Barnes & Noble to open 60 stores in 2026. See new locations.
- - Barnes & Noble to open 60 stores in 2026. See new locations.
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAYDecember 21, 2025 at 5:02 AM
0
Barnes & Noble is opening more stores for readers to shop at in the new year.
After nearly two decades of "declining store numbers," the bookseller has plans to open 60 new locations across the country in 2026, in addition to the dozens opened this year.
While the details are still "being worked out" as far as locations and grand opening dates, the expansion follows a period of "strong sales" in existing stores, Barnes & Noble confirmed to USA TODAY.
The interior of a recently opened Barnes & Noble store in Tequesta, Florida is seen on March 26, 2025.
"Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful," the bookstore chain said in a statement. "In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019."
That being said, a new Barnes & Noble store, featuring the plethora of books, toys, games and gifts customers have come to expect, could appear in your city in 2026.
See which B&N locations are already up and running, as well as which ones are coming in 2026.
Here are our top 15 books of 2025, ranked. 15. "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan BraithwaiteWhat it’s about: A young woman grows up in the shadow of a generational family curse of lovelessness and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her aunt.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “Cursed Daughters” is a page turner, a family drama with a speculative flair and silky smooth prose. Braithwaite has a way of making the Falodun family’s superstition seem both wickedly funny and haunting.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>We’ve narrowed down our favorite reads of 2025 to a list that has a little something for everyone, from sweeping family sagas to touching memoirs, gory horror novels to romances that guarantee a happily ever after.Here are our top 15 books of 2025, ranked. 15. "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan BraithwaiteWhat it’s about: A young woman grows up in the shadow of a generational family curse of lovelessness and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her aunt.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “Cursed Daughters” is a page turner, a family drama with a speculative flair and silky smooth prose. Braithwaite has a way of making the Falodun family’s superstition seem both wickedly funny and haunting.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7iI.XZvY10TU1.c8Ap2cnQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f83528629e4635461a426834a67120c7 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption="
We’ve narrowed down our favorite reads of 2025 to a list that has a little something for everyone, from sweeping family sagas to touching memoirs, gory horror novels to romances that guarantee a happily ever after.Here are our top 15 books of 2025, ranked. 15. "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan BraithwaiteWhat it’s about: A young woman grows up in the shadow of a generational family curse of lovelessness and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her aunt.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “Cursed Daughters” is a page turner, a family drama with a speculative flair and silky smooth prose. Braithwaite has a way of making the Falodun family’s superstition seem both wickedly funny and haunting.
">We’ve narrowed down our favorite reads of 2025 to a list that has a little something for everyone, from sweeping family sagas to touching memoirs, gory horror novels to romances that guarantee a happily ever after.Here are our top 15 books of 2025, ranked. 15. "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan BraithwaiteWhat it’s about: A young woman grows up in the shadow of a generational family curse of lovelessness and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her aunt.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “Cursed Daughters” is a page turner, a family drama with a speculative flair and silky smooth prose. Braithwaite has a way of making the Falodun family’s superstition seem both wickedly funny and haunting.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7iI.XZvY10TU1.c8Ap2cnQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f83528629e4635461a426834a67120c7 class=caas-img> -
"Things in Nature Merely Grow" by Yiyun LiWhat it’s about: National Book Award finalist Li pens a memoir of radical acceptance as she reflects on the losses of her sons James and Vincent to suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: In "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li holds up a magnifying glass to some of life’s biggest questions – Why do we suffer? How do we grieve? How can we live on? – without promising any answers. In less than 200 pages, Li pens a thoughtfully crafted gut-punch.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Things in Nature Merely Grow" by Yiyun LiWhat it’s about: National Book Award finalist Li pens a memoir of radical acceptance as she reflects on the losses of her sons James and Vincent to suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: In "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li holds up a magnifying glass to some of life’s biggest questions – Why do we suffer? How do we grieve? How can we live on? – without promising any answers. In less than 200 pages, Li pens a thoughtfully crafted gut-punch.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IZG3f0PvGKhWZq2gNe.OoA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xOTA1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6c168de5a4da2dc9c8882e9a73580379 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Things in Nature Merely Grow" by Yiyun LiWhat it’s about: National Book Award finalist Li pens a memoir of radical acceptance as she reflects on the losses of her sons James and Vincent to suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: In "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li holds up a magnifying glass to some of life’s biggest questions – Why do we suffer? How do we grieve? How can we live on? – without promising any answers. In less than 200 pages, Li pens a thoughtfully crafted gut-punch.
