At The Soul Index, we are all self-confessed book addicts. We breathe stories and daydream about fictional characters. Novels are the center of our conversations and shape our lives. Every year, we eagerly await new book releases. And when the year is closing, we can’t wait to share the best of the lot. We’ve spent months devouring books just to bring you the best books of 2025.
From heart-racing thrillers to sweet romcoms and devastating tragedies, we have one novel from each genre that swept us off our feet. This isn’t just a list based on hype. We hand-picked them based on their storytelling, emotional impact, and the way they inspired, comforted, and surprised us.
We are excited to share our favorites with you, and we hope they lead you to your next beloved story. You can add them to your 2026 TBR list. If you’re ready, scroll down and meet your new favourites.
1. Heart the Lover by Lily King
Famously known for her book, Writers & Lovers, Lily King is back with another phenomenal book. Heart the Lover is a powerful novel that celebrates life, friendship, forgiveness, and love. It’s a spicy, dramatic book between a scholar and a writer.
The story spans decades navigating their tumultuous relationship and the consequences of betrayal. The protagonist here is unnamed but the author has named all the emotions there is for the reader. It’s perfect for those who want to read a book on relationship conflicts.
2. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
Megha Majumdar, a must read Indian author, writes a moving tale on survival. The story takes place in a near-future Kolkata and takes place in a span of seven days. Devastated by famine and floods, Ma and her daughter are days away from fleeing to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A Guardian and a Thief is an eye-opening book on desperation and endurance. The entire city is starving and they are also dealing with a thief named Boomba who is also struggling to provide for his family. Majumdar delivers a vivid portrait of two families fighting for survival, love, and their children’s futures as catastrophe closes in.
3. The Inheritance of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
The writer of Inheritance of Loss, one of the best books by an Indian writer, comes up with another spellbinding tale of two young people. It’s a follow-up of her 2006 novel that takes place 15 years after the inheritance. It’s a huge 670-page novel that spans over two generations.
Desai writes about arranged marriages and a little bit of a magical realism aspect is present in this thick novel. She navigates country, class, caste, and history. The Inheritance of Sonia and Sunny is an all-in-one. From family drama to a love story saga, it’s everything you would expect from a brilliant book.
4. Flesh by David Szalay
David Szalay is a Booker prize-winning author, and he has knocked it out of the park with Flesh. It has to be our favorite book in this list. The novel follows a 15-year-old shy István who lives with his mother in a quiet apartment complex in Hungary.
He is new to town and feels disconnected from everything that’s happening around him. He feels like a social pariah because he doesn’t know the rules and rituals of this new place yet. The book has love, money, sex, and the chances life gives us. It’s a must-read for those looking for some inspiration in life.
5. The Pretender by Jo Hardin
The Pretender is a perfect book for historical fiction lovers. The story takes us back to 1483, where England stands on the brink of upheaval. Richard III’s reign weakens, and Henry Tudor rises in challenge.
Far from all the politics and power, we meet our protagonist, John Collan. A 12-year-old boy who lives quietly with his widowed father. The story takes a turn when he gets abducted from his village and pushed into exile. It’s an exciting book that doesn’t have even one dull moment. It’s hands down one of the best books of 2025.
Conclusion
Books shape us, comfort us, and connect us and the best books of 2025 prove exactly that. These stories can make us laugh, cry, rethink the world, and in some cases, fall completely in love with reading all over again.
We hope our list inspires you to discover something new and exciting, and maybe even share a recommendation with someone you love. Here’s to another year of unforgettable books, late-night binge-reading sessions, and stories that will help us forget our sorrows for a while.
