Goodreads' November 2025 Bestsellers: #1 Will SHOCK You!

So, what's everyone been reading? This week, we're taking a peek at Goodreads to see which books are dominating everyone's TBR lists and "currently reading" shelves. Goodreads, love it or hate it, is a pretty good barometer of what's catching fire in the book world. It's always interesting to see what's trending, even if the lists sometimes feel a little… homogenous.

Goodreads' November 2025 Bestsellers: #1 Will SHOC...

Speaking of which, while we're celebrating the books that are getting all the buzz, let's also shine a spotlight on some potentially overlooked gems. The Book Riot editorial team, those tireless champions of the literary world, have flagged a few November releases that deserve way more attention. These books often get lost in the shuffle, which is a real shame.

First up, we have *Palaver* by Kwame McPherson. This one's a National Book Award finalist, which is a pretty big deal! It's a story about a man seeking refuge in Japan and building a new life, dealing with family complexities and a complicated love affair. Sounds like some heavy, thought-provoking stuff.

Then there's *My Sister's Keeper* by Oyinkan Braithwaite, the author of *My Sister, the Serial Killer*. This one sounds like a wild ride – a literary horror novel steeped in family curses and potentially tragic destinies. Definitely putting that on my list for a spooky winter read!

And for a dose of history and community, *Black-Owned* by Char Adams explores the vital role of Black-owned bookstores throughout history. From Malcolm X to Maya Angelou, these spaces have been crucial for Black activism and community. This is a book I’m personally really interested in reading to learn more about the spaces that are critical to so many communities.

Now, back to the Goodreads darlings. Emily Henry's *Happy Place*, a rom-com about a couple pretending to still be together for their friends, is unsurprisingly popular. People seem to love a good fake-dating trope. And then there's Taylor Jenkins Reid, the queen of contemporary fiction. Her book *One True Loves*, about a love story between two female astronauts, originally released in June, is still going strong. A whopping 53,000 Goodreads users marked it as read in November alone! It seems her books have a way of sticking around and consistently pulling in new readers.

So there you have it – a mix of trending titles and some hidden gems to add to your reading list. If you want even more suggestions, be sure to check out "The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists" for even more recommendations. Happy reading, everyone!