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Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks

Special Feature

Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks

Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.

You can see previous years' features here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
 



JUNE 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab
ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid
RUN FOR THE HILLS by Kevin Wilson
THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig
THE LOVE HATERS by Katherine Center
SO FAR GONE by Jess Walter
AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle
THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb
THE LISTENERS by Maggie Stiefvater
GREAT BLACK HOPE by Rob Franklin
LEFT OF FOREVER by Tarah DeWitt
THE GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark
A FAMILY MATTER by Claire Lynch
ENDLING by Maria Reva
IS A RIVER ALIVE? by Robert Macfarlane
MAKE ME FAMOUS written by Maud Ventura, translated by Gretchen Schmid
BEHOOVED by M. Stevenson
THE SALT STONES: Seasons of a Shepherd's Life, by Helen Whybrow
KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby
NOTES ON INFINITY by Austin Taylor
FOREST EUPHORIA: The Abounding Queerness of Nature, by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
THE RIVER'S DAUGHTER: A Memoir by Bridget Crocker
THE SUMMER WE RAN by Audrey Ingram
OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove
THE GIRLS OF GOOD FORTUNE by Kristina McMorris

LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE LISTENERS by Maggie Stiefvater
BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES by Ali Brady
KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby
THE WITCH ROADS by Kate Elliott
THE POPPY FIELDS by Nikki Erlick
MEET ME AT THE CROSSROADS by Megan Giddings
THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU by Kristin Harmel
THE SUMMER WE RAN by Audrey Ingram
THE PHOENIX PENCIL COMPANY by Allison King
SO FAR GONE by Jess Walter

Barnes & Noble Book Club
THE LISTENERS by Maggie Stiefvater (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
ATMOSPHERE: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
On Wednesday, June 25th at 8pm ET, PBS Books Readers Club hosts a special event sharing "Our Favorite Cozy Murder Mysteries" from "Masterpiece" and the authors who wrote the novels that inspired them. (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
A FAMILY MATTER by Claire Lynch (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
THE PHOENIX PENCIL COMPANY by Allison King (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
THE VERY LONG, VERY STRANGE LIFE OF ISAAC DAHL by Bart Yates (Click here for more)
 



MAY 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
THE LILAC PEOPLE by Milo Todd
THE ROAD TO TENDER HEARTS by Annie Hartnett
THE PRETENDER by Jo Harkin
THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans
THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong
MY BEST FRIEND'S HONEYMOON by Meryl Wilsner
THE DAD ROCK THAT MADE ME A WOMAN by Niko Stratis
THE ORIGINAL DAUGHTER by Jemimah Wei
ORDINARY TIME: Lessons Learned While Staying Put, by Annie B. Jones
THE MAN MADE OF SMOKE by Alex North
GABRIËLE written by Anne Berest and Claire Berest, translated by Tina Kover
THE MANOR OF DREAMS by Christina Li
THE MISSING HALF by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
OLD SCHOOL INDIAN by Aaron John Curtis
SHOPGIRLS by Jessica Anya Blau
BRIGHTER THAN SCALE, SWIFTER THAN FLAME by Neon Yang
NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE AT THIS WEDDING by Catherine Mack
THE AMALFI CURSE by Sarah Perry
THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS by Chuck Wendig
OPEN, HEAVEN by Seán Hewitt
BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker
STATE CHAMP by Hilary Plum
THE SEA GIVES UP THE DEAD: Stories, by Molly Olguín

LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE MISSING HALF by Ashley Flowers with Alex Kiester
THE DEVILS by Joe Abercrombie
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune
SILVER ELITE by Dani Francis
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp
A FATE FORGED IN FIRE by Hazel McBride
MAINE CHARACTERS by Hannah Orenstein
CAN'T GET ENOUGH by Kennedy Ryan
THE BUSYBODY BOOK CLUB by Freya Sampson
BRIGHTER THAN SCALE, SWIFTER THAN FLAME by Neon Yang

Barnes & Noble Book Club
MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE ORIGINAL DAUGHTER by Jemimah Wei (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS by Ocean Vuong (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
THE MANOR OF DREAMS by Christina Li (Click here for more)
 



