Every year, Reedsy Discovery sets out to champion independent authors and uncover publishing’s hidden gems. That mission continues with the second edition of the Discovery Editors’ Choice Award—our annual celebration of exceptional indie literature.

We’re proud to present the 2025 shortlist, a collection of books that span a diverse range of genres, penned by voices from across the globe. Each of these books earned glowing praise from our reviewers, and many also resonated across the wider literary landscape.

So, without further ado, please join us in celebrating the authors of the 2025 Discovery Editors’ Choice Awards Shortlist—and stay tuned for our winners, coming soon!


The Mermaid's Wrath

The Mermaid's Wrath by Andie Holman

The ocean is dying, and it falls to a mermaid to save it.

The Mers are barely surviving in a magical marine bubble, isolated from the rest of the world. Jelly, warrior mermaid and hardened champion of sea life, is sworn to battle against the choking, accelerating pollution.





The Chaiwallah

The Chaiwallah by Tim van Es

Three lost souls. One humble street vendor who changes everything.

In the heart of bustling Mumbai, three neighbors—each caught in their own struggles—find unexpected solace from a new street vendor, The Chaiwallah, whose quiet wisdom and selfless acts guide them toward paths they never imagined.



Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson

Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson by Julio Lucero

Abuelita, I Am Your Grandson is a tune that hits every note on the scale, ranging from Mexican gastronomy, to business, to lessons in language and culture.

Told through snapshots and not one throughline, Lucero’s collection is impactful, yet economical, perfect for readers who crave bite-sized snacks over a laborious meal. Buen Provecho.




It Could Have Been Murder

It Could Have Been Murder by E.D. Rich

Imagine playing the game Assassin, but the target doesn’t know they’re in the game. This is the business of boutique consulting firm, Diamond Teams: detailed murder planning without bloodshed, as a teambuilding exercise for C-suite executives.




Beyond the Black Gate

Beyond the Black Gate by Mark JF Hudson

In the year 409 the Roman Empire is collapsing. A young woman called Nehtan hides her enslaved status when she is rescued in Gaul by a resentful Patrician. Thrown together on a dangerous odyssey through a land devastated by invading barbarians, the two start to fall in love, despite the vast gulf between them.



A Thief's Song

A Thief's Song by Tony Gratacos

In the shadow of the cross, a story unfolds that will forever change how we see redemption.

Dismas, a thief condemned by his own choices, has lived a life on the edge of morality. Betrayed, beaten, and destined for death, he believes his fate is sealed—until he meets another man condemned beside him.



Whalers

Whalers by Kyle Farnworth

Ethan Callahan, a middle school teacher in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a man haunted by his past. When a young girl named Aaliyah Ridgeway goes missing, Ethan finds himself caught in a crossfire of suspicion and accusations. As the investigation unfolds, Ethan must confront his demons and the dark side of his community to clear his name.



Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind

Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind by Scarlet Ibis James

Joromi Enoch has spent his life trying to become the man his father would be proud of—responsible, dependable, a provider. But one summer fling on the vibrant island of Trinidad changes everything when his lover becomes pregnant.

As Joromi builds a new life in America with a different woman who becomes his wife, he leaves behind not just Trinidad but also a daughter named Trisha, born into a legacy of absence and longing.



Every Chance After

Every Chance After by Jessica Sherry

Marnie Strange’s life is about to turn the corner from just getting by to happily ever after. Today, she marries Ashe, the handsome, charming son of the affluent owners of Sunny’s Beach Market, where Marnie’s built a career she adores. She’s living her own Cinderella story. But behind her radiant smile and glowing optimism, Marnie’s dream has always been to belong to a family—a dream finally within her reach.



The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing by Andrew McLinden

Fame. Fortune. Total chaos.

Danny McAllister has everything he ever wanted—sold-out tours, A-list parties, and a drug-fuelled rush that never stops. But the spotlight’s fading fast.

His bandmates are getting the glory. The paranoia is kicking in. And Danny’s spiralling out of control.



A Seal Upon the Heart

A Seal Upon the Heart by Arian Hatefi

After learning their father has a terminal illness, siblings Leonardo and Leili will stop at nothing to change his fate. When they discover a company that is secretly searching for a Tree of Life, they decide that they must find out if it could help their father...before it's too late.



Thread Traveller

Thread Traveller by Annabel Youens

August Monk awakens naked in a field of pulsing red mushrooms, her feet tingling with voices she shouldn't be able to hear. One moment she was touring Britain's oldest brewery—the next, she's in a medieval world where women brew beer, commune with sentient fungal networks, and harbor dangerous secrets.



Perfect Plans

Perfect Plans by J.T. Tierney

He’s math; she’s theater. He's spreadsheets; she's improv. He speaks data optimization; she speaks fluent human. Ryan Porter grew up at an Arctic research station, helping scientist parents track marine-mammal migration and model ice-core data. Sofie Chen grew up helping her stage-manager mother handle backstage drama and avoid onstage disasters.



Of Mud and Honey

Of Mud and Honey by Roxana Trabulsi

As the reign of imperialism ends in Aden, Yemen and gives way to a communist government, a young family finds themselves trapped as political prisoners. Strength, love and faith are pushed to their limits overnight as they embark on the fight of their lives.



The Edge of Land

The Edge of Land by Jonathan Ezer

No one ever told Jonathan he couldn't swim 26 miles between Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. At just eighteen, Jonathan Ezer had already been a somewhat successful highschool swimmer. But when he set his sights on conquering the treacherous Molokai Channel—a challenge that has daunted even the most seasoned athletes—he knew this would test every limit he had.



Where Light Does Not Reach

Where Light Does Not Reach by Tom B. Night

For marine biologist Soledad, it starts with the mass stranding and ghastly death of a thousand sperm whales. Working for the Cetacean Translation Institute—CETI—to understand whale communication, she uncovers increasingly bizarre and disturbing behavior among the deep-sea leviathans to which she has dedicated her life.



***

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our community of authors, reviewers, and readers who make Discovery such a vibrant hub of indie literature. To find out the winners of this year’s awards, check back soon! 🏆

Browse more great indie reads on Discovery