New Books of January 2025
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As January unfolds, bringing with it a mix of crisp winter air and the lingering promise of warmer days, it’s the perfect time to escape the cold with a captivating read. This month, while many parts of the world experience the depths of winter, there’s no better way to stay warm and entertained than by diving into the latest literary releases. Whether you’re cozying up at home or enjoying a quiet moment with a good book, our curated list of new books promises something for every reader. From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming romances, these January releases are sure to captivate and inspire, making them the ideal companions for your winter adventures.
A Diverse Selection of Must-Reads Awaits this January
The Book Guide’ editorial team creates a monthly list of popular new books, based on several ratings. The monthly curated preview of new books covers various genres, including contemporary fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult, and nonfiction. This month’s releases include a dark dream of Korean history in ‘We Do Not Part’ Nobel Prize winner Han Kang and ‘Beautiful Ugly’ by acclaimed author Alice Feeney, both highly anticipated by fans. But this month brings us one of the most anticipated releases of recent times. We are talking about Onyx Storm, the third part of Empyrean, the acclaimed series by Rebecca Yarros that became a bestseller.
What to Read This January 2025: Best Book Releases.
To help you navigate this exciting selection, we’ve compiled a curated list of some of the most anticipated and highly-recommended books hitting shelves this January.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
With her 2023 book Fourth Wing, which took home a Goodreads Choice Award and popularized the word “romantasy,” author Rebecca Yarros went viral. Onyx Storm is the third novel in her main series, The Empyrean, which combines the timeless mystique of dragons with a sensual romance and military-academic feel. Violet Sorrengail, the heroine, must look for allies from a distance in order to save her home, her man, and her dragons as her adversaries close in.
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis, a historical fiction expert, begins her most recent adventure, The Magnolia Palace, in 1936 Egypt, when a young anthropologist in the renowned Valley of the Kings suffers a catastrophe. Fast-forward to the upscale 1978 Met Gala in New York City: An eternal female pharaoh may be, well, upset that an artifact appears to be missing from the Met’s collection. Curses! No, there are actually curses involved. The new intern and an elderly scholar are about to learn about Egyptology’s deadly side.
Penitence by Kristin Koval
Described as a literary page-turner, Kristin Koval’s sweeping suspense narrative takes place over multiple decades, from post-9/11 New York City to Colorado ski country. A murder at their house throws Angie and David Sheehan into a predicament. As Koval’s characters deal with questions of forgiveness, childhood trauma, and the harsh realities of the legal system, the incident brings back memories of a long-ago tragedy. Extra information: Koval, the author, is a Columbia Law School graduate and a former lawyer.
We Do Not Part by Han Kang
Han Kang, a South Korean writer, boasts an impressive resume. Her debut novel, The Vegetarian, was the first Korean-language novel to win the International Booker Prize, and last year she became the first Asian woman to earn the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her freshly translated work delves into some extraordinarily terrible periods of South Korean history through a narrative that alternates between a dream land and the waking reality. Check out the Goodreads community reviews for more in-depth debate, as well as translation details.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
The title’s query does not appear to have a cheerful response. Kyle and Casey McCray split up two years ago, when Kyle abruptly left town—along with his 16-year-old wife. When Kyle returns to care for his ailing father, he must confront the wreckage he has left behind. Tracey Lange, an Oregon novelist who was nominated for two Goodreads Choice Awards for her debut novel, We Are the Brennans, in 2021, returns to her themes of transgression, atonement, and fractured family dynamics.
The Crash by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden, an acclaimed author and practicing physician, adds to the great tradition of the snowbound thriller with this narrative of difficult decisions in inclement weather. Tegan’s day couldn’t be worse: she’s eight months pregnant and escaping her rapidly failing life. Until it does. She’s now stranded in a fierce Maine blizzard, with a shattered ankle. When she accepts assistance from a mysterious couple, things worsen.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
British novelist Alice Feeney’s latest domestic thriller has a terrible tagline: “Wives believe their husbands will change, but they do not. Husbands believe their women will never change, yet they do. It’s an uncomfortable idea that has to be true. Feeney’s latest narrative involves a perplexing disappearance, a grieving husband, a tiny Scottish island, and an even more perplexing reappearance. Feeney is known for her skillful handling of story twists, so keep your cool.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix, a well-known horror novelist, has written about vampires, demons, haunted homes, and Ikea throughout his career. With this latest novel, Hendrix shifts his focus from evil to witchcraft, following a group of pregnant adolescents at an abusive Florida group home for “wayward” females. When a librarian gives the girls a book about the occult, they use their inherent abilities to turn the tables on their captors.
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Nnedi Okorafor, a Nigerian American sci-fi novelist, has received several industry honors for her books (the Binti series) and original contributions to speculative fiction, including coining the phrase “African futurism.” Her latest novel offers a unique take on the metafiction journey. The premise: A well-known author begins work on a new science fiction novel about AI and human extinction, which begins to change reality itself. Uh-oh.
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
Sue Lynn Tan’s romance novel, set in the same setting as her Celestial Kingdom books, presents an intriguing new heroine: Liyen, a brave young monarch. Liyen, who has pledged to serve the immortals that guard her realm of Tianxia, runs into difficulty when she develops feelings for the fabled God of War. Author Tan injects new vitality into the epic fantasy genre, drawing inspiration from Chinese mythology and old-school adventure stories.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Samantha Sotto Yambao, a Manila-based novelist (Love and Gravity), gives one of the new year’s more fascinating narrative premise: Water Moon guests may sell their life regrets and terrible decisions at an underground Tokyo pawnshop. It’s obviously a potential business idea. Unfortunately, new owner Hana Ishikawa awakened to discover the store plundered and her father vanished. Cosmic adventures follow. Consider it a comfortable dream with a mysterious center.
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
James and Johnny Golden, twin twins, have a rough background and a profound, mystical bond. When Johnny dies in a horrible accident, James feels it deep in her bones. When James travels to California to settle her brother’s affairs, she quickly realizes that Johnny was concealing some terrible secrets. Adrienne Young (The Unmaking of June Farrow) creates an evocative, slow-boil mystery about the difficult and painful job of confronting the past.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Emily Walker and Jackson Bennett have much in common. They’re both elementary school teachers in small-town Kentucky. They both covertly write novels at night (she likes romance, he prefers mystery). They each despise one other with the ferocity of a thousand suns. But the fires of passion can go in any way! Find out what happens in Sarah Adams’ latest enemies-to-lovers story.
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
Sarah Linwood is what you would call an indoorsy person. So, when she goes on a couples-therapy wilderness trip with her 17-year-old spouse, Caleb, there’s no guarantee of success. Things between them aren’t horrible, but they’re also not particularly good—and Sarah is becoming concerned. Hannah Bonam-Young, a Canadian novelist (Out on a Limb), follows two dedicated partners (and high school sweethearts) as they attempt to improve their relationship through outdoor adventure, encountering both real and symbolic difficulties.
Realm of Ice and Sky by Buddy Levy
If you’re looking for a good argument, ask a gathering of historians which means of transportation arrived at the North Pole first: dog sled, airplane, or dirigible. It seems to be a topic of controversy. Buddy Levy (Conquistador) presents his case in this well-researched book about arctic exploration, which includes prominent names such as Robert Peary, Frederick Cook, and Roald Amundsen. At the core of it all is Umberto Nobile’s disastrous 1928 dirigible expedition—and the amazing rescue operation that followed.
