June 2025 is packed with fresh literary gems, spanning gripping thrillers, moving memoirs, essential cookbooks, and deeply personal explorations of health and well-being.
Whether you’re craving a page-turner to keep you up all night, a thought-provoking take on the state of the world, or inspiration for your next home-cooked meal, this month’s releases promise something for every reader. Here’s what to add to your TBR list.
Fiction Picks: Thrills, Mystery, and Heartfelt Narratives
A Beautiful Family – Jennifer Trevelyan
A summer of secrets and a missing girl: This compelling debut thriller introduces a young protagonist whose detective work uncovers shocking truths. Set against a backdrop of lazy beach days, family tensions, and an intriguing friendship, A Beautiful Family captures the nostalgia and innocence of childhood while leading readers into a gripping mystery. A must-read for fans of literary suspense.
The Good Father – Liam McIlvanney
What happens when the worst possible thing befalls a family? In this tense and emotionally charged thriller, Gordon and Sarah Rutherford’s seemingly perfect life is shattered when their son vanishes from the beach. As hope fades and grief takes hold, the novel explores how tragedy ripples through a family and their community. A deeply compelling read from an award-winning New Zealand author.
Whisky Valley – Joan Sauers
Historian-turned-detective Rose McHugh returns in this gripping mystery set in the atmospheric Southern Highlands of New South Wales. With rising floodwaters, a missing violinist, and a tangle of secrets and lies, Whisky Valley is a thrilling addition to Sauers’ intriguing Echo Lake series.
New Skin – Miranda Nation
First love, betrayal, and the long shadow of the past—New Skin explores the intoxicating and destructive nature of young love. Set between the 1990s and the present day, this powerful debut charts the push and pull of an unforgettable relationship and asks whether second chances can ever truly heal old wounds.
Cleopatra – Natasha Solomons
A bold retelling of Cleopatra’s life that finally gives her the voice she deserves. Told through the eyes of both the Egyptian queen and Caesar’s mistress, Servilia, this novel reclaims one of history’s most misrepresented women, uncovering the power, love, and betrayal that shaped her rule.
Saraswati – Gurnaik Johal
A dried-up well, a lost river, and a nation’s shifting identity—Johal’s latest novel weaves together the lives of seven individuals against a backdrop of political and environmental upheaval in modern-day Punjab. A deeply immersive and beautifully written novel from one of Britain’s most exciting young writers.
The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen – Shokoofeh Azar
Spanning fifty years of Iranian history, this lush and poetic novel follows the fates of twelve lost children as they navigate love, revolution, and exile. A powerful tale of family, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds between the living and the dead.
Non-Fiction Highlights: Exposés, Cookbooks & Wellbeing
A Dim Prognosis – Dr Ivor Popovich
An unflinching look at the realities of New Zealand’s struggling health system. Dr Popovich pulls back the curtain on under-staffing, toxic work cultures, and the pressures facing frontline medical workers. Darkly funny yet deeply alarming, this memoir is a must-read for anyone concerned about the state of healthcare today.
Hubris Maximus – Faiz Siddiqui
What happens when one of the world’s most powerful tech figures self-destructs? This deep dive into the rise and fall of Elon Musk is a gripping study of influence, ambition, and the perils of unchecked power. A cautionary tale for the digital age.
End Your Fight with Food – Claire Turnbull
Struggling with food guilt, dieting cycles, or an unhealthy relationship with eating? Claire Turnbull’s latest book offers a compassionate, science-backed approach to food, focusing on wellbeing rather than weight. Full of practical advice, this guide will help readers rebuild a positive relationship with food and body image.
Easy Weeknight Meals: 10th Anniversary Edition – My Food Bag & Nadia Lim
A decade on, this best-selling cookbook is still a kitchen essential. With 16 brand-new recipes and a collection of fan favourites, this edition is a go-to for quick, healthy, and delicious dinners. Perfect for busy households looking for stress-free meal inspiration.
From electrifying thrillers and historical epics to eye-opening nonfiction, June 2025’s book lineup is bursting with fresh voices and thought-provoking stories. Which ones will you be picking up first?
