Best Books of 2025 So Far
plus new albums from Natalie Bergman, Madeline Kenney, & The Maes; interviews with Paula Bomer & Kashana Cauley; new music from Sudan Archives; an excerpt from Kyung-ran Jo's new novel; & much more
2025 has flown by. Teaching, travel, and writing have all consumed my time, but the one daily constant in my life remains reading. On the subway, in the backyard, in between classes with my feet on my desk.
Even after only half a year, putting together this list has been daunting. So many good books from talented writers have been published…
These are the books I have loved the most so far this year.
What is your favorite book of the year so far?
Maggie Su’s novel Blob is a stunning debut, a book as entertaining as it is insightful.
Eric Puchner’s novel Dream State is a gritty and immersive masterpiece.
A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner
Cynthia Weiner’s A Gorgeous Excitement is a riveting debut, a coming-of-age novel as hypnotically told as it is suspenseful.
The stories in Julia Elliott‘s collection Hellions are marvelously diverse and divine magic from everyday lives.
Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Feldman
Isaac Fellman’s novel Notes from a Regicide smartly explores themes of identity and family through a dystopian, queer lens.
Songs of No Provenance by Lydi Conklin
Lydi Conklin’s novel Songs of No Provenance is a powerful debut that deftly explores themes of making art, desire, and ambition.
Paula Bomer’s novel The Stalker is a brilliant and unsettling portrait of modern male toxicity.
Largehearted Ledger is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support the work that goes into Largehearted Boy, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
A Playlist of the Week’s Best New Music (13 albums, 142 songs, 8 hours and 3 minutes)
This week’s new music includes releases by Natalie Bergman, Alex G, Sofie Birch & Antonina Nowacka, Madeline Kenney, Jade Bird, Disiniblud, Billie Marten, Zac Farro, Lord Huron, Laura Jane Grace in the Trauma Tropes, The Maes, Hannah Holland, and Forth Wanderers.
Largehearted Book & Music Links:
Paula Bomer was profiled by Megan Nolan at the Guardian
Bomer was divorced 10 years ago, and describes The Stalker as a sort of divorce book, “but not divorcing a particular man, it’s divorcing men – a kind of man,” she says, before instantly discluding her two sons and her many friends.Asymptote interviewed Mary Jo Bang about translating Paradiso by Dante Alighieri
I wanted my translation to honor Dante’s decision to write the poem in the vernacular instead of in literary Latin.
Kashana Cauley discussed her new novel with Electric Literature
I think there are a lot of spaces in American life where money is discussed quite openly and straightforwardly. It’s the rich who don’t love talking about money openly. In one sense, I think it comes across as educating the reader, but I think in another sense, it’s faithful to the way that the working class discusses money, which is upfront, in great detail, and with helpful advice.Soccer Mommy covered Pavement’s “Gold Soundz”
Mira Ptacin explored the poetry of found lists at Longreads
I peeled the list off the windshield and held it like an artifact: evidence of a life I didn’t know but suddenly cared about. It read like a poem. A confession.
Last Week’s LHB Feature Posts:
Dan Leach’s Book Notes music playlist for his novel Junah at the End of the World
Danit Brown’s Book Notes music playlist for her novel Television for Women
Jennifer Hope Choi’s music playlist for her memoir The Wanderer’s Curse
Joanna Howard’s Book Notes music playlist for her novel Porthole
Matthew Morris’s Book Notes music playlist for his essay collection The Tilling
Thanks so much for including A Gorgeous Excitement! One of my favorite parts of publishing was getting to write a playlist for Large Hearted Boy ❤️
The way back machine is the 2025 book that pops into my head first. It’s a satire on 00s Brooklyn media & indie rock. It may hit too close to home! 😅