Book Recommendations

My Favourite Reads of 2025

Published by Frances Denny on January 15, 2026

This year’s been a bit disappointing on the reading-front. However, I did read three fantastic books:

THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO by Horace Walpole

An interesting read. It resembles Hamlet quite a bit with its main character being haunted by his father. Walpole acknowledges being heavily inspired by the Shakespeare tragedy. I also love how the story blends a realistic historical setting with the supernatural, something that was revolutionary at the time.

FALLEN’S FIRST by Kassidy Coursey

I LOVE THIS BOOK. The seven deadly sins as hot demons. I’m in!
If you want to read my full review, click here.

A PACK OF BLOOD & LIES by Olivia Wildenstein.

A female teen werewolf must survive amongst a male dominated pack and compete for the role of Alpha. I’m not a huge fan of werewolf books, but I did enjoy this one. The writing is clean, and the main character Ness is full of personality.

MY FAVOURITE READS OF 2024

Published by Frances Denny on December 30, 2024

As 2024 comes to an end, I’ve put together a list of my favourite reads this year.

I haven’t read as many books as in previous years, hence the short list below, because, among other less exciting reasons, I’ve been finishing a YA gothic romantasy, which is due to my agent in March.

As some of you know, last year I signed with a literary agent and this year I went on submission with an upper-YA gothic romantasy. In the meantime, I have written another book (the one that’s due in March) and am in the final stages of editing it. I’m keeping my fingers-crossed for both these manuscripts to be picked up by a publisher in the new year. XD

Enough about me, here’s the list of my favourite reads:

THE PROJECT by Courtney Summers

GENRE: Young Adult, Thriller, Literature

Just a warning, this is not going to be an easy book to forget. The way Summers takes us into the mind of someone being seduced by a cult is truly clever. Lo is a fantastic character. She’s angry, quick-tempered, emotional, impulsive. She reads like an actual teenager, which isn’t guaranteed in YA these days.

All the characters are well-developed and interesting. I particularly love the relationship between the two sisters, Lo and Bea, although their story is heartbreaking.

Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery and a good cry.

A CURSE FOR TRUE LOVE by Stephanie Garber

GENRE: Young Adult, Romantasy

Yes, I finally got around to reading the last book in The Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. And it was…

Wait a sec while I finish swooning…

SO CUTE! It’s a sweet ending to a sweet trilogy. Although I guessed the twist early on, I didn’t care because gah, Jacks and Evangaline got their happy –

I’ll shut up now.

A WINTER’S PROMISE by Christelle Dabos

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy

I really enjoyed this book. It’s set in a steam punk future where the leading families of the celestial islands (also called Arks) have family spirits that protect the islands. The protagonist, Ophelia, a member of one of these leading families, finds herself in an arranged marriage to a foreign man from a powerful clan and must travel to a dangerous Ark called the Pole. I loved Ophelia. She’s a breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre. She’s quiet, stubborn, curious, misunderstood and underestimated. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

2 Comments

MY FAVOURITE READS OF 2023

Published by Frances Denny on January 1, 2024

To celebrate the end of 2023, here’s a list of books that I enjoyed reading this year.

A SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH by Darcie Little Badger

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

AMAZING! Beautiful writing, well researched. An adorable friendship between Nina, a Lipan girl, and Oli, a cottonmouth (snake) boy from the land of spirits and monsters. So much to love about this book. Also, if you’re someone who likes their shapeshifters behaving like the creatures they shapeshift into, this is the book for you. Darcie has clearly put a lot of research and care into giving the cottonmouth boy convincing snake-ish quirks and thoughts.

THE CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN by Jenny Elder Moke

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mythology

What an engaging and entertaining story! Funny. Fresh characters. Read it in two days. Also, I did not see that twist coming. If you love Celtic gods, the 1920s, and high-stakes action with a sense of humour, this is the book for you.

OF BEAST AND BEAUTY by Chandra Hahn

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale Retelling

Loved it. Usually, Beauty and the Beast retellings irritate me when the beast isn’t, well, a beast. While the book’s opening could give you the impression that we’ve got another story with a handsome beast – yawn – you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that’s not the case at all. We have a beastly beast who causes havoc. However, the identity of this beast, is what the characters must solve. And what a twist that is!

There’s so much more to this book too. Such as a fascinating protagonist in Rosalie. Her relationship with King Xander is so moving.

I would definitely recommend to romantasy lovers.

WE WERE LIARS by E.L Lockhart

GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary

I read this book as part of my exploration of the history of young adult literature. I must say, I was sceptical when I read that Cadence, the main character, has amnesia – a very common trope, particularly in the 2010s, and usually poorly researched. However, I was pleasantly surprised that Cadence’s amnesia had nuance. Overall, I found this book heartbreaking, leaving me feeling empty for weeks.

