Looking to add to your to-read pile? Amazon's editors just dropped their Best Books of 2025 list, which is kind of like having that friend who reads everything give you their annual recommendations. The list spans fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, romance, sci-fi and every other genre Amazon tracks, chosen by its editorial team, which spends the year reading hundreds of books to curate the standouts. It's not an algorithm-generated list based on sales data — it's actual humans choosing books that deserve to be on the list.
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Each year, books on Amazon's Best list go on to win prestigious awards (last year's No. 1 pick ended up winning the Pulitzer for fiction). But this list is also a great way to discover books that might have flown under your radar during the year. Whether you're catching up on books you meant to read, shopping for gifts or just building your 2026 TBR pile, this list provides solid starting points.
In this article: "Buckeye" by Patrick Ryan, "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans and "The Boys in the Light" by Nina Willner
Amazon's editors chose these as the year's best across all categories, so here are the top 10 books that made their Best Books of 2025 list.
Patrick Ryan's novel tells a compassionate tale about two midwestern families linked by a secret that reverberates across generations. The story follows beautifully drawn characters as they evolve over years, creating emotional investment in their happiness and pain. Amazon editor Al Woodworth describes it as "a triumphant and timeless novel that you won't want to end."
"The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans
Virginia Evans' novel unfolds through correspondences between retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp and people she writes to over many years. Amazon editor Abby Abell writes, "'The Correspondent' is a novel you read and then immediately buy for one, or five, of your friends."
"The Boys in the Light" by Nina Willner
Nina Willner's nonfiction work presents a sweeping yet intimate narrative of World War II, telling the story of the writer's father, a 16-year-old Jew rounded up by Hitler's Nazis and forced into slave labor alongside his father and his best friend. A story of extraordinary survival and brotherhood, the book reads like a novel despite being entirely true, making decades-old events feel immediately relevant.
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"The Emperor of Gladness" by Ocean Vuong
"Ocean Vuong’s moving sophomore novel brings the unseen in society to the fore — people with nothing, who owe each other nothing, and yet they inherently understand something that so many of us do not in this increasingly divisive world: that we should take care of one another. 'The Emperor of Gladness' oozes compassion and grace," writes Amazon editor Erin Kodicek.
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy
Amazon editor Al Woodworth praises McConaghy's "exquisite gift" for creating flawed, compelling characters in a story that demonstrates the extraordinary power of fiction to make readers care deeply about morally complex people. Environmental themes interweave with intimate family drama for layered storytelling in "Wild Dark Shore."
"The Intruder" by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden's psychological thriller follows Casey trying to reset her life in a remote cabin until a terrifying storm brings a girl with a knife. The narrative shifts between past and present while suspense builds relentlessly in a thriller true crime lovers will devour.
Jen Hatmaker's memoir begins when she's shaken awake hearing her husband of 26 years voice-texting his girlfriend, leading to an awakening of a different sort. In her page-turning book, she recounts her attempts to rebuild her life after this revelation.
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Amazon editor Kami Tei writes, "This is an exhilarating journey, masterfully capturing both the thrill of space exploration and the complexities of human connection. Atmosphere is a testament to resilience, and how far we'll go to chase our dreams, even when those dreams seem as distant as the stars."
"Replaceable You" by Mary Roach
Mary Roach's nonfiction explores replaceable body parts from false teeth to fake hearts and butt implants. Roach brings science to life through wit, humor and wild storytelling that will convert even those who don't love nonfiction.
"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny" by Kiran Desai
"Crossing continents and generations and taking aim at issues of the heart and family, Kiran Desai’s follow-up to her Booker Prize-winning 'The Inheritance of Loss' is a richly layered and rewarding read," writes Amazon editor Al Woodworth.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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