My reasoning for these picks falls in three tough classes: as a result of I believe they may win awards, as a result of I believe they may be widespread, and since I identical to them a complete lot.
Let’s begin with the awards and best-of prospects.
Stag Dance: A Novel & Tales by Torrey Peters: Detransition, Child was an enormous essential and widespread hit, so I believe this follow-up has an opportunity to make some best-of lists. Plus, I get a multiplier for brief tales.
Ten Incarnations of Rebel by Vaishnavi Patel: Kaikeyi was one other well-respected and widespread title, so I’m hoping this will get some best-of consideration, if not literary awards. (I simply completed studying it final evening, and it’s glorious.)
Palaver by Bryan Washington: I stole this alternative from the podcast episode, as a result of the reasoning is sensible for me. Bryan Washington is a beloved literary fiction author, so there’s a great likelihood this will get some essential consideration.
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth: This was a UK launch that’s now getting revealed in North America, and it feels just like the form of cool lady guide which may blow up on TikTok or make best-of lists.
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan: Bellies made it onto some huge best-of lists in 2023, so hopefully this one will do the identical in 2025. Apart from, it’s excessive on my TBR, and that cowl is ideal.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: That is in all probability the most secure guess for me within the awards class, as a result of Ocean Vuong is such a adorned literary writer.
Now, let’s discuss my picks that for the bestseller/Goodreads Selection Awards classes.
Bury Our Bones within the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab: V.E. Schwab is a well-liked writer, and this can be a guide about poisonous lesbian vampires. I couldn’t resist.
Environment by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Someway, I solely simply discovered that this can be a queer guide?? Clearly, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is likely one of the hottest and well-known queer books ever written, so I needed to embrace this.
The Ravenous Saints by Caitlin Starling: I’ve a bumpy relationship with Caitlin Starling’s books. One I rated 5 stars, one I rated 2 stars. However this sapphic medieval horror sounds so good. I can be shocked if it’s not at the least within the first spherical of the Goodreads Selection Awards within the Horror class.
The Keeper of Magical Issues by Julie Leong: Cozy fantasy remains to be very fashionable, and this appears to be like like the proper instance. The Teller of Small Fortunes did fairly properly, so hopefully this observe up will observe in its footsteps.
And at last, I’ve a few selections that I do know are in all probability not rational, however I simply couldn’t bear to chop them, as a result of I’m rooting for them.
Woke up by A.E. Osworth: You possibly can learn my full overview of this fantasy novel a few coven of trans witches preventing an evil AI, however suffice to say, it was 5 stars.
Sympathy for Wild Women: Tales by Demree McGhee: This brief story assortment is ideal for followers of Carmen Maria Machado. It deserves to win awards and make best-of lists, however it’s from a small press, so I’m unsure if it’ll get the eye it ought to. Alternatively, I’d get a number of multipliers for it being a debut brief story assortment from an indie writer.
