8 Noteworthy Books of 2025
8 Noteworthy Books of 2025
By Emily Smith — December 18, 2025
As the year comes to a close and many are cozying up by the fire with a good book, take a look at eight books that made bestseller lists and sparked conversations this year.
“Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” by V.E. Schwab
This novel has a bit of everything for everyone, and it was the perfect read during this year’s spooky season. Following the different timelines of three young women, “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil”is a sapphic, gothic vampire novel that embodies a thirst for freedom and feminine rage. Named the No. 1 indie best pick for June, it was one of the most gripping and worthwhile reads of the 2025 literary season.
2. “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang
Kuang published yet another bestselling novel this year, following her highly successful novel “Babel” and the “Poppy War” trilogy. “Katabasis” isa dark academia fantasy that follows two PhD students who travel to Hell to save the soul of their academic advisor. The book explores the costs of the relentless pursuit of academic excellence. The witty banter makes this novel impossible to put down, and it’s regarded as one of the top books of the year.
3. “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins
The fifth installment of the highly acclaimed “Hunger Games” series lived up to the expectations set by its predecessors. Following beloved character Haymitch Abernathy in the 50th Hunger Games, this heartbreaking novel had the biggest opening of the series. Ranked as Goodreads’ No. 1 book of 2025, it’s a must-read ahead of the 2026 film release.
4. “Everything Is Tuberculosis” by John Green
Not a fan of fiction? This nonfiction New York Times bestseller by John Green explores the world’s deadliest infectious disease through a fascinating narrative via personal experience and historical study. “Everything Is Tuberculosis” highlights how healthcare inequities affect those impacted by the disease, and it calls attention to the global tuberculosis health crisis.
5. Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
Already read “Katabasis” and find that you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope? In the market for a romance book? We recommend Emily Henry’s 2025 novel, “Great Big Beautiful Life,”whichfeatures two rivaling biographers who compete to write the story of a famous heiress. Fans of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”by Taylor Jenkins Reid will certainly want to give this one a read.
6. “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar
Though released in 2024, this book saw big numbers and sparked quite a bit of conversation this year. Following poet and recovering addict Cyrus Shams in his grappling with his mother’s death, this story is all about exploring family history, finding meaning within, and rebuilding a fractured life.
7. “James” by Percival Everett
Another novel published in 2024, but is a notable mention for the year, is “James” by Percival Everett. Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Everett’s novel is a retelling of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved man Jim. “James” is an impactful work that challenges racist stereotypes and confronts the horrors of slavery, and it is well-deserving of its accolades and time spent on the bestseller list.
8. “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell
“Hamnet” is an older novel that has seen a rise in popularity this year with the release of Chloé Zhao’s movie adaptation. Winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, O’Farrell’s work tells the story of William Shakespeare’s life with a keen emphasis on his wife, Agnes. The story of her grief is a compelling one, and it’s a good read to check out before watching the movie.
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