"> -
"Things in Nature Merely Grow" by Yiyun LiWhat it’s about: National Book Award finalist Li pens a memoir of radical acceptance as she reflects on the losses of her sons James and Vincent to suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: In "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li holds up a magnifying glass to some of life’s biggest questions – Why do we suffer? How do we grieve? How can we live on? – without promising any answers. In less than 200 pages, Li pens a thoughtfully crafted gut-punch.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IZG3f0PvGKhWZq2gNe.OoA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xOTA1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6c168de5a4da2dc9c8882e9a73580379 class=caas-img> -
"Finding My Way" by Malala YousafzaiWhat it’s about: Yousafzai reintroduces herself to the world in “Finding My Way." She chronicles her college years, molding her identity as a young adult amid intense public pressure and trauma from the Taliban attack that changed her life.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Yousafzai’s latest is warm and vulnerable, letting readers into her psyche with surprising candidness. Reading it feels like a conversation with a dear friend. This memoir is brimming with heart, humor and wisdom.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Finding My Way" by Malala YousafzaiWhat it’s about: Yousafzai reintroduces herself to the world in “Finding My Way." She chronicles her college years, molding her identity as a young adult amid intense public pressure and trauma from the Taliban attack that changed her life.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Yousafzai’s latest is warm and vulnerable, letting readers into her psyche with surprising candidness. Reading it feels like a conversation with a dear friend. This memoir is brimming with heart, humor and wisdom.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k_PY1KdjehyNHh7AxoltcQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/82952ccb914e2cdf21d2036091b3ec46 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Finding My Way" by Malala YousafzaiWhat it’s about: Yousafzai reintroduces herself to the world in “Finding My Way." She chronicles her college years, molding her identity as a young adult amid intense public pressure and trauma from the Taliban attack that changed her life.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Yousafzai’s latest is warm and vulnerable, letting readers into her psyche with surprising candidness. Reading it feels like a conversation with a dear friend. This memoir is brimming with heart, humor and wisdom.
"> -
"Finding My Way" by Malala YousafzaiWhat it’s about: Yousafzai reintroduces herself to the world in “Finding My Way." She chronicles her college years, molding her identity as a young adult amid intense public pressure and trauma from the Taliban attack that changed her life.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Yousafzai’s latest is warm and vulnerable, letting readers into her psyche with surprising candidness. Reading it feels like a conversation with a dear friend. This memoir is brimming with heart, humor and wisdom.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k_PY1KdjehyNHh7AxoltcQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/82952ccb914e2cdf21d2036091b3ec46 class=caas-img> -
"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. SchwabWhat it’s about: This sweeping vampire story follows three young women – one from Spain in the 1500s, one from 19th-century London and one living in Boston in 2019 – as they weave through each other’s lives with a deep hunger for love, revenge and freedom.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Schwab masterfully spins a cautionary tale of vengeful exes and a thrilling, genre-defying ode to queer want. “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” is a historical saga that takes its time building character backstory, but the payoff is oh-so satisfying.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. SchwabWhat it’s about: This sweeping vampire story follows three young women – one from Spain in the 1500s, one from 19th-century London and one living in Boston in 2019 – as they weave through each other’s lives with a deep hunger for love, revenge and freedom.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Schwab masterfully spins a cautionary tale of vengeful exes and a thrilling, genre-defying ode to queer want. “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” is a historical saga that takes its time building character backstory, but the payoff is oh-so satisfying.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VZQPKAUkDJUxcyYYORvcCw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/2156394d40086e2e6ca75d76623c4795 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. SchwabWhat it’s about: This sweeping vampire story follows three young women – one from Spain in the 1500s, one from 19th-century London and one living in Boston in 2019 – as they weave through each other’s lives with a deep hunger for love, revenge and freedom.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Schwab masterfully spins a cautionary tale of vengeful exes and a thrilling, genre-defying ode to queer want. “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” is a historical saga that takes its time building character backstory, but the payoff is oh-so satisfying.
