fiction
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
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
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
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
Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde review – a radical, gorgeous queer novel

Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde review – a radical, gorgeous queer novel
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
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
Stone & Sky by Ben Aaronovitch review – weird happenings in the Granite City
