When BookTok speaks, we listen!
The global BookTok community take their recommendations VERY seriously. And they’re the experts so you already know anything they decide to share is worth your time.
Whether you’re craving a bit of fantasy, romance, thrillers, or something that’ll make you feel all the emotions, they’ve got you covered.
If you’re on the hunt for your next gripping page turner, these must-reads are the ones the gurus are raving about:
Top 2025 books to read according to BookTok:
‘Blood Over Bright Haven’ by M.L. Wang | @katelovesbooks_
"Not even joking, the amount of times I just muttered to myself like, 'good for her' while I was reading this. It is fantasy meets dark academia - perfect for fans of 'Babel' and 'The Will of the Many'.
The world-building is just genius, and it made me experience the full spectrum of human emotion.
It's funny, lovely, harrowing as shit. The world is so systemically oppressive, it just made me so mad. But it's also poignant and political (shocker for a book) and it's just beautiful.
Oh god, six stars. Go read it immediately!”
‘Evenings and Weekends’ by Oisin McKenna | @grandpasbookclub
"Set in London in the summer, it is so hot. It follows Maggie and Phil, two best friends, who are navigating their ever-changing lives over the course of a few days.
The book constantly circles around and really keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The book is fast-paced and will keep you guessing at every twist and turn, but it's also beautifully written. Oisin does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life.
He writes characters in a way that feels so real; relationships are messy, people make mistakes, and I feel like it's a beautiful reflection of what real life is like.
I promise you won't be disappointed.”
‘The Games Gods Play’ by Abigail Owen | @freyvalerio
"I literally devoured this book within less than 24 hours because it is so fast-paced, so addictive, and the plot is incredible.
It’s a Greek mythology-inspired romance with a tournament setting and the enemies-to-lovers trope. The plot initially caught my attention, but then it just held me; I could not put this book down.
When I heard that Hades was our love interest that was it for me.
I could not recommend this enough for an addictive, fast-paced, well-balanced fantasy romance. It has the perfect balance of plot, action, and romance - it’s all-consuming.
This book will live rent-free in your head for weeks after reading it.”
‘The Striker’ by Ana Huang | @jaydenkouli
"This book right here is a sports romance like no other.
Asher Donovan, the world of sport’s most eligible heartthrob, falls madly in love with Scarlett DuBois, a woman who’s sworn off soccer players.
It gives forced proximity, forbidden love and tension out of this world which kind of envelopes you in the story.”
‘Jaded’ by Ela Lee | @robert.reads
"I think this book touches on a lot of important topics, especially in today's social climate.
So a lot of the overarching topics of this book deals with class, race, and gender.
The story deals with the aftermath of SA victims coming forward and how they are not necessarily believed or supported.
I just think that the way all of these topics were written and addressed was very well done. It's been one of my favourite books to read this year. If you're going to the beach or you're going on holiday, maybe take it with you."
‘Holding the Reins’ by Paisley Hope | @belleslibrarybooks
"Let me put you guys onto what is quite literally going to be the biggest cowboy romance series in 2025.
It’s the first book in the Silver Pines series. For my girlies who love a small-town cowboy romance, you're gonna wanna pick this one up.
When I tell you guys, the tension is high, the banter is there, it is a book that is going to make you laugh out loud, like if you want, a romcom that not only like ticks, you know, the cute, silly, giddy, spicy boxes, beautiful plot, beautiful characters, the banter and the comedy in this book, like honestly, elevate it to another level.”
‘Taboo’ by Hannah Ferguson | @slaggybookclub
"You might have seen me singing praise for a book called 'Bite Back' which discusses Australian politics and media through a feminist lens.
Well, the author of that book, the prolific Hannah Ferguson, has just released her second book, 'Taboo'. It is a smart, intimate, stirring exploration of taboos that is part memoir, part feminist manifesto.
It digs into sex, dating, work, money, friendships, relationships, body image - everything that has historically been considered 'improper' for women to speak openly about.
Hannah has made it her mission to destroy the notion of taboos. I read this book in like two days, I absolutely devoured it.
It feels like a late-night sleepover D&M with your best friend and, in fact, the moment I finished it, I wanted to give it to my best friend so that we could then talk about it.”
‘Play Along’ by Liz Tomforde | @edenvictorria
"My personal recommendation for a fantastic summer read (to be fair it could be all seasons but that's not the point) it's just a great read nonetheless is 'Play Along' along by Liz Tomforde.
I believe it’s the latest book about fake dating. You just so happened to accidentally get married? What do you mean you just so happened to accidentally get married? And the fact that he was literally obsessed with her, he's been obsessed with her, just stop.
Stop and read it. Stop and pick it up, please. I will say this time and time again, the communication in this book is fantastic, A-class. Absolutely brilliant. That is why it’s my summer reading recommendation."
‘Blue Sisters’ by Coco Mellors | @aymansbooks
"This book is a heartwarming, grief-ridden analysis of sisterhood.
Coco Mellor's writing is one of its own kind. As a sister myself, I know there is nothing like the bond that you have with your sister or sisters.
This book encompasses that exact feeling, that a sister isn't just this friend or this family member that you're stuck with for the rest of your life, they are much greater than that.
It also portrays the struggle of addiction in all different forms, more forms than I even thought of throughout a whole family.
This book made me smile, and laugh, it pulled at my heartstrings.”
‘Beg, Borrow, Or Steal’ by Sarah Adams | @thebooksiveloved
"This is book three in the 'When In Rome' series. 'When In Rome' is book one; 'Practice Makes Perfect' is book two, but they're interconnected standalones, so you could definitely jump into this without having read the first two.
'Beg, Borrow, Or Steal' is a rivals-to-lovers romance, and I love a good rivals-to-lovers. I love book tropes. They'll get me in every single time, and they're gonna be rivals to unlikely allies to lovers.
The tension between them is gonna be so good, the banter, the flirting, the romance.
Sarah Adams and her books are so good at drawing out just happy emotions, like when I'm reading them, it feels like I'm taking a stroll in the garden, and it's a beautiful, nice, sunny day outside.
If you're looking for a book that just makes you swoon and gives you butterflies, literally kicking your feet in the air, I think 'Beg, Borrow, Or Steal' is gonna be for you.”
Woah, that’s a lot of options to choose from - you’ll probably be sussed till 2026 at this point.
Because let’s be real, we’ll keep telling ourselves ‘one more won’t hurt’, right?!
