25 Books to Read in 2025
New year, new books!
Beat the holds for these 25 must-read books everyone will be talking about in 2025 that you don’t want to miss.
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Hope: The Autobiography by Pope Francis and Jorge Mario Bergoglio; Translated by Richard Dixon with Carlo Musso
Pope Francis originally intended this exceptional book to appear only after his death, but the needs of our times and the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope have moved him to make this precious legacy available now.
Hope is the first autobiography in history ever to be published by a Pope. Written over six years, this complete autobiography starts in the early years of the twentieth century, with Pope Francis’s Italian roots and his ancestors’ courageous migration to Latin America, continuing through his childhood, the enthusiasms and preoccupations of his youth, his vocation, adult life, and the whole of his papacy up to the present day.
Available January 14th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Also Available January 14th in Spanish: Esperanza. La autobiografía: Memorias del papa Francisco
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Water Moon: A Novel by Samantha Sotto Yambao
*A LibraryReads Pick*
A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical quest when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike fantasy novel.
“A spellbinding journey into a magical Ghibliesque world where regrets and memories can be bartered, where appearances are not what they seem, and where dreams, free will, and destiny are pitted against fate . . . Endlessly inventive, this haunting and enchanting tale is not to be missed.”—A. Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal
Available January 14th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Inheritance: A Novel by Trisha Sakhlecha
Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder.
For fans of Succession and readers of The Nest, a twisty debut novel that explores the dark side of complicated families, excessive wealth and inheritance.
“I was enthralled from the very first chapter all the way through to the gut-clenching twists. Trisha Sakhlecha is a supremely gifted storyteller.”—Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass
Available January 21st in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Harlem Rhapsody: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray
She found the literary voices that would inspire the world . . . The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.
“A page turner and history lesson at once, Harlem Rhapsody reminds us that our stories are our generational wealth—this book and the real lives that inspired it.”—Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling author of An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club Pick)
Available February 4th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks
A heartrending and beautiful memoir of sudden loss and a journey towards peace, from the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse.
A spare and profoundly moving memoir that joins the classics of the genre, Memorial Days is a portrait of a larger-than-life man and a timeless love between souls that exquisitely captures the joy, agony, and mystery of life.
Available February 4th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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End of August: A Novel by Paige Dinneny
A captivating, multigenerational debut novel of a young woman navigating the personal trauma that ties herself, her nomadic mother, and her alcoholic grandmother together, perfect for fans of Ask Again, Yes and What the Fireflies Knew.
“Filled with complex characters, a lovingly rendered coming-of-age story, and a tight-knit community that pulls you into its familiar customs and lore, End of August is a remarkable depiction of young love, flawed mother-daughter relationships, and the fight for a place to call home in a small town where summer days feel like a lifetime, and it’s never too late to chase the joys of adolescence. This is a beautiful debut novel with an unforgettable protagonist who I wanted a happy ending for, just as much as she wanted it for herself.”—Kai Harris, author of What the Fireflies Knew
Available February 11th in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and eBook Editions.
Waiting for the Long Night Moon: A Novel by Amanda Peters
In her debut collection of short fiction, Amanda Peters, bestselling author of The Berry Pickers, describes the Indigenous experience from an astonishingly wide spectrum in time and place—from contact with the first European settlers, to the forced removal of Indigenous children, to the present-day fight for the right to clean water.
“An impactful collection of short stories . . . Many of the stories deal with grief—both spoken and unspoken; personal and generational; physical and spiritual—and how to survive in a world that’s trying to erase you. An impressive collection rooted in the grief, trauma, tradition, resilience, and hope of Indigenous peoples.”—Kirkus Reviews
Available February 11th in Hardcover.
Deep Cuts: A Novel by Holly Brickley
For readers of Daisy Jones & The Six and High Fidelity, the incredibly buzzy debut that everyone is talking about—a love story about two people pulled apart by the same force that draws them together: music.
“Tender as a ballad and pleasurable as a pop song, Deep Cuts is both a romp into the indie sleaze era of the early aughts and a timeless love story.”—Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Sisters
“Warm, nostalgic, totally engrossing. I loved this novel.”—Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The God of the Woods
Available February 25th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Watch Holly Brickley on our Love Stories Author Panel
Fundamentally: A Novel by Nussaibah Younis
A wickedly funny and audacious debut novel following an academic who flees from heartbreak and lands in Iraq with an insane job offer—only to be forced to do the work of confronting herself.
