The 2025 Summer Reading Guide (56 New Books)

LISTEN TO ANNIE HARTNETT ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING MAY 30TH

Annie Hartnett delivers another zany and big-hearted tale, kicking off with a death-predicting nursing home cat named Pancakes and only getting wilder from there.

When broke, sixty-something lottery winner PJ Halliday inherits his late brother's grandkids, he reluctantly includes them, his adult daughter, and the morbidly magical cat, heading west on a misguided mission to win back his high school sweetheart.

Along the way, they crash a soap opera convention, confront more than a few demons, and build something that looks an awful lot like family. Your heart will be pulled in all different directions, especially as the story concludes with a gorgeous twist.

Annie Hartnett is a National Treasure.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Adventurous, Emotional, Funny, Hopeful, Inspiring

Related- The Best Books About Road Trips

Smith delivers another heartfelt hit with Fun For the Whole Family, a moving, funny, and beautifully layered sibling story.

From Oscar speeches to book deals to failed baseball careers, each sibling in this family lives a very different life, until a surprise group text pulls them into a spontaneous family reunion in the middle of nowhere.

Smith embeds flashbacks to their childhood road trips to add bittersweet nostalgia while keeping the story brisk and engaging throughout.

I laughed, teared up, and didn't want the story to end. These siblings feel like real people you root for, even when they're a mess.

ON STORE SHELVES NOW

Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Hopeful, Reflective

LISTEN TO LORETTA ROTHSCHILD ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JULY 18TH

It's best to go into Rothschild's debut blind, but know this—what starts as a quiet domestic story cracks wide open after an unexpected tragedy, revealing a surrogacy narrative unlike any I've read.

Told from a unique narrative vantage point, this novel spins a soapy, high-stakes love story built on a shaky foundation, and you're just waiting for it to collapse like a house of cards. 

Summer book clubs will eat this up with a spoon!

Release Date- 8 July 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective, Tense

LISTEN TO AUSTIN TAYLOR ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JUNE 27TH

Taylor crafts a mesmerizing tale about Zoe and Jack, two ambitious Harvard students whose groundbreaking scientific discovery promises to cure aging. 

As they turn their dorm room idea into a successful startup, they find themselves in a world filled with fame, venture capital challenges, and the monumental pressures of being young innovators. 

Taylor's raw emotional depth of the characters' backstories captivated me. You'll appreciate the charged partnership dynamic between Zoe and Jack and the poignant chronic illness representation, which pulses with tension as Jack pushes his body to its limits through this intriguing venture. 

Where this novel shines, though, is its mastery of making complex scientific concepts accessible and carving raw emotional depth into the characters' backstories. Keep tissues handy for this one! 

Release Date- 3 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Tense, Sad, Hopeful

Fargo's highly imaginative Wuthering Heights retelling is set in the ultra-competitive world of figure skating.

Told in documentary format, it unpacks the rise and fall of a legendary skating duo whose initial chemistry turns toxic.

I listened on audio and highly recommend it. The big cast narration makes it feel like a true crime doc in your ears as they voice the transcripts.

While a familiarity with the classic it borrows from is fun, you don't need to read it to partake in the sharp, gossipy, pitch-perfect commentary on fame and ambition in this novel.

Look up the Spotify playlist created by Fargo when you finish for an immersive experience!

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Hopeful, Reflective

LISTEN TO JESSICA GUERRIERI ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING MAY 23RD

Jessica Guerrieri's striking debut begins as a breezy look at motherhood and in-law dynamics but quietly shifts into more urgent territory.

At its center is Leah, a free-spirited artist whose drinking, once manageable, begins to corrode every part of her life—from her parenting to her place in the tightly knit O'Connor family.

As her addiction deepens, the story takes an unexpectedly raw turn, grounded in the author's own sobriety journey.

Guerrieri teeters the line between literary fiction and women's fiction, making it a perfect fit for our lit-fic fans as this character-driven drama explores the explosive unraveling of a woman and the complex, hopeful work of piecing herself back together.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Hopeful

Taylor Jenkins Reid shoots for the stars with a high-stakes drama of NASA's shuttle program in this '80s-set love story between two ambitious female astronauts.

As the secret romance between buttoned-up Joan and fearless Vanessa builds toward a catastrophic mission, readers will be breathless to learn the fate of their forbidden love affair.

