Sure, the cold winter weather is kind of a bummer this time of year, but there's one reason to be glad we all have to spend more time indoors—and that's getting more time to cozy up and read. There are a ton of highly anticipated books coming out in December 2025 that you'll want to add to your TBRs (to-be-read lists) ASAP. Of course, being spoiled for choice can be a bit overwhelming when you're not sure which of the dozens of books releasing are going to be a fit for your reading preferences. Fortunately, Parade consulted with nine librarians to get their expert opinions on the books they're most excited to read and recommend this December.Whether you're a fan of thrilling fantasy stories, you love diving into fascinating mysteries, or you're an avid romance reader, there's something on this list for everyone. And maybe once you see why these librarians are such fans of these 25 best book releases of December 2025, you'll even want to try a new genre or two that you may not have delved into before. Plus, with most of these books coming out before Christmas, they're sure to make great gifts for the bookworms in your life. Happy reading!Related: 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf
25 Best Book Releases in December 2025, According to Librarians
1. 'Queens at War' by Alison Weir
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Perfect for anyone who loves royal history, this book explores the true dramatic lives of five queens of the medieval era before the rise of the Tudors.Holly Jeffcoat, Dean of Southern Methodist University (SMU) Libraries, recommends this book because of author Alison Weir's "keen eye" for examining the choices made by powerful royal women "during some of the most turbulent periods in history."
2. 'Friends and Liars' by Kit Frick
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Leah Bloom, owner of the Sleepy Hollow Bookshop and a former librarian, recommends this thriller set in Italy. It follows an estranged friend group who carry a secret about the death of their friend Clare. When they arrive to attend her memorial, they get the sense that they're being watched... and targeted."This one promises to be a gripping, forget-about-everything-around-you thriller," Bloom tells Parade.
3. 'Huguette' by Cara Black
Amazon
Available Dec. 2This story follows 17-year-old Huguette Faure in post-World War II France as she tries to reinvent herself and rebuild her life."That kind of emotional resilience always pulls me in," Jeffcoat says to Parade, adding that the author is particularly good at "grounding historical fiction."
4. 'Dawn of the Firebird'by Sarah Mughal Rana
Amazon
Available Dec. 2"I cannot pass up a debut high fantasy novel—my favorite genre—especially when it's by a Pakistani author and the main character is giving female rage. I love it," says YA librarian and BookToker Alexa Carrillo (AKA @lexasmilesss) about this novel.Carrillo wasn't the only librarian eager to check this book out. Matthew Galloway, the Collection Development Librarian and "Buyer" at Anythink Libraries, says that author Sarah Mughal Rana's "great reviews" for her 2024 book Hope Ablaze are promising for this next novel.Dawn of the Firebird follows Khamilla, the daughter of an overthrown emperor who is seeking to reclaim her clan's throne.Related: 150 of the Most Wonderful Quotes About Reading & Books for Book-Lovers
5. 'My Fair Frauds' by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne
Available Dec. 2"I love a good heist-style novel," Galloway tells Parade. It's about The Grand Duchess Marie Charlotte Antonie, who is actually a con woman named Alice. She recruits a magician's assistant to help Alice pull off her biggest swindle yet. Will they get away with it?
6. 'Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America' by Trent Preszler
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Fittingly publishing in December, this fascinating history book explores the meaning of the evergreen tree in our society. "I'm excited by Evergreen’s fresh vantage on something we all encounter, trees during the holiday season, as an entry point into a sweeping ecological and cultural history," says Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. He adds that the book encourages readers to reflect on how our traditions are deeply rooted—literally.
7. 'The Mating Game' by Lana Ferguson
Amazon
Available Dec. 2 Looking for a winter romance with a twist? Check out this novel about contractor Tess Covington, who discovers one day that she's an omega wolf shifter and starts to fall for an alpha wolf shifter named Hunter Barrett.As Carrillo puts it to Parade, "Wolves, steamy romance and holiday winter vibes? Say less. I feel like this novel is going to be an easy and fun read for those travel days during the holidays."
