Your Librarian’s Guide to the Best Books of 2025
Written By Melanie Carroll
Head of Adult Services
In 2025, I discovered many stories that stayed with me long after I turned the last page or listened to the last chapter. While I do not have a favorite genre or preferred format, I’m drawn to books that grab you from the very first page and keep you hooked until the very end. This list highlights my top 10 book recommendations published in 2025. Each of these books entertained, challenged, and inspired me, and I think readers of all kinds will enjoy them.
Make sure to let us know your favorite book published in 2025! I like receiving book recommendations as much as I like giving them. My TBR list always has room for a new book and I’m always excited to hear what others are reading.
Get access to all these books and more with your Trenton Free Public Library Card for FREE! All titles are available for check out in the library or via the Hoopla or Libby apps.
My Top 10 Recommendations
My Rating: 5
Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy
Dominic Salt and his three children struggle to survive on the remote, storm-battered Shearwater Island as caretakers of a global seed vault. Their fragile world is further unsettled when the mysterious Rowan washes up on their shore, forcing them to confront long-buried grief. As Rowan searches for her missing husband and the family’s secrets surface, they must decide whether they can trust one another and protect what remains of both their complicated bonds and the world around them.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: Suspenseful literary fiction, environmental themes, multiple points of view.
Why I Recommend It:
McConaghy’s writing is richly descriptive, bringing Shearwater Island vividly to life. She masterfully blends suspense with deeply human storytelling, exploring grief, trust, and the bonds between her carefully crafted characters. The environmental element feels like a character in its own right. Details about climate change and the seed vault heighten the tension and remind readers of the delicate balance between human lives and the natural world. I read this book for one of my book clubs and didn’t expect it to affect me so profoundly. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than two days. It has proved to be a hauntingly memorable read. I recommend reading the physical or electronic copy of this book, as I have heard it can be less impactful through the audio format.
My Rating: 5
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
V.E. Schwab
Three women, separated by centuries, each face desires, dangers, and choices that will define their lives. In 1532 Spain, María must navigate a world where her beauty makes her a prize or a pawn. In 1827 London, Charlotte discovers that freedom and love come at a high price, while in 2019 Boston, Alice wrestles with past mistakes and seeks answers… and revenge. Spanning time and place, this novel is a powerful exploration of hunger, love, rage, and the threads that connect life’s beginnings and endings.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Historical fiction with supernatural elements, character-driven narratives, and atmospheric storytelling.
Why I Recommend It:
This is not your typical vampire story, it explores heavy themes like historical limits on women, queer identity, and the challenges of immortality. Schwab’s writing, full of sensory richness and detail, is especially rewarding for readers who love world‑building and thoughtful, textured prose. I’ve seen some criticism about the book’s slower pace; however, this makes it perfect for readers who enjoy stories that focus on mood, character, and metaphor rather than fast‑moving plots. Despite its slow burn, I found the story compelling, and was eager to keep reading. I personally enjoyed Alice’s chapters the most, but I especially loved when their stories began to interconnect and the overall narrative started coming together.
My Rating: 4.5
Boom Town
Nic Stone
When two erotic dancers from Atlanta’s notorious Boom Town go missing, former headliner Michah “Lyriq” Johanssen takes it upon herself to find them. As she investigates, Lyriq uncovers a tangled web of deceit, privilege, and power, where allies and enemies are hard to distinguish. Her search forces her to confront whether finding the missing women is worth risking her own life in this tense, page-turning thriller.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Gritty fast-paced thrillers, complex characters, and multiple points of view.
Why I Recommend It:
Described perfectly as “Gone Girl meets P-Valley,” this story is a fast-paced, gripping story set against the vivid backdrop of Atlanta’s nightlife. It explores power, privilege, and social dynamics while keeping you on the edge of your seat with twists and tension. Stone excels at crafting authentic, multidimensional, and interconnected characters that had me invested from the very first chapters. Additionally, I really appreciate the way she blends genres, moving effortlessly between contemporary fiction and thriller while also combining social relevance into gripping plotlines. I think 2025 is the year I discovered that I really enjoy contemporary or literary fiction that’s heavily blended with another genre. I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 because the middle felt a bit repetitive, and the ending felt rushed. *Stone’s debut novel.
My Rating: 4.5
Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins
Set decades before Katniss’s story, this Hunger Games prequel follows Haymitch Abernathy during the Second Quarter Quell, when twice as many tributes are forced into the arena. It explores how brutality, propaganda, and impossible choices shape Haymitch’s fight to survive and the trauma that defines him long after the Games end.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: High-stakes dystopian fiction, expanded universe stories, and character driven novels.
Why I Recommend It:
I really enjoyed this continuation of Haymitch’s story and the way it expands the lore of the Hunger Games universe. Collins effortlessly transported me back into the world she created, making it feel both familiar and newly alive. The story is packed with action, but it never loses sight of what matters most, its characters and their growth. While the book is technically classified as Young Adult, it’s written in a way that any adult reader can appreciate, with themes and messages that resonate across all ages. At times, Sunrise on the Reaping felt a bit pandering to the Hunger Games audience but overall an excellent prequel.
Why I Recommend It:
My Rating: 4.5
The Bewitching
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Minerva, a graduate student researching horror literature, becomes fascinated with Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure author whose novel The Vanishing was inspired by a true story. Tremblay had been captivated by her roommate, who vanished in 1932 at the same university Minerva now attends. As Minerva delves into the story, she begins to sense a sinister force that may still haunt the campus, echoing the terrifying witchcraft encounters her great-grandmother, Nana Alba, experienced in early 1900s Mexico. Minerva realizes that the same dark presence that shadowed her great-grandmother and Tremblay might now be threatening her own life.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: Feminist & folklore themes, historical horror, and layered narratives.