Release Date- 3 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Adventurous, Inspiring

Related- Taylor Jenkins Reid Books

In this big-hearted coming-of-age story, Mia Almas is the dutiful granddaughter her Arab grandparents raised her to be by day, but by night, she's sneaking off to tell jokes under club lights.

When a forbidden crush and a long-buried family secret threaten her carefully balanced double life, Mia must choose between keeping the peace or living out loud. Khabbaz beautifully blends humor, heart, and her culture in this promising debut.

Release Date- 20 May 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective

Related- 13 Coming-of-Age Books Any Adult Will Love

LISTEN TO ZOE WALLBROOK ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JULY 4TH

Prepare for a brilliant, layered mystery in academia featuring an unforgettable protagonist.

Professor Daphne Ouverture is a historian with a photographic memory and a knack for attracting trouble. When a colleague is murdered, and a cryptic message draws Daphne into the investigation, she must confront both campus politics and the injustices of the past.

With sly humor, fascinating historical details, and razor-sharp commentary on race and power in academic spaces, Wallbrook delivers a debut that's as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

Fans of Queenie will squeal with delight over this refreshingly new mystery series.

Release Date- 1 July 2025

Pace-Medium
Mood-Adventurous, Funny, Mysterious

Fans of The Good Place will find much to love in this surprisingly philosophical story pitting good against evil.

Thea can transfer life years between people—an ability that quickly spirals into a full-blown ethical dilemma when she redistributes time from the dangerous to the deserving.

What begins as a righteous mission grows more tangled with each choice, and this story's emotional depth caught me off guard.

This plot unfolded in such unexpected ways, and by the end, I was in tears, both from the emotional payoff and the way the author brilliantly tied everything together.

Release Date- 20 May 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Adventurous, Challenging, Emotional, Funny, Mysterious

I went into Party of Liars expecting to be overwhelmed by the sprawling cast, but Cox's sharp character work ensures even the messiest guest list delivers standouts.

At a glittering Sweet Sixteen in the heart of Texas Hill Country, the candles barely get lit before a body crashes the party.

With a locked-room mystery setup and rotating POVs, you're circling the drain with each character, desperate to spot the killer before the next twist drops. I was convinced I had solved it three times before Cox knocked the wind out of me again.

This thriller is a frothy and addictive suspense story that makes you cancel your plans to race to the last page.

Release Date- 1 July 2025

Pace- Fast
Mood- Dark, Mysterious, Tense

Related-19 Thrillers To Keep You Up All Night

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LISTEN TO THE SARAH HARMAN INTERVIEW ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING NOW

This biting, high-energy debut blends the dark secrets of Big Little Lies with the amateur sleuthing of Finlay Donovan.

Sarah Harman, a former journalist with a sharp eye for details, drops us into the life of Florence Grimes—a washed-up pop star clinging to the hope of a comeback while barely managing single motherhood.

When a wealthy classmate of her son goes missing on a school field trip, Florence finds herself hilariously and horrifically at the center of the mystery.

What follows is a wild, twisty romp full of PTA politics and one unforgettable mom-sleuth duo.

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Pace- Fast
Mood- Dark, Funny, Mysterious

Related- Unlikely Amateur Sleuths Are On the Case in These Books

LISTEN TO THE LIANN ZHANG INTERVIEW ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING NOW

This wildly dark and fast-paced thriller perfectly summarizes the more eye-rolling aspects of influencer culture.

After Julie discovers her estranged sister's dead body, she seizes the opportunity to step into Chloe's world, unmasking the twisted truths behind her sister's rise to fame as a skincare influencer.

Zhang's sharp commentary on race, class, and privilege fuels the plot's diabolical turns, with a cult horror subplot that will leave readers unsettled and captivated. This story has been the biggest hit with our horror enthusiasts!

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Pace- Fast
Mood- Dark, Funny, Mysterious

Related- 35 Books About Twins That Double the Drama

LISTEN TO THE ROB HART INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

I felt lucky to help introduce readers to the Assassins Anonymous universe last summer, and what a relief to know the ride doesn't end here. 

In this whip-smart sequel, retired contract killer Mark, once known as the Pale Horse, now leads a support group for fellow assassins trying to stay out of the game. 

