New York Times Best Sellers 2025: The Books Everyone Is Reading
Bookdot Team • •
#New York Times#bestsellers#2025 books#book recommendations
The New York Times Best Sellers list remains the gold standard for tracking what America is reading. In 2025, we’ve seen record-breaking sales, returning favorites, and literary gems that have captured readers’ hearts. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the books dominating the charts this year.
Fiction: The Year’s Biggest Hits
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros — The Record Breaker
The third installment in the Empyrean series has become a publishing phenomenon. Onyx Storm spent 8 weeks at #1 on the fiction list, making it the most frequent weekly bestseller of 2025.
The numbers are staggering: in its first week, Onyx Storm sold 2.7 million copies, surpassing any other adult novel in the previous 20 years. The romantasy genre continues to dominate, and Yarros has cemented her place as its reigning queen.
Why readers love it: Epic fantasy romance, dragon riders, and a world that keeps expanding with each installment.
The Widow by John Grisham — The Master Returns
John Grisham’s first-ever whodunit spent 4 weeks at #1, proving the legal thriller master can still surprise his readers. The story follows Simon Latch, a small-town lawyer in rural Virginia whose life changes when he encounters an 85-year-old widow needing a new will.
Why readers love it: Classic Grisham suspense with a fresh twist on his signature courtroom drama.
James by Percival Everett — Literary Excellence
With 3 weeks at #1, this reimagining of Mark Twain’s classic from Jim’s perspective has earned both commercial success and critical acclaim. It’s a testament to readers’ appetite for literary fiction that challenges and rewards.
Other Notable Fiction Bestsellers
- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
- Return of the Spider: An Alex Cross Thriller by James Patterson
- The Intruder by Freida McFadden
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Reese’s Book Club Pick)
Nonfiction: Books That Inform and Inspire
The Body Keeps the Score — Still Dominating
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s groundbreaking book on trauma spent 6 weeks at #1 in the combined print and e-books nonfiction category, proving its continued relevance years after publication. This perennial bestseller has become essential reading for understanding how trauma affects the body and mind.
The Look by Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s beautifully illustrated book featuring over 200 photographs has captivated readers. It takes audiences on a stunning journey through her style evolution, from her days in Chicago to the White House and beyond.
The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2025
The NYT editorial team selected their definitive list of the year’s best books—five fiction and five nonfiction titles:
Fiction Selections
- Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
- The Director by Daniel Kehlmann — A novel about an Austrian filmmaker during World War II
- The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai — A sweeping 700-page family saga
- The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri
- Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Nonfiction Selections
- A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
- Mother Emanuel by Kevin Sack
- Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
- There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone
- Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux
What the 2025 Bestsellers Tell Us
This year’s list reveals several trends:
Romantasy dominance: Fantasy romance continues its meteoric rise, with Onyx Storm setting sales records previously thought unattainable for adult fiction.
Legacy authors endure: Established names like Grisham, Patterson, and Brown continue to deliver what their readers want.
Literary fiction finds its audience: Books like James and the NYT’s 10 Best selections prove that challenging, ambitious literature can still find mainstream success.
Mental health matters: Nonfiction about trauma, healing, and self-improvement remains incredibly popular.
How to Keep Up with the Bestsellers
The New York Times publishes weekly lists across multiple categories:
- Combined Print & E-Book Fiction
- Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction
- Hardcover Fiction & Nonfiction
- Paperback Trade Fiction & Nonfiction
- Children’s Books
Each list offers a window into what readers across America are choosing to read.
Track Your Bestseller Journey
Reading through the bestseller list? Track your progress with Bookdot. Log the books you read, set reading goals, and see how your personal list compares to the nation’s favorites.
Sources: Book Riot, Barnes & Noble, Rebecca Yarros Official