Originally published on 10/3/25

There’s nothing better than cozying up by the fire, drinking a warm cup of tea and escaping into a good book. But there’s nothing worse than picking up a book, reading a few pages or chapters and realizing you just can’t get into it. We’ve all been there! And when you can’t find a book to read, that feeling of calm and comfort quickly disappears. To the rescue: Our list of the 10 best new books. Whether you’re in a book slump or looking to get back into reading after a long stretch of being too busy to sit down with a book, we’ve got you covered. 

The best part? Our list of 2025 must-reads contains un-put-downable books in every genre: If you’re looking to escape to a world filled with romance and fantasy, check out The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley. If historical fiction is more your speed, consider the latest Read With Jenna pick Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, which one reader says is “easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.” 

Read on to discover our 10 best new books that are guaranteed to get you back into reading. Warning: once you start you won’t want to stop! 

If you love glamorous historical fiction, try…

‘The Rebel of Seventh Avenue’ by Annabelle Marx

Glamour, fashion and friends abound in this historical fiction novel written by Annabelle Marx set in 1910. The plot follows Maisie McIntyre after she decides to move from Edinburgh, Scotland to New York City in the hopes of becoming a dressmaker. As she makes her way in a new city, she witnesses the unexpected, from the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to the women’s rights movement and love. A story of bravery, strength and self-expression. 

What readers are saying: “Immersive, empowering and deeply moving, The Rebel of Seventh Avenue will captivate fans of Fiona Davis, Chanel Cleeton and Jennifer Chiaverini. Maisie McIntyre is a heroine readers won’t soon forget.” 

If you love sagas filled with intriguing characters and emotional storylines, try…

‘The Elements’ by John Boyne

Told in four separate novellas, this epic, 496-page saga from the bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a must-read for people who love emotional stories of family dynamics, heartbreak and resilience. The story follows a mother who’s on the run from her traumatic past, a surgeon who experienced childhood trauma, a father who’s trying to connect with his teenage son and a professional soccer player on trial. Each character is connected to one another in a surprising way, and as the story continues readers learn who’s who in a page-turning one-of-a kind story about crime, punishment and guilt. 

What readers are saying: “The Elements by John Boyne is a very highly recommended collection of four interconnected literary novellas. Each story explore a different perspective on crime and sexual abuse/assault and are presented as an element: water, earth, fire and air. Water is the enabler, Earth is the accomplice, fire is the perpetrator and air is the victim. This is a complex, powerful novel and among the best I’ve read this year.” 

If you like suspenseful tales centered around class and status, try…

‘The Doorman’ by Chris Pavone 

From the bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon comes a tale unlike any other. Everyone at the ritzy New York City Bohemia apartment building knows the doorman Chicky Diaz. He’s been working there for decades, at the beck and call of residents, including Emily Longworth, a mother of two young kids who secretly hates her husband, and Julian Sonnenberg, a gallery-owner who is grappling with life-changing news. Meanwhile, uptown a Black man has been killed by the police and New York City, setting off protests, violence and more. Tensions rise at the Bohemia as the residents grapple with their high-end problem and Chicky considers the unthinkable as he faces thousands of dollars in debt stemming from his late wife’s medical bills. Packed with suspense, this novel is perfect for fans of thrillers and crime dramas.

What readers are saying: “This is the sort of novel that makes one remember why we read for enjoyment. The characters are ‘types’ but the story is so well told that they work well within its framework. I really liked the ease with which the author shifted voices; it added depth to the unfolding tale.” 

If you like family sagas set in the past, try…

‘Buckeye’ by Patrick Ryan 

This novel, which was recently selected as a Read With Jenna pick, follows two families in a small Ohio town after the events of World War II. After a stolen moment of passion is blown out of proportion, Cal Jenkins finds himself bound to Margaret Salt, even though he’s married to Becky and she’s married to Felix. Now, years later, those long-forgotten moments resurface and threaten to blow up both families. A must-read tale filled with family secrets. 

What readers are saying: “This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year… Actually, it shoots straight to the top of my all-time favorites. Patrick Ryan has crafted an old-school, whole hearted family drama at its finest. The storytelling is rich and deeply human. If you’re looking for fiction that anchors you in a world of real people, real struggles and real heart, Buckeye is it.” 

