I’ve researched books to read for 2025 and would like to share this reading list with you. It includes something for everyone: the latest psychological thrillers, heartwarming literary fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction. I’ll be introducing you to the books that have caught my eye and why I’m excited to recommend them to you. Take a break, grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and let’s embark on a literary journey together. Let’s make 2025 a year filled with incredible reads.
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Fiction
Death in the Downline by Maria Abrams
Death in the Downline is a darkly funny mystery novel that delves into the world of multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes. The story follows Drew, who returns to her small New Jersey hometown after a failed attempt to make it as a journalist in New York City. She reconnects with her former best friend, Steph, who seems to have it all thanks to a skincare MLM called LuminUS. As Drew gets drawn into the glamorous world of downlines, sales parties, and girls’ trips, things take a dark turn when a LuminUS distributor dies under mysterious circumstances. Drew must uncover the dark secrets at the heart of the organization and save her best friend before it’s too late. The novel is praised for its witty and engaging narrative, as well as its insightful look into the MLM industry and the reasons why people get involved in these schemes. If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of humor and social commentary, Death in the Downline is a compelling read.
Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
Scaffolding is a novel that intertwines the lives of two couples living in the same apartment in Belleville, Paris, almost fifty years apart. Set in 2019 and 1972, the story explores the challenges of marriage, fidelity, and pregnancy against a backdrop of political upheaval and intellectual controversy.
- 2019: Anna, a psychoanalyst, is recovering from a miscarriage and a breakdown. Unable to return to work, she obsesses over renovating the kitchen and befriends a younger neighbor named Clémentine, who is part of a radical feminist collective.
- 1972: Florence and Henry are renovating their kitchen in the same apartment. Florence is finishing her degree in psychology and attending feminist activities, while Henry is unsure about fatherhood.
The novel delves into the bonds we create with people and the difficulty of ever fully severing them, as well as how the homes we make hold communal memories of the people who’ve lived in them and the stories that have been told there. There are themes of Memory and Home: The way our homes collect and hold our memories and stories. Relationships: The bonds we create and the difficulty of severing them. Political and Intellectual Context: Set against times charged with political upheaval and intellectual controversy.
Lauren Elkin’s writing is praised for its elegance and depth, making Scaffolding a compelling read for those interested in literary fiction with rich character development and historical context.
The Doctor’s Wife series by Daniel Hurst
Daniel Hurst is known for his suspenseful novels, so any new releases from him are worth adding to your list. I read The Doctor’s Wife series, a gripping psychological thriller series that revolves around the life of Doctor Drew Devlin and his wife, who discovers his dark secrets. I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading these books. I read all four. The series consists of four books:
- The Doctor’s Wife: The first book introduces us to the seemingly perfect marriage of Drew and his wife. However, she soon discovers that Drew is not the respectable figure he appears to be1. He has been using his power as a doctor to manipulate people’s lives for his own gain. The wife plans her revenge.
- The Doctor’s Widow: In the second book, the wife of Drew Devlin deals with the consequences of her actions and the fallout from exposing Drew’s secrets.
- The Doctor’s Mistress: The third book delves into the complex relationships and the fallout from Drew’s actions, focusing on the wife and the mistress.
- The Doctor’s Child: The final book in the series reveals the aftermath of Drew’s death and how his daughter seeks revenge.
The series is known for its jaw-dropping twists, suspenseful plot, and psychological depth. It has been praised for its addictive storytelling and has received high ratings from readers who love thrillers with unexpected turns.
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
The Coin is a bold and thought-provoking novel that follows the journey of a young Palestinian woman named Nadia. She moves to New York to teach at a school for underprivileged boys, where her unconventional methods draw attention. Nadia befriends a homeless swindler, and together they get involved in a pyramid scheme reselling Birkin bags.
The novel explores themes of materialism, identity, and the juxtaposition of luxury and poverty. As Nadia becomes consumed by the scheme, her body and mind begin to unravel, leading to a dramatic and introspective conclusion. Zaher’s writing is praised for its sensory detail and its ability to tackle complex issues without easy moralizing. If you enjoy contemporary literary fiction with deep social commentary, The Coin is a compelling read that will leave a lasting impression.
The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden’s psychological thrillers are always gripping. I read The Housemaid (2022): A psychological thriller about a woman who takes a job as a housemaid for a wealthy couple, only to discover their dangerous secrets. I also read The Housemaid’s Secret (2023): The sequel to The Housemaid, continuing the suspenseful story. Both books were both-page turners.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a gripping psychological thriller with a sense of suspense and a touch of psychological intrigue. The story follows Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist who is given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise ship called the Aurora. The ship is sailing through the picturesque North Sea, and Lo is excited for the opportunity to cover the exclusive voyage.
However, things take a dark turn when Lo witnesses what she believes to be a woman being thrown overboard. The problem is, all passengers remain accounted for, and the ship continues on as if nothing has happened. Lo becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, but her efforts are met with skepticism and resistance from the ship’s crew.
As the mystery deepens, Lo must navigate her own anxieties and fears while trying to solve the puzzle of the woman in cabin 10. The novel is praised for its tense atmosphere, unexpected twists, and compelling character development.
