As we approach the final chapters of 2024, we look ahead to the books we are giddy about for 2025. A big part of our job here at LoveReading is scanning the horizon for books from our favourite authors, the next instalment of a beloved series, and of course the next debuts who'll be our future stars. We're always looking for new books to fall in love with and share, so of course we've already been compiling a collection of books we're waiting with baited breath to see on our shelves. And some we've already got our grubby little paws on and have been reading voraciously.

Whether you're a huge reader and are setting yourself another reading target for 2025, you always have a book on the go, or have recently rediscovered reading here you'll find a selection of fiction and non-fiction that will entice and enthrall.

Fiction

If fantasy is your jam, from the internationally bestselling author of All the Seas of the World, and A Brightness Long Ago comes a sweeping new novel of love and war that brilliantly evokes the drama and turbulence of medieval France. We are firm followers of Guy Gavriel Kay and can’t wait to read Written on the Dark.

The Devils by Joe Abercombie, is an absolute blast of a LoveReading Star Book. A league of extraordinary characters fight their way to the throne of Troy in this hugely epic adventure out in June. We’ve already read it and it’s not to be missed: it’s a ferocious ride. 

And of course, the storm is coming. Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from Rebecca Yarros - Onyx Storm. As our reviewer Charlotte Walker commented after reading the second in the series last November: “There’s now a numb but gnawing Iron Flame sized pit in my soul and if you need me I’ll be screaming into the abyss until we have news about book three and the series can continue.” Charlotte, the time is almost here ;-)

If you are also hooked on a series, you’ll be delighted to know that Human Rites by Juno Dawson is coming to a bookshelf near you next July, it’s the fourth and concluding part of this incredible series featuring the sacred sisterhood.

The currently untitled Thursday Murder Club 5 is also en route. As we've come to expect, pop 25th September in your calendar for more shenanighans from your favourite septuagenarians.

We are big fans of John Sutherland here at LoveReading. His last three books have all been LoveReading Star Books and so we await his next offering The Castle with anticipation, a heart-racing new thriller with an incredible ending from the former Met Police Negotiator.

If like us you are fans of Tim Sullivan, we have The Bookseller to look forward to in January. It’s the seventh book in the bestselling DS Cross series, which can be read in any order.

And of course there’s a new Tom Thorne from Mark Billingham, a new Nell Buchanan from Chris Hammer, a new Washington Poe from MW Craven, a new Jack Warr by Lynda la Plante and a new Karen Pirie from Val McDermid.

All Elly Griffiths fans, set your clocks to February 2025 and get ready for an original, transportive and characterful new crime novel and the start of a brand new series. Hurrah for The Frozen People.

If you like a walk on the dark side, you’ll be delighted to know that Stephen King’s next book has been announced this week. Never Flinch features the beloved Holly Gibney and intertwines multiple storylines – one about a killer on a revenge mission and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker. And we can’t wait to get our hands on a copy of Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan: a haunting novel about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive.

It's been more than 20 years since I read my first Mike Gayle book. And I loved it. Perfectly pitched and incredibly funny, I became a fan. It makes my heart sing when I see there’s a new book from him. They’re uplifting, heartfelt, so funny yet often make me ugly cry. I can’t wait for Hope Street, out in February.

If you adore funny fiction, then pop this book on your wishlist for 2025: Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie that we’ve seen described as “ a fierce, fantastically funny read”. We’re in. All in. 

If you love a historical read, then Philippa Gregory will be firmly on your to-be-read pile again and again. She is the Queen of Historical Fiction. Gregory brings the Boleyn Traitor out of the shadows in a groundbreaking tale of love, betrayal - and survival.

One of the titles firmly on our wishlist for 2025 is The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang: a captivating heart-rending story of two women in 1800s China. Yes please.

If you love a short story, it doesn’t come much better than Curtis Sittenfeld’s Show Don’t Tell. It’s a razor-sharp, glittering collection of stories exploring marriage and female friendship, from the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author.

Debuts

And of course, we have lots of debut authors that we’ll be shining a light on this year.

Bethnal Green by Amélie Skoda. Set in 1971, Bethnal Green is the tender coming-of-age story of a Malaysian woman who moves to London to become a nurse.

For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, comes a debut novel from an amazing new talent - The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan is an absolute cracker.

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam. This is such a great premise for Bianca Gillam’s debut romcom, which delivers trope after trope, including forced proximity, work romance, second chances, and enemies to lovers. Highly recommended.

Travelling from the beaches of Mombasa to the suburbs of England and then on to the teeming streets of Kolkata, Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti is a powerful story of mothers and daughters, betrayal and madness and a child who must forge her own identity.

Non-Fiction

Book lovers everywhere know exactly why reading is so important, and why we love it so. Non-readers might well be grabbing their copies of Read Yourself Happy: How To Use Books to Ease Your Anxiety this year. We are huge admirers of Daisy Buchanan here at LoveReading so we’ll be buying this for everyone we know who we think would benefit from a bloody good read.

History buff? Then grab yourself a copy of Mavericks, and you can thank us later. 24 fascinating figures sidelined by history are featured in this book about these extraordinary misfits history forgot.

The Science of Racism by Keon West is an absolute must-read, especially when we consider that polls show that half of us think racism doesn't exist .  Yes, you did read that right! In this ground-breaking book Professor West cuts through the divisive anecdotes and rhetoric with decades' worth of clear, factual, rigorous science - the data that reveals truths about racism that are shocking and tragic, but also (somehow) funny and entertaining.

You Are Not Alone In This by Sophie Scott has never been more critical and within these pages you will find the support you need to keep being there for your loved one. Whether you’re worrying about a partner struggling with depression or witnessing a friend spiral into addiction, this will hold your hand every step of the way and deliver practical techniques to support.

On a lighter note, if you were one of the millions of fans who tried to get tickets for the Oasis Reunion tour earlier this year, you might want to put this on your birthday list: Oasis the Masterplan by Kevin Cummins.

One final shout out for Spring Unfurled which is the first in a stunning seasonal quartet from beloved printmaker and illustrator Angela Harding. This series will take readers on a journey through the seasons, reflecting Angela's view as the nature around her transforms and evolves over the months. An absolute joy.

Scroll down to see the full list of reads we are excited about for 2025. Whether your tbr pile is towering or not, here is a stream of brilliant reads to keep us all sated for the new dawn. You can pre-order them now so you don’t miss any precious reading time after the release date.

If you’ve got a book that you’re excited about, that isn’t listed here, what is it? What’s firmly on your reading list for 2025? We look forward to sharing more reading adventures with you next year.