27 best new books worth reading this month, according to literary experts
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March is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of must-read new books that will have bibliophiles scrambling to clear space on their shelves. Whether you're in the mood for searing literary fiction, genre-bending thrillers, or thought-provoking non-fiction, this month’s new releases offer something for everyone.
The biggest new release? It has to be Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's highly anticipated new novel, Dream Count, has finally been officially been released. The first fiction novel that the powerhouse author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah has brought out in over a decade, it's a deeply moving meditation on loss, love, and the power of storytelling.
Speaking of literary icons, thriller enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that Harlan Coben’s latest novel delivers his signature mix of twists, tension, and unforgettable characters — proving once again why he’s a master of the genre.
For those who like their fiction dark and unsettling, Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh, presents The Unworthy, a chilling dystopian novel that promises to be just as thought-provoking — and disturbing — as her last. But if the arrival of Spring has you seeking out more light-hearted literature, fear not — romance lovers craving cutesy vibes will adore The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, which is a heartwarming story tailor-made for those besotted with all things Gilmore Girls.
And don't worry — non-fiction is just as compelling this month, with Hallie Rubenhold’ s Story of a Murder diving deep into a gripping true crime narrative that reexamines one of history’s most infamous cases with fresh insight. Another book you need to know about is Cecile Simmons' CTRL HATE DELETE, which takes a sharp, necessary look at the resurgence of online misogyny — dissecting how digital spaces have fuelled a dangerous new wave of anti-feminism.
Whether you’re looking for something fun and lighthearted to read before bed, or a pacy thriller that's guaranteed to have you awake and alert by the time your train pulls into the station each morning, we're certain that there's a newly released book in this edit that's perfect for you.
In paperback, hardback and on Kindle, here are the best new books of March 2025 — according to expert recommendations.
One of our favourite non-fiction authors, Hallie Rubenhold is back this month with a must-read book for true crime lovers. She delves into the details of the brutal murder of Belle Elmore by her husband, the notorious Doctor Crippen.
With her inimitable meticulous research and narrative style creating an immersive experience, Rubenhold draws readers into the dark undercurrents of 19th-century England. Known for her previous works including The Five (which is phenomenal and might be our Roman Empire), Rubenhold continues her deep dive into history’s forgotten figures, bringing lost stories to light with empathy and weaving history with gripping human drama.
With one of the most anticipated books of the year, the iconic and legendary Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a writer of astonishing power. Her latest novel — already longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2025 — is a captivating exploration of love, identity, and the complexity of human relationships.
The novel delves into the inner lives of four women, examining their aspirations, fears, and heritage. Adichie's signature eloquence and keen social insights are on full display here, offering a rich narrative that challenges perceptions of reality and self.
Building on themes from her celebrated previous works, such as Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, Adichie again tackles questions of belonging and personal growth, delivering a thought-provoking and beautifully written story that will resonate with readers.
Gina Tonic is the beloved host of the Polyester Podcast and March brings her candid, razor sharp and hysterical memoir that delves into the author's experiences growing up in South Wales.
Tonic confronts societal negativity towards larger bodies, sharing her journey from internalizing body shaming to embracing fat liberation. She challenges prevailing beauty standards and critiques fatphobic culture, exploring sexuality, relationships, and self-acceptance.
Basically, reading this feels like having a lovely chat with a best mate over a bottle of wine drinks. Weaving personal anecdotes in with societal commentary, it’s an empowering ode to living a life without sacrificing pleasure, and encourages readers to rethink conditioned norms and embrace their true selves.
We are calling it; Tilt is going to be the debut everyone is talking about this month. Emma Pattee's gripping novel is propulsive as it is powerful.
Annie is nine-months-pregnant and navigating a post-earthquake Portland, Oregon. Caught in IKEA during the quake, Annie embarks on a perilous journey home, encountering both the desperation and kindness of strangers. As she traverses the chaotic city, she reflects on her strained marriage, unfulfilled career, and impending motherhood.
Critics have lauded the novel's realistic portrayal of disaster-stricken Portland and its raw depiction of personal turmoil. exploration of resilience, love, and self-discovery amidst chaos.
5/27Best new books March 2025
If you were obsessed with the Netflix adaptation of Fool Me Once with the rest of the world, a new Harlan Coben is an immediate add to cart.
It once again features former detective Sami Kierce, who encounters a woman from his past he believed dead twenty-two years later. This encounter propels him into a complex web of mystery and danger as he desperately tries to solve the questions that have haunted him ever since.
