The 10 best books of 2025 to put under the Christmas tree

This year too, as per tradition, in the editorial team we have carefully chosen the books that have most impressed us, trying to offer a selection that can satisfy every type of reader. From stories that make us dream, to essays that make us reflect, up to the latest editorial news, we have created a list of titles that, in our opinion, really deserve a place under the Christmas tree.

So here is a roundup of the most beautiful books of 2025, a selection designed to make your holidays even more magical, accompanying you through pages that will make you dream, laugh, reflect or even move.

Start marking the titles and be inspired by this choice of ours, which will accompany you in the warmest weeks of winter, in front of the fireplace or under the lights of the tree. Happy reading!

Caesar. The conquest of eternity – by Alberto Angela – Mondadori

In this historical fresco, Alberto Angela guides us through the era of Caesar, bringing us into contact with emblematic figures such as Cicero, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and Catullus. With an engaging pace and historical reconstructions supported by artificial intelligence, the book allows us to experience history like never before, making the figure of Caesar and his world incredibly close and alive. A compelling read that transforms the past into a timeless adventure.

The non-existent emperor – Sellerius

By various authors (by Jean-Baptiste Perès, Richard Whately, Aristarchus Newlight), it is recommended for those who love delving into the psychology of historical figures. The non-existent emperor in fact, it explores the hallucinations and historical interpretations linked to the figure of Napoleon Bonaparte, through various writers who, in an involuntary and separate way, contributed to the myth surrounding the emperor. Lord Byron celebrated him as a novel hero, while Ippolito Nievo described him as an imaginary character. Madame de Staël reduced Napoleon to a symbol of the “disease” of those who lived under his rule. Manzoni, however, represented him as an unnamed person, a blasphemer who challenged divinity, comparing him to Lucifer.

Dear Sapiens: The history of the Earth and the choices of humanity – by Mario Tozzi – Mondadori

For those who love themes related to the environment, in a brilliant essay, Mario Tozzi invites us to reflect on our relationship with the Earth, a planet that is 4.5 billion years old and is home to millions of species, while our history is only a fragment in its long journey. Imagining that the Earth turns to its “favorite son”, the human being, Tozzi gives us a message of love, but also a heartfelt warning.

Like flowers in the snow – by Tina Harnesk – Piemme

Recommended for those who love stories of introspection, family themes and the beauty of Nordic traditions. an intimate and touching story that revolves around Máriddja, an 85-year-old woman who, faced with a devastating diagnosis, tries to protect her husband Biera, a somewhat forgetful and grumpy man, and at the same time to solve the mysteries of her past. In a Sámi family, where life and death are conceived as phases of a great cycle, Máriddja worries about who will take care of Biera when she is no longer here. Perfect for those who believe that it is never too late for a change.

The last murder of the year. A new case for Hercule Poirot – by Sophie Hannah, Agatha Christie® – Mondadori

Recommended for those who love classic detective stories and well-constructed mysteries, with a touch of elegance and suspense. a new chapter in the investigations of the famous Hercule Poirot. On New Year’s Eve 1932, Poirot and Inspector Catchpool travel to the Greek island of Lamperos to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The evening, however, takes a disturbing turn when one of the guests is found dead…
Perfect for readers who appreciate great detectives like Poirot.

When the world sleeps – by Francesca Albanese – Rizzoli

Recommended for those interested in understanding the reality of Palestine and for those looking for a reading that combines personal testimonies. Francesca Albanese offers an emotional and informative journey through the experiences of ten people who have lived or witnessed the Palestinian reality. The author, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, tells intimate stories of suffering, resistance and hope, which intertwine the history, present and future of an oppressed people.

Darkly fantastic – by Giuseppina Brandi – ABEditore

Darkly fantastic. Uncanny tales by seven Irish authors, recommended for those who love gothic, mystery and the supernatural, is a collection of seven stories that explore the gothic and supernatural side of Irish literature, with stories of ghosts, premonitions and disturbing presences. The authors, including Charlotte Riddell and Rosa Mulholland, take the reader into dark atmospheres, between haunted mansions and unsolved mysteries. The texts, rediscovered after a long oblivion, offer a glimpse of an era ranging from 1866 to 1914, celebrating the visionary imagination of Irish women writers.

Things I tell you while you sleep – by Enrica Tesio – Bompiani

Recommended for those looking for an emotional and introspective read, it is an intimate story that explores a woman’s nocturnal reflection while the house rests. In these silent hours, between dreams and melancholy, the narrator shares thoughts and confessions, addressing her loved ones: children, parents and companions. With humor and sensitivity, he invites us to listen to the voices whispered in the dark, a journey through tenderness and unspoken truths, which are revealed only when the world is silent. Perfect for those who love stories that touch the heart and celebrate family life, between joys and sorrows.

Pursuit – by Patricia Highsmith – The Ship of Theseus

Recommended for those who love psychological thrillers, internal duels and dark and disturbing atmospheres. A psychological thriller set in the lagoon city, where Ed Coleman, a painter devastated by the death of his daughter Peggy, starts a ferocious manhunt against Ray Garrett, his ex-son-in-law. Convinced that Ray is responsible for Peggy’s suicide, Ed turns into judge and executioner, while the border between guilt, innocence and madness dissolves in the mists of Venice. The novel explores the tension between justice and revenge, and the pain that passes through us when the mind becomes a labyrinth.

And then – by Natsume Soseki – Neri Pozza Biblioteca

A novel that explores the inner struggle of Daisuke, a young Japanese man of the Meiji era, torn between the desire for an idle, modern life, influenced by Western literature, and the pressure to honor family expectations. When two old friends return to Tokyo, the meeting with Michiyo, the wife of one of them, gives rise to an irrepressible feeling of love in Daisuke, confronting him with the difficulty of choosing between passion and traditional Japanese values. Recommended for those who love psychological and reflective novels and Japanese literature.