"> -
"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. SchwabWhat it’s about: This sweeping vampire story follows three young women – one from Spain in the 1500s, one from 19th-century London and one living in Boston in 2019 – as they weave through each other’s lives with a deep hunger for love, revenge and freedom.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Schwab masterfully spins a cautionary tale of vengeful exes and a thrilling, genre-defying ode to queer want. “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” is a historical saga that takes its time building character backstory, but the payoff is oh-so satisfying.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/VZQPKAUkDJUxcyYYORvcCw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/2156394d40086e2e6ca75d76623c4795 class=caas-img> -
"A Language of Limbs" by Dylin HardcastleWhat it’s about: One summer night in 1972 unspools two very different alternating narratives. In one, a teenage girl caught kissing her female neighbor is shunned and takes refuge in a queer community home. In the other, a teenage girl suppresses feelings for her female best friend.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This reminded me of Sylvia Plath’s “fig tree” analogy, laying out how one consequential moment can branch into a wholly distinct life. “A Language of Limbs” makes a similarly compelling duology, heartbreaking and not to be forgotten.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"A Language of Limbs" by Dylin HardcastleWhat it’s about: One summer night in 1972 unspools two very different alternating narratives. In one, a teenage girl caught kissing her female neighbor is shunned and takes refuge in a queer community home. In the other, a teenage girl suppresses feelings for her female best friend.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This reminded me of Sylvia Plath’s “fig tree” analogy, laying out how one consequential moment can branch into a wholly distinct life. “A Language of Limbs” makes a similarly compelling duology, heartbreaking and not to be forgotten.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AsBDDi7.8e_kJpN_CNtGiQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4850af2e6588f0026c70c277b665fb0a class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"A Language of Limbs" by Dylin HardcastleWhat it’s about: One summer night in 1972 unspools two very different alternating narratives. In one, a teenage girl caught kissing her female neighbor is shunned and takes refuge in a queer community home. In the other, a teenage girl suppresses feelings for her female best friend.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This reminded me of Sylvia Plath’s “fig tree” analogy, laying out how one consequential moment can branch into a wholly distinct life. “A Language of Limbs” makes a similarly compelling duology, heartbreaking and not to be forgotten.
"> -
"A Language of Limbs" by Dylin HardcastleWhat it’s about: One summer night in 1972 unspools two very different alternating narratives. In one, a teenage girl caught kissing her female neighbor is shunned and takes refuge in a queer community home. In the other, a teenage girl suppresses feelings for her female best friend.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This reminded me of Sylvia Plath’s “fig tree” analogy, laying out how one consequential moment can branch into a wholly distinct life. “A Language of Limbs” makes a similarly compelling duology, heartbreaking and not to be forgotten.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AsBDDi7.8e_kJpN_CNtGiQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4850af2e6588f0026c70c277b665fb0a class=caas-img> -
"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee BakerWhat it’s about: A young woman in New York witnesses the murder of her sister during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, she’s working a gruesome crime scene cleaning job, haunted by hungry ghosts.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This isn’t one for the faint of heart, but an absolute must-read for horror fans. “Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” puts an even more horrifying spin on the real violence East Asians experienced during the pandemic. It’s punchy and gory, and Baker’s mouth-watering prose puts you into Cora’s claustrophobic subconscious like it’s your own.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee BakerWhat it’s about: A young woman in New York witnesses the murder of her sister during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, she’s working a gruesome crime scene cleaning job, haunted by hungry ghosts.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This isn’t one for the faint of heart, but an absolute must-read for horror fans. “Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” puts an even more horrifying spin on the real violence East Asians experienced during the pandemic. It’s punchy and gory, and Baker’s mouth-watering prose puts you into Cora’s claustrophobic subconscious like it’s your own.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5WjLfIuEamCIuHnqgORGYA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTk2Nw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b0efef2c53d162690d757e23274e4761 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee BakerWhat it’s about: A young woman in New York witnesses the murder of her sister during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, she’s working a gruesome crime scene cleaning job, haunted by hungry ghosts.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This isn’t one for the faint of heart, but an absolute must-read for horror fans. “Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” puts an even more horrifying spin on the real violence East Asians experienced during the pandemic. It’s punchy and gory, and Baker’s mouth-watering prose puts you into Cora’s claustrophobic subconscious like it’s your own.
"> -
"Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng" by Kylie Lee BakerWhat it’s about: A young woman in New York witnesses the murder of her sister during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, she’s working a gruesome crime scene cleaning job, haunted by hungry ghosts.
