2025 Book Releases Every Reader Should Know About
Upcoming book releases in 2025 you should add to your TBR list
“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships, I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”
-Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me
Opening note 💌
What are you most looking forward to in 2025?
It’s a classic question as the new year rolls in, and for me—as an avid reader—the answer is easy: new book releases!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that over the past year, I’ve rekindled my love for reading. Balancing a full-time job in social media made me crave a way to unplug, and diving into books has been the perfect escape.
So, here’s my curated list of 2025 book releases I’m most excited about—perfect for fellow fans of fiction, young adult, romance, fantasy, and thrillers. Let’s dive in!
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Contemporary & Historical Fiction
Atmosphere: A Love Story - Taylor Jenkin Reids
Release date: June 3
“Set in the ambitious days of the 1980s space shuttle program, the latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid (Daisy Jones & The Six) promises adventure, romance, intrigue, and a physics professor determined to be one of the first female scientists in space. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, circa 1984, should be a fantastic setting for the author’s patented technique of high drama in interesting places.”
Mysteries & Thrillers
The Crash by Freida McFadden
Release date: January 28
“Eight months pregnant and fleeing from a fast-collapsing life, Tegan’s day can’t get any worse. Until it does. Now she’s stranded in a savage Maine blizzard with a broken ankle and a menacing pair of strangers. Author and practising physician Freida McFadden (The Housemaid series) furthers the noble tradition of the snowbound thriller.”
Fantasy
A Curse in Carved in Bone - Danielle L.Jensen
Release date: May 13
“A sequel to 2024’s surprise sensation A Fate Inked in Blood, the new novel from Danielle L. Jensen (The Bridge Kingdom series) returns readers to a vivid fantasy world drenched in the blood and lust of Norse mythology. In book two of the duology, Jensen reveals the fate of shield maiden Freya, who must overcome an ancient prophecy and a recent betrayal to save her people.”
Katabasis - R.F.Kuang
Release date: August 28
“The latest from impossibly prolific author R.F. Kuang (Babel) looks like good chthonic fun. Details are scarce, but the gist is: Two rival Ph.D. students at Cambridge descend into hell to rescue the soul of their academic adviser. They really need those recommendation letters, apparently. Oh, and it’s a love story, too. Bonus trivia: Katabasis is the Greek term for the classic descent-into-the-underworld narrative.”
Water Moon - Samantha Sotto Yambao
Release date: January 14
“In one of the new year’s most creative fantasy visions, author Samantha Sotto Yambao tells the story of a mystical Tokyo pawnshop where visitors can sell their regrets and bad choices. Wouldn’t that be nice? When a mysterious visitor passes through, new owner Hana Ishikawa undertakes a dreamlike journey through the cosmos. Think of it as cozy fantasy with a mystery center.”
Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
Release date: January 21
“Following on Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, this hugely anticipated third book in The Empyrean series promises more sexy fantasy in, around, and above Basgiath War College. Author Yarros has enjoyed unprecedented success with her flagship franchise, which rides a kind of military-academia vibe crossed with twisty-spicy romance and the enduring mystique of dragons.”
The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A. Parker
Release date: October 7
“Author Sarah A. Parker earned a 2024 Goodreads Choice nomination for the first book in her Moonfall series, When the Moon Hatched. This sequel story, due in October, continues the adventures of rebel assassin Raeve and bounty hunter Kaan. Readers of the first book recommend Parker’s lively dialogue and world-building details, including an innovative magic system and a lunar spin on dragon lore.”
The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig
Release date: May 20
“Sybil Delling is a Diviner, cloistered since childhood to receive visions from the otherworldly entities known as Omens. When her fellow seers start to vanish mysteriously, Sybil teams up with the knight Rodrick—a heretic, but an uncommonly handsome one. Author Rachel Gillig (The Shepherd King) takes a gothic approach to the romantasy tale, full of moonlight and cathedrals and the occasional smoldering gaze.”
Romance
Deep End - Ali Hazelwood
Release date: February 4
“Genre ace Ali Hazelwood (The Love Hypothesis) switches gears yet again with her latest book, a sports-themed romance about a college fling that drifts into dangerous waters. Stanford platform diver Scarlett Vandermeer knows all about jumping into the deep end, but when she meets the new swim team captain, she may be in over her head. Recommended for readers who like extended swimming metaphors.”
First-Timer Caller - B.K Borison
Release date: 11 February 2025
“Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.”
Great Big Beautiful Life - Emily Henry
Release date: April 22
“From the author of the immortal Beach Read, this pleasantly twisty romance features two writers in competition, and maybe in love. Rookie author Alice Scott hopes to write the book of the year, but she’ll have to deal with industry legend Hayden Anderson. Since they’ve both been invited to stay in a gorgeous mansion for a month, negotiations should be hot.”
