"A collection of the year's best American short stories, selected by celebrated bestselling author Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere, and series editor Nicole A. Lamy. 'Short stories can act like little tuning forks, helping us to clarify our own values,' writes guest editor Celeste Ng. 'In a time when our values are being tested daily, it's hard to think of anything more important.' The twenty pieces in The Best American Short Stories 2025 upend expectations and test the foundation of our beliefs. From a bereaved medical actress obsessed with a student in her rotation to a mysterious sickness that ignites a lethal running mania in its victims, and from the grounds of a wild animal estate to a celebrity look-alike mother for hire, these stories transport readers to the impossible edges of our world and vivify characters who reflect the spectrum of human experience. The pieces in this collection helped series editor Nicole A. Lamy 'make more sense of the world than real life was able to provide.' Within the wild and varied universes that grow from the constraints of the story form, ordinary life seems beguiled and enchanted spaces hold unshakable truths. Bold, urgent, and ultimately hopeful, The Best American Short Stories 2025, through reflections and refractions, offers readers new ways of seeing the world."--

"From the Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award-winning author of Kindred, the Parable novels, and “Bloodchild,” here in its spellbinding entirety is Octavia E. Butler’s epic of human survival and transformation. Conceived against a backdrop of Reagan-era nuclear brinksmanship, Lilith’s Brood: The Xenogenesis Trilogy—a classic of Afrofuturist speculative fiction—offers profound reflections on race, biology, colonialism, resistance, consent, sexuality, community, hybridity, technology, power, and the future of humankind."--Amazon.

Galilee Kincaid has always felt different--haunted by a mysterious secret about her existence--until she meets Lucifer Helel, a powerful being guarding an ancient artifact. As forbidden attraction ignites between them, Galilee discovers her own extraordinary nature, thrusting her into a deadly struggle between Hell, Heaven, and her own family's secrets. Caught between desire, loyalty, and destiny, she must embrace her power--or risk catastrophic consequences for everyone she loves.

"During a scorching summer in 1920s Provence, a young journalist, Joseph Adelaide, turns up at the farmhouse of reclusive artist Edouard Tartuffe, hoping to write an article about him. There, he meets Ettie, Tartuffe's niece, who appears to do everything for her uncle--from cooking and cleaning to catering to his maniacal moods. Joseph is beguiled by where he finds himself, not just by this foreign place or Tartuffe himself, but by Ettie, who watches everything so quietly from the periphery. Both Joseph and Ettie carry scars from their pasts and it's as they get to know each other that they start to lay bare those scars to themselves and to each other.​ As the summer wears on, and as new ideas and passions are explored, Joseph, Ettie, and Tartuffe are propelled toward a finale that reveals long-held secrets and sets the world on fire"--Amazon website.

"Against the vividly drawn backdrop of Victorian London, amateur sleuth Charles Lenox must unlock a mystery concealed in the architecture of the city itself, in this new novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch. It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. When Lenox finds a similar mark at the site of another murder, he begins to piece together a hidden pattern which leads him into the corridors of Parliament, the slums of East London, and ultimately the very heart of the British upper class. At the same time, Lenox must contend with the complexities of his personal life: a surprising tension with his steadfast wife, Lady Jane, over her public support of the early movement for women's suffrage; the arrival of Angela Lenox, a mysterious young cousin from India, with an unexpected companion; the dizzying ascent of his brother, Sir Edmund Lenox, to one of the highest political posts in the land; the growing family of his young partners in detection, Polly and Dallington; and the return of the problems that have long bedeviled one of his closest friends, the dashing Scottish physician Thomas McConnell. Featuring a beloved cast of characters, a top-notch puzzle, and Finch's trademark humor and richness of historical detail, The Hidden City is a novel by a master at the top of his form" -- Provided by publisher.

"In a rocky cove at Hakata Bay, the bodies of a young and beautiful couple are discovered. Standing on the cold beach, the police see nothing to investigate: The flush of the couple's cheeks and the empty juice bottle speak clearly of cyanide, of a lovers' suicide. But in the eyes of two men, senior detective Torigai Jutaro and Kiichi Mihara, a young gun from Tokyo, something is not quite right. Together, they begin to pick at the knot of a unique and calculated crime." --

"In this gripping new work of historical fiction from the award-winning author of Code Name Edelweiss, three sisters fight to save themselves and each other amid the danger of a cataclysmic earthquake that rips Yellowstone Park asunder. 1959. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly are as close as sisters can be. Though their mother left when they were young, their loving father raised them with everything they could want. But when Claire marries a handsome cowboy and settles out west, a thousand miles away, the sisters' strong bond begins to unravel. Claire struggles to adjust to a life utterly unlike her upbringing, and surprising revelations about her husband's past make her wonder if she's made a terrible mistake. With a new baby and a shoestring budget, the last thing she needs is her family's interference. Sensing something isn't right, Bridget takes a temporary nursing assignment in Yellowstone, promising her father she'll bring Claire home--with or without her husband. When Frannie, the rebellious youngest sister, is sent along in hopes it will corral her behavior, the Reilly sisters reunite on the eve of a seismic event that rips Yellowstone Park apart, tests their survival, and exposes the ever-widening rift in their relationship. Based on real events of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and inspired by true stories, The Fault Between Us is a suspenseful exploration of the bonds of sisterhood, the depths of family drama, and how hidden wounds can only heal when they're brought into the light"-- Provided by publisher.

