Amazon has released its list of the best books of 2025, with Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye taking the No. 1 spot.
Ryan’s novel, published in September by Random House, follows the relationship of two families in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio, who become intertwined after an affair between two members. A critic for Kirkus called the book “an earnest and empathetic family drama.”
Sarah Gelman, editorial director for Amazon Books, said in a statement, “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.”
At No. 2 was Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent, a novel about a woman who spends her days writing letters to various people in her life. Nina Willner took the No. 3 spot for her nonfiction book The Boys in the Light: An Extraordinary World War II Story of Survival, Faith, and Brotherhood.
Coming at No. 4 was Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness, followed by Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore, Freida McFadden’s The Intruder, and Jen Hatmaker’s Awake.
Rounding out the top 10 were Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, Mary Roach’s Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, and Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.
The full list of Amazon’s best books of the year is available here.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
