Every year/month/week, I make a tbr of a bunch of authors or books that I absolutely need to read. Most of the time, another random book catches my attention or a completely different one becomes available at my library, completely throwing off my plan. This year, I’m making a list of authors I absolutely need to read in 2025.
Most of the authors below have been on my tbr for actual years lmao. I just haven’t gotten around to reading them for one reason or another. This year, I’m making yet another goal to read books from at least half of the authors below. I don’t necessarily need to read all of their backlist, but by at least trying them out, this challenge will have been a success!
Without further ado, below find the authors that I absolutely need to read in 2025. I’d appreciate it if you use my affiliate links to support my blog! <3
N.K. Jemisin
I’ve been meaning to read The Broken Earth trilogy since about 2018??? For this reason, N.K. Jemisin is at the top of my list of authors to read in 2025. I remember getting the first book from the library that summer, but not getting around to it before my loan expired. This is a fantasty/scifi? involving the environment. That’s pretty much all I know. I’ve only heard amazing things about the trilogy, and as an avid fantasy enjoyer, I know that I need to finally get my shit together and actually read it this year.
Naomi Novik
There are a few different books/series by Naomi Novik that I’ve been interested in for years. I’d love to start A Deadly Education this year, as I love a dark academia setting. It’s really hard to go wrong. I know that it involves a magical school that has to do with language. Additionally, I’ve been meaning to read Spinning Silver and Uprooted ever since my post-college reading renaissance. I’ll probably save those for the colder months of the year as they give winter fairytale vibes.
Olivie Blake
Olivie Blake is the author of one of my all-time favorite books, Alone With You In the Ether. If you haven’t already read this masterpiece, I absolutely urge you to read asap. It’s most definitely a book I would recommend you should read before you die. I tried the first book in her most popular series, The Atlas Six, but want to start reading some of her other standalones. I’m actually already getting a head start on this challenge as I’m currently reading Gifted and Talented, having just come out a couple of weeks ago! So far, the narration is giving sass and camp, which I absolutely love.
Pierce Brown
Ugh, I really need to read Red Rising, as everyone I know who has read it is absolutely obsessed with it. I’, going to be honest, I have absolutely no idea what this series is about. I’ve heard that the series really picks up in the later books, so it might be a bit of a commitment. But I think I’m ready to dive into the full series this year. I really really hope that it holds up to the hype!
James Islington
I can actually check off one book by this author as I actually just finished The Will of the Many about 3 days ago! And I can confirm it was absolutely as good as everyone said that it was. it’s basically a fantastical world that lives off of a pyramid scheme lmao. While that may sound weird, Islington really knows how to write a good book. Loved the characters, a good amount of twists, and the pacing was perfection. The ending was spectacular and I’m hoping and praying that I can get an arc of the sequel before the November 2025 release date.
Tracy Deonn
Oof, another series that I’ve heard amazing things about is Legendborn. People have been raving about this series for years, and as the third book in the series just recently came out about 2 months ago, I know that it’s time to finally dive in. I’ve actually been waiting about 6 months (lmao) for a copy to come in from my library soooo it is not my fault that it’s taken so long!!
Brandon Sanderson
I’ve actually read a good number of books by Sanderson in the past couple of years, but my real goal is to catch up with the Cosmere lol. This means I definitely need to add him to my list of authors to read in 2025. So far, I have Mistborn era 1, the first 2 books of the Stormlight Archive, Warbreaker, and Tress of the Emerald Sea under my belt. That last one was such a breath of fresh air compared to the writing styles of the other series! I really just need to continue with Stormlight, but I’m lowkey procrastinating bc I’m intimidated!!! lmao. (please convince me to just bite the bullet and start pls)
Cixin Liu
I’ve been wanting to read The Three-Body Problem for years, and, again, I’ve just been a bit intimidated? scared? to start it. There’s something about a book being so prolific that I’m worried that it won’t live up to the hype! Realistically, I just need to start it to find out for myself. Anyway, I know nothing about this book besides aliens and China. That is it lol.
Fonda Lee
I literally have the full trilogy of The Green Bone Saga on my kindle app as we speak. I’ve only heard amazing things about the plot and characterization within these books, but I’m scared that I’ll love it too much and then it will be over! The only thing I really know about the plot is that it is an Asian-inspired fantasy world. Soon. I will be reading it soon.
T. Kingfisher
I have like 5 books on my tbr right now by T. Kingfisher, and for some reason have not gotten around to reading even on of them yet! Most definitely making the list of authors to read in 2025. This is another situation where I’m not really sure why I haven’t started yet, but I really hope to this year. If you’re a big fan, where would you recommend that I start first? I’m thinking The Hollow Places, but I don’t really know haha.
Robin Hobb
Another prolific fantasy writer added to the list. I’ve only heard amazing things about Robin Hobb and her series The Farseer Trilogy. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve not really gotten into the depths of classic fantasy yet, but I do think her books are a wonderful place to start.
Adrienne Young
I’ve been meaning to read The World of the Narrows series forEVER, but I never got to my hold of Fable before it was returned to the library. I’ve also heard amazing things about The Unmaking of June Farrow which just came out last year. Luckily, I’m waiting on the audiobook from my library, and I think it should be coming in soon!
Neal Shusterman
I think I heard about Scythe all the way back in like 2017 when I started to watch Booktube and see what everyone was obsessed with then. In this world, they have “cured” death. So in order to prevent overpopulation, there is a career of scythe which kills people??? The premise always intrigued me, but I somehow have never gotten around to reading it. 2025 is the year that I do!!!
Ava Reid
One of the authors that I definitely want to read in 2025 is Ava Reid. I especially want to give A Study in Drowning a try, but I’m also interested in Juniper and Thorn and Lady Macbeth (which just came out last year). I’m not going to lie, I don’t know much about her books, but they give me a spooky fairytale vibe, and I’m so down with that.
M.L. Wang
I have managed to read one M.L. Wang’s books this year: The Sword of Kaigen. It was so so good. Definitely worth all of the hype everyone on BookTok gave it lmao. The character writing in it is amazing and it is almost completely guaranteed to make you cry lmao. Next, I’m waiting on my hold of Blood Over Bright Haven to come in. I’ve heard it’s pretty wild, so I’m so excited to give it a try.
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