15 Must Read English Novels for Beginners in 2025
If you have been planning to start reading, there is no better time than now. As 2025 closes, these books will shape how you think and feel going into 2026. They trended across book clubs, editor lists, and social media because readers kept talking about them. Pick one and begin. No spoilers, only why each book matters.
Casual note on popularity: these picks are based on reader buzz, bestseller lists, social chatter, and editor roundups such as Penguin Random House’s best of 2025. Mentioning those places helps show why these books were widely discussed this year.
Katabasis by R. F. Kuang
R. F. Kuang’s Katabasis is a gripping fantasy about two magicians who travel into a forbidden world to save their mentor. What starts as a rescue mission becomes a test of friendship, courage, and ambition. Kuang’s storytelling feels sharp and emotional, making readers question how far people will go for success. The book mixes fast-paced magic with deep feelings, creating a story that’s both exciting and thought-provoking. A perfect read if you like fantasy that has meaning.
Why read it: Intelligent and intense, it proves fantasy can be both thrilling and profound. A great pick for readers ready for emotional and intellectual payoff.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
From the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes a story set in the 1980s during the space race. Atmosphere follows astronaut Joan Goodwin as she faces the cost of chasing her dreams beyond Earth. It’s emotional, exciting, and beautifully told. Taylor Jenkins Reid shows how love and ambition can pull us in different directions. This book makes you think about what it really means to reach for the stars.
Why read it: Taylor Jenkins Reid excels at vivid characters and sweeping scenes. This book reads like a movie and stays with you like a memory.
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Audition tells the story of an actress whose life begins to change after a quiet but powerful meeting with a stranger. Katie Kitamura writes in a simple, calm way that draws you in without noise or drama. The book explores how memory and identity can shift when life surprises us. It’s a short but meaningful story that stays in your mind. Perfect for readers who enjoy slow, thoughtful books about understanding yourself.
Why read it: For readers who enjoy subtle, atmospheric fiction that rewards close attention and reflection.
Vera or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
Gary Shteyngart mixes humor and heart in Vera or Faith, a novel about family, belief, and finding purpose in a confusing world. The story is funny and emotional at the same time, showing how love and faith hold people together even when everything feels broken. Shteyngart’s writing makes you laugh one moment and think deeply the next. It’s warm, clever, and easy to enjoy. A great book for anyone who likes stories with both wit and soul.
Why read it: Funny, sharp, and warm. It is a smart bridge between lighter reads and emotionally resonant fiction.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness is a quiet, emotional novel about love, loss, and healing. Every line feels honest and personal, as if the writer is speaking directly to you. The story explores how people hold on to memories and find hope after pain. It’s written in simple but beautiful language that makes you stop and think. This book will make you feel peaceful, reflective, and grateful for small moments.
Why read it: For the beauty of the sentences and the emotional clarity. A book to read slowly and return to often.
Broken Country by Adam Ehrlich Sachs
Broken Country is a story about people facing hard choices in love and family. Adam Ehrlich Sachs writes about the quiet struggles that shape our lives — the moments when honesty and kindness are tested. The book is emotional without being heavy, showing how forgiveness can change everything. It’s simple, thoughtful, and real. A great pick for readers who like stories about relationships, mistakes, and second chances.
Why read it: Thoughtful and affecting, it is contemporary fiction that lingers and invites conversation.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
In The Dream Hotel, dreams can be recorded and sold. Laila Lalami uses this idea to ask what happens when even our private thoughts become public. The story feels modern and real, mixing imagination with emotion. It’s not just science fiction — it’s about people, choices, and the things we try to hide. The writing is clear and moving, and the story makes you think long after you finish. Perfect for readers who like unique and deep stories.
Why read it: A smart speculative novel anchored by human longing and strong moral questions.
Martyr by Kaveh Akbar
Poet Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr is about faith, forgiveness, and finding meaning in a messy world. It follows a man trying to understand who he is and what he believes in. The story feels honest and gentle, full of emotion and truth. Akbar’s writing is simple but powerful, showing how brokenness can lead to strength. This book makes you stop, breathe, and think about your own journey. A heartfelt story about hope and healing.
Why read it: It feels like a close conversation about survival, hope, and forgiveness.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
This haunting story follows forty women trapped underground with no idea why they’re there or who locked them away. When freedom comes, they discover a world they can’t recognize. Jacqueline Harpman’s writing is simple but full of feeling, exploring what it means to be human without love or memory. It’s strange, sad, and deeply touching. A short book that stays with you and makes you think about loneliness, freedom, and connection.
Why read it: Strange, moving, and unforgettable, it rewards patient readers with questions that echo long after you finish.
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory became a viral favorite for a reason. It teaches one simple idea — stop trying to control what others do and focus on your own peace. The book is short, practical, and full of motivation. Robbins explains things in a way that feels like a friend giving advice. Easy to read and full of real lessons, this is a great book to build confidence and calm in everyday life.
Why read it: Practical, encouraging, and excellent for building momentum both in reading and life.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins returns to the Hunger Games world with Sunrise on the Reaping, a story full of action, hope, and courage. The book dives deeper into the politics and emotions behind the rebellion, showing how power and fear shape people’s choices. Collins writes with heart and purpose, making you care about every character. It’s fast, emotional, and easy to get lost in — perfect for both fans and new readers alike.
Why read it: Thrilling, thoughtful, and ideal for readers who love momentum with meaning.
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
In Grave Empire, Richard Swan creates a world of power, loyalty, and tough decisions. The story mixes fantasy and politics in a way that feels exciting but not confusing. You follow characters who must choose between duty and truth, and the stakes feel real. The writing is simple and steady, keeping you hooked from start to finish. A great fantasy read for beginners who want something smart but easy to follow.
Why read it: A strong gateway fantasy that balances intrigue with accessible world building.
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
Megha Majumdar’s A Guardian and a Thief is set in a city struggling with climate change and inequality. It tells the story of people trying to survive, protect each other, and stay hopeful in a harsh world. The book is emotional, honest, and full of life. Majumdar writes about social issues in a way that feels human and relatable. It’s a story about courage, compassion, and the choices we make when the world feels uncertain.
Why read it: Heartfelt and timely, it connects local detail with global truth.
The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid Is Watching is a thrilling story full of secrets, twists, and surprises. The story moves fast and keeps you guessing till the end. It’s easy to read and impossible to put down. McFadden makes you feel like you’re right inside the mystery. Perfect for readers who want something tense, fun, and full of drama. A great pick if you’re just starting to read thrillers and want something that hooks you quickly.
Why read it: Fast paced, twist filled, and utterly addictive for new readers building reading momentum.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is about choices, regrets, and hope. It follows Nora Seed, who gets a chance to see all the different lives she could have lived. The story is gentle, emotional, and full of warmth. Haig’s writing is easy to follow and deeply meaningful. It reminds you that even small moments can change your life. A comforting and inspiring read for anyone looking to start their reading journey on a hopeful note.
Why read it: Comforting, hopeful, and perfectly pitched for beginners.
If you are starting to read in 2025, these fifteen books are the best place to begin. They cover every feeling such as hope, love, mystery, and imagination and remind you how powerful stories can be. Whether you read one book or all fifteen, what matters most is that you start. Each page you turn builds focus, empathy, and confidence. Reading opens doors that keep giving, and by the time 2026 arrives, you will already be ahead, growing, learning, and seeing the world differently.
Explore these books at Perfect Book House and start your reading journey today. Let every story you read take you one step closer to who you want to become.