Best of 2025
What reads and watches have you loved this year?
Bringing together the best of 2025 – from the picks of our staff and customers, to best of the year lists published by magazines, newspapers and booksellers.
Tell us your favourites of the year
Since 2000, we have been collecting information on what were the most popular reads, watches, and listens for the year.
Share your favourites of the year and go in the draw to win a reader's prize bundle including a library tote bag, a bookmark, reading stickers, a notebook, and a set of bilingual story starter cards. We'll also share your picks of the year on our website.
Up for grabs. Tell us your faves from 2025 and go in the draw for a readers prize bundle.
New Zealand
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
A selection of the best New Zealand pukapuka read this year - mostly non-fiction. Listened to some as eAudiobooks, read by the author.
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
2025 has been a boomer year for books. Here are some of my Fee's fiction faves. Includes titles by NZ authors.
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
It's been a terrific year for crime reads. This list is heavy on Kiwis making waves in Aotearoa and on the world stage.
Best book covers of 2025 - My pick of Aotearoa’s finest
Each year I handpick my favourite New Zealand book covers. Have a look at my number one pick and plenty more stylish books.
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
A selection of the best New Zealand pukapuka read this year - mostly non-fiction. Listened to some as eAudiobooks, read by the author.
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
2025 has been a boomer year for books. Here are some of my Fee's fiction faves. Includes titles by NZ authors.
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
It's been a terrific year for crime reads. This list is heavy on Kiwis making waves in Aotearoa and on the world stage.
Best book covers of 2025 - My pick of Aotearoa’s finest
Each year I handpick my favourite New Zealand book covers. Have a look at my number one pick and plenty more stylish books.
For adults
Library staff fiction picks
Donna's Best Fiction of 2025
A selection of faves - a dash of the dystopian, some warped and twisty tales, and a some modern classics.
Ray's Top Reads 2025
Across memoir and fiction, themes of home and homesickness, loneliness and community, and big emotional/spiritual journeys.
Donna's Best Book Covers of 2025
A lineup of the year's favourite covers. They use art, fonts, typography, colour, and clever effects - making for eye-catching books.
Liam's 20 Best Graphic Novel Reads of 2025
Twenty of Liam's favourite manga and graphic novel books and series read this year.
Paris's Best of 2025
Paris's favourite fiction read in 2025, in no particular order. Mostly contemporary fiction.
Jem's top fiction reads of 2025
Jem's absolute favourite books read in 2025. A mix of general fiction and romance titles, some YA, and some with LGBT characters.
SoCoSprey Staff Picks - Best of 2025
Favourite reads this year from the South Colombo and Spreydon library teams.
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
2025 has been a boomer year for books. Here are some of my Fee's fiction faves. Includes titles by NZ authors.
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
It's been a terrific year for crime reads. This list is heavy on Kiwis making waves in Aotearoa and on the world stage.
SarahP's best of 2025
Some of Sarah's all time favourite books. it's been a great year for fiction. A mix of sci-fi, general fiction and mystery/thrillers.
Hamish's Best of 2025
Some highlights from the year, in no particular order except for number one. A mix of fiction and non-fiction.
Nicole's Best of 2025
Books Nicole rated 4.5 or 5 stars. A mix of noir and mystery thrillers, fantasy, and general fiction.
🦇🦇Mike's Best of 2025🦇🦇
Horrifyingly good reads! Mostly fiction along with a few horror-focused non-fiction titles.
Hayley S's favourite reads of 2025
The fiction that made Hayley the happiest this year. In proper ranked order this year, for fun.
Brian's best reads / listens / watches in 2025
Brian's picks of the best of the year - a mix of fiction and non-fiction as well as a little music and some movies/TV.
Jessie's Favourites 2025 - Fiction
In no particular order, Jessie's favourite fiction read in 2025. A mix of genres.
Library staff non-fiction picks
Donna's Best of the Best 2025
The absolute faves - there are the books I raved about the most. A mixture of fiction and non-fiction.
Donna's Best Non-Fiction of 2025
Non-fiction reads that are intelligent, well-written, and thoroughly readable.
Ray's Top Reads 2025
Across memoir and fiction, themes of home and homesickness, loneliness and community, and big emotional/spiritual journeys.
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
A selection of the best New Zealand pukapuka read this year - mostly non-fiction. Listened to some as eAudiobooks, read by the author.
Hong's Best Reads 2025
Books inform, entertain and inspire me Hong in 2025. Mostly non-fiction with some Chinese-language titles.
History and Current Events - Best Adult Non-Fiction of 2025
These are the titles you don't want to miss out: history, politics, media, climate change, racism and more. As picked by selectors.
Health and Wellbeing - Best Adult Nonfiction Books of 2025
This year we saw great publications on health and wellbeing topics. These are the highlights you don't want to miss. Picked by selectors.
SoCoSprey Staff Picks - Best of 2025
Favourite reads this year from the South Colombo and Spreydon library teams.
Business - The Best Adult Nonfiction Books of 2025
Are you considering opening your own business? Learning about economics or leadership? We've got you covered! As picked by selectors.
Neurodiversity - Best Adult Books of 2025
Much was published about neurodiversity this year. Here you will find some top picks you don't want to miss out. Picked by selectors.
LGBTQIA+ - Best Adult Non-Fiction of 2025
Loud and proud: these are some of the great non-fiction books published this year in this area, picked by our selectors.
Tūhuratanga's Best Non-Fiction of 2025
Staff picks from Tūhuratanga, the home of non-fiction in Tūranga.
Hamish's Best of 2025
Some highlights from the year, in no particular order except for number one. A mix of fiction and non-fiction.
Troy's Best of 2025
Troy's favourite reads of 2025 - mostly non-fiction.
Brian's best reads / listens / watches in 2025
Brian's picks of the best of the year - a mix of fiction and non-fiction as well as a little music and some movies/TV.
Jessie's favourites 2025 - Non-fiction
In no particular order, Jessie's favourite non-fiction reads in 2025.
Library staff Movie and TV picks
Donna's Best Movies and TV of 2025
A selection of movies and telly watched this year.
Moata's best watches of 2025
A bakers' dozen of Moata's favourite movies and TV shows of the year. In order from gentlest to most offensive.
Hayley's best movies for 2025
Movies watched in 2025 - some released this year, some were in 2023 and 2024. All available on DVD or online streaming on Kanopy. Enjoy!
Award-winners
Award Winning Comics 2025
Ma1co1m's annual selection of the big winners (and nominees) from the 2025 Eisner, Ignatz, Ringo, Harvey, and Hugo Awards.
2025 Literary Award Winner Round-up
Discover the winners of some of the greatest literary awards in 2025.
Award Winning Comics 2025
Ma1co1m's annual selection of the big winners (and nominees) from the 2025 Eisner, Ignatz, Ringo, Harvey, and Hugo Awards.
2025 Literary Award Winner Round-up
Discover the winners of some of the greatest literary awards in 2025.
Highly rated
Titles published in 2025 that have been given 5-star ratings by library borrowers in our online catalogue.
2025 best books lists
New Zealand
- An A to Z of The Spinoff’s best books of 2025
- The Listener best 100 books of 2025
- Newsroom best of 2025 lists: fiction, illustrated books, poetry books
- Top 100 booklists Auckland Libraries
- Whitcoull's Top 100
See also
- Best reads of previous years
- Literary prizes for the award-winning books of the year
International
- 100 Notable Books of 2025 New York Times
- Best books of 2025 Goodreads
- Best books of 2025 Libby
- Books of the Year Times Literary Supplement
- Best books of 2025 Book Riot
- Best books of the year The Guardian
- The 100 must-read books of 2025 Time Magazine
- Largehearted Boy's List of online "Best Books of 2024" lists
Best Reads from 2000 to today
Explore the best and most popular books. We have been recording the top books each year since 2000.