Best Books of 2025
It would be impossible to include all the best books of 2025 in this article so here are the highlights provided by the staff of Ernest & Hadley Booksellers.
For lovers of fiction, the one book that was universally loved is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore which is a combination of historical fiction, mystery, crime thriller, and women’s fiction with multiple perspectives from different time periods. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is 25% NASA talk and 75% romance with an incredible ending—out of this world! Your Name Here by Helen DeWitt and Ilya Gridneff is a book within a book where the often-very-structured DeWitt goes hilariously rogue. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab in three words—Toxic. Lesbian.Vampires. A messy but fun book. And finally, The National Book Award winner, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine about a man who leaves the turbulence of Lebanon for peace in America, but realizes true peace is otherwise attained.
In the nonfiction realm, On Tyranny by Timothy Synder was published in 2017 and has been an annual bestseller ever since. He emphasizes the importance of the history of authoritarianism. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is a lovely book journaling and illustrating the daily activities of birds in her yard. You will find yourself connecting to nature in a meaningful and beautiful way. Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre was written to expose the atrocities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Unfortunately, she took her own life last April, but her words live on. Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway is basically a handbook for all men to increase their understanding of their role with women, children and friends which he describes using his own experiences. Terrific timeless lessons and a great read for male book clubs. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy is a memoir about a woman who finds love and understanding for her mother after moving away from her.
And, of course, all these books are available at the bookstore!
