2025 has been a year of literary adventure. From poetry that made me pause to thrillers that kept me on the edge of my seat, I devoured 60 books, each one a doorway into a different world. Narrowing them down was no easy feat, but here are my top 10 picks that left a mark on me this year. These selections aren’t just stories; they are a testament to creativity, courage, and the boundless energy of contemporary Irish writing.
Leading the pack is JP Delaney’s Believe Me, a masterclass in suspense that twists and turns in all the right ways. Lucy Noth’s darkly witty When Sally Killed Harry had me laughing and gasping in equal measure, while Marina Diamandis’ Eat The World blends memoir and reflection with the precision of a poet. L.M. Chilton’s Don’t Swipe Right is a thrill ride of romance and danger, and Freida McFadden’s The Teacher reminds us that the classroom can be a place of unexpected intrigue.
I also found beauty in the personal and the poetic. James Blunt’s Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story: A Non-Memoir is a charming, self-aware exploration of fame and identity, and Lisa Marie Presley’s From Here To The Great Unknown delivers an intimate look at legacy and loss. The Maid by Nita Prose turns the everyday into mystery, while Catherine Paiz’s Dolores: My Journey Home PART ONE is a raw, unapologetic memoir. And I can’t forget Bryony Gordon’s Glorious Rock Bottom, a powerful testament to resilience and self-discovery.
As someone who lives and breathes literature, this list is also a reflection of my journey as a writer. With poetry collections like Beautifully Chaotic (2019), The Dilemma (2020), and Surviving You (2021), I know the transformative power of a story. These books remind us why we turn to literature: to see ourselves reflected, to feel deeply, and to remember that even in chaos, there is beauty worth savoring.
So whether you’re seeking a heart-pounding thriller, a memoir that makes you think, or poetry that whispers truths, these ten books are a passport to the best of 2025’s literary landscape. They celebrate the vitality, audacity, and heart of contemporary Irish writing, and they’re proof that storytelling, in all its forms, is very much alive and thriving.