When the elusive Astrid (a.k.a. the infamous Azrael) vanishes, a cryptic clue arrives in the form of a pizza order—black olives, her signature (and deeply questionable) topping.

Following Astrid’s harrowing captivity and Mark’s frantic investigation, Hart delivers a deliriously fun adventure story. Buddy read this book series with your spouse this summer- you will both love it!

Release Date- 24 June 2025

Pace- Fast
Mood- Dark, Adventurous, Funny

Criminal psychologist Daniel Garvie returns to his childhood home after his father's shocking suicide and finds clues tying the death to a decades-old serial killer case.

North expertly weaves together timelines and perspectives. As Daniel races to uncover the truth, he must confront the ghosts that have haunted his family for years.

Gritty, gripping, and deeply unsettling, this is North at his sinister best.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Tense, Mysterious

Lottie Jones is leading a quiet life in a sleepy small town filled with weekly bingo, neighborhood gossip, and absolutely no killing.

However, when a determined young journalist begins investigating her past, Lottie's peaceful retirement is in jeopardy.

She used to be entirely different... someone with a body count. So, what's one more murder to protect decades of carefully buried secrets?

Twisty, darkly funny, and wickedly suspenseful, fans of Downing's work are falling hard for this one.

Release Date- 12 August 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Funny, Tense

I couldn't help but think of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake as I pored over Lavelle's debut. It is a deliciously inventive blend of food, grief, and ghost stories rooted in Ukrainian tradition and hungry ghost mythology.

Kostya Duhovny discovers he can taste the favorite foods of those who have passed and recreate them to give grieving loved ones one final, fleeting meal together.

His gift leads him into the brutal New York fine-dining world, where the stakes are just as high as in the afterlife reminiscent of The Bear.

Darkly funny and surprisingly tender, it delivers a sensory reading feast about longing, closure, and what we'll risk to reconnect. Foodies will want to devour it in one sitting.

Release Date- 20 May 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Mysterious, Emotional

I have a sweet spot for Nigerian storytellers, and this book is a new favorite- funny, poignant, and wildly inventive.

Zelu, a prickly and brilliant academic, loses her job and unexpectedly writes a sci-fi novel that catapults her into literary stardom.

The book-within-a-book format is dazzling, but it's Zelu's sharp perspective on identity, disability, and the commodification of art that truly shines. I especially appreciated the nuanced portrayal of her life as a wheelchair user, written with care and authenticity.

This novel is a profoundly original story that lingers long after the last page.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Adventurous, Emotional, Reflective

Four strangers travel to a controversial sleep therapy center in the California desert, where a month-long slumber promises to erase emotional pain, but sometimes at the cost of all human connection.

Ray is determined to uncover why his brother died after the treatment; Ava hopes to mend things with her estranged sister; Sasha is struggling with the guilt of walking away from love; and Sky, a runaway teen, stirs up truths they've all tried to bury.

The pacing is a slow simmer at the start, but the emotional payoffs are rich. Erlick excels at crafting characters whose inner lives feel achingly real.

Fans of The Measure will not be disappointed.

Release Date- 17 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Reflective, Emotional, Mysterious, Sad

In this captivating stand-alone, a secret society in London is tasked with protecting magical artifacts disguised as everyday objects.

When the society's youngest member, Magda Sparks, is sent to Hong Kong to investigate a newly discovered item, she becomes entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a professional assassin.

As the threat to her life intensifies, Magda begins to question everything she has been taught about the power of magic.

Release Date- 12 August 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood-Adventurous, Mysterious, Dark

Magical pencils unlock buried memories and a hidden family legacy in this dazzling debut.

College student Monica Tsai stumbles upon her grandmother's WWII-era invention- pencils that can "Reforge" written words into real, lived memories.

As she uncovers secrets from wartime Shanghai to present-day Massachusetts, a grandmother slipping into Alzheimer's, and a tech project echoing this magic in eerie ways, the lines between memory and manipulation blur.

Release Date- 3 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Hopeful

Linda Holmes's third novel is her best yet.

After being pushed out of the podcast she helped build, Cecily reluctantly agrees to headline a new dating show... just as she meets a man who might be the real deal.

The banter in this novel is top-notch, the snappy humor made me laugh out loud several times throughout this story, and the podcast scripts were a joy to page through in this mixed-media experience.

