Amazon Books Editors unveil their selection of literary standouts from the first half of the year

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today revealed the Amazon Books Editors’ Best Books of the Year So Far list, with Charlotte McConaghy’s taut, psychological novel Wild Dark Shore earning the coveted No. 1 position. The Amazon Books Editors describe the novel as “leaving you breathless, wide-eyed, and in awe of the extraordinary power of fiction.” Rounding out the top five selections are King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby, No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris, The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong, and Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.

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Amazon Books Editors select Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy as the Best Book of the Year So Far for 2025.

The Amazon Books Editors recommend titles from the widest selection of books available to make it convenient for customers to discover new titles that will delight, inspire, and educate. The Editors read thousands of books annually across genres to inform their Best Books of the Month, Best Books of the Year So Far, and Best Books of the Year selections, as well as publishing themed round-ups and author interviews on the Amazon Book Review. The Best Books of the Year So Far list showcases their top 20 picks from January through June, along with the top 20 books in popular categories including literature and fiction, mystery and thrillers, romance, history, biographies and memoirs, cookbooks, and children's books. This year, the Amazon Editors also added the top 20 books in romantasy and discovery reads (debut novels).

Wild Dark Shore joins an illustrious lineup of previous Best Books of the Year So Far No. 1 selections, including James by Percival Everett, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré, and Educated by Tara Westover. McConaghy’s work is no stranger to the Amazon Editors. Her debut novel, Migrations, was named the Amazon Editors No. 1 Pick for the best fiction book in 2020.

Upon learning that her novel was named the Best Book of the Year So Far, Charlotte McConaghy remarked, “I’m so grateful for this honor. It moves me deeply to think of my novel making its way into the hands of readers, and for encouraging that I’d like to thank the wonderful editorial team at Amazon.”

“Selecting the Best Books of the Year So Far is a tireless—and fun—process for the Amazon Books Editors. Over thousands of hours, we read across genres from authors both new and established, searching for the very best books that make us smile, think, cry, cringe, and pique our sense of wonder,” said Sarah Gelman, editorial director, Amazon Books. “Our top pick of the year so far, Wild Dark Shore, is a novel that masterfully evoked each of these emotions in our team, and beautifully highlights the imperfections of human nature even when we have the best intentions.”

Below are the top 10 literary standouts of 2025 so far. To explore the complete Best Books of the Year So Far list, visit www.amazon.com/bestbookssofar and check out the Amazon Book Review for in-depth reviews of the books on our list. Book enthusiasts can also join an Amazon Live conversation with Charlotte McConaghy, author of the No. 1 selection Wild Dark Shore, on Tuesday, June 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET.

1. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy: “Shot from a cannon in the dark, Wild Dark Shore is a novel that hooks you from the start and doesn’t let you go until the last page; it will leave you breathless, wide-eyed, and in awe of the extraordinary power of fiction. McConaghy’s exquisite gift is that she creates characters that you know you shouldn’t trust with your whole heart, but you do anyway. The result is a gutting, magnificent story of the things people will do—or won’t do—for the people and things they care about.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
2. King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby: “In King of Ashes, S.A. Cosby conjures up a prodigal son tale with a little of The Godfather in its DNA, but this is S.A. Cosby we’re talking about, so it’s both business and personal, with all the family secrets, hubris, conflicts, brotherly love, lethal betrayals, and retribution that involves. He’s firing on all cylinders here and we couldn’t be happier to be along for another great ride.” —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor
3. No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris: “This exposé into one of America’s most trusted companies is mind-blowing. Just as you’ll be appalled by the villains, you’ll also be inspired by the brave whistleblowers who put their careers, and possibly lives, on the line to bring truth to light. A must-read.” —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
4. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: “‘Life is good when we do good things for each other.’ This Dostoyevsky quote provides a powerful refrain for Vuong’s moving sophomore novel. If he wasn’t already referred to as ’the patron saint of the lonely,’ this story would earn him that moniker.” —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
5. Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins: “Sunrise on the Reaping took me back to the thrill of reading The Hunger Games years ago. With the backstory of Haymitch Abernathy and the 50th Hunger Games, this action-packed popcorn read also has a dark kernel you’ll chew on long after the shocking end.” —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor
6. The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley: “This beautifully told novel about three teen moms in the Florida Panhandle is a banner example of what the best fiction can do: put us in other people’s shoes, challenge our thinking, and expand our empathy.” —Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor
7. Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks: “Emotional, pragmatic, and filled with the keen observations of a literary luminary’s broken heart, Geraldine Brooks' memoir is a euphoric love story, and a meditation on grief and curiosity…Incandescent and necessary.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
8. Dead Money by Jakob Kerr: “So much fun. Set among Silicon Valley’s tech bros, this twisty closed-door mystery follows Mackenzie as she races to solve a CEO’s murder. Is she in over her head, or does she know more than she lets on? This is a one-sitting read that’s slick, cynical, and surprising, with an absolutely delicious last line.” —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
9. Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid: “This heart-wrenching and exhilarating journey to the cosmos masterfully captures both the thrill of space exploration and the complexities of human connection. Atmosphere is a testament to resilience and how far we'll go to chase our dreams, even when those dreams seem as distant as the stars.” —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
10. Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles: “Come for Beyoncé, but—trust me—you’ll stay for Tina. Tina Knowles is a force of a nature, which is why we devoured this memoir in one sitting, and discovered why it was almost inevitable that this driven, creative, and savvy businesswoman would raise two girls who would reshape American music—and culture.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

About Amazon Books Editors

The Amazon Books Editors are a group of literary experts with extensive experience spanning publishing, journalism, and communications. They read thousands of books every year across genres to help customers discover their next favorite read, and put together Best Books of the Month, Best Books of the Year So Far, and Best Books of the Year lists on Amazon. To read Editor reviews, discover recommendations of new books in popular categories, and explore author interviews, visit the Amazon Book Review. You can also follow the Amazon Books Editors’ recommendations and conversations @amazonbooks on Instagram and Facebook.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

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The Amazon Books Editors recommend titles from the widest selection of books available to make it convenient for customers to discover new titles.