The year 2025 has been a remarkable period for Nigerian literature, with authors delivering a rich and diverse collection of works. These books explore profound themes like migration, memory, ambition, love, and survival, often through deeply personal narratives. As the year draws to a close, these notable releases stand out as excellent choices for a thoughtful gift or a compelling final read of the year.
Fiction That Captures Complex Realities
Several fictional works this year have made a significant impact with their emotional depth and narrative power. Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo made one of the most striking literary debuts with The Tiny Things Are Heavier. This quiet yet powerful novel delves into the life of a young Nigerian woman in the United States, grappling with identity, guilt, and the complex meaning of home. It is a reflective exploration of the diaspora experience and the invisible burdens carried across borders.
Another significant family saga is This Kind of Trouble by Tochi Eze. This multigenerational story moves between Nigeria and the diaspora, tracing how choices, silence, and ambition echo through time. Eze masterfully explores inheritance and belonging through richly drawn characters, rewarding readers with a nuanced, character-driven narrative.
In The Edge of Water, author Olufunke Grace Bankole presents a tender story about family, faith, and distance. Set across continents, the novel examines how migration reshapes relationships and how personal decisions create ripples through generations. Bankole's thoughtful prose captures the quiet tensions between expectation and personal choice.
Genre-Bending Stories and Contemporary Narratives
Nigerian authors in 2025 also excelled in pushing genre boundaries and capturing modern life. Eloghosa Osunde, known for bold storytelling, captures the pulse of contemporary Lagos in Necessary Friction. The novel follows interconnected lives navigating love, survival, queerness, and ambition in a city of movement and contradiction. It is a socially aware novel that speaks directly to younger, urban readers.
For fans of speculative fiction, Nuzo Onoh released Futility in October 2025. Following her previous book, The Fake Ghost, this novel blends horror, dark humour, and supernatural twists into a chilling narrative of murder and revenge. Onoh solidifies her position as a leading voice in African horror with this gripping and unsettling read.
Adding a dose of festive charm, Tomilola Coco Adeyemo offers A Nollywood Christmas. Set against the chaos of a Christmas film production in Ibadan, this sharp, sexy romance explores ambition, desire, and second chances. It blends industry drama with romance, delivering a witty, feel-good holiday read.
Non-Fiction Insight from a Business Titan
Not all standout books this year were fiction. In Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, billionaire Femi Otedola reflects on his journey through Nigeria's challenging business landscape. The book shares hard-earned lessons from decades of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and leadership. It offers valuable insights into decision-making, resilience, and long-term vision, making it particularly relevant for readers interested in business and personal growth within the Nigerian context.
This collection, highlighted by Suliyat Tella in Guardian Life on 20 December 2025, demonstrates the vibrant and evolving state of Nigerian storytelling. Whether you seek profound literary fiction, genre excitement, romantic drama, or practical wisdom, the Nigerian literary scene of 2025 has a compelling book waiting for you.
