My Most Anticipated Reads Coming In 2025
Spoiler Alert: it's a whole lotta fantasy, romantasy, and dark romance ;)
Lots of promises have been made for new releases this year and anticipation is high over here!
Authors all over have been gracing our shelves and e-readers with some seriously swoon-worthy gems in recent years and this year promises even more doozies.
The dates listed are the projected release dates as of right now. We all know things can change and we are firm believers in not rushing good things here.
*Titles below are intended for mature audiences. 18+ NSFW*
Hollyhocks by January Rayne: 1/30/2025
Spice: High Heat!
I think about this series AT LEAST once a week and it’s my favorite to bring up when my friends ask, “what weird smut are you reading these days?” The first two books covered MMC’s who were victims of a government experiment. They’re driven by the new monsters inside them and an intense need to find their mates. The 3rd book was originally set to release in 2024, but the author needed a bit more time to get it just right and for that we thank her! I don’t know about you, but I would rather read a book written by an author who took their time, prioritized their mental health, and did the story I’ve already fallen in love with justice. January has said our monster stalker in this book is a HER and she is dedicated to giving her the story she deserves. Who can argue with that? Plus, there are tentacles on the cover. If I learned anything in the 1st book, Honeysuckles, that means there’s a treat in store. ;p
How To Please A Princely Fae by January Bell: 1/16/2025
Spice: Medium/Medium-High
OK, so I planned this blog post a ton and it’s just now hitting me that my first two authors are named January with releases set in January LOL. Personally, it seems like good tidings to me! ANYWAY, I lost myself in the Wild Oak Woods series last year, and I’m ready to find out what’s going on in Kieran’s head! The series is following a trio of Unseelie monsters who escaped their court and found home and acceptance in a cozy little town of magic. Unlike most towns in this fantastical world, the Wild Oak Woods are without a ruling coven. Nevertheless, there is “change on the wind” and the local witches are finding love, friendship, and their own inner power as they prepare for the unknown. As prince of the Unseelie court, Kieran has been broody and resistant to the new situation he and his comrades have found themselves in. However, a case of magical amnesia seems to have caused him to forget just how much he despises his circumstances and the witch he’s become reluctantly close to. These reads are medium-spice and did I mention cozy? Because they’re really cozy!
Bound to the Orc Warrior by Krista Luna: 1/9/2025
Spice: Medium
Orcs were a big recurring theme for me in 2024. I read dozens of Orc romance books, and as always, I have no shame. Brides of the Moonblade Clan was one of quite a few Orc series I absolutely devoured. In this series, the Moon Goddess is sending the Moonblade clan their Moon bound brides (dare ya to say that five times fast). The brides with their unconventional powers are trying to piece together how they’re inexplicably connected and why the Moon Goddess is choosing now to bring them to their mates (and maybe just as importantly, to each other). These Orcs are OTT possessive and if you were wondering; yes, there’s knotting ;)
*This series gets bonus points for hilarious/witty familiar-type side characters <3
Blackmailing Belle by Holly Roberds: 3/27/2025
Spice: Medium High
The Lost Girls series is a spicy collection of Fairy tale retellings. Finding words to describe how in love I am with these books is actually really hard. Each book is so different, but there are a few common themes and the biggest one being each of these FMCs are total baddies. These women are strong, powerful, and seriously sexy while their mates are protective and completely swoon-worthy. The addition of a drag queen fairy godmother is the cherry on top!
The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa: 7/1/2025
Spice: Medium
I’m treading carefully here because if you haven’t started this series yet, I don’t want to be the one to spoil anything. Our heroine, Selene, struggles with her memory so she keeps detailed journals of everything. She’s working towards a long desired goal of securing a spot in the Henbane coven. When she accidentally awakens a 2,000+ year old warlock (Memnon) who may or may not be murdering witches from her coven, she does her best to manage her spell-load while trying to uncover the true killer. This series has made me feel so many things and racked my anxiety up to high levels, but gah, what a thrill! The last book ended in a bit of a cliffhanger and it looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer to see what happens there because this next one is the story of how that curse came to bind Memnon in his 2,000 year slumber.
Two thousand years before there was Selene, there was Roxilana. Her love fated, her life doomed, and her story forgotten—until now.
What Sleeps Within The Cove by Harper L. Woods: 5/8/2025
Spice: High
Whew, I’ve been waiting a hot minute for this next book! There have been publication issues and other factors that caused a lengthy delay, but the fourth book in the Of Flesh and Bone series is up for pre-order now. There have been a lot of upset readers commenting on the long wait, but I’m a firm believer in never rushing a good thing. When authors build us an entire world with it’s own gods and mythology, I think they deserve a little grace when they need extra time to get it right. This series is reminiscent of Blood and Ash, ACOTAR, and even a little bit of The Witcher. The spice is muy caliente and the development of our heroine is *chef’s kiss.*
My Orc in Uniform by Veronika Kane: 1/10/2025
Spice: Medium-High
I told you I had a year full of Orcs, didn’t I? This series is so binge-able. A group of Orcs crossed the veil into our modern world and finally found acceptance and a place to settle on Eastshore Isle. We’re talking fated mates, OTT possesiveness, and characters that are so easy to fall in love with. You know the series is good when the author planned to stop at a certain number of books, but brought more characters in the mix because she’s not done here and neither are her readers! The last book was definitely the spiciest in the series yet. I can’t wait to see how it progresses. Book 7-My Orc (Secret) Boss is also set to release on Valentine’s Day this year.