I wish the novel had delved more into Cecily's dates, but Holmes skips this to propel the reader to its happily ever after.

This romance novel is the first that Holmes has narrated, and NPR fans will be thrilled to get extra on-air time with this radio icon.

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Pace- Fast
Mood- Funny, Hopeful, Lighthearted, Relaxing

This sparkling debut romance takes readers to the vibrant sites of Vietnam.

When Evie's inheritance hinges on joining a feminist-run matchmaking tour, she reluctantly leaves behind her stalled academic life—and lands in the path of Adam, the company's grumpy (but swoony) CMO.

Their chemistry simmers through boozy karaoke nights, cave excursions, and bowls of street-side noodles, building to a heartfelt, steamy payoff.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Adventurous, Lighthearted, Hopeful

Lynda Cohen Loigman stirs up a second-chance romance in The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, reuniting two childhood sweethearts in their eighties with undeniable chemistry and sixty years of secrets.

When Augusta finally moves into a retirement community after faking her age to extend her pharmacy career, she's stunned to find Irving (the one who got away) living there too.

Their reunion crackles with sharp banter and unresolved feelings as Loigman peels back the layers of what really tore them apart.

This grown-up love story is fizzy, funny, and sweetly satisfying.

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Pace- Fast
Mood- Funny, Hopeful, Lighthearted, Relaxing

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This book was my first dip into the Jessa Hastings universe and delivered the emotional, character-driven romance I've been craving.

After their father's death, Georgia and her estranged brother return to their Southern hometown to unravel a mysterious will—and years of buried family secrets.

Her brother's AA sponsor, Sam, comes along for support, but his steady presence sparks something unexpected in Georgia.

As a human lie detector, she's trained to spot the truth, and she can't ignore what's building between them or unraveling their family's secrets one by one.

It's a messy, layered, closed-door romance full of longing, old wounds, and tangled love.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective, Sad

LISTEN TO THE JINWOO CHONG INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

This warm-hearted, sharply written novel begins with a bang, waking Jack Jr. from a two-year coma into a post-2020 world he doesn't recognize.

What follows isn't a dystopia but a tender and funny rediscovery of family, food, and love as Jack returns to his childhood home and reconnects with the life he left behind.

We witness his rebuilding. It’s a quiet rekindling of relationships, discovering love with the male nurse who cared for him, and redefining what home truly means.

Behind our paywall, this has been the most beloved from our spring series offerings as people fell madly in love with Jack Jr.'s gorgeously written family.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Funny, Emotional, Reflective

Related- JOIN THE PATREON

LISTEN TO THE KENNEDY RYAN INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

Kennedy Ryan's latest stunner is a simmering love story in her third installment of the gorgeously addictive Skyland series.

Hendrix is at the top of her game, juggling a powerhouse career and a new venture funding Black women-owned businesses when her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis knocks everything sideways.

The only person who sees past her armor is Maverick, a magnetic billionaire who happens to be dating Hendrix's new business partner.

As their connection deepens, Ryan masterfully navigates the complexities of caregiving, career pressures, and a love that refuses to be ignored.

It's blazing hot and heartbreakingly human. I can assure you, it’s another knockout from one of my favorite voices in romance.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Hopeful, Inspiring

When Native pop sensation Avery Fox finds herself at the center of a career-imploding controversy, she’s sent to rural Oklahoma to lay low with the grandmother she’s never met.

What she doesn’t expect is Lucas Iron Eyes, the magnetic ranchhand whose quiet strength and deep cultural roots force Avery to question everything she thought she wanted.

Nava delivers a heart-tugging rom-com that balances celebrity glamor with the intimacy of rediscovered heritage. It’s thoughtful, sexy, and full of beautiful second chances proving Nava's a rising star in the romance world!

Release Date- 22 July 2025

Pace-Medium
Mood-Funny, Emotional, Lighthearted

In this sun-soaked rom-com, a former child star turned film producer is forced to confront the past she's tried to outrun- on camera and off.

Jane is poised to produce her dream love story, but she didn't plan on working alongside a laid-back, man-bun-wearing cinematographer who challenges everything she stands for.

When a white lie about a former flame-turned-pop star spirals into a full-blown reunion tour, Jane juggles two men, one dream project, and decades of unresolved feelings.