APRIL 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: TILT by Emma Pattee
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
AUDITION by Katie Kitamura
WILD AND WRANGLED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez
HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry
I SEE YOU'VE CALLED IN DEAD by John Kenney
WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE by John Scalzi
MURDER BY MEMORY by Olivia Waite
HOT AIR by Marcy Dermansky
BAD NATURE by Ariel Courage
THE PARIS EXPRESS by Emma Donoghue
THE HYMN TO DIONYSUS by Natasha Pulley
SKY DADDY by Kate Folk
MURDER AT GULLS NEST by Jess Kidd
STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE by Kristen Arnett
O SINNERS! by Nicole Cuffy
THE SAVAGE, NOBLE DEATH OF BABS DIONNE by Ron Currie
SOUR CHERRY by Natalia Theodoridou
THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME by Ashley Winstead
KILLER POTENTIAL by Hannah Deitch
HUNCHBACK written by Saou Ichikawa, translated by Polly Barton
THE NIGHT TREMBLES written by Nadia Terranova, translated by Ann Goldstein
WORTHY OF THE EVENT: An Essay, by Vivian Blaxell

LibraryReads
Top Pick: THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker
COLD ETERNITY by S.A. Barnes
A DROP OF CORRUPTION: An Ana and Din Mystery, by Robert Jackson Bennett
MURDER BY CHEESECAKE: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans
I SEE YOU'VE CALLED IN DEAD by John Kenney
ANY TROPE BUT YOU by Victoria Lavine
HOW TO SEAL YOUR OWN FATE by Kristen Perrin
THE STAIRCASE IN THE WOODS by Chuck Wendig

Barnes & Noble Book Club
RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
MATRIARCH: A Memoir by Tina Knowles (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
MISS AUSTEN: A Novel of the Austen Sisters by Gill Hornby (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
HEARTWOOD by Amity Gaige (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
ALL THAT LIFE CAN AFFORD by Emily Everett (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
THE MATCHMAKER by Aisha Saeed (Click here for more)
 



MARCH 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy
THE UNWORTHY written by Agustina Bazterrica, translated by Sarah Moses
THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar
DEEP CUTS by Holly Brickley
THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell
BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall
COUNT MY LIES by Sophie Stava
ONE DAY, EVERYONE WILL HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST THIS by Omar El Akkad
THE CAFÉ WITH NO NAME written by Robert Seethaler, translated by Katy Derbyshire
KATE & FRIDA: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Books by Kim Fay
I GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND NOW I'M TRAPPED IN A ROM-COM by Kimberly Lemming
RED DOG FARM by Nathaniel Ian Miller
DREAM STATE by Eric Puchner
THE JACKAL'S MISTRESS by Chris Bohjalian
SWORDHEART by T. Kingfisher
GO LUCK YOURSELF: A Royals and Romance Novel, by Sara Raasch
STAG DANCE: A Novel & Stories, by Torrey Peters
RAISING HARE: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
33 PLACE BRUGMANN by Alice Austen
THE WOMEN ON PLATFORM TWO by Laura Anthony
A DUMB BIRDS FIELD GUIDE TO THE WORST BIRDS EVER by Matt Kracht
THE GARDEN by Nick Newman
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING by Shubha Sunder
FUNDAMENTALLY by Nussaibah Younis
THE PASSENGER SEAT by Vijay Khurana

LibraryReads
Top Pick: SALTWATER by Katy Hays
PROMISE ME SUNSHINE by Cara Bastone
THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar
BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall
ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME by Sarah Harman
THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry
WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy
GO LUCK YOURSELF: A Royals and Romance Novel, by Sara Raasch
THE SHOTS YOU TAKE by Rachel Reid
MURDER BY MEMORY by Olivia Waite

Barnes & Noble Book Club
BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
COUNT MY LIES by Sophie Stava (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
THE TELL: A Memoir by Amy Griffin (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THE DREAM HOTEL by Laila Lalami (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
A HARVEST OF HEARTS by Andrea Eames (Click here for more)
 



