Better Reading Top 100 announced

Better Reading has announced its 2025 top 100 list, ‘a true reflection of what Australians read’.

Voted on by readers, the number one spot went to Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, the second time the book has topped the list.

The list featured 74 women, seven of which were in the top 10, and 42 Australian books.

Better Reading director Cheryl Akle said, ‘This year, Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe has achieved something extraordinary by returning to the #1 spot after first winning it in 2020.

‘Once again, women authors have claimed a huge share of the list, while Australian voices remain at the heart of our reading culture. With classics sitting comfortably alongside new debuts, the 2025 list proves that Australians continue to love both familiar favourites and fresh new stories.’

The top 10 books on the list are:

1. Boy Swallows Universe (Trent Dalton, Fourth Estate)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, Penguin Classics)
3. Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros, Piatkus)
4. The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah, Pan)
5. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee, Penguin)
6. The Book Thief (Markus Zusak, Picador)
7. Here One Moment (Liane Moriarty, Macmillan)
8. A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J Maas, Bloomsbury)
9. The Venice Hotel (Tess Woods, Penguin)
10. The Valley (Chris Hammer, A&U).

More information about the list is available on the Better Reading website.

Category: Local news