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Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
The holidays couldn’t feel further away in this moment, but Christmas was just 15 days ago, and data from holiday book sales is starting roll out. Absent one clear Big Book of the Year, the season was defined by surprise hits and pop culture phenomena. Publishers Weekly rounds up the books that buoyed indie bookstores as 2025 came to a close, and it’s a fascinating mix of sleeper hits like Virginia Evans’s The Correspondent, crowd pleasers like Sophie Elmhirst’s A Marriage at Sea (maybe the closest to a four-quadrant book we saw last year?), and Heated Rivalry fans looking for a fix while they wait for season 2. Michelle Obama’s The Look flew off shelves and onto coffee tables, and many, many kids unwrapped copies of the latest Dog Man and Wimpy Kid titles. Maybe what’s most interesting is what isn’t mentioned: there’s nary a romantasy title to be found.
The “Calgon, take me away” vibes in my house are nearing all-time highs, and I suspect I’m not alone in that feeling. Author Ali Rosen serves up recommended romances that go beyond the beach read. Whether you’re looking for a mental escape to Paris, Turks and Caicos, the Blue Ridge mountains, or a nostalgia trip to summer camp, there’s something for you on her list.
Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price have followed up their 2024 smash The Anxious Generation with a new book that speaks directly to the kids it’s about. Slate’s Rebecca Onion shared The Amazing Generation, with offers guidance for “how to choose fun and freedom in a screen-filled world,” with the kids in her life and was pleased to learn that they found it persuasive. “The winning argument, they reported, was the idea that the apps that their classmates enjoy are created by people who make money from grabbing their attention.” The kids just might be all right.
Why should 2025 have all the fun? Starting next week, we’ll be revealing our Best Books of the Century in not one, not five, but 14 themed lists featuring all your favorite genres, adaptations, and overall hits. I couldn’t be prouder of or more impressed by the work our editorial team, led by Sharifah Williams, has done on this project. We can’t wait to share it with you.
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