A new year brings new stories — and 2025 has already proven to be an extraordinary one for fiction. From bold debuts to long-awaited releases, this year’s books are brimming with imagination, emotion, and the kind of storytelling that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Whether you love dramatic literary fiction, binge-worthy thrillers, sweeping fantasies, or heartfelt contemporary tales, 2025 has delivered something for every kind of reader. These are the books everyone is talking about — the ones filling bookshop windows, topping reading lists, and sparking conversations long past bedtime.
So settle into your favourite reading spot, brew a fresh cup of tea, and explore our curated selection of the very best fiction 2025 has to offer. From unforgettable characters to twists you won’t see coming, these are the stories that define the year — and deserve a place on your bookshelf.
Katabasis
by R.F. Kuang
Grad student Alice Law has spent her life chasing a singular goal: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magick. But the one person who can make that dream a reality is dead—and trapped in Hell. Determined to complete her quest, Alice embarks on a daring journey into the underworld, reluctantly accompanied by her greatest rival, Peter Murdoch.
Hell, however, is nothing like the philosophers described. Its rules are inverted, its perils unexpected, and its challenges force Alice and Peter into uneasy cooperation. Every step tests their wit, courage, and ability to trust each other. As they navigate treacherous landscapes and confront both demons and themselves, the question looms: will they succeed in retrieving what they seek, or will the descent destroy them both before they can return?