Book reviews from Britain's critics

What the critics said about this week's new books

Every review from the national papers and literary magazines, gathered for each book: the critic's verdict, their own words and a link to read the whole piece.

Latest verdicts

PositiveSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · Evening Standard“Revenge dish is even better aged 30 years”MixedSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · Financial Times“Charles Spencer’s vengeful biography”MixedSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The Conversation“flips the royal family the bird in his scathing new book”MixedSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The Guardian“a furious exercise in score-settling by Diana’s brother”PositiveSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The New York Times“A Brotherly Tribute to the People’s Princess, No Holds Barred”MixedSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The Observer“This strange and haunting memoir shows how the Spencers were shaped by the savagery of the British aristocracy”PanSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The Telegraph“It’s a monument to his ego”MixedSwan Song: Diana, My Sister · Charles Spencer · The Times“it’s also a fascinating piece of historical myth-making”PositiveStations · Louise Kennedy · Financial Times“captures with fino dry wit the path of would-be lovers”PositiveStations · Louise Kennedy · Irish Independent“a fearless, cliché-free story on the hormonal chaos of awkward young love”RaveStations · Louise Kennedy · RTÉ“one of the year's best books”RaveStations · Louise Kennedy · The Guardian“a superb follow-up to Trespasses”RaveStations · Louise Kennedy · The Irish Times“A masterwork from the heir to Edna O’Brien’s agile indignation”RaveStations · Louise Kennedy · The Observer“a triumph of realist fiction”