2025's Must-Read Books: A Mix of Thrills, Love, and Big Ideas

In 2025, a bunch of amazing books hit the shelves. They covered all sorts of topics, from romance to sci-fi, and everything in between. Here's a closer look at some of the standout titles that had everyone talking.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Genre: Historical Fiction / Sci-Fi
• Synopsis: A gripping tale about NASA's space shuttle program in the 1980s.
• Highlights:
• Starts with a crisis in Mission Control.
• Explores how each astronaut earned their spot.
• Themes: High stakes, complex characters, sexism, found family.
• Must-listen for audiobook fans.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

• Genre: Dystopian / Sci-Fi
• Synopsis: A chilling picture of a world where an AI algorithm detains people based on their dreams.
• Highlights:
• Sharp critique of surveillance capitalism.
• Explores the risks of living in a society that watches our every move.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

• Genre: Romance / Fantasy
• Synopsis: A tale of two people caught in a time loop, repeating the same story over and over.
• Highlights:
• Deep dive into the power of storytelling.
• Explores the myths we create to define our heroes.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

• Genre: Romance
• Synopsis: A journalist competes for a book contract and meets a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer.
• Highlights:
• Romance, family, and secrets that bind us.

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby

• Genre: Crime / Thriller
• Synopsis: A Southern tale of family secrets, a crematorium business, and a dangerous gang.
• Highlights:
• Dark and satisfying story.
• Keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The South by Tash Aw

• Genre: Coming-of-Age / Literary Fiction
• Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of late-1990s Malaysia.
• Highlights:
• Tale of family, desire, and identity.
• First in a planned quartet.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

• Genre: Dystopian / Sci-Fi
• Synopsis: The long-awaited account of Haymitch Abernathy's path to victory in the 50th annual Hunger Games.
• Highlights:
• Rebel plots, underdog alliances, Edgar Allan Poe-try.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

• Genre: Thriller / Climate Fiction
• Synopsis: Set on a sinking research island off Antarctica.
• Highlights:
• Tale of love, loss, and resilience in the face of climate change.