18 Feb Alex’s Favorite Books of 2025
Looking for a new read in 2026 but not sure where to start?
Here are a few staff favorites from the many fun and interesting stories that came out last year.
Dating and Dragons
by Kristy Boyce
Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes to find new friends and maybe a new Dungeons & Dragons group. She finds both — and, even better, it includes Logan Weber, the charming guy she ran into on her first day. However, this group’s campaigns are unique: they’re livestreamed and come with strict rules — no phones and no dating among members. Despite Logan’s initial charm, he quickly becomes insufferable at the table, and Quinn begins to wonder what could be behind his sudden change in character.
We Are the Beasts
by Gigi Griffis
When mysterious deaths occur in the French hamlet of Mende, sixteen‑year‑old Joséphine and her friend Clara see the beast rumored to be behind them as a chance to escape the living nightmare of life in Mende. They plan to fake their friends’ deaths to hide them, but can they escape alive while facing the harsh winter, potential discovery, or even the beast itself?
The Teen Exorcist
by Mitsuru Yuki
Thirteen-year-old Masahiro, a teenage exorcist serving the Japanese Imperial Court, struggles to step out of the shadow of his legendary grandfather, Abe no Seimei. Determined to prove himself, Masahiro seizes the opportunity when he detects a malevolent presence threatening the princess. Will this challenge finally allow him to shine on his own merits and be more than “Seimei’s grandson”?
Mystery Royale
by Kaitlyn Cavalancia
Sixteen-year-old Mullory Prudence is left with a warning from her mother to “Run if the strange finds you,” but her curiosity is piqued by mysterious letters inviting her to a game at Stoutmire Estate. The game promises a sizable inheritance, but Mullory discovers it’s about solving the mystery of who killed Xavier Stoutmire during a week of lavish, magical parties. With a house full of secrets and everyone a suspect, Mullory must navigate a tangled family web and decide whom she can trust.
What wakes the Bells
by Elle Tesch
The city of Vaiwyn, built by Saints, is alive and Mina, a Keeper, knows the importance of preventing the Vespers from ringing. When her bell sounds thirteen times, the city becomes chaotic as gargoyles and statues come to life, driven by a malevolent Saint’s soul. Mina must find and destroy the Saint’s host to save Vaiwyn, even if it means suspecting those she loves most.
I want to Escape from Princess Lessons
by Izumi Sawano
Leticia Dorman, engaged to Prince Clarke since childhood, longs for freedom after years of strict training to become queen. Her hopes rise when the prince appears with another woman at a ball, but they are dashed when he insists the engagement remains. Despite her desire to escape, it seems that nothing is going to go the way she expects.
The Resurrectionist
by Kathleen S. Allen
Seventeen-year-old Dilly Rothbart discovers a journal left by her late father containing instructions to resurrect the dead. Determined to complete his work and achieve scientific fame, she becomes embroiled in a dark world where the line between life and death is blurred and what’s morally right is unclear.
They Bloom at Night
by Trang Thanh Tran
After the hurricane, Mercy, Louisiana becomes overrun by a red algae bloom, and Noon, along with her mother, survives by trading mutated wildlife to a corrupt harbormaster. As the town becomes more dangerous with mysterious disappearances and strange occurrences, Noon teams up with Covey, the harbormaster’s daughter, to confront a creature rumored to be responsible. With another storm looming, Noon, familiar with facing monsters, sets out to uncover the truth haunting Mercy.
– written by Alex B, Teen Central Library Assistant