With the bestselling authors mastery of intricate plot building and compelling character development, this thriller will keep you addicted until the very last word.
Natasha Brown exploded onto the scene with her acclaimed debut Assembly, and we are so excited to shout about her next novel Universality, which cements her status as a sharp observer of contemporary society.
The narrative begins with a provocative magazine article that seeks to uncover the truth about a savage attack on a Yorkshire farm. Unravelling themes of class, wealth, and the malleable nature of truth, there is an uncomfortable reflection on the voyeuristic descent of society and the impact of our attention.
Incisive, darkly comedic and visceral, Brown continues to challenge readers with her concise prose and profound insights.
CTRL HATE DELETE: The New Anti-Feminist Backlash and How We Fight It by Cécile Simmons is a timely examination of the resurgence of male supremacist ideologies transitioning from fringe beliefs to mainstream narratives. Count us in!
This book captures so many contemporary questions and issues — from the fall of Roe v Wade and the Tate brothers, to the #tradwives trend, and it feels bitingly relevant. Simmons delves into the mechanisms through which misogynistic groups and their supporters have amplified their influence, particularly in online spaces.
Through interviews with experts, influencers, and activists, she sheds light on the pervasive nature of this backlash and offers strategies to counteract the rising tide of online misogyny, aiming to foster more equitable and inclusive digital environments.
Tender is the Flesh has been a viral online sensation, disconcerting readers all over the world. Argentinian writer Agustina Bazterrica releases a similarly visceral dystopian novel that immerses readers in a post-apocalyptic world where societal norms have disintegrated.
The narrative unfolds through the journal entries of a woman entrenched in a secretive and fear driven religious convent, offering a haunting exploration of cult dynamics and human resilience.
With poetic and unflinching prose, The Unworthy continues her exploration of dark societal constructs, and solidifies her reputation for crafting thought-provoking, dark and horrifying narratives that challenge readers' perceptions of morality and survival.
The perfect debut for book clubs and anyone obsessed with Daisy Jones and The Six. Holly Brickley has written a pitch perfect novel, set in the early 2000s, that delves into the intertwined lives of music writer Percy Marks and aspiring musician Joe Morrow.
Their relationship — sparked in a Berkeley bar — evolves over time, exploring the complexities of creative collaboration and personal connection as Joe’s success and fame grows. Each chapter is titled after a song, and offers insightful essays on music's evolution, enriching the narrative.
The story is brimming with tension, lyricism and passion, with a searing poignancy that will keep you hooked.
We are gargantuan Torrey Peters fans — and her latest book, Stag Dance, was well worth the wait. In this quarter of tales, desire in all its varied forms is explored together with gender identity and transformation.
Deep in the forest, a group of lumberjacks in an illegal winter logging camp organise a dance, with some choosing to attend dressed as women. This decision leads to a complex rivalry between two participants, culminating in a profound exploration of identity and transition. There is also a gender apocalypse, an illicit boarding school romance and a party in Las Vegas.
Torrey Peters gained critical acclaim with her debut novel, Detransition, Baby, which was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Stag Dance deserves the same acclaim.
Cult favourite author Cassandra Clare of The Mortal Instruments fame is the fantasy author whose stories will be your new obsessions (if they aren’t already).
She returns with the hotly anticipated sequel to Sword Catcher, continuing the epic saga of Lin and Kel in the intricate world of Castellane. Following the devastating Shining Gallery massacre, Prince Conor Aurelian needs to mend political rifts, while Kel, his Sword Catcher, grapples with his role in a city rife with secrets.
Clare has crafted compelling, emotionally complex characters in a tumultuous and legendary, mythical reality that is as vibrant as it is vivid. The Ragpicker King showcases her continued evolution as a storyteller, blending political intrigue with personal dilemmas in a richly imagined setting.
Madame Sosostris & the Festival for the Broken-Hearted
Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Broken-hearted is the latest novel from Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and paying homage to T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.
The story centres on Viv, who — on the 20th anniversary of her husband's departure — organises a masked ball in the South of France, leading attendees through a transformative journey of self-discovery and altered perceptions.
With a sense of mystery and intrigue that seeps throughout the pages, this lyrical and surreal story is a powerful and mesmerising read from a literary maestro.
Multimillion copy selling Danielle Steel will delight her legion of readers with Far from Home, which is her latest historical novel, set during World War II.
