2025 saw the release of so many incredible books, and I’ve already shared my roundup of the best books of 2025 so far, which included the likes of The Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise On The Reaping, Emily Henry’s latest release, Great Big Beautiful Life, and many more.
But, as we move into 2026, I’m taking a look back at some of the other best books of 2025 that you might have missed. And I’ve included all the major genres to hopefully pique your interest - and, of course, add a few more books to your shelves this year.
If you’re looking for more reading inspiration or you’ve challenged yourself to read a certain number of books, you’ll also find my recommendations of the best books of each month of 2025 (starting with January) - and I’ll be continuing to do so in 2026 to make sure you’re kept in the loop.
Until then, here are the best books of 2025.
Heart the Lover by Lily King (Contemporary Fiction)
Combining epic fantasy and a brilliant murder mystery, all in a dark academia setting, it’s easy to see why readers weren’t able to get enough of The Raven Scholar last year. And this first tale sets things up for what looks to be an incredible trilogy.
With the long-standing emperor set to step down, the competition for his replacement begins. However, when one of the options is murdered, it falls to Neema to find out who is responsible and why. It’s a task that won’t really end all that well for her either way. On one hand, if she is successful, she could end up on the throne herself, whether she wants to or not. Alternatively, her failure will essentially amount to a death sentence and could have serious repercussions for the entire empire.
King Of Ashes by S.A. Cosby (Mystery/Crime)
S.A. Cosby never fails to keep us on the edge of our seats, and his latest release is no different. After Roman’s father is left for dead following a hit-and-run, which appears to be no accident, he finds that he must step up to protect his family.
Yet, when he returns home, he discovers that his younger brother, Dante, owes a number of dangerous criminals and gangsters money. At the same time, his sister, Neveah, is exhausted from helping their father run the family crematorium.
How far will Roman go to help his family?
The Compound by Aisling Rawle (Sci-fi/Dystopian)
Giving us a twisted take on reality TV shows like Love Island, The Compound takes what we know about these shows and flips them on their heads in a sinister way.
With the world outside quite literally falling apart, Lily is happy to compete amongst her fellow twenty-somethings for love. Yet, when things take a turn from the norm, and the contestants are forced to take part in increasingly dangerous challenges, what will she do to win? And what exactly will happen to those who lose? We can’t wait to pick this one up ASAP.
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green (Non-fiction)
A difficult read, in many ways, The Names asks the question, what is in a name? How will life differ for one little boy if he is named Bear, Julian, or Gordon? Flipping back and forth between the three versions of one life, this Sliding Doors-style debut highlights how one, seemingly simple, decision can alter the course of a life, and the lives of those around him, as each section jumps forward a number of years to offer us a snapshot of how life is unfurling with the three different names.
A story of family, perseverance, the pervasive impact of domestic abuse, as well as fate, I’ve just picked this up myself and can’t wait to dive in.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Romance)
A fantastically escapist beach or summer read–let’s just say, we’re already counting down the days until winter is over–Carley Fortune’s One Golden Summer is the perfect romance to pick up, if you haven’t already.
The story follows Alice as she heads back to the lakeside town of Barry’s Bay, a place she has fond memories of visiting in her youth, to look after her beloved Nan. This has a coming-of-age feel to it, even though Alice is now grown, as she rediscovers the joy of such a place and contemplates where her life is heading back home, all while getting to know the boy (now a man) that she admired from afar all those years ago.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Romantasy)
It would be remiss of us not to mention one of the biggest books of 2025 - Onyx Storm. The third book in the Empyrean series, this is the kind of escapist fantasy that you won’t be able to put down.
In this latest tome, Violet finds herself embarking on what might just be her most dangerous mission yet, as she risks everything to save the ones closest to her, even if it means keeping a secret close to her chest that could destroy every one of them.
Ellis is a freelance journalist, based in the UK, with a love of all things books. She also routinely chairs bookish events up and down the country, getting the scoop from some of the biggest and bestselling authors to keep you in the know.
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