Why USA TODAY loved it: This isn’t one for the faint of heart, but an absolute must-read for horror fans. “Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” puts an even more horrifying spin on the real violence East Asians experienced during the pandemic. It’s punchy and gory, and Baker’s mouth-watering prose puts you into Cora’s claustrophobic subconscious like it’s your own.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5WjLfIuEamCIuHnqgORGYA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTk2Nw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b0efef2c53d162690d757e23274e4761 class=caas-img> -
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins ReidWhat it’s about: "Atmosphere" is a love story set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, where protagonist Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women admitted to the competitive trainee class.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Reid successfully juxtaposes anxiety-inducing space action and quiet meditations on love, curiosity and identity in “Atmosphere.” Though Joan’s turned to the stars, Reid has a way of making you appreciate this little life here on land, sometimes breaking the fourth wall entirely to call the reader in for a moment of gratitude.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins ReidWhat it’s about: "Atmosphere" is a love story set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, where protagonist Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women admitted to the competitive trainee class.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Reid successfully juxtaposes anxiety-inducing space action and quiet meditations on love, curiosity and identity in “Atmosphere.” Though Joan’s turned to the stars, Reid has a way of making you appreciate this little life here on land, sometimes breaking the fourth wall entirely to call the reader in for a moment of gratitude.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/gFbbi8CY4VqPo8vqMZl80g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/71392e1e28073ff2691815ed185acdd4 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins ReidWhat it’s about: "Atmosphere" is a love story set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, where protagonist Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women admitted to the competitive trainee class.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Reid successfully juxtaposes anxiety-inducing space action and quiet meditations on love, curiosity and identity in “Atmosphere.” Though Joan’s turned to the stars, Reid has a way of making you appreciate this little life here on land, sometimes breaking the fourth wall entirely to call the reader in for a moment of gratitude.
"> -
"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins ReidWhat it’s about: "Atmosphere" is a love story set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, where protagonist Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women admitted to the competitive trainee class.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Reid successfully juxtaposes anxiety-inducing space action and quiet meditations on love, curiosity and identity in “Atmosphere.” Though Joan’s turned to the stars, Reid has a way of making you appreciate this little life here on land, sometimes breaking the fourth wall entirely to call the reader in for a moment of gratitude.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/gFbbi8CY4VqPo8vqMZl80g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/71392e1e28073ff2691815ed185acdd4 class=caas-img> -
"My Friends" by Frederik BackmanWhat it’s about: Four childhood friends share a transformative summer, their bond inspiring a painting that becomes one of the most famous in the world. Decades later, a teenager who cherishes the painting embarks on a journey to learn its origin.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “My Friends” is quintessential Backman, with found-family friends and bighearted humans. Even in the shadow of the story’s darker moments, “My Friends” has the sheen of a dewy summer morning, full of possibility. This is a book that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"My Friends" by Frederik BackmanWhat it’s about: Four childhood friends share a transformative summer, their bond inspiring a painting that becomes one of the most famous in the world. Decades later, a teenager who cherishes the painting embarks on a journey to learn its origin.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “My Friends” is quintessential Backman, with found-family friends and bighearted humans. Even in the shadow of the story’s darker moments, “My Friends” has the sheen of a dewy summer morning, full of possibility. This is a book that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IVXmuDi.Uax2gU0GEfAu2w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/18bc4da843bc5c67021dc3e9ac54a7ca class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"My Friends" by Frederik BackmanWhat it’s about: Four childhood friends share a transformative summer, their bond inspiring a painting that becomes one of the most famous in the world. Decades later, a teenager who cherishes the painting embarks on a journey to learn its origin.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “My Friends” is quintessential Backman, with found-family friends and bighearted humans. Even in the shadow of the story’s darker moments, “My Friends” has the sheen of a dewy summer morning, full of possibility. This is a book that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK.
"> -
"My Friends" by Frederik BackmanWhat it’s about: Four childhood friends share a transformative summer, their bond inspiring a painting that becomes one of the most famous in the world. Decades later, a teenager who cherishes the painting embarks on a journey to learn its origin.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “My Friends” is quintessential Backman, with found-family friends and bighearted humans. Even in the shadow of the story’s darker moments, “My Friends” has the sheen of a dewy summer morning, full of possibility. This is a book that makes you feel like everything is going to be OK.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IVXmuDi.Uax2gU0GEfAu2w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/18bc4da843bc5c67021dc3e9ac54a7ca class=caas-img> -
"The Girls Who Grew Big" by Leila MottleyWhat it’s about: A group of outcast teen mothers in the Florida panhandle straddle girlhood and motherhood, fiercely protect one another and their children despite a system designed to fail them.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Mottley lets her three protagonists blossom with such care that you’ll feel as though you know them in real life by the time you hit the last page. “The Girls Who Grew Big” can be heartbreaking at times, but it’s ultimately a powerfully hopeful story.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"The Girls Who Grew Big" by Leila MottleyWhat it’s about: A group of outcast teen mothers in the Florida panhandle straddle girlhood and motherhood, fiercely protect one another and their children despite a system designed to fail them.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Mottley lets her three protagonists blossom with such care that you’ll feel as though you know them in real life by the time you hit the last page. “The Girls Who Grew Big” can be heartbreaking at times, but it’s ultimately a powerfully hopeful story.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8m08KNdP5tAaHXzWLZ.Tuw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e67898501775674eccb54230935ad833 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"The Girls Who Grew Big" by Leila MottleyWhat it’s about: A group of outcast teen mothers in the Florida panhandle straddle girlhood and motherhood, fiercely protect one another and their children despite a system designed to fail them.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Mottley lets her three protagonists blossom with such care that you’ll feel as though you know them in real life by the time you hit the last page. “The Girls Who Grew Big” can be heartbreaking at times, but it’s ultimately a powerfully hopeful story.