It follows the courageous journey of a wife and mother who, after the war disrupts her life, seeks refuge in occupied France assuming a new identity to hide in the open. There she discovers a clandestine community of people, all vehemently opposed to the occupying forces and attempting to resist behind the scenes.
With her renowned emotional depth and vivid portrayal of resilience, Steel brings her compelling storytelling and exploration of complex human emotions to this poignant novel.
Longlisted for the International Booker Prize this year, Hunchback is a provocative novel by Japanese author Saou Ichikawa. The main character is Shaka Izawa, a disabled woman with myotubular myopathy — who is navigating life in a group home.
Despite her physical limitations, Shaka maintains an active online presence, writing erotica and sharing candid thoughts on social media. Her reality is disrupted by a new male carer who has read it all and is open to a raunchy proposal.
The astoundingly powerful and vulnerable narrative challenges societal perception, and blends dark humour with raw honesty. The novel's audacious approach led to Ichikawa winning Japan’s most prestigious literary award — making her the first disabled author to do so. Ichikawa's unflinching storytelling offers a fresh perspective on autonomy and desire within the disabled community.
Romance girls you are going to want to cancel all plans. The Love We Found is Jill Santopolo's sequel to her bestselling novel The Light We Lost.
The story follows Lucy Carter Maxwell, who — ten years after the death of her lover Gabe — discovers an address in Rome among his belongings. Driven by curiosity, she travels there, leading to an encounter with Doctor Dax Armstrong, a compassionate aid worker. This meeting challenges Lucy's past decisions, particularly regarding the truth about her son Samuel's parentage.
The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of moving forward. Santopolo's evocative storytelling offers readers a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and emotional healing
Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah is a timely and captivating exploration of the complexities of human relationships and societal structures.
The novel weaves together the lives of three distinct characters, gradually revealing their interconnectedness. Simple yet elegant, Gurnah's prose draws readers into a narrative that examines how individuals navigate the circumstances life presents.
Gurnah gained international acclaim with his 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded for a body work each delving into themes of displacement and identity. Theft continues this tradition of profound storytelling, offering readers a nuanced perspective on the bonds of family and friendship.
Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, The Dream Hotel is Laila Lalami's latest novel, set in a near-future America where a government initiative uses neuroprosthetic implants — called Dreamsavers — to monitor citizens' dreams for pre-emptive crime detection.
The story follows Sara Hussein, a museum archivist who is detained after her dreams are flagged as a potential threat. This narrative explores themes of surveillance, privacy, and identity, drawing parallels to historical colonial practices.
Lalami — a Moroccan American writer and professor — is also the author of award-winning novel, The Moor's Account. The Dream Hotel continues her tradition of blending speculative fiction with critical examinations of contemporary societal issues.
O Sinners! is already making waves in literary circles. Right at the start, we meet Faruq, a young journalist grieving his father's recent death, who becomes captivated by “The Nameless” — a mysterious cult led by the enigmatic Odo, residing in the California redwoods.
As Faruq delves deeper into the group's dynamics, he confronts his own beliefs and the allure of surrendering control. Cuffy's prose is lauded for its emotional depth and complexity, drawing readers into a world that explores themes of faith, identity, and belonging.
The novel's structure interweaves multiple perspectives, including Faruq's present-day experiences, Odo's Vietnam War past, and excerpts from a documentary about the cult, offering a multifaceted exploration of its characters and their motivations.
Booker shortlisted author David Szalay’s latest novel, Flesh, introduces István, a Hungarian teenager whose life is shaped by a series of uncontrollable events.
From a troubled adolescence, which includes a secret relationship with an older married woman, to a challenging adulthood in London in the army to the company of the super-rich, our protagonist grapples with his desire for money, love and status.
Szalay's prose delves into themes of masculinity, trauma, and the immigrant experience, drawing comparisons to Albert Camus’s prolific novella The Stranger. He continues his exploration of contemporary masculinity with an insightful portrayal of male experience across Europe, asking the reader to reflect on what makes a life worth living.
When people are making comparisons to Mantel and O’Farrell, you just know the book is one to immediately inhale. The feminist historical novel we all deserve, Rapture by Emily Maguire is inspired by the legend of Pope Joan — a woman who, disguised as a man, ascended to the papacy in the ninth century.
The story follows Agnes, a brilliant and devout girl from Mainz, who adopts the male identity of John the Englishman to pursue her passion for learning and rises through the Church's ranks.
