These Are the Best Books of 2025 According to Amazon Editors. Do You Agree?

Buckeye is the story of two families who live a relatively simple life in a small Ohio town. That changes when a love triangle forms and affairs begin to unfold. There are four decades covered, so readers will get all the details on themes surrounding forbidden love, regretful decisions, and karma. (Forgiveness plays a part, too, don't worry.)

“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

This story centers around Sybil, a former lawyer, who is grappling with highs and lows. Given her previous profession, she was skilled at writing emails (and also fond of writing letters). This is the format in which her life is viewed: the many letters and emails she has written throughout the years. Readers will get to know Sybil through her experiences with grief, her process of forgiving those who have wronged her, and what power has meant to her.

“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 correspondence 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

History buffs will get a kick out of this inspirational true World War II story. It recounts the events that Eddie Willner faced as a 16-year-old Jewish boy in Europe during the ’40s, and how he and his friends and family persevered.

“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

Life is hard for Ocean Vuong, and struggling with thoughts of self-harm, he’s at his wits’ end. In comes Grazina, an elderly widow suffering from dementia, the person who unexpectedly saves his life. After meeting, the two form a bond like no other, and Ocean discovers things about life that change his perspective on what it means to live.

“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

Life as a caretaker on an Antarctic isn’t exactly fun, but it’s also not safe. That’s what Dominic Salt and his three kids experience as troubling storms cause sea levels to rise, eventually seeing a helpless woman (alive, but unwell) wash up to shore. Here is where the mystery begins: Is this incident an accident or designed with purpose?

“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

Anyone familiar with Freida McFadden knows that she can deliver a thrilling, mind-bending story like no other. This one follows Casey, a young woman faced with a life-altering scenario when a bloody and armed teenage girl shows up at her door. How did they both end up in this situation? Are they connected, or was this totally random? As always, there’s a huge twist at the end.

“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

Jen Hatmaker’s memoir recounts the collapse of her 26-year marriage after infidelity and self-rebuilding that followed. Through her story, she touches on religious wounds, the patriarchy of it all, body image, and gender roles. Ultimately, it’s a hopeful look at grief, clarity, and starting over in the “second half of life.”

“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

Meet the fictional Joan Goodwin, a gal who works as an astronomer in the ’80s and one of the first women accepted into NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Here, she finds new friendships and love, but also faces an onslaught of challenges.

“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

Replaceable You by Mary Roach is a witty explanation of science’s connection to the human body. We’re talking descriptions of historical prosthetics (think 3D-printed organs) to modern regenerative medicine, all of it connecting to what it might mean to create a “new you.”

“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

Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is a sweeping tale that follows two Indian Americans who briefly meet on a train, and how that one interaction changed their lives forever. Navigating love across continents reveals the weight of family issues, identity crises, and the feeling of being misplaced. It’s a love story with lots of drama, but also touches on topics such as race and identity.

“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

Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country is a historical drama about a woman whose mundane life is shaken when her a man from her past returns. As Beth and her husband mourn their son, her first love's appearance and the child he brings with him forces her to face old secrets and the crossroads that ultimately led her to where she is now.

“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

Paper Girl traces Beth Macy’s return to Urbana, Ohio. She uses her hometown as an example of how economic decay, political tension, and isolation have risen today. Moving between past and present, she shows how shrinking opportunities and the opioid crisis have reshaped a place that once promised mobility.

“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

Katabasis is a sharp, dark-academia satire about two feuding grad students who voyage to the underworld to rescue their late advisor. Nothing is as it seems (which is obvious in a fantasy), and so you can expect the most magical of twists and turns.

“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

Get ready for a riveting journey that follows three Nigerian women wrestling with a family curse that sabotages their love lives. Moving across generations, the novel blends superstition, duty, and the ache of inherited trauma as each woman tries to escape the fate laid out for them.

“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

Gabrielle Hamilton takes readers for a whirl in her stark memoir about a family falling apart. Between death, distance, and wounds “buried” long ago, there’s a lot of family history unpacked. Sparked by her brother’s passing, Hamilton revisits the chaos of her upbringing and the myths that held her family together for so long.

“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

Roman Carruthers is left with the biggest debacle after his father’s car accident. When he rushes to his aid, he finds that his younger brother owes the most dangerous criminals a debt, while his sister is left looking drained after keeping the family and business afloat. They’ve got to work together to make things right, if that’s even possible at this point.

“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

History buffs will enjoy this real story on Theodore Roosevelt’s sons and their 1929 Himalayan expedition. On their quest to prove the existence of the beishung (what is now deemed as a giant panda bear) to the rest of the world.

“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

A woman is caught in a passionate love triangle between two of her close guy friends... but that was in college. It’s now decades later, everyone has moved on (or so we thought), but now the past is coming back to haunt her. This one is a prequel to Writers & Lovers by the same author.

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

Catherine Chidgey creates a universe in which World War II ended a little differently. In this story, darker forces rule the land. In rural Hampshire, 13-year-old triplets Vincent, Lawrence, and William are the last boys at the Captain Scott Home, taking daily medicine to survive a mysterious illness... but the few who recover are sent to the legendary seaside town of Margate.

“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

Nicholas Boggs writes this memoir on James Baldwin with information given to him by the people who helped shape him. Boggs reports on four of Baldwin's relationships that show him as a softer, romantic man, different than the one the public knew him to be.

“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