One of the most exciting things about the New Year as a reader are the new book releases of that year, and looking forward to making a dent in your ever-growing TBR. Some of these books on my list are new releases, while some have been on my watchlist for far too long and I’m hoping 2025 will be the year I finally read them!

Here we go! In no particular order (except the first one. That’s definitely in order. IFYKYK)…

Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins

What sort of bookworm would I be if this wasn’t on the list. Suzanne Collins announcing this made my YEAR in 2024. I doubt I even need to give a synopsis, but for anyone who has been living under a rock, this follows the story of Haymitch’s games. Haymitch was one of my favourite characters in The Hunger Games (I have to admit, I say that about them all – they’re all my little babies).

The Goldens – Lauren Wilson

This book follows an ordinary young woman who is swept up into the glamorous, sultry, feverish world of a prominent influencer and enigmatic party girl. The toxic friendship blossoms into something more… bordering on a cult. Featuring wild parties, missing girls and an all-female cult, this new release by Lauren Wilson sounds INCREDIBLE and is definitely first up on my 2025 TBR list. 

Heir of Storms – Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Heir of Storms is a new YA fantasy series. Described as a cinematic debut, we follow Blaze as she vies agains other Etheri, masters of elemental powers, to be ruler of a kingdom where crowns are not inherited – they’re won. Give me an epic world, some trials, an unlikely young heroine and a pinch of magic and I’m sold. 

The Legendborn Cycle – Tracy Deonn

It’s bordering on criminal that I, someone who considers herself a YA fantasy lover, hasn’t read this series yet. It needs no introduction. Urban fantasy, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table inspired? Sound familiar? Theres been many a time where I have found myself deliberating on picking it up, but I’ve heard things about cliffhangers and plot twists. I’ve learnt my lesson after previous mid-series cliffhangers, and decided to wait until the third book comes out. Then I can binge them all in one go and avoid the heartache some of my friends have experienced!

Rebel Witch – Kristen Ciccarelli 

If you’ve been even slightly active on book social media the past year, you’ve probably seen the Heartless Hunter / The Crimson Moth hype. It broke my heart when I was declined for an ARC of this YA Fantasy sequel on NetGalley (HarperCollins, if you’re reading this, hit me up). BUT, it just means I have the excitement and the anticipation of waiting for release day to devour this one. 

Great Big Beautiful Life – Emily Henry

This one goes without saying – this is my most anticipated romance read of 2025. I will quite literally read Emily Henry’s shopping list. Two writers, competing for the chance to tell the story of a tragic heiress, former tabloid princess and daughter of one of the most storied and scandalous families of the 20th Century. Emily excels in her books about writers – Exhibit A being my favourite contemporary romance book ever, Beach Read – so I’m unbelievably excited to see where she takes this one. 

Say You’ll Remember Me – Abby Jimenez

Closely following GBBL is this one, Abby Jimenez’s new release. A few of Abby’s books have been hit and miss for me, but recently, she’s been releasing banger after banger, so I have a lot of faith in this one. 

A Study In Drowning – Ava Reid

This one has been on my physical TBR for farrrr too long, and with the announcement of the sequel, A Theory in Dreaming, I think it’s finally time. I still haven’t read any of Ava Reid’s works, despite owning two of her books – A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth (in the stunning FairyLoot edition).

Assassin’s Apprentice – Robin Hobb

I’ve been meaning to start Robin Hobb’s enormous backlist for so long, and 2025 is the year of big, long series’. Think Brandon Sanderson, Pierce Brown etc. I think (from a brief Google search) that the correct place to start with Robin Hobb is with Assassin’s Apprentice, the first book in the Farseer Trilogy, but please correct me in the comments if that’s wrong!

Onyx Storm – Rebecca Yarros

Listen, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Iron Flame (like a lot of us), but I will be continuing just to see where she takes the series and if the issues I had with IF (pacing primarily) are resolved in this third instalment. We pick up where we left off with Iron Flame, with Violet at Basgiath War College, battling tensions with both the Navarrians and the venin outside the wards. 

Red Rising – Pierce Brown

I would love to get more into sci-fi this year, and I’ve heard this is a good entry point. Not too science-heavy. Again, I’m looking to get more out of my comfort zone this year and sci-fi definitely qualifies. I honestly have no idea what this is about, and sometimes I think it’s best to go into them completely blind. 

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride – Roshani Chokshi

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a gothic fairytale-esque story about. We follow the point of view of the unnamed Bridegroom, when he begins to. It seems to have very strong Rebecca vibes, by Daphne du Maurier (which is one of my all-time favourite classics novels – while I’m on the subject, you should definitely read it. It’s one of the most accessible, easy-to-read classics, and has the BEST plot twist I have ever read. I’m not kidding. Read it and thank me later). Unravelling the dark past of his secretive bride Indigo leads the Bridegroom down an irretrievable path, as he discovers the tragic tale of Indigo’s childhood friend Azure. 

Butter – Asako Yuzuki

There are two things I will not tolerate; feminism and margarine. 

Now I don’t know about you, but I’m intrigued. That line hits SO hard. This literary fiction book follows a female chef, convicted of the serial murder of her customers, and the journalist chronicling her life. This premise is so appealing to me, and the themes of diet culture and the treatment of women in Japan really enticed me to put this on my list. 

Boy Parts – Eliza Clark

Again, dappling in a bit of lit fiction. We follow Irina, who takes explicit photographs of men, until events trigger a self-destructive tailspin. Pitched as American Pyscho meets My Year of Rest and Relaxation, this sounds utterly unhinged and I love it. I read She’s Always Hungry by Eliza Clark in 2024, her most recent publication and a collection of short stories and enjoyed every minute of it. This is definitely an author I mean to get to know a bit better, and her second novel, Penance, is also on my radar if I enjoy Boy Parts!

