Jodi Picoult, Kennedy Ryan and More Bestselling Authors Share Their Most-Anticipated 2025 Books (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Bestselling authors' most-anticipated books of 2025.

Walking into a bookstore or perusing your preferred online retailer can be intimidating. So many books, so little shelf space! As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to share that a slew of your favorite authors and some newcomers who will quickly find a way into your heart are coming out with page-turners in every genre.We’ve also got good news for your book-buying habit: Preordering books helps signal to bestseller lists, award committees and publishers that a book is in demand. That means when you click that preorder button, you’re not just planning a surprise for future you — you’re also helping the author succeed. That’s what we call a win-win.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Nobody knows books like the people who write them. That’s why we asked a slew of bestselling authors to share what they’re most excited to read in the new year. From literary fiction to thrillers to romance and everything in between, here are the best and most-anticipated books coming out in 2025.

Walking into a bookstore or perusing your preferred online retailer can be intimidating. So many books, so little shelf space! As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to share that a slew of your favorite authors and some newcomers who will quickly find a way into your heart are coming out with page-turners in every genre.

We’ve also got good news for your book-buying habit: Preordering books helps signal to bestseller lists, award committees and publishers that a book is in demand. That means when you click that preorder button, you’re not just planning a surprise for future you — you’re also helping the author succeed. That’s what we call a win-win.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Nobody knows books like the people who write them. That’s why we asked a slew of bestselling authors to share what they’re most excited to read in the new year. From literary fiction to thrillers to romance and everything in between, here are the best and most-anticipated books coming out in 2025.

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I adore all of Jasmine Guillory’s work, butFlirting Lessonsis my new favorite. This lusty, queer romance features Avery, an uptight almost-30-year-old with scant dating experience who gets “flirting lessons” from Taylor, Napa Valley’s hottest heartbreaker. Sparks fly, and the pages sizzle!

I tore through this delicious, will-they-or-won’t-they romance in a single weekend. If you love heartwarming, sexy reads filled with relatable, loveable characters,Flirting Lessonswill grab you, instantly.—Tia Williams, author ofA Love Song for Ricki WildeandAudre & Bash Are Just Friends

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This cleverly constructed feminist retelling ofThe Shiningis everything a winter read should be: addictive, chilling, tense and so twisty. In it, a rural motel’s off-season caretaker finds herself stranded during a blizzard — alone except for the dead body she spots poking out of a snowbank. If you enjoy dark, surprising thrillers about women on the edge,The Last Room on the Leftis about to become your new favorite read.— Andrea Bartz, author ofWe Were Never HereandThe Last Ferry Out

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This should be your first read of 2025 after the holidays — don’t miss it! Welcome to the wedding of the year, where old betrayals and long-held secrets mean everyone has something to hide. When a high-profile guest goes missing, toxic family dynamics explode in a wickedly good tale. And the ending is chef’s kiss.—Kimberly Belle, author ofThe Paris WidowandThe Expat Affair

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Kudos to Christopher Murray for shining a spotlight on Jessie Redmon Fauset, a literary icon during the Harlem Renaissance who faded into obscurity — until now. A stunning portrait of a complicated woman who discovered promising young authors like Langston Hughes and Nella Larsen and had a passionate, long-term affair with W. E. B. Du Bois, this page-turner will keep you reading late into the night.— Fiona Davis, author ofThe Stolen Queen

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InThe Matchmaker, Aisha Saeed sweeps readers into the opulent, cutthroat world of high-society matchmaking, where lavish weddings and cultural traditions sparkle — until sabotage and danger threaten everything. I was spellbound, and on the edge of my seat as I raced to the finish. A mesmerizing page-turner you won’t want to miss!— Liv Constantine, author ofThe Next Mrs. Parrish, andDon’t Open Your Eyes

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But Nikki will find that this story has real-life consequences that have yet to be resolved. This tale also offers richly textured descriptions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, moving stories of loyalty, and a rather complicated romance.—Charmaine Wilkerson, author ofBlack Cakeand the forthcomingGood Dirt

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It’s also about remembering people and places, what we owe each other, and so much more, all rendered in gorgeous, patient prose. I’ll be recommending this book far and wide when it publishes in May.— Rachel Khong, author ofReal Americans

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I couldn’t putGold Coast Dilemmadown — it’sCrazy Rich Asiansmeets Ghanaian high society, packed with breathtaking traditions, scandalous secrets and unapologetic opulence. Nana Malone has been a favorite of mine for years, and this new book weaves a story so vivid and glamorous, it feels like you’re right there in the heart of it all!— Kennedy Ryan, author ofReelandCan’t Get Enough

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People of Meansleft me breathless! A beautifully crafted story rife with struggle, intrigue and the sheer determination to achieve and hold on to the American dream with pose and dignity. Nancy Johnson has a knack for layering the complexities of class and culture while shining a light on a little piece of history with sound details, vivid imagery and the indomitable spirit of women strong enough to answer a higher calling, even when it means risking it all.

I loved getting to know Tulip and Freda and the other beautiful characters in this story. The historical details were stellar, especially the scenes with the Pullman Porters. The story had an exciting pace and, even with the dual timelines, I was able to follow the characters with ease. The scene that won’t leave my head is when the white man pretends to help Gerald and then rubs motor oil on his clean white shirt. Profound and sharp, this sophomore novel is a delight.— Sadeqa Johnson, author ofThe House of Eve

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One part thriller, one part family drama with a hefty dash of comedy:Jane and Dan at the End of the Worldmight just be the perfect read. A romantic anniversary dinner goes spectacularly awry — in ways you will never see coming — in Colleen Oakley’s exciting new novel. I could not put this book down!— Amy Poeppel, author ofThe Sweet SpotandFar and Away

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Allison Ashley writes love stories you’ll feel in your soul andIf Tomorrow Never Comesis a perfect example of her ability to take readers on a thrilling rollercoaster ride of emotions from the first buds of attraction through characters falling in love so deeply, you’ll feel like you’re careening through the loops and sharp drops with them.

This book takes a topic that is harrowing for so many — a cancer diagnosis and the need for a stem cell transplant — and builds a life-affirming and empowering story about the power of choosing happiness for oneself. Prepare to cry, laugh, blush a little and smile a lot.— Denise Williams, author ofThe Fastest Way to FallandJust Our Luck

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source: people.com