A DEADLY EDUCATION by Naomi Novik

GENRE: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy, Romance

A voicey, cynical main character? Tick. A school that wants to kill you? Tick.

2 Comments

MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2022

Published by Frances Denny on December 27, 2022

To celebrate December, here’s a list of my favourite books I read this year.

THE RARKYN’S FAMILIAR by Nikky Lee

GENRE: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy

If you haven’t read my review, here’s the link.

This young adult fantasy is for those who enjoy Garth Nix and Trudi Canavan. The worldbuilding is amazing and the characters are complex. The second book in the series, THE RARKYN’S FALL, is yet to have a release date, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for that.

THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS by Ali Hazelwood

GENRE: New Adult, Contemporary, Romcom

Who doesn’t love a story about two nerds finding love? THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS is a new adult romance between a stem-science university PhD student and a professor – yes that does not sound appropriate but they’re only fake-dating, and the professor isn’t teaching any of her classes – the two made sure of that. So, it’s all goods.

I think.

Just read the book. It’s good.

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED TRILOGY by Kerri Maniscalco

GENRE: Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal/Gothic Fantasy, Romance

Soooo…this was kind of a guilty pleasure read. It’s not deep, but it’s a lot of fun. The premise is a witch must team up with a prince of Hell to uncover the truth behind the murder of her twin sister. Along the way, there’s blood, demons, goddesses, magical tattoos, mystery, death, and sex…lots of sex. Chapters of sex – a small addition to the trilogy…

*Looks sideways*

ANATOMY: A LOVE STORY by Dana Schwartz

GENRE: Young Adult, Gothic/Paranormal Romance

Set in 1800s Edinburgh, the story follows wannabe surgeon Hazel Sinnett who uncovers a dark secret regarding the disappearance of its citizens, and it’s not all to do with the Roman fever. If you enjoy gothic romance and you didn’t faint when you dissected a frog in biology, you’ll love this book. One thing to note, Schwartz compares this book to FRANKENSTEIN. I see this book as more like THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE. Or maybe a mix of both. You decide.

ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART and THE BALLAD OF NEVER AFTER by Stephanie Garber

GENRE: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance

ONCE UPON A TIME meets SABRIEL – definitely! Heartbroken Evangeline makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts (Jacks) to mend her heart. But striking deals with immortals isn’t wise, and Evangeline must travel to the magical and mysterious North to save herself and those she loves. If you don’t mind your childhood faith in true love and happily-ever-afters being destroyed, you should read this trilogy. The third and final book, A CURSE FOR TRUE LOVE, comes out September next year and Garber better let Evangeline and Jacks have their happy ending. Or I’ll cry.

CIRCE by Madeline Miller

GENRE: Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Retelling

Superb. Incredible. Rich. Hands down, my favourite book of this year. It’s Greek mythology from the perspective of the enchantress/minor goddess, Circe. Through her point-of-view, a spotlight is shone on the misogyny of the Greek gods. Despite this, Madeline Miller is able to weave in hope, love, joy and passion through her complex and rich characters. Definitely worth a read.

LITTLE THIEVES by Margaret Owen

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retelling, LGBTQ+

Very few books accurately portray PTSD, but Owen has nailed it in this retelling of the Goose Girl. I absolutely believed Vanja and her experience. Vanja, daughter of Death and Fortune, escapes her parents by stealing the identity of her old friend, the princess Gisele. There’s so much I liked about this book, especially the shape-shifting demigod, Ragne, who is given the responsibility of “keeping an eye on Vanja.” I think Ragne should have her own series. The second book in the duology comes out next year. Will totally be reading it.

THE FORBIDDEN WISH by Jessica Khoury.

GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retelling

I rarely like Aladdin retellings because they are often Disney rip-offs and have little to do with A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS. However, this retelling is an exception. Aladdin felt so real, as did the description of his appearance and behaviour as a peasant in ancient Arabia. And he was likeable. Zahra, the genie and narrator, was also a fascinating character. It’s not often books are told from the perspective of an immortal, and I thought Khoury did a good a job at making her feel believable.

THE CATS WE MEET ALONG THE WAY by Nadia Mikail

GENRE: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

The world is ending, and we have a road trip, and we don’t want the world to end because we love the characters and their cats so much. Yes, I was moved by this book. It was so sweet, so sad, so human. If you want to have faith in humanity during hard times, read this book.

WE ARE OKAY by Lina LaCour

GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+

I talk about WE ARE OKAY a lot because it’s SO FLIPPIN’ GOOD. It’s the first book that’s made me cry – EVER. The story follows Marin, who, after the death of her grandad and main caregiver, fled to New York without telling anybody. However, Marin must still face the tragedy of her grandfather’s death, when her ex-girlfriend and best friend Mabel visits with questions. I loved this book so so so so much and FINALLY a story with accurate lesbian and authentic mental health rep.

1 Comment

Category: Book Recommendations