The second quarter of 2025 (April, May, and June) has delivered a compelling array of new novels across genres, offering everything from intimate family dramas to gripping psychological thrillers and ambitious historical recreations. Whether you’re seeking a story that delves into strained loyalties, explores art and complicity, or unearths diabolical secrets, this quarter’s literary landscape has something to captivate every reader. Dive into our selection of the top novels published in Q2 2025.
1. Among Friends by Hal Ebbott
- Riverhead Books; 320 pages; $28. Picador; £18.99
Hal Ebbott’s elegant debut gathers two affluent families for a birthday celebration at an upstate New York country house. As old tensions resurface through sharp comments and betrayals, long-standing friendships are put to the test in this tale of charmed lives and strained loyalties.
2. The Director by Daniel Kehlmann (Translated by Ross Benjamin)
- Summit Books; 352 pages; $28.99. Riverrun; £22
Daniel Kehlmann’s novel resurrects the life of Austrian film director G.W. Pabst during the 1930s and 1940s. When Austria falls to the Third Reich, Pabst is forced to make films for the Nazis, a decision that profoundly impacts his family and legacy. This blend of fact and fiction offers a compelling study of art and complicity.
3. Fox by Joyce Carol Oates
- Hogarth; 672 pages; $32. Fourth Estate; £18.99
When charismatic boarding-school teacher Francis Fox vanishes, detective Horace Zwender is called in to investigate. As Zwender builds a profile of the elusive Fox, he uncovers a shocking series of crimes. This sprawling, immersive novel is packed with suspense, dark secrets, and deep psychological insight.
4. Fulfillment by Lee Cole
- Knopf; 336 pages; $29. Faber & Faber; £18.99
Emmett, an “unloader” at a distribution center, dreams of becoming a screenwriter, while his half-brother Joel enjoys success as an author and academic, despite his failing marriage to Alice. When the siblings reunite in Paducah, Kentucky, tensions rise and a love triangle emerges in this riveting story of hope and desire.
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5. Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin
- Summit Books; 320 pages; $28.99 and £16.99
Weeks after his roommate’s tragic death, young Black man Smith is arrested for cocaine possession. Though his wealthy Atlanta parents offer guidance, Smith chooses his own path—one that could lead to destruction or redemption. This sharply focused debut novel shines with its well-developed protagonist.
6. Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way by Elaine Feeney
- Harvill Secker; 320 pages; $19.99 and £16.99
Claire O’Connor returns to the west of Ireland from London to care for her dying father. However, a reunion with an old flame, Tom Morton, complicates her fresh start, bringing back painful memories. Claire’s journey expands into a multi-generational drama exploring love, reinvention, and the enduring impact of trauma.
7. Ripeness by Sarah Moss
- Picador; 304 pages; £20. To be published in America by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in September; $28
Sarah Moss weaves together two narratives: in 1967, Edith travels to Italy to support her sister Lydia through an unwanted pregnancy. In the present, an older Edith is troubled by her friend Méabh’s conflicting views—welcoming an unknown American half-brother while opposing African refugees. This novel explores family ties and national identity with keen insight.
8. The Wildelings by Lisa Harding
- HarperVia; 368 pages; $28. Bloomsbury; £16.99
Echoing Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, this propulsive novel follows Jessica and her friends as they fall under the sway of Mark, a charismatic fellow student at their Dublin university. As Jessica performs in Mark’s play, his influence extends beyond the stage, pulling her into dangerous manipulative games in this gripping example of dark academia.