Every year, NPR releases an extensive list of their favorite books of the year. But on top of that, they also release a list of their favorite books chosen by their staff that isn’t as big or overwhelming. Keep reading to discover NPR’s favorite books of 2025!
I love NPR’s annual end of year lists and take their picks very seriously. This year has been hectic for NPR but that hasn’t stopped them from keeping us updated with some of the best books of the year and then some. They released a list of over 380 books that they loved and let’s be honest, nobody is doing that.
What I learned this is year that we need to stop taking NPR for granted. All the hard work they do for authors, publications, and readers is not a given. So, thank you to all the people working at NPR and I hope they are always there reading all the new books so they can tell us which ones are worth reading. You can see the full list below!
NPR’s Favorite Books of 2025!
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
- The South by Tash Aw
- Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
I love this list by NPR and there is a good mix of popular books as well as hidden gems. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the biggest novels of 2025 and I do like seeing it getting some love. Many popular novels tend to be overlooked or ignored for being too mainstream.
Joan Goodwin is happy with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy. But that all changes when she sees an advertisement looking for the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program.
Now, she is determined to go to space and is selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in 1980. Joan meets other candidates and learns all there is to being an astronaut. As she plans for her first flight, she discovers new truths about her and the world.
Things take a sudden turn in December of 1984. And it is up to Joan to showcase her abilities and why she became an astronaut.
Sunrise in the Reaping
One of the biggest novels of 2025 has to be Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games prequel. I loved the original series and I am happy that even over a decade later, the series is still going strong. That goes to show you that The Hunger Games was a well-written series and not just part of the hype.
As the fiftieth annual Hunger Games approaches, Panem is taken over by fear. They have to send twice as many tributes to honor the Quarter Quell. Haymitch Abernathy from District 12 wants the day to end and go back to his old life. But his name is called and he’s forced to participate in the hunger games.
When the games start, he soon realizes that he has been set up to fail. But he has something to live for won’t be going down without a fight. A fight that will have consequences far and wide.
Wild Dark Shore
I recently read Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy from this list and it was an amazing book. If you haven’t read it, then you have to very soon. It is easily one of my favorite books of 2025.
Rowan washes ashore on an island that is occupied by four people. Dominic Salt and his three children. Dominic and his family tend to Rowan’s wounds but don’t know what to make of her. Neither party full trusts each other and as they spend more time together, they realize that secrets hang in the air between them.
Why did Rowan wash ashore to this remote island and what is her goal. On the other end, Rowan can feel that something is wrong. Why isn’t there anyone else on the island?
But as they live together, they can’t help but feel like one big family. But the secrets between them may tear them apart before they are able to leave the island.
These are NPR’s best books of 2025 and it is a great list. If you haven’t read any books released in 2025, then this list a great place to start. I know I will be reading most of these novels if not all in the coming weeks.
NPR is one of my favorite publications and I always trust their book recommendations. They have a team that loves books and loves to read. And they are always on top of every new release. What books are you excited to read from this list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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