As we bid farewell to 2025, it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year and anticipate what 2026 has in store. For book lovers – or anyone who’s resolved to read more in the coming year – there’s plenty to look forward to.
With new releases from literary heavyweights such as Maggie O’Farrell and Douglas Stuart, along with a long list of hotly anticipated debuts, readers will have no trouble curating their new TBR book piles.
But before you start stacking up your 2026 must-reads, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the best releases of 2025. There’s really something for everyone. From R.F. Kuang to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood to Ian McEwan, and Dan Brown to Suzanne Collins, it’s been a busy year in the publishing world.
Personally, I read 35 books this year, including several new releases, but I still have a very long list of 2025 books that I’m eager to try, including most of the titles on the Booker Prize shortlist.
While the list below isn’t comprehensive, I have selected five of my favourite books from 2025 and shared why they deserve a spot on your 2026 TBR. If you enjoy these recommendations, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and your own favourite books in the comments. For more book recommendations, reviews, and news, consider subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.
Finding My Way, Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai’s memoir is hilarious, inspiring, and heartbreaking, often at the same time. It’s become one of my favourite books, and it’s particularly enjoyable as an audiobook. In this coming-of-age story, the education activist and Nobel laureate recalls the aftermath of the attack that nearly took her life, before bringing us up to date with everything that’s been going on behind the scenes in the years since.
From making friends at Oxford University and taking up rooftop climbing, to continuing her work with the Malala Fund, championing education for girls, readers are granted access to all areas of her life.
Malala shares both her relatable stories and the intimate details of her physical and mental recovery in unflinching detail, while reminding us just how much work remains to be done to protect the rights of girls and women globally.
Spring by Michael Morpurgo
For a charming read, Michael Morpurgo’s memoir comes to mind. It’s his first book of adult non-fiction in forty years, which sees the legendary author record the changing seasons on his rural farm in Devon.
It’s quite the experience, walking through the woods with Michael Morpurgo, as he observes nature around him, how it’s changing, and what must be protected for the future.
Although some might prefer to wait for spring to read the book, it could also make a great pick-me-up for those colder months, when the winter weather has you dreaming of leaping lambs and flowering fields.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
There’s a reason #Booktok loves Taylor Jenkins Reid. Atmosphere is stellar, in more ways than one. Moving away from the movie stars and celebrities found in books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel immerses readers in the 1980s US space shuttle programme.
Nonetheless, this historical fiction is just as gripping as her other books, with a heartfelt love story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In my opinion, it’s her best book yet.
For a different perspective on the story, I’d recommend reading Samantha Harvey’s Orbital alongside it. Set on the International Space Station, the 2024 Booker Prize winner makes for a great companion read, reports The Mirror.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Strictly speaking, Yael van der Wouden’s debut was first published in 2024. But it undoubtedly became the book of the summer when the paperback was released earlier this year. It gets picked up by almost every book club, and for good reason.
Set in rural Netherlands, in the aftermath of the Second World War, this story tells of two opposite women who find themselves thrust together for a summer. It’s all about truth, desire, and survival. It was a popular 2025 favourite at my book club, well deserving of its place on this list.
No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes
Anyone looking for their mythology fix is probably familiar with Natalie Haynes. But if you’ve not read her latest, get ready to enjoy the story of the Golden Fleece as you’ve never heard it before.
It’s a comprehensive introduction to Jason and Medea, but it’s equally thought-provoking to anyone revisiting their story in this new interpretation. Natalie Haynes translated Euripides’ Medea by hand before starting on the book, so you know the attention to detail is impeccable. There’s a reason she’s been nicknamed a ‘rock star mythologist.’
