Book Review

Hildur Knutsdottir's new novel opens with a killer opening line: “I have thought long and hard about how I would dispose of a dead body.”

Paul Yoon's new novel, "Etna," tells the story of a battle-worn war dog who embarks on an odyssey in hopes of returning home.

In his new book, "Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok," Oliver James tells how he used one of the tools of our post-literate society to finally master the complexities of reading.

"Country People" is not a rehash of "North Woods," but it exists in a similar magical universe.

Ann Patchett's new novel, "Whistler," is not a horse book. But it is a tender account of a family’s past, including secrets, misconceptions, and traumas both major and minor.

Julia Langbein's new novel, "Dear Monica Lewinsky," is part comedy, part fairy tale, part historical reckoning — a clever and creative work that will have you rethinking much of what you have come to believe.

"Small Boat" by Vincent Delecroix is a fictionalized account of a real-life tragedy, during which 27 migrants died after their inflatable dinghy capsized in the English Channel. It was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2025.

"The Midnight Show," by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne, tells the story of a 'Saturday Night Live'-style comedy show and the decades-long mystery surrounding the death of its rising star.

All nine stories in Lauren Groff's new collection, "Brawler," are bold and emotional. Many feature shocking endings. And there’s not a dud in the bunch.

Maggie Smith is best known for her poem Good Bones, which went viral in 2020. Her new collection, A Suit or a Suitcase, is an emotional, mind-opening study on the relentlessness of time.

Fans of Liz Moore's "The God of the Woods" will love Patmeena Sabit's debut novel, "Good People," which is another literary mystery-thriller that keeps you wondering and guessing until its final pages.

Claire Oshetsky's new novel, "Evil Genius," explores complex themes of obsession and desire, with a darkly comic style and a storyline that twists, turns and goes places you never expect.

Maggie Su's debut novel, "Blob: A Love Story," tells the story of a young woman who tries to transform a sentient blob into the man of her dreams.

Jennette McCurdy's debut novel, "Half His Age," is the story of a 17-year-old girl who craves a sexual relationship with her high school creative writing teacher.

Lior Torenberg’s debut novel, Just Watch Me, follows a 20-something woman who starts a livestream marathon to raise money for her little sister, who is in a coma.

A new novel by Sara Levine tells the story of a woman whose 6-year-old nephew is possessed by the ghost of a Corgi.

Great news for book lovers: 2026 is shaping up to be a banger of a year, with several big-name authors returning after long breaks.

David Szalay's award-winning novel, "Flesh," follows the life of one Hungarian man from adolescence to old age. And it manages to do a lot with precious few words.

Erin Somers' new novel, "The Ten Year Affair," offers an evocative and emotionally charged look at the realities of marriage and family life, and a meditation on the roads not taken.

John Kenney's newest novel, "I See You've Called in Dead," tells the story of a middle-aged obituary writer who uses an unplanned leave of absence to explore what life is really about.

Grace Walker’s debut novel, "The Merge," opens in a world where Earth’s resources have been pushed to a breaking point. That has given rise to a controversial new procedure in which two people’s consciousness can be combined and exist in one body.

"The Correspondent" was published back in April with little fanfare. But months after its release, the Virginia Evans debut made the New York Times Bestseller list and is a breakout hit, which speaks to the power of human connection.

Aja Gabel's sophomore novel, "Lightbreakers," explores a wide range of questions ranging from environmental concerns to deep personal loss.

Catherine Newman's new novel, "Wreck," is set two years after her previous best-seller, "Sandwich." It finds main character Rocky back home in western Massachusetts and once again surrounded by family.