Books editor Claire Mabey selects the best books of the year, with help from a panel of experts.
"I had the thought when I was visiting Unity Books Wellington the other day that I'd be keen curl up somewhere in the corner of the shop and have a sleep. I'd love to snooze away the rest of December surrounded by books and Christmas cheer and frantic booksellers.
There is no busier time for an indie bookshop, and that gives me great heart: a throng of buyers matching books to friends and family, maybe even selecting a title or two for themselves to unwrap on the big day. Best-of lists abound in December, too – and why not? It's when some of us get to proclaim that we've read enough books in a year to select just a few to hold up and say "This one! This one stuck!"
Thanks hugely to the readers and critics who contributed to this list, the 2025 experts' edition; and remember to come back next week for The Spinoff's best books of 2025: the people's choice."
