From books to movies and video games, this is a collection of our staffs favorites throughout 2025!
Amy KT
This year, I revisited some old favorites and found some new ones.
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Amy Rae
Here are my favourite books of the year! Some are new, while others are old - but they're all worth picking up.
Other lists by Miss Amy Rae
Miss Amy Rae's 2025 Film Faves!
TEHYA C.
Slowing down is sometimes the best way to move forward." Starting 2025, Tehya was newly graduated from college and had more time on her hands, so reconnecting with herself, her interests, and those around her became a quick priority. Seeing the way Hiroto, the main character, carefreely experiences the simple pleasures and maintain the connections in his life has inspired her to adopt similar slow and simple practices going into 2026.
Sometimes, starting a new hobby can help us discover parts of ourselves as we work through life's difficulties. Tehya has always used art as a form of personal reflection, and seeing characters do the same provides a sense of comfort. Join this story of grief, love, and choosing to confront the past and form connections even when we hesitate to. Content Warning: Mention of Suicide
Jennifer K.
Here's what I am reading in 2025! I love reading cross-genre, but mostly gravitate toward Fantasy and Science Fiction. I'm a mood reader and get most of my reading done in the car or after the kids go to bed. Favorites of the Year (Not Ranked): • A Drop of Corruption by Robert Bennett Jackson • Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano • The Favorites by Layne Fargo • The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas • The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson • Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Megan N.
This is such a magical, whimsical story and was the perfect book to curl up with on a cold evening. Evangeline is a tiny girl adopted by a shoemaker. When the shoemaker's wife decides to get rid of her, Evangeline finds herself alone in the great, big world. But she is brave and with the help of a cat, she just may find her way.
There is nothing I like better than a silly picture book, especially one full of puns! Sharky is the big fish in the reef, bored by his fellow marine neighbors. But Sharky hasn't considered he might not be the biggest fish in the ocean beyond his reef. This book is begging me to read it for a storytime. Perfect for fans of Ben Clanton!
Marcia S.
If you love or lived through the 80's, you might really enjoy this cold war era tale with a face melting mission.
This romantasy has an arranged marriage trope with a twist. Also, really cool and deadly monsters.
Great for people who love a dramatic and twisted love story that doesn't necessarily promise a happy ending.
Sarah M.
I am a big cat person and I enjoyed playing as a cat, and I am a "not stressful" type of gamer, so this was a joy to play! Easy AND fun. 🙂
I love one sitting reads, and I read this book in a single day! It was so interesting, and it was a good book that now I recommend to people who want a fast and easy book to dive into. And it doesn't hurt that it helps get that reading goal to where you want it to be by the end of the year. 😉
Wyatt G.
Some of the books I read in 2025!
Elliot W.
Hi! I am one of the Teen Services Librarians here at KPL. While I wish I could have read more, I can definitely recommend these books, movies, and more that I loved in 2025!
Terrell F.
Some of the more memorable watches and reads for me this year or things I still have yet to finish.
Alyssa N.
Kristin Hannah is such a beautiful writer. Her books are intense, yet powerful. She writes with raw emotion and you feel that in her characters journeys. This book had me go through all of the emotions. It was intense, frustrating, beautiful, difficult, empowering, and my favorite Kristin Hannah book yet. Even though the book was somber, it didn't bother me because I felt like I was right there within the story, and was thankful for the perspective it gave of the Vietnam War. I'm one of those people who enjoys books that are light and make you feel joyous. However, give me a Kristin Hannah book any day. I cannot wait to read, and cannot put the the book down. This was the case with The Women.
DJ. H
2025 was the year I got back into video games after not really playing them since I was a teenager and let's just say things have improved...
This is a co-op game and it was the first game I really played after getting back into video games. I fittingly played it with my best friend growing up who I used to always play them with. We ooh-ed and awed at the REMARKABLE graphics, we marveled at the Easter Eggs throughout the game, and we laughed...A LOT. Just an absolute gem of a game. Could not recommend it enough.
This game is art. Simple as that. It has a beautiful storyline. It's funny. It's just an incredible experience.
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