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The 10 Best Books Of 2025 The New York Times

Leo Migdal
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the 10 best books of 2025 the new york times

Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry influencers in the know since 1933. The New York Times has unveiled its list of the best books of 2025, with five fiction and five nonfiction titles selected by the editors of the newspaper’s book review section. Kiran Desai made the list for her novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the Booker Prize. Another Booker Prize finalist, Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional, made the list, with the editors praising it as “exquisite.” The other fiction titles were Angel Down by Daniel Kraus; The Director, written by Daniel Kehlmann and translated by Ross Benjamin; and The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri. Two nonfiction books shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize made the Times’ best-of-the-year list: Arundhati Roy’s memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, and Sophie Elmhirst’s A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession,...

10 Best Books of 2025, According to The New York Times (Picture Credit - Instagram) The literary world of 2025 offered a rare kind of brilliance, the kind that arrives quietly but stays long after the year has passed. The New York Times list of the 10 Best Books of 2025 reflects the depth and power of a year shaped by bold voices, unforgettable characters, and striking truths. These books did not just earn their place. They captured it with heart, craft, and emotional clarity. Whether through fiction that pushed boundaries or nonfiction that confronted reality with honesty, each title became a defining part of 2025, leaving readers with stories that illuminate, comfort, and challenge in equal measure.

Also Read: 10 Best Children's Books of 2025 A theatre director’s ambition simmered behind every rehearsed line. Kehlmann’s ‘The Director’ examines the pressures of artistic life, ego, and the pursuit of recognition. Following a celebrated figure navigating professional and personal challenges, the novel blurs genius and obsession. Through sharp, witty storytelling, it captures envy, power struggles, and moral dilemmas within the theatre world. Benjamin’s translation preserves Kehlmann’s precise humour and intensity, immersing readers in the conflicts between ambition and integrity.

The Director (Picture Credit - Instagram) Last week, The New York Times shared their 100 Notable Books of 2025. Now, they're back with their overall top 10 books of 2025. Book Riot Editorial is made up of passionate readers, writers, and book lovers dedicated to delivering insightful book recommendations, literary analysis, and the latest in book culture. With expertise spanning multiple genres and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, we offer thoughtful commentary, book deals, and news that matters to readers. Whether it’s uncovering hidden gems, analyzing literary trends, or championing diverse voices, Book Riot’s editorial team is here to keep you informed and inspired.

Last week, The New York Times shared their 100 Notable Books of 2025. Now, they’re back with their overall top 10 books of 2025: five fiction and five nonfiction. As you might expect, the fiction books are all literary fiction, including a stream-of-consciousness World War I novel, a book about an Austrian filmmaker in World War II, and a 700-page family saga. You can listen to The New York Times Book Review podcast to hear editor Gilbert Cruz and his colleagues discuss their process of narrowing the 100 notable picks to these top ten. They also talk about what made these ten titles stand out. Here are the ten best books of 2025, according to The New York Times.

NYT names the 10 best books of 2025. Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know is Blackwell’s Book of the Year. Tom Paulin wins the PEN Heaney Prize for Namanlagh. FutureBook Awards winners are announced. Rosanna Pike won the Bollinger Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction, and Marina Lewycka wins the Vintage Bollinger Prize. Best-of-the-year lists arrive from The Guardian, LitHub, and King County Public Library.

Poet Amanda Gorman is named UNICEF’s new ambassador. Louise Penny will team up with Melissa Fung for the novel The Last Mandarin, due out in May 2026. NYT names the 10 best books of 2025, with a video and a podcast. Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know (Knopf; LJ starred review) is Blackwell’s Book of the Year. Tom Paulin wins the PEN Heaney Prize for Namanlagh (Faber & Faber). FutureBook Awards winners are announced, The Bookseller reports.

The New York Times’ annual list of the 10 Best Books of 2025 has just been released, showcasing a diverse and compelling selection of works that have captivated readers and critics alike. This year’s list features a range of genres, from literary fiction to memoirs, with each book offering a unique perspective on the world we live in today. Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 books that have made it to the top of the list and explore the reasons why they have garnered such acclaim. 1. “The Mirror and the Light” by Hilary Mantel Hilary Mantel’s final installment in her acclaimed Thomas Cromwell trilogy, “The Mirror and the Light,” has taken the top spot on this year’s list.

