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The Guardian

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2025

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2025 names 170 books across 15 categories. 40 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Biography and memoir

  1. A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardernsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toewssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Bread of Angels by Patti Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perrysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Electric Spark by Frances Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Eric Satie Three Piece Suite by Ian Penmansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Fly, Wild Swans by Jung Changsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Frankly by Nicola Sturgeonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wadesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. How to End a Story by Helen Garnersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Josephine Baker’s Secret War by Hanna Diamondsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Katherine Mansfield: A Hidden Life by Gerri Kimbersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Lifeblood by Mina Hollandsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Mark Twain by Ron Chernowsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Matriarch by Tina Knowlessource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Acid Queen by Susannah Cahalansource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Uncool by Cameron Crowesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Lisource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Truly by Lionel Richiesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Vagabond by Tim Currysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found by Andrew Graham-Dixonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. We Did OK, Kid by Anthony Hopkinssource (opens in a new tab)

Children's

  1. Deep Dark: A Cassia Thorne Mystery by Zohra Nabisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Donut Squad: Take Over the World! by Neill Cameronsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dracula & Daughters by Emma Carrollsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Firefly by Robert Macfarlane and Luke Adam Hawkersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Letters from the Upside by Katya Balensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenburysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Omnibird by Giselle Clarksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Great Bear by Annie Bookersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. This Is Who I Am by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasanesource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. Clown Town by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fair Play by Louise Hegartysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Strange Pictures by Uketsusource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Bureau by Eoin McNameesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carrsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Death of Us by Abigail Deansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Good Liar by Denise Minasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Winter Warriors by Olivier Noreksource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Audition by Katie Kitamurasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichiesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dream State by Eric Puchnersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Eden’s Shore by Oisín Fagansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Endling by Maria Revasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinnsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Flashlight by Susan Choisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Flesh by David Szalaysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younissource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Gunk by Saba Samssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Havoc by Rebecca Waitsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Helm by Sarah Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Nova Scotia House by Charlie Portersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Open, Heaven by Seán Hewittsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Rejection by Tony Tulathimuttesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Saraswati by Gurnaik Johalsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Seascraper by Benjamin Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Slags by Emma Jane Unsworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Benefactors by Wendy Erskinesource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Book of Records by Madeleine Thiensource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desaisource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Names by Florence Knappsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Pretender by Jo Harkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The South by Tash Awsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Tiger’s Share by Keshava Guhasource (opens in a new tab)
  28. To Rest Our Minds and Bodies by Harriet Armstrongsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. What We Can Know by Ian McEwansource (opens in a new tab)

Food

  1. Baking and the Meaning of Life by Helen Gohsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boustany: A Celebration of Vegetables from My Palestine by Sami Tamimisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How I Cook: A Chef’s Guide to Really Good Home Cooking by Ben Lippettsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Indian Kitchens: Treasured Family Recipes from Across the Land by Roopa Gulatisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lugma: Abundant Dishes & Stories from My Middle East by Noor Muradsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic novels

  1. Big Pool by Chris Harnansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cannon by Lee Laisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Do Admit! by Mimi Pondsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Dry Cleaned by Joris Mertenssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Milk White Steed by Michael D Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Misery of Love by Yvan Alagbésource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Photographic Memory by Bill Griffithsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Precious Rubbish by Kayla Esource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohnsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Spent by Alison Bechdelsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton and Gareth Brookessource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Once and Future Riot by Joe Saccosource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Weight by Melissa Mendessource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Witch’s Egg by Donya Toddsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Tongues I by Anders Nilsensource (opens in a new tab)

History and politics

  1. A Historian in Gaza by Jean-Pierre Filiusource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Friends in Youth by Minoo Dinshawsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Get In by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrundsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Homeland by Richard Becksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Minority Rule by Ash Sarkarsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Motherland by Julia Ioffesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Alienation Effect by Owen Hatherleysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucetsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Revolutionists by Jason Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Those Passions by TJ Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Ungovernable by Simon Hartsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Wages for Housework by Emily Callacisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. What Is Free Speech? by Fara Dabhoiwalasource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. Love and Fury: The Extraordinary Life, Death and Legacy of Joe Meek by Darryl W Bullocksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Men of a Certain Age: My Encounters With Rock Royalty by Kate Mossmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pellysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur by Jeff Pearlmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Tremolo Diaries by Justin Curriesource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. 2016 by Sarah Heskethsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Avidyā by Vidyan Ravinthiransource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Chaotic Good by Isabelle Baafisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Dwell by Simon Armitagesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Foretokens by Sarah Howesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lode by Gillian Allnuttsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Minx by Karen Downs‑Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Nature Matters by Mona Arshi and Karen McCarthy Woolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. New Cemetery by Simon Armitagesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Southernmost Sonnets by Leo Boixsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. That Broke Into Shining Crystals by Richard Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Book of Jonah by Luke Kennardsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The New Carthaginians by Nick Makohasource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Poems of Seamus Heaney by Seamus Heaneysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Wellwater by Karen Soliesource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlanesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Heart the Lover by Lily Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalolasource (opens in a new tab)

Science and nature

  1. Crick by Matthew Cobbsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Destroyer of Worlds by Frank Closesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ends of the Earth by Neil Shubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soaressource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlanesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Our Brains, Our Selves by Masud Husainsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Proto by Laura Spinneysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Super Agers by Eric Topolsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O’Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad by Simon Parkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Sadiah Qureshisource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. Circular Motion by Alex Fostersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ice by Jacek Dukajsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Luminous by Silvia Parksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntmsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. When There Are Wolves Again by EJ Swiftsource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Fixed: My Secret Life As a Match Fixer by Moses Swaibusource (opens in a new tab)
  2. More Than a Shirt by Joey D’Ursosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Chain by Bradley Wigginssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Escape: The Tour, the Cyclist and Me by Pippa York and David Walshsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Translated fiction

  1. Money to Burn by Asta Olivia Nordenhofsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Ballesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. On the Calculation of Volume II by Solvej Ballesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sololand by Hassan Blasimsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Devil Book by Asta Olivia Nordenhofsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Director by Daniel Kehlmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. We Do Not Part by Han Kangsource (opens in a new tab)

Young adult

  1. Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by Kate Mossesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. No Refuge by Patrice Aggs and Joe Bradysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Torchfire by Moira Buffinisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. We Are Your Children by David Robertssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessoresource (opens in a new tab)

About the The Guardian Best Books of the Year

The Guardian's year-end picks, one list per category, each chosen by a Guardian critic (fiction, crime, science fiction and fantasy, poetry, biography, politics, nature, food, sport, children's, graphic novels and others). 2009-2012 lists ran as critics' Christmas books-for-giving pieces. Left out: Observer pieces (a separate source here), roundups where many writers or public figures each name favourites, readers' and publishers' picks, stocking fillers and gift guides, books a critic panned, and picks with no named author. theguardian.com's robots.txt bars Claude crawlers, so pages were read through the Wayback Machine. Missing: 2006-2008 (no qualifying critic list found) and some categories in 2009-2014 and 2016-2017 that Wayback did not capture or index. Approved for use by the site owner on 2026-11-05.

Organization: The Guardian. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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