40 Must-Read Page-Turners to Dive Into in 2025

From eagerly awaited literary debuts to the comeback of major figures such as Stephen King and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, there’s an abundance to contribute to your TBR stack this year.

This year promises to be wonderful for uncovering new talent, showcasing a range of gripping debut novels on the way. Arriving early this year is Catherine Airey’s Confessions, which narrates the story of three generations of women between Ireland and New York – featuring a teenager who becomes an orphan due to the 9/11 attacks. It is both personal and ambitious, addressing themes such as sexual violence, abortion, and the immigrant journey. Airey left her employment in London and relocated to West Cork – the hometown of her grandmother – to compose this book. This isn’t the only remarkable debut emerging from Ireland this year. The golden era of Irish literature is evolving into a gold rush, as many of the most compelling debuts this year originate from the Emerald Isle.

Garrett Carr’s The Boy from the Sea commences with the discovery of an abandoned baby boy on the beach of an Irish seaside town in the 1970s, who is taken in by a local fisherman. It is a significant narrative about a small community, recounted in the collective voice of the town. Meanwhile, the award-winning Irish poet Seán Hewitt’s debut novel Open, Heaven narrates the thrill and turmoil of first love, set in the rural north of England, having already garnered praise from authors such as Anne Enright, Kaveh Akbar, and Helen MacDonald.

Based in Belfast, Wendy Erskine has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to find depth in the mundane through her two collections of short stories. Her first novel, The Benefactors (June), explores the lives of three women whose paths intersect when their 18-year-old sons face accusations of sexual assault, and they utilize every privilege available to them to shield them. Additionally, moving from celebrated short story writer to novelist is Roisin O’Donnell, whose debut Nesting (January) depicts a young mother attempting to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive relationship. Other noteworthy debuts to watch for include Lorraine Hegarty’s Fair Play – which subverts the murder mystery trope – and Elaine Garvey’s The Wardrobe Department, a coming-of-age narrative about a young Irish woman employed in a London theatre.

Florence Knapp’s debut novel The Names (May) sparked a wild bidding war across both the Atlantic. This sliding doors tale follows three iterations of a life, each influenced by the name a mother gives her son – exploring how a singular choice can produce monumental ripple effects. The Lamb by Lucy Rose (January) presents something darker – a merging of folk-horror and coming-of-age themes.age narrative concerning a girl dwelling in the forest alongside her flesh-eating mother. In the meantime, Adam Kay – whose memoir detailing his tenure as a junior doctor, This is Going to Hurt, has sold over a million copies and led to a television adaptation featuring Ben Whishaw – remains within the medical sphere for his inaugural novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, set for release this autumn.

A great deal has transpired since Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie released her previous novel, Americanah, over ten years ago – inclusive of the author being sampled in Beyoncé’s track Flawless. Her eagerly awaited return to fiction this March is bound to be one of the year’s publishing highlights, with Dream Count delving into the experiences of four Nigerian women during the pandemic.

Taylor Jenkins Reid – the creator of the bestselling Daisy Jones and The Six – enjoys revisiting past decades in her writings, and her upcoming novel, Atmosphere, set to be released in June, is centered around the 1980s Space Shuttle initiative. It’s likely to be enjoyed by many on sunny getaways this summer. Likewise, the newest release from Emily Henry, known for romance novels that have sold beyond 10 million copies, will also be a highlight. Her latest work, Great Big Beautiful Life, is set to launch in April.

Stephen King notoriously writes every day, and it undeniably pays off – he has produced more than 70 books. His newest work, Never Flinch, set for May, is a crime thriller featuring his regular character Holly Gibney. Another highly productive author, Anne Tyler, is set to unveil her 25th novel in February. Three Days in June chronicles one woman’s journey during her daughter’s wedding weekend. Richard Osman is also rapidly building an impressive portfolio – this autumn he will release the fifth (within five years) addition to his Thursday Murder Club series.

This year promises fresh titles from various authors who have left an impactful mark with their previous works. Those optimistic about replicating their success include Natasha Brown, whose debut Assembly was a standout on numerous best-of-year lists in 2021. Her upcoming second book, Universality (March), examining the repercussions of a journalist’s viral narrative, appears poised to receive similar acclaim. Also releasing that month is Torrey Peters’ Stag Dance, the sequel to Detransition, Baby – which clinched the 2021 PEN/Hemingway award for debut fiction. Her forthcoming book investigates trans lives across time in four interconnected narratives.

Ocean Vuong‘s initial offering, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous from 2019 was a major success with critics and on TikTok. He will return this spring with The Emperor of Gladness (May), narrating an unexpected friendship between a young man of 19 and an elderly widow.