8. 'Persephone's Curse' by Katrina Leno
Amazon
Available Dec. 2 This novel follows the four Farthing sisters as they confront the idea that they might be descendants of Persephone, the Greek goddess of the underworld."I can never pass up a Greek mythology retelling," Carrillo says of this book. "This YA novel has a bit of fantasy, ghosts and, possibly, a visit to the underworld for love? Sign me up."
9. 'The Library of Fates' by Margot Harrison
Amazon
Available Dec. 2"Weaving dark academia with fantasy and romance, [The Library of] Fates captures the imagination with a mysterious death of a librarian and a missing book that can tell the future and match readers to their perfect book," librarian Abby Hargreaves says to Parade.Galloway also recommends this book, perfect for those who love "a world-spanning quest," where the main character has to reunite with a love interest from her past to solve a mystery.Related: Every Book in This Bestselling Series Is Now on Kindle Unlimited
10. 'The Heir Apparent' by Rebecca Armitage
Amazon
Available Dec. 2 Recommended by Kaite Stover, Director of Readers' Services at the Kansas City Public Library, this novel follows Lexi Villiers, who—through a tragic family accident—suddenly becomes next in line for the throne of England. Stover calls it ideal for a "cocoa-and-comfy-throw on a cold afternoon escape."
11. 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' by Ace Atkins
Amazon
Available Dec. 2 Hargreaves calls this book "just the thing to fill the gap following the end of Stranger Things." The novel is set in 1985 and follows 14-year-old Peter, who is sure his mother's boyfriend is a Russian spy.
12. 'There's Always Next Year' by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson
Amazon
Available Dec. 2A queer YA romance set on New Year's, this novel is told from dual POVs. It follows Andy, a student journalist fighting against neighborhood gentrification while falling in love with the girl next door. And Dominique, an influencer who has unresolved feelings for his ex-best friend."When a novel touches on trying to get things right before the New Year, you know it is going to be messy—but for the right reasons," Carrillo says of the novel.
13. 'The Jaguar's Roar' by Micheliny Verunschk
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Recommended by Kerri Wallace, the Collection Development Librarian at the Hoboken Public Library, this book follows Josefa, a modern-day woman in Brazil who is trying to shed light on the secretive kidnapping of two indigenous children by German scientists in the 1800s.Wallace calls the novel "powerful... lyrical and gripping."
14. 'Finding Her Edge' by Jennifer Iacopelli
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Karen Kline, a National Board Certified teacher-librarian, recommends this YA romance about a competitive ice skater stuck in a love triangle between her competition partners. Kline calls the book "just the mood for holiday readers."The book is also set to be turned into a Netflix show, so you can get a jump on reading it before the episodes come out.
15. 'Frostlines' by Neil Shea
Amazon
Available Dec. 2Penned by National Geographic writer Neil Shea, this book's full title is Frostlines: A Journey Through Entangled Lives and Landscapes in a Warming Arctic. It's recommended by Helmick, who commends the author for "[weaving] together natural history, indigenous perspective, and environmental transformation in the Arctic." The book helps bring a human story to the science of climate change.Related: Barnes & Noble Reveals the 2025 Fiction Books Everyone Will Be Talking About
16. 'The Sea Captain's Wife' by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Amazon
Available Dec. 9This book was recommended independently by four of the librarians Parade spoke with, so it's sure to be a must-read this December. The historical account dives into the true story of Mary Ann Patten, who was the first female captain of a merchant vessel."[Author] Tilar Mazzeo consistently turns rigorous research into compelling narrative," says Jeffcoat. Stover calls the book a "cinematic, maritime adventure" that's "heart-pounding [and] page-turning."
