This horror/psychological thriller novel is perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu. It follows Edward Cook, a British man living in Japan. He’s drowning in debt because of his gambling addiction, and he’s desperate for work. So he takes a job as a chef for Hazeline Yamamoto, a reclusive woman living in a remote mountain estate. Hazeline is a certified gourmand with a particular palate, but Edward is horrified to discover what Hazeline is really doing and what she wants Edward to do for her. —Emily Martin

Toni Morrison is one of the most beloved American writers of all time, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a deep dive into her work. Based on her famous lecture series, Namwali Serpell walks readers through every Morrison novel, each chapter focusing on one book with accompanying themes and ideas. I can’t get my hands on this title fast enough! —Kendra Winchester

Despite the many Colleen Hoover books on the bestseller lists in recent years, this is her first new, solo book since 2022—we’ve been seeing a lot of reprints of her originally self-published books in the interim. This follows a writer recovering from writer’s block in a remote cabin who finds her muse in a local cop—but soon he starts to take control of her career. 18,000 Goodreads users marked it as read this week, and it has a 3.5 average rating.

The incredible popularity of the Heated Rivalry TV show adaptation is hard to overstate, and we’re all on tenterhooks waiting for season two. What better way to pass the time than picking up the book that inspired it? This was read by 19,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.3 average rating.

This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, Katie Couric named it the first pick for her new book club. It’s about a woman who has written letters daily her whole life. When someone from her past writes back, she has to reevaluate a painful period in her life and find a way to forgive. This was read by 21,000 users this week and has a 4.6 average rating.

This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. The movie adaptation is out now. This was read by 28,000 Goodreads users, with a 4.3 average rating.

The latest McFadden thriller is about an advice columnist who has been guiding the women who write to her through dealing with their lackluster or even abusive husbands. When she loses her job and realizes her husband is keeping secrets from her, she decides it’s time for her to take her own advice and get revenge. 36,000 Goodreads users read it this week, and it has a 4.0 average rating.