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Best Books of 2025: Our 12 favourite reads from spine-tingling thrillers to iconic debuts
We've read a lot of books in the last 12 months
From book clubs to poolside reads, and turning pages on the train, we've spent a lot of hours this year with our heads in a book. So if you're looking for your next must-read, these are officially our 12 best books of the year. And if you want to be in with a chance of winning all 12 books then head on over to Club Cosmo, we're giving three readers the chance to win all 12.
'A truly exceptional read, with a unique format. The Names follows one woman in three Knapp lifetimes who names her son something different in each one. The profound consequences of each name goes onto shape the man he becomes and everyone around him. It’s a story of strength, family, love, and ultimately, the power of female resilience.' Lydia Venn, Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
'I’m not usually one for horror, but this is impossible to put down. Rose’s novel about a cannibal mother and her long-suffering daughter drips with haunting imagery and fleshed out characters. Told from the daughter’s POV, The Lamb investigates what happens when a new woman joins the unconventional family cottage in the wood.' Lydia Venn, Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
'It’s got heart, heat and humour in spades. Henry’s witty storytelling and character likability make it an immersive experience that may just leave you yearning for your very own journalism job investigating a famously reclusive heiress in a balmy seaside town. Alongside sexual tension and dry-humping, ofc.' Lia Mappoura, Beauty Writer
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
'This book is a breathtaking blend of science and soul. With a main character you can’t help but root for, romance, and beautiful family bonds, it tugs at your heartstrings. But it was the edge-of-your-seat plot and soul-shaking ending that left me in tears on a train, contemplating the meaning of life.' Kiera Egan, Social Media Manager
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
'We all loved Yellowface, but Kuang was born to write fantasy novels. Over 560 pages she creates a visually rich image of the underworld, playing on centuries-old theories and her own imaginative additions too, as two Cambridge students (who are also magicians) travel into hell in order to save their professor.' Lydia Venn, Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
'An action-packed, addictive adventure through a dystopian world brimming with magic, danger, and deliciously tense romance. Psychic-powered Wren goes undercover behind enemy lines, where sparks fly with her maddeningly attractive commander, Cross. I haven’t had this much fun since The Hunger Games!' Kiera Egan, Social Media Manager
The Marriage Contract by Sasha Butler
'This novel isn't about the Tudor court, rather it imagines the lives of ordinary Elizabethans specifically, Eliza, Francis and Edmund. Far more than the classic love triangle, it's the story of a woman trying to find her autonomy in an extremely patriarchal society. Hard relate.' Alexandria Dale, Senior Fashion Writer
'Moreno-Garcia's is a masterclass in subtle, immersive horror. Told across three timelines, it follows a graduate student researching a mysterious author – only to find their lives eerily entangled. It's chilling, full of slow-burn suspense and guaranteed to give you goose-bumps." Kiera Egan, Social Media Manager
'A story set in the refugee camps in Iran shouldn’t be this funny but thanks to Younis, it really is. Nadia accepts a job working for the UN, attempting to rehabilitate ISIS brides. However, when she strikes up an unlikely friendship with one of the young women, Nadia must question everything she thinks she believes.' Lydia Venn, Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer
'When a secret gets out in a small town, it spirals out of control. This novel explores the consequences, examines herd mentality, and how quick we can be to judge. But, above all, the nuanced characters allow readers to have sympathy for those they might hugely disagree with. Sure to spark some interesting conversations.' Catriona Innes, Commissioning Director
'A vital, and gripping look at one of the most powerful and influential companies in the world, Facebook (now Meta), from its former Head of Global Public Policy. The fact that Meta had Wynn-Williams banned from promoting the book is reason enough to read it ASAP.' Jennifer Savin, Acting Senior Features Editor
A Beautiful Lack of Consequence by Monika Radojevic
'Radojevic is a powerhouse feminist voice to keep an eye on. Her first short story collection offers a thought-provoking, tender and witty look at modern girl- and womanhood. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll recognise yourself on almost every page." Jennifer Savin, Acting Senior Features Editor
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