7 Must-Read Books Recommended by Avid Readers

Discover a curated list of must-read books that have captivated the minds of avid readers. Drawing from the recommendations of passionate bibliophiles, these books promise to enlighten, entertain, and inspire readers across various interests.

Vintage Charm Meets Liberation in Sussex
“The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club” by Helen Simonson is my pick for 2025. It is a historical novel set in 1919 Sussex, centered around a young woman named Constance Haverhill who joins a group of women breaking free from post-war expectations. The story flows through themes of resilience, renewal, and unconventional ambition without any pretense or heavy-handed tropes. At 384 pages, it balances emotional weight with wit and optimism. Think vintage charm meets liberation arc, where the stakes are personal and the victories feel earned. - Eric Croak, CFP, President, Croak Capital

Antarctic Thriller Explores Climate and Secrets
I highly recommend “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy, a novel from 2025. It’s a riveting thriller set on an isolated Antarctic island that combines family drama with a quest to save the world’s seed bank. The way it investigates climatic concerns and human secrets seems urgent and extremely intimate. What struck me was how the characters’ challenges matched real-world constraints we experience in law and business — balancing difficult choices with compassion for others. This novel reminds you of tenacity and duty in unpredictable times. It is a must-read for everyone who appreciates serious fiction with a deep emotional core. - Mark Hirsch, Co-founder and Personal Injury Attorney, Templer & Hirsch

Near-Future Novel Examines Migration and Identity
One book from 2025 that I highly recommend to avid readers is “The Book of Records” by Madeleine Thien. This novel offers a profound exploration of migration, memory, and identity, set in a near-future migrant compound known as “the Sea.” Thien interweaves the personal journey of refugees Lina and her father Wui Shin with reflections on historical figures like Hannah Arendt, Du Fu, and Baruch Spinoza, creating a rich tapestry that examines the human experience across time and cultures. The narrative’s depth and the author’s literary prowess make it a compelling read that resonates on multiple levels.
- Kalim Khan, Co-founder & Senior Partner, Affinity Law

Nigerian Women Navigate Pandemic-Era America
I highly recommend “Dream Count” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It follows four Nigerian women navigating life in the U.S. during the pandemic. Each chapter dives into their personal struggles and triumphs, offering a rich tapestry of experiences. The storytelling is compelling, and the characters feel real and relatable. It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. I found myself reflecting on the themes of identity and resilience portrayed in the novel. The way Adichie weaves the narratives together is masterful. - Natalia Lavrenenko, UGC manager/Marketing manager, Rathly

NASA Novel Offers Leadership Insights
“Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid has been the most profound read of 2025 so far, offering business leaders an unexpected masterclass in high-stakes decision-making under pressure. As someone managing nationwide operations, the novel’s exploration of NASA’s Space Shuttle program resonated deeply with the leadership challenges I navigate daily. What makes this work particularly valuable is Reid’s exceptional ability to portray how diverse perspectives strengthen critical decision processes. The novel’s depiction of Joan Goodwin’s journey from academic physicist to astronaut illuminates how specialized expertise must adapt when confronting real-world operational challenges — a transition many technical professionals struggle with when moving into leadership roles. The most insightful element for business leaders is Reid’s portrayal of how the 1984 mission crisis reveals each character’s true decision-making process under extreme pressure. These moments mirror the executive decisions we face during critical business inflection points, where theoretical knowledge meets practical constraints.
For anyone leading teams through complex challenges, this novel provides more actionable insights about leadership under pressure than many business texts, wrapped in a compelling narrative that makes its lessons more memorable and impactful than conventional management literature. - Vidyadhar Garapati, CEO, Movers.com

Vuong’s Quiet Tale Packs Emotional Punch
“The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong does not read like fiction; it reads like oxygen. The setup sounds quiet: a teenage boy caring for an old woman with memory loss. But every page flips something raw. There is a line where time, trauma, and tenderness all intersect, and Vuong somehow puts it in motion without making it dramatic. Each chapter feels like a slow exhale in a room full of noise. The way he writes care with real, gritty, exhausting care is dead-on. Nothing is glamorized. Just weight. The structure is unpredictable, which honestly makes it land harder. No fluff, no neat arcs. Just consequence. The characters never feel like symbols or props. They feel like the people you think about on the drive home. No exaggeration, it is probably one of the only 2025 novels that nails both literary form and emotional gravity without trying too hard. The tone hits soft and sharp at the same time. And it leaves you different, whether you admit it or not.
- Kiara DeWitt, RN, CPN, Founder & CEO, Injectco

Haidt Addresses Youth Mental Health Crisis
One book worth reading this year is “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. It tackles the growing concern around mental health in young people. The writing is clear and focused. It lays out how certain habits and technologies are reshaping how kids grow, learn, and connect. The patterns it points out are hard to ignore: less time outside, less real interaction, more stress, and more disconnection. As someone who works closely with people every day, I recognized the shifts: shorter attention spans, social withdrawal, and reliance on devices instead of face-to-face conversation. The book doesn’t drift into theory. It sticks to what’s happening and what needs to change. It calls for limits, structure, and a return to routines that support emotional health and development at home, in schools, and across daily life. This is not a feel-good read, but it’s honest. It challenges habits that feel normal but cause harm over time. After finishing it, I adjusted how I approach technology: fewer screens, more presence, and clearer boundaries. Results came fast: less tension and more focus. If mental strength, confidence, and connection matter, this book is worth your time. - Deborah Israeli, MA, Co-Founder and Office Manager, Sage Dental NJ