Books You Need To Read In 2025
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It’s summer break for your kids, but we want it to feel like a real break for YOU, too, mama.
Whether you’re sneaking in a few pages while the kids are at day camp, or you’re working on a novel while the kids nap, it’s the perfect time to fall in love with a new book. Trust us: these summer reads are the perfect mix of escape, adventure, and a little romance, because you deserve a break, too.
Order your iced coffee, find a patch of shade while you watch your littles play outside, and add these summer faves to your Goodreads list!
Here Are 7 Book Recommendations for 2025 to Add to Your Pool Bag This Summer!
The Motherload is the book every mom should read in 2025. Sarah Hoover doesn’t sugarcoat a thing.
She spills all the messy, ugly, confusing parts of motherhood nobody warns you about. From feeling like a total imposter in your own body to battling postpartum depression, this book is like having someone tell you, “It’s okay to hate it sometimes—and you’re not alone.” It’s honest and funny and exactly the reality check we all need. If you want the truth about motherhood without the fluff, this is it.
This book is smart, heartfelt, and way more human than you’d expect.
Okay, I get it…the idea of a book about tuberculosis blowing up on bestseller lists sounds kinda weird, right? But trust me, there’s a reason Everything Is Tuberculosis comes so highly recommended. John Green tells the story of Henry, a kid fighting this deadly but curable disease, and weaves in how TB is tied to poverty and injustice worldwide. If you want a book that’ll open your eyes and remind you about the bigger world, this one does just that.
We have audiobook recommendations, too!
The Tell is one of those memoirs that feels like someone finally saying what we’re allll thinking but don’t say out loud.
Amy Griffin spent years running from the pain of her past and even from herself. Until a simple question from her daughter cracked everything inside of her open. (Kids will do that, won’t they?) Well, what follows is a tough, honest story where she shares about truth-telling that’s raw but full of hope.
This book doesn’t pretend that motherhood or life is perfect. Instead, it’s about facing your shadows, letting go of the need to “have it all together,” and finding freedom by owning your full story.
Say You’ll Remember Me isn’t your typical love story. Xavier is total Greek god vibes (and yes, he’s a vet who cuddles kittens). But don’t let that fool you, because he’s got a mouth that can seriously mess things up. And Samantha? She’s all about proving him wrong, even when her life is a total mess. This book’s funny and so real about love when life gets complicated.
Say You’ll Remember Me has classic Abby Jimenez twists and turns, comedy, and emotion, and tons of reviews claiming it just may be the best book of the year. It was already an instant bestseller upon release!
Demon Copperhead is one of those rare stories that sticks with you long after you finish it.
It follows a boy growing up in the mountains of Appalachia, facing a life most of us can barely imagine, like foster homes and losing people he loves. But Demon’s voice? It’s sharp, funny, and impossible to ignore. He’s tough as nails but still searching for something better.
It’s heartbreaking and hilarious all at once! And with over 133,000+ people raving about it, definitely add this to your list.
“Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.”
Isola is full of grit, heart, and that fierce “I’m not done yet” energy we all admire.
If you think historical fiction can’t feel fresh, Isola is here to prove you wrong. Marguerite starts off living the high life, but then everything goes sideways. She’s abandoned on a frozen island with nothing but survival and faith to hold onto. It’s a wild ride based on a real woman’s story.
This book reads like a thriller but hits deep emotionally. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a strong heroine battling impossible odds.
If you want to enter a world where magical dragons and jaw-dropping twists are the norm, Onyx Storm is the book for you.
Violet’s been through hell at war college, but now the real fight begins. Enemies are closing in from all sides, and trust? That’s a luxury she can’t afford.
She has to find unlikely allies and protect everything she loves, even if it means keeping a secret that could blow everything apart. Plus, with a TV show in the works (hello, Michael B. Jordan!), this series is blowing up for a reason.
If you’ve read Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, you know this journey only gets wilder, and Onyx Storm takes it to a whole new level. Perfect for when you need a serious escape packed with magic, danger, and a heroine who refuses to back down.
We want to know! What is on YOUR 2025 reading list? Tag us on Instagram the next time you share what you’re reading @thecitymoms and let us know!
