Best Books of 2025: Our Top 10 Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Standout Reads
In this Season Two kickoff episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth look back at their Top 10 books of 2025, spanning sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, literary fiction, and standout nonfiction that reads like fiction. From epic, immersive reads and thought-provoking classics to surprising favorites and an audiobook honorable mention, they reflect on reading habits, bookish stats, and what makes a story truly memorable. Stick around to the end for the big reveal of the podcast’s 2026 theme.
00:56 Top 10 Books of 2025
02:31 Similar Books in our Top 10
03:59 Long Books and Epic Reads
05:27 Medical Insights in Fiction
06:57 Stephen King's Dark Tower Series
08:00 Romantasy Reads and Sequels
10:28 Book Club Favorites
13:31 More of Elizabeth's Top 10 Books
23:15 Rounding Out the Top 10
25:12 Andrea's Favorite Audiobook of the Year
26:16 Number of Books Read for the Year
27:07 Epic Trilogies for 2026
Books Mentioned
A Psalm for the Wild-Built — Becky Chambers (Andrea & Elizabeth)
The Dispossessed — Ursula K. Le Guin (Andrea & Elizabeth)
Awry with Dandelions — J.S. Fields (Andrea)
The Covenant of Water — Abraham Verghese (Elizabeth)
Wolves of the Calla — Stephen King (Elizabeth)
The Moonday Letters — Emmi Itäranta (Andrea)
Water Moon — Samantha Sotto Yambao (Andrea)
Quicksilver — Callie Hart (Andrea)
When the Moon Hatched — Sarah A. Parker (Andrea)
All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker (Andrea)
By Any Other Name — Jodi Picoult (Andrea)
Wellness — Nathan Hill (Elizabeth)
Bel Canto — Ann Patchett (Elizabeth)
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland — Patrick Radden Keefe (Elizabeth)
James — Percival Everett (Elizabeth)
Squeeze Me — Carl Hiaasen (Elizabeth)
In the Heart of the Sea — Nathaniel Philbrick (Elizabeth)
Blood Over Bright Haven — M.L. Wang (Andrea)
Honorable Mention: Best Audiobook
You Didn’t Hear This From Me: Mostly True Notes on Gossip — Kelsey McKinney, narrated by the author
Referenced Articles and Media:
New York Times: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html
The Global Wellness Economy Hits a Record $6.8 Trillion and Is Forecast to Reach $9.8 Trillion by 2029
The Smithsonian Magazine - The Snakes That Ate Florida
Freakonomics Podcast - The First Great American Industry
In the Heart of the Sea - IMDB
