Every June, after thousands of hours spent reading books across multiple genres and sharing monthly favorites, the Amazon Books Editors gather to select the best titles from the first half of the year. This year’s top books explore themes such as found family, grief, and altruism, inspiring readers to rethink how they live their daily lives.
Topping the list is Charlotte McConaghy’s *Wild Dark Shore*, a gripping novel about family and the fragile planet. Senior editor Al Woodworth praised the book for its powerful storytelling, saying it “hooks you from the start and won’t let you go until the last page.” McConaghy, who first gained recognition with her acclaimed 2020 debut *Migrations*, once again weaves a tale of family, grief, climate change, and nature, set on a remote Antarctic island where a father, his three children, and a mysterious woman confront isolation and survival. The story is told through the perspectives of the island’s inhabitants, revealing deep betrayals, sacrifices, and moments of kindness.
McConaghy expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “It moves me deeply to think of my novel making its way into the hands of readers.”
The list also features a diverse range of notable works. S.A. Cosby’s *King of Ashes* offers a tense crime drama with a Southern twist, while Gardiner Harris’s *No More Tears* exposes shocking truths about Johnson & Johnson, revealing corporate misconduct that affects millions. Ocean Vuong’s *The Emperor of Gladness* tells a compassionate story of unlikely friendship and caregiving, shining a light on marginalized lives.
Suzanne Collins returns with *Sunrise on the Reaping*, a thrilling prequel to *The Hunger Games* that captures readers with high-stakes action and complex characters. Leila Mottley’s *The Girls Who Grew Big* explores the lives of three teenage mothers in Florida, challenging societal judgments with insight and empathy. Geraldine Brooks’s memoir *Memorial Days* offers a raw and honest account of grief following the loss of her husband.
Jakob Kerr’s *Dead Money* delivers a clever fintech murder mystery set in Silicon Valley, while Taylor Jenkins Reid’s *Atmosphere* takes readers on an emotional journey through the early days of women astronauts in the 1980s, blending space exploration with human drama. Lastly, Tina Knowles’s memoir *Matriarch* reveals the life of Beyoncé’s mother, sharing her struggles and triumphs as a mother, entrepreneur, and cultural force.
The full list of Amazon’s Best Books of 2025 So Far spans biographies, fiction, history, mystery, and more, including this year’s addition of BookTok favorite romantasy. Readers looking for their next great summer read can also join a live conversation with Charlotte McConaghy on June 10.
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