Best of Book Riot

The Literary Landscape and the Los Angeles Wildfires

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.

The Literary Landscape and Response to the Los Angeles Wildfires

This is also part survey of what has and has not survived the fires, based on reports coming out of the area. And, of course, in the spirit of literary activism, this is part compilation of the fundraisers related to the literary world, including places where you can donate money or bid on an array of donated goods to help the people of L.A. get back on their feet.

The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week

Before we get into the most read books on Goodreads this week, I’d like to spotlight a couple of new releases out this week. The 50-book Goodreads Most Read Books This Week list continues to be disproportionately by white authors: roughly 6% of the titles included are by authors of color, and none are in the top five. So, here are two books by authors of color out this week you should have on your radar. Then, we’ll get into the five most read books on Goodreads this week.

Get Ex-Frightened: Your Guide to Horror Adaptations in 2025

If you’re a horror fan, you’re probably just as excited about the horror movies coming out this year as you are about the horror novels. There are a lot of scary movies to look forward to in 2025, including these four, which are all adaptations of horror novels.

Excellent Standalone Fantasy Comics

The nice thing about comics is that they usually don’t take as long to read as a prose book but still 100% count as reading. So whether you’re falling behind on your Read Harder goals, don’t have as much reading time these days, or just really like graphic novels, the books on this list will give you a boost.

A Heartwarming Story About Falling in Love with Your Best Friend

This book has so much going on between Han’s struggles with his family, his legal status, and his sexuality. Then there’s Kenny’s toxic relationship and his struggles to stand up for himself. But Reyes weaves all of the storylines together in a way that will keep you reading and contemplating. On top of that, I don’t often read romance stories from the perspective of characters still figuring out their sexuality, and that was so wonderful to see. I’m excited to see this author be introduced to new readers who haven’t picked up their YA books before.

How To Hold a Mock Caldecott

The ALA announces the Caldecott and other award categories during the Youth Media Awards, held at the end of January or the beginning of February. This timing means we usually hold our Mock Caldecott when we return from winter break, giving us a few weeks before our vote can line up with the announcement of the actual winner.

The Most Anticipated Cookbooks of 2025

As you prepare your culinary TBR for the coming months, take note of these highly anticipated cookbooks of 2025. You’ll find plenty of recs perfect for the aspiring or seasoned chef, from comprehensive guides like BreadThe Ultimate Cookbook and Real Japanese Cooking to practical, accessible picks like Shred Happens. All are organized by release date so you know when to look for them at your local library or bookstore.