Wondering what to read next? We’ve compiled all of the top new January 2025 book releases for your consideration. January 2025 is shaping up to be a breath-taking month for us book lovers, and while we’ve compiled a handy calendar of the most-anticipated January 2025 new books, we also wanted to share our top recommendations. Consider these your absolutely must-reads!
Whether you’re returning to familiar worlds or discovering new favorites, we’ve handpicked the standout books that you won’t want to miss – including our number 1 pick, Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm. Check that out below, along with our all our January 2025 book recommendations.
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean Book 3) by Rebecca Yarros (January 21, 2025)
Rebecca Yarros returns with the third book in the Empyrean series, in which Violet Sorrengail leaps into a high-stakes quest beyond enemy lines, where she must uncover powerful truths and rally unlikely allies to save her dragons, her home, and her heart—at any cost.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (January 14, 2025)
A chilling tale of empowerment and peril, following a group of pregnant teens at a restrictive 1970s maternity home who discover an occult book that shifts the balance of power—with deadly consequences.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (January 14, 2025)
A spellbinding fantasy about a woman who inherits a magical pawnshop for regrets and embarks on a surreal quest to find her missing father, a stolen treasure, and herself, in a world bursting with wonder and romance.
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (January 28, 2025)
A poignant family saga tracing a woman’s journey to uncover the link between a childhood tragedy and a lost heirloom, revealing hidden histories that bridge generations and shape her future.
The Note by Alafair Burke (January 7, 2025)
A gripping suspense tale of three lifelong friends whose Hamptons getaway unravels into chaos after a drunken prank turns deadly, testing bonds of trust and loyalty as secrets surface.
Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry (January 28, 2025)
A stunning meditation on the color blue and its deep, resonant ties to Black history, culture, and identity.
Three Wild Dogs (and the Truth) by Markus Zusak (January 21, 2025)
A heartfelt and humorous memoir about the chaos and love unleashed when the author’s family adopts three unruly rescue dogs, revealing the transformative power of connection, imperfection, and the wild bonds of family.
The Naming of the Birds by Paraic O’Donnell (January 7, 2025)
Prepare for a mesmerizing gothic mystery as Inspector Cutter and Sergeant Bliss confront a series of eerie, meticulously executed murders, while personal secrets and haunting pasts complicate their pursuit of justice.
Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades #2) by Mai Corland (January 7, 2025)
In this sequel, the five thieves are torn by betrayal and united by vengeance as they face an impossible heist to stop the manipulative king.
The Crash by Freida McFadden (January 28, 2025)
A tense psychological thriller that traps readers in a snowbound nightmare.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (January 14, 2025)
A haunting thriller about a grieving author whose search for his missing wife leads him to a remote Scottish island, where he encounters a woman who looks exactly like her—and nothing is as it seems.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (January 7, 2025)
A gripping debut that blends intrigue and emotion, as a reclusive bestselling author reveals her hidden past and confronts the devastating events that shaped her secretive life.
I’ll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman (January 7, 2025)
A heartfelt exploration of family and connection, weaving together poignant narratives of love, loss, and resilience as intersecting lives unfold across a transformative year in 1995.
Good Girl: A Novel by Aria Aber (January 14, 2025)
A striking debut that follows a young Afghan-German woman navigating Berlin’s vibrant, gritty artistic underground, where self-discovery collides with cultural tensions and the lure of freedom hides dark complexities.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (January 14, 2025)
A heartfelt story of family and second chances, as a man returns to his hometown to confront the fallout from his sudden departure and finds unexpected healing through coaching a struggling middle school hockey team.
More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova (January 14, 2025)
Follows a young woman navigating the highs and lows of a bipolar diagnosis while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy, offering a deeply empathetic exploration of identity, resilience, and the courage to live authentically.
Lightfall (The Everlands Trilogy #1) by Ed Crocker (January 14, 2025)
Centers on a rebellious maid in a vampire city uncovering a deadly conspiracy with the help of unlikely allies.
Which of our must-read January 2025 book releases are you most excited about? Are there any other January 2025 titles that should be in this list? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to see what other 2025 book releases are in store for us all!
