Get ready to kick off your 2025 reading list with some of the most exciting, page-turning books perfect for book club discussions! From juicy family secrets to swoon-worthy first loves, these upcoming releases are guaranteed to keep you and your fellow book lovers hooked. Whether you’re in the mood for drama, laughs, or a little bit of both, these picks will spark lively conversations all year long!
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight (1/7)
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is a captivating debut that explores friendship, love, and motherhood through the lens of a young woman discovering herself. As Pen unravels her family’s secrets while navigating her first love and a complex relationship with her own identity, readers are drawn into an atmospheric tale of campus life and emotional growth. Perfect for book clubs, this novel offers rich themes of female friendship, the impact of our past, and the choices that shape us, sparking thoughtful discussions on self-discovery and the many paths to womanhood.
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Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (1/14)
In Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor explores fame, identity, and storytelling through the journey of Zelu, a disabled Nigerian American woman who unexpectedly rises to literary stardom with her sci-fi novel Rusted Robots. As her success grows, she loses control of the narrative, leading to a life-altering journey across the globe and into space. A sharp and poignant exploration of art, love, and what makes us human, this novel is a must-read for those who love stories about the power of storytelling itself.
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We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr (1/28)
From the author of Hold My Girl comes We Rip the World Apart, a powerful, multi-generational story that explores motherhood, race, and family secrets. When 24-year-old Kareela finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she is forced to confront her fractured identity as a person of mixed race, while grappling with the complex history of her family, marked by migration, loss, and resilience. Unfolding across decades, this evocative novel reveals how unspoken traumas and well-intentioned choices shape each generation, making it a rich, thought-provoking choice for any book club.
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Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (1/28)
In this powerful novel, Ebby Freeman, the daughter of an affluent Black family, uncovers the link between a painful family loss and a treasured heirloom. At ten, Ebby’s life changed when her brother Baz was killed, and a centuries-old jar shattered alongside him. Now, as Ebby flees to France to escape a public breakup, she finds herself drawn back to that jar and the secrets it holds—secrets that could reshape her understanding of her family and herself.
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We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (2/11)
In this heartfelt new novel, Jojo Moyes introduces us to Lila Kennedy, whose life is a whirlwind of a broken marriage, rebellious daughters, a crumbling home, and an aging stepfather who won’t leave. Just as she’s reaching her limit, her estranged father from Hollywood shows up unannounced, pushing Lila’s patience to the brink. But as they navigate their differences, Lila discovers that even the most imperfect family members can reveal surprising lessons about love and what it truly means to belong.
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I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong (3/4)
In I Leave It Up to You, Jack Jr. wakes from a two-year coma to find his life in ruins—his career, home, and love life all gone. Returning to his family’s struggling sushi restaurant in New Jersey, he reconnects with his parents, his brother, and a nephew he barely knows, rediscovering meaning in the life he left behind. Through second chances and messy relationships, Jack wrestles with the pull between family obligations and his own desires, in a heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and the courage to start over.
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Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (3/4)
In Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie follows the intertwined lives of four women navigating love, loss, and self-discovery. Chiamaka, a Nigerian writer in America, reflects on her choices amid the solitude of the pandemic, while her best friend, Zikora, and cousin, Omelogor, confront betrayal and self-doubt. Meanwhile, Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, faces devastating challenges, pushing each woman to question the nature of happiness and the truth required for love.
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Everybody Says It’s Everything by Xhenet Aliu (3/18)
In Everybody Says It’s Everything, twins Drita and Pete, adopted from Albania and raised in Connecticut, find their lives diverging as they navigate identity and family. When Pete’s girlfriend and child arrive unexpectedly, Drita takes it as a chance to reconnect with her estranged brother. Her search uncovers hidden family ties to Albania and the Kosovo conflict, revealing truths that may either bring the siblings closer or finally tear them apart.
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The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland (4/15)
The Seven O’Clock Club brings together four strangers, each haunted by loss, to a mysterious Tuesday night meeting where they are urged to confront their pasts in ways they never expected. As secrets surface and connections deepen, they’ll find the courage to rebuild their lives—if they can trust one another. Perfect for book clubs, this story invites heartfelt discussion about resilience, human connection, and the transformative power of facing the truth together.
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The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (4/22)
This story follows four generations of the Bright family, bound by secrets, addiction, and enduring love. As young parents, Ryan and Lillian’s marriage is strained by hidden truths, leaving their daughter Georgette to grow up amidst turmoil. Years later, when Lillian’s estranged son resurfaces, Georgette must confront her family’s complicated past and decide if healing—and love—are possible.
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