There’s something weirdly comforting about getting lost in a thriller. Maybe it’s the steady hum of tension, or the way a good mystery makes your brain light up like you suddenly became a detective with questionable judgment and a very dramatic inner monologue. And honestly, 2025 knew exactly what readers wanted!
This year’s thrillers leaned into everything that makes the genre fun: rich kid scandals, spooky small towns, questionable crushes, secret letters, late night confessions, and the kind of twists that make you sit up in bed questioning every character you just trusted. It’s messy in the best way! So whether you’re craving dark academia, nostalgic sequels, horror comedy, or a high octane adult thriller that sneaks up on you, these five books delivered all the chaos our group chats loved talking about.
1. We Fell Apart By E. Lockhart
The long awaited sequel that broke everyone’s emotional stability.
One thing about E. Lockhart? She’s going to give you feelings you weren’t ready for. With We Fell Apart, we returned to the world of We Were Liars, only this time through Matilda, an eighteen-year-old invited to meet her estranged father on his mysterious island estate. Of course, plot twist, the guy disappears before she arrives. What’s left behind is a crumbling beachfront castle, a half sibling she barely knows, and a long buried family history soaked in secrets. It’s dreamy in the way only a Lockhart story can be: warm sunsets, ocean mist, and a quiet tension that follows you like a shadow.
What makes this sequel hit so hard is how familiar yet fresh it feels. The original had the whole internet screaming about the twist, and this one gives a new kind of heartbreak. Fans are split, theories are flying, and the vibe is nostalgic chaos. The writing is hazy and poetic, and Matilda’s loneliness sits heavy on the page in a way that sneaks up on you. By the end, you’re caught between crying, re-reading, and texting your best friend “pls finish this so we can talk!”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT E. LOCKHART:
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2. The Meadowbrook Murders By Jessica Goodman
Dark academia meets rich kid drama with a side of homicide.
Jessica Goodman has become the unofficial queen of YA prep school chaos, and The Meadowbrook Murders proves it. Set at an elite New England boarding school where everything smells like money and perfection, the story opens with two students found murdered during the first week of senior year. Cue the panic. Amy, one of the last people to see them alive, is hiding something big. Liz, the school newspaper’s determined outsider, wants to solve the case not just for justice, but for her own future.
The dual perspective gives the story the same addictive feel as a binge worthy teen series. The campus is filled with polished smiles, legacy students, and secrets stacked on secrets! You can almost hear the leaves crunching under your feet as the investigation unfolds. Every character is suspicious. Every alibi feels flimsy. And the tension between Amy and Liz is the kind of slow burn rivalry that keeps you hooked. It feels like Gossip Girl with crime scene tape, and honestly that combination never gets old.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JESSICA GOODMAN:
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3. We Are Villains By Kacen Callender
The messy, queer, elite school mystery we didn’t know we needed.
Kacen Callender brings a sharp edge to YA mystery with We Are Villains, set at another elite academy where social hierarchies are everything and loyalty is currency. Milo returns to school determined to uncover the truth about his best friend Ari’s suspicious death. Liam, the charming golden boy of Yates Academy, starts receiving anonymous letters accusing him of murder. Instead of running, he ropes Milo into helping him figure out who’s behind the threats.
What follows is a twisty partnership full of tension, sarcasm, half truths, and uneasy alliance energy. The characters feel real and flawed, with complicated friendships, power imbalances, and quiet resentments that bubble to the surface. Representation is woven seamlessly through the narrative, especially in Milo’s perspective as a queer Black ace teen trying to survive grief and suspicion at the same time.
The whole story carries a moody, dark academia vibe: echoing hallways, secret meetings, notebooks full of clues, suspicious teachers, and students who will protect their reputation at all costs. Every chapter ends with a moment that makes you stop and whisper “Okay wait, WHAT?” in the best way possible!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KACEN CALLENDER:
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4. How to Survive A Slasher By Justine Pucella Winans
Meta horror comedy with real heart (and fake blood).
If classic slasher movies raised you, this book will feel like inside jokes sprinkled across a murder mystery. CJ, a teen who has already survived not one but two past massacres, becomes an unexpected hero when an unpublished horror manuscript appears predicting a new series of murders. At first it seems like a twisted prank, until the pages start matching real life events. The story is funny, self aware, and still genuinely creepy in the best sleepover storytelling way.
CJ’s narration brings humor into moments that should be terrifying, making them oddly relatable. There’s a solid friend group, a new girl who might be the only person who understands CJ’s horror knowledge, and a cousin who brings a soft romance thread that helps balance the chaos. Winans manages to poke fun at horror tropes while still delivering tension and emotional grounding. It’s perfect for those of us who love a little gore, a lot of attitude, and a main character who refuses to be the victim in someone else’s story!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUSTINE PUCELLA WINANS:
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5. The Secret of Secrets By Dan Brown
The adult blockbuster thriller that somehow works for everyone.
Including an adult thriller on a YA heavy list might seem random, but Dan Brown’s return kind of demanded a spot. The Secret of Secrets brings Robert Langdon back into a world of puzzles, coded messages, mysterious symbols, and conspiracy energy that reads like a big budget movie in book form. This time the mystery blends ancient knowledge with cutting edge science, sending Langdon across international cities as he uncovers a secret tied to human consciousness.
The reason we are eating this one up is simple: it’s fast, it’s dramatic, and it makes you feel like you’re solving something important even if Langdon is doing all the work. There’s a nostalgic vibe too, because Brown hasn’t published a Langdon book in years. Parents, teachers, older siblings, and new readers were all reacting at the same time, which gives the book an unexpected fandom moment.
It’s a fun contrast to the YA books on this list: bigger stakes, older characters, and a globe trotting plot that feels almost cinematic. Think running through city streets, decoding messages hidden in artwork, and trying not to fall for the red herrings. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you were part of a high speed investigation from your couch, this one works!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAN BROWN:
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What has been your favorite mystery or thriller release in 2025? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
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