The last drop of new reads in 2025 is here!
Whether you're catching your breath after the holiday chaos or cozying up with a brand-new TBR for the new year, this week's releases offer a little bit of everything: emotional second-chance romance, brutal vampire court politics, celebrity biographies, myth-infused fiction, and an exploration of joy.
Let’s get into it!
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
Genre: Small-Town Romance / Second-Chance Love
Why You’ll Love It: Friends-to-lovers tension, small-town meddling, foodie vibes
A return to Rome, Kentucky brings more than just hometown drama in this sweet and sassy small-town romance from When in Rome author Sarah Adams. Madison Walker is a burnt-out chef who returns home for a do-over and ends up working under James Huxley, her brother’s best friend and longtime secret admirer. I cannot wait to return to Rome Kentucky and finally get Maddie and James story!
📌 Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Tessa Bailey.
We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Genre: Fantasy Romance / Vampire Romantasy
Why You’ll Love It: Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, deadly arena, political intrigue
In this gripping new fantasy series opener, Arvelle must kill a god-made emperor to save her brothers, but first she has to survive a vicious vampire-run arena. With slow-burn tension between her and the powerful Primus who might just be the man who broke her heart and the twisted emperor’s son playing games of his own, nothing is simple in this Roman-inspired world! This series promises brutal training, hidden powers, found family, and a slow unraveling of everything Arvelle once believed. You know I already pre-ordered this one!
📌 For fans of Carissa Broadbent, Rebecca Yarros, and Jasmine Mas.
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The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Domestic Thriller
Why You’ll Love It: Reinvention in midlife, found family, undercover nanny mission
Elinor Gilbert used to be FBI, but now she’s invisible until she’s pulled into one final mission: infiltrate a powerful art dealer’s life under the guise of a nanny. But what starts as surveillance turns personal when she bonds with the children she’s meant to spy around. Packed with high-stakes tension, emotional twists, and a fresh perspective on midlife, The Invisible Woman is a quiet thriller with unexpected warmth.
📌 Ideal for fans of quiet domestic thrillers with emotional depth.
Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann
Genre: Biography / Music History / Feminist Icons
Why You’ll Love It: Candid and thorough, with rare interviews and uncovered truths
From the Smoky Mountains to global stardom, Ain’t Nobody’s Fool is the definitive biography of Dolly Parton. Martha Ackmann paints a rich, sometimes surprising portrait of Dolly's rise to fame, the price of success, and her quiet resistance behind the glitter. With insight into the founding of Dollywood, the Imagination Library, and her involvement in vaccine research, this is more than just a celebrity tell-all, it’s a tribute to a woman who played her way, every step of the way!
📌 Must-read for fans of pop culture, resilience, and women who rewrite the rules.
Song of Ancient Lovers by Laura Restrepo
Genre: Literary Fiction / Myth Retelling
Why You’ll Love It: Lush prose, layered timelines, feminist mythology
In a haunting blend of ancient myth and present-day storytelling, this novel reimagines the romance between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon through the eyes of a South American writer searching for meaning in a refugee camp. Song of Ancient Lovers is rich with allusions to feminist art and global history, and the spiritual thread woven between past and present is unforgettable.
📌 Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Isabel Allende.
Eight Million Ways to Happiness by Hiroko Yoda
Genre: Memoir / Spirituality / Japanese Culture
Why You’ll Love It: Uplifting wisdom, memoir-meets-guidebook, practical joy
In this blend of travelogue, cultural exploration, and personal reflection, Hiroko Yoda invites readers into the quiet spiritual heart of Japan. From climbing holy mountains to dancing at shrines, this book unearths the invisible threads that connect joy, ritual, and nature. Eight Million Ways to Happiness is a balm for anyone feeling untethered in modern life and a reminder that joy can be both simple and deeply human.
📌 A must for fans of Ikigai, The Book of Ichigo Ichie, or anyone craving mindful living in 2026.
Final Thoughts
This week closes out the year with everything from swoony second chances to vampires, biographies, and myth-drenched meditations. Whether you’re racing to meet your reading goal or just looking for your first 5-star read of the new year, this list is packed with possibility!
Which one are you adding to your cart first?
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