“Funny, gripping and compassionate; Fundamentally is a truly original novel that you won’t be able to put down.”—Dolly Alderton, author of Good Material
“I really, REALLY loved it – the voice, the setting, the plot, all of it. It’s original, warm, funny and engaging. A breath of fresh air.”—Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel
Available February 25th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Dream Count: A Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A publishing event ten years in the making—a searing, exquisite new novel by the bestselling and award-winning author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists—the story of four women and their loves, longings, and desires.
A trenchant reflection on the choices we make and those made for us, on daughters and mothers, on our interconnected world, Dream Count pulses with emotional urgency and poignant, unflinching observations of the human heart, in language that soars with beauty and power. It confirms Adichie’s status as one of the most exciting and dynamic writers on the literary landscape.
Available March 4th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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All the Other Mothers Hate Me: A Novel by Sarah Hartman
“The missing boy is 10-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he’s a little shit.”
Hilarious and twisted, propulsive and furious, All the Other Mothers Hate Me is the must-read book of 2025.
“Sarah Harman has created a potent mix of mystery, laugh out loud humor, and one of the most indelibly matchless protagonists ever. I rooted for Florence, this hilarious, unreliable, party girl who will go to any lengths to protect her son. Put this at the top of your to be read list!”—Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish
Available March 11th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Watch Sarah Harman on our Debut Author Panel
The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell
From Pulitzer finalist, MacArthur Fellowship recipient, and bestselling author of Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove Karen Russell: a gripping dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town.
“Only Karen Russell could write a dust bowl opus with such raucous brio—The Antidote soars with exigent joy and laugh-out-loud scenes, with memory witches and enchanted cameras and the world’s most lovable sentient scarecrow. It’s magic, a book doing this big work and also making it propulsive, eminently readable . . . Russell has rendered with soul and urgency the vast inexpressible ache at the heart of American gratitude.”—Kaveh Akbar, author of Martyr!
Available March 11th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Watch Karen Russell on our Book Club Reads Author Panel
How to Love Better: The Path to Deeper Connection Through Growth, Kindness, and Compassion by Yung Pueblo
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lighter offers a blueprint for deepening your compassion, kindness, and gratitude so you can truly grow in harmony with another person and build stronger connections in all your relationships.
“This book is a beautiful offering from the heart, to the heart. I read through it in one quiet sitting, feeling its wisdom fill my spirit with hope that—after all the difficulties that relationships can bring—love (when blended with grace) can and will prevail.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love
Available March 11th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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The Four Queens of Crime: A Novel by Rosanne Limoncelli
In this debut mystery, DCI Lilian Wyles, the first woman detective chief inspector in the CID, is determined to find a killer with the help of the four queens of crime, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Claudia Gray.
“A properly thorny mystery and a delightful portrayal of the Queens of Crime. Readers will love this clever story. Its style harkens back to the Golden Age of crime fiction and also introduces them to the first woman detective chief inspector in the CID at Scotland Yard. An artful debut!”—Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author
Available March 11th in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and eBook Editions.
The Hedgehog’s Dilemma by Toon Tellegen; Illustrated by Annemarie van Haeringen; Translated by David Colmer
The first in a series of witty, philosophical animal stories with whimsical illustrations—for adult fans of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse.
We’ve all been there: When a lonely hedgehog hosts a party for his friends, he’s suddenly wracked by social anxiety and self-doubt.
An international bestseller, The Hedgehog’s Dilemma is a lovely and loving book that addresses deep emotional and philosophical themes with humor, kindness, and intelligence.
Available April 1st in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Audition: A Novel by Katie Kitamura
One woman, the performance of a lifetime. Or two. An exhilarating, destabilizing Möbius strip of a novel that asks whether we ever really know the people we love.
“You have never read anything like this gorgeously disquieting book. Audition challenges our preconceptions about love, art, and selfhood—and, magnificently, our very idea of how a novel should unfold. If all the world’s a stage, Kitamura reminds us that we never stop auditioning for our parts.”—Hernan Diaz, author of Trust
Available April 8th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Watch Katie Kitamura on our Book Club Reads Author Panel
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
An explosive, deeply reported exposé of Johnson & Johnson, one of America’s oldest and most trusted pharmaceutical companies—from an award-winning investigative journalist.