My Striking Beauty by Olivia Wildenstein: 3/18/2025
Another modern retelling series that is everything I wanted it to be. The first book was like if you took the swooniest bits of Sleeping Beauty and mixed it with the need and devotion of Hades and Persephone and then sprinkled in some sexy mob danger for good measure. If you’re a fan of modern retellings, snatch this series up!
ACOTAR Book 6 by Sarah J. Maas
Whether you agree with the hype or find the series overrated, we all know this next installment is long-awaited. There are no guarantees we’ll get this one in 2025, but that’s the *current* projection and I’m trying to speak it into existence, if you will. If I were a betting woman (and sometimes I am), I would say early 2026 is more likely. But if a girl doesn’t have dreams, what does she have? I miss my friends in Prythian. I need to see what the Valkyries have been up to. I’m just itching to get back in this world, ok? But I’ll leave Sarah alone and let her finish her writing.
The Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout: 6/10/2025
If you’ve read this series, you know that last book went in a direction a lot of people didn’t anticipate (personally, I feel they chose not to see it coming, but that’s just one reader’s opinion). If you’re not into a little bit of sensual sharing, this isn’t for you. But for those of us who were not surprised (or upset by) Kieran joining in on the fun, we’re finally going to see what happens next later this year! The reviews are conflicting. Some people want Kieran to find love of his own and branch off, a lot of others want to see more of our tentative little throuple. Personally, when I read an Armentrout book, I just strap in (no pun intended) and let her take me on a journey. I have a very conflicting personality and that shows in my reading. I mostly stick to safeish (heavy on the ish) books, but I’ve learned to trust Jennifer and dive into her series ready to have my heart torn out, stomped on, put back together, decorated with pretty flowers, infused with some kind of primal power, and arguably changed for the better.
“Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash
Phantom by H.D. Carlton: 1/14/2025
Spice: High
If you’re not familiar with H.D. Carlton, she writes dark, spicy, stalkery, mudery romances that are not for everyone (but are definitely for dark and twisty readers like yours truly). So, if you like a little trauma with your twisted love and you don’t mind gore and violence, I highly recommend. We learned a bit about Adeline’s grandmother in the Cat and Mouse duet when her diary is uncovered. Turns out, she had a very similar situation to her granddaughter 60ish years before Adeline inherits her home. There have been quite a few books set in this world, but this one is different while also promising to have a few similarities. Carlton took to her Instagram to remind us that this MMC is not Zane, and while there is a stalking element, it is more focused on the mafia ties of our “hero” (using that term quite loosely). Personally, sign me up for all the 1940s mafia stalker books!
“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅’𝒗𝒆,” 𝑰 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆, 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈. “𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆?”
𝑯𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆. “𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆.”
Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver: 2/11/2025
Spice: Medium
I’ll be honest; I haven’t yet read Leather and Lark. I know, I know, but hear me out, ok? I have a little quirk in my personality where I push off starting things I know I’m going to love because I don’t want them to end. I also have a bad habit of setting down a book with just a couple chapters left and not touching it for months because I’m not ready to say good-bye to the characters. Is my anxious attachment disorder showing? Now that I know the end is nigh, I’m sure to pick it up and devour it in one sitting here soon.
I’ve heard a few people say they were disappointed in Butcher and Blackbird because it wasn’t a dark romance like they were expecting, and I just want to know who out there is telling people it’s a dark romance? It’s a dark romantic comedy. If that’s not your thing, I totally get that. For me though, it was top-tier entertainment. As someone who doesn’t emote a lot when they read, I laughed out loud so many times during my read-through. It does get a bit gory and it’s not for those with a super weak stomach. If you like true crime and hilarious banter, though, I can’t say enough for this series.
Corrupt by A.J. Merlin: 12/31/2025
Spice: High
The Pleasure & Prey series has me hooked like a curious fish. These books are dark little bloodbaths that bring the heat! There would have to be something seriously wrong with a person for them to fall in love with a man they know to be a homicidal maniac and that’s exactly the case in this series. Throwing away your good judgement for passion? That’s a good read in my book! This will be the first MM romance in this series and I can hardly wait.
So there it is! We have a ton of great books to be excited for this year and even more that haven’t been announced yet. Honestly, I could have made this post a mile long but these are my most anticipated reads. What are yours?
I think this is the list of books that's going to heal me.