FEBRUARY 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: VICTORIAN PSYCHO by Virginia Feito
THIS IS A LOVE STORY by Jessica Soffer
THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler
BLACK WOODS, BLUE SKY written by Eowyn Ivey, illustrated by Ruth Hulbert
WE COULD BE RATS by Emily Austin
ISOLA by Allegra Goodman
THE BONES BENEATH MY SKIN by TJ Klune
EMILY WILDE'S COMPENDIUM OF LOST TALES by Heather Fawcett
TARTUFO by Kira Jane Buxton
FIRST-TIME CALLER by B.K. Borison
OUT OF THE WOODS by Hannah Bonam-Young
MEMORIAL DAYS: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks
A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler
BLOB: A Love Story, by Maggie Su
THE LAMB by Lucy Rose
THE HARDER I FIGHT THE MORE I LOVE YOU: A Memoir by Neko Case
MUTUAL INTEREST by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict
PENITENCE by Kristin Koval
IDLE GROUNDS by Krystelle Bamford
LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS by Pam Jenoff
TOO SOON by Betty Shamieh
BEARTOOTH by Callan Wink
WAITING FOR THE LONG NIGHT MOON: Stories by Amanda Peters
ELSESHIP: An Unrequited Affair, by Tree Abraham

LibraryReads
Top Pick: FIRST-TIME CALLER by B.K. Borison
WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN by Stephanie Burgis
THE QUIET LIBRARIAN by Allen Eskens
VICTORIAN PSYCHO by Virginia Feito
ISOLA by Allegra Goodman
I GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND NOW I'M TRAPPED IN A ROM-COM by Kimberly Lemming
A KILLING COLD by Kate Alice Marshall
FAMOUS LAST WORDS by Gillian McAllister
SOMETHING IN THE WALLS by Daisy Pearce
THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O. by Karen Thompson Walker

Barnes & Noble Book Club
THIS IS A LOVE STORY by Jessica Soffer (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
DREAM STATE by Eric Puchner (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
GOOD DIRT and BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THIS IS A LOVE STORY by Jessica Soffer (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
ISOLA by Allegra Goodman (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE by Tia Williams (Click here for more)
 



JANUARY 2025

Indie Next
#1 Pick: WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by Grady Hendrix
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by Kate Fagan
WATER MOON by Samantha Sotto Yambao
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS? by Tracey Lange
THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo
BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney
GOOD GIRL by Aria Aber
ROSARITA by Anita Desai
MORE OR LESS MADDY by Lisa Genova
NORTH IS THE NIGHT by Emily Rath
I'LL COME TO YOU by Rebecca Kauffman
SWEET FURY by Sash Bischoff
DEATH IN THE DOWNLINE: A Multi-Level Marketing Murder Mystery, by Maria Abrams
THE NAMING OF THE BIRDS by Paraic O'Donnell
THE HEART OF WINTER by Jonathan Evison
THE NOTE by Alafair Burke
PLAYWORLD by Adam Ross
THE PERFECT HOME by Daniel Kenitz
ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD by Eiren Caffall
THE LOST HOUSE by Melissa Larsen
THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia
THE LOTUS SHOES by Jane Yang
MOTHERS AND SONS by Adam Haslett
EDDIE WINSTON IS LOOKING FOR LOVE by Marianne Cronin
HELLO STRANGER: Musings on Modern Intimacies, by Manuel Betancourt

LibraryReads
Top Pick: GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson
OUT OF THE WOODS by Hannah Bonam-Young
THE NOTE by Alafair Burke
BABYLONIA by Costanza Casati
THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo
THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia
TEMPLE OF SWOON by Jo Segura
WATER MOON by Samantha Sotto Yambao
THE IN-BETWEEN BOOKSTORE by Edward Underhill
TELL ME WHAT YOU DID by Carter Wilson

Barnes & Noble Book Club
THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight (Click here for more)

"Good Morning America" Book Club
HOMESEEKING by Karissa Chen (Click here for more)

Oprah's Book Club
A NEW EARTH: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle (Click here for more)

PBS Books Readers Club
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (Click here for more)

"Read with Jenna" Book Club
THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight (Click here for more)

Reese's Book Club
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by Kate Fagan (Click here for more)

Target Book Club
THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY by Kate Fagan (Click here for more)