These Are the Most Challenged Books of 2025
Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Here are the biggest headlines from last week.
Most Challenged Books in America in 2025
sold was published in 2006, and is about a 13-year-old girl who is sold into sexual slavery in India. In 2023, Patricia McCormick wrote an article the new York Times Topic “My book is terrible. My book is a lifeline. My book has been banned.In this he has told how this book is based on his interviews with girls sold into slavery in India and Nepal. sold It included a description of the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl by an older man – which book banners mistakenly claimed was “pornography”.
As big chains dominate retail, independent bookstores have quietly made a comeback.
Over the last few years it has felt like Big Business is winning, so I’m pleasantly surprised to see Indie stores are the ones that are really having a moment. The American Booksellers Association reports that 422 new indie bookstores will open in 2025, a 31% increase from 2024. There are probably a few things we can point to as the cause. One of them is the shrinking of the third space and The realization that going to a physical book store is more fun than buying books online from major retailers. Then again, since the pandemic, indie bookstores are also getting support from organizations like Bookshop.org. More details on that below.
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BookCon is back, and it’s leaving attendees with bruises
BookCon has been popular and controversial since it began in 2014. While most book conventions are aimed at professionals, BookCon focuses more on fans and bookish influencers. After a gap of seven years, it made a comeback this year and was much talked about. Tamara Fuentes Cosmopolitan Describes some fairly minor criticisms – long lines, not enough food options – as well as a more serious criticism: the chaos around the ARC.
30% people think that reading regularly makes them better than others
Take this statistic with a healthy helping of salt, because the thorough methodology was “To create this study, Headway Apps researchers surveyed 2,000 professionals of all genders, ages 18 and older.” (How did they source these respondents? Who counts as “professionals”? Are they all users of their app?) Regardless, I couldn’t resist the fact that “30% of people believe in regularly reading makes them better than others” Let’s be honest, this aligns with a good part of the online and offline reading culture.
Most Streamed Audiobooks on Spotify
To celebrate Spotify turning 20 this year, they released a list of their Most streamed music, podcasts and audiobooks of all time. It’s a bit strange to see an audiobook list titled “Most Streamed Audiobooks in Premium” of all time” Noting that audiobooks are only part of Spotify Premium from late 2023.
The new BookTok tie-in is… Crystal Light?
We’ve seen some unexpected book product collaborations in recent years, like Walmart’s Romance-Themed Hot Sauce. The latest edition has been released by Crystal Light in collaboration with BookTalk influencer and debut author Brooke Everick Three new drink flavors match popular styles on BookTok. There’s Hibiscus Lemonade for romance, Prickly Pear Lemonade for mystery, and Passion Fruit for fantasy. Please place your bets now on which brand will collaborate with BookTok next. Romantic Eggo Waffles? A Frieda McFadden-themed kitchen knife set? Hunger Games Pool Inflatables?
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