If you love out-of-this-world stories centered around personal growth, try…

‘To the Moon and Back’ by Eliana Ramage 

This Reese’s Book Club pick follows Steph Harper, a Native American who is determined to become the first ever Cherokee astronaut. Set over the course of three decades, Steph dreams of getting as far away as she can from the Oklahoma reservation she called home as a child. But as the lives of her mother, sister and college girlfriend become more and more complicated, Steph finds herself being pulled back home time and time again, forcing her to choose between her family and her astronomical dreams. A moving novel filled with heart wrenching moments and family drama. 

What readers are saying: “If you love books that combine family saga, cultural identity and personal ambition, and if you’ve ever been moved by stories like the Before trilogy that explore how time changes us, you’ll find a lot to treasure here.” 

If you love family centric stories mixed with a bit of magical realism, try…

‘The Phoenix Pencil Company’ by Allison King 

Magical stories and moving family history come together in this debut novel. Monica Tsai spends most of her days on her computer, worrying about her 90-year-old grandma Yun, who immigrated to the United States from China after surviving two wars. Yun hardly speaks of her past, but Monica is determined to learn more about where her grandmother came from. When Monica is gifted a mysterious old pencil, she realizes she might finally have somewhere to start digging. But it’s not an original pencil, it’s one from the Phoenix Pencil Company, where Yun and her cousin Meng worked years and years ago. What follows is a battle of secrets, magic and faith. 

What readers are saying: “Ever been in a reading slump? That has been me lately. Every book I pick up (even amazing ones) have not held my interest in the past few weeks. Then The Phoenix Pencil Company entered my life. It’s easily my favorite book of the year so far. I loved it and could not get enough.” 

If you like books told through a series of letters, try…

‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans  

This New York Times bestselling epistolary novel takes the shape of a collection of letters to and from Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer who has spent her whole life writing letters: to friends, family, authors she loves, businesses… Through Sybil’s correspondence we learn about her tragic past, her regrets, her family and work life—and see her moving forward. This moving, tender and emotional this novel is a must-read for fans of writing, reading and Ann Patchett. 

What readers are saying: “For the first time in many years I have devoured a book in two sittings! What a clever way to tell a story—and the book references were some of my lifetime favorites. I felt like we were best friends trading life experiences.” 

If you like swoonworthy enemies-to-lovers fantasy tales, try…

‘The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy’ by Brigitte Knightley

Slowburn romance, magic and enemies to lovers….this bestselling romantasy novel has it all. After coming down with a mysterious illness, Osric Mordaunt finds himself needing the help of someone from his rival faction, Haelan Order. Enter Aurienne Fairhrim, a healer trying to figure out why so many children are coming down with Pox. Now the two must team up to try and solve the mysterious health mystery, only to realize that the greatest surprise of all is how they actually feel about one another. 

What readers are saying: “I laughed, I laughed some more, and then kept laughing. I enjoyed every minute of this book and recommend it to anybody who likes comedy, satire, romance and fantasy.” 

If you like small-town second-chance romances, try…

‘Get Lost with You’ by Sophie Sullivan

Jillian “Jilly” Keller finally feels like her life is back on track. She’s living in a town called Smile with her daughter and brother, and has a great job at the Get Lost Lodge. But when her long lost love Levi Bright comes back to town that all changes. Now, Jillian finds herself once again falling for her brother’s best friend, even though she knows it might end disastrously. Or will it? 

What readers are saying: “Get Lost with You is a sweet romance that feels like a Hallmark movie with its vivid descriptions of a tourist island. The drama that occurs with family businesses is realistic and adds a little conflict to this romantic comedy.” 

If you love Greek mythology, try…

‘The Court of The Dead’ by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

Get ready to return to the world of Percy Jackson in this novel centered around fan-favorite character Nico di Angelo. After receiving an urgent Iris Message from his sister Hazel Levesque, Nico sets off to Camp Jupiter, only to discover that it’s now home to some of the most gruesome Greek and Roman monsters who…don’t want to be evil anymore. A moving tale about changing one’s fate and not judging someone by how they look. 

What readers are saying: “An amazing story with so many ‘broken’  and emotionally damaged people that still manage to push through terrible situations, while growing and learning. A whole new type of story, and a great one!”

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/books/new-books-to-get-you-back-into-reading-again