June 2025 Book Releases:
Your Ultimate Guide For The Second Week’s Must-Reads
9th June – 15th June: The second week of June features some exciting new stories as part of the 2025 book releases.
This Week’s June 2025 Book Releases
Discover my top 12 picks from the second week’s exciting new book releases! In this line-up, I’ll share the captivating synopses and discuss which books will resonate with each reader. Kicking off the fantasy genre, we have a captivating new epic fantasy featuring a compelling female protagonist, dragons, and an abundance of court politics. Additionally, we have another new epic fantasy series that sends our protagonists on a quest adventure full of mysteries and discoveries waiting to be found, accompanied by beautiful world-building.
Within the same genre, but with the added complexity of romance, we have an exciting debut fantasy romance filled with heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal featuring a strong-willed, physically disabled female protagonist. Secondly, we have the return of dragons with an action-packed fantasy full of heists, thieves, and sizzling romance.
For readers who prefer their fiction grounded in reality, we have two new additions: a debut novel and a coming-of-age story about a young Black man caught between worlds of race and class, glamour and tragedy, shedding light on the nightlife in New York City. And secondly, an emotionally gut-wrenching new novel with a haunting narrative about the brutality of prison life and the complexity of redemption.
As for the historical fiction genre, we have a tale of an ambitious woman who will do everything in her power to change the fact that there were no female publishing CEOs in 1960s New York, and secondly, a story about a young woman in 1970s London racing against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece in a city full of secrets and lies.
For the romantic at heart and fans of spicy romance books, two new additions will catch your interest: a light-hearted romance about a woman fighting for a promotion against a bitter rival who finds solace in a text-flirting relationship, unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion. Secondly, a new sapphic contemporary romance about a famous former child actress who meets a tender, masculine West Village bookseller.
Last but not least, two new additions for the thriller and mystery lovers wrap up this week’s 2025 book releases: a thrilling Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic about a man with a particular set of skills who will do anything to save his family. And lastly, a delightfully funny and heartfelt story about an American woman who travels to the English countryside after discovering tickets her late mother had purchased for a murder mystery simulation.
Genre – Fantasy Books
Title: Six Wild Crowns
Series: Queens of Elben (1)
Author: Holly Race
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 416
From the author of the Midnight’s Twins series comes a captivating new epic fantasy, perfect for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and House of the Dragon. It is an ideal read for those who enjoy dragons, court politics, strong female main characters, and sapphic yearning tropes.
The book’s synopsis;
The king has been appointed by god to marry six queens. Those six queens are all that stand between the kingdom of Elben and ruin. Or so we have been told.
Each queen vies for attention. Clever, ambitious Boleyn is determined to be Henry’s favourite. And if she must incite a war to win Henry over? So be it.
Seymour acts as a spy and assassin in a court teeming with dragons, backstabbing courtiers and strange magic. But when she and Boleyn become the unlikeliest of things – allies – the balance of power begins to shift. Together, they will discover an ancient, rotting magic at Elben’s heart. A magic that their king will do anything to protect.
Title: The Witch Roads
Series: The Witch Roads (1)
Author: Kate Elliott
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 448
From the author of the New York Times bestselling young adult series Court of Fires comes her latest epic fantasy series, featuring compelling mysteries and discoveries. It is an ideal read for fans of quest adventures, captivating character dynamics, and beautiful world-building.
The book’s synopsis;
Status is hereditary, class is bestowed, and trust must be earned.
When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen, once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall, is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination.
When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn’t heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn’t the same man who entered.
The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?
Genre – Fantasy Romance Books
Title: A Dance of Lies
Author: Brittney Arena
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 448
A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom. It is an ideal read for fans of stunning world-building, main characters with physical disabilities who refuse to be defined by it, and political intrigue and court drama.
The book’s synopsis;
My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel in distress. I’m no princess bound within a tower.
I am a shadow.
Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.
As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.
As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past is revealed. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.
Title: Realm of Thieves
Series: Thieves of Dragemor (1)
Author: Karina Halle
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 432
From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a spicy romantasy about two thieves competing for dominance in the illegal dragon egg trade, which leads them to put both their lives and their hearts on the line. It is ideal for readers who love a unique element to dragons, captivating world-building, action-packed heists, and sizzling romances.
The book’s synopsis;
For Brynla Aihr, crime and survival have always gone hand in hand. Ever since she escaped the fanatical dragon-worshipping cult that controls her homeland, she’s had to carve out a life stealing dragon eggs. Egg theft is illegal and, in most cases, fatal. To breach a dragon’s nest means a harrowing journey through the ancient wards set to keep the monstrous beasts confined. Dragons can’t get out, and only those with a death wish can get in.
Despite the risks, dragon eggs are highly coveted for their magic. A black market flourishes under competing criminal empires, and Brynla’s loyalty has always been to the highest bidder. Until she finds herself kidnapped and blackmailed by Lord Andor, a formidable lieutenant of House Kolbeck, and thrust into the dangerous political games of rivalling dynasties.
Brynla and Andor clash at every turn, sparking heat in ways Brynla’s never felt before. But in a world that’s prophesied to return to the dragons, and rife with betrayal and secrets at every turn…how close to the flames is she willing to stand?
