We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The Cult Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2025
The most captivating, thought-provoking, and yes, hyped books coming in 2025.
2024 was a vintage year for readers, from Miranda July's All Fours to Liars by Sarah Manguso and who could forget Sally Rooney's long awaited Intermezzo? In fact, it was a year when book clubs reached cult status, covers started to get their own social followings and the literary world as a whole became a breakout trend.
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
Thankfully, nothing is changing for 2025. And as we approach the new year, we're ready for a whole new host of books to pile up on our bedside tables. We'll see the return of some writing juggernauts from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to Curtis Sittenfeld, along with some breakout debuts by Ash Sarkar and Saba Sams.
Of course, this is just the start, so bookmark this page and we'll update it with all the best new reads as the year goes on.
So Thrilled For You, Holly Bourne
Big Little Lies fans will devour this whodunit friendship drama between Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi who have been best mates since university. We meet the thirty-something foursome at a baby shower, so far so terrorising. But after a house fire, everyone is a suspect and things take an even darker turn. This unflinching and entertaining take-down of motherhood will be one to gift all your friends.
Out January, pre-order here
Good Girl, Aria Aber
This brilliant debut by Aber follows Nila, a young woman born in Germany to Afghan parents who has spent her adolescence disappointing her family. Now, against the backdrop of Berlin’s epic clubbing scene, Nila meets Marlowe, an American writer who opens her eyes to artistic freedom. A beautiful coming-of-age story about identity and self-discovery.
Out January, pre-order here
Disappoint Me, Nicola Dinan
From the exciting writing talent behind Bellies comes this riveting, hilarious and totally devastating love story. Follow Max, a thirty-something who enters her first heteronormative relationship with trad cis man Vicent, a corporate lawyer and hobby baker. This exploration of millennial angst, race, and trans panic will have you gripped and sets Dinan as a literary voice to watch.
Out January, pre-order here
Show Don't Tell, Curtis Sittenfeld
No one does side-eye wit on the page quite like genius wordsmith Sittenfeld. Fans of her last book Romantic Comedy will have been counting down the days for this next release. This collection of twelve dazzling stories is funny, fiercely intelligent, and will move even the coldest of hearts with it's in-depth look into marriage, friendship, fame, ambition and aging. One to set the Whatsapp groups on fire.
Out February
Love In Exile, Shon Faye
Teaching us to love without boundaries, this new memoir looks at how relationships can expand far beyond the narrow ideals many of us have been taught to chase. In the eight essays Faye draws from her own experience of the world as a trans woman living through many damaging ideals of love.
Out February
Resistance, Steve McQueen
From new imprint Monument Books, helmed by author Reni Eddo-Lodge, comes this powerful book curated by filmmaker Steve McQueen on how acts of resistance have shaped Britain. From the suffrage movement in 1903 to the march against the War in Iraq in 2003, this photographic account of activism with words penned by voices including Gary Younge and Baroness Chakrabarti will move you to action.
Out February
Minority Rule, Ash Sarkar
In a book that will likely do what Owen Jones's Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class and Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer To White People About Race did to shift the political dial, Sarkar's debut looks at a world defined by inequality, insecurity, information overload and lack of community. A senior editor at Novara Media and everyone's favourite 'literal communist', Sarkar examines how the power of the masses is under attack by an elite minority.
Out February
Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The book we've all been waiting for! From the Nigerian powerhouse behind best-selling and award-winning Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun comes this bold story of four interlinked women questioning what true happiness is and how to be truthful in loving both others and oneself. Expect the emotional poignancy and astute observations that makes Adichie such a powerful writer. Ten years in the making and worth every minute of waiting!
Out March
Universality, Natasha Brown
From the author of 2021's hit novel Assembly, comes a thriller about truth and power. The story follows a young plucky journalist who sets out to uncover the truth surrounding an attack on a young man who is nearly bludgeoned to death with a solid gold bar on a rural farm in Yorkshire. High concept, beautiful prose, this is a thrilling Spring read.
Out March
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs, Ian Leslie
Whilst we wait for Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' upcoming biopic, immerse yourself in this love story between two of the world's greatest songwriters. This fresh and insightful approach into a band we all know and love will have you hooked.
Out March
I Want to Go Home But I'm Already There, Róisín Lanigan
This very modern ghost story set against the backdrop of the rental crisis is set to be a classic. Darkly funny, this portrait of loneliness, loss and belonging will have you laughing then weeping in quick succession. A great book club select.
Out March
Hail Mary: Stories, Funmi Fetto
In this collection of ten searing stories, Fetto delves beautifully into the dichotomy of the Nigerian women's experience. From a migrant worker swindled from her earnings to a recently widowed housewife, this is a poignant look at what belonging means today.
Out April
Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever, Lamorna Ash
New non-fiction star, Ash, sets out across Britain to meet those wrestling with Christianity today and investigates how and why many young people are now turning towards faith, not away from it, whilst also looking at her own relationship to religion. Radically empathetic, this is a reminder of the joy of collectivism and feeding the soul.
Out April
Gunk, Saba Sams
This tender fictional debut by celebrated essayist Sams looks at blended families and nontraditional life choices. Prepare for one of the best birth scenes written on the page along with an original and ageless relationship between two women, Jules and Nim, who meet each other behind the bar at Brighton nightclub Gunk. This will make you think differently about parenting, friendships and the goals we set in life.
Out May
Slags, Emma Jane Unsworth
Margot Robbie is a fan. Dolly Alderton says it’s ‘funny, gritty and delightfully feral’. This new book from one of our favrouite British authors is set to be her best yet. A frank exploration of sisterhood, Scottish road trips and leaving ones demons in the past.
Out May
Favourite Daughter, Morgan Dick
This darkly funny and irreverent debut novel has a brilliant premise that churns up questions about family, addiction and grief. It all starts with a huge inheritance sum and two strangers, kindergarten teacher Mickey and therapist Arlo, who have something very big in common but don't know quite what yet.
This will have you both laughing and ugly crying during your commute.
Out 1 May
Lifeblood: A Mother in Search of Hope, Mina Holland
You won't be able to start this beautifully raw memoir about motherhood without reading most, if not all, of it in a single setting. Poignant, honest and lyrical, Mina writes about coming to terms with her daughter's diagnosis of a life-limiting blood disorder at four months old. What she and her family find in the depths of trauma is fullness and hope.
A book that is brimming in love in all its forms.
Out 19 June
Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef, Slutty Chef
For those who follow her viral instagram account @sluttycheff, this book is a must-read. A hot and hilarious account of what it is to be a woman working in a kitchen in London. And it's steamier than Jeremy Allen White's biceps in The Bear.
Out 17 July
During Lena's tenure at ELLE, she has been building the brand’s cultural content and special projects including benchmark events; ELLE Weekender, The ELLE List and The ELLE Style Awards. During her time at the magazine, she’s commissioned essays from Zadie Smith, interviewed everyone from Miley Cyrus to Jodie Comer and made viral videos like ‘More Women’ that shone a light on gender inequality and was seen by millions. As an editor, Lena specialises in travel, music, arts, film and all culture and is an active BAFTA member having sat on a jury for many years. She has written for numerous titles including The Guardian, Vogue and The New York Times.
'The Summer I Turned Pretty': Lola Tung Is Ready For What Comes After Summer
How To Have An Offline Summer
Olivia Dean: 'I Know My Worth'
June’s Heartbreak Could Fuel Her Final Stand
