The 21 Best Books of 2025 (So Far)

When I first looked at this year’s slate of new books, I had a feeling 2025 would be a special year for fiction. Four months later, writers like Stephen Graham Jones, Katie Kitamura, and Kevin Nguyen have proven me correct. Fun fact: Two years after Esquire declared “the year of the slim novel,” seven books on this list are less than 300 pages. Whether you’re looking for a compelling nonfiction mystery, a charming fantasy escape, or a suspenseful science fiction thriller, our best books of 2025 so far have something for everyone.