A selection of mystery and suspense fiction from American authors.

A selection of science fiction and fantasy stories from American authors.

In the unforgiving wilderness of Maine, a disgraced detective must confront his past to solve a chilling murder. Detective Brock Justice's career is on thin ice. Once the golden boy of Maine State Police, Brock now finds himself exiled to the remote northeastern wilderness, punishment for crossing the thin blue line. Assigned to the Major Crimes Unit—North, he suffers the added indignity of partnering with newly-minted Detective Chloe Wright, a rookie with her own hidden struggles. The pair’s uneasy alliance is put to the test almost immediately when a routine snowmobile retrieval in the coastal town of Blue Hill unexpectedly escalates into a full-blown murder investigation. Even as the case exposes the darkest corners of the town, their fragile partnership threatens to undermine the investigation at every turn.Brock and Chloe's hunt draws them into the lives of several intriguing locals: the town doctor, a biker gang involved in drug trafficking, a politically connected sheriff, and Brock’s own father. With each revelation, the line between ally and enemy blurs, compelling Brock and Chloe to question their trust in everyone around them, including each other. Even as winter's icy grip loosens from Blue Hill, the noose of suspicion tightens. Brock must navigate not only a shaky partnership and a town harboring deadly secrets, but also the shadows of his own past. Can he and Chloe piece together the puzzle before Maine's wilderness swallows them whole?

"Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a 'pistols and pearls' gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets. As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn't just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it's too late"--

"In the small coastal town of Sparrow, Maine, tradition runs deep-and change is rarely welcome When Reverend Miranda McCurdy becomes the new parish priest at St. Gabriel-by-the Sea, she's determined to make a difference in her small community. But her eagerness to make the church more progressive stirs up a hornet's nest with members of the Thanksgiving committee who don't want to give up their long tradition of dressing like "Pilgrims and Indians," and when a young, pregnant, Honduran woman seeks sanctuary at St. Gabe's, the congregation's response is not what she'd hoped. Juggling the demands of her congregation with her own solitude as a young widow, it's hard to know if her calling to serve the church was real. When she's faced with a vote of no confidence, followed by an offer from her former employer to head up a new upscale restaurant in Seattle, she has an easy way out, but can she walk away? A lost dog and a handsome stranger only complicate matters." -- ONIX annotation.

One of Ursula K. Le Guin's most realistic works, Searoad: Chronicles of Klatsand , first published in 1991 is also among her most inventive. A series of interconnected stories set in a small vacation town off the coast highway in Oregon, this contemporary classic paints a vivid and powerfully evocative portrait of Klatsand's residents and the community they build over the course of a century. Some have deep roots in the village while others have come for just a weekend but all are pilgrims subject of inexpressible longings.

Jennifer Charles (JC) has sort of figured out their life. They're two months out of prison, clean, and sober, and just got a job at a CaFae Latte, owned by the mysterious and powerful fairy who goes by Violet. They're getting along with their knife-happy coworker and have even started dating one of the regulars who practices witchcraft. But JC is not the only one with a dark past. When Violet's Fae Realm enemies come for revenge, they frame JC for their crimes, putting their new life in jeopardy. With Violet missing and everyone blaming the ex-con, JC will have to face their own checkered past, Confederate vampires, and shapeshifting fairies to save their boss and themself. Meanwhile, Violet would like to remind the Fae why they call her the Iron Witch.

In the Everglades, a senseless murder unearths long-buried secrets. When artist Hezekiah Freeman is found drowned in the shallow waters of Everglades National Park, Special Agent Alison Nance and Clarence Johnson are tasked with uncovering the truth behind his death. What initially seems like a tragic accident soon reveals itself to be part of a larger, more intricate conspiracy. As they begin their investigation, Clarence and Alison discover that Hezekiah's artwork holds more than his artistic genius. Beneath layers of paint lay cryptic clues to a hidden history that some want to keep buried. The details suggest that Hezekiah was searching for something within the park, something that might have led to his untimely death. With each step closer to finding answers, the danger intensifies, forcing Johnson and Nance to untangle the connections between the murder and stories that the Everglades have long held.

