As you know, reading is a huge part of my life. I use it for self-discovery and learning, recovery time, and just for fun.
Heading into this new year, I have a bunch of books on my radar that I’m looking forward to reading. Here are 25 books (and trilogies and series…) I hope to read in 2025 (and a little about why):
- Daily Creative by Todd Henry. I’ve read several of this author’s books in the past on different ways to approach being a creative professional, so I was excited to see this latest book with daily motivational essays. I’m planning to read this throughout 2025 since it has chapters for each day of the year.
- These Violent Delights Duology by Chloe Gong. I haven’t read this author before, but this duology comes highly recommended. It’s a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but set in 1920s Shanghai. I’m looking forward to trying this new author and to experiencing this story with a fresh perspective.
- A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson. This historical fiction novel set in Canada includes a missing teenager, a new neighbor, and some family drama. It’s described as suspenseful and deeply humane – I love to put some literary fiction on my list each year and this fit the bill.
- The Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia Hibbert. I’ve seen this romance trilogy around for a while and since I have all three of them on ebook and audiobook, I thought I would add them to the TBR pile for 2025.
- Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. This mystery, about two sisters who go missing in Russia, has been on my radar since it released in 2019. I’m well overdue to get this one read.
- Lark Cove Series by Devney Perry. I’m continuing my exploration of this author’s backlist with this romance series of five books. Devney is known for romance suspense novels (I loved the Eden series she wrote), but this series seem to be more standard romance fare.
- Superbetter by Jane McGonigal. I’ve read a couple other books by this author and really enjoyed them. McGonigal is an academic who writes for mainstream audiences and this book on gamifying routines and habits is right up my alley.
- Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter. I purchased this box set last year when I saw it highly recommended by someone I follow on social media. I had never heard of the series, but when I found out it takes place in a high school for teenage spies I was all in.
- The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas. This is another book that was a recommendation from social media that sounded interesting. It’s about a woman who is navigating unexpected motherhood while also trying to balance her identity as a novelist.
- The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North. This story, about a man who has lived several lives (on his deathbed he just returns to childhood) sounded like such an interesting structure for a novel. I knew I had to pick this one up.
- Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell Series by Chelsea Cain. I read this mystery series about a female serial killer and the detective who becomes obsessed with her years ago, but I’ve always remembered it. I decided to revisit it again in 2025.
- Forging Silver into Stars Duology by Brigid Kemmerer. This author is one of my favorites for YA romance and fantasy. I’ve loved several of her other books and series and this duology just recently had the second book come out. From what I can tell, this is a queer romance between a King’s Courier and a blacksmith – I’m looking forward to experiencing another world built by this author.
- Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. This first book in the nine-book Expanse series is just shy of 600 pages long. Before I commit to more in the series, I wanted to give this first book a shot and see what I think. I’ve heard it’s a detective novel set in space, so it’s a mash-up of a couple of my favorite genres.
- The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt. I have loved other books by A.S. Byatt (Possession is an all-time favorite), so I added this to my list for 2025. It clocks in at around 675 pages and tells the story of a famous children’s book author and the people around her.
- The Tattered and Torn Series by Catherine Cowles. This is another author where I’ve been slowly working through her backlist. This five-book romance series is set in a small town, which Cowles writes about incredibly well in her other series.
- The Curse of Ophelia Series by Nicole Platania. I follow someone on social media who is head over heels about this series. The firth book comes out in 2025, and I wanted to wait to read the series until the latest book was available. I’m ready to jump into this one this year.
- Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle. This is the dark academia book on my list this year. It follows a mage who is trying to solve the mystery of her classmates’ deaths at the Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. I’m expecting this book to have some top-level world building.
- Simon Snow Trilogy by Rainbow Rowell. I’ve really enjoyed past books that I’ve read from Rainbow Rowell. This trilogy, which I’ve heard is a queer retelling of Harry Potter, is one of the only things by her that I haven’t read yet.
- The Villains Duology by V.E. Schwab. I read a Schwab trilogy last year that I really loved so I wanted to pick up this duology about two comic-book-style super villains next. This author is very creative, so I know I’m in for a good story with this set of books.
- The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese. I’ve read two Verghese novels and they were beautifully done. This memoir, about the author’s relationship with a friend who struggle with addiction, sounded really interesting. I’m looking forward to see his non-fiction writing style.
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King. An 850-page novel about a man who goes back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination? Sign me up.
- The MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood. I feel like I have really not read enough of Margaret Atwood, so this year I’m adding one of her trilogies to my list. This dystopian series follows a plague and includes themes of genetic engineering and environmental destruction. So… these will be some of my lighter books for 2025.
- Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson. This novel is about a social worker who is trying to help the son of a paranoid survivalist in Montana. It came out over 10 years ago and has been on my TBR list ever since. I’m looking forward to seeing what I think.
- The Evolving Self by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. I’m also working my way through this author’s back list. I read Creativity last year and Flow many years before that. I really appreciate the balance between the academic lens and the everyday practicality of his writing.
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I feel like I may be the only person who has not read this retelling of David Copperfield that’s set in Appalachia and that won a Pulitzer Prize. I plan to fix that this year.
Altogether, I’m really looking forward to this pile of to-be-reads for 2025! What’s on your TBR pile in this new year?
