From critics’ picks to readers’ favorites, these roundups offer a snapshot of the stories, voices, and ideas that shaped the 2025 literary year.
Three bestselling and popular writers have passed: Joanne Trollope, known for her contemporary books about family and relationships; Sophie Kinsella, known for her lighthearted romantic comedies and Fern Michaels, best known for fast-paced and accessible women's fiction. Each were prolific writers, that were beloved by many readers. Read some of our top picks by each writer!
Most popular with our readers this month:
When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is mysteriously killed in Oxford, his protégé, Yohan Kim, chases the only breadcrumb given to him in Doha’s last breath: “Soju Club, Dr. Ryu.” In the meantime, a Korean American CIA agent , Yunah Choi, races to salvage her investigation of the North Korean spy cell in the aftermath of the assassination. At the centre of it all is the Soju Club, the only Korean restaurant in Oxford, owned by Jihoon Lim, an immigrant from Seoul in search of a new life after suffering a tragedy. As different factions move in with their own agendas, their fates become entangled, resulting in a bitter struggle that will determine whose truth will triumph.