25 Books that Defined Our Reading in 2025

These are some of the books that mattered this year. The ones that moved us, challenged us, stayed with us. The ones we passed along to friends and couldn't stop talking about. This isn't an exhaustive list. There were far more exceptional reads published and circulated in 2025 than we could capture here. But these 25 titles defined what many Black readers were reaching for, even when they didn't make every mainstream year-end list. If you haven't already, read What Gets Counted in a Year of Reading for more context on why these lists matter — and why we're making our own.

The Talk of the Year

• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

• Delgato Family Series by Jahquel J

• Oathbound Tracy Deonn

• Zeal by Morgan Jerkins

• The Secret World of Maggie Grey Book Series by Granger

If you were paying attention, you heard these titles over and over.

Quiet Brilliance

• I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

• Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight

• Cutthroat by Octavia Grant

• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

• Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Not every book is loud. But, if you read these, then you know how good it was.

Books With Lasting Impact

• Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop

• The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

• Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

• fast by Millie Belizaire

Although not released in 2025, these books lingered. They shifted something.

Debuts That Announced Arrivals

• Grown Women by Sarai Johnson

• Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

• We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry

• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens

• Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

First books that felt like the beginning of something lasting. New voices we'll be following for years to come.

The Ones We'll Still Be Talking About in 2026

• The Last Man on Earth by Shae Sanders

• Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

• Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

• The Girl Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

• King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

Some books don't belong to a single year. These have the kind of staying power that outlasts trends and lists.