Best Book Recommendations for 2025: Discover My Top Reads: you can read them too if you'd like ;)
- thebookshelfe
- Jan 14
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 25
As an avid reader, I’m always on the hunt for my next page-turner, and 2025 looks like it will be a fantastic year for book lovers! From gripping thrillers, to thoughtful nonfiction, there's something out there for everyone. But keep in mind: every reader is different. What you like might be wildly different from what is "popular." This is why finding books that match your unique taste can feel like such a shot in the dark.
Don't worry, Shelf/e is here to help! You fill out a reader's assessment and I will do alllll the research to find books that match! It really takes the guess-work out of finding your next read. BookTok is fun and all, but it is often is off the mark for individuals.
The Best Tense Book Recommendations (just in case you were too relaxed).
Let’s start with some heart-pounding page turners that are on my radar for this year.
Note: as an Amazon Associate I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
If you are a fan of thrillers, there's a good chance you've heard of Freida McFadden (especially The Housemaid). She has truly compulsive reads with twists and turns that (mostly) keep you guessing. While I can't read too many of hers in a row, I do love to binge one every couple of months, this one being no different.
Tegan is near the end of her pregnancy, alone, and desperate to leave her past behind, choosing to hit the road and stay with her brother until she can figure out what's next. But then she drives straight into a blizzard and her car dies. All hope seems lost, until she is rescued by a couple with a quaint, warm cabin. Yeah, that's a red flag for this kind of book...things aren't what they seem and her safe haven may in fact be the opposite.
Next up we have Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix is the master of thoughtful horror, he made me realize I actually like the genre! He's best known for The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires which came out in 2020, though my favorite of his is My Best Friend's Exorcism (yes, he has creative/wordy titles).
I thought horror was the one genre I couldn't read, but Hendrix has proven me wrong. He is so good at creating well-fleshed out characters that are nuanced and generally working through on the mending of a relationship, be it friendship or siblings.
In this one, girls who "misbehave" are sent to Wellwood House in St. Augustine, FL to carry their babies in secret and then give them up for adoption. Fern arrives in 1970, pregnant and alone, but soon meets a dozen other girls in the same situation. Every moment of the day is monitored, until a librarian gives Fern a book about witchcraft, giving the girls power for the first time in their life. But, power destroys, doesn't it?
And now on to a tense dragon read, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
This is the much anticipated third book in the Empyrean series, so if you haven't read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, now's your chance!
Because this is the third book in a series, I don't really want to say anything and spoil the first two. However, if you like high-octane action, ferocious dragons, smoldering looks, and an underdog hero, all at a dangerous magical college, this series is for you.
Next up is a prequel to the highly popular The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.
I don't know about you, but The Hunger Games is a super nostalgic series for me. I remember reading through it on Christmas break when I was in college, two of the books only taking me a day to fly through. I was so tense the whole time and could not put them down!
In this prequel, it is the 50th Hunger Games and Haymitch just wants to make it through the day and be with the girl he loves. But the odds are not in his favor as double the tributes are called, including him. He and three others from his district are taken to the capital to fight, until no one else is left standing.
That's probably enough tense books, let's get on to some with a little less nail biting action, and a little more soul searching and sweet moments.
First up we have Swept Away by Beth O'Leary. O'Leary is the queen of writing thoughtful, sweet romances that contain so much depth. While her books are ultimately about ending up with your person, they often explore deep and difficult themes, with a light and deft hand.
My favorite to date of O'Leary's novels is The Flatshare (which was also adapted as a TV show).
In Swept Away, two strangers wake up after a one night stand to find that no one tied the houseboat to the dock and they are in the middle of the water, no land in sight. With only a few provisions and an idle boat, the two most work together to make it to dry land. Naturally, there is plenty of time to fall in love before they get there.
Next we have the Swedish genius, Fredrik Backman and his forthcoming release!
If you love books that really make your internal thought processes feel normal and understood, as well as help you understand people and situations that are different than you, Backman is your guy! Probably his most popular work is A Man Called Ove (which has two movie adaptations) followed by Beartown (now an HBO show), but my favorite of his is My Grandmother Asked me to Tell You She's Sorry
In this upcoming book, three teenagers are encapsulated in the corner of a famous painting, and 18 year old aspiring artist, Louisa, is determined to find out their stories even though it has been 25 years since the piece was painted. What ensues is her journey of discovery, mixed with the story of the three teens, all coming together to show the power of friendship and art.
Lastly, a nonfiction book to help expand knowledge--I honestly know nothing about Tuberculosis.
John Green is most well known for his book The Fault in Our Stars which is a teen book for anyone who needs a good cry. Green has taken a hard pivot since his Young Adult novel days, first writing a series of essays about humanity called The Anthropocene Reviewed (which is fantastic and originated from Green's podcast of the same name), and now writing about the history of Tuberculosis.
While the topic itself is not one I would normally gravitate toward, Green's writing is captivating enough to make it intriguing!
What books are you excited to read this year? Comment and let me know!
Have you set a reading goal? I just set mine, I love seeing my progress throughout the year, as well as what books I enjoyed the most, least, and what everyone else is reading. Goodreads is my platform of choice to keep track, but if you want to use something that's not Amazon affiliated, StoryGraph is great and gives you a LOT of fun stats (even what type of book mood you gravitate toward)!
As a side note, even if you and I personally aren't interested in the same books, don't despair! When I research for Shelf/e subscribers, I prioritize what will fit you the best.
I often spend at least an hour researching books when it's a Shelf/e subscriber's recommendation time.
I always refer back to their Reader's Assessment and the survey they filled out in between recommendation cycles, I want to make sure I pick the best books possible!
If you are interested in trying Shelf/e out (or convincing a friend to) use coupon code 2025READS at checkout to get 30% off any plan or gift!
Lastly, if you are a subscriber, it would melt my heart if you could leave a review on the Shelf/e Facebook page, which I can then put on the testimonials page of the website. A lot of people think the idea of Shelf/e is amazing, but getting them to take the step of signing up is very difficult. The more reviews Shelf/e has, the more confident a perspective subscriber will be.
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