Every passing year brings a fresh wave of stories, but a bookshelf that can transform your life is rare. That’s the reason why I’ve come up with the 10 best books to read in life by IntellectFolks.
These 10 books aren’t chosen by chance; they’re crafted for 2025’s most curious, adventurous, and thoughtful readers. Are you ready to know what are the best books to read? If so, then keep reading.
So, Let’s Get Going!
Here is the top 10 best books to read in 2025 list that are timeless reads for you to develop your lifestyle and personal guides.
- The Old Man and The Sea – Ernest Hemingway (1952)
- Love in the Time of Cholera – Gabriel García Márquez (1985)
- 1984 – George Orwell (1949)
- Three Daughters of Eve – Elif Shafak (2016)
- Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov (1955)
- Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (1813)
- The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger (1951)
- Five Feet Apart – Rachael Lippincott (2018)
- Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy (1878)
- The Trial – Franz Kafka (1925)

- Author: Ernest Hemingway
- Genre: Nautical Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.5/5
- Page Count: 127-160
A modern fiction based on a fisherman who went hunting but came empty-handed. This story shows his dedication to his work, and he wins in the end.

- Author: Gabriel García Márquez
- Genre: Magical Realism, Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
- Page Count: 348
Love in the Time of Cholera is a romantic novel about two lovers. From which one waits for another for about 52 years.

- Author: George Orwell
- Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Political Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
- Page Count: 320-432
1984 is one of the Best Books to read in 2025 because it covers all aspects of a dystopian future. In addition, the era is coming when politicians will control each aspect of humans’ lives.

- Author: Elif Shafak
- Genre: Religious Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.5/5
- Page Count: 384
Elif Shafak wrote this book to explore the themes of Friendship, Faith, and identity. This book revolves around a wealthy housewife who falls in love with a Philosophy professor.

- Author: Vladimir Nabokov
- Genre: Tragicomedy, Erotic Novel
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.5/5
- Page Count: 336
Lolita is a tragicomedy book that covers the story of a girl and a professor who fell in love with her. This book was written by Vladimir Nabokov, who was a Russian-American writer, critic, and poet.

- Author: Jane Austen
- Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.3/5
- Page Count: 432-528
Pride and Prejudice is set in the early 19th century, when young people fell in love with each other. They have to face titular sins, P&P, if they express their love and marry.

- Author: J.D. Salinger
- Genre: Literary Realism
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.8/5
- Page Count: 224-277
The Catcher in the Rye explores the life of a prep school expelled student, Holden Caulfield. It covers how he wandered on the NYC streets and how he was introduced to the adult world.

- Author: Rachael Lippincott
- Genre: Fiction, Romance Novel
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
- Page Count: 288
The story of two lovers who fall in love with each other in a state of cystic fibrosis in the hospital. Both have been told to stay away from each other, Five Feet. The story covers their emotions and disease cures, if possible.

- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Genre: Novel, Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.9/5
- Page Count: 830-864
Leo Tolstoy penned this fiction about Anna Karenina, who cheats her husband, Alexey Karenin, with Count Vronsky. Further, the story explores the theme of cheating and how it affects society.

- Author: Franz Kafka
- Genre: Novel, Dystopian Fiction
- Personal Recommendation Scores: 4.7/5
- Page Count: 124-304
The Trial focuses on the story of Joseph K., who was arrested for an unknown crime. Also, it delves into themes of bureaucracy, guilt, and individual struggles.
That’s all about the best books to read in 2025.
As it’s mentioned before, these books are not chosen by chance, but they’re helpful guides for you!
The more you read and try to find the hidden message, you will get to know how you can update your standards.
So, Why Wait? Open the Book and Know Something Better for life!