The Best Book Club Books To Get The Literary Chat Flowing In 2025

So I created a manifesto for myself in 2025, that I would (controversially) stop trying to 'push through' on books if they didn't have my interest a quarter of the way through. My logic? If you can't grip me in within the first 50 or so pages, then time is money baby and I've got to go. For that reason, I can guarantee that the books on this list aren't just internet hype, but are tried and tested by the U:L crew and loved by one (or many) of us. We know how stress-inducing having to choose the next collective book club read might be, so hopefully this list helps give a sigh of relief.

We're going to keep cranking out our reccos on here and via our socials, so make sure you're following along. And as always, if you've got a read you can't stop thinking about, let us know. We're all ears.

Without further ado, here's just some of the best novels worth your time and energy perfect for your next book club pick.

Mad Mabel

Sally Hepworth

Agh, I want to scream and shout and jump up and down Tom Cruise style about Aussie literary darling Sally Hepworth's newbie. Mad Mabel spans eight decades, managing somehow to grab you by the throat while still making you laugh as you quickly fall head first in love with quirky, off-kilter, misunderstood protagonist Elsie (Mabel). And without giving away anything, weeks later, I'm still thinking about the ending every single day. Buy it here.

Your Friend And Mine

Jessica Dettmann

Your Friend And Mine completely demolished my strict 9pm bedtime rule, because simply, I could not stop myself. When Margot receives an email twenty years after her best friend's death (stay with me) she discovers a trail of detailed instructions and a sizeable amount of cash to make them happen. Without giving it all away, adventure ensues spanning from Australia to London flashing back and looking forward, questioning all of life's big unknowns from regret to fear and grief. This novel's sweet, touching, at times unexpected but most importantly, impossible not to devour in a few sittings.  Buy it here.

The Worst Thing I've Ever Done

Clare Stephens

Author Clare Stephens knows cancellation pretty damn well; she shared a podcast with her twin sister about it, she worked as Mamamia's Editor-in-Chief for several years and has had her own personal fair share of online pile ons. The Worst Thing I've Ever Done was probably already on your book list agenda as it's blown up the internet since its release, and in my opinion is worthy of all the buzz. When media editor Ruby Williams becomes subject of cancel culture, we delve into her own haunting past, the ever-murky definition of feminism and the real-life consequences of online trolling. Although the subject's been tackled so often in modern literature, Stephens' storytelling feels fresh and inviting. Buy it here.

All The Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

This historical fiction novel is set during WWII and will break your entire book club’s hearts. It beautifully winds together the journeys of two characters on either side of the war: Marie-Laure, a blind French girl in Paris, and Werner Pfennig, an orphan in a German mining town. I love that the book offers a nuanced look at people struggling with their decisions during wartime (great for book club discussion!), and also highlights characters with a disability. It’s haunting, it’s poetic, and a four-star Goodreads rating can’t steer you too wrong. Buy it here.

Beloved

Toni Morrison

You really can’t go wrong by throwing an old classic into your book club mix, and Toni Morrison’s Beloved is among the best. Set in post-civil war Ohio, it explores the story of Sethe, a former slave, who is being haunted by what she believes to be the ghost of her daughter. But the haunting and the tragic death of her daughter are only part of the bigger picture. This story is dark and depressing in the perfect way, and it’s an excellent book club pick because you will want to talk for days on end about it once you finish it. Buy it here.

Here One Moment

Liane Moriarty

Australian author Liane Moriarty has written some excellent book club reads, quite a few of which have been turned into some of your fave TV shows (hello, Big Little Lies). One of her new books to make a splash is Here One Moment, and it just happens to make an excellent book club pick (just ask my book club!). The story looks at a number of characters whose lives were changed after a woman makes predictions about when they will die on a plane from Hobart to Sydney. The predictions then start coming true. The multi-character perspective gives you a character to resonate with, and the thriller-style story is perfectly well-told. Buy it here.

The Yield

Tara June Winch

This beautiful Australian novel explores Indigenous culture, language, loss and connection to land. After living on the other side of the world for ten years, August Gondiwindi returns home after learning about the death of her grandfather Poppy, who was determined to pass on his people’s language before he died. When she returns, she learns a mining company is coming to take their land. The novel is beautifully constructed and written (it won the 2020 Miles Franklin) and the exploration of Indigenous storytelling and identity will give you plenty to discuss. Buy it here.

You might also like:

• The best new books to read
• The best First Nations books
• The best LGBTQIA+ books to read

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt

I never thought I’d get so attached to an octopus until I read this book. This beautiful and surprising story follows Tova, who starts working at an aquarium after her husband’s death. It’s there she meets giant octopus Marcellus, and while you probably never imagined an octopus as a well-rounded character, this book delivers, with perspectives switching between Tova and Marcellus. There will be plenty to discuss in your book club, with a mystery playing out, and Marcellus being key to it being pieced together. Buy it here.

The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

This New York Times bestseller is the absolute definition of a page-turner. The ageing and reclusive former Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo has decided to tell the story of her life, including her seven husbands, to down-and-out magazine reporter Monique Grant. Why would she choose Monique, and why is she choosing now to tell her story? Well, that’s something that’s revealed, and that can be dissected and discussed over a glass of vino in book club. Buy it here.

The Women

Kristin Hannah

The Women is a gripping historical fiction that looks at women’s experiences in the Vietnam War. The story follows Frankie, who decides to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps when her brother is shipped off to Vietnam. We see the war through Frankie’s eyes, and it is horrifying and confronting. But what I love is that the story continues through to her returning home to a divided America and having to face a country that seems to want to forget the war she chose to take part in. It’s a gripping story that you’ll find plenty to chat about. Buy it here.

The Centre

Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

Want something a bit different for your next book club read? The Centre is your pick. The story follows Anisa who dreams of being a translator when she is introduced to a mysterious program that guarantees fluency in any language in ten days. She signs up, but she soon realises exactly what she’s signed up for. It’s a bit of a bonkers read, but if you love dark humour and your book club is down for a bit of a thriller/mystery, this is your group’s next book. Buy it here.

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