Read every series in the right order
Book of the Month – Picks by Books in Chronological Order
Every month, Books in Chronological Order chooses one standout title to highlight – the book we’d press into your hands if we could. Below you’ll find our Book of the Month picks for 2025, starting in July. For each book, you’ll see what it’s about, the vibe, and who we think will love it – plus quick links to buy it on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Book of the Month 2025
Book of Month July 2025
The Boyfriend
by Freida McFadden
The Boyfriend is our July pick because it’s exactly the kind of thriller that hijacks your whole evening. Short chapters, sharp dialogue, and a constant drip of red flags make it dangerously easy to keep reading “just one more.” Freida McFadden leans into messy relationships and bad decisions in a way that feels both outrageous and uncomfortably believable. If you like domestic suspense that doesn’t waste time, this is the sort of book you can toss in your beach bag and finish before the sun goes down.
Book of Month August 2025
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty is pure August energy: salty air, complicated crushes, and that nostalgic ache of realizing your childhood is over. We chose it because it captures the emotional chaos of being a teenager without talking down to you. Jenny Han makes the love triangle feel lived-in, rooted in years of shared summers and shifting loyalties. It’s light enough to breeze through in a day, but honest enough that certain lines will linger long after you’ve closed the book.
Book of Month September 2025
Legendborn
by Tracy Deonn
Legendborn is the kind of YA fantasy that reminds us why we love the genre. We picked it for September because it feels like back-to-school reading with the volume turned way up: secret societies, campus politics, grief, and magic threaded through modern life. Tracy Deonn blends Arthurian legend with a very contemporary story about identity, trauma, and power. Bree is fierce, vulnerable, and easy to root for, and the world-building is so layered you’ll be itching to jump straight into the sequel.
Book of Month October 2025
The Pumpkin Spice Café
by Laurie Gilmore
The Pumpkin Spice Café is our cozy comfort pick for October, the kind of book you want to read under a blanket with something warm in your mug. Laurie Gilmore delivers small-town charm, found family, and a romance that feels like slipping into a favorite sweater. The stakes are low, the vibes are high, and the descriptions of baked goods are borderline dangerous. If your ideal fall involves more cinnamon and pining than serial killers, this is the escape you’re looking for.
Book of Month November 2025
The Will of the Many
by James Islington
At the elite Catenan Academy, power isn’t earned—it’s harvested. “Will” is the currency the Hierarchy drains from its citizens, and Vis Telimus (not his real name) has slipped inside their most sacred halls to steal something back: the truth. He’s a fugitive posing as a model student, hunting a murderer, chasing an ancient weapon, and vowing never—ever—to surrender his Will to the empire that executed his family.
Think dark academia meets empire-level conspiracy—secret societies, coded mottos (AUDI. VIDE. TACE.), razor-edged politics, and a protagonist who smiles politely while plotting your downfall. It’s a Best of #BookTok sensation (4.7★ Amazon, 4.6★ Goodreads) for a reason.
If you love Red Rising intrigue, scholar-gladiator vibes, and long-game twists, this is your next obsession. Ready to pledge your Will— or keep it? Start The Will of the Many
Book of Month December 2025
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary is our December pick because it’s that rare sci-fi novel that’s both wildly geeky and genuinely heartwarming. Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a strange ship, light-years from home, with no memory and an impossible problem to solve: figure out why the sun is dying and how to save humanity. What follows is part survival story, part mystery, part unlikely friendship tale. Andy Weir packs in real science, dad-joke humor, and surprising emotion. If you loved The Martian or enjoy clever problem-solving under pressure, this is a perfect end-of-year read.
If you love clever problem-solving under pressure, this is the perfect end-of-year read—click below to get Project Hail Mary on Amazon and blast off.
FAQ
How do you choose your Book of the Month?
We look for books that are not only enjoyable, but also easy to recommend to a wide range of readers. Each pick is chosen by the Books in Chronological Order team based on story, pacing, readability, and how likely it is to spark conversation. We also consider variety across genres and vibes throughout the year, so your TBR doesn’t feel like the same book on repeat.
Do you only feature new releases?
Not necessarily. We love highlighting buzzy new titles, but we’re just as happy to choose backlist books that still feel fresh, relevant, or underrated. If a book is a fantastic read for that month—whether it came out last week or ten years ago—it has a chance to become our Book of the Month.
Can authors or publishers suggest a book for Book of the Month?
Yes, we’re open to suggestions from authors, publishers, and publicists. While we can’t guarantee a feature, we do consider pitches that include a short synopsis, genre, ideal reader, and why you think the book fits a particular month. All final selections are made independently by the Books in Chronological Order team to keep recommendations honest and reader-focused.
