by Casey Marion
We’re taking a look at the best reads from 2025. Be sure to get these on your must-read list today!
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden’s The Intruder was one of the most highly anticipated thrillers published in 2025. The novel follows Casey, a former teacher who has picked up and moved to the middle of nowhere to get away. When her roof threatens to cave in during a particularly powerful storm, Casey feels that for the first time, she might not want to be alone. Fortunately, she’s not. A young girl appears in her garden shed, knife in hand and covered in blood. As Casey takes the girl in, she begins to realize the girl is hiding secrets worth killing for, and she may have made a fatal mistake in welcoming her.
Story of My Life by Lucy Score
When washed-up romance novelist Hazel Hart receives a final warning from her publisher, she impulsively buys a house in rural Pennsylvania, hoping to reignite her creativity. The town’s small-scale charm offers just enough inspiration to spark another book for her small but devoted readership. Hazel soon meets Cam, a grumpy, stubborn local who perfectly fits the mold for her newest fictional hero. As their paths continue to cross, Hazel finds both her writing and her heart slowly reopening. For readers who love cozy Hallmark movies, small-town romance, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters, Story of My Life is a comforting, charming, and satisfying escape that feels familiar and reassuring from start to finish.
The House of My Mother by Sheri Franke
Sheri Franke has been fighting her entire life. From an early age, she lived in duality: subjected to strict moral codes behind closed doors while serving as a public face of her family’s wildly popular YouTube channel, 8 Passengers. Her mother was later arrested on multiple counts of child abuse alongside well-known relationship coach Jodie Hildebrandt. In this candid autobiography, Sheri recounts the pain, confusion, and resilience that shaped her childhood in the spotlight forever.
Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher
Hemlock and Silver is a dark retelling of the classic children’s tale: Snow White. When Anja, a healer with an affinity for unconventional magic, is tasked with saving her King’s ailing daughter, Princess Snow, she discovers another realm inside a magic mirror.
How to Kill a Witch by Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell
How to Kill a Witch recounts the history of witch trials and the codified violence against women. Through trial transcripts and witness accounts, this book walks readers through a time when superstition and ignorance influenced positions of power at the expense of women.
The Mad Wife by Meagan Church
This domestic drama unfolds in 1950s suburbia, where Lulu Mayfield is the perfect, devoted housewife, exceeding all expectations. When a mysterious new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu becomes captivated by the darkness surrounding her and must unravel Bitsy’s twisted web before it’s far too late.
With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
With A Vengeance is one of those books that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Inspired by the iconic stories of Agatha Christie, Sager does justice to the locked-door mystery with a glittering cast of characters and high-stakes thrills. Set in 1954, six people find themselves the sole passengers aboard the Philadelphia Phoenix, a train designed for luxury. They soon learn they’d been lured there by a woman named Anna Matheson, who claims each of them held blame in destroying her family. As the night wears on, Anna’s plan derails when passengers start dropping like flies. Fans of the classic Whodunnit? Will adore Sager’s new addition to the genre.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
First-Time Caller is the bookish adaptation of Sleepless in Seattle that fans have been waiting for. Aiden Valentine, long-time radio host and romance expert, falls out of love with the very thing he’s known for: Love. During one of his shows, a young girl calls in asking for dating advice for her mother, Lucie. Lucie intercepts the call, and soon the world can’t stop talking about the chemistry between her and Aiden. With all of Baltimore weighing in on her love life, Lucie begins to wonder if maybe she needs more romance in her life. Readers will gush over the nostalgic 90s romantic comedy energy this novel brings with it.
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
As the title suggests, Omar El Akkad writes that there will come a day — long past the time of accountability — where everyone will have always been against this. This nonfiction novel recounts the deep division faced by minorities thrust into Western culture. Omar, an immigrant who was raised in the West, weaves his own anecdotes into this heartbreakingly profound novel about what it really means to grow up in a time dominated by Eurocentric countries.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Two writers compete to pen a biography of a missing heiress in this captivating novel. Alice and Scott both meet a mysterious woman claiming to be Margaret Ives, but she shares only fragmented pieces of her story, leaving them — and readers — questioning the truth.
The Lamb by Lucy Rose
A horror unlike anything you’ve read before — The Lamb by Lucy Rose follows Margot, a young cottage-dwelling girl living with her mother. Taboo and unsettling, this claustrophobic coming-of-age story with hauntingly beautiful prose dives into the psyche of the mother-daughter relationship.
Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli
When 12-year-old Sage’s school bus is hijacked, she becomes trapped in an elaborate kidnapping. Forced to spend days underground with her classmates and an unhelpful bus driver, Sage faces terrifying uncertainty, wondering if they will survive long enough for their ransom to be paid.
Alchemised by SenLinYu
This epic dark fantasy debut from SenLinYu isn’t for the faint of heart. The war in Palada is finally over. Evil has won, and nearly all who were good have been executed. Left behind is the former talented alchemist, Helena, now a prisoner of war. Her memory has been wiped clean, leaving those in power questioning how important she truly was to the resistance. To recover the forgotten memories, Helena is sent to the High Reeve — one of the most powerful necromancers alive. Trapped in his mansion, Helena must navigate deadly intrigue and fight to uncover the secrets buried deep within her mind before her captors do.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The fifth book in The Hunger Games series captivated readers when it was released in March 2025. This prequel, set 25 years before Katniss and Peeta entered the arena, explores the origins of the brutal games. Haymitch Abernathy is reaped for the Quarter Quell, commemorating 50 years of Hunger Games history. This year, twice as many tributes are forced to compete, though only one will survive. Alongside Haymitch are his fellow District 12 tributes, navigating deadly alliances, high-stakes strategies, and the relentless horrors of the arena. The novel provides both fresh insight and a deeper understanding of the world fans have long admired.
