From the author of the mythological Kaikeyi comes this standalone fantasy set in a modern world. In it, we follow reproductive health care worker Nisha, who, between the abortion bans and terrible protestors, is burnt out, fed up, and tired. One day, she finds a little respite in an Indian art exhibit, until she feels compelled to touch one of the statues on display. Next thing she knows, she’s on the floor looking a hot mess. But that’s not all—she also has a new ability. One that all manner of dangerous characters want a piece of. As she navigates her new reality, she’ll have to protect herself and the community that relies on her from human and non-human threats alike. —Erica Ezeifedi

A woman sees her partner murdered in the street, brings his body back to their apartment, and begins to transform his body into her own. She is unwilling to let go, to obey the laws of god or man. Her partner witnesses his own funeral from beyond, his perspective contributing to a meditation about a society that devours everyone whole and how one might consume it back. —Alex Luppens-Dale

The latest McFadden thriller is about an advice columnist who has been guiding the women who write to her through dealing with their lackluster or even abusive husbands. When she loses her job and realizes her husband is keeping secrets from her, she decides it’s time for her to take her own advice and get revenge. 14,000 Goodreads users read it this week, and it has a 4.0 average rating.

Abby Jimenez is a bestselling romance author whose 2024 novel, Just for the Summer, was a breakout hit. Her newest is the second book in the Say You’ll Remember Me series. It follows Larissa, who is in a rocky relationship with Mike. Meanwhile, Mike’s best friend, Chris, is falling for Larissa, but he’s determined not to blow up their friend group by making a move. The Night We Met was read by almost 15,000 Goodreads users this week, and it has a 4.0 average rating.

This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, Katie Couric named it the first pick for her new book club. It’s about a woman who has written letters daily her whole life. When someone from her past writes back, she has to reevaluate a painful period in her life and find a way to forgive. This was read by almost 17,000 users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.

This 2021 sci-fi novel from the author of The Martian is getting renewed interest thanks to the movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling. Like The Martian, Project Hail Mary is hard sci-fi about an isolated man in space. Ryland Grace is a junior high teacher and former molecular biologist who becomes the unlikely last hope of life on Earth. It was read by almost 18,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.

At the top of the list this week is Yesteryear, which came out in April. It’s one of several buzzy tradwife novels out this year. In this one, a tradwife influencer wakes up one day in the time period she’s been romanticizing, and real-life homesteading turns out to be much more difficult—and dangerous—than it looks on Instagram. Yesteryear was read by 32,000 users this week and has a 4.1 average rating.