Copyright Parade
Key Points A Read With Jenna book club pick tops the 2025 Amazon Best Books of the Year list. Jenna Bush Hager praises the book as "an incredibly heartfelt novel" with memorable characters. Amazon editors call the top pick "a Great American Novel" for its compelling story and characters. The 2025 Amazon Best Books of the Year List and Today Show co-host Jenna Bush Hager’s September pick for her Read With Jenna Book Club tops the list. Bush Hager calls the book a “once-in-a-decade novel” whose characters she fell in love with. Jenna Bush Hager is now joined by Amazon’s editors in lauding the book. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the 2025 Amazon Best Books of the Year List was just released Wednesday, November 11. Chosen by Amazon’s editors, the list is comprised of the editors’ top 25 picks from thousands of new releases. Topping this year’s Amazon Best Books of the Year list is Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. The September pick for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Bush Hager calls Buckeye “an incredibly heartfelt novel about the intimate lives of two Midwestern families from World War II to the late twentieth century.” Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram The talk show host, an avid reader and former schoolteacher, also said of Buckeye, “I underlined so many parts of this book to share as inspiration. I fell in love with these characters.” News Jenna Bush Hager Names Her November Book Club Pick: ‘Made Me Laugh, Cry' The book is the author's follow up to her critically acclaimed debut novel. Meredith Gordon Amazon Editors Praise Buckeye Sarah Gelman, editorial director of Amazon Books, explained the editors’ choice of Buckeye as the platform’s top book. She said: “This year brought so many books that entertained, challenged, and moved us. Our team was particularly drawn to our No. 1 selection—Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye. This compelling saga explores family dynamics and societal expectations across decades in small-town Ohio with richly developed characters you won’t forget. It is truly a Great American Novel. As we celebrate 25 years of our Best Books of the Year lists, Buckeye exemplifies why we’re so passionate about connecting readers with exceptional stories.” 2025 Amazon Best Book of the Year Finalists Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram While Ryan’s sweeping novel took the top spot on this year’s Amazon Best Books of the Year list, the 20-book list contains a variety of titles and styles, each a captivating novel in its own right. Below is the complete list of the 2025 Amazon Best Books of the Year: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan The Correspondent: A Novel by Virginia Evans The Boys in the Light: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood by Nina Willner The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Intruder by Freida McFadden Awake by Jen Hatmaker Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny: A Novel by Kiran Desai Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy Katabasis: A Fantastical Descent into Hell, Rivalry, and Redemption in the Pursuit of Academic Glory by R.F. Kuang Cursed Daughters: A Novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite Next of Kin: A Memoir by Gabrielle Hamilton King of Ashes: A Novel by S.A. Cosby The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers’ Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda by Nathalia Holt Heart the Lover by Lily King The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs News Two Amazon Standout Books Also Named Barnes & Noble's 2025 Best Book of the Year Finalists Both books have also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. Meredith Gordon 🎬SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 About the author Meredith Gordon Trending News Writer, Parade Meredith is a celebrity news writer on the trending news team for Parade. She has been a content creator and strategist, creating viral content celebrating celebrity news, athlete’s lifestyle and families, since 2010.
