This January, librarians from across the country met to debate the best books published in 2025 for adults. The Notable Books List highlights literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; the Listen List is all about outstanding audiobooks; and The Reading List, which I want to highlight, gathers outstanding genre fiction across eight genres: Adrenaline (aka thrillers, adventure stories), Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Relationship Fiction, Romance, and Science Fiction.
What I love is that while each genre has a winner, it also has a four-title shortlist. As an ensemble, the five books in each genre often represent a range of the types of stories a reader can find in that genre, with the idea that both longtime fans and folks new to the genre can find a title of interest. It’s a great place to find something new to read: to explore a genre you love or dabble in a new area. Check out the 2026 winners (for books published in 2025) below, with annotations from the ALA Reading List Council; or find the full list in our catalog.
Adrenaline
Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan
The disappearance of her sister two decades ago haunts Mal Veracruz. When another girl goes missing in her small MexiCali town, ties to the Indigenous folktales of the area and Mal’s own family secrets turn the search into something much more dangerous.
Short List:
Dead Money by Jakob Kerr ♦ A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall ♦ Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson ♦ The Oligarch’s Daughter by Joseph Finder
Fantasy
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
In a world ruled by godlike Omens, Sybil tells the fortunes of others by repeatedly drowning in divine waters. When her fellow seers start disappearing, she and a gargoyle companion join a young king’s retinue to seek the truth.
Short List:
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill ♦ The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson ♦ Red City by Marie Lu ♦ The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
Historical Fiction
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
Seventeen-year-old Doris leaves her small town in Georgia with her favorite teacher to seek an abortion in Atlanta. Over a weekend in 1960, Doris is immersed in the burgeoning civil rights movement and meets a group of queer activists who expand her worldview beyond her stifled upbringing.
Short List:
Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier ♦ Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez ♦ The Last Witch by C.J. Cooke ♦ The Pretender by Jo Harkin
Horror
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
Cora Zeng’s life goes from bad to worse after her sister’s horrific murder. If working as a crime scene cleaner during the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t bad enough, she is soon plagued by “hungry ghosts” and a serial killer targeting Asian women.
Short List:
House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama ♦ King Sorrow by Joe Hill ♦ The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling ♦ When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
Mystery
The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan
Ten years ago, three young girls went missing in a small Appalachian town. Only one ever returned. Unable to move on without closure, one girl’s older brother hires P.I. Annie Gore to uncover the truth. Unreliable memories and local folklore impact her search as history repeats itself.
Short List:
The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler ♦ Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan ♦ Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd ♦ Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars
Relationship Fiction
Didn’t You Used to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne DeFino
Seeking to reinvent herself, disgraced celebrity chef Regina opens a soup kitchen in New Haven. Struggling line cook Gale stops by for a meal and finds a mentor in Regina. As their working relationship develops, the two discover that collaboration could help them obtain their dreams.
Short List:
Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith ♦ My Friends by Fredrik Backman ♦ The Stand-In Dad by Alex Summers ♦ Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi
Romance
I Think They Love You by Julian Winters
Social media manager Denz doesn’t do serious relationships, but being in one could help him win the CEO role in the family business. When he convinces an ex-boyfriend to play the part, acting like a couple begins to revive past feelings.
Short List:
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood ♦ First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison ♦ Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon ♦ Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean
Science Fiction
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
In post-independence California, the eccentric robot employees of an abandoned restaurant seize the opportunity to build something of their own by illegally opening a noodle shop. Enthusiastic support from the community saves the day when review bombing and anti-robot sentiment almost kill their fledgling business.
Short List:
The Heist of Hollow London by Eddie Robson ♦ Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. Wilson ♦ When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory ♦ Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler
~ posted by Andrea G.
