Book Riot Editorial is made up of passionate readers, writers, and book lovers dedicated to delivering insightful book recommendations, literary analysis, and the latest in book culture. With expertise spanning multiple genres and a deep understanding of the publishing industry, we offer thoughtful commentary, book deals, and news that matters to readers. Whether it’s uncovering hidden gems, analyzing literary trends, or championing diverse voices, Book Riot’s editorial team is here to keep you informed and inspired.
With 2025 just in our rearview mirror, now is the perfect time to reflect on a year of reading. Libby—the free app that allows patrons to check out ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from over 22,000 public libraries across the United States—has shared with us a review of their year in books, and there’s a very clear pattern that emerges.
Of the 20 most popular checkouts of 2025, most are fiction books (with the exception of one nonfiction: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins), half were chosen at some point in the year by a celebrity book club, and all of them are bestsellers. That last point is connected to another point: that there isn’t much diversity. Since bestselling books tend to be the books with the biggest marketing budgets, and the books with the biggest marketing budgets tend to be written by white authors because of how the publishing industry operates, many of the books that make it onto the mainstream bestselling lists are written by white authors.
But if you’d still like to know some of 2025’s biggest books by BIPOC authors, here’s a roundup that features a few. The list includes necessary nonfiction (One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad); hellish fantasy (Katabasis by R.F. Kuang); a near-future dystopian (A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar); a moving memoir (Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy); Southern noir (King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby); a story of women in community (The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy); and more.
Below are the 20 most popular Libby checkouts of 2025. They hop from queer space race tales to India-set family sagas to stories of unlikely, non-human friendships.
20. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Chosen by Good Morning America, June 2025
19. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
18. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese- Chosen by Oprah’s Book Club, May 2023
17. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker- Chosen by Read with Jenna, July 2024
16. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt- Chosen by Read with Jenna, May 2022
15. Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
14. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
13. James by Percival Everett
12. Funny Story by Emily Henry
11. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
10. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez- Chosen by Good Morning America, April 2024
9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
8. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
7. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore- Chosen by Jimmy Fallon, Summer 2024 Book Club
6. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
5. Great Big Beautiful Life Emily Henry – Chosen by Reese’s Book Club, May 2025
4. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
3. The Wedding People by Alison Espach- Chosen by Read with Jenna, August 2024
2. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins- Endorsed by Oprah
1. The Women by Kristin Hannah- Chosen by Reese’s Book Club, March 2024
For more on Libby, visit Libby Life.
To see other books chosen by celebrity book clubs, check out the Best Book Club Books of 2025.
English (US) · 