Discover the Penguin books that shaped us

Home
Discover
Articles
Best books of 2025: A preview of the year’s most exciting reads

Best books of 2025: A preview of the year’s most exciting reads

·

min read

·

A new year is an opportunity for a clean slate – and, perhaps more importantly, a good excuse to restock your TBR pile with some shiny new additions.

Perhaps this will be the year you make a significant dent in your list of must-read classics, or maybe you’re keeping an eye out for the next big book that everyone will be talking about. If it’s the latter, we’ve got you covered with our essential round-up of the new releases coming out in 2025, from escapist romances to page-turning crime novels, modern literary masterpieces and memoirs that are sure to make history.

In no particular order, the below are the 29 books we are most excited to read in 2025.

Fiction

1. We Do Not Part by Han Kang

Out 6^th February

A tender, poignant read, We Do Not Part is the latest English-translated book by South Korean author and 2024 Nobel Literature Prize-winner Han Kang. Against the harsh backdrop of winter, Kyungha travels to the remote forests of Korea’s Jeju Island, tasked with feeding her injured friend Inseon’s pet bird while she remains in hospital. Kyungha soon discovers, however, that she is house-sitting a place filled with memories of a horrific past.

2. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Out 3^rd June

Taylor Jenkins Reid is known for transporting readers to another world – be that a 1970s tour bus in Daisy Jones and The Six or the glittering 1950s Hollywood of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Her latest novel goes a step further: it is a love story set among the stars, as a cohort of astronauts embark on a 1984 space shuttle mission and question their place in the world.

3. We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Out 11^th February

This is a story of a family in crisis, told with Jojo Moyes’ trademark warmth, wit and emotional depth. Matriarch Lila Kennedy is still processing her divorce; her stepfather Bill has unofficially moved in; Celie, her eldest, is skipping school; Violet, her youngest, is running wild. Then Lila’s estranged father Gene turns up on her doorstep – but will he save the family, or cause it to splinter for good?

If you love Jojo Moyes, take our quiz to find out which of her characters you’re most like.

4. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

Out 15^th May

Critically acclaimed author Ocean Vuong is known for his tender, heartbreaking prose that reads like poetry, as seen in his bestselling novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. In his latest book, a depressed teenager and an elderly widow develop a life-altering bond forged by empathy, heartbreak, and feeling like outsiders in their post-industrial town. This is an epic story about love, loneliness and the magic of second chances.

5. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Out 17^th July

Holly Jackson is one of the biggest names writing YA mysteries, thanks to her bestseller A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. In Not Quite Dead Yet, her first adult mystery, 27-year-old heiress Jet Mason has been attacked and, with just seven days left to live, hopes to solve her own murder. As with Jackson’s other books, expect corkscrew twists, complex motives, and a heroine you’ll root for.

6. The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn

Out 24^th April

This historical fiction debut flits between Paris at the turn of the 20^th Century, where a carousel-maker channels his grief into a dangerous new creation, and 1920s Chicago, where a woman in search of a new life comes across a beautiful carousel. What she doesn’t know is that it was linked to multiple disappearances, and that history is about to repeat itself, in this tale of obsession, revenge and enduring love.

7. Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt

Out 24^th April

It’s hard to believe that this bittersweet coming-of-age story is a debut novel. Seán Hewitt eloquently depicts the transformational power of first love in this tale of two boys who meet on the cusp of adulthood: James, who dreams of a life away from his tiny village and small-minded parents; and Luke, who harbours his desires and insecurities beneath a confident exterior. As their relationship evolves, their lives are forever altered.

8. Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anson

Out 23^rd October

In this Yoruba-inspired fantasy, everyone in Oru can harness the power of the Sun. Everyone, that is, apart from Lọ́rẹ; she has concealed this her whole life, even from her best friend Alawani. But when Alawani faces death at the hands of the Holy Order, Lọ́rẹ discovers she possesses the icy shadow magic of another kingdom. Fleeing capture, Lọ́rẹ and Alawani seek out this faraway place, and learn the unsettling truth about their homeland.

Pre-order now

9. When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

Out 15^th May

This poignant novel was named the Swedish Book of the Year for 2024. It revolves around Bo, an elderly man becoming increasingly frail, who relies on his home care team and his dog for company. But when his estranged son insists on taking the dog, Bo is forced to reckon with his past, including the choices he made as a parent. Can he mend his relationships before it’s too late?