"> -
"The Girls Who Grew Big" by Leila MottleyWhat it’s about: A group of outcast teen mothers in the Florida panhandle straddle girlhood and motherhood, fiercely protect one another and their children despite a system designed to fail them.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Mottley lets her three protagonists blossom with such care that you’ll feel as though you know them in real life by the time you hit the last page. “The Girls Who Grew Big” can be heartbreaking at times, but it’s ultimately a powerfully hopeful story.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8m08KNdP5tAaHXzWLZ.Tuw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e67898501775674eccb54230935ad833 class=caas-img> -
"These Summer Storms" by Sarah MacLeanWhat it’s about: Alice, the estranged daughter of a tech billionaire, returns to her family’s private island after her father's unexpected death. Per the patriarch’s final wishes, the family must embark on a wild inheritance game and spend one chaotic week together.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “These Summer Storms” has a swoony romance and atmospheric coastal setting, but this novel is so much more than a breezy beach read. MacLean, known primarily for historical romance, flexes some impressive contemporary writing chops to bring us on a nuanced journey of grief, forgiveness and belonging.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"These Summer Storms" by Sarah MacLeanWhat it’s about: Alice, the estranged daughter of a tech billionaire, returns to her family’s private island after her father's unexpected death. Per the patriarch’s final wishes, the family must embark on a wild inheritance game and spend one chaotic week together.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “These Summer Storms” has a swoony romance and atmospheric coastal setting, but this novel is so much more than a breezy beach read. MacLean, known primarily for historical romance, flexes some impressive contemporary writing chops to bring us on a nuanced journey of grief, forgiveness and belonging.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LZOb4uhlmVBi_m2S8I.Pvg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/62527831e0eb3c8298965e9c59a0da82 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"These Summer Storms" by Sarah MacLeanWhat it’s about: Alice, the estranged daughter of a tech billionaire, returns to her family’s private island after her father's unexpected death. Per the patriarch’s final wishes, the family must embark on a wild inheritance game and spend one chaotic week together.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “These Summer Storms” has a swoony romance and atmospheric coastal setting, but this novel is so much more than a breezy beach read. MacLean, known primarily for historical romance, flexes some impressive contemporary writing chops to bring us on a nuanced journey of grief, forgiveness and belonging.
"> -
"These Summer Storms" by Sarah MacLeanWhat it’s about: Alice, the estranged daughter of a tech billionaire, returns to her family’s private island after her father's unexpected death. Per the patriarch’s final wishes, the family must embark on a wild inheritance game and spend one chaotic week together.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “These Summer Storms” has a swoony romance and atmospheric coastal setting, but this novel is so much more than a breezy beach read. MacLean, known primarily for historical romance, flexes some impressive contemporary writing chops to bring us on a nuanced journey of grief, forgiveness and belonging.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LZOb4uhlmVBi_m2S8I.Pvg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/62527831e0eb3c8298965e9c59a0da82 class=caas-img> -
"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne CollinsWhat it’s about: Step back in time to the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell as Haymitch Abernathy becomes a tribute for District 12.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Revisiting Panem from Haymitch’s sardonic perspective is a treat for “Hunger Games” fans, albeit a sobering one now that many of us have grown up. Collins truly does write when she has something to say, and “Sunrise on the Reaping” brought both new series lore and poignant commentary on authoritarianism, class and propaganda.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne CollinsWhat it’s about: Step back in time to the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell as Haymitch Abernathy becomes a tribute for District 12.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Revisiting Panem from Haymitch’s sardonic perspective is a treat for “Hunger Games” fans, albeit a sobering one now that many of us have grown up. Collins truly does write when she has something to say, and “Sunrise on the Reaping” brought both new series lore and poignant commentary on authoritarianism, class and propaganda.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1RS04bt0nkrR3v7P41j7Tg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a9dd6cc6813ddb34c39ba298f063e602 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne CollinsWhat it’s about: Step back in time to the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell as Haymitch Abernathy becomes a tribute for District 12.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Revisiting Panem from Haymitch’s sardonic perspective is a treat for “Hunger Games” fans, albeit a sobering one now that many of us have grown up. Collins truly does write when she has something to say, and “Sunrise on the Reaping” brought both new series lore and poignant commentary on authoritarianism, class and propaganda.