It's a fizzy, feel-good treat!

Release Date- 27 May 2025

Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Funny, Hopeful

Jemimah Wei's dazzling debut follows two girls, raised like sisters in working-class Singapore, whose fierce bond mysteriously ends.

When Arin, the magnetic outsider, turns into an indie film darling and rockets to stardom, Genevieve is left behind, and their childhood blood oath the girls shared shatters in a million pieces.

As the novel shifts between continents and decades, the story slowly unspools the betrayal that tore them apart.

With sharp prose and layered tension, The Original Daughter offers a big-hearted, unflinching look at ambition and what we owe the people who made us. My Brilliant Friend fans will be entranced.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective

LISTEN TO LIDIJA HILJE ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JULY 11TH

This debut wrecked me in the best way. It's a tender, politically resonant story about a woman navigating a second act in her thirties—caregiving for her father, resisting a hollow development deal, and quietly grieving a love that's moved on without her. 

Hilje writes with the aching clarity of someone who knows how deeply place shapes identity and how hard it is to rebuild when the world keeps pulling the ground out from under you.

Ivona's quiet strength and emotional restraint broke my heart more than once, and I felt every pulse of this sun-drenched, salt-air, soul-searching novel.

It is a beautiful, soul-stirring story for fans of character-driven fiction who crave a strong sense of place.

Release Date- 8 July 2025

Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Hopeful

When a prized six-pound truffle is unearthed in the overlooked Tuscan village of Lazzarini Boscarino, the eccentric townspeople finally see a chance to outshine their snooty neighbors.

Mayor Delizia rallies a colorful misfit cast to guard the treasure and revive the town's fortunes. But with rivals and secrets piling up, small-town chaos is never far behind.

This over-the-top truffle farce from the author of Hollow Kingdom made me belly-laugh through much of her cinematic storytelling.

Buxton's language has so much flipping flourish that I felt all the pathways in my brain light up like a runway, so I recommend it to our maximalist readers who love descriptive prose.

I yearned for this armchair escape to pretend I was summering in Italy again.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Funny, Lighthearted, Hopeful

If The Idea of You was your jam, this debut delivers another addictive backstage pass into pop stardom and forbidden love.

Told through juicy media snippets, interviews, and Wikipedia entries, it follows Amber, a former girl group star turned struggling solo act, as she catches feelings for Jason, a swoony boy band heartthrob.

Their whirlwind connection is pure pop perfection until the industry steps in with a PR-friendly love interest and a tightly controlled narrative.

While light as spun sugar, this novel cleverly critiques the double standards that once hounded pop princesses in the 2000s. It's frothy, flirty, and surprisingly thoughtful.

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Pace- Fast
Mood-Emotional, Reflective

LISTEN TO HONOR JONES ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JUNE 25TH

Sleep explores the #metoo conversation through a powerful narrative voice that burrows under your skin.

What's not immediately evident from the book's marketing, but important to acknowledge, is that the story contains themes of sexual trauma. Jones handles these moments with deep sensitivity, allowing tension to gather in the soft, unguarded corners of a mother's daily life as she revisits her childhood memories.

I was particularly touched by how the novel examines parenting while grappling with one's own trauma. The voicey narration and the emotionally knotted mother-daughter relationship make this the kind of novel you'll want to unpack with a friend over a long walk.

Jones delivers a literary fiction pick with as much tension as a well-tuned thriller.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Tense

LISTEN TO THE ALLISON LARKIN INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

This profoundly personal and intricately layered novel is Larkin’s crowning achievement.

Set against the evocative backdrop of her hometown, Somers, New York—the birthplace of the American circus—it masterfully frames Freya's powerful journey of reinvention and heartfelt reconciliation with her past.

When Freya returns to her childhood home after a financial crisis, what begins as a reluctant return becomes a profound reckoning.

Larkin delicately peels back the layers of Freya's fractured relationships and neglectful family, all while introducing a colorful cast of characters who provide unexpected moments of warmth and healing in a surprisingly hopeful narrative. I was entranced!

