The best books of 2025, according to readers

Take a look at the books Boston.com readers loved most in 2025.

Another year, another chance to take stock of what we actually read, what we meant to read, and what — thanks to Boston.com readers — we’ll be adding to our already-teetering nightstand stacks.

Every year, we ask readers to share the books that moved them, surprised them, or simply kept them company on the T. And every year, the results paint a picture of what it means to be a Boston reader: curious, imaginative, unafraid of a literary curveball, and totally uninterested in sticking to just one genre.

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This year’s list is no exception. In fact, “range” barely covers it. The selections stretch from sweeping historical epics to self-help mantras, from celebrity memoirs to sharp-toothed horror, from beloved classics to buzzy contemporary releases, and more. Some picks were tender, some were terrifying, and at least one involved literal dungeon crawling. (Of course.)

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We saw readers reach for books about grief, reinvention, and survival; for stories that imagine other worlds and others that dig deep into our own.

What united them? According to readers: finding the right book at the right moment.

Take a look at the books Boston.com readers loved most in 2025. Whether you’re ending the year with a refreshed to-read list or feeling smugly validated that your favorite made the cut, we wish you happy reading!