Best Adult Fiction Books of 2025

Updated December 11, 2025
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Johnson County Public Library Johnson County Public Library
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Best Adult Fiction Books of 2025

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Academy
Hilderbrand, Elin.
Paper Book
'Discovering the secret world of American boarding schools for both teaching staff and pupils was endlessly entertaining. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel!' JILL MANSELL NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! ...

Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter have found new scenery to write in: Tiffin Academy, an exclusive college-prep/boarding school. Readers spend a year in the school, digging into student drama and teacher drama... Much like Hilderbrand's other books, it's a hefty read at over 500 pages. This shouldn't be a deterrent though - I loved settling in each evening with the story and knowing I could read for an hour and still have plenty more to go. With all the drama it was still very much a comfort read.

Katie (Children’s Librarian, Franklin Branch)

Alchemised
Senlinyu.
Paper Book
\"What is it you think you're protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There's no one left for you to save.\" Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner-of war and of her own mind. Her...

"Yes, it's super long.  Yes, it has a whole list of content warnings.  But it's definitely worth it to lose yourself in this story of war, alchemy and dark romance."

Lori (Circulation Manager, Trafalgar Branch)

"In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy".

Nicole (Library Assistant, Clark Pleasant Branch)

"If you like angst, alchemy, and great storytelling, you’ll find yourself instantly immersed in Helena’s world. You won’t even realize how long this book is! You can find the content warnings at the back of the book – please read with care."

Brittany (Children’s Services, Trafalgar Branch)

Broken country
Hall, Clare Leslie
Paper Book
​*****AMAZON'S BOOK OF THE YEAR​​​***** INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER REESE WITHERSPOON'S BOOK CLUB PICK FEARNE COTTON'S HAPPY PLACE BOOK CLUB PICK AMANDA LAMB BOOK CLUB PICK ...

"A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love."

Nicole (Library Assistant, Clark Pleasant Branch)

Finlay Donovan digs her own grave
Cosimano, Elle
Paper Book
🚨 FINLAY DONOVAN IS BACK! 🚨 * Finlay Donovan is no stranger to skeletons in the closet . . . But this murder is too close to home. Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with...

Narrator: Angela Dawe, audiobook version in hoopla

“Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?”--Goodreads

Tiffany (Collection Services Manager, Franklin Branch)

Human rites : a novel
Dawson, Juno
Paper Book
With Her Majesty's Royal Coven in shambles and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the sisterhood of friends and witches must find a new way of putting together the pieces if (wo)mankind is to stand a chance, in this final chapter to Juno's  "irresistible" series (Lana Harper)...

"The last in the Her Majesty's Royal Coven series. Will the witches be able to fight back the forces of evil?"

Megan (Adult Reference Librarian, White River Branch)

Katabasis
Kuang, R. F.
Paper Book
Prepare for one hell of a journey... 'A big, bold fantasy romp' GUARDIAN 'R.F. Kuang is making magic' ELLE '[A] truly original and spellbinding hero's-journey story' VOGUE 'I devoured it' RED 2025's most unexpected love story is going to be hell in...

"Get in losers, we're going to hell.  Pick this up if you like all things dark academia."

Lori (Circulation Manager, Trafalgar Branch)

The Killer Question
Hallett, Janice
Paper Book
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Named a Most Anticipated Book of Fall by The New York Times, LitHub, BookBub, Goodreads, and many more! Janice Hallett, "the new queen of crime" (Electric Literature), returns with a fresh, edge-of-your-seat...

"Who knew pub quizzes could be so deadly? Told through emails, text messages, and quiz categories, you’ll be racing to the end to figure out just how far some will go to be a winner."

Brittany (Children’s Services, Trafalgar Branch)

King Sorrow
Hill, Joe
Paper Book
SOME PROMISES SHOULD NEVER BE MADE... ***A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK*** 'A tour de force...King Sorrow is huge, sprawling - and absolutely fantastic' THE GUARDIAN 'Joe Hill gloriously resurrects the doorstop horror blockbuster for a...