Why I Recommend It:
While we’re often told not to judge a book by its cover, this one made it impossible not to. Thankfully, it’s not just a beautiful cover the story inside is just as riveting. Moreno-Garcia weaves folklore, generational trauma, and slow-burning tension into a haunting narrative filled with complex characters, eerie settings, and multiple twists. I loved the shifting perspectives between chapters; each woman is carefully and interestingly written, and the connections between the characters grow deeper and more compelling with every chapter. My only criticism is that, while the first three quarters of this book kept me guessing, the ending itself felt a bit predictable.
My Rating: 4
The Compound
Aisling Rawle
Lily wakes up on a remote desert compound with nineteen other reality show contestants, competing for luxury rewards and essential supplies in a “Love Island–meets–Animal Farm” scenario, as the world outside is falling apart. As alliances and rivalries intensify, the line between desire, desperation, and survival begins to blur under the ever-watchful cameras.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Contemporary dystopian fiction, dark humor, and fans of reality TV.
Why I Recommend It:
Get ready for a wild ride! Aisling Rawle uses sharp dark satire, social commentary, complex characters, and a tense reality-TV setting to create a story that is equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking. This book will make you question what you would do in the situation: Would you trust your allies? Leave for love? Risk your life to win? The Compound was a fast-paced read that I struggled to put down, there wasn’t a single part where I wanted to step away from the story. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is that it was so short it left me wanting more. *Rawle’s debut novel.
My Rating: 4
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
Stephen Graham Jones
This chilling historical novel follows Good Stab, a Blackfeet man seeking justice in the early days of Montana. Centered on the discovery of a 1912 Lutheran pastor’s diary in 2012, the story reveals a long-buried massacre of 217 Blackfeet people through transcribed confessional interviews. As Good Stab recounts his unnaturally long life, the narrative traces the violence inflicted on his people, his relentless pursuit of those responsible, and the lingering consequences of colonial brutality across generations.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Atmospheric historical fiction, unreliable narrators, and nonlinear storytelling.
This haunting historical novel brings a nearly forgotten tragedy to life in a way that feels both intimate and unsettling. The minute I heard this book was being published, I immediately added it to my TBR shelf, especially excited to dive into Jones’s sharp, immersive, and haunting storytelling. This is definitely a slow-burn novel, and the middle of the story becomes slightly repetitive. Additionally, it can be a bit hard to follow; I initially tried listening to the audiobook but quickly realized I needed to read a physical copy instead. Overall, the book is creepy, clever, and a must-read.
My Rating: 4
Julie Chan Is Dead
Liann Zhang
After the mysterious death of her influencer twin sister Chloe VanHuusen, supermarket cashier Julie Chan, who was separated from Chloe at a young age, assumes her sister’s glamorous online life. As Julie navigates luxury, fame, and Chloe’s elite circle of friends, she uncovers dark secrets behind Chloe’s perfect image and realizes she may be the next target.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Contemporary fiction, social thrillers, and psychological suspense.
Why I Recommend It:
This book was incredibly easy to get swept up in. Zhang’s pacing is especially strong she uses short chapters, clean prose, and well-timed twists keep the story moving quickly, making this a very readable book. It offers a darkly funny and unsettling look at influencer culture, identity, and the pressure to perform perfection. I alternated between the audiobook and the physical book while reading this novel, and I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator perfectly captures Julie’s anxiety and humor, adding a whole new layer to the reading experience. While the book is engaging, the plot can feel uneven at times, with shifts in tone that make certain parts harder to follow. *Zhang’s debut novel.
My Rating: 3.5
Dominion
Addie E. Citchens
In a small Mississippi town, Wonderboy, the gifted youngest son of the domineering Reverend Sabre Winfrey Jr., makes a shocking choice that exposes the hypocrisy and hidden sins holding his father’s power in place. Through the perspectives of Priscilla, the dutiful matriarch, and Diamond, the sharp-eyed outsider, the story reveals how secrets, shame, and silence sustain a violent system that ultimately shakes the entire community.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: Atmospheric Southern fiction, slow-building tension, and explorations of cultural and social issues.
Why I Recommend It:
Citchens’s writing is immersive, vividly capturing the atmosphere and emotional stakes. Though short, the book explores heavy themes and delivers an impactful, thought-provoking story that exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. It features different narrators for each character and includes church music before the sermons, which enhanced the reading experience. My main issues with this novel were that the large cast of characters was difficult to keep track of at times. Additionally, while I liked the ending, it felt very rushed and I felt the Diamond’s character could have been further developed. *Citchens’s debut novel.
My Rating: N/A
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad delivers a powerful reckoning with what it means to live in a world, and in the West, where entire populations are treated as less than fully human. Drawing on his own experiences as an emigrant and journalist, he examines the fractures affecting Black, brown, and Indigenous Americans, as well as a generation questioning the values of the countries they once believed in. Part personal memoir, part searing critique, it is a heartsick but urgent call for a better world.
Perfect for listeners who enjoy: Books that discuss current events, global politics, and social justice.
Why I Recommend It:
This is a powerful, thought-provoking read and challenges how we think about morality, politics, and justice. Omar El Akkad’s writing is deeply engaging, blending personal reflection with sharp cultural critique. For anyone interested in books that push you to think and feel, this is a must-read. Omar El Akkad reads the audiobook himself, and its short length makes it an easy, impactful read that you can finish in one sitting. However, I will say the story jumps around a lot which can be jarring at times.
Heard so much about this book “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” Now I am definitely going to read it!
Loved Omar El Akkad’s book and will definitely be reading it again (and look into his other works). And I’m very eager to read The Buffalo Hunter Hunter from this list! I’ve had a good time with reading Stephen Graham Jones in the past.