We live in times where the fluidity of culture has shaped the volatility that defined 2025. In a capsule, literary conversations continued to be dominated by discussions centered around power and politics, feminism and performativity, climate anxiety and pop culture, and digital manipulation that blurred the line between fiction and reality. As part of this discourse, our tea conversations were assembled into carefully folded archetypes, with the algorithm deciding on the words exchanged at the table.
Yet in this cultural typhoon, distinct literary voices have been expressed, particularly by women writers, who have continued to make history with their works, urging us to reconsider our perspectives or simply sit by and observe the hidden magic between the spaces between words. As the year comes to a close, we present our carefully curated selection of literary works by female writers that made headlines in 2025. From the “best” of fiction to history books and thrillers, here is a list of 10 books that dominated the scene and digital conversations in literary fandoms.
1. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
Source: Amazon
Kiran Desai’s fictional bestseller was nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize The loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is different than everyone else. This riveting story from one of the world’s most influential voices traces the lives of two young people whose destinies intersect and diverge as they navigate life as aspiring novelists and struggling journalists, bogged down by the differences of race, clan, country, and competing historical orientations.
As they embark together on a search for happiness and face the parody of an alienating modernity, this rich story is an enriching insight into themes such as love, immigration, the relationship between art and the artist, and the changing role of women in contemporary India. As the Booker Prize jury summed it up: “The text moves with consummate fluency between a range of modes: philosophical, comic, serious, emotional and eerie.”
2. Essentially from Nussaibah Yunis
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Basically by Nussaibah Yunis is a witty, funny, and deeply philosophical debut novel by Nussaibah Yunis that chronicles the journey of a young and heartbroken academic who lands in Iraq to lead a United Nations-led de-radicalization program to reform ISIS brides. A fierce and razor-sharp examination of radicalism, family and the pursuit of belonging, “Fundamentally” boldly traces the journey of Nadia and the women she met, and examines one of the defining controversies of our time.
It also examines the errors of the UN and other organizations in war zones. This Women’s Prize-nominated book is an outstanding work of fiction that brilliantly documents reality in a sober tone.
3. Matriarch of Tina Knowles
Source: Amazon
A multigenerational family saga and a New York Times bestseller, “Matriarch” is a colorful memoir by Beyoncé and Solange’s mother Tina, herself an acclaimed designer, that chronicles themes of love, heartbreak and endurance and boldly embodies “the story of America.”
The book details the power of black motherhood and deftly traces Tina’s journey as a young girl from Galveston who takes it upon herself to rise to become the global figure she is today.
The book details the power of black motherhood and deftly traces Tina’s journey as a young girl from Galveston who takes it upon herself to rise to become the global figure she is today. The memoir is both insightful and surprising, from the protagonist’s breast cancer diagnosis to the adversities of American culture. They give readers a glimpse into the successes and tragedies that shaped the famous family.
4. A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern
Source: Amazon
The book is a deeply personal memoir that chronicles the rise to power of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, then the youngest female head of government. It is a reflection on empathy, compassion, conviction and courage and shows the path it takes to be a strong leader.
Jacinda’s visionary leadership as she chronicled the insecurities of child poverty in 2019 Christchurch mosque attacksClimate change and uncertain trade deals, shows her journey to becoming a global icon by shedding self-doubt to gain respect.
5. Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy by Julia Ioffe
Source: Amazon
Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy by Julia Ioffe is a fresh and invigorating portrayal of Russia through the lens of women, combining historical narratives with the power of comprehensive understanding. Ioffe paints a vivid portrait of a country embroiled in political unrest, highlighting the treatment of women and the consequences of rejecting that treatment.
Ioffe paints a vivid portrait of a country embroiled in political unrest, highlighting the treatment of women and the consequences of rejecting that treatment.
When Ioffe fled the Soviet Union for the United States in the 1990s at the age of seven, in this book he answers the perennial question: “How did civilization go from a civilization that produced extraordinary women to a civilization that it is today?” making it an exemplary ode to femininity.
6. Feminist Story for Every Day of the Year by Kate Mosse
Source: Amazon
Women make up nearly 50 percent of the population but appear in only 0.5 percent of recorded history. In Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, best-selling author Kate Mosse chronicles the groundbreaking journey of women who refused to accept limitations and challenged the status quo to change the world for the better.
In Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, best-selling author Kate Mosse chronicles the groundbreaking journey of women who refused to accept limitations and challenged the status quo to change the world for the better.
Featuring a mix of famous and lesser-known figures, including writers, politicians, artists, academics and scientists, the anthology includes 366 bite-sized stories that retell history from a feminist perspective.
7. Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson
Source: Amazon
Written by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, this literary masterpiece explores the intersection of feminism and sport to highlight the imbalance between expectations and abilities of women in endurance sports.
Using real-world examples, the book explores real-life examples of gender discrimination to educate readers about the misogyny embedded in sport. Given the difficulties of comparison with male colleagues, sexism and body image issues, this book is a must-read based on objective facts.
8. The Artist by Lucy Steeds
Source: Amazon
Lucy Steeds’ book The Artist is a mysterious love story and a nostalgic and cinematic depiction of the landscape of 1920s Europe, evoking a range of emotions in the shadow of war. Winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year, it is a suspenseful psychodrama of female subversion and liberation that cyclically wraps up beginning and end in one thread.
9. A Wedding at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
Source: Amazon
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession and Shipwreck, Sophie Elmhirst’s NYT bestseller is the electrifying story of a young couple who traded their lives for the sea. The book shows the turbulent undercurrents of married life and covers themes such as love and obsession.
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession and Shipwreck, Sophie Elmhirst’s NYT bestseller is the electrifying story of a young couple who traded their lives for the sea.
As the couple’s 118-day sailing trip becomes a battle for survival, the adventurous novel chronicles the odds of human life that remain constant.
10. Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert
Source: Amazon
Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Itself is a searing look at the femininity entrenched by pop culture as a powerful force that shapes the way we view and treat women in public and private life.
The book questions the matrix of misogyny underlying cultural production and examines crucial issues such as pornography in order to confront the modernization and resulting collapse of feminism in a regressive period of darkness and hyper-objectification.
Across all genres, these books were characterized by a common thread – that of perseverance, as they represented a collective challenge to chauvinistic and puritanical undercurrents in order to reposition feminism in contemporary times. At a time of cultural backlash when widespread uncertainty dominates our lives, these books are a breath of fresh air as they continue to make headlines with their iconic interpretations written by women with a distinct worldview.
Nausheen is currently studying journalism at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. With a keen interest in feminism, geopolitics and social issues, her passions lie in research, writing and public speaking. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, drinking coffee and playing chess.