Whether it’s a haunting memoir, game-changing nonfiction, or gripping thriller, the anticipation of what lies ahead of you as you turn a fresh page is unparalleled.
As 2025 unfolds, we’re in for an exhilarating literary journey. Here are the standout new releases of the year so far.
Spotify’s impact on music is put under the microscope in Mood Machine, a gripping investigation by music journalist Liz Pelly. Drawing on over 100 interviews with industry insiders and artists, Pelly unveils how streaming has transformed the way we listen to and value music.
From playlists packed with cheap stock tunes to the rise of payola 2.0, she exposes the cracks in Spotify’s two-sided marketplace, where listeners pay with data and musicians power the machine. Yet, amidst the chaos, Mood Machine spotlights artist-led movements fighting for fairer models—an urgent call to rethink the industry and reclaim music’s worth.
Kickstart your reading list in 2025 with a debut novel from Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch. Set in early 1990s Glasgow, the story follows Stephen, a music-loving romantic newly diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As he struggles to navigate his illness, he meets others in similar straits, and together they form a support group that helps them face the world’s indifference.
Slowly, Stephen begins to write songs, awakening to a new possibility for his life. In search of something more, he and his friend Richard leave Glasgow for California, hoping the warmth and freedom of the West Coast will offer a fresh start.
With a poignant blend of melancholic beauty and hopeful optimism, Murdoch’s novel mirrors the emotional depth of his music. It’s a heartfelt exploration of friendship, struggle, and the pursuit of a life that makes sense, perfect for fans of his band and literary newcomers alike.
