Every 2025 New York Times #1 Best Seller in Fiction

Since 1931, when The New York Times began publishing its list of bestselling books, it has become the dream of many a writer to have their work make the cut. To be the number one best seller is, of course, the ultimate aspiration. Here are all the novels that have nabbed the top spot so far this year. (FYI, this list combines two different NYT fiction categories.)  

James

This year's Pulitzer Prize winner, Percival Everett's retelling of Huckleberry Finn, held the top spot for the first several weeks of the year.

Iron Flame

The unlikely warrior Violet Sorrengail continues her grueling training to become a dragon rider in book two of The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. 

Onyx Storm

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail's battle has truly begun. This is book three in Rebecca Yarros's The Empyrean series.

Battle Mountain

In book #25 of the Joe Pickett series by C. J. Box, outlaw falconer Nate Romanowski is off the grid and out for revenge.

Lethal Prey

In the newest Lucas Davenport thriller by John Sandford, Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces to track down a ruthless killer.

Say You'll Remember Me

Despite an incredible date with veterinarian Xavier, Samantha's familial crisis puts love on the back burner in this sparkling romcom by Abby Jimenez.

Enchantra

Seven immortal siblings are trapped in a deadly game of hide and seek in this spicy, stand-alone romantasy set in the world of Kaylie Smith's Phantasma.

The Perfect Divorce

High-powered attorney Sarah Morgan finds herself in another deadly game of cat and mouse in this sequel to The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose.

Great Big Beautiful Life

Competing for the job of a lifetime, two very different writers find themselves irrepressibly drawn to one another in Emily Henry's newest romcom.

25 Alive

The Women's Murder Club team investigates the murder of a former SFPD chief in Golden Gate Park, in this thriller by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.

The Tenant

In a twisty thriller from Freida McFadden, the newly unemployed Blake is glad to find the perfect tenant for his spare room. But Whitney is far from perfect.

Shield of Sparrows

In this slow-burn romantasy by Devney Perry, enemies become lovers, monsters attack, and a princess becomes the warrior she was never meant to be.

A Curse Carved in Bone

A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy and overcome heartbreak in this Norse-inspired fantasy sequel by Danielle L. Jensen.

Nightshade

The first book in Michael Connelly's new series introduces Detective Stilwell, a cop pursuing dark secrets on the seemingly idyllic Catalina Island.

The Knight and the Moth

Rachel Gillig's gothic, mist-cloaked romantasy follows a young prophetess forced on an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight.

Never Flinch

Holly Gibney battles two potent threats in Stephen King's latest: A diabolical killer on a revenge mission and a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker.

Atmosphere: A Love Story

This high-octane '80s-era page-turner from Taylor Jenkins Reid follows Joan as she becomes one of the first women to join NASA's space shuttle program. 

Caught Up

The second spicy stalker romance in Navessa Allen's bestselling Into Darkness series ups the ante with voyeurism and play club kink.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

This genre-defying vampire mystery from V. E. Schwab explores potent themes of immortality and hunger. It's a dizzying adventure set across several centuries.

Don't Let Him In

In Lisa Jewell's kaleidoscopic thriller, Nina, Martha, and Ash are three women on a collision course with a shocking truth darker than they could have imagined.

Edge of Honor

From Brad Thor, America's top spy Scot Harvath returns to a new administration, a new set of global priorities, and an unprecedented power struggle.

Rose in Chains

This lush, dark romantic fantasy from Julie Soto is filled with intrigue, magic, and an irresistible enemies-to-lovers romance.

An Inside Job

Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon must solve the perfect crime in this dazzling new tale of murder, greed, and corruption from Daniel Silva.

The Hamptons Lawyer

In this series by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, undefeated criminal defense attorney Jane Smith is armed and ready for her new celebrity client.

My Friends

Fredrik Backman returns with a deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose bond is so powerful that it changes a complete stranger's life twenty-five years later.

Not Quite Dead Yet

In this thriller from Holly Jackson, a violent attack leaves 27-year-old Jet with just one week left to live. And she'll use that time to solve her own murder.

The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk

Asar and Mische embark on a dangerous mission back to one another in this installment in the Crowns of Nyaxia fantasy series by Carissa Broadbent.

For Richer For Poorer

A loving mother and successful fashion designer struggles to keep her family together and her business afloat in this gripping novel by Danielle Steel.

Accomplice to the Villain

Evie Sage didn't mean to become the right-hand woman to a terrifying villain. This is the third romantasy in a laugh-out-loud series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.

We Are All Guilty Here

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. The first thriller in the North Falls series from Karin Slaughter.

Quicksilver

This global phenomenon by Callie Hart introduces an enemies-to-lovers fantasy with razor-sharp banter, heart-stopping action, and blistering hot romance.

Katabasis

Two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor's soul in this dark academia fantasy by R. F. Kuang.

Framed in Death

Set amidst Manhattan's overpriced galleries and deep-pocketed collectors, death imitates art in the newest Eve Dallas crime thriller from J.D. Robb.

The Secret of Secrets

From Dan Brown comes the newest globetrotting adventure of esteemed symbologist Robert Langdon as he unravels another mindbending mystery.

The Impossible Fortune

After a quiet year, the septuagenarian sleuthers are plunged back into action in the fifth mystery in the bestselling Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

Alchemised

In this riveting dark fantasy debut by SenLinYu, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy.

Mate

In this companion novel to Bride by Ali Hazelwood, human hybrid Serena Paris and Alpha Were Koen Alexander claw against the bonds of fate.

Gone Before Goodbye

From celebrated actress Reese Witherspoon and bestselling author Harlan Coben comes the thrilling story of a woman trapped in a deadly conspiracy.

Remain

Grappling with the supernatural mysteries of life, death, and human connection, this one-of-a-kind novel comes from Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan.

The Intruder

It's a dark and stormy night. Outside your window stands a girl covered in blood. Should you let her in? Find out in this riveting thriller by Freida McFadden.

The Widow

Legal thriller master John Grisham delivers his first-ever whodunit as a small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer and clear his name.

The Black Wolf

Louise Penny's newest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery finds him playing a lethal game of cat and mouse with an elusive foe.

The Strength of the Few

This sequel to The Will of the Many by James Islington follows Vis as he grapples with a dangerous secret that could unravel history across alternate dimensions.

Exit Strategy

Jack Reacher will make three stops today. Not all of them were planned. The newest thriller from Lee Child and Andrew Child features "the best villain yet."

Brimstone

In book two of the bestselling Fae & Alchemy series by Callie Hart, Saeris and Fisher battle fire and brimstone to save their realm and their friends.

Let us know which of 2025's New York Times bestsellers you've read! And keep us in the loop about your favorite reads of the year. 

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon