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.
New Zealand
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
Best book covers of 2025 - My pick of Aotearoa’s finest
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
Best book covers of 2025 - My pick of Aotearoa’s finest
For adults
Library staff fiction picks
ma1co1m's Best Comics of 2025
Donna's Best Fiction of 2025
Ray's Top Reads 2025
Donna's Best Book Covers of 2025
Liam's 20 Best Graphic Novel Reads of 2025
Paris's Best of 2025
Jem's top fiction reads of 2025
SoCoSprey Staff Picks - Best of 2025
Fionaccl's Best of 2025!
Fionaccl's Best Crime and Thriller Reads of 2025
SarahP's best of 2025
Hamish's Best of 2025
Nicole's Best of 2025
🦇🦇Mike's Best of 2025🦇🦇
Hayley S's favourite reads of 2025
Brian's best reads / listens / watches in 2025
Library staff non-fiction picks
Donna's Best of the Best 2025
Donna's Best Non-Fiction of 2025
Ray's Top Reads 2025
Donna's Best Aotearoa Books of 2025
Hong's Best Reads 2025
History and Current Events - Best Adult Non-Fiction of 2025
Health and Wellbeing - Best Adult Nonfiction Books of 2025
SoCoSprey Staff Picks - Best of 2025
Business - The Best Adult Nonfiction Books of 2025
Neurodiversity - Best Adult Books of 2025
LGBTQIA+ - Best Adult Non-Fiction of 2025
Tūhuratanga's Best Non-Fiction of 2025
Hamish's Best of 2025
Troy's Best of 2025
Brian's best reads / listens / watches in 2025
Jessie's favourites 2025 - Non-fiction
Library staff Movie and TV picks
Donna's Best Movies and TV of 2025
Moata's best watches of 2025
Hayley's best movies for 2025
Award-winners
Award Winning Comics 2025
2025 Literary Award Winner Round-up
Award Winning Comics 2025
2025 Literary Award Winner Round-up
More staff best of 2025 picks
Lyn's picks
Non-fiction: Time's Echo by Jeremy Eichler
Time's Echo gives so much depth and context. A beautifully written exploration of lost war years, where so much was forgotten.
Fiction: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Charlotte Wood's quietly beautiful and comforting book is one I'll keep close.
Mik's picks
Non-fiction: Human Nature by Kate Marvel
Human Nature is a beautifully written book about climate change and all of the emotions that come with it. Kate Marvel does an incredible job at weaving storytelling and educating. Great author!
Fiction: The Spellshop by Sarah Durst
The Spellshop was the cosiest book I've ever read. It made me smile the whole way through. I would love to live in their world.
Christine's picks
- My Friends by Fredrik Backman
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith
- See How They Fall by Rachel Paris
- She Didn't See it Coming by Shari Lapena
- Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell
- The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey
They hook me in and I want to find out what happens at the end.
I feel emotionally involved with the characters.
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.
You shared 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. The winner of the prize bundle is Michael Burrowes whose favourite read of 2025 was Secrets of the Land by Kate Mahony.
Public submissions
Ben's favourite
Fury of the vikings by Dominic Sandbrook
The book was a mixture of fact and legend and was an exciting read for me. It fine-tuned viking history through a range of chapters, through adventures and perspectives of characters. I learnt so much from it- have already recommended it someone. It is one of my favourite books and is great for both children and adults. The writing was simple to understand yet had so much depth and knowledge squeezed into the fine-tuned sentences. It was a great read - I could barely stop, so would highly recommend.
Anita's favourite audiobooks
The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens and The Night on the Darling River by Darry Fraser
Both of these fabulous books have great characters that pull you in and leave you wanting more.
I read The night on the Darling River first and looked under similar tab [in Libby] and found The Jam Maker.
Hazel's favourites
The Pōrangi Boy by Shilo Kino
The Pōrangi Boy really swept me up in it's story and made me teary at a few points. And I thought it was such a good example of what tino rangatiratanga looks like in practice. I also read it almost in one sitting and I rarely do that as someone with low reading stamina!
The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
The Emperor's Soul is a really well written, well structured story that I found very engaging. I still think about the magic system and how thoroughly the world building reflects that magic system and supports the kind of story the author wanted to tell.
Jessica's favourites
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, The Things That Matter Most by Gabbie Stroud, and We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
The Things that Matter Most was my favourite book of the year for its beautiful storytelling and characters, while telling a heartbreaking yet so important story about teachers and the education system, that everyone should read.
Gina's favourites
Fiction
- Flesh by David Szalay
- Good things come and go Josie Shapiro
- Not quite dead yet by Holly Jackson
- The women Kristin Hannah
- Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
- Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell
Non-fiction
- The courage to be disliked (Audiobook) by Ichirō Kishimi
- Say Everything: A Memoir by Ione Skye
Complex female characters, interesting storylines, stories from others’ perspective
Michael's favourite
Secrets of the Land by Kate Mahony
Exceptional historical fiction set mainly in NZ.
Melanie's favourite
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Although not published in 2025, this is my favourite read for this year. It is perfect for those who enjoy reflective, bittersweet stories about human connections and the power of memories. I love the way it is written, it is for a light reading time at free time. I enjoyed its sequels too!
Nicola's favourite
The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi
This book kept me in suspense until the very end. I loved it. My top read of 2025.
Elizabeth's favourite series
DCI Evan Warlow series by Rhys Dylan
I have been enjoying Rhys Dylan's murder mysteries set in Wales. It is interesting to follow the characters as they develop from one book to the next. The characters are strong and the humour adds to the individual personalities.
Chase's favourites (aged 10)
Home Alone 2 and 3, A Minecraft Movie, and The Super Mario Bros. movie
Books - Super Sleuth by David Walliams and Dog Man by Dav Pilkey By Chase, ages 10
Mario Movie was so enjoyable and funny The books were hilarious and quirky.
Christianne's favourite
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I LOVE historical fiction, especially when it uses unknown but still important figures. The Frozen River was so well-written- multilayered mystery, beautiful husband and wife romancing, three-dimensional characters. It felt like I was right there with Martha Ballard.
Kiri's favourites
- The wedding people by Alison Espach
- The booklover's library by Madeline Martin
- The frozen river by Ariel Lawhon
- Ten steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
The wedding people and ten steps - deal with some important issues but in a way that leaves you uplifted. Very easy to read.
The booklovers library - again a very easy read, a different perspective on way told from the point of view of a mother sending her child to country.
The frozen river- great piece of engaging writing.
Aquila's favourites
- The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
- The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
- The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott
- Kings of This World by Elizabeth Knox
- The Sovereign by CL Clarke
Made me think the most.
Cynthia's favourites
These books all took me to different worlds, in different ways.
Non-fiction
- Sound Tracks: Uncovering Our Musical Past by Graeme Lawson
- There Are No Accidents - The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster: Who Profits and Who Pays the Price by Jessie Singer
The non-fiction books were perspective-shifters. They were explorations of recent and ancient history; understanding of how music has been made going back through the archaeological record, and a deep dive into the greed-based efforts to place blame for "accidents" on the most vulnerable people, rather than the predictable results of corrupt systems and poor policy that they are.
Fiction
- The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn
- The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
The fiction books blew me away with their creativity and world-building, and their linking of science with fantasy.
Audiobooks
- Imogen Quy Detective Mysteries by Jill Paton Walsh
- The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall
- How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
Liz's favourites
Book No Words For This by Ali Mau
Audiobook - Lyrebird by Jane Caro
TV Show - Black Snow Season 2 on TVNZ
Best Movie - The Thursday Murder Club (based on the book by Richard Osman)
My favourites this year were books and shows that I frequently thought about after finishing them.
Linda's favourites
- A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern
- Lily, Coming Home, and The Colour by Rose Tremain
- Untouchable Girls by.Jools and Lynda Topp
- Save the Cat by Jessica Brody
Jacinda is my Queen. Rose Tremain, discovered her only this year and loved. Read Lily compulsively over 48 hours. The Topp Twins are my generation, icons. Beloved Kiwis. Save the Cat because I'm writing a novel.
Sophia's favourites
Book: A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich
A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich. Never have I felt more heard as a Junior Doctor than when reading this pukapuka.
Boats: With 5 Counters to Push Along the Tracks! by Johnny Dyrander
My pēpi has loved the book “BOATS” we borrowed from the Library Van. The moving tokens are a real hit while developing her pincer grip and fine motor skills.
Movie: Tinā
Heart-wrenching and real. Incredible acting. Too close to home living in Christchurch.
TV: Eat Well For Less. Sparked creativity and cost-savings for our little growing whānau. Also, The Chase NZ because who doesn’t love a good quiz!
Rebecca's favourite
The Seaside Sleepover by Jacqueline Wilson
This is my favourite book as it written good and has a great storyline.
Emma's favourite
A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir by Jacinda Ardern
Well told story about a wonderful woman.,, it was awesome.
Ashleigh's favourite
Recipe Tin Eats Dinner by Nagi Maehashi
An absolute go to for recipes in our house.
Rachel's favourites
Heart the Lover by Lily King, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, and Isola by Allegra Goodman.
If a book can make me cry it’s automatically 5 Stars!
Adhi's favourites
Give me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows, The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, and The Stars Burn Bright by Lynda Tomlin.
In all my favourite reads I found a part of myself in the stories and that healed me ❤️
Ashleigh's favourites
Book Northbound by Naomi Arnold
Northbound has been a new venture into non fiction, the author is a friend of a friend so I was enticed to read it and I feel in love with the raw honesty and inspiration it gave.
Ann's favourites
- I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
- The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
- Long Live the Post Horn! by Vigdis Hjorth
- The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
- A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata
- A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno
- The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey
- The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey
Literary novels that engage the mind and heart.
Hera's favourites
- Time to Think by Hannah Barnes
- Gender-critical Feminism by Holly Lawford-Smith,
- Hounded Women, Harms and the Gender Wars by Jenny Lindsay
Hannah Barnes took years researching this book while the scandal grew and it has won several prizes - so I trusted the information. I learned so much from her writing about kids who needed help and what they got instead.
I have followed Jenny Lindsay on Substack and I wanted to know more about her experience of having her performance poetry career destroyed.
Holly Lawford Smith argues beautifully and explains what's happening in Australian Universities.
Chris's favourites
Billy No-Mates by Max Dickins and A life less punishing by Matt Heath
Changed my way of looking at how my life is progressing, both written in a way that made them funny, easy to read and impactful.
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 best books of 2025: The people’s choice The Spinoff
- 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 2025" lists
