My Most Anticipated Reads of 2025

Please note, these aren't necessarily books that came/come out in this year, only ones I want to read this year. They aren't in any specific order with the exception of the three unreleased books which are at the end and in order of their release dates.

1.     Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland

This is the sequel to my favorite book of 2024, Five Broken Blades. This series follows a group of characters from different backgrounds (a banished prince, a spymaster, a poison maiden, a mercenary, a thief, and a count’s son) on an impossible heist to take down a god-king. After the ending of the first book tensions between the group are sure to be higher than ever on this next impossible heist.

 

2.     The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

This book is a standalone fantasy set in a world where every five years two kingdoms take place in the Wild Hunt. It’s dangerous but comes with a life changing prize. This novel follows Branwen (who can see and slay monsters), Gwydion (who can control plants), and Pryder (prince-born and monster-raised). Lloyd-Jones has both impressed and disappointed me prior, but I am obsessed with magical, enchanted forests so the setting roped me in. I’m interested to see how the characters’s backgrounds and talents aid them in the hunt.

 

3.     You’ve Been Summoned by Lindsay Lamar

This book is about a group of twentysomethings who meet for an overnight costume party. Of course, someone winds up dead. This is an interactive book that casts the reader in the role of the detective. I haven’t read any form of interactive book since my Give Yourself Goosebumps days. I’m surprised I’ve never encountered anything like this before, as it seems like a perfect gimmick for a mystery novel. I’m not sure how the interactive aspect works, but I’m intrigued.

 

4.     We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

This is by the author of the Thursday Murder Club books but this is not a part of that series. It follows Steve Wheeler and his daughter-in-law Amy. According to Goodreads, it’s the first book in a new series following an iconic new detective duo. I will miss the gang from the Thursday Murder Club books, but I look forward to seeing what Steve and Amy have to offer. The combo of a father and daughter-in-law is one I haven’t seen before, too.

 

5.     Somewhere Beyond the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune

This is a sequel to one of my favorite books of all time, The House in the Cerulean Sea. That book didn’t necessarily NEED a sequel, but I’m certainly not complaining that it got one. It’s about Arthur and Linus who are raising six magical children. This book deals with Arthur’s past and introduces a new magical child. Klune has yet to disappoint me with one of his books – they always strike a chord in my heart.

 

6.     When Haru was Here by Dustin Thao

Have I owned this book for months and still not picked it up yet still put it on this list? Maybe…in my defense, Thao himself said it’s sadder than his debut and that must mean it’s going to WRECK me emotionally. It’s about Eric Ly whose best friend died. Then he meets Haru Tanaka in a coffee shop, only no one else can see Haru. I tend to gravitate towards books about grief ever since my grandma died. Society has this allergy to talking openly about grief so books like this are where I go to remind myself that we are all united in this pain at one point in our lives but that there is healing after.  

7.     The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Shaffer last year at a book signing after reading her other book, The Lost Story (which was my second favorite book of 2024). She was so kind and funny! She's also a very talented writer. The Lost Story was a super emotional read. As someone who hopes to be a mom one day and wants to adopt, I already know this book is going to touch me, as it's about a teacher's aide who wants to adopt a young student who was orphaned.

 

8.     Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Out 1/21/25)

This is the third book in The Empyrean series (the first two were Fourth Wing and Iron Flame). I put off reading this series for a long while because I used to be a fantasy romance snob (no, I’m still not going to call it romantasy). I’m so happy I ended up giving it a chance because I got swept away in the characters, the world, and the plot. I’m sure most people know what the series is about, but it follows Violet Sorrengail as she attends a war college and becomes a dragon rider. The cliffhanger at the end of Iron Flame broke me and I’m anxiously anticipating seeing what happens next.

 

9.     Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) (Out 4/1/25)

This is the companion sequel to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I love a good cozy mystery and the first Vera Wong book was one of my top books of 2023. I hope we see the return of some of the other characters from the original book as the found family part was what really made me love the book. This time Vera doesn’t find a dead body in her tea shop but goes activity looking for a mystery to solve which is VERY Vera. My best friend got an advanced reader copy and gave the book five stars which only makes me even more excited to read it!

10. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gilig (Out 5/20/25)

Gilig is my favorite fantasy author for her world building and prose. She could write pretty much anything and I’ll preorder it. This book comes out a literal MONTH before my birthday yet I want it so badly in my hands that I spent my own money for it to show up on my doorstep in May. This book is about a Diviner named Sybil who receives visions from unearthly figures known as Omens. Her love interest is a knight named Rodrick who, though he doesn’t respect her visions, will help her locate her missing sister Diviners. It sounds like this is going to be an enemies to lovers story.