25 books to read in 2025

If you know me, you know I love the new year season. I love resolutions. Taking stock of the past year. Getting to know myself and my ever-changing preferences better. And thinking about what I want from the next year.

This means big stuff, like what my work in the world looks like, what my activism means to me, how I will keep challenging myself. And it means little things, like the books I want to read and the subjects I want to study.

So, as for the book part, my goal this year is to write 75 books. Here are 25 I’m hoping will be on that list:

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion*

I ADORE alternate history and this one is near the top of my to-read list for the year…from the author of Kaikeyi, a reimagining of India’s history if the British had kept their clutches on the country.

When Devils Sing*

A horror-mystery about teens solving murders and disappearances that hints at class conflict? Sign me up.

Wallenberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Who Saved the Jews of Budapest

I’ve been wanting to read more about Wallenberg (the European diplomat and “average” dude who saved thousands) for approximately forever and this is the year. I already special-ordered and am just waiting for the book to arrive.

Escape from Incel Island*

Just based on the title alone, this is going to be a ROMP of a book.

The premise is that the US promises a woman to every man who thinks he’s owed one…and then instead moves those men to a remote island where they live away from society…until a special op sends two people they perceive as women…

A Sweet Sting of Salt*

A queer reimagining of The Selkie Wife!

If I Could Go Back*

This gorgeous contemporary book about race, mental health, and the meaning of family was written by someone I did my novel mentorship program with. Really looking forward to digging into her work.

How to Tell When We Will Die*

A number of disabled folks whose work I admire strongly recommended this non-fiction about disability, bumping it high up on my list for the year.

A Concrete Crown*

A post-apocalyptic retelling of MacBeth!

Until We Shatter*

A heist fantasy from the author of Mindwalker (one of my favorite sci-fi reads of the last few years)!

It Waits in the Forest*

This murder mystery with a possible evil in the forest sounds right up my alley.

Hope in the Dark

A treatise on hope (I just started this one on audio and it’s gorgeously written).

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye*

The tale of one of the few purported female pirate captains to sail the Caribbean? YES YES YES.

Blueprint for Revolution

Non-fiction about small, creative ways revolutionaries fight back. I own this one and can’t wait to read.

As Born to Rule the Storm

This sci-fi time loop romantic adventure novella sounds so very good.

Red Mistress

A post-Russian-revolution spy novel about a lady spy in Paris.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Recommended by two of my closest friends, this one is high up on the TBR. The description makes me think it’ll be a quiet sci-fi about what it means to be human and what it means to need.

A People’s History of the Portuguese Revolution

It’s time to dig deeper into Portuguese revolutionary history!

The Thirteenth Husband

Biographical historical fiction is (obviously) one of my favorite sub-genres, so when I saw this book about a real-life heiress ahead of her time, it immediately went on the most urgent part of my TBR.

The Game

One of my favorite sub-genres of horror/thriller is “games gone wrong,” so you know this one (about a game of Assassin gone terribly wrong) has been on the list awhile.

Last to Leave the Room

This tale of dopplegangers and dark experiments was recommended to me by the fabulous horror writer Jessica Lewis.

Julie Chan is Dead*

One twin takes over another’s life when the latter turns up dead…which sounds like the recipe for a great thriller.

Starring Leo Everett as Dolly Divine*

A young queer boy named Leo lives a double-life – conservative senator’s son by day and drag dancer by night. Looking forward to this book by an author whose other beautiful book made me quite emotional last year.

Goddess of the River*

A reimagining of the story of river goddess Ganga by the author of Kaikeyi (which I loved).

Welsh Fairies

I haven’t explored my Welsh heritage nearly as much as I’d like to…so I’m planning to start remedying that in 2025.

What’s Cooking in the Kremlin

This charmingly-titled book is a history of Russian power through food, written by an award-winning Polish journalist.