My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante 

I dont know if anyone else saw that NYT ‘Best Books of the 20th Century (So Far)’ article, but, spoiler alert! This won. Of course, that had me intrigued and I immediately went out and bought it. Proclaimed a modern masterpiece, the story centres around two friends, Elena and Lila in Italy. I haven’t read of Ferrante’s work yet, and I’m so excited to delve into this one. 

The Vegetarian – Han Kang

This won the Noble Prize for Literature, and, what can I say, I’m intrigued! Yeong-hye was a perfect Korean wife, until she stopped eating meat. From there, her sanity declines in an intricate study of one woman’s mind and the impact it has on those around her – her husband, her sister, her brother-in-law. I also got an ARC of Han Kang’s next novel, We Do Not Part, which is wildly exciting, but my plan is to start with The Vegetarian.

Orbital – Samantha Harvey

That brings me neatly onto my next read. Orbital won the Booker Prize 2024 and again, I’m intrigued. this is a relatively simplistic novel, coming in at only 150 pages, about the lives of six astronauts living on a satellite orbiting Earth. Tackling some vast themes, such as the astronauts hopes and fears and dreams, and the meaning of human life in all its enormity, it’s easy to understand why this won – at least by it’s premise. My curiosity is whether it will live up to and earn that award. I very much hope so.

Creation Lake – Rachel Kushner

As I understand it, this is a thriller with a touch of literary fiction. Our protagonist infiltrates a cult-like settlement. You might notice there are not a ton of thrillers on this list – they’re definitely something I’m trying to get into, but sometimes I find them a bit predicable. Hopefully this will land for me with the added bonus of some lit fic in there! The blurb sounds amazing. 

Silvercloak – L.K. Steven

Now, this one is a slight cheat because I have already read it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC (a true pinch-me moment), but I will definitely be rereading this when it releases this autumn. Set in a darkly corrupt world, where magic is fuelled by pleasure and pain, we follow Saffron, an elite Silvercloak, who goes undercover to infiltrate the Bloodmoon gang. Having had the privilege of reading this early, I can safely say this needs to be on EVERY fantasy-lover’s radar for 2025. 

Our Infinite Fates – Laura Steven

This is another of Steven’s 2025 releases – this time under her YA pen name Laura Steven. Again, I was fortunate enough to be approved for an ARC. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Exile, we follow Evelyn and Arden, two immortals doomed to love one another and kill one another in every lifetime. Their relationship transcends time, gender, social norms, and it is written so achingly beautifully, I need to beg everyone to read this. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (although privately I thought it was wayyyy better – shushhh don’t tell) meets Divine Rivals. I cant wait for this to release so everyone else can bask in Laura’s visceral and heartbreaking writing. 

Immortal Dark – Tigest Girma

Would I really be me if I didn’t include a YA fantasy with vampires in every single list. I think not. On paper, this doesn’t seem to be anything groundbreaking, but I’m hopeful for a good ole fashioned good time. with the added bonus of dark academia, the plot involves a lost heiress infiltrating an arcane society of vampires that may or may not have kidnapped her sister, all while dealing with her growing attraction to a hot vampire. I’m sold. (Can you tell I never grew out of Twilight? Sue me.)

The Will of the Many – James Islington

The Will of the Many went a bit viral last year, and it’s been on my list for ages, but I recently watched a Best Books of 2024 video by @newlynovabooks, my fave and trusted BookTuber, and it finally gave me the push I needed. Set in a world reminiscent of the Roman Empire (already I’m hooked), we follow Vis, an orphaned teenager, who has been accepted into a prestigious school. While at the Academy, Vis is tasked with finding an ancient weapon which has the power to destroy the corrupt system. One thing about me is I `*will* gobble up an elite academy setting every. Single. Time. 

Blood Over Bright Haven – M.L. Wang

Another one that went slightly viral last year (or maybe it’s just the side of Instagram I’m on – aka very heavily bookish). Sciona, the main character, is fiercely ambitious and driven, determined to do the impossible; make it into the High Magistracy. When she is admitted, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Together with her assistant Thomil, who hides a past of his own, Sciona discovers secrets that endanger everyone and their way of life. This is a standalone dark academia.

The Jasad Heir – Sara Hashem

This has also been on my radar for far too long (take a shot every time I’ve said that throughout this review and by goodness, you’d be hammered. Don’t worry, we’re coming to the end though). In typical YA fantasy romance fashion, we follow Sylvia, an exiled princess of the extinct kingdom of Jasad, which is currently under the tyrannical and corrupt reign of Nizahl. When one careless mistake lands Sylvia in the path of the Crown Prince of Nizahl, Arin. Therein ensues a series of deadly trials designed to seed out the King’s Champions. The kingdom is inspired by Egypt and I’ve never read any fantasy with Egyptian lore and culture somewhat incorporated, so I’m excited to see that.

Heavenly Bodies – Imani Erriu

I love a good romantasy as much as the next gal, and let me tell you, this one looks INCREDIBLE. I’ve heard only good things about it. When Elara is forced to flee her kingdom, into the arms of enemy in the neighbouring country, she has to learn more about her own magic, the country she is seeking refuge in and the enemy prince training her into a deadly weapon. I mean… hell yeah.

Phew! After all that, I’d better get reading! But what a year for reading 2025 is shaping up to be. My highlights are definitely Silvercloak, Great Big Beautiful Life and of course Sunrise on the Reaping. If someone had told me we’d be getting a new Suzanne Collins novel in 2025, I would’ve laughed in your face. What books are on your radar this year? Let me know in the comments, and if you’ll also be reading any of mine. Happy reading!