Amazon announces Best Books of 2025
December 3, 2025
Each year, I like to publish Amazon’s Best Books of the Year and buy my wife the No. 1 book as a Christmas present. Looks like Buckeye, by Patrick Ryan, will be under the tree this year.
For 25 years, the Amazon Editors have read and discussed thousands of new releases to create the annual Best Books of the Year list. This year’s selections include the Editors’ top 20 overall picks plus favorites across categories including fiction, mystery, romance, romantasy, history, biographies, cookbooks, and children’s literature.
“This year brought so many books that entertained, challenged, and moved us,” said Sarah Gelman, editorial director for Amazon Books. “Our team was particularly drawn to our No. 1 selection—Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye. This compelling saga explores family dynamics and societal expectations across decades in small-town Ohio with richly developed characters you won’t forget. It is truly a Great American Novel. As we celebrate 25 years of our Best Books of the Year lists, Buckeye exemplifies why we’re passionate about connecting readers with exceptional stories.”
Buckeye joins previous Best Books of the Year selections from the past 25 years, including Thomas Fuller’s The Boys of Riverside, James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, and Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Readers can explore the Top 10 picks of 2025 below and view the full Best Books of the Year list at amazon.com/bestbooks.
Top 10 Books of 2025
1. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
“With the family unit as its beating heart, Buckeye is a triumphant and timeless novel that you won’t want to end. As these beautifully drawn characters evolve over the years, you’ll root for their happiness, cry out for their pain, and forget that this is just a novel.” — Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
2. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
“The Correspondent is a novel you read and then immediately buy for one, or five, of your friends. Told over many years through correspondences between retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp and the people she writes to, it’s a story about the bonds we form and heal through words.” — Abby Abell, Amazon editor
3. The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner
“A sweeping yet intimate narrative of World War II—proof that hope can shine in the darkest places. Each page reads like a novel, but this story is all the more gripping because it’s true.” — Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
4. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
“Ocean Vuong’s moving sophomore novel brings the unseen in society to the forefront with compassion and grace.” — Erin Kodicek, Amazon editor
5. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
“A magnificent story of family, betrayal, and sacrifice that showcases the extraordinary power of fiction.” — Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
6. The Intruder by Freida McFadden
“A psychological thriller about lost innocence, revenge, and a night that seems like it will never end.” — Seira Wilson, Amazon editor
7. Awake by Jen Hatmaker
“An incredible memoir of resilience and reinvention that will hold readers rapt as Hatmaker interrogates her past and opens herself to the future.” — Lindsay Powers, Amazon editor
8. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“An exhilarating journey capturing the thrill of space exploration and the complexities of human connection.” — Kami Tei, Amazon editor
9. Replaceable You by Mary Roach
“A witty and fascinating deep dive into replaceable body parts, from false teeth to fake hearts.” — Seira Wilson, Amazon editor
10. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
“A richly layered story spanning continents and generations from the Booker Prize–winning author.” — Al Woodworth, Amazon editor
About the Amazon Editors
The Amazon Editors are a team of literary experts with backgrounds in publishing, journalism, and communications. They read thousands of books each year to help customers discover their next favorite read and curate Amazon’s Best Books lists. Readers can explore editor reviews, recommendations, and author interviews on the Amazon Book Review or follow @amazonbooks on Instagram and Facebook.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Innovations include customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, and Alexa. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
