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We’re almost at the end of the 2025 reading year! But before we bid adieu to it, let’s talk about the buzziest books of November. These are the five titles the most Goodreads users marked as read this month. The #1 and #2 spots both went to the same author, but not they’re not part of a series—so there’s your hint, if you want to guess.
4 New Books Out in November You Should Know About
Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a few new books that came out in November and deserve wider readership.
Palaver by Bryan Washington
This is one of the biggest literary fiction releases of the year, and it’s a finalist for the National Book Award. The unnamed main character of Palaver moved to Japan partly to escape his family: his homophobic brother and the mother who takes his side. He’s built a found family in his new home, though his love life is complicated: he’s sleeping with a married man. Ten years since he last spoke to his estranged mother, she shows up at his door, wanting to make amends. Slowly, over many difficult conversations, they begin to see each other more clearly. —Danika Ellis
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
This is a literary horror novel from Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister, the Serial Killer. Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the same day that her family buried her cousin Monife. Right away, everyone sees the connection between Eniiyi and Monife and worries Eniiyi will be doomed to the same tragic fate. Between that and the family curse, will Eniiyi be doomed to a life of sadness and heartbreak? Or will she be able to break the cycle? —Emily Martin
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Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams
A November LibraryReads and Indie Booksellers pick, Black-Owned highlights the importance of Black-owned bookstores. From Malcolm X giving speeches in front of the National Memorial African Book Store in Harlem to Maya Angelou becoming the face of National Black Bookstore Week, Black-owned bookstores have played a huge role in Black activism and community. Char Adams takes us on tour of these indie bookstores throughout history, giving us a love letter to these treasured havens for Black resistance. —Kendra Winchester
Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto
I love Jesse Q. Sutanto’s cozy mysteries, Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, so I’m thrilled to see her dipping her metaphorical toes into historical fiction. In Next Time Will Be Our Turn, Sutanto explores complicated family relationships and second chances. When Izzy Chen reluctantly shows up to her family’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration only to see her grandmother walk in with a stunning woman, everything she thought she knew about her family is turned on its head. Izzy’s reaction reminds Magnolia Chen of the girl she once was, prompting her to share her story of being sent to LA from Jakarta and finding herself caught between familial expectations and the girl she loved. —Rachel Brittain
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is best known for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. Now, she’s back with a love story between two women astronauts in the 1980s. It came out in June and became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. It’s also a Good Morning America Book Club Pick. 53,000 Goodreads users marked it read in November, and it has a 4.3 average rating.
#4:
Mate (Bride #2) by Ali Hazelwood
The second Ali Hazelwood title on the most read books on Goodreads list this month is the companion novel to Bride. This paranormal romance came out on October 7th. It is about Serena, the first Were-Human hybrid, who finds herself a political target of Humans, Vampyres, and Weres alike. Her safety depends on the protection of the Alpha Were Koen. It was read by almost 56,000 users in November and has a 4.1 average rating.
#3:
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
This is the first book in the Fae & Alchemy series, and it’s about Saeris, a 24-year-old woman who is transported to a different world and accidentally binds herself to a Fae warrior named Kingfisher. Book two, Brimstone, came out on November 18, which has given the series a boost in readership. Book three comes out in November 2026. It was read by almost 68,000 Goodreads users and has a 4.3 average rating.
#2:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. A movie adaptation is coming out in December. This was read by almost 71,000 Goodreads users, with a 4.3 average rating.
#1:
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden has two books in the top five this month. This is her newest thriller, which came out October 7th. It’s about Casey, who is weathering a hurricane in her rundown cabin in the woods when she sees a girl outside her window. She is covered in blood and clutching a knife. “The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.” 84,000 users read it in November, and it has a 3.9 average rating.
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
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