10. The Favourites by Layne Fargo

Out 16^th January

Katarina and Heath were childhood sweethearts bonded by their intense chemistry and ambition in the high-octane world of figure skating. They made a formidable team on the ice, until a shocking event at the Olympics destroyed their careers. A documentary made 10 years later charts their dramatic rise and fall, in this modern retelling of Wuthering Heights that is perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six.

11. Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter

Out 15^th May

Sunstruck is at once a sultry summer read and a poignant exploration of race, wealth and privilege. The debut novel, which won the 2022 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize, follows a young man as he joins his university friend Lily in her family’s holiday mansion and falls for Lily’s handsome, charismatic brother Felix. But as they return to London, he and Felix will have to face their demons and make choices with far-reaching implications.

12. Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Out 6^th February

Twenty years ago, the Freemans – one of the few Black families in their Connecticut neighbourhood – were rocked by tragedy after a home invasion. Now an adult, Ebby Freeman has escaped to France to grieve her engagement that ended abruptly. When she bumps into her ex-fiancé and his new girlfriend, she is forced to reckon with her past, including the significance of what she and her family lost all those years ago.

13. Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

Out 27^th March

In a sleepy Dorset village, a pub landlord’s body has been discovered. Everyone is hiding something, from the local farmer to the young girl in the playground, but who is the killer? This gripping debut crime novel from Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall has the trademark suspense, small-town intrigue and dubious characters we love about his work on-screen, and already counts Lee Child, Shari Lapena and Gillian McAllister among its fans.

14. Voices of the Fallen Heroes by Yukio Mishima

Out 16^th January

These short stories, originally written in the 1960s by Yukio Mishima, one of Japan’s most influential writers, are not exactly new. However, this is the first time they have been translated into English. With tales combining autobiographical details (the obsessive fan who broke into Mishima’s home) with pure horror (the writer seized by apocalyptic visions), this is a timely and captivating collection that marks the 100^th anniversary of Mishima’s birth.

15. Nova Scotia House by Charlie Porter

Out 20^th March

Johnny Grant was 19 years old when he fell in love with 45-year-old Jerry Field. Three decades later, Johnny is left with the flat and memories they shared – and stories from Jerry’s youth before the AIDS crisis. As he recalls Jerry's tales of love, freedom, queer joy and community, Johnny resolves to restore the radical ways of life that could otherwise be lost forever.

16. Sweat by Emma Healey

Out 30^th January

When they were together, Liam pushed Cassie to the limits of her physical fitness, in what became a controlling relationship. Now, two years after their breakup, Cassie is thriving as a personal trainer and Liam has come back into her life in an unexpected way: she suddenly holds the power, and it’s her turn to push Liam to breaking point. This is an inventive new novel from the bestselling author of Elizabeth is Missing.

17. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Out 13^th February

On the eve of her daughter Debbie’s wedding, Gail is facing a perfect storm: she’s just lost her job, and now her ex-husband has showed up unannounced (with a cat, no less). Then a startling revelation about Debbie’s husband-to-be casts new light on their past. Multi-award-winner Anne Tyler's latest novel explores the complexity of life, love and relationships with trademark heart and humour. Read an exclusive extract here.

18. By Your Side by Ruth Jones

Out 22^nd May

Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones has also earned a loyal fanbase thanks to her beautiful, life-affirming novels. Her latest follows Linda Standish, who tracks down the living relatives of those who have died alone. This takes Linda and her work nemesis to a remote Scottish island, where they must piece together a man’s final years. Along the way, they meet eccentric characters and find joy in unexpected places.

19. Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

Out 8^th May

In this literary love story, Coralie builds a life with Adam but loses herself in the process. Set in a decade of political upheaval in Britain (with Brexit, Covid and a quick succession of prime ministers), Consider Yourself Kissed illustrates how our personal lives intersect with public events. The result is a tender romance that is beautiful, life-affirming and simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious.

Buy now

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, including for our recommendations, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Non-fiction

19. Red Pockets by Alice Mah

Out 24^th April

In Red Pockets, writer and academic Alice Mah returns to her ancestral village in South China to visit the forgotten graves of her forebears. As she reflects on the places she has lived, from post-industrial England to rugged Scotland, Mah contends with eco-anxiety and a crisis of spiritual belief. This haunting blend of memoir and cultural history calls into question our duty to past and future generations, and the places we call home.

