fiction
The ultimate guide to the best books of 2025 – as chosen by Big Issue critics
The ultimate guide to the best books of 2025 – as chosen by Big Issue critics
Big Issue literary critics’ books of the year
From rowdy forest animals to wig-loving goths: These are the best children’s books of 2025
From rowdy forest animals to wig-loving goths: These are the best children’s books of 2025
Here is our pick of 2025’s books for kids, by age group. Your Christmas list sorted
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn review – a portrait of women on the outskirts
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn review – a portrait of women on the outskirts
Based on an infamous 17th century Danish witch trial, The Wax Child is the extraordinary new novel from Olga Ravn
Nymph by Stephanie LaCava review – hollowing out the espionage genre
Nymph by Stephanie LaCava review – hollowing out the espionage genre
Top 5 Books for under-13s, chosen by children’s author Sophie Kirtley
Top 5 Books for under-13s, chosen by children’s author Sophie Kirtley
The Tower by Thea Lenarduzzi review – a strange, engrossing literary hall of mirrors
The Tower by Thea Lenarduzzi review – a strange, engrossing literary hall of mirrors
A Long Winter by Colm Toíbín review – a short but brilliant piece of fiction
A Long Winter by Colm Toíbín review – a short but brilliant piece of fiction
The Expansion Project by Ben Pester review – a surreal dismantling of corporate culture
The Expansion Project by Ben Pester review – a surreal dismantling of corporate culture
Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood review – evoking our collective Covid brain fog
Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood review – evoking our collective Covid brain fog
Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon review – conjuring an unhinged and vaudevillian world
Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon review – conjuring an unhinged and vaudevillian world
My aunt was a nun. Even she read Jilly Cooper’s bonkbusters
My aunt was a nun. Even she read Jilly Cooper’s bonkbusters
Top 5 seafaring books, chosen by award-winning writer Carolyn Kirby
Top 5 seafaring books, chosen by award-winning writer Carolyn Kirby
House of Day, House of Night by Olga Tokarczuk review – mushrooming magic
House of Day, House of Night by Olga Tokarczuk review – mushrooming magic
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal review – connections across the Indian diaspora
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal review – connections across the Indian diaspora
Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler review – speculative fiction with an emotional core
Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Nayler review – speculative fiction with an emotional core
The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley review – mind-bending revelations
The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley review – mind-bending revelations
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell review – mortal reflections from a hospital bed
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell review – mortal reflections from a hospital bed
Top 5 historical novels, chosen by best-selling author Lana Kortchik
Top 5 historical novels, chosen by best-selling author Lana Kortchik
Use the Words You Have by Kimberly Campanello review – captivating poetic sensibilities
Use the Words You Have by Kimberly Campanello review – captivating poetic sensibilities
The Ha-Ha by Jennifer Dawson review – a spry and contemporary overlooked classic
The Ha-Ha by Jennifer Dawson review – a spry and contemporary overlooked classic
The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney review – an emotionally gripping psychological thriller
The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney review – an emotionally gripping psychological thriller
Moderation by Elaine Castillo review – modern love story falls short
Moderation by Elaine Castillo review – modern love story falls short
Top 5 books for children under eight, chosen by author Truly Johnston
Top 5 books for children under eight, chosen by author Truly Johnston
Top 5 books about climate grief, chosen by Aerth author Deborah Tomkins
Top 5 books about climate grief, chosen by Aerth author Deborah Tomkins
In Transit by Brigid Brophy review – decades ahead of its time
