Review
Your Life Without Me by James Meek review: a deeply original novel 

Your Life Without Me by James Meek review: a deeply original novel
Meek gets his finger on the pulse of our contemporary experience with panache and originality
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
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’
A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke review – frank, funny and wise

A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke review – frank, funny and wise
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
Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories by Ghassan Kanafani review – diaspora, flight and exile

Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories by Ghassan Kanafani review – diaspora, flight and exile
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
