
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.
Today’s topic is Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025
I will be focusing on new-to-me authors for today’s topic. There were a lot more than ten new-to-me authors in 2025, but I didn’t like all of them, and some only had the one book written. For my list today, I listed the authors whose books I enjoyed, who have written more than one book, and whose works I intend to read more of. Have you read any of these books/authors?
Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2025










- David Grann – I really enjoyed Killers of the Flower Moon, and I was stoked to find out that he also wrote The Lost City of Z and The Wager, books I definitely want to read!
- Ariel Lawhon – I was surprised by how much I loved The Frozen River and I see that she has several other historical fiction books published as well, many of which look interesting to me.
- Dan Simmons – I’d heard a lot about the Hyperion Cantos series, and had no idea when I was reading The Terror that they were written by the same author. I hope to read the Hyperion series soon!
- Victor Hugo – Les Misérables was an excruciatingly long read, but I enjoyed it and I still intend to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- M.L. Wang – The Sword of Kaigen has been on my tbr for a while, but I ended up reading Blood Over Bright Haven first. I loved it and it’s made me even more curious to read the former!
- Fredrik Backman – A Man Called Ove was one of my favorite reads in 2025, and there are so many books by Backman I want to read!
- Haruki Murakami – I read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running without realizing who the author was, and I loved it. I’ve never really been curious about Murakami’s books before but I feel like I should read a couple now.
- Jenny Lawson – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened was a book club BOTM. I fell in love with her weird humor and really want to read her other books now!
- Kate Racculia – Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts was another book that really surprised me by how much I enjoyed it, and I love the sound of her two other books as well. I hope she writes more!
- John Scalzi – I’ve heard so much about John Scalzi and his books but only read them because a couple were on Audible Plus. I loved how fun and creative they are and I intend to read many more!
Have you read any of these authors? What did you think of them? Would you read any of their books?

I just saw an IG post saying that ‘Notre Dame’ is a great classic. Now seeing it mentioned on your list makes me think I should consider it. 🙂 Glad you had some great 2025 reads.
I don’t know if I’d be up to read Notre Dame this year because I’m so burnt out from all the huge classics I read last year, but hopefully sometime in the next few years!
I’d definitely recommend reading more Ariel Lawhorn, Fredrik Backman and Jenny Lawson.
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
Good to know!! I’m looking forward to reading more of them!
Tuesday Mooney Talks To Ghosts looks so good! I’ll have to check Kate Racculia out 😊.
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-discoveries-i-made-in-2025/
I hope you do! I really enjoyed the book!
I did read Victor Hugo before (both Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Both on audiobook, which I think made it easier. I haven’t read any of the others though.
Audiobooks are such a godsend, I’m sure I couldn’t read half the books I did without them!
These look good. I narrowed mine down to Author’s books that I gave 5 stars to.
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-discoveries-i-made-in-2025/
I love that you had so many five star reads with new authors!
I was lucky!
John Scalzi also made my list today. I’ve enjoyed several of the books you mentioned.
His books are so much fun, aren’t they?! Happy TTT!
I’m glad you finally got to read a Backman book and that you enjoyed it. Ove is one of my all-time favorite characters.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/2025-reading-google-map-books-i-read-in-2025/
Mine too! I love Ove so much and ugly cried while reading it!
John Scalzi’s books are always such fun — I liked Lock In and Head On best so far, I think. Definitely recommend those!
Ooh, thanks! I’ve been wondering which one to try next!
Fredrik Backman has been on several lists this week!
Much deservedly, I think!
I’m not sure what book of Haruki Murakami I read first. His books are mysterious and surprising, I think.
Good to know, I’m even more curious now!
Dan Simmons’ Hyperion and the rest of the books in the series are still some of my favorite books ever, I hope you get the chance to read them!
Oh, I love that you love them! I’m really anticipating them now!
Awesome list! https://bibliophilebree.blogspot.com/2026/01/top-ten-tuesday-author-discoveries.html
Thank you!
Oh nice, I thought I was the last person on earth who hadn’t yet read a Backman book but I read Ove last year too and fell in love with it. Everyone knows what they’re talking about with that one 🤠I also had M.L. Wang on my list but I read Sword of Kaigen and still have Bright Haven on my TBR. Can’t wait to check it out! I hope you discover more amazing new-to-you authors in 2026 🙂
So true about Backman, I’m definitely reading more from him, and thank you! I hope the same for you!
I also read my first Fredrik Backman book in 2025.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/01/27/top-ten-tuesday-2025-releases-i-did-read-in-2025/
So worth reading! I hope you had all the feels too!
Fredrik Backman is the only one I have read from your list. Have a great week!
Thank you, I hope you do too!
Fredrik Backman and M.L. Wang are two of my favorite authors. A Man Called Ove is one of my favorite books of all time. All of his books are amazing though!!
Love the endorsement! It makes me want to read more of his works asap, but oh, so many books so little time!
Yes, I have read John Scalzi; he is actually one of my favorite authors.
Great list!
Oh I love to hear that! I’m excited to read more of his books for sure!
Great list! I’ve read the last three authors on your list. So far I’ve only read one Kate Racculia book (the same on you listed) but I want to read more!
Great list. I saw David Grann talk last year and came away with the impression he is both a genius and a really nice person. I want to read more of his stuff.