Review
Palaver by Bryan Washington review: a subtle and deft look at family relationships

Palaver by Bryan Washington review: a subtle and deft look at family relationships
Washington’s typically understated prose style works like a magic trick – much of what matters most in Palaver happens between the lines
The Cut Up by Louise Welsh review: slippery and morally dubious adventures

The Cut Up by Louise Welsh review: slippery and morally dubious adventures
The third novel in Welsh’s hit series features a vibrant cast of deadbeat and lowlife characters
Discipline by Larissa Pham review: the past sure is tense

Discipline by Larissa Pham review: the past sure is tense
Pham’s debut novel follows an artist who abandons painting after an experience with a manipulative professor
The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad review: gorgeously bizarre, time-warping tales
The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad review: gorgeously bizarre, time-warping tales
The President’s Cake review: a surprisingly sweet depiction of life under an uncaring regime
The President’s Cake review: a surprisingly sweet depiction of life under an uncaring regime
John Candy: A Life in Comedy by Paul Myers review: a workmanlike yet touchingly sincere biography

John Candy: A Life in Comedy by Paul Myers review: a workmanlike yet touchingly sincere biography
Waiting for the Out review – discussing Odysseus with Trevor from EastEnders was not on my bingo card

Waiting for the Out review – discussing Odysseus with Trevor from EastEnders was not on my bingo card
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes review – a swan song of wit and grace

Departure(s) by Julian Barnes review – a swan song of wit and grace
Nouvelle Vague review – Richard Linklater’s witty, whimsical love letter to Jean-Luc Godard

Nouvelle Vague review – Richard Linklater’s witty, whimsical love letter to Jean-Luc Godard
Drifting North by Dominic Hinde review – intimately moving and expansive

Drifting North by Dominic Hinde review – intimately moving and expansive
Looking Down at the Stars by Christina Riley review – sumptuous and beautiful nature writing

Looking Down at the Stars by Christina Riley review – sumptuous and beautiful nature writing
Waiting for the Out writer Dennis Kelly: ‘In prison, all you can hear is chaos’

Waiting for the Out writer Dennis Kelly: ‘In prison, all you can hear is chaos’
Rental Family review – satisfaction guaranteed with Brendan Fraser

Rental Family review – satisfaction guaranteed with Brendan Fraser
Borderline Fiction by Derek Owusu review – the wintering of a soul

Borderline Fiction by Derek Owusu review – the wintering of a soul
Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen review – a redemptive portrait of motherhood

Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen review – a redemptive portrait of motherhood
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
Dead Man Walking review – superbly dark opera, but light is around the corner

Dead Man Walking review – superbly dark opera, but light is around the corner
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
David Copperfield review – an intimate and utterly joyful take on Charles Dickens’ epic novel

David Copperfield review – an intimate and utterly joyful take on Charles Dickens’ epic novel
Porn Play review – this isn’t just theatre, it’s a wake-up call

Porn Play review – this isn’t just theatre, it’s a wake-up call
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
The Thing with Feathers review – a bruising but rewarding watch

The Thing with Feathers review – a bruising but rewarding watch
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
