Book Riot Managing Editor Vanessa Diaz is a writer and former bookseller from San Diego, CA whose Spanish is even faster than her English. When not reading or writing, she enjoys dreaming up travel itineraries and drinking entirely too much tea. She is a regular co-host on the All the Books podcast who especially loves mysteries, gothic lit, mythology/folklore, and all things witchy. Vanessa can be found on Instagram at @BuenosDiazSD or taking pictures of pretty trees in Portland, OR, where she now resides.
You may have been seeing Best of So Far lists for months at this point, but we are, in fact, only just now at the halfway point of the year. All minor shade aside, I’m excited to finally reveal Book Riot’s picks for the Best Books of 2025 So Far! Putting this list together is a labor of love between staff and contributors, and to cosign what Danika said, I think it is one of the most interesting Best Of lists out there. It’s a big, beautiful collection of phenomenal books in multiple genres featuring diverse perspectives, beautiful language, engaging plots, and everything else a reader could want.
I’ve rounded up five of the best Latine titles of the year so far here. Two of these picks are my personal faves (two of many… so many), and the other three are from our fantastic contributors. We have historical fantasy exploring the life of a controversial figure; an important oral history from queer elders of color; a moving memoir of growing up queer in Florida; and not one but two fantastic romances, a historical set in Belle Époque Paris and the sexy conclusion to a fantastic contemporary series.
What are your favorite Latine reads of the year so far? Let’s chat in the comments!
Two of My Favorite Latine Books of 2025 So Far
Malinalli by Veronica Chapa
Malinalli, or La Malinche, is the woman who served as Hernán Cortés’ translator in his conquest of what we now know as Mexico. Though enslaved and almost certainly a victim herself, she’s one of the most controversial women in history: the term “malinchista” is used to this day to refer to a sellout or traitor. Her story is reimagined here with a lot of nuance and a little bit of magic, the tale of a woman crushed by loss and robbed of all agency who then dares to seek vengeance and reclaim her power. As a lover of stories that flesh out the narratives of history’s most maligned women, I devoured every page of this book.
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So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis
In this essential oral history, queer elders of color share stories of self-discovery, activism, resistance, and survival. Their testimonies are a necessary record of lived experience and hard-won progress, a love letter to queer history, and gorgeous reminder to treasure the wisdom of those who’ve witnessed history, helped shape it, and allowed us to imagine brighter futures. There is so much beautiful humanity in these pages, so much laughter and joy even in periods of profound struggle and loss. That joy is resistance, that joy is protest, that joy is unshakable. I need everyone to read this book.
Book Rioters’ Favorite Latine Books of 2025 So Far
Alligator Tears by Edgar Gomez
I picked up Edgar Gomez’s 2022 memoir based solely on the title—High-Risk Homosexual—and deeply enjoyed his voice, which stayed with me long after I read it. So his follow-up, Alligator Tears, was not only a must-read, but something I was excitedly looking forward to. Gomez writes about growing up queer in Florida, the American Dream, class, family, love, community and so much more, all with a through line tied to his relationship with his mother that will break your heart and heal it. He has an insightful, fresh voice, and his books would make an excellent dark comedy sitcom adaptation. Bonus: he narrates the audiobook! —Jamie Canaves
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria
The long-awaited conclusion of Alexis Daria’s Primas of Power trilogy, Along Came Amor, is most definitely a romance of the “oops I’m accidentally having a fling with the best man in my cousin’s wedding” variety. Delightful, but what takes it to the next level is that it’s also the story of how Ava (maid of honor in said wedding) gradually rebuilds her independence after a divorce and a lifetime of dealing with familial judgment. The center of the story is the way Ava and Roman slowly build a healthy relationship with one another, but it’s also so satisfying to watch Ava figure out how to build a healthy, kind relationship with herself. —Trisha Brown
A Tropical Rebel Gets a Duke by Adriana Herrera
Belle Époque Paris! Sex lessons! Abortion rights! This historical romance set in 1889 has it all. Aurora used her inheritance to become a doctor and run an underground women’s clinic. But when her funding is cut off and new dangers emerge, she accepts the protection of Apollo, the new duke of Anan. A one-night-only tryst leads to sex lessons (such a good trope!). And soon, the Duke is determined to marry. But Aurora is just as determined to stay single. Their conflict and passion leap off the page, as does the prescient theme of women’s reproductive freedom. The book is the third in the Las Leonas trilogy, but also works as a standalone. —Alison Doherty
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our picks for Best Books of 2025 So Far!
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