Our favorite reads of 2025

2025 has been an exciting year for books. No matter your genre of choice, there’s been a plethora of great titles to keep you reading all year long. Keep reading to see what books Team Old Town Books loved this year.

“The best book I read this year was HEART THE LOVER by Lily King. I simultaneously bawled my eyes out and cheered for the protagonist on every page. So human and real, it’s the kind of novel that makes you feel as if you’ve lived it yourself.” -Ally

“I think I have to go with THE CORRESPONDENT, which was always a top contender, but I think my re-read of it on the heels of moderating our event with Virginia Evans moved it squarely into the top spot. The way this epistolary novel explores aging, accountability, and apology in the wake of grief, self-reflection, and new love is second to none. Long live Sybil Van Antwerp!” - Melissa

“Look, I'm not saying it's the BEST book I read this year because that's not a decision I can make, but one of my favorites of the year was GRAVITY LOST - the sequel to CASCADE FAILURE. This space opera continued where the first one left off, with our delightful found family, tons of action and adventure, plenty of heart, and so many moments that had me glued to the pages.” - Kim

“BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES was a surprise hit for me! I'm new to reading graphic novels, so when the Murder by the Book Club picked this title, I was excited to give it a shot. I sat down thinking I would read a chapter before bed and then promptly sped through the entire thing and then went to our website to see what else I could order from this author (good news, there is a sequel coming in 2026!)” - Cate

“For me it was SWEET HEAT by Bolu Babalola. I was so excited for its release and thankfully it absolutely lived up to the anticipation. It's the rare sequel that's even better than the original (HONEY & SPICE, which I also loved). A gorgeous, hilarious look at relationships and intimacy and messiness and forgiveness from one of the best romance writers out there.” - Leah

“BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL - the story of three women across time and the hungers that tie them together. Not to mention complex multidimensional characters and lush quotable prose perfect for sinking your teeth into.” - Lane

“It has to be A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF for me. The matching tension of plot and language, the vivid and the hidden contrasts of different lives, the unapologetic reality...the best writing I've read in a long time.” - Kathryn

“Mine would be THE LILAC PEOPLE by Milo Todd. I picked this up as a DRC for the summer reading guide, quickly realized it probably wouldn’t make the cut but could not put it down. I proceeded to read it four times in a row just cause I kept finding new information about the queer community in Nazi Germany and how their stories mirror America 2025. The writing is impeccable and gut wrenching and I wish it made more of a splash than it did in the literary world.” - Kai

“HEART THE LOVER was the best book I read this year, but in the interest of picking something different, I'm going to say GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson. This beautifully written novel follows Ebby Freeman as she unpacks multi-generational family trauma and examines how her family's history has informed her own past and present, and how it can unlock her future.” - Robyn

“I have SUCH a hard time picking a BEST, because I have read so many different types of books that I enjoyed very much. But one of my most satisfying reading experiences this year was WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy. This book hit all the right notes for me, blending mystery, lush nature writing, poetic prose, and a beautifully built romance. It was one of the first books I read in 2025 and I have not forgotten its impact.” - Sarah

“It would definitely be KATABASIS by R. F. Kuang. Somehow the gods of bookstores and publishing heard my frantic prayers and dropped an ARC into my hands—one I promptly devoured until the pages felt worn and lived-in. This book delivered everything I crave: razor-sharp prose, biting humor, gut-deep trauma, and the intellectual thrill of academia, all twisted into a descent that reads like Dante’s Inferno colliding with Alice in Wonderland. It was strange, brilliant, and utterly addictive.” - Pia

“I’m going to pick THE NAMES by Florence Knapp. A gorgeously written novel that explores how one’s life may change based on their name. It’s a very inventive structure, following a boy as he moves through three different versions of his life based on the name his mother may choose for him, and how the lives of those around him, particularly his mother’s, are affected. Poetic and rich, I’ve recommended it to many people.” - Anna

“I am so bad at picking favorites, but this was a 10/10, no notes. I loved FAMILY OF SPIES by Christine Kuehn, which tells the shocking secret history of her own family as Nazi spies in WWII, how it came to light, and how her Aunt's affair with Joseph Goebbels led her family down a path of historic consequence.” - Adela