
At the close of every year, for over a decade, I have taken a moment to reflect upon the year’s publications. Like in previous years, my “most engaging books” list reflects what I found most fascinating / useful / generative in terms of form & content from the books I read in 2025.
Seek out these volumes; every one will reward the search (your local, independent, bookstore can help; an excellent choice as many bookstores continue to struggle). This is the cream of the crop for 2025, seriously … each of these titles will blow your mind:
Bok, Christian. The Xenotext Book 2 (Coach House Books)
Howe, Susan. Penitential Cries (New Directions)
Kearney, Douglas. I Imagine I Been Science Fiction Always (Wave)
Kennedy, Evan. Stalled Death Train (Spunk Editions)
Killian, Kevin. Padam Padam: Collected Poems (Nightboat)
Mullen, Harryette. Regaining Unconsciousness (Greywolf)
Ravinthiran, Vidyan. Avidya (Bloodaxe)
Rosenberg, Ann. The Bee Book (Invisible)
Schmaltz, Eric. I Confess (Coach House Books)
Solie,Karen. Wellwater (House of Anansi)


