2025 fiction books about books

This post contains affiliate links that earn us a commission at no cost to you. This helps to support the work of The Bookish Bulletin.
If you’re a book lover like me, you’ll know that there’s something magical about fiction where books, libraries, or bookstores are more than just backdrops—when they become central to the story itself. These “books about books” have a unique charm.
What are “books about books”?
Sometimes called bibliophilic fiction or bookish novels, these stories explore the power of books, the mystery of storytelling, and the lives of readers and writers. They sometimes blur the line between fiction and reality, or invite us into worlds where books are transformative objects—whether they carry secrets, spark romance, or change history.
Types of books about books

Did you know that books about books take many forms?
Some are set in bookstores or libraries, where the atmosphere of shelves and pages becomes a character in its own right.
Others follow writers, poets, or editors as they grapple with ambition, rejection, and the challenge of creating work that will endure.
Many unravel around hidden letters, forbidden texts, or lost manuscripts, where the discovery of a single book can change everything.
And some are meta novels, turning inward to reflect on the act of writing or reading itself.
The best 2025 books about books
This year has been plentiful in bookish novels. To help you discover this style—or delve deeper into it—here are some standout 2025 books about books :
GMA book club September 2025 pick
Lisavet Levy, lost in a library of memories, battles government agents altering history. Years later, Amelia Duquesne seeks her uncle's book there, discovering the past isn't what it seems.
AMAZON
When a book club member disappears and a body is found, five unlikely bibliophiles must set aside differences and channel their inner sleuths to solve murder, theft, and secrets.
AMAZON
From the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls
Two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women.
AMAZON
From the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of The German Wife and The Things we Cannot Say
Returning to her family's decaying estate, Fiona Winslow uncovers buried secrets while restoring Wurimbirra. A mysterious book parallels her life, blurring the lines between reality and fiction as she seeks answers.
AMAZON
London, 1895: Three stifled wives find sanctuary in Lady Duxbury's secret book club. As they uncover deadly truths and forge bonds, they risk everything to escape their oppressive marriages.
Emma Reilly, a literature professor, helps police when a killer poses victims as literary figures. Her bookish insight becomes vital as the murders escalate.
AMAZON
Blocked novelist Mia and secret-crush BFF Gavin "date" to research romance tropes for her finale. Their pretend passion ignites real feelings, endangering their friendship.
AMAZON
Dumped by Wale for reality TV, aspiring writer Temi lands a ghostwriting gig. Her client? Wale. Forced to revisit their past, can they rewrite their future?
AMAZON
COMING OUT
FEBRUARY 17, 2026
From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn
Alix discovers a hidden library where souls escape into books. Pursued by an enemy, she and the Librarian flee through literary worlds to save its inhabitants.
PREORDER NOW
From the bestselling author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris
Freya, facing Nazi terror in 1933 Berlin, chooses defiance. Decades later, Maddie finds Freya's diary, unearthing the dangerous truth of how one woman changed global lives.
AMAZON
Book-loving Mia seeks a relaxing island vacation, but gossipy notes in a novel draw her into a real-life mystery where secrets, danger, and romance collide.
AMAZON
A former child star and a bookstore owner fake a relationship for publicity, but their plan backfires when real feelings ignite amidst media chaos.
AMAZON
Josie and Ryan, rival bookstore managers, clash over profits while secretly connecting online. As competition intensifies, they discover love may be the ultimate plot twist.
AMAZON
April, a lonely tech worker, leaves an anonymous note in a bookstore book, sparking a mistaken romantic connection.
AMAZON
Yeongju, feeling drained by her career and marriage, leaves her old life to open a bookshop.
AMAZON
In the early '60s, suburban housewives Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy feel unfulfilled until they join a book club with artsy neighbor Charlotte, sparking a transformative journey inspired by Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.
AMAZON
Darby moves back to his old Illinois town looking for a reset. At his childhood bookstore, he encounters a teen resembling his younger self, offering a shot to change his past.
AMAZON
Books about books remind us that reading can spark adventure, uncover secrets, and transport us anywhere. I hope you are able to find your next adventure here!
Looking for more book suggestions?
Bernadette Swift, a determined copyeditor in the 1960s who dreams of being the first female publishing CEO, battles her sexist boss for a promotion while leading a feminist book club.
AMAZON
Books on discount by this author:
CANADA | US