The best books of 2025, according to the Amazon Editors

By Patrick Ryan

"With the family unit as its beating heart, Buckeye is a triumphant and timeless novel that you won't want to end. As these beautifully drawn characters evolve over the years, you'll root for their happiness, cry out for their pain, and forget that this is just a novel." —Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
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By Virginia Evans

“The Correspondent is a novel you read and then immediately buy for one, or five, of your friends. Told over the course of many years via correspondences between retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp and the various people she writes to, it's a story about the bonds we form and heal through words. This book is a gem, and a much-needed reminder of the beauty of humanity.” —Abby Abell, Amazon editor
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By Nina Willner

“The Boys in the Light is a sweeping, yet intimate, narrative of World War II—proof that people can be good and that hope can shine in the darkest places; it’s a meditation on courage, resilience, and the heavy expectations we put on an entire generation. Each page reads like a novel, but this story is all-the-more gripping because it’s true; it’s a story that took place decades ago but could not be more relevant today.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
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By Ocean Vuong

“Ocean Vuong’s moving sophomore novel brings the unseen in society to the fore—people with nothing, who owe each other nothing, and yet they inherently understand something that so many of us do not in this increasingly divisive world: that we should take care of one another. The Emperor of Gladness oozes compassion and grace.” —Erin Kodicek, Amazon editor
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By Charlotte McConaghy

“McConaghy’s exquisite gift is that she creates characters that you know you shouldn’t trust with your whole heart, but you do anyway. It’s a gutting, magnificent story of family, a warming planet, betrayal, and sacrifice that will leave you breathless and in awe of the extraordinary power of fiction.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
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By Freida McFadden

“Casey is trying to hit reset on her life, moving to a remote cabin and keeping to herself. But a terrifying storm brings a girl with a knife, and a night that seems like it will never end. For the reader this is a good thing, because as the narrative shifts between past and present the suspense just keeps building. The Intruder is a sneaky psychological thriller that delves into lost innocence and revenge (or is it justice?), before hurling a shocking curveball across home plate.” —Seira Wilson, Amazon editor
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By Jen Hatmaker

“In the middle of the night, Jen Hatmaker—famous for her charming and best-selling books; an HGTV host; a pastor’s wife; and mother-of-five—is shaken awake when she hears her husband of 26 years voice-texting his girlfriend. What follows is an awakening of a different sort. These page-turning chapters will hold readers rapt as Hatmaker begins to interrogate her life. This is an incredible memoir of resolve, resilience, and laughter for anyone who has ever probed their past and present, and opened their arms wide to the future.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
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By Taylor Jenkins Reid

“This is an exhilarating journey, masterfully capturing both the thrill of space exploration and the complexities of human connection. Atmosphere is a testament to resilience, and how far we'll go to chase our dreams, even when those dreams seem as distant as the stars.” —Kami Tei, Amazon editor
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By Mary Roach

“Mary Roach’s deep dive into replaceable body parts will have even those who don’t think they like nonfiction singing another tune. From the false teeth of yesteryear to fake hearts and butt implants, this is science with a sense of humor and a wild read you don’t want to miss.” —Seira Wilson, Amazon editor
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By Kiran Desai

“Crossing continents and generations and taking aim at issues of the heart and family, Kiran Desai’s follow-up to her Booker Prize-winning The Inheritance of Loss is a richly layered and rewarding read.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
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By Clare Leslie Hall

“Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and The Paper Palace, this genre-crossing story is a family drama that is also a love story and a mystery, with shocking twists I did not see coming.” —Abby Abell, Amazon editor
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By Beth Macy

“Beth Macy—one of the best narrative nonfiction writers working today—once again tells the story of America through the eyes of people fighting to live with dignity amid setbacks. Compassionate and hopeful, this one-day read will stir you to action.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
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By R. F. Kuang

“Literary fantasy at its most spectacular, this is an epic adventure to the depths of hell filled with madness, humor, humanity, and ultimately, hope. It’s destined to become a modern classic.” —Abby Abell, Amazon editor
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By Oyinkan Braithwaite

“A masterfully written tale of family and fate set in Nigeria, this is a must-read for anyone who loves family sagas with a supernatural twist.” —Kami Tei, Amazon editor
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By Gabrielle Hamilton

“Suicide, sudden death, dementia, and estrangement—this memoir is Shakespearean in its wealth of tragedies, but also in its catharsis. Hamilton again proves that she is a talented writer who also happens to be a talented chef.” —Erin Kodicek, Amazon editor
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By S.A. Cosby

“Who writes morally gray men with their backs against the wall better than S.A. Cosby? Dark, violent, and poignant—full of money, truth, ambition, murder, legacy, and secrets—this novel sings from first page to last.” —Vannessa Cronin, former Amazon editor
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By Nathalia Holt

“This heart-thumping adventure will elevate your pulse for all its brisk 288 pages. Full of larger-than-life swagger, surprising self-awareness, and satisfying twists, it’s a rip-roaring journey through a world that no longer exists.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
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By Lily King

“Witty and wise, this affecting tale is further proof that King is one of the queens of contemporary fiction.” —Erin Kodicek, Amazon editor
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By Catherine Chidgey

“This dystopian thriller is beyond classification. It is breathtaking and haunting, with a sinister undertone that snuck under my skin and sent chills down my spine until the final page.” —Abby Abell, Amazon editor
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By Nicholas Boggs

“A magnetic biography of a charismatic, resolutely human, and talented writer. Organized around four pivotal relationships (a mentor, lover, collaborator, and fellow writer), Boggs offers a fascinating and deeply intimate look at an American icon.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
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