Maguire's prose intertwines themes of faith, gender, and identity, offering a fresh perspective on a centuries-old tale. Put simply, it's mesmerising from beginning to end.
Fans have been counting down the days to Faithbreaker, the epic finale to the number one bestselling Godkiller and Sunbringer that's set to conclude the Fallen Gods trilogy.
We continue to follow Kissen, who — amid a backdrop of love, sacrifice, loyalty, and betrayal — grapples with her allegiance to Middren's ancient traditions, in a world of chaos where gods and mortal heroes grapple for supremacy. As she seeks her family, Kissen confronts pivotal questions about whose future she is truly fighting for.
Kaner delivers the series' signature blend of emotional depth and high-stakes adventure, with a worthy conclusion to this fast paced and intricately weaved tale.
Twist, Colum McCann's latest novel, is a darkly epic tale set aboard a cable repair ship navigating the Atlantic Ocean's depths. We follow Anthony Fennell — a journalist in pursuit of a story buried at sea — who becomes involved with the crew as chaos ensues on board and tragedy unravels back on land.
Exploring themes of colonialism, environmental degradation, and the complexities of human connection, McCann draws inspiration from the undersea cable repair industry, reflecting on information overload and the intricate web of global communication.
As always, McCann blends profound themes with a taut and compelling storytelling that reads like a thriller but has a deeply reflective tone.
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
If you went anywhere near TikTok in the last year you will have no doubt seen endless reviews of The Pumpkin Spice Café, a cosy, small town romance with all the Gilmore Girls vibes. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the latest in the Dream Harbor series.
Archer — a renowned chef and single father — relocates and takes on the role of head chef at the local pancake restaurant, aiming to provide a stable community for his daughter, Olive. Tropes include single parenthood, forced proximity, slow burn romance, and found family dynamics.
Laurie Gilmore is a No. 1 bestselling author, celebrated for her steamy romances, and her fans will be delighted with this heartwarming escape.
If you are obsessed with The White Lotus or Succession, The Vipers should absolutely be your next read. Katy Hays' forthcoming thriller revolves around the Lingate family's annual retreat to their villa on Capri — an event overshadowed by the decades-old death of playwright Sarah.
Despite being absolved of any wrongdoing, the family continues to return each year, grappling with the lingering shadows of the past. Helen is the heir to the vast fortune, but fights against the tight control wielded by the Lingate patriarch.
With elements of suspense and familial drama, this is a well plotted, sun-soaked atmospheric murder mystery.
Fable For the End of the World
We love a dystopian speculative fiction, and Ava Reid's brand new novel Fable for the End of the World is giving The Hunger Games meets The Last of Us.
It's set in a society dominated by the corporation Caerus, which enforces control through a deadly spectacle known as the Lamb's Gauntlet. The story follows Inesa, a young woman betrayed by her mother and thrust into this brutal event, and Melinoë, a skilled hunter grappling with the moral implications of her role.
As their paths converge, the story explores themes of survival, societal manipulation, and personal redemption — weaved in with an against all the odds romance that keeps you invested from the very first pages.
Bad Manners is the dose of feminist revenge we really needed this month. A men-only charity dinner is the setting (red flag anyone), where young waitresses endure uncomfortable jokes, lingering touches, and blurred boundaries.
As the night unfolds, the debauchery increases, in a place where power and desire are potently addictive. The plot seeks to expose the pervasive nature of misogyny and its impact on women's lives in a fearless and visceral way.
With unflinching prose and an acerbic wit, Bad Manners is a powerful and timely read that will make you rage against the patriarchal systems it distils.
A powerful new contender in non-fiction this month is Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War. Journalist Ash Sarkar powerfully examines how societal elites exploit cultural divisions to maintain power, and she does not hold back.
In this excoriating call to arms, she argues that both right-wing figures and the left's focus on identity politics have fragmented working-class solidarity, diverting attention from economic inequalities. Sarkar explores — with some astonishing anecdotes — how emphasising marginalisation hinders mass movements against wealth concentration.
With candid reflections and sharp observations, this is a compelling look at contemporary political dynamics, challenging readers on the true sources of societal power and division.
After more reading inspo? We've got sleep books, cookbooks, poetry books, true crime books, autobiographies, vegetarian cookbooks, mental health books and adult colouring books. We've also got coffee table books, summer books, vegan cookbooks and books by black authors. Don't say we don't treat you.
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