"In the 1950s, nothing is valued more than conformity, and Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the ideal housewife. But after the birth of her daughter, Lulu's carefully constructed life begins to teeter. Exhausted by expectations and haunted by tragic memories, Lulu looks to her new neighbor, Bitsy. Bitsy, always the model of a perfect housewife, is not quite what she seems and Lulu knows something dark lurks beneath Bitsy's constant smile. Increasingly fixated on Bitsy and her perfectly crafted life, Lulu's mental state begins to fracture, and memories she had suppressed long ago begin to rise to the surface. Soon, Lulu is forced to confront the possibility that she might be headed down a path much darker than she could ever foresee. Set against the backdrop of a post-war era defined by tradition and constrained femininity, The Mad Wife weaves together a coming-of-age search for identity with a psychological drama so poignant, you won't be able to put it down"--

"Asher Anderson is angry--at the world, at himself, at the way his best friend Lucy Wolfe seems determined to tune out this buzzing connection between them. He doesn't mean to solve all his problems with violence, but maybe he has too much of his father in him. That's why the faculty at Avernia College hates him, right? Because of the "evil" blood in his veins? He should know better than to darken the old, ivy-covered university's door, but it's practically a law of the universe: wherever Lucy goes, Asher follows. Even if that means entering a twisting labyrinth of secret societies, human sacrifices, and a very personal history soaked in blood. Lucy is used to being an outcast. She's even used to Asher being her dark, brooding shadow. What she isn't used to is him shattering her resolve by taking her up against library bookshelves as she desperately pretends her heart hasn't always been his. She should know better than to play with fire, but with unexplained deaths and pointed threats ripping apart the university's fabric, Asher and Lucy soon find themselves at the center of the turmoil...where they'll have to confront their feelings or die trying." -- Publisher annotation.

"Eliot and his wife Claire have been happily married for nearly four decades. They've raised two children in their sleepy Connecticut town and have weathered the inevitable ups and downs of a long life spent together. But eight years after Claire was diagnosed with cancer, the end is near, and it's time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable. Over the years of Claire's illness, Eliot has willingly--lovingly--shifted into the role of caregiver, appreciating the intimacy and tenderness that comes with a role even more layered and complex than the one he performed as a devoted husband. But as he focuses on settling into what will be their last days and weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request that leaves him reeling. In a moment, his carefully constructed world is shattered"--

"Houston, 1975. A new Apollo mission launches into orbit, on course to dock with a Russian Soyuz craft: three NASA astronauts and three cosmonauts, joining to celebrate a new dawn of Soviet-American cooperation. But as NASA Flight Controller Kaz Zemeckis listens in from Earth, a deadly accident onboard the orbiting spacecraft changes everything. Meanwhile, from a remote location in east Asia, the first Chinese spacecraft secretly launches. On board is China’s first astronaut, Fang Kuo-chun, whose mission puts him on a collision course with the Apollo crew. As Kaz races against an enemy on the ground and for answers beyond the sky, the safety of the remaining crew hangs in the balance… Filled with shocking twists and real history—including the fascinating story of Professor Tsien Hsue-shen, the “Father of Chinese Rocketry” and founder of China’s space program—Final Orbit accelerates to a thrilling conclusion that captures the beauty and terror of survival 270 miles above Earth, as could only be written by one of the world's most experienced astronauts." --Dust jacket.

"Paige didn't set out to be a stay-at-home mom, but when her husband's screenwriting career took off right before they had a son withDown syndrome, the decision was made for her. Now, with their children nearly grown and unsure what's next, Paige writes a memoir aboutthe challenges of raising a child with a disability. When a major actress-turned-producer shows up at her door eager to make her 'inspiring' story into a movie, she's shocked, excited, and a little terrified"--

"One hundred years after the shipwreck of the Valbanera, known tohistory as the 'poor man's Titanic,' Mara Denis gets an assignment to report on the Canary Islands, where her ancestors lived before they moved to Cuba. Unexpectedly, she discovers that the grandmother her mother cherished was listed among the dead of the Valbanera, years before Mara's mother was even born. This fateful twist changes everything Mara thought she knew about her family and herself, and sends her on a quest to find the truth. If her great grandmother is a ghost, who is she and where did she come from?"--

"The billionaire Sun Clan of Greater Los Angeles is your typical American family, with power-struggling aunties, emasculated uncles, scheming cousins, scandalous secrets and a fortune teller on retainer. But at the end of each combative day, the Suns are chained together with golden handcuffs, whether they like it or not. Yet strange storms are a-brewing. Their matriarch, Roses Sun, is grappling with an existential crisis: she must produce a male heir that bears the clan's surname. She fears that if her generation is the one in which their esteemed lineage ends, they will be punished as 'hungry ghosts' in the afterlife--an ancient but very real Asian superstition. Faced with this terrifying fate, Roses summons her favorite nephew, Wayward. Believing him to possess the 'lucky seed,' Roses presents Wayward with a mandatory suggestion: to father a baby boy who will inherit everything. When the other members of the Sun Clan catch wind of Roses's plot, all hells break loose. Wayward's family will now clashlike never before in an epic war over the future of the Suns...if there is a future at all. Yet through the chaos, Wayward sees opportunity. What if he can leverage all the conflict into a solution for his problematic family? What if he can reunite the Sun Clan by healing them? And what if the tumultuous Suns can finally learn how to love each other for the first time?"--

"When Shannon gets engaged, her mom Cindy is the first person she wants to tell--and the last. Cindy's engaged, too, and has hinted at a double wedding. Victoria has never been enough for her mother Ava, so she stopped trying. Chance brings the four women together, where a shocking secret comes out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby--then changed her mind at the last second. The loss rocked Ava's world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria"--