Welcome to Authoring Arrowheads’ last official blog post of the year! I’m sorry this post is a day behind schedule, but it took longer to write than I realized it would. 😛

I’ve been beyond excited to share My Most Anticipated Reads of 2025 with y’all after compiling, and then narrowing down, my list for weeks. With a limit of 24 books and the hope of reading two off this list per month next year, here are the books I’m most excited to read in 2025.

Sunrise of the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5) by Suzanne Collins

If you didn’t already know, HAYMITCH ABERNATHY IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THE HUNGER GAMES UNIVERSE AND I HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THIS BOOK FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS.

Not only is this book my most anticipated read of next year… it’s the most anticipated read of my life to date. The hardcover has been pre-ordered, and I can’t wait for this beauty’s release.

Across the Ages (Timeless, #4) by Gabrielle Meyer

Over the past two years, Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series has become my favorite Christian fiction series, and out of all the plots and timelines she’s introduced so far for her time-traveling characters, I believe I’ll enjoy this one the most! ❤

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) by Rebecca Ross

I’ve heard so much hype for this book on BookTube (even from BookTubers who read mostly clean and Christian books!), and I couldn’t say no to the typewriter keys on the cover! Though I’m not much of a fantasy reader, I’ve heard the romance in this book is perfection.

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham

I’ve been wanting to read more historical fiction lately, and The Letter Tree comes highly recommended by two of my favorite Christian BookTubers, BookLoverAmanda and Oceana GottaReadEmAll. What sold me on adding this book to my TBR is that several reviewers say it’s a mix between Romeo and Juliet and You’ve Got Mail. Like with Divine Rivals, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the romance in this book.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

Yet another book I purchased because of Christian BookTube (let’s be honest, the majority of 2025’s picks are inspired by BookTube XD) is Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin, a Christian romantic suspense standalone about a woman who has escaped human traffickers. I’ve heard Melissa Koslin’s storytelling is unmatched, and y’all know I can’t resist Christian fiction about tough topics! I can’t wait to dive into this one.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Jenny B. Jones is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Save the Date is one of the few books that I still haven’t read by her. Featuring the fake fiancé trope and Jones’s signature southern sass, I’m certain this will be one of my favorite books of 2025.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry

Another historical fiction recommendation I found on Clean/Christian BookTube (I can hear the collective sigh from you, readers XD), Once Upon a Wardrobe follows a college girl who meets up with C.S. Lewis to fulfill her terminally ill brother’s last wish of finding out where Narnia comes from. I’ve heard this is quite a tearjerker, and I’m prepared for the emotional damage that will ensue.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Yeah… I still haven’t read one of the most (if not the most) well-known Christian fiction books of all time. Keeping on with my new reading theme for 2025, Redeeming Love is a gritty, historical fiction retelling of the book of Hosea in the Bible, set during The California Gold Rush. I’m both intimidated and intrigued by this book and can’t wait to see what I think of it!

Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody

I read Brody’s story structure book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel a few years ago and was over-the-moon excited when I found out she was releasing a version catered to writing young adult books, since, if this is your first time here and you didn’t know, I write Christian YA. 😉

The Bait of Satan by John Bevere

2024 has been my nonfiction era, and I believe that trend will rollover into 2025 thanks to the nonfiction books on my TBR. The Bait of Satan comes highly recommended by my former pastor’s wife. Focusing on the devil’s tactic of snaring us in offense, this book teaches readers how to not get caught up in bitterness or allow offense to affect our relationship with God.

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Do I literally just want to read this book because I find the concept of prayer boxes incredibly intriguing? You bet I do. Besides that, this book is set in my home state, and I have a feeling this will be an edifying read that will stick with me.

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

For some reason, I like reading about characters baking and cooking in books. I read The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner years ago, and when I saw that she had released a culinary-themed book, I knew it had to be my next read by her!

