The Best Books of 2025: A Year of Literary Excellence
The year 2025 brings a plethora of literary delights, covering a wide range of genres that will captivate readers of all tastes. From gripping fiction to insightful memoirs, thrilling crime novels, and thought-provoking non-fiction, the following list showcases the best books of the year, as curated by The Guardian's expert editors.
Fiction
Justine Jordan, the fiction editor at The Guardian, highlights the following titles:
- Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- The Return by Thomas Pynchon
- Booker Winner by David Szalay
- A collection of short stories that will leave a lasting impression
Explore the full list of fiction recommendations here: The Guardian's Fiction Picks
Memoir and Biography
Fiona Sturges curates a selection of memoirs and biographies that offer intimate insights:
- Acting by Anthony Hopkins and Kathy Burke
- A Brave Memoir by Arundhati Roy
- Prize-Winning Diaries by Helen Dunmore
Dive into the world of memoirs and biographies here: The Guardian's Memoir and Biography Picks
Crime and Thrillers
Laura Wilson introduces readers to some gripping crime and thriller novels:
- Slow Horses by Mick Herron
- The Good Liar by Denise Mina
- Japanese Detective Mystery by Uketsu (a YouTube sensation)
Uncover the best crime and thriller reads here: The Guardian's Crime and Thriller Picks
History and Politics
Pratinav Anil presents a selection of books that explore historical events and political landscapes:
- The Revolutionists by Jason Burke
- Motherland (a unique perspective on modern Russian history)
- The Fall of the Tories and the Rise of Keir Starmer
Dive into the world of history and politics here: The Guardian's History and Politics Picks
Poetry
Rishi Dastidar curates a collection of poetry that will stir emotions and inspire:
- Seamus Heaney's Collected Poems
- Animal Spirits by Simon Armitage
- Forward Prize Winners by Karen Solie and Vidyan Ravinthiran
Explore the best poetry offerings here: The Guardian's Poetry Picks
Children's Books
Imogen Russell Williams selects the best children's books that will captivate young readers:
- A new read-aloud favorite with doughnuts and world-conquering ambitions
- High fantasy adventures by Katherine Rundell
- And more!
Discover the best children's books here: The Guardian's Children's Books Picks
Science and Nature
Anjana Ahuja presents a selection of books that explore the wonders of science and nature:
- The threat of superintelligent AI
- Secrets to a longer life
- The evolution of language
- The restless genius of Francis Crick
Explore the best science and nature books here: The Guardian's Science and Nature Picks
Translated Fiction
John Self curates a collection of translated fiction that will transport readers to new worlds:
- The Return by Nobel laureate Han Kang
- The Director by Daniel Kehlmann (a tale of filmmaking under the Nazis)
- Life on Loop by Solvej Balle
- Scandinavian thrillers
- Essential stories from postwar Iraq
Explore the best translated fiction here: The Guardian's Translated Fiction Picks
Food
Bee Wilson presents a selection of recipe books that will delight food enthusiasts:
- Palestine's Culinary Heritage by Sami Tamimi
- The Psychological Benefits of Baking by Helen Goh
- Indian Kitchen Tricks by Roopa Gulati
Explore the best food books here: The Guardian's Food Picks
Graphic Novels
James Smart introduces readers to some captivating graphic novels:
- Black Country Cowboys
- Vengeful Gods
- Angling Classic Reimagined
Explore the best graphic novels here: The Guardian's Graphic Novels Picks
Young Adult
Imogen Russell Williams curates a selection of young adult books that will resonate with teens:
- Space-travelling telepaths
- LGBTQ+ activism
- War-torn Britain
- Online alter egos
- Feminist trailblazers
Explore the best young adult books here: The Guardian's Young Adult Picks
Music
Alexis Petridis presents a selection of music books that will resonate with music lovers:
- An enraging indictment of Spotify
- A compelling biography of Tupac Shakur
Explore the best music books here: The Guardian's Music Picks
Science Fiction
Adam Roberts curates a collection of science fiction that will challenge and entertain:
- Icy intrigue
- Cyberpunkish cyborgs
- Memory-eating aliens
- New super-fast travel
Explore the best science fiction here: The Guardian's Science Fiction Picks
Sports
Jonathan Liew presents a selection of sports books that will captivate sports enthusiasts:
- The trauma and triumphs of Olympic cyclist Bradley Wiggins
- The secret life of a match fixer
Explore the best sports books here: The Guardian's Sports Picks
To browse all the best books of 2025, visit guardianbookshop.com and discover a world of literary excellence. Delivery charges may apply.
