Book Influencers Recommend Their Most-Anticipated Books of 2025 (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Book influencers' 2025 book recommendations.

With the holiday shopping season upon us, many readers are stocking their carts with new additions to their TBR lists. And since bookworms love nothing more than a recommendation from someone who shares their reading taste — throwback to those kindly librarians of our youth, perhaps? — we’ve asked some popular book world influencers which books they’re most excited about in 2025.Preordering books that aren’t coming out for weeks or even months isn’t just a good way to treat your future self. It also helps the authors, because ordering a book before it comes out signals to bestseller lists and award committees that readers are clamoring to read. So click away — you’re not just setting yourself up for a pleasant surprise delivery down the line, you’re also being a good literary citizen.Below, check out the hot 2025 reads nine Bookstagram and Booktok influencers recommend. Happy reading!

With the holiday shopping season upon us, many readers are stocking their carts with new additions to their TBR lists. And since bookworms love nothing more than a recommendation from someone who shares their reading taste — throwback to those kindly librarians of our youth, perhaps? — we’ve asked some popular book world influencers which books they’re most excited about in 2025.

Preordering books that aren’t coming out for weeks or even months isn’t just a good way to treat your future self. It also helps the authors, because ordering a book before it comes out signals to bestseller lists and award committees that readers are clamoring to read. So click away — you’re not just setting yourself up for a pleasant surprise delivery down the line, you’re also being a good literary citizen.

Below, check out the hot 2025 reads nine Bookstagram and Booktok influencers recommend. Happy reading!

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Filled with passion, romance, betrayal and divine magic,Black Salt Queenjourneys to a gorgeous precolonial island nation where women — and secrets — reign. I am so excited because it’s everything I love in a book. Action, betrayal, secrets, romance and powerful women fighting for a throne all against the backdrop of a precolonial Philippine nation!—Kevin T. Norman

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I just KNOW the banter will be 10/10, because Mazey always delivers. Every book of hers has made me feel like the characters are my best friends, and left me in stitches. I need this book in my hands, STAT!”—Hannah Lohr

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One of the things I love most about romance books is when a rich man falls in love with his fake wife after telling himself it was just business. I’ve been patiently waiting for Xander’s story and I cannot wait to see hisstrictlybusiness arrangement with Penelope turn into more. Ava Rani has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I love how she creates the perfect mix of romance and drama! I’m sure this highly anticipated finale will be one for the books!— Salma Rafaf,Salma’s Library

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Imani Perry is one of the most talented writers writing today, and her newest book — an exploration of the color blue and Black culture — sounds like a uniquely complicated and thoughtful project that only she could pull off.Black in Bluesties the experiences of Black Americans to the color through things like blues music, indigo dye and the term “blue Black” to describe dark-skinned people. I can’t wait to see how she weaves the historical, cultural and emotional elements together to tell this story.— Traci Thomas,Traci at The Stacks

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If you haven’t yet heard of Chloe Liese, let me introduce you to one of my favorite romance authors and the champion of neurodivergent characters! Coming in early 2025,Liese’sOnce Smitten, Twice Shyis a reimagining of Shakespeare’sTwelfth Nightand promises a story filled with banter, a bit of spice and a deeply healing, soft love. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s emotional storytelling,Once Smitten, Twice Shyis a romance you won’t want to miss!”— Christine Severin,The Roomies' Digest

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I can’t wait forStory of My Lifeto release because Lucy always delivers on the romance and tension paired with humor and I just know this will check all of my boxes! It’s a small-town romance with a little bit of fake dating your grouchy contractor that will spark your next romance novel. It’s impossible to not be excited about this!!— Pauline Juan,The Books I’ve Loved

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source: people.com