"> -
"Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne CollinsWhat it’s about: Step back in time to the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell as Haymitch Abernathy becomes a tribute for District 12.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Revisiting Panem from Haymitch’s sardonic perspective is a treat for “Hunger Games” fans, albeit a sobering one now that many of us have grown up. Collins truly does write when she has something to say, and “Sunrise on the Reaping” brought both new series lore and poignant commentary on authoritarianism, class and propaganda.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1RS04bt0nkrR3v7P41j7Tg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a9dd6cc6813ddb34c39ba298f063e602 class=caas-img> -
"Heart the Lover" by Lily KingWhat it’s about: A college student is swept up in a friendship and love triangle with two star students in her literature class. Decades later, she’ll have to confront the consequences of their collision.
Why USA TODAY loved it: King’s latest is a weeper, full of card games and witty banter and sure to tug at your heartstrings. It’s remarkable how she manages to pack so much character fullness into so few pages. For me, this was a total cry-on-the-subway read.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Heart the Lover" by Lily KingWhat it’s about: A college student is swept up in a friendship and love triangle with two star students in her literature class. Decades later, she’ll have to confront the consequences of their collision.
Why USA TODAY loved it: King’s latest is a weeper, full of card games and witty banter and sure to tug at your heartstrings. It’s remarkable how she manages to pack so much character fullness into so few pages. For me, this was a total cry-on-the-subway read.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eVvJs7SL6kUgiOxeNjpflQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTk1OA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8a89865550f19704438b0180c40c4aad class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Heart the Lover" by Lily KingWhat it’s about: A college student is swept up in a friendship and love triangle with two star students in her literature class. Decades later, she’ll have to confront the consequences of their collision.
Why USA TODAY loved it: King’s latest is a weeper, full of card games and witty banter and sure to tug at your heartstrings. It’s remarkable how she manages to pack so much character fullness into so few pages. For me, this was a total cry-on-the-subway read.
"> -
"Heart the Lover" by Lily KingWhat it’s about: A college student is swept up in a friendship and love triangle with two star students in her literature class. Decades later, she’ll have to confront the consequences of their collision.
Why USA TODAY loved it: King’s latest is a weeper, full of card games and witty banter and sure to tug at your heartstrings. It’s remarkable how she manages to pack so much character fullness into so few pages. For me, this was a total cry-on-the-subway read.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eVvJs7SL6kUgiOxeNjpflQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTk1OA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8a89865550f19704438b0180c40c4aad class=caas-img> -
"A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie ElmhirstWhat it’s about: Journalist Elmhirst chronicles the real-life survival journey of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a married couple who spent 118 days shipwrecked on a tiny rubber raft in the early ‘70s.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “A Marriage at Sea” is nonfiction that reads like fiction – the best kind. Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves. You won’t be able to put it down.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie ElmhirstWhat it’s about: Journalist Elmhirst chronicles the real-life survival journey of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a married couple who spent 118 days shipwrecked on a tiny rubber raft in the early ‘70s.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “A Marriage at Sea” is nonfiction that reads like fiction – the best kind. Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves. You won’t be able to put it down.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7aFmTZA4U7aOv1U46J9ylg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/22108df695f1896b9d7d474ea3df3b81 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie ElmhirstWhat it’s about: Journalist Elmhirst chronicles the real-life survival journey of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a married couple who spent 118 days shipwrecked on a tiny rubber raft in the early ‘70s.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “A Marriage at Sea” is nonfiction that reads like fiction – the best kind. Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves. You won’t be able to put it down.
