Magical realism continues to captivate readers with its ability to blend the fantastical with the every day, creating stories that leave you spellbound and reflecting on the mysteries of life. In 2025, a new wave of enchanting tales promises to transport readers to worlds where magic is not just an escape but an integral part of reality. From ancient curses to heart-wrenching second chances, these novels will make you question the boundaries between the real and the imagined. Curated by Storizen, here are the Best Magical Realism Books to Read in 2025, each offering an unforgettable journey into realms where the impossible becomes possible.
1. Water Moon Samantha Sotto Yambao
Tucked away in a hidden alley of Tokyo, a mysterious pawnshop allows only the lost to enter—a place where regrets can be traded and choices rewritten. When Hana Ishikawa inherits the shop, she wakes to find it ransacked, its most valuable possession stolen, and her father missing. As she searches for answers, a charming stranger appears—not to barter regrets, but to help. Together, they embark on a journey through enchanted rain puddles, soaring on paper cranes, and wandering a floating night market, chasing the truth that could change everything. But as secrets unravel, Hana faces a choice she can never undo in this mesmerizing tale of fate, love, and second chances.
2. The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave
If a single pill could erase your guilt, would you take it? From the outside, Maya Patel has it all—a thriving company, a beautiful baby, and a picture-perfect life in NYC with her successful husband. But behind the curated posts and polished image, she’s drowning—struggling to balance work, motherhood, and the crushing weight of expectations. So when her mentor offers her a magic pill to silence the guilt, Maya jumps at the chance to become the fearless, unstoppable version of herself. But as each dose dulls her emotions, she spirals deeper into a dangerous trap—one that threatens to unravel everything she’s built. A sharp, gripping read for fans of The Other Black Girl and The School for Good Mothers, this is a cautionary tale of ambition, identity, and the cost of perfection.
3. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Two rival scholars, a dead professor, and a one-way ticket to Hell—welcome to the darkest academic journey of Alice Law’s life. She has sacrificed everything to master Magick, but when her mentor, the legendary Professor Jacob Grimes, dies in a magical accident—possibly her fault—she refuses to let death have the final say. Determined to retrieve his soul and secure her future, Alice ventures into the underworld, only to find her nemesis, Peter Murdoch, has the same plan. Armed with ancient myths, pentagrams, and sheer desperation, they descend into a Hell unlike anything Dante imagined. But as they navigate its treacherous depths, they uncover secrets that could either bind them together—or destroy them both. In this gripping dark academia fantasy, R.F. Kuang delivers a thrilling tale of ambition, sacrifice, and the true cost of knowledge.
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4. Ibis by Justin Haynes
In the small coastal village of New Felicity, bad luck hangs thick in the air. The arrival of Milagros, an 11-year-old Venezuelan refugee, coincides with a government crackdown on migrants and the unsettling presence of an American journalist asking too many questions. The superstitious fishermen believe their troubles began when they killed a local witch, whose vengeful, supernatural mother now haunts the town—along with an eerie swarm of scarlet ibis. As fear spirals and tensions rise, the villagers take fate into their own hands, setting off a chain of events that will shape Milagros’s journey across continents in search of her mother. Weaving together generations of migration, superstition, and survival, Ibis is a lyrical and haunting meditation on belonging, identity, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters.
5. The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner
Beneath the sun-drenched waters of the Amalfi Coast, something ancient and powerful stirs. Haven Ambrose, a fearless nautical archaeologist, arrives in Positano to investigate mysterious shipwrecks—but her true mission is far more personal. Hidden beneath the waves lies a cache of priceless gemstones her late father once glimpsed, and she’s determined to find them. But as she dives deeper into the past, strange storms and misfortunes grip the village, hinting at a dark force at play. As she unravels the legend of a sorceress who once wielded ocean magic to protect her love and her home, Haven must confront a chilling question: is history repeating itself? Racing against time, she must break the Amalfi Curse before it consumes everything. A spellbinding blend of mystery, romance, and sea-bound sorcery, this novel will sweep you away with its intoxicating magic.
6. The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn
In 1900 Paris, master carousel-maker Gilbert pours his grief into his greatest creation for the Exposition Universelle, but as he nears completion, a chilling idea takes hold. Two decades later in Chicago, Maisie Marlowe stumbles upon the same magnificent, long-forgotten carousel and sees it as her chance for a fresh start. But beneath its dazzling lights and painted horses lies a dark secret—one tied to mysterious disappearances that began twenty years ago and are now happening again. As the past and present collide, Maisie must uncover the truth before she, too, vanishes into the carousel’s eerie embrace. A haunting tale of art, loss, and a sinister magic that refuses to be forgotten.
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7. The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Natsukawa
Thirteen-year-old Nanami Kosaki finds solace in books and the quiet comfort of her local library—until she notices them mysteriously vanishing from the shelves. When a suspicious man in a grey suit catches her attention, she considers following him, only to be warned by an unexpected ally—a talking tabby named Tiger. Together, Nanami and Tiger embark on a daring quest to uncover the truth behind the missing books. But the journey is more perilous than they ever imagined. In this heartwarming and thought-provoking tale, The Cat Who Saved the Library celebrates the power of stories, the courage to think for ourselves, and the unexpected friendships that change our lives forever.
8. Some Other Time by Angela Brown
Ellie Baker and her husband, Jonah, are ready to end their 20-year marriage—until an inexplicable twist in time changes everything. After a disastrous weekend breaking the news to their family, Ellie wakes up in an alternate reality where she and Jonah never married. As she navigates this strange new version of her life, she begins to see how love, choices, and second chances ripple through the lives of those around her. Heartfelt, funny, and full of hope, this unconventional love story explores the unexpected ways our simplest decisions can shape the world.
9. The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill
When Darby returns to his small Illinois hometown after losing his job in New York, he doesn’t expect much—except maybe awkward reunions and a lingering sense of displacement. But when he steps into his old high school bookstore, he’s transported back to 2009…and face-to-face with his pre-transition teenage self. Given an impossible chance to confront his past, Darby must navigate old wounds, unresolved friendships, and the choices that shaped his future. Poignant and magical, The In-Between Bookstore is a story of love, identity, and the risks we wish we had taken.
As we venture into 2025, these Best Magical Realism Books offer a captivating mix of wonder, mystery, and deep emotional resonance, blending the extraordinary with the mundane in ways that will leave you awestruck. Whether you’re drawn to stories of love, loss, or the search for identity, these books provide more than just escapism—they invite you to explore the complexities of the human spirit. With each page, you’ll discover new worlds and unforgettable characters, reminding us that sometimes, the most magical parts of life are those that feel most real. So, dive into these enchanting tales and let them ignite your imagination and sense of wonder.
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