55. 12 Book Releases I'm Excited About In 2025

rather than shake in our boots because it's almost 2025, let's get excited.

1. Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

   1. Hannah has become a beloved romance author for me. I love her books - how earnest, raw, true they are. This book in particular is special because it is darling Sarah and Caleb starring the show! They are side characters in my favorite, Out on a Limb. I am so excited because this is touching on romance during marriage - something we often forget about.

2. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

   1. Emily Henry is an autobuy author for me, and by the title, I already have a lump in my throat. I feel like this one is going to hurt in the best way. Two novelists - one vying for a big break and one who is a Pulitzer Prize winner - are competing to write the biography for an old heiress. I love how nearly all her books tie into a writing career. One thing I am worried about is that it might be too similar to Beach Read - it will be important for her to differentiate two competing writers.

3. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

   1. Her duology, The Shepherd King, was one of my favorite reads last year. It was incredibly unique and fascinating. I loved that the magic tied in with real people, and I can’t wait to see her expand on her talents in this series. Prophets, a king, mystery, and gods.

4. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

   1. I feel my bones rattling when I think about this one. Set in the 1980s, we follow a group of people preparing to be astronauts. And then something happens on a mission. The universe’s impossible vastness is something I cannot comprehend. I can only imagine how much work Reid did to write this, and I’m truly excited.

5. First-Time Caller by BK Borison

   1. Lovelight Farms is such a sweet read, one that emphasizes the beautiful epitome of a romance book. I hope this will be the same. A radio host, a viral interview, and Sleepless in Seattle inspired. What else do we need?

6. Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

   1. The queen of magical realism is coming back - but we’re doing songs now. The East Coast shoreline, two songwriters, and a haunting melody. Ashely’s novels have a way of mixing sweet love stories with life problems, and I’m sure this one will be no different.

7. Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld

   1. A collection of short stories that artfully expand on marriage, ambition, fame, and friendship. Reviews I’ve seen say Sittenfeld is a master at characters, making them feel like friends who display some interior part of ourselves as we read.

8. My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

   1. A historical fiction novel that follows the life of Emilia del Valle. Raised to be her own person, Emilia is a writer and the societal norms of the time will not stop her. She goes to Chile to write on the war, and there she discovers more from her past and love in her present. At the end of the day, Emilia finds herself.

9. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

   1. We follow a socially awkward mother right before, during, and after her daughter’s wedding. Gail loses her job, isn’t invited to the spa day for the wedding, and her ex husband appears with a cat. Family, love, and marriage are confronted in this book in a said to be wonderfully witty and honest way. I imagine it to be fantastic.

10. The Geographers Map to Romance by India Holton

    1. This sounds absolutely lovely. Two professors who are experts in magical disasters who are married for convenience. What can possibly go wrong? I love how India writes, especially with her funny tone of voice. I know this will make me smile.

11. Passion Project by London Sperry

    1. Bennet runs into the man she just stood up on a date, Henry. As a fellow twenty something, I cannot even imagine the situation. She has lost her passion and zest for life, and lovely Henry is always up for an adventure. I see so much of myself in Bennet right now, and I kind of wish this book was coming out sooner so I could learn something. Bennet and Henry embark on adventures throughout New York City, rediscovering life.

12. A Witches Guide to Magical Inkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

    1. It is no surprise that A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a favorite of mine, so I am excited for this one. After Sera resurrects her dead aunt, she loses her magic, is exiled from her Guild, and finds a talking fox. Moving to help her aunt run her Inn, Sera encounters all the eclectic customers while trying to get her magic back. I am so excited.

This made me so excited for the new year! Of course, there are a ton more - I don’t think I even really got into fantasy books in this one - so I’ll do another in January. What is your most anticipated release?

---

Note, the links to books are affiliate links! Not a lot due to the holidays for this and top reads.

1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Personal Success): Dec 24, 2024

2. A Sky of Emerald Stars byAK Mulford (Fantasy): Dec 24, 2024

3. The Resurrectionist by A Rae Dunlap (Historical Thriller): Dec 24, 2024

Books I’ve compiled from a variety of lists such as the New York Times, Indiebound, and the B&N Top 100, but also through what I’ve seen online. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.

1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Literary)

2. James by Percival Everett (Historical)

   1. Not a new one, but an award winner!

Welcome, Alison Espach!

via alisonespach.com

Alison has such a lovely smile, and while reading and learning about her, I couldn’t help but smile too. Her most recent and popular book, The Wedding People, has rave reviews. I have yet to read it, but I already know it will be one I enjoy! She has also written Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance and The Adults. She also has an Audible series called In Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People. Besides her published works, she has written for a wide variety of publications including Vogue.

Alison is a creative writing teacher in Rhode Island, and she partakes in several writing retreats. I just know she is a wonderful teacher based on this one experience: when she went on the Today Show to talk about her book, an old student who works for NBC came up to her to say hi and listed off the books on the syllabus. To leave that impression means she was a wonderful teacher. Her Instagram is filled with smiling friends, a group of people she met on an elevator and spent the evening with, zen squirrels, and beautiful scenes of Rhode Island.

It seems like Alison lives a life of joy, filled with friends and enjoying the outdoors and dedicating her life to writing. You can learn more on her website and Instagram.

Just a reminder to comment any recommendations or email me: thesundayreads@gmail.com!

That’s all for today. Much love

Izzy