"> -
"A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie ElmhirstWhat it’s about: Journalist Elmhirst chronicles the real-life survival journey of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a married couple who spent 118 days shipwrecked on a tiny rubber raft in the early ‘70s.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “A Marriage at Sea” is nonfiction that reads like fiction – the best kind. Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves. You won’t be able to put it down.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7aFmTZA4U7aOv1U46J9ylg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzNA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/22108df695f1896b9d7d474ea3df3b81 class=caas-img> -
"The Emperor of Gladness" by Ocean VuongWhat it’s about: A 19-year-old finds unexpected community in small-town New England suburbia after an old woman saves him from attempting suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Vuong’s second novel has all the poetic meditations and lyricism of “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” but with a lovable cast of found family characters that practically leap off the page. Read “The Emperor of Gladness,” and you’ll come away with a deep appreciation for humanity and the ways we care for each other.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"The Emperor of Gladness" by Ocean VuongWhat it’s about: A 19-year-old finds unexpected community in small-town New England suburbia after an old woman saves him from attempting suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Vuong’s second novel has all the poetic meditations and lyricism of “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” but with a lovable cast of found family characters that practically leap off the page. Read “The Emperor of Gladness,” and you’ll come away with a deep appreciation for humanity and the ways we care for each other.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/56M.qWbLp4.8yQ1xW48Bxw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9aa89c4dd4557df94df4202aec5cdf88 class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"The Emperor of Gladness" by Ocean VuongWhat it’s about: A 19-year-old finds unexpected community in small-town New England suburbia after an old woman saves him from attempting suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Vuong’s second novel has all the poetic meditations and lyricism of “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” but with a lovable cast of found family characters that practically leap off the page. Read “The Emperor of Gladness,” and you’ll come away with a deep appreciation for humanity and the ways we care for each other.
"> -
"The Emperor of Gladness" by Ocean VuongWhat it’s about: A 19-year-old finds unexpected community in small-town New England suburbia after an old woman saves him from attempting suicide.
Why USA TODAY loved it: Vuong’s second novel has all the poetic meditations and lyricism of “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” but with a lovable cast of found family characters that practically leap off the page. Read “The Emperor of Gladness,” and you’ll come away with a deep appreciation for humanity and the ways we care for each other.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/56M.qWbLp4.8yQ1xW48Bxw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTYzOQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9aa89c4dd4557df94df4202aec5cdf88 class=caas-img> -
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghyWhat it’s about: A family on a remote island off Antarctica is tasked with protecting the world's largest seed bank. When a mysterious woman washes ashore, her presence threatens to disrupt the family’s delicate ecosystem.
Why USA TODAY loved it: I’ve hardly read a book this year that kept me on the edge of my seat as much as “Wild Dark Shore.” This novel has it all – haunting imagery that reminds us what’s at risk for our planet, a precocious and loveable kiddo, a touch of romance, a blood-pressure-raising mystery and a survival story with heart.
" style=padding-bottom:56%> -
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghyWhat it’s about: A family on a remote island off Antarctica is tasked with protecting the world's largest seed bank. When a mysterious woman washes ashore, her presence threatens to disrupt the family’s delicate ecosystem.
Why USA TODAY loved it: I’ve hardly read a book this year that kept me on the edge of my seat as much as “Wild Dark Shore.” This novel has it all – haunting imagery that reminds us what’s at risk for our planet, a precocious and loveable kiddo, a touch of romance, a blood-pressure-raising mystery and a survival story with heart.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DdC7CIZvnpYLWmTujBUJqw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7e81918b5f6014e1ea890368bb0deff class=caas-img data-headline="15 best books of 2025" data-caption=" -
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghyWhat it’s about: A family on a remote island off Antarctica is tasked with protecting the world's largest seed bank. When a mysterious woman washes ashore, her presence threatens to disrupt the family’s delicate ecosystem.
Why USA TODAY loved it: I’ve hardly read a book this year that kept me on the edge of my seat as much as “Wild Dark Shore.” This novel has it all – haunting imagery that reminds us what’s at risk for our planet, a precocious and loveable kiddo, a touch of romance, a blood-pressure-raising mystery and a survival story with heart.
"> -
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghyWhat it’s about: A family on a remote island off Antarctica is tasked with protecting the world's largest seed bank. When a mysterious woman washes ashore, her presence threatens to disrupt the family’s delicate ecosystem.
Why USA TODAY loved it: I’ve hardly read a book this year that kept me on the edge of my seat as much as “Wild Dark Shore.” This novel has it all – haunting imagery that reminds us what’s at risk for our planet, a precocious and loveable kiddo, a touch of romance, a blood-pressure-raising mystery and a survival story with heart.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DdC7CIZvnpYLWmTujBUJqw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7e81918b5f6014e1ea890368bb0deff class=caas-img>
1 / 1515 best books of 2025
We’ve narrowed down our favorite reads of 2025 to a list that has a little something for everyone, from sweeping family sagas to touching memoirs, gory horror novels to romances that guarantee a happily ever after.Here are our top 15 books of 2025, ranked. 15. "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan BraithwaiteWhat it’s about: A young woman grows up in the shadow of a generational family curse of lovelessness and the belief that she’s the reincarnation of her aunt.
Why USA TODAY loved it: “Cursed Daughters” is a page turner, a family drama with a speculative flair and silky smooth prose. Braithwaite has a way of making the Falodun family’s superstition seem both wickedly funny and haunting.