One Golden Summer - Carley Fortune
Release date: May 6 2025
“Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice unknowingly took his photo and now he's all grown up. Sun-kissed days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice's soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing blue gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.”
Say You’ll Remember Me - Abby Jimenez
Release date: April 1
“If there’s one thing better than a handsome veterinarian, it’s a handsome veterinarian with a cute kitten. That’s what Samantha always says. So when her date goes pretty much flawlessly, she’s tempted to just leave it at that—a perfect memory of the ultimate pleasant evening. But Fate, as is its wont, marches forward. Fan favorite Abby Jimenez (Just for the Summer) has the details.”
Young Adult
Our Infinite Fates
Release date: 4 March 2025
“Teen Evelyn’s got a very big, very unusual conundrum, namely that she’s been reincarnated through a thousand lifetimes, always fated to kill or be killed by a specific supernatural being named Arden in each one. Usually by her 18th birthday. With that deadline fast approaching in her current life, which she happens to like very much, Evelyn’s running out of time to figure out why she and Arden are bound together in this very big, very unusual way.”
Rebel Witch - Kristen Ciccarelli
Release date: February 18
“In 2024, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Heartless Hunter won an enthusiastic readership (and a Goodreads Choice Award nomination) with the love story of vigilante witch Rune Winters and dedicated witch hunter Gideon Sharpe. Yes, it’s awkward. In Rebel Witch, the much-anticipated conclusion to the duology, Rune must ally with a zealous and dangerous rhymes-with-witch who wants to assume the ultimate power.”
Sunrise on the Reaping
Release date: March 18
“Technically the second prequel novel to the original trilogy (after 2020’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), Sunrise on the Reaping rewinds to the morning of the 50th annual Hunger Games. It seems a familiar fellow by the name of Haymitch Abernathy has been selected to compete in a diabolical new arena where everything is venomous, poisonous, contagious, or otherwise unpleasant.”
If you enjoyed this list, you can follow me on Fable for more reading updates, book reviews and recommendations.
weekly report
For this week’s media consumption report, I’m sharing a collection of books, TV shows I’ve consumed as well as a few of my favourite articles I’ve read recently.
what I’ve read
December was marked by what I call my cosy thriller era. I struggled with a bit of a reading slump and decided to try reading thrillers this month. As someone who usually reads romance and fantasy books, I was a bit hesitant to try it, but I'm so glad I did. It turns out I'm loooovee fast-paced thrillers and I highly recommend checking out Freida McFadden's books. I finished Housemaid in one sitting and I'm excited for the movie adaptation.
In case you missed out, I’ve listed a collection of books I read in 2024 that I wish I could reread for the first time.
what I’ve watched
I finished Season 2 of Squid Games, and honestly, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. However, it's one of those shows you can have in the background. I will probably still watch the next season.
articles to read
This year I started to expand my reading from fiction books to long-form essays and articles. One of my biggest goals for this year is switching mindless scrolling on my phone with more intentional reading and self-education.
Longform articles and essays so far have been a great source of brain food and also reducing my screen time. So here’s just a few of my favourite articles I’ve recently enjoyed.
Is making friends as an adult really hard, or is it just me?
They Hate Each Other. They Love Each Other. We Can’t Look Away.
If you enjoyed this post and are interested in more recommendations (articles, films, books, tv shows) you can sign up to my weekly newsletter to get it directly in your inbox.
Closing note 💌
things I’m excited about in January
→ New book releases in January from my favourite authors.
→ Getting a headstart on my reading goal for 2025. I'm thinking of either 50 or 60 books.
→ Meeting up with a long-distance friend I haven't seen in years!
→ Starting my low buy/no buy year
Resources I couldn’t live without in 2024
→ Notion - I have been a long-term user of notion for using it basically for everything. If you're looking for a digital planner/journal then look no further than this app. My favourite templates are my reading and media (tv/film) templates.
→ Fable - I started tracking all my books using this app and it's so addictive to use. Not only does it provide customised book recommendations it also gives you a reading wrap-up of your reading statistics sort of like Spotify BUT better!
In case you missed out…
Here are a few of my most popular posts from these past few weeks loved by you:
Rating every place I’ve visited in Europe as a solo female traveller
Rating things people have said to me as a solo female traveller
5 Articles You Should Read This Week If You’re in Your Twenties
If you’re new to this newsletter, every week I share more curated recommendations (books, films, articles) and thoughts about your twenties, travelling, career and life in between in my paid newsletter.
If you’re able to support this newsletter, I’d greatly appreciate it.
That's it for now, but you'll be hearing from me soon!
Until next time,
Before you go: You can find me on Instagram, Fable, and TikTok to keep up with my updates, oversharing and recommendations in real-time.
came from instagram just to read some long form essays. I also decided to read more long form essays than scroll mindlessly on social media this year.