Best Westerns Books of 2025

Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West is an epic novel that subverts the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the Wild West. The book tells the story of the Kid, a fourteen-year-old Tennesseean who finds himself in a nightmarish world where Indians are being murdered and the market for their scalps is thriving. The novel is a masterpiece of American literature about extreme violence and regeneration through it. Cormac McCarthy's writing is so powerful that it can only be compared to the greatest writers, such as Melville and Faulkner.

The Charles Portis: Collected Works (LOA #369) is a comprehensive collection of the author's complete fiction and collected nonfiction, including the iconic True Grit. Portis's master storytelling and wit are comparable to Mark Twain, and his ability to capture the spoken idioms of the South is unparalleled. The book includes Norwood, The Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis, Gringos, and Stories & Other Writings. The Library of America's edition is a must-have for Western literature enthusiasts and those who appreciate well-crafted storytelling.

No Country for Old Men is a novel set in the Texas-Mexico border, where drug-runners have replaced rustlers, and small towns have become free-fire zones. The story follows Llewellyn Moss, who finds a pickup truck surrounded by a bodyguard of dead men, containing a load of heroin and two million dollars in cash. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law can contain. McCarthy's writing is gorgeously rendered and his narrative rips along like hell on wheels. No Country for Old Men is a triumph, and McCarthy is nothing less than our greatest living writer.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about two aging Texas Rangers on one last adventure. The novel is an epic of the American West and portrays an unforgettable assortment of characters, including heroes, outlaws, whores, ladies, Indians, and settlers. The book is richly authentic, beautifully written, and always dramatic. It is a joyous epic that moves with energy and is superbly imagined and lovingly written. If you read only one western novel in your life, read Lonesome Dove.

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon is an epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail. The story follows Naomi, a young widow who sets off with her family to start a new life out West, and her connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds. The trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart, but when a tragic event strikes, they must make terrible sacrifices to find each other and eventually make peace with who they are. Harmon brings the tribulations of the vast westward migration to life in this sweeping, majestic narrative, filled with tension and honest reflection.

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas is a beautifully written ode to the early twentieth century West. Set in the two-street town of Wallace, Wyoming, the story follows Ellen Webster's journey as she falls in love with the High Plains and a cowboy named Charlie Bacon. Despite the harsh realities of life in rural Wallace, Ellen and Charlie's relationship grows stronger with each shared success and tragedy. Dallas' well-rounded characters, convincing period details, and sumptuous setting make this book an immersive and addictive read. Highly recommended for fans of Western literature.

Strawberry Lane: A Touching Texas Love Story (Someday Valley) is a heartwarming novel about four strangers who come together to bury a father none of them has ever met. As they begin to bond and help each other find lost siblings and a sense of family, they also transform their small Texas town for the better. Jodi Thomas's writing captures the charm of a small town, and the way ordinary lives can be transformed by the kindness of others. Fans of Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery will enjoy this touching story of love and family.

The Longmire Defense: A Longmire Mystery is a gripping addition to the Westerns Books category. The story revolves around the Sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire, as he investigates a crime scene that leads him to question the very nature of justice and mercy in the West. The book offers a great cast of characters and back-country action that will keep readers hooked till the end. The author's use of Walt's grandfather's past as a backdrop to the story adds a layer of depth to the plot. Overall, this book is a must-read for both long-time fans and newcomers to the Longmire series.

The Strange by Nathan Ballingrud is a haunting and thrilling debut novel that takes place in 1931 on Mars. Fourteen-year-old Anabelle Crisp sets out on a quest to find Silas Mundt’s gang who have stolen her mother’s voice and destroyed her father. The book evokes the dreams of America explored in Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles and the harder realities of frontier life in Charles Portis True Grit. Ballingrud's writing style is brilliant and his talent radiates brighter than ever before in this page-turner of a novel. Overall, The Strange is a unique and enjoyable read that stretches the boundaries of the genre.

Stella Maris is the second volume of The Passenger series by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy. The story revolves around Alicia Western, a doctoral candidate diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, who seeks to understand her existence and grieves for her brother. The book is a philosophical inquiry that questions our notions of God, truth, and existence, told entirely through the transcripts of Alicia's psychiatric sessions. The book is intellectually challenging, with cataclysmic one-liners cut with humor. Overall, Stella Maris is an elegiac novel that is best read after The Passenger, and it is a unique addition to the family saga fiction genre.