LIST: My Top 15 Favorite Things of 2025

 

    What a year. 2025 became a year of making things happen for me. I decided to turn my focus towards more reading, writing and other creative ventures especially at the halfway point of the year. This year saw a sizable drop in videos games I played and enjoyed but a massive increase in books read. Including with the reading, I also wrote more than I have ever written and as of this blog, am one chapter away from finishing my first trilogy of books for Cloudale, a story which has existed purely in my mind for years.

    This year also started what is becoming one of my favorite things, my month recap the 'Rants & Raves Reviews'. So as we draw to the end of this year, I decided it is time to look back and discuss my favorite things of 2025. To not repeat myself, I'll be linking to my previous blogs but I will add extra thoughts if they are needed.

15. Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo

14. Wolverine Revenge

13. GRIME

P.S My only video game on the LIST this year. I immensely enjoyed this game to the point where I was determined to 100% all aspects of it. It challenged me and made me enjoy a genre (metroidvania) I have previously dismissed as not for me. I looking forward to the sequel with a lot of anticipation.

12. I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

P.S. My first Harlan book and arguably my favorite out of the three I have read so far. I aim to steadily read all of his books (because his writing style feels similar to mine and is great inspiration) but you never forget your first.

11. The Things we leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

P.S. During there previous showdown, linked above, Harlan won, however in hindsight I think I now enjoy Rebecca's book more. I think it doesn't help Harlan's case I have read more of both of these authors and I think Rebecca has a slight edge over Harlan for me.

10. Paradise Season 1

9. Secret Warriors (full series)

8. The Wicked + The Divine

P.S Secret Warriors was rated higher in the original LIST but in the year end LIST I think Wic + Div has the slight edge. Funny because I love Hickman's writing much more then Gillen's.

7. Our Unwritten Seoul

6. Fourth Wing

5. Moving

4. Secret

P.S I guess the end of the year LIST is when I am finally able to break the tie between Secret and Moving.

3. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

P.S RAVE to come and slight spoiler for December's LIST.

2. The Paper Menagerie and other stories by Ken Liu

1. Purple Kiss concert: A Violet to Remember

P.S It was kind of hard to beat a once in a lifetime opportunity especially with Purple Kiss' disbandment now. The whole experience was amazing, seeing one of my favorite groups live was an experience like no other and hands down my favorite thing of this year.

AV