Barnes & Noble has announced the finalists for its 2025 Book of the Year, selected by booksellers who spend their days seeing what readers truly love.
The 2025 Finalists
The Artist and the Feast — Lucy Steeds
A lush, sensory novel exploring creativity, food, and friendship.
Buckeye — Patrick Ryan
A poignant coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of small-town America.
Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love — Samin Nosrat
A heartwarming cookbook celebrating food, connection, and shared rituals.
Growing Home — Beth Ferry
A touching picture book about belonging, kindness, and the beauty of roots.
I Am Rebel — Ross Montgomery
An empowering children’s novel about courage and identity.
Katabasis — R.F. Kuang
A bold and mythic new fantasy from the bestselling author of Babel.
The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins
Mel Robbins returns with an inspiring guide to boundaries, balance, and saying yes to yourself.
Mona’s Eyes — Thomas Schlesser
A tender meditation on art, grief, and the ways we see the world.
Mother Mary Comes to Me — Arundhati Roy
A lyrical and politically charged work from the acclaimed Indian author.
Puzzle Mania! — The New York Times Games Team
A brain-teasing celebration of puzzles, wordplay, and logic games.
Sunrise on the Reaping — Suzanne Collins
The long-awaited return to the Hunger Games universe.
There Are No Silly Questions — Mike Rampton
A playful nonfiction title that explores everyday curiosities with humor and science.
This Way Up: When Maps Go Wrong (And Why It Matters) — Map Men
An illustrated, witty look at mapmaking mishaps and what they reveal about human perspective.
Why This List Matters
Past Barnes & Noble winners like Lessons in Chemistry and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow became massive hits. This year’s finalists highlight how reading trends have widened—from literary epics to cozy cookbooks and playful nonfiction.
It’s fascinating how a simple shortlist can capture the mood of a reading year. As always, Barnes & Noble’s booksellers have created a list that reflects both literary quality and reader enthusiasm. Expect several of these titles to dominate bestseller charts by year’s end.
Source: Barnes & Noble Blog The winner will be revealed on November 13, 2025.
Vincent Salera
Founder @ World's Best Story™ amplifier of creativity & fun!