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

I read A Flicker in the Dark by this author in 2023 and it is easily one of my all-time favorite thrillers. All the Dangerous Things follows a mother who is trying to find her toddler son who was taken out of his crib during the middle of the night. I can’t wait to see what twists Willingham packs into this book!

A Note for Christian Readers: This is a secular book. A Flicker in the Dark contained strong language and (if I remember correctly) possibly a closed door or fade to black scene, and I’m guessing this book is on the same content level.

A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary

In elementary school, I loved checking out Beverly Cleary’s books from the school library. Her fiction books are timeless, and she has inspired me as an author. A Girl from Yamhill is Cleary’s memoir about what her adolescence was like, and I am so excited to learn more about her!

WayMaker by Ann Voskamp

…Christian BookTube made me do it again. XD I’m a little addicted.

WayMaker is a Christian nonfiction book that offers readers hope in the truth that God makes ways through the most impossible circumstances. With a loved one currently encountering health issues that seem as if they’ll never go into remission, this is a message I desperately need to read more about.

A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate

For those who don’t know, I’ve been fascinated by Australia since I was a little girl. Needless to say, this clean/Christian romcom has been on my TBR for ages, and I finally picked it up on my Kindle a few weeks ago.

Swipe (Swipe, #1) by Evan Angler

I’ve been searching for some good Christian dystopian books for a while, and I’ve been interested in Swipe ever since I read its synopsis. This YA dystopian novel follows 3 kids in a future version of North America who are expected to get the Mark on their 13th birthday. It sounds similar to Left Behind (which was apparently on my Most Anticipated Reads of 2024 list… though I didn’t get to it this year. Whoops.) and I’m here for it!

Iscariot by Tosca Lee

Christian BookTube alert. Hehehehe…

Despite reading Christian fiction for several years now, I’ve never read a biblical fiction book before. I’ve heard Iscariot is the best of the best, and that by the end of this book, I’ll be sympathizing with what Judas Iscariot endured during his life.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

This secular historical fiction novel is set in Romania in 1989 during the Communist regime. I’ve had my eye on this book ever since I first heard about it because the main character dreams of becoming a writer in a society where no one is free to follow their dreams.

Just Don’t Fall (Sweater Weather, #1) by Emma St. Clair

I just read Can’t Help Falling by Courtney Walsh from the beloved Sweater Weather romcom series a few weeks ago and LOVED it, so I can’t wait to read the first book in the series! Just Don’t Fall is by Emma St. Clair, whose other romcoms I’ve enjoyed in the past, and I believe this will be the perfect read for next fall!

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

Both Melissa Ferguson romcoms I’ve read over the past two years have been 5 stars for me, so I’m anticipating her debut to be just as amazing! Ferguson writes clean romcoms that are 100% my sense of humor and her characters don’t obsess over physical attraction like many other romcom characters do.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Recently, Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney became my all-time favorite thriller, so I have extremely high hopes for this book! Though Alice Feeney’s books are secular, Daisy Darker was much cleaner than other secular thrillers I’ve read and only had scattered language and one scene where it’s implied that a side couple is being intimate, though it’s mildly detailed.

Tired of Trying by Ashley Morgan Jackson

I’ve followed Ashley Morgan Jackson on Instagram for a while now and have always found her posts to be edifying. When she announced she was releasing a nonfiction work aimed to combat spiritual exhaustion and discouragement, I immediately added it to my TBR and have been eagerly awaiting reading it.

A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips

Last but certainly not least, Erin Phillips wowed me with her fantasy version of the story of Esther, A Crown of Chains, earlier this year. In similar fashion, A Bond of Briars is a fantasy retelling of the book of Ruth, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Though I’m not much of a fantasy reader, Phillips’s world-building and character creation are astounding and I know I’m going to love this book as much, if not more, than its predecessor.

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

Have you read any of the books on this list? Which one was your favorite and why?

What books are you most excited to read in 2025? Drop your picks in the comments!

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