2024 was a great year for books, but the publishing industry never stops, promising exciting new titles in 2025.
Last year’s releases included Sally Rooney’s fourth and most mature novel Intermezzo, Sloane Crosley’s influential memoir Grief is for People, and Such a Fun Age author Kiley Reid’s second novel Come and Get It. Likewise, 2025 is shaping up to be a wonderful year for book lovers. From fantasy to non-fiction, the following titles promise to leave a lasting impression.
Dream Count (Mar. 4)
From the bestselling author of Americanah (2013) and We Should all Be Feminists (2014), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Dream Count promises a startling portrait of four women whose lives are shaped by love and sacrifice.
The novel introduces Chiamaka, a Nigerian writer living in America during the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling with her past choices; Zikora, a successful lawyer who unexpectedly finds herself a single mother; Omelogor, who lives in Nigeria and researches pornography for her thesis while questioning her identity; and Chiamaka’s housekeeper, Kadiatou, who faces hardship while raising her daughter.
Inspired by a true story, Dream Count tackles sexual assault, COVID-19, depression, and teenage self-esteem. Though the novel takes place worldwide, Adichie considers Dream Count “quintessentially African at heart.” Grappling with questions of life, and meaning, Adichie’s first novel in 11 years promises to be one of the most exciting releases of 2025.
Sunrise on the Reaping (Mar. 18)
In her fifth book set in the world of Panem, Suzanne Collin’s upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping follows Haymitch Abernathy, the memorable mentor figure from The Hunger Games trilogy.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 15 years, The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian future where an oppressive ruling class forces teenage children to fight to the death in an arena. With relatable characters and increasingly relevant class commentary, the trilogy was an international sensation, publishing over 100 million copies globally.
Sunrise on the Reaping takes place on the 50th anniversary of the annual Hunger Games, where double the number of tributes were selected to commemorate the occasion. Haymitch is selected to represent District 12, alongside three other tributes.
A complex and often unlikable character, Haymitch’s story promises to engage readers from start to finish.
If Collins’ most recent work, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020) is any indication of her ability to craft compelling narratives and expand on existing worlds, readers are in for a treat this year.
Everything Is Tuberculosis (Mar. 18)
John Green’s Everything Is Tuberculosis dives into the history of tuberculosis (TB) and its interaction with humankind. TB was once seen as a romantic “malady of poets” and is now associated with poverty and injustice. In 2024, TB was the most deadly disease worldwide.
By examining the scientific and social evolution of tuberculosis, Green begs the question of how the disease has shaped our world, and how, in turn, the disease has shaped us.
Green is the bestselling author of Looking for Alaska (2005), Paper Towns (2008), The Fault in Our Stars (2012), Turtles All the Way Down (2017), and more. Green departed from young adult fiction in 2021 with his moving essay collection The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.
During his visit to the Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, Green was confronted with the reality of TB and the conditions in underfunded hospitals. Green hopes his book will spread awareness about worldwide healthcare inequalities and help mitigate the damage brought by the disease.
My Name Is Emilia del Valle (May 6)
In another spellbinding historical novel by Isabel Allende, My Name Is Emilia del Valle follows Emilia through her life, culminating in her coverage of a brewing civil war in Chile. Born in 1866 in San Francisco to an estranged Irish nun, and a Chilean aristocrat, raised by her stepfather, Emilia grows to be independent, and self-sufficient. At the age of 17, the protagonist defines societal norms by following her passion for writing, beginning in pulp fiction.
Later, Emilia pursues a career in journalism at The Daily Examiner and is partnered with the talented Eric Whelan. At the Examiner, Emilia and Eric are assigned to cover the political unrest in Chile. During her time abroad, Emilia meets her estranged father and reconnects to her home country, while she and Eric fall in love.
As the war escalates, Emilia finds herself in danger, and her fear for her life entangles with questions of identity and destiny.
From the incredibly talented author of A Long Petal of the Sea (2019) and The Wind Knows My Name (2023), Allende’s 22nd book promises an incredible portrait of womanhood and identity.
Katabasis (Aug. 26)
R. F. Kuang’s Katabasis follows two academic rivals from Cambridge, who must travel to Hell to save the soul of their research advisor.
Bestselling author and Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominee, R. F. Kuang is one of the most talented writers of this generation. Though no more information on the plot of Katabasis has been released, Kuang’s previous dark academia novel Babel (2022) received copious praise, heralded as “a masterpiece” by award-winning author Rebecca Roanhorse.
A prolific scholar, Kuang frequently incorporates her research into her work, seen in Babel (2022), which explores the role of linguistic studies at Oxford University in English colonialism. Kuang is also the author of the esteemed Poppy War (2018) trilogy and Yellowface (2023).
Katabasis is the ancient Greek word for a descent in search of understanding and is sure to be a fascinating combination of academia and adventure.
Tags
2025, book recommendations, books, Literature, new books
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.