The joy of re-reading: 3 books I’d like to re-read in 2025
As I write this, we’re two days away from one of the biggest release of 2025, if not the biggest in the fantasy spaces, ‘Onyx Storm’ by Rebecca Yarros.
I’ve spent the last week rereading ‘Fourth Wing’ and ‘Iron Flame’ (I haven’t finished ‘Iron Flame’ just yet and I’m not sure I’ll be done in time!) ahead of the release. I absolutely adored the reading experience of both books when they came out in 2023 and I’ve been excited for ‘Onyx Storm’ ever since, knowing that I’d revel in a re-read after a wait of well over a year.
And it’s been an absolute balm being back at Basgiath, swooning over Xaden, over a tough week. It’s reminded me of the joy of re-reading which is something I used to do all of the time as a child and teenager, but has dropped off to basically never over the last few years, just when needed for the podcast. That needs to change.
I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to delve back into just for fun, and what I’d like to re-read to ensure I get the best out of the next instalment of the series.
‘Northanger Abbey’ by Jane Austen
We are introduced to the young, impressionable Catherine Morland, whose first experience of fashionable society introduces her to the thrills of Gothic romances, and to the sophisticated Tilneys, who invite her to their family home, Northanger Abbey.
I started on a Jane Austen re-read last year, determined to read them in publication order throughout the year, but I stalled at ‘Mansfield Park’, my least favourite of the six completed novels. That means I missed out on my favourite Austen novel, ‘Persuasion’, which I do read regularly, but also ‘Northanger Abbey’ which I haven’t read since I was at university.
This year I’m making a commitment to re-reading it, finally, and I’m also hoping that will push me into picking back up my full re-read as I really would love to reread ‘Emma’ too as I’ve only read it once. I may just leave ‘Mansfield Park’ by the wayside though…
‘The Will of the Many’ by James Islington
The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.
‘The Will of the Many’ is one of the biggest fantasy releases of the past few years and I loved it just like everyone else, but it’s a long book with a lot going on and so many rich and intricate details that I’m definitely going to need a refresher before diving into ‘The Strength of the Few’. It’s expected to release in May this year, though no pre-orders are available just yet, but I’m hopeful.
The ‘Nevermoor’ series by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow is cursed, destined to die on her eleventh birthday. But, as the clock strikes midnight, she's whisked away by a remarkable man called Jupiter North and taken to the secret city of Nevermoor.
This is one of the two middle grade series that I remain invested in and after a painful four year wait and just as many delays and cancellations to publications, the fourth book, ‘Silverborn’, is finally scheduled to be released in May. We don’t have a cover yet though which does make me nervous, but I’m ever hopeful that I’ll get to go back for more new adventures with Morrigan.
As soon as I’m sure it’s definitely happening (I’ve been burned many times with this series…) I’ll be re-reading the first 3 books in this series: ‘Nevermoor’, ‘Wundersmith’ and ‘Hollowpox’. The audiobooks for this series are pure, escapist magic and I can’t wait to get back into this world.
I know this isn’t many books, but I already have a packed reading year with so very many lists to work through, so this feels manageable, but I very much hope that I’ll have the chance to sneak in a few more.
Are you a rereader? Do you have any rereading plans in 2025?
Written by Sophie
