Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Statues in a Garden by Isabel Colegate, Homework: A Memoir by Geoff Dyer, best books of 2025, best books, best novels, best nonfiction

By now, most “Best Books of the Year” lists have already appeared, with many of the same titles recurring from one “best of” list to another. What follows here is a more idiosyncratic selection of best books published this year, celebrating three novels, a short story collection, and memoir all deserving of more notice.