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Sad, Hopeful

Related- Unforgettable Circus Books

LISTEN TO THE SARAH DAMOFF INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

Occasionally, a debut novel arrives so confident and assured that it's hard to believe it's the author's first. The Bright Years is one such debut, a profoundly moving exploration of alcohol addiction, all told with the compassion of someone who truly understands the complexities of human struggle.

The story unfolds through the intertwining perspectives of Ryan, Lillian, and Georgette, charting their lives from 1958 to 2019. Ryan's journey from hopeful artist to alcoholic, Lillian's quiet sacrifice, and Georgette's search for her place in the world are at once heartbreaking and hopeful.

With beautiful prose this novel is a quiet triumph from a fresh new voice in literature that I welcomed with open arms into my book stack.

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Reflective, Sad, Hopeful

Related- Best Addiction Fiction Books

When farm boy Orri leaves his quiet Icelandic home for university life in Reykjavík, he quickly learns the bustling city isn’t for him.

Called back to the cattle farm and the family that needs him, he finds unexpected joy in the familiar and a new sense of purpose.

He bonds with a bold farmer girl seeking sapphic love in a limited dating pool, and slowly begins to discover a love story of his own.

With lyrical beauty and heartfelt honesty, this novel captures one of life’s most profound transitions: the moment you realize your parents are human too.

A moving, quietly powerful story from one of my favorite new voices in literature.

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Pace- Slow to Savor
Mood- Adventurous, Emotional, Reflective

This novel sounds like an A24 movie, and I can't wait to dig in.

In the sweltering Florida panhandle, a tight-knit group of teen moms—known simply as the Girls—refuse to apologize for their joy, pain, or motherhood circumstances.

Simone, their fierce and flawed leader, is already raising twins in the bed of her pickup when she discovers she's pregnant again. Emory, pragmatic and quietly determined, balances diaper changes with dreams of college acceptance.

And when Adela, a rich girl banished by her parents, arrives in town, she's instantly drawn to the Girls' fierce loyalty and raw power, especially their fearless leader.

This novel promises a tender story of a chosen family.

Release Date- 24 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective, Hopeful

Related- Found Family Trope Books

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In this slow-burn literary mystery, Louisa, at the tender age of ten, was walking on a Japanese beach with her father when it ended in tragedy.

He vanished, and she was found half-drowned with no memory of what happened on that fateful day. Now grown, Louisa's uneasy bond with her emotionally distant mother is strained further as questions about the past refuse to stay buried.

From 1960s America to postwar Japan, the story traces her father's complicated life, offering readers insights into his unusual disappearance.

Release Date- 3 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective, Sad, Mysterious

I am halfway through this novel and assure you that this will be one of the best books you'll read this year.

Poet Ocean Vuong returns with a haunting, beautifully rendered novel about Hai, a 19-year-old man whose opening scene indicates his deep desire to disappear.

An unexpected bond forms when an older woman named Grazina stops him from jumping off a bridge and invites him into her life.

Grazina desperately needs a nurse to help her navigate her daily tasks, and Hai needs a place to retreat. As Hai tends to Grazina through the haze of her dementia, he begins to find flickers of grace amid the wreckage of his past. 

Vuong's prose stuns with its raw honesty and poetic clarity, crafting a story that aches with sorrow but pulses with life. I feel transported back to our time in New England again.

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Pace- Slow to Savor
Mood- Emotional, Reflective Sad

LISTEN TO ALLEGRA GOODMAN ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JUNE 13TH

A nearly forgotten footnote inspired this beautifully rendered historical novel in Canadian history.

Set in the 16th century, it follows Marguerite, a young noblewoman exiled to a remote island after a forbidden romance enrages her guardian.

What begins as a tale of betrayal and survival soon becomes a profound story of resilience and faith. Marguerite is stripped of privilege and forced to endure the harshest elements that rival a reality show season of Survivor.

Goodman's prose is both lyrical and raw, capturing the brutality of nature and the quiet strength of a woman determined to endure. This immersive escape is a standout.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Dark, Sad, Hopeful

Related- Incredible Books About Faith and Churches

LISTEN TO MILO TODD ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JUNE 6TH

Todd's riveting debut sheds light on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, whose Institute for Sexual Science offered hope and healing for trans individuals in the early 20th century.

Through the eyes of Bertie, a trans man at the institute, we witness the tragic dismantling of Hirschfeld's life's work when Hitler comes to power, erasing the progress made in a single, violent sweep.

