There was no single, definitive list of the 15 most anticipated books of 2025. “Most anticipated” depended on the readers and selection method behind each roundup. Goodreads published an 82-title list of U.S. books slated for 2025, informed in part by how often members placed books on their Want To Read shelves. Other publishers used different scopes and selections.
Why there isn’t one definitive top 15
Anticipation is not an industry-wide ranking unless a list names a consistent measurement method and applies it to a defined group of books. Goodreads’ December 16, 2024 roundup covered 82 titles across genres and said members’ Want To Read shelf activity informed its curated selection. The page did not provide shelf counts or a sample size, so that signal should not be read as a universal measure of reader interest.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The French Illusion: A Novel (The French Illusion Series) | $24.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Theo of Golden: A Novel | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Calamity Club: A Novel | $24.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Witch (Deluxe Edition) | $20.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Hollow Bones: A Novel | $23.32 | Buy on Amazon |
Tertulia published a separate 15-book fiction roundup, illustrating how scope and editorial choices produce different selections. A fiction-only list is not directly comparable to Goodreads’ cross-genre U.S. release calendar.
Five books highlighted in Goodreads’ 2025 roundup
These titles illustrate the roundup’s range; they are not a ranked top five or a definitive set of 15.
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| Book | Type and premise | U.S. release date listed by Goodreads |
|---|---|---|
| Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros | Fantasy/romantasy; the third book in The Empyrean series. | January 21, 2025 |
| Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson | Fiction about a multigenerational, affluent Black New England family and a stoneware jar. | January 28, 2025 |
| Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Fiction following four women across America, Nigeria, and other settings. | March 4, 2025 |
| Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green | Nonfiction about the scientific, medical, and social history of tuberculosis. | March 18, 2025 |
| The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong | Fiction centered on the friendship between an elderly widow and a teenage boy. | June 3, 2025 |
The dates above are the U.S. dates stated in Goodreads’ 2024 roundup; publication timing can differ by territory. These examples include both fiction and nonfiction, and a series installment alongside other kinds of stories. Goodreads’ descriptions and dates identify what its roundup featured, not the books’ current editions or availability.
How to choose what to read now
- Choose by subject or genre. Readers drawn to nonfiction about medicine and social history may want to investigate Everything Is Tuberculosis; those looking for fantasy/romantasy may consider Onyx Storm.
- Check series order. Onyx Storm is the third Empyrean book, so readers who want the full story should check the preceding installments before starting.
- Check current editions and access. The roundup is a 2024 look ahead to U.S. 2025 releases, not a current inventory guide. Verify the edition, format, and availability with a bookseller or library catalog.
What the “15” in a book list means
A 15-title roundup is an editorial selection, not automatically a measured ranking. Before treating one as a definitive answer, check who compiled it, whether it covers fiction only or multiple genres, which territory’s releases it follows, and how it defines anticipation. Goodreads’ cited roundup had 82 titles; the five books above are documented examples from it, not a substitute for a verified list of 15.
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