Library Reads December 2025
Did you ever wonder which new and upcoming book releases and authors librarians get excited about? Below, I listed the top 10 adult fiction and nonfiction books handpicked by librarians across the country, and roundly agreed upon to be worthy of our time and attention.
It’s fine and dandy to have old favorites (Jim Butcher; Seanan McGuire; John Scalzi; Naomi Novak; etc for me) but it’s an awfully specific and good feeling that comes with reading a brand new author and getting that sense of discovery. So, without further ado…
The Gallagher Place
Julie Doar
(Zibby Publishing)
Marlowe is used to the drama that comes with spending holidays with her family, but nothing's come as close to blowing her world apart like this visit. When she and her brothers stumble upon a dead body, it leads to an investigation that may be tied to the decades old disappearance of her childhood best friend. Soon, no one's secrets will be safe.
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: Kala by Colin Walsh
Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books
Hwang Bo-reum
(Bloomsbury)
This is a thought-provoking book all about the various aspects of books and reading. It's impossible to read this short book of essays without reflecting on the joys and comfort that reading brings. So many books are recommended in the essays that readers will want their TBR tracker handy!
—Kelly Davis, Waukesha Public Library, WI
NoveList read-alike: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies
L.M. Chilton
(Gallery/Scout Press)
Kirby gets a message from a friend she's sure is dead. As she tries to connect with her other friends to figure out what's going on, disasters befall her and the group until she's in a race for her life. Witty, clever and creepy, this true-crime thriller is a fun, easy read for readers looking for something murderous that doesn't take itself too seriously.
—Carri Genovese, Indianapolis Public Library, IN
NoveList read-alike: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
An Arcane Inheritance
Kamilah Cole
(Poisoned Pen Press)
Ellory gets a full ride to an Ivy League university and isn't sure why. Within weeks she's dog-tired and feels like she's losing her mind. Strange things are afoot, and she has a nagging sense of déjà vu. Exploring themes of racism and elitism, this dark academia delight stands out for great character development, a fast-moving plot, and unexpected twists.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: Babel by RF Kuang
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death
Maxie Dara
(Berkley)
Nora is terrified of death but works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., a company that employs grim reapers. To complicate things further, her twin brother's file has shown up on her desk. To save him, the siblings go on the run with a parrot named Jessica. They find the perfect place to hide until she realizes it isn't just Capital-D Death after her brother, but someone else trying to kill him. An enjoyable romp.
—Vanneshia Crane, Love County Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Ruby and Cordelia mysteries by Olivia Blacke
Dark Sisters
Kristi DeMeester
(St. Martin's Press)
This fast-paced, terrifying work of historical horror is unapologetically feminist and told in alternating chapters across three timelines: Camilla in 2207, Mary in 1953, and Anna in 1750 Readers will be compelled to learn the women's secrets and the origin of the powerful church called The Patch. Recommended for fans of books about witches and women's power.
—Lila Denning, St. Petersburg Library System, FL
NoveList read-alike: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Canticle: A Novel
Janet Rich Edwards
(Spiegel & Grau)
An intriguing historical fiction about a woman who, from a young age, is called to God. Set in 13th century Bruges, this is a particularly timely look at gender politics, especially as they relate to religion—how far will men go to hold on to their power and standing, and to what lengths will a woman go to serve her god? A great pick for book clubs.
—Jayna McDaniel-Browning, Delaware County District Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Matrix by Lauren Groff
The List of Suspicious Things
Jennie Godfrey
(Sourcebooks Landmark)
In the late 1970s, the Yorkshire Ripper casts a shadow of fear over the locals. A young girl, Miv, makes a list of suspicious things in hopes of capturing the Ripper. As Miv and her best friends focus on the secrets, hopes, and tragedies of her neighbors' lives, she discovers the links that connect them all. Will be good for book clubs.
—Joan Hipp, LibraryReads Ambassador, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
The Bodyguard Affair
Amy Lea
(Berkley)
In this slow-burn dual POV romance, Andi is the assistant to the Canadian Prime Minister's wife by day and writes steamy romances under a pen name by night. When her novel, The Prime Minister and Me, comes out, people assume it is based in truth. In order to manage the PR disaster, Andi starts fake-dating the PM's bodyguard with whom she happens to have an awkward past. Very cute and cinematic.
—Cate Daily, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: The Bodyguard by Katharine Center
We Who Will Die
Stacia Stark
(Avon)
One of Arvelle's brothers needs life-saving medicine, and the only way to get it is to make an unbreakable pact with a vampire. Now she must survive gladiator-style games and get close enough to the King to fulfill her vow, or her brothers die. But why has the Primus taken a dislike to her, and why is he always masked? A great plot twist will hook readers.
—Laura Sanders, Lafourche Parish Public Library, LA
NoveList read-alike: Crowns of Nyaxia duology by Carissa Broadbent
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Hopefully, we've helped steer you toward finding next great read. See you at the library!
