Trying to read more is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but as it’s now a few days into the spring semester, actually sticking to that goal can prove difficult as work piles up. If you want to get into reading, whether for the first time or after a slump, there are many anticipated releases in 2025 that will be sure to intrigue anyone, no matter their favorite genre or reading goal.
Literary fiction
If you enjoy literary fiction, also known as realistic fiction or character-driven novels, giving any of Ocean Vuong’s fiction a try will be worth it. Set to release on May 13, Vuong, recipient of the John D. and Caroline T. MacArthur Foundation’s “Genius Grant” and author of the memoir “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” returns with his second novel. Similar to his own life that we see in “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” “The Emperor of Gladness” will focus on a Vietnamese-American character, Hai, living in Connecticut as he grapples with themes of love and loss. It is not yet clear how much this novel will draw from Vuong’s experiences, but as his first novel of true fiction, it will be interesting to discover his range as an author.
Another of the most celebrated fiction authors of the last decade is Fredrik Backman, author of critically acclaimed novels such as “A Man Called Ove” and the “Beartown” series. Coming out on May 20, “My Friends” is set to follow the strong friendship of four teenagers whose stories touch a stranger 25 years later. The novel already has 4.71 stars on Goodreads from early reviewers, so even if you are unsure if literary fiction is for you, “My Friends” will be a great introduction to the genre and Backman’s work.
Historical fiction
If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid’s previous historical fiction novels like “Daisy Jones & The Six” or “Carrie Soto Is Back,” you might enjoy her upcoming novel, which centers around the Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. “Atmosphere” is about Rice University physics professor Joan Goodwin, who applied and was chosen to go into space on mission STS-LR9. Even if you are unfamiliar with TJR’s other work, her writing is very accessible and fast-paced, making this new novel, set to release on June 3, a perfect opportunity to get a feel for her style and discover more historical fiction.
Fantasy and dystopian
Fans of “Babel” and the “Poppy War” trilogy will be excited to learn that lauded author R.F. Kuang is returning with her fifth fantasy novel and sixth novel overall, “Katabasis.” Kuang’s latest masterpiece details two graduate students, Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, as they descend into Hell to rescue the soul of their professor, a man they may or may not like. The novel is described as academic rivals-to-lovers and is set to release on Aug. 28.
Following the success of 2020’s “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Suzanne Collins has once again returned to the dystopian world of Panem with another prequel novel to her beloved “Hunger Games” series. This latest edition focuses on Haymitch Abernathy’s game, the Second Quarter Quell, where twice as many tributes were chosen from each district and Katniss’s future mentor somehow emerged victorious. “Sunrise on the Reaping” goes on sale March 18.
Horror
“Witchcraft for Wayward Girls”
“New York Times” bestselling author Grady Hendrix, author of “The Final Girl Support Group,” returns with another horror story. “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” follows 15-year-old Fern, who arrives pregnant at a home for young women in delicate condition. When she encounters a librarian who gives her a book on the occult, Fern and a couple other girls find the balance of power shifted in their favor for the first time. Hendrix’s latest book is expected to hit shelves Jan. 14.
Stephen Graham Jones, bestselling author of “I Was a Teenage Slasher” and the “Indian Lake Trilogy,” is expected to release his latest novel on March 18. “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” is a historical horror novel set in 1912. It details a Blackfeet named Good Stab who tells his life story to a Lutheran priest. The record of the discussions is then uncovered and reveals the events that date back to the massacre of 217 Blackfeet.
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