August’s Best Reviewed Fiction, Nonfiction Highlight Literary Trends

August 2025 saw a variety of highly praised books across fiction, nonfiction, and young adult categories. In fiction, Eimear McBride’s 'The City Changes Its Face,' Elaine Castillo’s 'Moderation,' and Jason Mott’s 'People Like Us' received rave reviews for their innovative storytelling and deep social insights. Among nonfiction, Scott Anderson’s 'King of Kings' offered a detailed chronicle of the Iranian Revolution, while Peter Ames Carlin’s 'Tonight in Jungleland' revisited the making of Bruce Springsteen’s 'Born to Run' with vivid detail. The young adult nonfiction and comics releases for August provided a mix of memoirs and social explorations, continuing a trend of diverse and thought-provoking titles despite a slight dip in inclusivity this month. Additionally, bestsellers in August included titles addressing themes from friendship and adversity to apocalyptic tales and moral responsibility in the AI era, reflecting a broad literary landscape. Industry commentators also highlighted the start of the Fall reading season with notable releases like R.F. Kuang’s 'Katabasis' and a range of mystery, sci-fi, and romance selections for book clubs.