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is a witty and atmospheric debut novel that explores themes of womanhood, motherhood, and female friendship. The story follows Penelope Winters, who arrives at the University of Edinburgh for her first term. She believes her divorced parents in Canada are hiding something from her and hopes to find answers in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives.
Pen is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his fascinating family. As she unravels her parents’ secret, she also experiences the sharp shock of adulthood and falls in love for the first time. The novel delves into Pen’s journey of self-discovery and the many ways women can become mothers in this world.
The novel has received praise for its compelling portraits of womanhood and its beautifully written prose. It’s a rich and rewarding story that combines elements of campus life, sexual awakening, and family secrets.
The City and its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
Murakami is a renowned Japanese author known for his unique blend of surrealism, magical realism, and postmodernism. His works often explore themes of loneliness, alienation, and the search for identity. His writing is characterized by its dreamlike quality, blending the mundane with the fantastical. His narratives often feature ordinary characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations. Influenced by Western literature, particularly the works of Raymond Chandler, Franz Kafka, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Murakami’s stories are both deeply imaginative and reflective of Japanese culture. Murakami’s work continues to inspire and intrigue readers around the world, making him one of the most influential contemporary authors.
We All Live Here by JoJo Moyes. The Me Before You author offers a heartwarming story about Lila, dealing with a broken marriage in midlife, career troubles, teen drama and more. As if that’s not enough, she adds a sexy fling into the mix.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. This short, absorbing novel is full of Tyler’s usual warmth and wit. It focuses on a socially awkward woman, Gail, 61, who’s forced to reconnect with her ex-husband while navigating her daughter’s wedding.
Kills With Others by Deanna Raybourn. In Raybourn’s riotous sequel to Killers of a Certain Age, the quartet of elite female assassins are pulled out of retirement when an old mark’s family gets a hankering for overdue retribution.
Mystery, Thriller Action-Adventure
Battle Mountain (Joe Pickett #25) – February 25, 2025, by C.J. Box
Battle Mountain is Joe Pickett’s latest adventure has him trekking across Wyoming in search of missing elk hunters. This novel continues the story from the previous book, Three-Inch Teeth, which features a mixture of suspense, the outdoors, and family relationships.
A Dragon of Black Glass (Moonfall #3) – February 18, 2025, by James Rollins
A Dragon of Black Glass is the third book in the Moonfall series, continuing the epic fantasy adventure. The story centers on a young girl who foretells a new apocalypse and embarks on a journey to save the world.
Historical Fiction
These new releases promise to bring captivating stories and rich historical settings to readers in 2025.
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff is a riveting historical mystery set in post-World War II London and Paris. The story follows Louise, a former Red Cross worker, who discovers a mysterious necklace in a secondhand shop. The necklace is linked to a Parisian department store called Lévitan, which served as a Nazi prison during the war. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, the novel is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance, and the power of love to transcend even the darkest hours.
Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin
A historical romance set in 18th-century Scotland, following the adventures and love story of a young woman and a Highlander. This novel is set during World War II and follows the story of Cilla van der Zee, who becomes a spy for the Nazis in Britain but plans to aid the Allies instead. The book is filled with suspense, romance, and historical intrigue, making it a captivating read.
The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson
A historical mystery, this novel is set in 1943 Lisbon and follows two American librarians who become involved in espionage and romance during World War II. It’s a captivating story filled with secrets, danger, and unexpected love affairs. The story follows two American librarians, Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan, who are enlisted by the U.S. Intelligence Office and sent to Lisbon, a city teeming with spies and secrets. The novel is praised for its evocative writing, meticulous research, and thrilling plot. It explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship amidst the chaos of war.
Non-Fiction – Memoirs
These new non-fiction releases cover a wide range of topics, from history and science to memoirs and social commentary.
Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates
Source Code is Bill Gates’ latest memoir, published on February 4, 2025. In this book, Gates shares his personal story, focusing on his early life and the formative experiences that shaped him into one of the most influential figures in technology and philanthropy. The book has been praised for its wise, warm, and revealing narrative, offering readers a fascinating portrait of Gates’ life.
Hope by Pope Francis and Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Hope is his first-ever autobiography, published on January 14, 2025. Originally intended to be released posthumously, Pope Francis decided to make it available during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. The book offers a comprehensive look into his life, from his childhood in Buenos Aires to his journey to becoming the Pope. The memoir has been praised for its insightful and candid reflections, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the man behind the papacy.
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves
Rick Steves recounts his first journey and the origins of his career as a travel writer. It is a captivating memoir that takes readers on a journey back to 1978 when Steves, then 23 years old, embarked on the legendary Hippie Trail. This trail was a popular overland route for backpackers traveling from Europe to South Asia, passing through countries like Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The book has been praised for its engaging storytelling and the way it captures the spirit of a bygone era of adventurous travel. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in travel memoirs and the history of the Hippie Trail.
That’s a long list, so you have plenty to read for 2025. We’ll be reviewing and discussing many of these books and more in subsequent articles. Happy reading, writing and publishing!