"The book centers on a group of friends: Allie, Donna, Van, Gwen, Colin, and Arthur. Arthur’s mother is in prison and in danger, and the only way to keep her safe is a proverbial deal with the devil. The friends band together to find a solution to the problem but as we know, harm begets harm. Their solution is a dragon, who agrees to do their bidding. If you know anything about dragons, you know that you must be extremely careful when talking to them – they love to exploit a loophole."

Katie (Children’s Librarian, Franklin Branch)

Murder in the dressing room
Stars, Holly
Paper Book
LIPSTICK, LIES, AND LETHAL SECRETS: A DAZZLING NEW CRIME THRILLER FOR FANS OF JANICE HALLETT AND TOM HINDLE 'What Miss Marple did with tweeds and knitting, Misty Divine does with rhinestones and stilettos.' - Jenny Bayliss -- Meet Misty...

“Misty Divine is a fabulous drag queen and amateur sleuth. When her beloved mentor and boss, Lady Lady, is found poisoned to death after a performance at her nightclub; Misty takes it upon herself to track down the killer. Filled with more than just laughs, this mystery has some good twists and some truly heartfelt moments. For fans of witty and diverse cozy mysteries.”

Erin (Adult and Teen Services Librarian, Clark Pleasant Branch)

My Friends
Backman, Fredrik.
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger's life twenty-five years later. Most...

"Fredrik Backman's "My Friends" explores friendship, grief, and art, with philosophical insights and a focus on the struggles of teenagers and adults."

Nicole (Library Assistant, Clark Pleasant Branch)

Strange Houses
Uketsu.
Paper Book
A Japanese mystery bestseller, revolving around a series of unsettling floorplans, in which the reader is the detective - from the Youtube sensation Uketsu

“Reminiscent of House of Leaves with it’s ominous and mysterious vibe, Strange Houses had me immediately intrigued from the first page and guessing all the way until the final chapter.”

Elysia (Library Assistant, White River Branch)

Tea you at the altar
Thorne, Rebecca
Paper Book
A wedding should be fun . . . right? The Princess Bride meets Travis Baldree in Tea You at the Altar, the third cosy fantasy in Rebecca Thorne's bestselling Tomes & Tea series. Our sapphic adventurers must navigate the ultimate maelstrom - their own...

"A great romance and fantasy combo with a touch of comedy."

Anna (Circulation Assistant, Franklin Branch)

When the moon hits your eye
Scalzi, John
Paper Book
One day, suddenly and without explanation, the moon turns into a ball of cheese. For some, it's an opportunity. For others, it's time to question their life choices. How can the world stay the same in the face of such absurdity and uncertainty? Astronauts and...

"A alternately funny and poignant series of vignettes of the first full lunar cycle after the moon turns to cheese, showing its impact on astronauts, politicians, clergy, cheese shop employees, high school kids, and a billionaire who really wants to land on the cheese moon."

Andrea (Shelver, White River Branch)

A witch's guide to magical innkeeping
Mandanna, Sangu
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! * A whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers--and her life--back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Sera Swan...

"Sera Swan had been one of the most powerful witches in Britain, but a decision she made caused her to lose most of her magic. With the help of a talking fox, chicken made of bone (promise it’s cuter than it sounds), and a grumpy – yet handsome, magical historian help round out a very unique cast of characters. It’s a cozy story that packs an emotional punch."

Brittany (Children’s Services, Trafalgar Branch)

You weren't meant to be human
White, Andrew Joseph
Paper Book
This grotesque adult horror explores unwanted pregnancy through the parasitic terror of Leech and Brainwyrms, screaming with trans rage as queer and reproductive rights erode. Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew...

“A grotesque and haunting novel that is not so subtle in its messaging. This is a book about survival, identity, and feeling like your body is not your own.”

Elysia (Library Assistant, White River Branch)

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https://librarian.syndetics.com/syndeticsunbound/lp/1918.2384/list/6894

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