1. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majudar:
2. Courtesans Don’t Read Newspapers by Anil Yadav:
Translated by Vaibhav Sharma
A collection of short stories that will make you question your privilege and power. The stories infused with humor and compassion bring the everyday realities of marginalized lives to the forefront.
3. Goddess Complex by Sanjena Sathian:
A darkly funny millennial novel about motherhood, girlbosses and identity. If a psychological thriller combined with a feminist satire was on your bingo list this year, then this book is the perfect pick.
4. Great Eastern Hotel by Ruchir Joshi:
Enter the most luxurious hotel of Calcutta where a rebel, an artist, a thief and an Englishwoman cross paths against the backdrop of World War II. A historical fiction that will keep you hooked until the very last page!
5. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq:
Translated by Deepa Bhasthi
Winner of the International Booker prize 2025, this is a powerful collection of short stories that brings to life the struggles, hopes and resilience of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India as they survive the everyday injustices.
6. Hot Water by Bhavika Govil:
Spanning over one hot summer, this family drama is all about fragile bonds, secrets, love and trauma.
7. On the Banks of the Pampa by Volga:
Translated by Purnima Tammireddy
A radical retelling of Sabari’s story from the Ramayana, exploring devotion, displacement, and ecological resistance. Volga and Purnima Rao highlight feminist storytelling and give voice to those long at the margins.
8. Our Friends is Good Houses by Rahul Pandita:
This debut novel follows a war journalist on his quest to find a place that is ‘home’. Journeying from war-torn regions to Delhi and America, this book asks a pertinent question – can you find anchorage in a physical place or within yourself?
9. Railsong by Rahul Bhattacharya:
Follow the life of a motherless railway worker’s daughter who wants to break free from her life of domesticity and carve a path that challenges the future written for her. Amid a transforming India, our protagonist forges a life for herself on her own terms.
10. Real life by Amrita Mahale:
What does a haunting mystery in a world of surveillance and societal expectations look like? When a biologist goes missing in the Himalayas, her best friend sets out to look for her, and is confronted by unsettling truths and questions about women’s autonomy and visibility.
Kiran Desai returns with yet another unputdownable novel after all these years. A sweeping love story of two lonely immigrants as they are confronted by the cultural differences, class parity, and the complicated bonds shared across generations.
Whether you’re building your reading list for the next year, looking for the best fiction books of 2025 to gift, or simply searching for your next unforgettable story, this year’s releases offer endless possibilities! Dive into them and let us know which one was your favourite!