“Deeply researched and smartly written, No More Tears reveals the disturbing story behind one of America’s most trusted brands. Gardiner Harris has done a great service, giving us a page-turning drama that raises life-or-death questions about the world’s largest healthcare conglomerate.”—Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize winning author of King: A Life
Available April 8th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles
A revealing personal life story like no other—enlightening, entertaining, surprising, empowering—and a testament to the world-making power of Black motherhood.
Tina Knowles, the mother of iconic singer-songwriters Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Solange Knowles, and bonus daughter Kelly Rowland, is known the world over as a Matriarch with a capital M: a determined, self-possessed, self-aware, and wise woman who raised and inspired some of the great artists of our time. But this story is about so much more than that.
This is a page-turning chronicle of family love and heartbreak, of loss and perseverance, and of the kind of creativity, audacity, and will it takes for a girl from Galveston to change the world. It’s one brilliant woman’s intimate and revealing story, and a multigenerational family saga that carries within it the story of America—and the wisdom that women pass on to one another, mothers to daughters, across generations.
Available April 22nd in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson
In the second volume of the landmark American Revolution trilogy by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The British Are Coming, George Washington’s army fights on the knife edge between victory and defeat.
Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolution, Atkinson’s brilliant account of the lethal conflict between the Americans and the British offers not only deeply researched and spectacularly dramatic history, but also a new perspective on the demands that a democracy makes on its citizens.
Available April 29th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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How to Seal Your Own Fate: A Novel by Kristen Perrin
Kristen Perrin is back with the second novel in her Castle Knoll series. Annie Adams is caught in a new web of murder that spans decades, returning us to the idyllic English village that holds layers of secrets.
“A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay . . . How to Seal Your Own Fate is a thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won’t see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!”—G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of Murdle
Available April 29th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Check Out More Books in the Castle Knoll Files Series
The Missing Half: A Novel by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
Two women haunted by their sisters’ unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.
“Sharp, slick, and chilling with a whiplash ending you’ll never see coming. The Missing Half is an absolute must-read. My jaw is still on the floor.”—Jeneva Rose
“I loved The Missing Half. Gripping, tense, a story of sisterhood for women everywhere.”—Gillian McAllister
Available May 6th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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The Dark Maestro: A Novel by Brendan Slocumb
From the author of The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets comes a mesmerizing page-turner about a musical virtuoso who’s forced into hiding when his family runs afoul of a ruthless criminal organization—and how he uses music to bring his enemies to justice.
A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Slocumb at the height of his powers.
Available May 13th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Watch Brendan Slocumb on our Book Club Reads Author Panel
Fever Beach: A Novel by Carl Hiaasen
Another instant classic from Carl Hiaasen—laugh-out-loud funny, tackling the current chaotic and polarized American culture (following in the path of Squeeze Me), with two wonderful Hiaasen heroes.
“The afternoon of September first, dishwater-gray and rainy, a man named Dale Figgo picked up a hitchhiker on Gus Grissom Boulevard in Tangelo Falls, Florida. The hitchhiker, who reminded Figgo of Danny DeVito, asked for a lift to the interstate. Figgo said he’d take him there after finishing an errand.”
Thus begins Fever Beach, with an errand that leads—in pure Hiaasen-style—into the depths of Florida at its most Floridian: a sun-soaked bastion of right-wing extremism, white power, greed, and corruption.
Available May 13th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
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Watch a Conversation with Author, Carl Hiaasen
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow illuminates the full, fascinating, and complex life of the writer long celebrated as the father of American literature, Mark Twain.
Drawing on Twain’s bountiful archives, including thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow masterfully captures the man whose career reflected the country’s westward expansion, industrialization, and foreign wars, and the only white author of his generation who grappled so fully with the legacy of slavery. Today, more than one hundred years after his death, Twain’s writing continues to be read, debated, and quoted. In this brilliant work of scholarship, a moving tribute to the writer’s talent and humanity, Chernow reveals the magnificent and often maddening life of one of the most original characters in American history.
Available May 13th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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A Clean Mess: A Memoir of Sobriety After a Lifetime of Being Numb by Tiffany Jenkins
The bestselling author of High Achiever reckons with life after addiction in this darkly funny and emotionally raw new memoir.
As she forged her future, Tiffany learned to feel emotions and live life without numbing herself with drugs. She had to figure out how to be a mom, how to have a career, how to be married, how to get divorced, how to be an adult, and how to have feelings all at the same time. With dark humor and page-turning storytelling, she shows how she learned to survive when her crutches and band aids were taken away from her, and the gratitude and peace she found on the other side of addiction.
Available June 3rd in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
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