2025 Summer Reading Guide Science Fiction and Fantasy Books for Your TBR

Readers, I’m thrilled that The 2025 Summer Reading Guide is here! This year marks the sixth edition of our seasonal celebration, and I can’t wait for you to explore the 45 incredible new releases I’ve personally read and loved. They’re organized into 10 thoughtfully curated categories—including today’s focus on 2025 Summer Reading Guide Science Fiction and Fantasy—plus a bonus Minimalist List of 10 standout books. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or camping under the stars, these three genre-bending adventures will whisk you away to new worlds.

2025 Summer Reading Guide Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Schwab weaves together three women across the 16th, 19th, and 21st centuries who each grapple with the transformations and challenges of vampirism. From Maria’s fight for agency in Renaissance Spain to Alice’s harrowing awakening as a modern-day vampire at Harvard, these intertwined threads explore identity, love, and survival. Expect lush historical settings, queer longing, and a haunting question of what it means to be truly free.

You can get a copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab on Amazon.

A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry

Parry delivers a faerie-touched twist on A Tale of Two Cities: changeling Sydney Carton (now Memory) returns from the faerie realm to redeem his stolen life and avenge a lost love. As the French Revolution rages, Memory navigates human and faerie courts, unravels family betrayals, and confronts the ruthless faerie lord who binds him. Magic, political intrigue, and heartbreak fuel this epic blend of historical fantasy and vengeance.

You can get a copy of A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry on Amazon.

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong

Eleven-year-old Alma is reclaimed by her aristocratic father to become the vessel for the Dread Beast—a god of darkness—in this gothic coming-of-age epic. After losing her arm in a ritual, she bonds with the Beast’s childlike avatar, Aster, who guides her through eight years of brutal training to stop an apocalyptic falling star. With lush illustrations dotting its pages, this fierce debut fuses family betrayal, political machinations, and a heroine’s quest for vengeance into a darkly beautiful fantasy.

You can get a copy of House of the Beast by Michelle Wong on Amazon.

Why You’ll Love These Sci-Fi & Fantasy Picks

• Epic Worldbuilding: From Renaissance Spain to fantastical faerie courts and gothic realms, each tale transports you fully into its universe.
• Compelling Heroes & Heroines: Strong, multi-dimensional protagonists face impossible odds—whether through vampiric transformations, revolutionary magic, or divine destiny.
• Summer-Ready Escapes: These immersive stories are perfect for hot afternoons or cool nights, offering rich escapism and poignant themes.

Ready to explore more? Get The 2025 Summer Reading Guide for all 45 books and the Minimalist List of 8 essential books.

Which sci-fi or fantasy world are you diving into first this summer? Let me know in the comments!