Todd's dedication to documenting his trancestry and heartfelt storytelling illustrates how easily progress can be undone and disturbingly repeated. I feel so proud to showcase this story and count this among my favorites of the whole year.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Dark, Sad

Related- Best LGBTQ History Month Books

LISTEN TO DOLEN PERKINS-VALDEZ ON THE BOOK GANG PODCAST- AIRING JUNE 20TH

Two gorgeously voiced narrators bring Happy Land to life in audiobook form, elevating this incredible storytelling through her immersive, dual-timeline narrative.

Inspired by the true story of a lost kingdom built by freed people in the hills of North Carolina, it's a transporting tale with a beautiful modern timeline rooted in land, lineage, and the courage it takes to reclaim what's yours.

After spending the day recording with Dolen Perkins-Valdez, I was struck by how deeply her excavation process informed this sweeping novel, even uncovering a few historical inaccuracies!

She offers readers a gorgeous celebration of the Black legacy and an intriguing reclamation of forgotten American history. Dolen stuck the feel-good ending!

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Pace-Medium
Mood-Emotional, Hopeful, Reflective

Related- Essential Black History Month Books to Read All Year Long

LISTEN TO THE ERIN CROSBY ECKSTINE INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

This stunning and unforgettable debut blends historical fiction, a ghost story, and a coming-of-age narrative that mimics all the best classics.

Set in Alabama on the cusp of the Civil War, the novel follows 16-year-old Junie, an enslaved girl whose love of reading and sense of self are both tested when she's threatened with being sent away from the only home she's ever known.

As Junie begins to unravel the truth of her sister's death—and the illusion of her safety—she's pushed onto a perilous journey toward freedom.

Inspired by the author's own family history and enriched by her educational background, Eckstine writes with a confident pen.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Emotional, Tense

LISTEN TO THE FIONA DAVIS INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

It's 1978, and curator Charlotte Cross is determined to rewrite the legacy of a forgotten female pharaoh—until a priceless artifact vanishes the night of the Met Gala.

Enter Annie Jenkins, a young housekeeper with big dreams, who unexpectedly teams up with Charlotte to unravel the mystery. Their thrilling journey from New York to Cairo is packed with danger and secrets.

With rich historical detail and a timely exploration of cultural heritage, Davis once again proves she's the queen of the dual-timeline adventure.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Adventurous, Emotional, Mysterious

Morgan Jerkins masterfully braids past and present into a moving multi-generational story I can't wait to explore.

In 1865, newly freed Harrison searches desperately for Tirzah, the woman he loves, while Tirzah, now a schoolteacher in Louisiana, tries to reach him through lost letters.

More than a century later, in Harlem, a modern-day couple uncovers the echoes of their ancestors' star-crossed past.

As family secrets unfold, the line between fate and coincidence blurs. Jerkins's beautifully written novel is a stirring testament to enduring love and the generations shaped by its absence.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Emotional, Reflective, Sad

Harkin's bawdy, brilliant dive into one of history's most audacious identity swaps spins fact and fiction into a raucous tale.

Reimagining the little-known story of a 15th-century farm boy thrown into royalty, Harkin delivers a hero who shape-shifts his way through courtly intrigue, rebellion, and betrayal with cunningness and surprising heart.

Laced with wickedly profane and period-perfect language, readers follow this would-be Earl of Warwick as he navigates a life that was never meant to be his.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Adventurous, Funny

Related- Captivating Books On Con Artists

This searing exposé from New York Times reporter Gardiner Harris reveals the devastating extent of Johnson & Johnson's corporate misconduct—from asbestos-laced baby powder and misleading Tylenol safety claims to the reckless marketing of deadly antipsychotics and the role it played in the opioid crisis.

With shocking pages of receipts and five years of reporting behind it, this book shook my trust to the core. It's a sobering look at the cost of corporate power in the healthcare industry, and a must-read for anyone who thought Johnson & Johnson's image was untouchable.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Informative

LISTEN TO THE CLAIRE HOFFMAN INTERVIEW ON BOOK GANG- AIRING NOW

In Sister, Sinner, Hoffman delivers a fascinating biography of Aimee Semple McPherson, America's first mega-preacher, whose influence on modern evangelicalism is astonishing.

