Here’s a round-up of the buzziest books dropping November 18, 2025 plus why you’ll love each one!
Let the dragons fly, the dating games begin, and the magical bookshops open because this week’s new releases are stacked with power, romance, vengeance, and a little bit of culinary therapy.
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Brimstone by Callie Hart
Genre: Fantasy / Romance/ Fae
Duty. Blood. Honor. Power.
In Fae & Alchemy Book 2 Queen Saeris never wanted the crown, but now it weighs heavily especially when returning home could kill her. Meanwhile, Kingfisher is saddled with the world’s chattiest companion, Carrion Swift, as they navigate a dangerous mission through a city that hides lethal secrets in its alleyways.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Found family under fire
- Impossible choices across sun-scorched kingdoms
- The slow burn of power and devotion
- For fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and The Bone Season
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
Genre: YA Fantasy / Mythology Retelling / Feminist Rage
Medusa gets her origin story back and this time, she’s not the monster, she’s the revolution. From a promising future as Athena’s favorite to a brutal betrayal by Poseidon, this searing tale reclaims myth with heartbreak, fury, and power.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Medusa, as you've never seen her
- Vivid Greek mythology meets emotional justice
- Survivor reclaiming her story and rage
- Perfect for fans of Circe, Lore, and She Is a Haunting
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance / Redemption Arc / Small-Town Magic
A reformed villain, a cranky alchemist, and a town with a deadly plant plague what could go wrong? Violet just wants to sell flowers and stay out of trouble, but the past (and her sentient, homicidal houseplant) has other ideas.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Enemies-to-lovers greenhouse edition
- Cozy magic with prickly plant vibes
- Redemption and regrowth (literally)
- Great for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Fake Dating / Reunion Feels
Chloe’s down on her luck, living with her parents, and about to face her ten-year college reunion… with no plus-one. Cue the mysterious dating service, the perfect date, and the awkward run-in with the one who got away. Sweet, sharp, and full of second chances.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- College reunion chaos
- Fake dating + real chemistry
- Finding yourself, not just your plus-one
- Ideal for fans of One True Loves and Love, Theoretically
Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver
Genre: Romance / Second-Chance / Travel Adventure
Best friends, first loves, and fourteen years of unspoken things come crashing together in the magical setting of Iceland. Mona’s trying to prove herself and not fall back in love with the guy who broke her heart.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Icelandic scenery + buried emotions
- Childhood best friends to lovers
- Emotional healing with glacier views
- Fans of Love & Other Words and People We Meet on Vacation, assemble
The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Bookish Magic / Standalone
A disgraced magical bookseller is pulled back into the world of deadly ink, cursed tomes, and mysterious legacies. When the shop’s enigmatic owner dies, Cassandra must step into power—whether she’s ready or not.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Secret book societies
- Antiheroine clawing her way back
- Dark academia meets magical underworld
- For fans of The Starless Sea, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, and The City of Stardust
The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee
Genre: YA Romance / K-Drama Vibes / Enemies to Lovers
Mia’s got a secret plan: run her own dating show, get into film school, and avoid catching feelings for her co-star. But when Mr. “Most Eligible Student” Noah starts turning her head, things get complicated behind the camera.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Dating show chaos
- Enemies to “why are you suddenly cute?”
- A heartfelt look at identity and ambition
- Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and If This Gets Out
Arrow of Fortune by Jacquelyn Benson
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Adventure / Found Family
Part Indiana Jones, part enchanted epic, this next installment in Raiders of the Arcana brings romance, relics, and high-stakes chases through colonial India. Ellie and her gang (plus one shirtless machete-wielding rogue) are on the hunt for a legendary artifact with ties to ancient power.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Archaeological thrills with witty banter
- Enemies-to-lovers-to-teammates
- Myth, mystery, and magical weaponry
- Think The Mummy meets The Gilded Wolves
Cook Your Way Calm by Meg Temple
Genre: Nonfiction / Mental Health / Culinary Therapy
Stress relief… by way of your cutting board? Licensed therapist and culinary expert Meg Temple teaches how cooking can lower anxiety and reconnect you to your body, time, and purpose. Weekly recipes and mindful techniques await.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Wellness without the woo
- Practical strategies tied to real-life recipes
- Like The Lazy Genius Kitchen meets The Power of Ritual
- Great gift for anyone feeling overwhelmed this season
Which one’s going on your TBR?
Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram when your copy hits the doorstep! Want even more release roundups? Sign up for my weekly newsletter The Weekly Bookmark for curated TBRs, exclusive promos and giveawys, and early reviews!
Final Thoughts:
This week's new releases deliver everything from mythology-fueled rage to snow-dusted romance to magical bookstores with a dangerous past. Whether you're craving a cozy villain redemption or a spicy travel misadventure, there’s something on this list to pull you out of a slump or straight into a new favorite obsession!
💬 Tell us in the comments which book are you grabbing first?
