At the start of the year, I made a list of 6 2025 book trends. To be more precise: predictions of book trends I saw emerging and growing in 2025. We’re halfway through the year now. Time for a mid-year check-in – are my predictions correct and are there any new 2025 book trends? Let’s dive in.

Prediction 1: The comeback of the blog in the form of Substack

Substack is a force to be reckoned with. I think my prediction was totally right here. I see more and more writers joining Substack – George Saunders, Salman Rushdie, Rebecca Makkai and Anna Wharton to name a few. Esquire wrote an article about it, you can read here.

More and more readers and book influencers are writing essays about the book industry over there. It’s a great tool for everyone who loves analysing, writing, and connecting with their favourite authors.

I think Substack will continue to grow in the next part of 2025. We will see more diverse voices – the majority of authors on there currently are white – and we will read more and more about the industry.

Prediction 2: BookTube is back (though, it never really left)

Long-form content is absolutely making a come back. There are longer pieces to read on Substack, but also 20 min+ videos to watch on YouTube. Lots of influencers who started on TikTok are joining YouTube too.

A little extra trend to mention here is the rise of the book influencers who analyze the book industry or talk about current online bookish drama.

On the other side are the cozy ‘read with me’-video’s, sometimes more than an hour long. In 2025 I see both co-exist on YouTube. So yes, another correct prediction!

Prediction 3: Niche genres expand and more blended genres emerge

Definitely a yes. I talked about the blend of romance and thrillers. Think about Butcher & Blackbird, How to Kill Men and Get Away With It, and A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage. In 2025 there are a lot of thrillers with a romance twist. Or romance with a little bit of mystery or suspense in it. Even the new Emily Henry book has a mystery plot line in it! Other 2025 releases that blends romance and thriller are Beach Bodies by Sienna Sharpe and Cinnamon Falls by R. L. Killmore.

Prediction 4: The cozy vibes are getting more cozy in 2025

Everything feels cozy on the internet nowadays. From labubu’s and other cute trinkets to the popularity of Jellycats, coloring books and junk journaling. World politics are scary right now, and lots of people crave connection and softness during these difficult times. Enter: the cozy era. It almost feels like a counter-movement. Cozy fantasy is definitely on the rise and I already mentioned Cinnamon Falls by R.L. Killmore, which feels like a cozy mystery version of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. So my literal predition “I also expect to see comfort reads in other genres, as the turbulent times we’re living in make us crave escapism more than ever” is absolutely correct! I expect this trend to continue even more as we get into Fall.

Prediction 5: Sports Romance becomes more than ice hockey reads

This trend is not as big as I predicted, but I can see a bit of a shift from ice hockey only to more sports in romance books. Most popular: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood about swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist and diver, and Olympic hopeful, Scarlett Vandermeer. A sport romance genre that I forgot to mention and is very niche is Formula 1 Romance. I see them more and more! Other than that we do see some other sports too. Pickleball in All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball by Kate Spencer, tennis in Break Point by Yahrah St John. But ice hockey romance keeps going and is still on the number 1 position.

Prediction 6: South Korean Literature is the new kid on the block

“With titles like Dallergut Dream Department Store and Marigold Mind Laundry on the rise on BookTok, I spot a new upcoming sub-genre. Magical-realistic titles from South Korea will become even more prominent this year”, I wrote in January 2025. And yes, this trend is continuing, also sprinkled with a lot of cozyness. Some 2025 releases I noticed are Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat by Kim Jiyun, Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon and The Wizard’s Bakery by Gu Byeong-mo.

But it’s not all South Korean books, other Asian countries rise up too. Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao that released early 2025 for example – from the Philippines. Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida – from Japan. Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata – also from Japan. And it’s not only magical realism. We have a new Han Kang book this year, the author of Almond released a short story collection and A Thousand Blues by Cheon Seon-ran is a sci-fi novel. So yes, South Korean literature is a new kid on the block and becomes bigger in 2025. But it isn’t only magical realism and writers from South Korea that are getting translated to English, other genres and Asian countries are getting represented as well.

So, how did I do? I think I can give myself 4 correct predictions, and 2 partial predictions- which is pretty good success rate if you ask me!