With her background in religion and deep understanding of charismatic leaders, Hoffman paints a vivid portrait of Aimee's rise to fame, her mysterious disappearance, and the wild kidnapping story that followed.

Through meticulous research, including access to previously sealed court records, Hoffman uncovers the complexities of Aimee's life, exploring her role as both an influential religious figure and a savvy showwoman. This is an impeccable, juicy biography!

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Informative, Mysterious, Reflective

When political speechwriter Chloe Dalton pulled a trembling wild hare from the side of a snowy English road, she had no idea she was about to rewrite her life story during the unusual pandemic lockdown season.

What follows is not a tale of domestication but of delicate cohabitation. Dalton doesn't name the hare and doesn't try to own it. She watches, learns, and transforms.

The result is part meditation, part philosophical inquiry into the thin boundary between loving something wild and being its quiet observer. Told with piercing clarity and zero sentimentality, this quiet marvel of a book will burrow into your soul. I'll be thinking about it all year.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Inspiring, Reflective, Informative

This genre-defying marvel is part memoir, part gospel, part dark comedy—delivered with unflinching honesty and searing wit.

As Simpson struggles with the slow burn of anticipatory grief, she resurrects her mother, Sallie Carol, in all her unruly glory: a devout hustler, a rule-breaker with a Bible, and a woman who could outmaneuver hardship with divine audacity.

Written in the electric present tense and peppered with fictional scripture from the "Book of Sallie Carol," this memoir is both a love letter and a reckoning.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Challenging, Emotional, Hopeful

Bundles delivers a dazzling tribute to her great-grandmother in this promising biography, peeling back the velvet curtain on one of the most magnetic figures of the era.

With familial access and biographical finesse, Bundles recasts A'Lelia Walker not just as the heiress to Madam C.J. Walker's fortune but as a cultural force in her own right: a glamourous salonnière whose Harlem soirées became the heartbeat of Black artistic life.

Rich with historical detail, this is a portrait of a woman who defied expectations and helped shape a Renaissance.

Both an enthralling social history and a reclamation of legacy, this biography looks perfect for any summer stack.

Release Date- 10 June 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Informative, Inspiring, Reflective

While Chuck Tingle's Lucky Day has made waves with loyal fans this summer, after reading both books, this electrifying selection packed even more of an emotional punch for me as a newer convert to his work.

This story takes a razor-sharp swipe at Hollywood's obsession with algorithms and performative inclusion. Misha, a newly Oscar-nominated screenwriter, is told to kill off his queer characters—or risk his rising career.

When he refuses, monsters from his childhood (and his films) begin clawing into real life.

Equal parts terrifying and tender, it's a hopeful horror story about reclaiming joy in a world that profits from trauma.

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Pace- Fast
Mood- Dark, Tense, Mysterious, Funny, Hopeful

After the death of her young son, a grieving mother clings to the unthinkable—a piece of his lung—and watches in secret horror as it transforms into something alive.

Hidden away in a decaying Mexico City mansion, Monstrilio grows into a boy who eerily resembles the child she lost.

But as his hunger turns feral and the lines between love and danger blur, this unforgettable debut explores how far grief can stretch, and how monstrous it can become.

It is a chilling, tender, and wildly original story that lingers long after the final page.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Tense, Mysterious

Early readers have said this novel captures their nostalgia for old-school Stephen King stories.

After the death of a young fan and the sudden loss of her husband, children's author Annie Blunt retreats to Lucknow with her son—only to be disturbed by the eerie sound of a phantom train.

As locals begin to vanish and bodies are found bizarrely altered, Annie suspects the town's mysterious toy store, Choo-Choo's Trains, is connected to it all.

The story cuts between Annie's present-day unraveling and a chilling incident in 2001 involving a toy train and a maimed child, unspooling the evil at play. Barclay is his most unsettling.

Release Date- 20 May 2025

Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Mysterious, Tense

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In Cassidy's nerve-shredding horror novel, a struggling L.A. waitress rescues a terrified boy from an attack, only to discover that whatever the child fears becomes horrifyingly real.

From bird swarms to monstrous beasts, the dangers escalate fast in this chilling, Twilight Zone–style tale that suspends psychological tension with jaw-dropping twists.

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Pace- Medium
Mood- Dark, Tense, Mysterious