Genre – Fiction Books
Title: Great Black Hope
Author: Rob Franklin
Publisher: S&S/Summit Books
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 320
A gripping, elegant coming-of-age debut novel about a young Black man caught between worlds of race and class, glamour and tragedy, a friend’s mysterious death and his arrest, from an electrifying new voice. It is an ideal read for fans of New York City nightlife, courtroom drama, and LGBTQIA+ tropes.
The book’s synopsis;
An arrest for cocaine possession in the Hamptons on the last day of a sweltering New York summer leaves Smith, a young queer Black Stanford graduate, in a state of turmoil. Pulled into the court system and mandated treatment, he finds himself in an absurd but dangerous situation: his class protects him, but his race does not.
It’s just weeks after the death of his beloved roommate, Elle, a glamorous member of the Black elite, and he’s still reeling from the tabloid spectacle, as well as the lingering questions of how well he really knew his closest friend and what exactly happened to her that night. He flees to his hometown of Atlanta, but the weight of expectations from his family of doctors, lawyers, and college presidents only pushes him further into his downward spiral.
When his close friend Carolyn goes off the rails, Smith decides to return to New York to find out what happened to her and to Elle. But it’s not long before he begins to lose himself to his old life, drawn back into the city’s underworld where his search for answers may end up costing him his freedom and his future.
Title: The River Is Waiting
Author: Wally Lamb
Publisher: S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 480
From the author of I Know This Much Is True comes a powerful and emotionally gut-wrenching new book that forces you to confront humanity’s darkest corners. It is a devastatingly haunting narrative that lingers long after you turn the final page and is ideal for fans of stories that explore the flaws of the justice system, the brutality of prison life, and the complexity of redemption.
The book’s synopsis;
Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin—and that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears apart his family. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he witnesses frightful acts of brutality. But he also experiences small acts of kindness and kinship. Buoyed by those and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can those he loves ever forgive his crimes?
Genre – Historical Fiction Books
Title: Confessions of a Grammar Queen
Author: Eliza Knight
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 400
USA Today and international bestselling author of The Mayfair Bookshop returns with her latest novel about a savvy, ambitious woman named Bernadette Swift who will do everything in her power to change the fact that there have been no female publishing CEOs in 1960s New York. It is the perfect read for fans who love stories that explore strength through determination, supportive friendships, quirky characters, and a love for animals, especially those who adore dogs.
The book’s synopsis;
Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But first, she needs to take the next step up that ladder with a promotion that her boorish and sexist boss wants to thwart. Seeking a base of support, Bernadette joins a feminist women’s book club at the New York Public Library, and soon she inspires her fellow members to challenge the male gatekeepers and decades of ingrained sexism in their workplaces, while pursuing their personal and professional dreams.
And that is precisely what Bernedette does on a daily basis to keep her eye on the prize—equality for women in the workplace and a promotion—while fending off the ire of her boss and the sabotaging efforts of a jealous coworker. With the support of her book club buddies and a certain charismatic editor at Lenox & Park who has completely fallen for her, maybe, just maybe, Bernadette will prove able to claim victory for herself and the young women coming after her.
Title: The English Masterpiece
Author: Katherine Reay
Publisher: Harper Muse
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 304
From the author who brought you The London House and The Berlin Letters comes a fast-paced narrative full of glamour, secrets, tensions, and lies, as one young woman in 1970s London races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece. It is the perfect read for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon, and memorable stories with fascinating characters.
The book’s synopsis;
As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate’s Modern Collections keeper, Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honour the passing of the great artist–and she’s waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone’s expectations–the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim–until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, “It’s a forgery.” The gallery falls silent.
Lily’s boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She’s worked hard to become the trusted voice in London’s modern art scene and is respected across the Continent. The Tate’s Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist’s most iconic and intimate works, but also a newly discovered painting — one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumours of a worldwide forgery run wild.
All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana’s footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk, but also that of her mentor. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she’s always wanted, but her freedom.
Genre – Romance Books
Title: Last Night Was Fun
Author: Holly Michelle & Holly James
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 368
From the author of The Big Fix and a debut author comes a light-hearted romance described as You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game. Vying for a promotion against a bitter rival, Emmy finds solace in the text-flirting relationship that started as a wrong number exchange—unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion. It is an ideal read for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories, with lovable characters and great chemistry and banter that will leave you giggling.
The book’s synopsis;
Emmy Jameson lives by three no dating, no sharing personal news at work, and baseball above everything. As the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy is constantly trying to prove herself.
Especially when she’s put up for a senior analyst position against her arrogant, infuriating coworker Gabe Olson. Sure, he’s gorgeous and smart, and he was a baseball star in college who knows the sport inside and out, but so does Emmy. She is not going to lose to him again. There will be no distractions this summer. Not even her sister’s pending destination wedding in Mexico, for which she needs to find a plus one.
But then she receives a text from an unknown number with a simple “Last night was fun.” When she strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, they realise that he was given a fake phone number after a bad date that just so happened to be Emmy’s. Despite her rules, Emmy can’t deny the instant connection she feels and soon finds herself falling for the stranger on the other side of the screen…and inviting him to her sister’s wedding.
