bologna, Turkey, Spinach, mustard, and mayo, 

    -Tomatoes

    - Homemade Parfait with Strawberry Yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, and granola