The New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2025 List is Out!

There are some major end of year lists that I am always excited to see. And now, one of those lists is officially out. Keep reading to find out which books made the the New York Public Library’s best books of 2025 list!

Libraries are an essential part of every city and help provide free books and other materials for millions of people every year. They also provide a place for children and adults to hang out and interact with other people.

Millions of books are checked out from just the New York Public Libraries every year. So they know what everyone is reading and are often recommending what to read.

The librarians at the New York Public Library go through all the new releases and curate this list of the best books of 2025. With so many new books being released every year, this is not n easy task and I am very thankful for their hard work. You can see all of their picks below!

The Best Books for Adults

• The Afterlife of Malcolm X by Mark Whitaker
• The Appalachian Sea by Steve Scafidi
• The Art Spy by Michelle Young
• Audition by Katie Kitamura
• The Beast in the Clouds by Nathalia Holt
• Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore
• Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
• The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien
• The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
• The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson

The Best Books for Teens

• Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming
• Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young
• Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America (A Love Story) by Deborah Heiligman
• One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller
• Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
• The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker
• Spacewalking with You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda
• This Moth Saw Brightness by A. A. Vacharat
• When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur
• White Lies by Ann Bausum

The Best Books for Children

• Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi; illus. by Aaliya Jaleel
• The Black Mambas by Kelly Crull
• Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros
• Faith Takes the Train by Kesi Augustine; illus. by Mokshini
• The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi; illus. by Monica Arnaldo
• I Want You to Know by Mona Damluji; illus. by Ishtar Bäcklund Dakhil
• Ratnip: Lost and Found in the City by Cam Higgins; illus. by Allison Steinfeld
• Return to Sender by Vera Brosgol
• Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn
• The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

The Best Books for Children in Spanish

• Angélica y la güira por Angie Cruz; ilustrado por Luz Batista; traducido por Kianny N. Antigua
• Buscando a Ahmed por Jesús Ballaz; ilustrado por Ed Oner
• La Charla por Alicia Williams; ilustrado por Briana Mukodiri Uchendu; traducido por Alison Ridley
• Cosas pequeñas y extraordinarias por Daniela Arroio, Micaela Gramajo y Nono Pautasso
• Instante por Roger Ycaza
• ¡Es mío! por Klara Persson; ilustrado por Charlotte Ramel; traducido por Amanda Eda Monjonell Mansten
• El mejor mal día de mi vida por Marianna Coppo; traducido por Laura Lecuona
• Ochún y yo por Adiba Nelson; ilustrado por Alleanna Harris; traducido por Issa M. Mas
• Tíos y primos por Jacqueline Alcántara; traducido por Yanitzia Canetti
• Los viernes comemos churros por Jenny Alvarado; traducido por Ana Izquierdo

These are the books chosen by the New York Public Library as the best books of 2025! The list includes a variety of books and for all ages. You don’t see many lists include Spanish books and I do applaud them for going beyond and adding a section of books just in Spanish.

2025 has been a great year for new books and I know I will be going through this list and many other lists in the coming months. How many of these books have you read or plan to read? Let us know in the comments below. Happy reading!

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