17. 'The Time Hop Coffee Shop' by Phaedra Patrick
Amazon
Available Dec. 9This fantasy tale follows washed-up commercial actress Greta, who finds a magical coffee shop and wishes for the perfect life depicted in the commercials from her glory days. When she wakes up in the idyllic town of Mapleville, how will her perfect dream life compare to her real life?"If there is one thing I enjoy in a plot, it is when the main character... wakes up in another world [or] dimension. I am excited to get into my cozy PJs [with] this cozy read during the cold December nights," Carrillo says of this book.
18. 'The Birdwatcher' by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Amazon
Available Dec. 9Wallace is a big fan of this book's author, telling Parade, "Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean is a core memory in my reading career."This new thriller from Mitchard follows a journalist who is determined to clear her childhood friend's name after a double-murder conviction.
19. 'Everyone in the Group Chat Dies' by L.M. Chilton
Amazon
Available Dec. 9Wallace calls this novel a "sharp, fast-paced murder mystery [that] will have you laughing out loud."It follows Kirby Cornell, a TikTok true crime investigator who's placed into the center of a mystery when her group chat gets a sinister message: "Everyone in the group chat dies."
20. 'Tailored Realities' by Brandon Sanderson
Amazon
Available Dec. 9Stover calls this short-story collection "a terrific treat to end the year." "Any time one of science fiction and fantasy's favorite authors publishes, we get excited," she adds of author Brandon Sanderson.This collection features 10 short stories, including a thriller about a futuristic detective, a space opera and a high-tech fantasy tale. If you've never read Sanderson's work before, Kline says this is a great option to start with—especially since all 10 are standalone stories. "Sanderson fans will welcome this new work, but even those readers who are unfamiliar with this prolific fantasy writer will get a taste," she shares.Related: Six Breakout Authors Just Made Barnes & Noble’s 2025 Discover Prize Shortlist
21. 'The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum' by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Amazon
Available Dec. 16This Jazz era novel follows Harriet Stone, who tries to unravel the mystery of her cousin's murder. Galloway says it's a perfect historical mystery for "fans of Nekesa Afia's Dead Dead Girls, Susanna Calkins' Murder Knocks Twice, and Murder at the Wham Bam Club by Carolyn Marie Wilkins."
22. 'The Once and Future Queen' by Paula Lafferty
Amazon
Available Dec. 16Galloway describes this book as "a fun, slow-burn fantasy romance." It follows 22-year-old waitress Vera, who learns she is actually Queen Guinevere of Camelot. She must now return to the past and try to save Camelot even though she has no memory of ever being there.
23. 'An Arcane Inheritance' by Kamilah Cole
Amazon
Available Dec. 30"This is a magical university tale for the dark academia fans," Galloway says. The story follows university freshman Ellory Morgan, who has a strange feeling she's been at this school before. With rumors of the university's connection to dark secrets and the occult, Ellory is determined to uncover the truth of her past.
24. 'The Rest of Our Lives' by Ben Markovits
Amazon
Available Dec. 30A finalist for the 2025 Booker prize, this novel follows Tom Layward, who, while on his way to drop his daughter off at college, decides to keep driving west—leaving the life he knows behind to take a journey through his past. Bloom recommends this one and is excited to read what is sure to be an "emotional" and "beautiful story" from author Ben Markovits.
25. 'We Who Will Die' by Stacia Stark
Amazon
Related: The 19 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited Right Now, According to Librarians
Sources:
Holly Jeffcoat, Dean of Southern Methodist University (SMU) Libraries.Leah Bloom, owner of the Sleepy Hollow Bookshop and a former librarian. Alexa Carrillo, a YA librarian and BookToker @lexasmilesss.Matthew Galloway, the Collection Development Librarian and "Buyer" at Anythink Libraries.Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. Abby Hargreaves, a librarian.Kaite Stover, Director of Readers' Services at the Kansas City Public Library.Kerri Wallace, the Collection Development Librarian at the Hoboken Public Library.Karen Kline, a National Board Certified teacher-librarian.Hence then, the article about 25 best book releases coming in december according to librarians was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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