Emmy’s world turns upside down when her mystery man turns out to be none other than Gabe Olson. They are left having to travel to the wedding together while trying to sort out which version of their relationship is their in-person rivalry or the deep connection they found in their messages.
Title: The Next Chapter
Author: Camille Kellogg
Publisher: The Dial Press (Dial Delights)
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 336
From the author of Just as You Are comes her next contemporary romance about a famous former child actress who meets a tender, masculine West Village bookseller, and it isn’t long until sparks fly and complications ensue. A queer homage to Notting Hill and the perfect read for fans of deeply human moments and sapphic romances with plenty of warmth, humour, and emotional payoffs.
The book’s synopsis;
Katrina Kelly is a former child star with five blockbuster movies under her belt and a face that’s instantly recognisable to most of America. Unfortunately, her career ended with her teens. Now she’s twenty-four, running out of money, and spends most of her nights alone Googling things like ‘how do I know if I’m bi or gay?’ She’s desperate to rebrand herself as a Serious Adult Actress and restart her career—at any cost.
Jude Thacker, a butch bookseller at The Next Chapter, doesn’t want to admit she might be stuck. After all, she’s running the queer feminist bookstore of her dreams with a staff of chosen family. Sure, she hasn’t even tried to go on a first date in two years. And she may have a tiny problem with panic attacks. But as long as her life stays small and tidy, she’s fine.
When Kat and Jude meet in the bookstore, Kat realizes that coming out as queer is the perfect way to transform her image. She and Jude can date for a few weeks, cause a media firestorm, and then Kat will move on. However, what is meant as a temporary publicity stunt quickly turns into genuine feelings for both women. As media scrutiny intensifies, each must decide what is real, what is not, and whether true love is worth losing everything they believe is keeping them safe.
Genre – Thriller and Mystery Books
Title: King of Ashes
Author: S.A. Cosby
Publisher: Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 352
From the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed comes a thrilling Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic about a man with a particular set of skills who will do anything to save his family. It is an ideal read for fans of family drama, vulnerable characters, shocking reveals and a narrative that doesn’t shy away from violence.
The book’s synopsis;
When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family—and the family business—together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident, and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.
Roman, a financial whiz with a knack for numbers and a talent for making his clients wealthy, has some money to help his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realises that he has only one thing left to offer to save himself, and his own particular set of skills.
Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realise. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.
Because everything burns.
Title: Welcome to Murder Week
Author: Karen Dukess
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Publication Date: 10th of June, 2025
Pages: 304
From the author of The Last Book Party comes a fresh, inventive twist on the murder mystery and a delightfully funny and heartfelt story about an American woman who travels to the English countryside after discovering tickets her late mother had purchased for a murder mystery simulation in a small British town. It is the perfect read for fans of stories that explore reckoning with grief, discovering your sense of adventure and charming characters.
The book’s synopsis;
When thirty-four-year-old Cath loses her mostly absentee mother, she is ambivalent. With days of quiet, unassuming routine in Buffalo, New York, Cath consciously avoids the impulsive, thrill-seeking lifestyle that her mother once led. But when she’s forced to go through her mother’s things one afternoon, Cath is perplexed to find tickets for an upcoming “murder week” in England’s Peak. A whole town has come together to stage a fake murder mystery to attract tourism to their quaint hamlet. Baffled but helplessly intrigued by her mother’s secret purchase, Cath decides to go on the trip herself—and begins a journey she never could have anticipated.
Teaming up with her two cottage-mates, both ardent mystery lovers—Wyatt Green, forty, who works unhappily in his husband’s birding store, and Amity Clark, fifty, a divorced romance writer struggling with her novels—Cath sets about solving the “crime” and begins to unravel shocking truths about her mother along the way. Amidst a fling—or something more—with the handsome local maker of artisanal gin, Cath and her irresistibly charming fellow sleuths will find this week of fake murder may help them face up to a very real crossroads in their own lives.
Conclusion
The second week of June features twelve exciting new book releases that explore captivating world-building, dragons, strong female main characters, quest adventures, betrayals, secrets, court drama, sizzling romances, and action-packed heists for the fantasy and fantasy romance genres.
For the fiction and historical fiction genre, we have LGBTQIA+ tropes, the city of New York and Atlanta, tragedy, class and glamour, the brutality of prison life, the complexity of redemption, exploring strength through determination, supportive friendships, quirky characters, the city of London, secrets, tensions, lies, and the 1960s and 1970s era.
For the romance genre, we have enemies-to-lovers tropes, relatable characters, great chemistry and banter, deeply human moments, sapphic romances, warmth, humour, and emotional payoffs, and lastly, the thriller and mystery genre includes family drama, vulnerable characters, shocking reveals, stories that don’t shy away from the violence, exploring grief, flawed characters, and discovering your sense of adventure.
Stay tuned, as I will post my following article next week about the latest 2025 book releases for the third week of June’s monthly line-up. Additionally, if you’re interested in more book-related articles, check out my book section page for reviews, recommendations, details and discussions.
