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These are memorable books recommended by named editors and readers for the pleasure of reading them—not a universal ranking or a list limited to titles published in 2025. “Read in 2025” means a book could have been published earlier; each selection below is tied to the person or team that recommended it.
How to read this list
Year-end book lists use different rules. Some celebrate books published in a particular year; others collect favorites people happened to read during it. The Reader’s Room explicitly uses the second approach, while Shortlist’s list is framed as the best books “of 2025.” The recommendations here bring together those distinct perspectives, so a title’s inclusion does not by itself mean it was published in 2025.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Theo of Golden: A Novel | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Yesteryear: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Widow: A Novel | $12.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Silent Patient | $8.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel | $11.17 | Buy on Amazon |
“Best” is personal, too. Duke University Press names staff recommenders and gives their reasons; Condé Nast Traveler says its editors chose books without a rubric beyond enjoyment; The Reader’s Room presents panelists’ top-five reads. Treat the selections as different invitations to read, not as votes in a shared contest.
Books to put on your list
History, fiction, and books that play with form
- The Gilded Age in New York, 1870–1910 by Esther Crain: A staff recommendation from Duke University Press for readers drawn to New York history and illustrated nonfiction.
- James and Erasure by Percival Everett: Duke staff recommend both novels. They are two different entry points for readers interested in Everett’s fiction and its engagement with American life.
- The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar: A Duke staff pick for readers curious about a literary speculative story.
- Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy: Another Duke staff recommendation, suited to readers looking for fiction with a strong connection to the natural world.
- What We Can Know by Ian McEwan: A Duke staff pick for readers seeking contemporary literary fiction.
Books remembered for their emotional pull
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: This title appears among Duke staff favorites and in one Reader’s Room panelist’s top five. That makes it a useful starting point if you want a book recommended independently in two of these roundups; it does not establish a broader consensus ranking.
- We Do Not Part by Han Kang: A Duke staff favorite for readers looking for literary fiction with a serious, reflective tone.
- The Favorites by Layne Fargo: Another Duke staff pick, offering an option for readers in the mood for a contemporary novel.
More ways to find a fit
The roundups also make room for short-story collections, memoir, slim volumes, series, and books that work as travel companions. Shortlist sorts recommendations across fiction and nonfiction, memoir, and biography, while its coverage also touches on science fiction, music, comedy, history, nature, and politics. Condé Nast Traveler’s selections emphasize how different books can suit different reading occasions. Use those distinctions—genre, mood, length, or where you plan to read—as a guide rather than assuming every title suits every reader.
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Who chose these books, and what that tells you
Duke University Press published its staff list on December 12, 2025, with short rationales for selections. Its page also quotes Percival Everett, whom staff saw speak at Duke: “Reading is the most subversive thing we can do in a culture. The second most subversive thing that people can do, is to be in a book club — discussing art and learning more about the world around us.”
Condé Nast Traveler published its editors’ eclectic list on December 18, 2025, explaining that enjoyment—not a formal scoring rubric—guided the choices. Shortlist published its roundup on December 28, 2025, and says its editors read over 110 books in 2025; that is the editors’ own count, not an industry-wide statistic. The Reader’s Room published its panelists’ top-five lists on December 29, 2025, and clarifies that its picks are books read during the year, not necessarily books published then.
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Choosing your next read
- Start with the recommender’s reason. A staff favorite, an editor’s pleasure read, and a panelist’s personal top five reflect different tastes.
- Choose by reading mood. The lists span fiction, nonfiction, memoir, biography, history, nature, and speculative fiction, among other interests.
- Check the publication year separately. If you want only new releases, verify each book’s publication date; “read in 2025” alone does not guarantee it was published that year.
- Check edition and availability before buying. The cited roundups name books but do not establish current stock or retail prices.
Sources: Duke University Press; Condé Nast Traveler; Shortlist; The Reader’s Room.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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