Mantel’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring to life the tumultuous world of Tudor England, as Cromwell navigates the treacherous political landscape of the court of King Henry VIII. The novel’s rich character development and intricate plotting have earned it widespread praise from critics and readers alike. Kiley Reid’s debut novel, “Such a Fun Age,” has captured the hearts of readers with its sharp social commentary and engaging storytelling. The novel follows the intersecting lives of a young Black babysitter and her well-meaning white employer, exploring themes of race, class, and privilege in contemporary America. Reid’s nuanced portrayal of her characters and their relationships has resonated with readers, making “Such a Fun Age” a standout on this year’s list. Brit Bennett’s sophomore novel, “The Vanishing Half,” has garnered widespread acclaim for its exploration of race, identity, and family.

The novel follows the lives of twin sisters who take divergent paths, one passing as white and the other embracing her Black identity. Bennett’s lyrical prose and keen insight into the complexities of race and identity have earned her praise from critics and readers alike, solidifying “The Vanishing Half” as a must-read for 2025. Here are the year’s most notable picture and middle grade books, selected by our children’s books editor. Continue reading >> For seven years I’ve been collecting the best PC games every year that don’t need a graphics card, tracking down games for those of us with older computers or laptops. And I love doing it so much...

Continue reading >> This piece marks the 50th interview in contributing editor Peter Mishler’s long-running series of conversations with contemporary poets. To celebrate this occasion, Literary Hub has partnered with... Continue reading >> The historian is set to lead a ‘stellar’ 2026 panel featuring the Pulp frontman and other acclaimed writers, as the search begins for next year’s standout work of fictionPulp frontman Jarvis Cocker... Continue reading >>

The NYT Book Review shares personal favorites that didn't make the Best Of cut, bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has died, and more. Continue reading >> If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Books by Stephen Graham Jones, Suzanne Collins and more made the '100 Notable Books of the Year' NYT list and PEOPLE's recommendations For anyone looking to wrap up their 2025 TBR lists or in the thick of holiday shopping, look no further. We combed through The New York Times' list of 100 Notable Books of 2025 and cross-checked their editors' favorites against PEOPLE's monthly recommendations to pinpoint a list of books recommended by experts at both...

From stunning historical fiction by Allegra Goodman, haunting horror by Stephen Graham Jones to Oprah's Book Club pick A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar and the hotly-anticipated Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on... In this hilarious, profound novel, lonely teenager Griffin Hurt, disconnected from the dysfunctional adults around him in 1980s New York City, explores the many identities in his life, from child actor to champion wrestler... — Caroline Leavitt

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Pre-publication Book Reviews And Features Keeping Readers And Industry Influencers

Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry influencers in the know since 1933. The New York Times has unveiled its list of the best books of 2025, with five fiction and five nonfiction titles selected by the editors of the newspaper’s book review section. Kiran Desai made the list for her novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize...

10 Best Books Of 2025, According To The New York

10 Best Books of 2025, According to The New York Times (Picture Credit - Instagram) The literary world of 2025 offered a rare kind of brilliance, the kind that arrives quietly but stays long after the year has passed. The New York Times list of the 10 Best Books of 2025 reflects the depth and power of a year shaped by bold voices, unforgettable characters, and striking truths. These books did not ...

Also Read: 10 Best Children's Books Of 2025 A Theatre

Also Read: 10 Best Children's Books of 2025 A theatre director’s ambition simmered behind every rehearsed line. Kehlmann’s ‘The Director’ examines the pressures of artistic life, ego, and the pursuit of recognition. Following a celebrated figure navigating professional and personal challenges, the novel blurs genius and obsession. Through sharp, witty storytelling, it captures envy, power struggle...

The Director (Picture Credit - Instagram) Last Week, The New

The Director (Picture Credit - Instagram) Last week, The New York Times shared their 100 Notable Books of 2025. Now, they're back with their overall top 10 books of 2025. Book Riot Editorial is made up of passionate readers, writers, and book lovers dedicated to delivering insightful book recommendations, literary analysis, and the latest in book culture. With expertise spanning multiple genres an...

Last Week, The New York Times Shared Their 100 Notable

Last week, The New York Times shared their 100 Notable Books of 2025. Now, they’re back with their overall top 10 books of 2025: five fiction and five nonfiction. As you might expect, the fiction books are all literary fiction, including a stream-of-consciousness World War I novel, a book about an Austrian filmmaker in World War II, and a 700-page family saga. You can listen to The New York Times ...