This summer sees another sequel to Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting series. While 2001’s Porno followed Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie a decade after the first book, and 2018’s Dead Men’s Trousers captured the subsequent period (with a prequel, Skagboys, published in 2012), Men In Love goes back in time to recount events immediately following the conclusion of 1993’s cult classic. The boys strive to abandon drugs and pursue romance instead. However, do not expect a heartwarming love tale from Welsh. Speaking of sequels, Glyph, the sister novel to Ali Smith‘s dystopian 2024 narrative Gliff, will release in the autumn.

A fresh title from Curtis Sittenfeld, writer of American Wife, Prep, and Romantic Comedy, is always a highly anticipated occasion, and this year she will delight us with a new anthology of short stories titled Show Don’t Tell (February).

Even though it’s the beginning of the year, numerous 2025 publications are already making waves in literary communities. In February, Eimear McBride, known for her daring first novel A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing which garnered accolades including The Women’s Prize for Fiction, presents her fourth novel. The City Changes Its Face narrates a passionate romance set in 1990s London. Another esteemed Irish author, Colum McCann, releases a new work in March. Twist involves a reporter tasked with investigating a network of cables beneath the ocean.

David Szalay‘s Flesh (March) traces the life of a teenage boy over several decades, from his childhood in communist Hungary to achieving great wealth in London. It’s already receiving accolades as a masterpiece, garnering early commendations from writers such as Samantha Harvey, Rachel Kushner, and David Nicholls.

Katie Kitamura is admired by Barack Obama and has quietly established herself as one of America’s finest contemporary authors. In April, she will release her highly regarded previous work Intimacies with Audition, which tells the story of a theater actress whose life is disrupted after a lunch meeting with a younger man.

In May, anticipate Eric Puchner’s Dream State, a stunning, captivating epic detailing 50 years of transformation in relationships, families, and the environment. It’s being hailed by some as the next monumental American novel. Also releasing in May is the latest offering from Edward St Aubyn, the creator of the Patrick Melrose series. He returns with Parallel Lines, a narrative involving several distinct characters whose lives intersect.

In recent times, there has been a movement of writers reinterpreting classic works, such as Percival Everett’s James and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. In The Housekeeper, launching in the fall, Rose Tremain delves into the inspiration behind Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. A film adaptation, featuring Uma Thurman and Anthony Hopkins, is already in development.

Additionally, set for release in the autumn, Damian Barr’s The Two Roberts is a fictional narrative inspired by the enduring romance of two real-life Scottish artists, Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde, whose peers included Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon.

The year begins with a notable release: the memoir of a sitting pope. Hope: The Autobiography of Pope Francis, released worldwide this month, has taken six years to compose, and the Pope, now 88, describes it as “the tale of a journey of hope”.

While the pope’s autobiography may lack juicy gossip, two additional titles are expected to deliver plenty. In March, former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter unveils When the Going Was Good, where he reminisces about life during the glamorous heyday of magazines. Expect numerous name drops. Another legendary figure from New York – though originally from the UK – is restaurateur Keith McNally, who transformed the Manhattan culinary scene with iconic establishments like The Odeon, Minetta Tavern, and Balthazar. He has also experienced a rather remarkable life, from his time as a child actor to facing devastating challenges.
“`stroke a couple of years prior. McNally isn’t hesitant to share his views on social platforms, so let’s anticipate he will be equally outspoken in his book as well. It has a promising title I Regret Everything, set to be released in May.

This year also marks the release of memoirs from both Bill and Melinda Gates. In The Next Day (April), Melinda Gates shares insights on how she handled some of the most significant transformations in her life, whereas in Source Code (Feb), her former spouse reflects on his early years, recounting his initial passion for computers and the circumstances leading up to his substantial achievements.

Although it may appear that there’s little left to explore regarding The Beatles, Ian Leslie’s John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs (March) promises an engaging and thorough examination of the Lennon/McCartney narrative, narrated through 23 of their songs.

With a title inspired by a legendary Fab Four tune, September will witness Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy releasing her inaugural memoir, Mother Mary Comes To Me, which will delve into her intricate relationship with her deceased mother. Fall will also bring a slew of high-profile celebrity memoirs, featuring works from Sylvester Stallone, Lionel Richie, and the continuation of Cher’s life story.

In stark contrast to the entertainment industry, this year unveils a brave work from the late Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina. Amelina transitioned from novelist to war correspondent when Russia attacked her homeland in 2022. Sadly, she lost her life due to a missile strike in July 2023, at the age of 37; however, her photographs, diaries, and discussions with women affected by the conflict have been compiled in Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary (February), which includes a foreword by Margaret Atwood.