Most Anticipated Books of February 2025: Best New Releases for Women in Design

4 min readFeb 7, 2025

February is an underrated month for book releases. The holiday rush is over, spring is still a distant thought, and there’s no better time to sink into a new read. This month’s lineup is especially good — stories about ambitious women making their way in business, beautifully illustrated explorations of creativity, and practical guides to managing the chaos of modern work life. Whether you’re a creative professional, design leader, or just need a little work-life balance, these new books bring inspiration, strategy, and fresh perspectives. From leadership guides for ambitious women to creativity books for designers, here are the top books of February 2025 you won’t want to miss.

Best Leadership & Productivity Books for Women in Design (February 2025)

A vintage-style book cover features a towering, detailed illustration of an early 20th-century skyscraper, surrounded by smaller historic buildings. The background is a muted pink, providing a contrast to the intricate orange swirl designs framing the image. The title “Mutual Interest” is prominently displayed in bold, stylized letters, adding an artistic flair.

Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith

A historical novel with the depth of a business memoir. Vivian Lesperance builds a personal care empire at the turn of the 20th century, navigating the limits of a male-dominated business world. Perfect for modern women in design leadership facing their own battles.

A vibrant book cover featuring bold, multicolored text reading “Get Stuff Done Without the Stress” on a chevron-patterned background in yellow shades. The words are lively and playful with a prominent turquoise checkmark framing “Without the Stress.” The bottom section contains additional text in smaller, black font, contrasting with a bright pink band displaying an author’s name. The overall mood is energetic and motivational, aiming to inspire action and positivity.

Get Stuff Done Without the Stress by Risa Williams, LMFT

Forget complicated productivity hacks. This 2025 productivity book offers simple strategies for managing multiple projects without burnout. A must-read for designers balancing client work, deadlines, and personal creativity.

New Art & Creativity Books for Designers (February 2025)

A bold book cover design with the title “ART WORKS” in large, uppercase letters, featuring a two-tone color scheme. “ART” is in bright blue, while “WORKS” is in vibrant yellow. Below, in smaller white letters, the subtitle reads, “How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together.” The author’s name appears at the bottom in blue. The background is solid black, adding contrast and emphasizing the modern, impactful design.

Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together by Ken Grossinger

This book is a blueprint for how creativity fuels activism. Grossinger pulls back the curtain on the strategic collaborations between artists, organizers, and political activists, showing how movements like Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock, and the Art for Justice Fund use creative work to drive real change. Featuring insights from Ai Weiwei, Shepard Fairey, Jane Fonda, and Bill McKibben, this book is essential for designers who see their work as more than aesthetics. It’s about shaping culture, questioning power, and making an impact.

W.A. Dwiggins smiles as an elderly man with distinctive white hair styled upward poses for the portrait. He wears a collared shirt under a dark jacket. The background is a soft, textured grayscale, enhancing the image’s classic feel. The photo is in black and white, creating a timeless atmosphere. The composition centers on a close-up of his face, emphasizing his kind expression and characterful features. The overall mood is warm and nostalgic.

W.A. Dwiggins: A Life in Design by Bruce Kennett

If graphic design had a patron saint, W.A. Dwiggins might be it. The man who coined the term “graphic design” wasn’t just a typographer — he was a craftsman, an experimenter, and a visual problem-solver. From book covers and typography to marionettes and theatrical set designs, Dwiggins shaped modern graphic design as we know it. This nearly 500-page visual feast, packed with over 1,000 color illustrations, is the first truly comprehensive look at his career. For any designer fascinated by type, book design, or the history of making, this is an essential addition to the shelf.

Fiction Books About Ambitious Women (New for 2025)

A close-up, stylized portrait of a face partially obscured by bold colors and shadows. The left side is dominated by a deep purple, while the right features a vibrant red-orange. One eye is sharply in focus, creating an intense, mysterious atmosphere. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the colors, with the gaze directed toward the viewer. Text overlays include the name “Emma van Straaten” and the title “Creep” in bold typography.

Creep: A Love Story by Emma van Straaten

Not for the faint of heart. Creep is an unsettling, razor-sharp literary thriller about obsession, loneliness, and the way we project identities onto the people we desire. Alice is in love with Tom. They share a flat in London, go to galleries, read the same books, drink the same wine. The only problem? Tom has no idea Alice exists. She’s been cleaning his apartment for a year, carefully cataloging his life, and imagining the moment they’ll finally meet. But when fantasy and reality start to blur, the result is a dark, compulsively readable novel that pulls apart ideas of class, race, mental health, and how society views women who refuse to behave. If you liked My Year of Rest and Relaxation but wished it had sharper teeth, this one’s for you.

A surreal and vibrant illustration features a mysterious figure seamlessly integrated into a pattern of intertwining green vines and foliage. The figure has a sinister grin, accentuated by its sharp, green teeth. Surrounding the figure are numerous pink flowers, adding contrast to the lush green background. The composition is dense and immersive, with a whimsical yet eerie atmosphere. The title “Green Teeth” is artistically incorporated into the design, enhancing the visual flow.

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill

Some books feel like old magic, the kind that whispers from the pages of forgotten folklore and waterlogged myths. Greenteeth is one of them. This cozy fantasy novel, narrated by a lake-dwelling monster with needle-sharp teeth, weaves together themes of found family, fae legends, and standing against corruption. Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human — until a witch is thrown into her lake, and suddenly, she has a reason to care. A gothic, enchanting tale perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, this is the kind of book you read on a misty evening with a cup of tea and a candle burning low.

These February 2025 book releases bring a mix of ambition, artistry, and strategy — the perfect reading list for a month of fresh ideas and creative energy.

Which book are you adding to your list? Drop a comment and let’s compare reading stacks.

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