The Best Books the NetGalley Team Read in 2025

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby, narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

“Powerful” is the one word that comes to mind when thinking about this book. Adam Lazarre-White’s narration of this audiobook was everything, and S.A. Cosby has a new die-hard fan after this “Godfather-inspired” Southern tale of three estranged siblings brought back together after their father’s death. King of Ashes is raw, heartbreaking, gritty, and so incredibly powerful. It has intense characters that you can’t help but be fully invested in, and it is written in a way that gripped me and took me on a ride like no other book has in a long time. If you’re looking for a book that will keep your heart racing from page one, this is absolutely it!

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner, narrated by Dakota Fanning

This was my first book by Jennifer Weiner, and I never expected to love the audiobook as much as I did! I’m always down for a good rock star book, and Cassie and Zoe’s story gripped me from the start. Known publicly as the Griffin Sisters, Cassie is a musical prodigy, but is incredibly shy and wants nothing to do with stardom, and the “pretty sister,” Zoe, thrives in the spotlight, but doesn’t come anywhere close to touching Cassie’s voice and musical talent. A tragedy one night breaks the band apart, and after 20 years, we find Cassie hiding away off-grid in a small Alaskan town, and Zoe is a mom with a daughter looking for answers about her mother’s past. I loved the messy family dynamics, and this book went so much deeper than I was expecting. It dealt with important themes like forgiveness, body image, ambition, insecurities, and so much more than just playing music and achieving fame.

A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen

The anticipated sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood may as well have had “For Katie” written in the dedication. A Norse-inspired fantasy with light-ish romance, A Curse Carved in Bone checks all my boxes: a well-built magic system, high-stakes battle scenes, lore that actually improves the story, and twists that truly smacked me in the face.

The expansion of Skaland and Nordeland in this book made it shine for me. The mythology is richer, the political landscape more layered, and the world-building overall feels even stronger than in book one.

Freya, our heroine, is another standout. Fueled by literal female rage, her journey through betrayal, pain, and the struggle to control her new divine powers to save her people gives the story real emotional weight—even beyond her relationship with Bjorn (who, of course, is hunky and humorous). And BEST OF ALL: there is no plot armour, which is one of my biggest pet peeves!

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

TJ Alexander’s Regency romance debut was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2025 and, now, is one of my favorites of the year. A Gentleman’s Gentleman is a love letter to queer people throughout history, to trans identity, and to what it means to find happily ever after outside of the binary. It follows Christopher, a lord haunted by phantoms of his past, and his valet, James, as they journey to London to find Christopher a wife. There is so much I adore about this book: tender moments of caretaking between Christopher and James, hilarious only-possible-in-historical-romance hijinks, and a poignant look at loneliness and what happens when one finds community. If Alexander ever decides to give this the Midnight Sun treatment with a James POV book, I’ll be first in line. In the meantime, I’m counting down the days until I can read A Lady for All Seasons.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

Kat Dunn explores hunger in all of its forms in this Carmilla-inspired gothic novel. Lenore is living a discontented existence alongside her steel mill magnate husband when an encounter with a mysterious woman opens up her eyes to the desires she’s been suppressing. I loved the way Dunn wove the theme of hunger throughout the book—connecting it to the longing to be seen, power and wealth, physical intimacy, and more. I read this with my book club, and we had such a good time discussing the way the book explores womanhood and feminine rage, and how we each interpreted the ending. I’d definitely recommend reading with a friend so you can do the same!

Bottom of the Pyramid by Nia Sioux

This year, I’ve read more memoirs than ever, and I’ve been highly anticipating Nia Sioux’s book ever since it was announced. I was also on a competition dance team when Dance Moms was at its peak, and I never missed an episode. Recently revisiting the series as an adult has definitely made me reflect on both the dance and reality television industry. Sioux shares her behind-the-scenes journey from her seven seasons of Dance Moms in this poignant and authentic memoir. Sioux went through verbal and mental abuse, racial microaggressions from her dance teacher, and struggled behind closed doors. I loved how Sioux used this memoir to share how she’s found strength and courage since leaving the show. She has developed such a strong sense of self, and I look forward to following her advocacy journey!

Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman

As an avid Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fan, I have long been intrigued by the literary role-playing game (LitRPG) genre, but I hadn’t taken the time to explore it. The TBR is long after all. But the Dungeon Crawler Carl series kept coming up in numerous places, and when I finally looked at the description for it, I was hooked immediately and picked the book up. It feels so much like watching someone play a game of D&D or a video game. The humor is really well done, and Carl’s journey is so much fun to see unfold. I voraciously began working my way through the rest of the series—This Inevitable Ruin is the most recent installment. If you’re an enjoyer of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) or video games or are just a fan of crazy/silly fantasy mixed with sci-fi political intrigue, I highly recommend this series.

Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick, narrated by Joy Osmanski

I can’t recommend Barbara Demick’s books highly enough—they are compelling nonfiction reads! Daughters of the Bamboo Grove follows twins who were separated: one adopted in America and the other raised in China. In the process of telling their stories, the author also shares how the adoption system in China became a money-making industry involving abducted children.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Promise Me Sunshine follows Lenny and Miles, strangers who are each navigating life after the loss of loved ones. They act as guides for each other: Miles helping Lenny pick her life back up after the death of her best friend Lou, and Lenny helping Miles connect with his sister and niece. This book was emotional and heartfelt and laugh-out-loud hilarious, and I am glad I got to experience Lenny and Miles’ story.

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman

This Princess Kills Monsters has adventure, humor, and heart. The voice was strongly sarcastic, making reference to and poking fun at a bunch of familiar fairy tales. I loved going on this journey with Melilot, our protagonist, as she travels to marry a king at her stepmother’s command, and meets with danger and twelve oddly similar-looking huntsmen along the way.

Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck

Having loved Kate Goldbeck’s debut (You, Again), I was highly anticipating her next book, and it did NOT disappoint!

In Daddy Issues, Sam is in a severe rut after the pandemic derails her post-grad plans. She’s in a situationship with a coworker, stuck in a service job, and lives in a room at her mom’s place. Then she meets her mom’s new neighbor, Nick, a single dad whose life revolves around his daughter. Even though Sam and Nick are at completely different phases of their lives, they develop a friendship and eventually an attraction that’s impossible to ignore.

The romance was delicious, and I loved seeing it develop. But where this book really shined was its perspectives on parenting through the parallels between Sam’s relationship with her estranged father and Nick’s devotion to his daughter. Sam’s new stepparent, Perry, also revealed interesting insights into becoming involved with someone who has a kid. I really appreciated how honest this book was about family dynamics and their lasting impact on a person’s life.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Water Moon swept me up in the best way possible. It has a classic Studio Ghibli vibe with a magical, lived-in world that’s way bigger than you expect. Hana, Keishin, and the other characters are instantly lovable, and the culture throughout is so rich. You get everything: action, drama, and, at its core, the sweetest love stories, all woven together. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already anticipating a reread soon.