20. Our Oaken Bones by Merlin Hanbury-Tenison

Out 20^th March

Grappling with PTSD and the devastation of a miscarriage, author Merlin Hanbury-Tenison and his wife Lizzie decided to leave London for Merlin’s childhood home, a Cornish farm that borders an endangered rainforest. As the pair fall in love with their surroundings, and recognise the healing power of nature, they begin to recognise their duty to protect it, in this moving memoir that’s perfect for fans of The Salt Path.

21. HOPE by Pope Francis

Out 14^th January

HOPE is a groundbreaking memoir: not only is it the first autobiography to be published by a Pope, but it is also a fascinating piece of life writing in its own right. Pope Francis shares illuminating, sometimes funny anecdotes about his own life, while also writing candidly about some of the most pressing topics of our time, from women’s rights to global conflict. This will undoubtedly be one of the most talked-about memoirs of 2025.

22. I Want to Talk to You by Diana Evans

Out 6^th February

In addition to being a critically acclaimed author, Diana Evans is a seasoned journalist whose writing has been published in The Guardian, The Financial Times, Elle, and more. I Want to Talk to You sees this work collated for the first time, forming a varied collection of fascinating interviews (ranging from Mariah Carey to Alice Walker) and columns that, in turn, paint a portrait of an evolving and revered cultural writer.

23. Open When… by Dr Julie Smith

Out 2^nd January

Dr Julie Smith’s first bestselling book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, equipped us with the skills to strengthen and maintain our mental health. In her latest book, she turns her attention to the moments when life gets complicated and difficult to navigate, dispensing her trademark no-nonsense advice to offer solutions to an array of commonly experienced issues and challenges.

24. Love in Exile by Shon Faye

Out 6^th February

With her latest book, Shon Faye, columnist and author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Transgender Issue, offers a thoughtful and candid meditation on love in all its forms. Faye reflects on her own obsession with – and sometimes self-destructive pursuit of – love, while also examining the societal forces that shape our assumptions and ideals. In doing so, she forms an insightful argument for making romantic love more inclusive for all.

25. Story of a Murder by Hallie Rubenhold

Out 27^th March

In The Five, historian Hallie Rubenhold shone a fresh light on Jack the Ripper’s infamous murders, focusing for the first time on the complex lives of his female victims. In Story of a Murder, she re-examines another famed case: that of wife-murderer Dr Crippen. With her gift for addictive storytelling, Rubenhold again centres the women at the heart of the case, debunking common myths and offering a vivid snapshot of Edwardian society.

26. We Were There by Lanre Bakare

Out 17^th April

Guardian culture correspondent Lanre Bakare charts the lives of Black Britons from the late 1970s to early 1990s, examining how they shaped modern culture, communities, and modes of resistance. Through the voices of feminists, Rastafarians, artists, and activists, this book reveals the rich tapestry of Black British culture in towns and cities across the country and establishes a timely, joyful and compelling account of this significant chapter in the story of modern Britain.

27. Who Wants Normal? by Frances Ryan

Out 17^th April

As an award-winning journalist and the author of Crippled: Austerity and the Demonization of Disabled People, Frances Ryan's work has been impactful in driving policy change and challenging social oppression. Who Wants Normal? is both a memoir and manifesto for change, with Ryan drawing from interviews and personal experiences to create an affirming, insightful exploration of life for women and non-binary people living with mental and physical health conditions.

28. Source Code by Bill Gates

Out 4^th February

What does it take to become a world-changing tech billionaire? In Source Code, Bill Gates answers this question by charting his own life story. From his Seattle childhood to the family that nurtured and pushed him, and his formative relationships with the three Steves (Jobs, Wozniak and Ballmer), Gates shows how his early years laid the foundations for his illustrious career at the helm of Microsoft.

29. Frequently Happy by David Larbi

Out 2^nd January

In a world that feels gloomy and stressful, it is vital to be able to find joy and inspiration in the everyday. Internet poet David Larby embodies this philosophy. His TikTok videos break through the gloom, bringing sunshine to the lives of his many followers. His new book, Frequently Happy, builds on this, offering poems, reflections and journalling prompts to help readers explore their emotions, embrace self-reflection and find comfort in the world around them.