Why Are All the Reading Apps Getting Controversial This Year?
Welcome to The Best of Book Riot, our daily round-up of what’s on offer across our site, newsletters, podcasts, and social channels. Not everything is for everyone, but there is something for everyone.
11 Book Club Picks for January 2025
If your plan for 2025 is to bury yourself in books when you’re not fighting against cruelty and injustices, then this roundup is for you! Not only are all these book clubs different from each other, but they all are virtual or have a virtual component, and many have author chats. Whether you read nonfiction or any genre of fiction there is certainly a book—probably more than one—on this list to curl up with.
A Wry, Nuanced Novel About America’s Divides
I happened to be on an upswing of enthusiasm about reading shortly after the election, which prompted me to find small pockets in my day where I could fit reading time. At the end of a weekday, all I usually want to do is shut off my brain via the television before collapsing in bed, but I’ve long fantasized about closing the day with a book in bed. The one thing I knew I wanted, nay, needed, out of a bedside book was levity. I was not out here trying to tailspin before closing my eyes–I already had the prospect of four years of a Trump presidency to do that for me. I needed something that didn’t shy away from the truth of who we are as a country, including all the complexities that come with our various and collective identities, without making me seriously consider moving to another country.
All We Want To Do is Track Our Reading, But These Apps Are Getting Controversial
It’s a new year, and all we want to do is set reading goals, rate books, track our stats, and maybe even connect with other readers to help motivate us to read widely and diversely throughout the year. Fortunately, there are so many book apps out there to help us along the way. Unfortunately, for some of the most popular options out there, a few problematic practices have come to light recently.
Warm Up With These Small Town Romances
Small-town romances are a popular subgenre because they provide a rich setting and a community for the main characters: a close group of people who are there for you in the good and bad times. Small-town romances can be built around a place, where the people are the structure and the romance is its heart. The main character may be looking for something, a path to a happy future, when suddenly, they get involved in the antics of the town and its people. Doesn’t that make you want to know what happens next? If you’re looking for a good love story to warm your heart this season, these small-town romances will be able to satisfy all your needs.
15 of the Most Anticipated Queer Books of 2025
It’s most anticipated books of the year season, and I’m here to add my list to the mix! For the last few weeks, I’ve been wading through endless tabs of lists, recommendations, and sources for upcoming queer books—and I’m not done yet. This is definitely not a comprehensive list of 2025 queer releases. In fact, I plan to follow this up with several genre-specific 2025 queer books lists, because I have… oh, about 350 titles noted down so far, and that’s before we start getting into fall new releases, which also happens to be the biggest publishing season.