Editor’s Picks: 2025 Books by Latinas We Loved Closing the Year With

As the year winds down, our bookshelves are doing that familiar thing again: making room. Letting go of a few impulse buys, and tacking the stories that stayed with us long after the last page.

This year, Latina authors gave us exactly what we needed: Big feelings, bold imagination, sharp social insight, and stories for every reader in our familia. From adult fiction and memoir to YA fantasy, middle-grade adventures, and picture books that feel like home, these are the titles our editors kept recommending as 2025 came to a close.

We like to call it un poco de todo. A mix of genres, moods, and ages. Something for the reader who wants romance, the one who wants horror, the kid who wants magic, and the grown-up who wants to feel understood.

This list is not exhaustive. According to publishing trackers and Latinx book roundups, hundreds of books by Latinas hit shelves this year. But these are the ones that stood out to us. The ones we kept pressing into friends’ hands. The ones we’ll remember when we look back at 2025.

So grab your cafecito, get comfortable, and start building that TBR pile!

Adult Reads for Personal Growth and Pure Escapism

“Along Came Amor” by Alexis Daria

A contemporary romance, “Along Came Amor,” is spicy, hilarious, and it hits home. Daria’s writing balances humor with emotional depth, making this a comforting yet thoughtful adult romance to end the year with.

“Cry for Me, Argentina: My Life as a Failed Child Star” by Tamara Yajia

“Cry for Me, Argentina: My Life as a Failed Child Star” is a hilarious and heartfelt debut memoir by Argentine-American comedian and writer Tamara Yajia. It chronicles her journey growing up between two worlds with a chaotic, unconventional, and sex-positive Jewish family, including her unfulfilled dream of becoming an Argentine child star.

“My (half) Latinx Kitchen” by Kiera Wright-Ruiz

Part memoir, part cookbook, this deeply personal book explores food as memory, culture, and survival. Wright-Ruiz reflects on growing up between cultures while sharing recipes rooted in Ecuadorian, Korean, and American traditions. This book blends storytelling with practical cooking in a way that feels intimate and accessible.

YA Books: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Love

“This Is the Year” by Gloria Muñoz

Told in prose and verse, this YA sci-fi novel follows Julieta Villarreal, a grieving teen navigating climate collapse and personal loss. When she is recruited into a private space program offering escape from Earth, she must decide whether leaving is hope or abandonment. The novel explores grief, environmental justice, and first love with tenderness and urgency.

“These Vengeful Wishes” by Vanessa Montalban

Set in the eerie town of Santa Aguas, this YA fantasy draws from the legend of La Cegua, a spirit who punishes the wicked. Aspiring artist Ceci uncovers her family’s connection to a cursed lineage and a wish-granting well with dangerous consequences. The story blends folklore, family secrets, and moral reckoning.

“Salvación” by Sandra Proudman

Inspired by El Zorro, this fast-paced YA fantasy follows Lola de La Peña, who becomes a masked vigilante to protect her town from a ruthless man wielding dark magic. With romance, rebellion, and high-stakes action, the novel explores power, justice, and what it means to choose courage.

“Fireblooms” by Alexandra Villasante

A queer YA romance set in a dystopian school system where speech is tightly controlled, this novel follows Sebastian as he navigates trauma, forgiveness, and unexpected love. The book asks hard questions about safety, freedom, and emotional survival.

“The Possession of Alba Díaz” by Isabel Cañas

Set in 18th-century Mexico, this historical horror novel follows a young woman who flees a plague-ravaged city, only to be possessed by a demonic force. Trapped in a silver mine with secrets and sins buried deep, Alba must confront both supernatural and human darkness.

“Get Real, Chloe Torres” by Crystal Maldonado

This contemporary YA romcom follows Chloe on a road trip to reunite with her estranged friends before art school. Featuring ADHD representation, body positivity, and queer identity, the novel blends humor with emotional honesty and second chances.

Coming-of-Age, Magical Middle-Grade, and Fun Nonfiction (Ages 8–12)

“Danilo Was Here” by Tamika Burgess

Set in the aftermath of the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panamá, this middle-grade novel follows Danilo Osorio Jr. as he weighs leaving home for baseball training in the United States. The book explores displacement, family responsibility, and difficult choices shaped by politics and survival.

“Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic” by Leslie Adame

When immigration agents take Chloe’s undocumented parents, she discovers a hidden magical world where resistance fighters battle corrupt sorcerers. The novel blends immigration realities with fantasy adventure, centering on courage and family bonds.

“Scepter of Memories” by Claribel Ortega

In the fourth book of the Witchlings series, Seven and her friends face betrayal, memory loss, and exile as an evil warlock threatens their world. The story deepens themes of friendship, resilience, and self-belief.

“It’s All or Nothing, Vale” by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Written in verse, this novel follows Valentina Camacho, a competitive fencer recovering from a life-altering accident. The story explores identity beyond achievement and the emotional cost of ambition.

Picture-Perfect Stories for the Youngest Readers (Ages 4–8)

“Tíos and Primos” by Jacqueline Alcántara

A young girl visits her father’s homeland and struggles to communicate with her large Spanish-speaking family. Through food, play, and shared experiences, she discovers new ways to belong.

“Welcome Home, Esmerelda” by Daniela Ramirez, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

Esmerelda moves often because of her family’s military life and learns that home is defined by love, music, and connection rather than by geography.

“Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka Con La Papa” by Sara Fajardo, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

This biographical picture book follows Peruvian agronomist Alberto Salas as he searches for wild potatoes in the Andes, celebrating science, conservation, and curiosity.

“My Abuela Is a Bruja” by Mayra Cuevas, illustrated by Lorena Álvarez Gómez

A joyful story about the magic of grandmothers, culture, and inherited love, infused with Puerto Rican traditions and warmth.