The arrival of summer has publications releasing their picks for the best books of the first half of 2025 left and right. This time, we have TIME’s picks of the best books of 2025 so far. Keep reading to find out what books made their list!
We are seeing many lists being released this week and I am all for it. The more book recommendations, the better. TIME has been consistent with their lists over the years and I have come to respect their editorial board.
Their list is a solid one and has some amazing books that I know I will be reading or hearing about for years to come. Once again, this list doesn’t have many books in common with Amazon or Esquire’s list.
Coincidently enough, all lists have The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong on their list and this may be the book of the summer and of the year. That is very impressive considering that this list has only two books on each of those lists and that is including The Emperor of Gladness. You can see the full list below!
TIME’s Best Books of 2025 So Far
- The Antidote by Karen Russell
- Audition by Katie Kitamura
- The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
- Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant
- Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
- Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
- My Documents by Kevin Nguyen
- O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy
- One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
- Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
- Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
- The Tell by Amy Griffin
- Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li
- Tilt by Emma Pattee
Conclusion
I do like TIME’s list and think that they did a great job picking the best books of 2025 so far. These lists make me want to read all the new books released this year and I will definitely be reading many of these books in the coming months.
What books on this list have you read or are excited to read? Let us know in the comments below. Happy reading!
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