The Ephemeric

Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2025 Hot List. This week we will have a look at the most exciting new literature and novels you'll be reading in the coming year.


As I say every year: you can't read too much. If you can make the time, reading a book often provides greater enrichment than any other activity. But time is limited, and there are only so many books one can reasonably fit into a busy life. As 2025 promises an abundance of captivating new stories and perspectives, I’m taking on the challenge of narrowing that seemingly endless list down to the very best.

So here it is: your reading list for 2025, our list of the top 10 upcoming releases from the world of literature to keep an eye on this year, starting, as always, with number 10:



10. "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman

We begin with My Friends by the New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, a heartwarming and introspective novel that weaves together the intricate lives of a close-knit group of friends navigating the complexities of adulthood, love, and loss. 

Set in a quaint seaside town, My Friends is a dual timeline story of a woman on a mission to uncover the story of three enigmatic figures, barely noticeable in the corner of one of the world's most famous paintings

Slated for a June release, Backman's latest is a tender exploration of the bonds that shape our identities and remind us that even in solitude, we are never truly alone.

9. "Metallic Realms" by Lincoln Michel

Lincoln Michel's latest promises to be a delightfully pulpy sci-fi homage. Set in Brooklyn, the narrative of Metallic Realms focuses on a group of young writers who collaborate on a collection of stories in fictional worlds, and one writer in particular's work to defend the legacy of the group.

The result is a novel that both soars into imaginative speculative settings, while also retaining a grounded focus on the very real human drama of being an author, and the ambitions and disappointments therein.

Metallic Realms is scheduled for release in May, making for some ideal summer reading.

8. "Is a River Alive" by Robert Macfarlane

Robert Macfarlane is an acclaimed nature writer and fellow of Cambridge, whose name younger readers may also recognise from his recent lyrical collaborations with musician Johnny Flynn.

His latest work, Is a River Alive is an environmental treatise, tracing the path and ecology of three river systems in India, Ecuador and Canada, and the impact on local culture and society. 

A personal and political piece of writing that weaves elements of folklore, science and individual perspectives, inviting readers to view rivers as vital, living entities. This releases early May.

7. "Luminous" by Silvia Park

Luminous is the highly anticipated debut novel of Silvia Park. Set in a near-future unified Korea, Luminous tells the story of three estranged siblings, children of a robotics pioneer, against the backdrop of a murder investigation that threatens to settle old scores and challenge the perception of their disjointed childhood.

Drawing comparisons to Ishiguro's acclaimed Klara and the Sun for its explorations of similar themes of humanity and personhood, and with a unique and timely setting that manages to tap into the Korean cultural moment and speculate on its political trajectory. Luminous is shaping up to be one of the most hotly anticipated literary works of 2025 when it releases in March.

6.  "The Antidote" by Karen Russell

Set in Nebraska during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, which ravaged American agriculture and exacerbated the Great Depression, The Antidote is the latest novel of celebrated author, Macarthur grantee and Pulitzer finalist Karen Russell.

A tale of magical realism. This particular Nebraska village is home to The Antidote, a prairie witch whose body stores the memories that local villagers wish to forget. A particularly strong dust storm mysteriously robs her of those memories, leaving her in a difficult spot until an orphaned teen offers to help her write dazzling fictions to replace the missing memories.

Another March book, The Antidote is a very exciting tale that uses a supernatural framework to explore very human issues of loss, loneliness, and confronting the demons of the past.

5. "Polybius" by Collin Armstrong

Surprised it has taken this long for a story to be crafted around the urban legend of Polybius. This novel concerns the old myth of a mysterious videogame arcade machine that was said to have existed in the 1980s, instilling its players with horrific nightmares or worse.

This fictional narrative by Collin Armstrong, loosely based on the tale, is a gripping blend of mystery, nostalgia, and urban legend set in the haze of 1980s suburbia. The novel follows a group of misfit teenagers who stumble upon an old, enigmatic arcade cabinet in a derelict game shop. As they delve deeper into its hypnotic gameplay, they uncover a trail of conspiracies, strange disappearances, and psychological experiments tied to the game’s shadowy past. 

A mix of suspense and character-driven storytelling, Polybius captures the eerie allure of childhood curiosity while exploring themes of control, memory, and obsession, promising a haunting journey into the blurred lines between reality and paranoia.

4. "The Three Lives of Cate Kay" by Kate Fagan

Another exciting fiction debut from former sports reporter and non-fiction author​ Kate Fagan. The Three Live of Cate Kay is the story of pseudonymous author Cate Kay, an author whose identity has been carefully curated and kept secret in order to conceal past secrets. When Kay's highly successful series of novels is optioned for the big screen, Kay realises that she can no longer hide the truth from the rest of the world.

Fagan's tale touches on a number of timely issues, from identity politics and our societal prejudices, to contending with the past and coming to terms with tragedy. The result promises a deeply empathetic exploration of how our decisions ripple outward and shape who we become.

3. "The Mobius Book" by Catherine Lacey

Catherine Lacey is an award winning American novelist, whose last publication The Biography of X was one of 2023's most exciting releases. Her latest is a genre-bending hybrid of fiction and non-fiction.

The Mobius Book, named for the mathematical concept, is essentially two literary works in one, presenting readers with two distinct narratives, each beginning on either cover; one an intimate portrayal of the aftermath of a breakup, the other of two friends processing personal relationships, while ignoring what appears to be blood coming from a neighbour's apartment. 

With two interlinking narratives and Lacey's distinctive voice, The Mobius Book promises to be a unique piece of fiction.

2. "The Book of Dust: Part 3" by Philip Pullman

A book so shrouded in secrecy we don't even have the full name or a cover yet, but Philip Pullman has recently confirmed that the third part of The Book of Dust, the sequel series to his celebrated Dark Materials trilogy, will release in 2025.

While the official title and release date remain undisclosed, the narrative is expected to continue the journey of Lyra Silvertongue, delving deeper into the complex interplay of science, theology, and magic that defines Pullman's universe. 

Fans can look forward to a profound exploration of themes such as consciousness, authority, and the essence of human experience, all delivered through Pullman's masterful storytelling.

1. "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Lastly, we have Atmosphere, the latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid, the best selling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Atmosphere follows in the vein of Reid's previous work in adopting an iconic period setting, only this time, we're going into space! Set against a backdrop of the 1980s Space Shuttle program, Atmosphere follows the career and dreams of a young physicist with ambitions to become an astronaut, promising a fast-paced adventure that asks big questions of what matters most, and what ultimately is our place in the universe.

Reid has shown herself to be a master of creating evocative settings and filling them with rich, complex characters. A new piece of work from this author is always cause for excitement, and that makes it this blog's number one pick for 2025 in literature. 

So there you have it folks: 2025 in literature. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new theatre coming up in 2025!