Despite dominating bestseller charts and receiving widespread acclaim from both critics and fans, Suzanne Collins’ highly anticipated prequel Sunrise on the Reaping and S.A. Cosby’s intense thriller King of Ashes were notably absent from Publishers Weekly’s prestigious 2025 Best Book Finalists list, a decision that has sparked considerable discussion within the literary world.
In the dynamic world of publishing, the recognition of a “Best Book of the Year” is a highly coveted honor, often leading to increased sales and enduring literary legacy. This year, however, a curious paradox has emerged within the 2025 awards cycle. Two immensely popular and critically praised novels, Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping and S.A. Cosby’s King of Ashes, have found themselves conspicuously absent from Publishers Weekly’s esteemed Best Book Finalists list, even as they garnered significant accolades from other major literary platforms like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
This surprising omission has ignited debate among industry insiders and dedicated readers alike, prompting a closer look into the criteria and impact of such prestigious lists. For a fan community dedicated to insightful literary discussion, understanding these distinctions is key to appreciating the broader landscape of book appreciation.
Suzanne Collins’ Return to Panem: Sunrise on the Reaping
The return to the dystopian world of Panem was met with overwhelming enthusiasm when Suzanne Collins released Sunrise on the Reaping, a highly anticipated prequel to her iconic Hunger Games trilogy. Set decades before Katniss Everdeen’s harrowing tale, the novel delves into the origins and brutal evolution of the Games, offering fans a deeper understanding of the universe they’ve come to love.
The book quickly soared to the top of bestseller charts. By July 28, 2025, it had already spent 18 weeks on the Publishers Weekly overall top 10 list, with an initial rank of #1 on its debut on March 31, 2025, according to the Circana Books sales data for the week ended July 19, 2025. It reported impressive sales of 17,709 units for that week, contributing to a year-to-date total of 1,747,012 units. Critics lauded it as “gripping” and “brilliantly plotted,” and its impact extended beyond the literary world, with a film adaptation already in production.
Even Publishers Weekly itself initially recognized the novel as “one of the year’s best” earlier in 2025, as noted by Parade. This makes its subsequent exclusion from the prestigious finalists list particularly perplexing for many dedicated fans and industry observers.
S.A. Cosby’s Masterpiece: King of Ashes
Alongside Collins’ blockbuster, S.A. Cosby’s King of Ashes also achieved significant critical and commercial success. Cosby, known for his gritty Southern noir thrillers, delivered a powerful narrative centered on a war veteran and ex-convict returning to his hometown to seek justice and revenge. The novel explores profound themes of loyalty, family, and the enduring consequences of the past.
Described as a “high-octane thriller” by The New York Times, as reported by The New York Times, King of Ashes resonated deeply with both critics and a wide readership. Its compelling storytelling and nuanced characters solidified Cosby’s reputation as a leading voice in contemporary crime fiction. Like Sunrise on the Reaping, its widespread acclaim and strong sales performance made its absence from the Publishers Weekly finalists list a notable point of discussion.
The Publishers Weekly Selection Process: A Deeper Dive
Publishers Weekly is widely regarded as one of the most respected trade publications in the book industry, with its lists and recommendations holding considerable weight among publishing houses, editors, authors, and critics. Being named a finalist on their Best of the Year list is an exceptional honor.
The exclusion of two such prominent and successful titles from their final list, especially after Publishers Weekly had previously acknowledged Collins’ book as one of the year’s best, suggests that the selection process for the “finalists” round likely involves a different set of criteria than initial “best of” accolades or commercial performance alone. While specific details of their internal deliberation are not public, it often includes considerations such as:
- Literary Merit: Focus on writing quality, narrative innovation, and thematic depth.
- Originality: Preference for books that push boundaries or offer fresh perspectives.
- Diversity of Voice: Efforts to represent a broad range of authors and subjects.
- Editor’s Choice: Subjective preferences of the editorial team.
The books that ultimately made the Publishers Weekly finalists list, beating out over 7,000 titles for the honor, included When It All Burns by Jordan Thomas, Audition by Katie Kitamura, and The Buffalo Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, as highlighted by Parade. These titles likely met a specific set of editorial benchmarks that, for various reasons, Sunrise on the Reaping and King of Ashes did not in the final round of consideration, despite their undeniable impact.
The Power of Other Platforms: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
In contrast to Publishers Weekly’s selective final list, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble recognized Sunrise on the Reaping and King of Ashes among their top selections for 2025. This highlights the varied approaches these influential platforms take in identifying and celebrating literature.
- Barnes & Noble: As a leading physical bookseller, Barnes & Noble serves as a “book lover’s paradise,” showcasing new and trending titles prominently. Their Best Book of the Year finalists list often reflects both critical reception and customer popularity, making the inclusion of Collins’ and Cosby’s books a natural fit given their broad appeal.
- Amazon: Reigning as the largest bookseller globally, Amazon’s influence on reading and publishing trends is immense. Being named a standout on Amazon’s Best Book of 2025 So Far list is a significant game-changer for any author, reflecting massive sales volume and reader engagement.
The dual recognition by these retail giants underscores the commercial and popular success of both novels, making Publishers Weekly’s omission stand out even more starkly.
What This Means for Readers and the Industry
The contrasting outcomes on these influential lists serve as a valuable reminder that “best book” designations can vary significantly depending on the evaluating entity’s mission and criteria. While Publishers Weekly often champions works based on nuanced literary merit and industry-insider perspectives, retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble tend to factor in broader appeal, sales figures, and reader enthusiasm.
For fans, this simply means more excellent books to explore. The fact that 2025 brought forth such a rich array of titles that even widely acclaimed bestsellers could be omitted from one prestigious list speaks volumes about the vibrancy and diversity of the current literary landscape. Ultimately, whether a book makes every “best of” list or not, its true success lies in the connection it forge with its readers.
