Books to Love from 2024, and Those to Watch in 2025

For readers out there, the end of the year and the start of another is a great time to think about books. It’s always great to hear about books that people loved in the past year – and to look ahead to new releases coming out for the year ahead. So without further adieu…

The Brooklyn Public Library has put out a list of the most popular adult books read in 2024.

1. “Happy Place” by Emily Henry – A broken-up couple maintains the facade of their relationship during a Maine vacation with friends.
2. “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin – Two lifelong friends navigate their complex relationship through the lens of video game development.
3. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros – A young woman abandons her quiet life to train as a dragon rider in this TikTok sensation.
4. “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears – The pop star reveals her personal journey through fame, her controversial conservatorship, and eventual freedom.
5. “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy – A former child star confronts her challenging relationship with her mother, fame, and personal struggles.
6. “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus – A female chemist becomes a cooking show host, teaching women science through the medium of cooking.
7. “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang – A white author steals a manuscript and assumes a false racial identity after her own literary failures.
8. “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett – A mother shares a story from her past with her daughters, leading them to reevaluate their family history.
9. “Pineapple Street” by Jenny Jackson – Three women from a wealthy Brooklyn Heights family grapple with privilege and relationships.
10. “The Guest” by Emma Cline – A woman decides to stay on Long Island instead of returning to New York City, manipulating others to survive.

And here is a list of 10 books to watch for in 2025, as presented by Bookbub.

1. “The Stolen Queen” by Fiona Davis follows an anthropologist and fashion professional as they investigate a missing Egyptian artifact from the Met in 1978 while confronting secrets from a 1936 dig.
2. “Homeseeking” by Karissa Chen tells the story of two lovers reuniting in Los Angeles after 60 years, weaving through their past in Shanghai and exploring themes of war, displacement, and finding home.
3. “The Life of Herod the Great” by Zora Neale Hurston is a newly discovered, unfinished novel from the 1950s that reimagines the life of the Judean king.
4. “More or Less Maddy” by Lisa Genova chronicles a young woman’s journey with bipolar disorder as she pursues stand-up comedy after her diagnosis during freshman year at NYU.
5. “We Do Not Part” by Han Kang follows Kyungha’s mysterious journey through a snowstorm on Jeju Island to save her friend’s pet bird.
6. “Good Dirt” by Charmaine Wilkerson explores a Black woman’s quest to understand the connection between her brother’s childhood death and a family heirloom.
7. “We All Live Here” by Jojo Moyes tells the story of Lila Kennedy, whose chaotic life takes an unexpected turn when her long-absent father returns.
8. “Every Tom, Dick & Harry” by Elinor Lipman follows Emma as she inherits her parents’ estate-sale business and navigates romance, matchmaking, and mysterious dealings.
9. “Three Days in June” by Anne Tyler weaves a tale of socially awkward Gail Baines facing multiple crises, including her daughter’s wedding drama and an ex-husband’s unexpected return.
10. “Show Don’t Tell” by Curtis Sittenfeld presents a collection of stories about characters confronting pivotal moments in their lives.