18 best books of 2025 so far: All the releases you need on your TBR list

This year offers us another opportunity to make a great effort and surpass our Goodreads reading challenge yet again!

2021 promises a wealth of engaging book releases to keep us enthralled, so let’s aim to hit the bullseye with these captivating titles!

It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it? With all these new book releases coming out, sometimes it’s hard to tell which ones are truly worth buying. (Of course, who needs an excuse to buy books?)

18 best book releases of 2025 so far

Here is our list of the best book releases of 2025 so far:

  1. Normal Women – Ainslie Hogarth
  2. Blessings – Chukwuebuka Ibeh
  3. So Thrilled for You – Holly Bourne
  4. Water Moon – Samantha Sotto Yambao
  5. Confessions – Catherine Airey
  6. Made Up, but Still True – Donald Sutherland
  7. We All Live Here – Jojo Moyes
  8. Carrion Crow – Heather Parry
  9. Show Don’t Tell – Curtis Sittenfeld
  10. Dream Count – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  11. Hunchback – Saou Ichikawa (translated by Polly Barton)
  12. Universality – Natasha Brown
  13. A Thousand Blues – Cheon Seon-ran (translated by Chi-Young Kim)
  14. I Want to Go Home but I’m Already There – Róisín Lanigan
  15. Greater Sins – Gabrielle Griffiths
  16. The Vipers – Katy Hays
  17. Fair Play – Louise Hegarty
  18. Aftertaste – Daria Lavelle

1. Normal Women – Ainslie Hogarth

Date released: 2nd January 2025

  • Normal Women – Ainslie Hogarth

2. Blessings – Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Date released: 9th January 2025

Summary: In Obiefuna’s life, a pivotal moment occurs when his father catches him in a private moment with the family apprentice, leading to a severe punishment – expulsion to a harsh boarding school filled with violence and restrictive regulations. As he becomes estranged from his family, Obiefuna embarks on a personal journey of self-discovery, weaving together themes of love, solitude, and growth in this remarkable debut novel.

  • Blessings – Chukwuebuka Ibeh

3. So Thrilled for You – Holly Bourne

Date released: 16th January 2025

Summary: Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte, and Steffi have been inseparable for more than ten years, but life’s complexities often drive them apart. However, a baby shower offers an opportunity to reunite their group. As the scorching summer sun beats down, emotions flare up, and a house fire ensues, leaving everyone as potential suspects. This tragic event may permanently tarnish their once unbreakable friendship.

  • So Thrilled for You – Holly Bourne

4. Water Moon – Samantha Sotto Yambao

Date released: 16th January 2025

Summary: A puzzling vanishing act at a Tokyo pawn shop sets off an extraordinary journey for the shop’s youthful proprietor, accompanied by an alluring scientist. Water Moon offers a delightful romance that will resonate with fans of Studio Ghibli’s enchanting tales.

  • Water Moon – Samantha Sotto Yambao

5. Confessions – Catherine Airey

Date released: 23rd January 2025

Title Summary: “Confessions” unfolds in the wake of 9/11, following teenager Cora’s quest for her missing father, who worked in the North Tower. The narrative weaves between 1970s Donegal and 2001, gradually untangling a single enigma that spans years. This compelling debut by Airey, similar to Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch,” promises to establish him as a literary sensation in no time.

  • Confessions – Catherine Airey

6. Made Up, but Still True – Donald Sutherland

Date released: 3rd February 2025

Summary: Donald Sutherland’s heartfelt and eagerly anticipated memoir shares intimate details about his remarkable acting career, personal life, and heartbreaking experiences.

  • Made Up, but Still True – Donald Sutherland

7. We All Live Here – Jojo Moyes

Date released: 11th February 2025

Summary: The Kennedy family abounds with mysteries; each member conceals something, and surprisingly, even the pet dog seems to be involved in a misdeed. Events within the household can alter the peculiar dynamics of their family ties – potentially leading to improvement or deterioration.

  • We All Live Here – Jojo Moyes

8. Carrion Crow – Heather Parry

Date released: 27th February 2025

Summary: “Carrion Crow” is a chilling story that delves into the dark realities of unbridled Victorian colonialism, individual autonomy, and a profoundly intricate bond between a mother and her child.

  • Carrion Crow – Heather Parry

9. Show Don’t Tell – Curtis Sittenfeld

Date released: 27th February 2025

Title Summary: Herein lies a compilation of twelve captivating short tales that delve into themes such as matrimony, stardom, and women’s camaraderie. These stories serve as a platform for expressing thoughts that otherwise remain unvoiced.

  • Show Don’t Tell – Curtis Sittenfeld

10. Dream Count – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Date released: 4th March 2025

Synopsis – Dream Count: A Decade-Long Novel by Renowned Author Adichie

Dream Count is the latest work from celebrated author Adichie, a story that unfolds after a decade of creation. This captivating tale revolves around four women, each grappling with their loves, aspirations, and yearnings amidst a pandemic backdrop.

Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer, finds herself isolated in America, contemplating past choices and seeking answers to unresolved questions. Zikora, her dear friend, discovers the importance of connections as she turns to someone she once considered unnecessary following a heartbreak. Omelogor, Chiamaka’s cousin, embarks on a self-discovery journey, questioning how well she truly understands herself. Lastly, Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, faces an imminent threat that tests her resilience and strength.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but express my enthusiasm for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s writing. Her stories are consistently captivating and resonant, and her upcoming novel promises to further solidify her status as a literary titan.

  • Dream Count – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

11. Hunchback – Saou Ichikawa (translated by Polly Barton)

Date released: 6th March 2025

  • Hunchback – Saou Ichikawa

12. Universality – Natasha Brown

Date released: 13th March 2025

Summary: After enjoying Brown’s first book, Assembly, readers will be eagerly waiting for the release day to visit the bookstore for this one. In Universality, a reporter is on a mission to uncover the truth behind a gruesome murder of a man with a gold bar in Yorkshire. As she solves the mystery, her investigation raises even more questions.

Similar to Assembly, Brown’s bold choice of words keeps readers intrigued, solidifying her as a captivating young author currently making waves in the literary world. The buzz surrounding her work is indeed genuine.

  • Universality – Natasha Brown

13. A Thousand Blues – Cheon Seon-ran (translated by Chi-Young Kim)

Date released: 13th March 2025

2035 finds two siblings running a neighborhood cafe, but when one loses her job to a mechanical worker, their domestic harmony is disrupted. The sisters cherish their bond with champion racehorse, Today, yet face the heartbreaking prospect of its retirement. Instead of pushing it to run faster, they embark on an unconventional mission to slow the horse down. If you appreciate Kazuo Ishiguro’s storytelling, A Thousand Blues is a novel that will resonate with you.

  • A Thousand Blues – Cheon Seon-ran 

14. I Want to Go Home but I’m Already There – Róisín Lanigan

Date released: 20th March 2025

Synopsis: The chilling tale unfolds as Áine and Elliot discover an exceptionally attractive yet dubious rental property amidst a housing crisis. As peculiar occurrences ensue, Áine feels increasingly unsettled and uneasy in all aspects of her life.

Titled “Funny, Relatable, and Authentic: Navigating Life’s Challenges in Adulthood,” this work delves into the complexities young adults confront as they transition into independence.

  • I Want to Go Home But I’m Already There – Róisín Lanigan

15. Greater Sins – Gabrielle Griffiths

Date released: 27th March 2025

Summary: In 1915, a small Scottish town in Aberdeenshire is shaken when a well-preserved body is found in a peat bog. Lizzie, wife of a wealthy landowner, and Johnny, a farmhand and musician, are the ones who uncover this mysterious discovery. As they delve deeper, they unearth secrets that mirror their own hidden pasts. “Greater Sins” offers an extraordinary portrayal of place and era, showcasing the promising literary voice of a Scottish author.

  • Greater Sins – Gabrielle Griffiths

16. The Vipers – Katy Hays

Date released: 27th March 2025

Summary: Hays experienced significant success with her initial novel, The Cloisters, and is preparing to launch her subsequent suspenseful work, The Vipers. This time, the narrative transports us to opulent Capri, where a past murder continues to cast a shadow over a wealthy family. If you’re a fan of intricate thrillers and The White Lotus, be sure to grab a copy of The Vipers when it hits shelves in March.

  • The Vipers – Katy Hays

17. Fair Play – Louise Hegarty

Date released: 3rd April 2025

Summary: Abigail and her sibling, Benjamin, share a strong bond, and to mark his birthday, Abigail organizes a murder mystery gathering at an ancient house with their companions. However, the evening spirals out of control, and the following morning becomes a grim reality when Benjamin is discovered dead. This tragic event sets off a genuine murder investigation. With every participant under suspicion, centered around a locked room and filled with unexpected turns, Fair Play stands as an exemplary representation of the genre.

  • Fair Play – Louise Hegarty

18. Aftertaste – Daria Lavelle

Date released: 22nd May 2025

Title Summary: In Aftertaste, the protagonist Kostya, a struggling dishwasher, unexpectedly acquires the power to call forth spirits through his culinary creations. Choosing to use this unique talent to open a restaurant offering closure alongside meals, Kostya’s life becomes an intricate tapestry of ghostly encounters, lingering spectral entities from his past, and a secret love interest. Aftertaste promises to be a captivating read that will leave readers eagerly discussing its enigmatic plot.

  • Aftertaste – Daria Lavelle

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2025-01-08 21:06