The Crash by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden returns with The Crash, following expecting mother Teagan as she sets out to visit her brother after discovering a troubling secret about her baby’s father. A blizzard forces her to stop, leaving her stranded with a broken ankle. She takes refuge in a cabin belonging to an elderly couple, but something feels off. As the storm rages, Teagan begins to realize she may be safer braving the snow than trusting her seemingly kind hosts.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
John Green tells the story of a young tuberculosis patient by the name of Henry Reider in this informative nonfiction novel. Green weaves in the science behind the disease and advocates for better awareness and accessible treatment of this oftentimes preventable disease.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Sybil sits down every morning to write letters that will be sent out all over. When a correspondence she receives forces her to look at a time in her life she’d rather forget, she realizes there’s one unsent message that finally needs to be read.
Caught Up by Navessa Allen
Caught Up is the sequel to Allen’s smash hit Lights Out. Packed with just as much dark, brooding romance as the first installment, Caught Up follows Nico and Lauren —two sides of the same intense coin, whose resistance to each other only fuels their attraction.
Broken Country by Care Leslie Hall
Described as a romance with twists as sharp as any thriller on bestseller lists, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall delivers exactly what it promises. The story follows Beth, who enjoys a quiet, contented life in the countryside with her husband. Everything changes when her brother-in-law kills a dog that had been chasing their sheep, only to discover it belonged to Gabriel, a man tied to poignant memories from her past. As Beth and Gabriel reconnect, old wounds resurface, tensions escalate in the village, and a situation that began innocently spirals into danger, forcing Beth to confront both love and peril in unexpected ways.
The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose
From best-selling author and Fox Cities native Jeneva Rose comes the highly anticipated sequel to her global success, The Perfect Marriage. A decade after attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband in the murder of his mistress, she’s remarried to her new husband, Bob, and thriving. That is, until she discovers Bob in the throes of passion with another woman. Sarah dutifully files for divorce, but amidst their less-than-friendly separation, new evidence comes to light in her first husband’s case, throwing Sarah right back into the limelight. When Bob’s other woman goes missing, things turn from bad to worse, and soon everyone is left wondering: What really happened that night?
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood’s newest romance follows two college athletes — Scarlett and Lukas as they prepare for the Olympics. A swimmer and a diver who are both determined to keep their eyes on the prize soon find themselves wanting more than just a medal. On paper, they have little in common, but when a bombshell is revealed, everything changes. What started as an innocent fling with absolutely no strings attached slowly morphs into something… stronger.
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Isola is a historical fiction based on a real-life heroine. Set in the 1540s, this novel features a young couple stranded on an island fighting for their survival. Former heiress Marguerite discovers love, faith, and determination alongside her lover.
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
This sapphic, gothic romance set during the Industrial Revolution is a classic retelling of Carmilla. When a carriage accident brings a mysterious woman into Lenore’s stagnant life, everything changes. Something evil has started happening to the women near her home, and Lenore starts investigating.
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore
The fourth installment of the Dream Harbor series features sexy, single-dad Archer looking for a live-in nanny. He hires Iris, a woman not exactly known for her ability to keep a job. Tensions rise, and soon, keeping everything professional at work becomes a lot harder.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Alice Feeney returns with another domestic thriller chock-full of twists and turns. Grady Green makes a call to his wife, eager to share some good news, when, on the other end, he hears her car stop abruptly — the line goes silent. He discovers her car on the edge of a cliff, but she’s nowhere to be found. A year later, Grady is still struggling to cope with his loss. He decides to visit a small island just off the coast of Scotland, where he can clear his head. It’s there that he sees something that steals his breath away: a woman who is the spitting image of his missing wife.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing took the internet by storm upon its release in 2023. Since then, Yarros has returned to the infamous war college, Basgiath, with Iron Flame. Now, Onyx Storm picks up where the previous story left off. Violet Sorrengail knows the time to fight is now. Evil has infiltrated Basgiath, surrounding the academy and rising through its ranks. To survive and put an end to evil once and for all, Violet must gather an army, master her magic, and forge alliances with neighboring lands. Yet, the dangerous secret she harbors may be the very thing that destroys her. Violet must challenge everything she believes about loyalty, power, and love.
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson delivers once again with this thriller that follows Jet Mason, the 27-year-old daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Vermont. After a Halloween party, Jet is viciously attacked and suffers a head injury, leaving her unconscious — mostly. As the clock ticks down on the time she has left, with the help of a childhood friend, Jet realizes that she is going to have to be the one who solves her own murder.
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Lila Kennedy’s life is nothing like she imagined. A fractured family, a faltering career, and a troubled love life have worn her down. When her father suddenly reappears after 35 years, Lila is left questioning if she can handle the shock.
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
Sloan Caray is a compulsive liar. A chance encounter with a young dad at the park turns a harmless lie into a job opportunity. Soon, she’s the nanny for his seemingly perfect family — but she quickly discovers she’s not the only one hiding secrets.
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Recently incarcerated Corby Ledbetter experiences both crazed brutality and small acts of kindness behind bars. Finding solace in the prison librarian and a younger inmate, Corby begins feeling hopeful that he one day may make amends with family and those he hurt.
This article was originally published in the March 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