What states is Barnes & Noble opening stores in next?
A look inside a newly opened Barnes and Noble store in Jackson Township, Ohio during its grand opening on Feb. 12, 2025.
According to a list obtained by USA TODAY, the bookseller plans to open stores in Ohio, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Washington state, California, Virginia, Georgia and D.C. "Several openings" in these states are slated to occur between now and June 2026.
See new locations Barnes & Noble opened in 2025
A Barnes & Noble store in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Barnes & Noble opened over 60 new stores across the country throughout 2025. See the locations of the recently opened bookstores below:
Abilene, Texas: 3417 Catclaw Dr (Shops at Abilene)
Austin, Texas: 9600 S I-35 Frontage Road (Southpark Meadows)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 7455 Corporate Blvd., Ste. 430 (Town Center at Cedar Lodge)
Bellevue, Washington: 1140 Bellevue Square
Brea, California: 439 S. Associated Rd. (Brea Plaza)
Brentwood, California: 2475 Sand Creek Rd.
Brownsville, Texas: 2370 North Express Way (Sunrise Mall)
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania: 720 W. Lancaster Ave.
Burleson, Texas: 1107 N Burleson Blvd.
Clark, New Jersey: 1255 Raritan Rd. (Clark Commons)
Chesire, Connecticut: 1991 Highland Ave. (The Shops at Stone Bridge)
Dickson City, Pennsylvania: 638 Commerce Blvd.
Dublin, Ohio: 3708 W. Dublin-Granville Road (Sun Center)
Gainesville, Virginia: 8139 Stonewall Shops Square
Germantown, Tennessee: 2130 Exeter Rd. (Germantown Collection)
Glen Allen, Virginia: 9840 Brook Rd.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado: 115 E. Meadows Dr. (Glenwood Meadows)
Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2236 E. Beltline Ave NE
Hamilton, Ohio: 3339 Princeton Rd. (Bridgewater Falls)
Houston, Texas: 12850 Memorial Drive
Huntington Station, New York: 301 Walt Whitman Rd.
Issaquah, Washington: 775 NW Gilman Blvd.
Knoxville, Tennessee: 11334 Parkside Dr. (Pinnacle at Turkey Creek)
La Jolla, California: 8657 Villa La Jolla Dr. (La Jolla Village Square)
Lakeland, Florida: 3615 S Florida Ave. (Merchants Walk)
Lakewood, Washington: 10330 59th Ave. Southwest (Lakewood Towne Center)
Lansing, Michigan: 420 Frandor Ave. (Frandor Shopping Center)
Los Gatos, California: 122 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
Meridian, Idaho: 2260 North Eagle Rd. (The Village at Meridian)
Miami, Florida: 13605 S Dixie Hwy (Colonial Palms Plaza)
Miami, Florida: 8525 Mills Dr. (The Palms at Town & Country)
Minnetonka, Minnesota: 11500 Wayzata Blvd. (WestRidge Market)
Napa, California: 3900 Bel Aire Plaza (Bel Aire Plaza)
Naperville, Illinois: 9 Jackson Ave.
Naples, Florida: 4149 Tamiami Trail N.
North Canton, Ohio: 5501 Dressler Rd.
Orange, California: 20 City Blvd. W.
Overland Park, Kansas: 7840 W 161st St. (Bluhawk Mall)
Papillon, Nebraska: 7949 Towne Center Pkwy
Palm Harbor, Florida: 33591 US Highway 19 N. (Highland Lakes Plaza)
Pasadena, Maryland: 8044 Ritchie Highway (Pasadena Crossroads)
Phoenix, Arizona: 2011 E. Camelback Rd. (The Shops at Town & Country)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 103 Shady Ave.
Puyallup, Washington: 3500 South Meridian St. (South Hill Mall)
Rapid City, South Dakota: 1617 Eglin St (Rushmore Crossing)
Rockwall, Texas: 1009 E Interstate 30 (Plaza at Rockwall)
Southbury, Connecticut: 775 Main St S. (Southbury Green shopping center)
Spring, Texas: 6600 Spring Stuebner Road Ste. 152 (Grand Parkway Marketplace)
Stamford, Connecticut: 1145 High Ridge Rd.
Superior, Colorado: 550 Marshall Rd.
Tampa, Florida: 13123 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Tequesta, Florida: 151 N. US Highway 1
Westminster, Maryland: 402 Englar Rd. (Westminster Crossing West)
York, Pennsylvania: 2935 Concord Rd. (York Town Center)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barnes & Noble opening 60 more stores in 2026. See new locations.
Source: “AOL Money”
