Good morning, Cyberspace! Today we are continuing the Blogmas adventure by diving back into the books of 2025–only this time, we are discussing the worst books I read this year…
If you’re interested in the top 5 books I read in 2025, please check out my Blogmas post from yesterday!
Obviously I am going to be talking in extremes today. Sometimes books are bad. Sometimes they are meh. Sometimes I say things like “this book was a complete and utter waste of my time” and it has NO REFLECTION WHATSOEVER on the author. Hey, I hope to be a published author someday too! And while I certainly hope that I won’t end up on someone’s “worst books of 2025” list, I fully acknowledge that it could happen… So if I happen to mention a book you adore on this list…remember that I do have bribery cookies and am not a huge fan of arson…
With that caveat, let’s dive right in!
NOTE: like yesterday, all links lead to that book’s Storygraph page! If you’re interested in following along with my reads in 2026, consider giving my Storygraph page a follow!
BLOGMAS, 2025 – WORST BOOKS I READ IN 2025
HORROR MOVIE by PAUL TREMBLAY
First thing’s first, this list is in no way in any particular order. Horror Movie just so happened to be the first one on my list of reads for 2025 where I thought, “oh yeah. That one was pretty bad.”
And, in full disclosure, it really was pretty bad. The interesting bit about this particular novel is I think it was supposed to be bad. Sort of like those cult classic cheesy horror movies that turn horror nerds into horror nerds, this book had all the great makings of a cult classic.
Pros:
- it was definitely spooky
- minor cannibalism? (minor is being gracious. i nearly puked.)
- actually, idk if the cannibalism should be a pro or a con…
- characters were intriguing
- interesting blend of current day POV, past POV, and screenplay
Cons:
- cannibalism
- weiiiiiiirrrrrrd ending
- also just weird vibes throughout the entire book in general
- super confusing
I did not hate this book. Just to be clear. I just thought it was really really weird and will probably (definitely) never read it again. *shrugs*
IN FIVE YEARS by REBECCA SERLE
This book was a disappointment from start to finish. To be honest, I don’t really have much else to say on it, other than I don’t know why I continued to read it when the beginning of the story was essentially setting me up for said disappointment. I think it was one of those brainless reads that I had through Kindle Unlimited, so I just gave it a go to see what happened.
What happened was disappointment. Do not recommend.
AMERICANAH by CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
As I wrote in my Storygraph review: This is essentially a glorified novel on “cheating and getting away with it because it’s what everyone does”.
And that about sums it up. I had to read this book for school in the Spring semester, and while I must say that Adichie is a talented writer–extremely talented, even–I was really disappointed in where the story led. I’m not sure what I was hoping for… maybe a redemption arc? Something to fight for? But instead we were left with two characters who did nothing but leave brokenness and heartache behind them.
A lot of my fellow students thought the ending was romantic; I did not. The only reason this story got 2.5 stars from me was because of the author’s talent. I’d consider reading another book by her, but it would only be after careful consideration of reviews.
ALL TOMORROWS by NEMO RAMJET
….this was probably the worst book I have ever read. DNF. Just…no.
If I could get the 2 hours back that I invested in this book, I would use it to eat some tacos and go thrifting. Much better use of my time. #sorrynotsorry
TALK TO ME, PEASANTS!
And that wraps it up for my worst books of 2025! Overall, not a horrible list! The good books (more specifically, the “middle” titles that weren’t necessarily my absolute favorites or the worst bombs of my reading year) far outweighed the bad, and for that I am grateful!
Have you read any of the titles mentioned? What were your thoughts? – I’m definitely curious to discuss reading preferences!
As always, until next time…
Mackenzie K. Writes 
Talk To Me, Peasants!