NPR Staff and Critics’ Top 8 Books of 2025

In 2025, notable fiction books captured the attention of readers and critics alike. A selection from El-Balad highlights eight standout titles that represent a diverse range of genres, including romance, fantasy, and science fiction.

NPR Staff and Critics’ Top 8 Books of 2025

• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

  This novel expertly portrays NASA’s space shuttle program in the 1980s. The story begins with Joan managing a shuttle crisis. Through flashbacks, we learn how each astronaut earned their spot on the mission. Themes include workplace sexism and LGBTQ relationships.

• The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

  In a world dominated by surveillance capitalism, Sara T. Hussein, an archivist, is detained for dreaming too boldly. The narrative examines how pre-crime systems affect individual liberties, urging readers to contemplate the risks we take in modern society.

• The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

  This profound narrative explores a scholar and a mythical knight caught in a time loop. It delves into storytelling and nationalism while portraying a poignant love story that reverberates through time, prompting readers to reflect on the nature of heroes.

• Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

  Journalist Alice Scott finds herself competing for a biography deal against Pulitzer Prize winner Hayden Anderson. Set on Little Crescent Island, their interactions reveal deeper truths about family, secrets, and romance.

• King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

  In this gripping Southern crime drama, Roman Carruthers returns home to confront a drug gang threatening his family. As he tries to protect his sister and brother, he plunges into a web of dangerous mysteries that lead to a thrilling conclusion.

• The South by Tash Aw

  This coming-of-age story follows teenager Jay Lim amidst the backdrop of the late-1990s Asian financial crisis. It explores generational and class tensions in a Malaysian family, making it a compelling read, particularly as it launches the Lim family’s saga.

• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

  The latest addition to the Hunger Games universe, this novel chronicles Haymitch Abernathy’s story during the 50th annual Hunger Games. With the stakes raised higher than ever, readers witness familiar characters as they navigate challenges within and outside the arena.

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

  This book features a family living on a sinking research island near Antarctica. Their lives change when a mysterious woman washes ashore, testing their trust and resilience in the face of climate change.

These selections form only a small part of the 380+ titles featured in this year’s Books We Love guide. El-Balad invites readers to explore more exciting fiction from 2025 and beyond.