Book reviews, May 2025

42 books reviewed by the critics in May 2025, most-reviewed first.

Cover of Mark Twain by Ron Chernow

Mark Twain

Ron Chernow

2 of 7 critics positive · 10 reviews

Cover of Gertrude Stein: an Afterlife by Francesca Wade

Gertrude Stein: an Afterlife

Francesca Wade

5 of 6 critics positive · 9 reviews

Cover of Capitalism and Its Critics by John Cassidy

Capitalism and Its Critics

John Cassidy

2 of 2 critics positive · 8 reviews

Cover of Homework by Geoff Dyer

Homework

Geoff Dyer

4 of 5 critics positive · 8 reviews

Cover of The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

The Emperor of Gladness

Ocean Vuong

2 of 5 critics positive · 8 reviews

Cover of Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

Question 7

Richard Flanagan

5 of 5 critics positive · 7 reviews

The Book of Records

The Book of Records

Madeleine Thien

5 of 6 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of The Haves and Have-Yachts by Evan Osnos

The Haves and Have-Yachts

Evan Osnos

6 of 6 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of Dianaworld by Edward White

Dianaworld

Edward White

3 of 5 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway

Karla’s Choice

Nick Harkaway

5 of 5 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Dream State by Eric Puchner

Dream State

Eric Puchner

2 of 3 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Original Sin

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

2 of 3 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

The Book of Guilt

Catherine Chidgey

4 of 5 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of The Illegals by Shaun Walker

The Illegals

Shaun Walker

3 of 3 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

The Vaster Wilds

Lauren Groff

1 of 4 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of A New New Me by Helen Oyeyemi

A New New Me

Helen Oyeyemi

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Aftertaste

Daria Lavelle

2 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Little World

Josephine Rowe

2 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Lost Boys by James Bloodworth

Lost Boys

James Bloodworth

0 of 1 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of The Heart-Shaped Tin by Bee Wilson

The Heart-Shaped Tin

Bee Wilson

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of The Optimist by Keach Hagey

The Optimist

Keach Hagey

0 of 1 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Zbig by Edward Luce

Zbig

Edward Luce

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Ghost Wedding by David Park

Ghost Wedding

David Park

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson

Ginseng Roots

Craig Thompson

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth

Slags

Emma Jane Unsworth

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

The Acid Queen

Susannah Cahalan

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of The AI Con by Emily M Bender and Alex Hanna

The AI Con

Emily M Bender and Alex Hanna

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of The Boys by Leo Robson

The Boys

Leo Robson

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of The Pretender by Jo Harkin

The Pretender

Jo Harkin

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Water in the Desert Fire in the Night by GETHAN. DICK

Water in the Desert Fire in the Night

GETHAN. DICK

1 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Albion by Anna Hope

Albion

Anna Hope

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent

Always Home, Always Homesick

Hannah Kent

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena

I Want Everything

Dominic Amerena

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Nightingale by Laura Elvery

Nightingale

Laura Elvery

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Ripeness by Sarah Moss

Ripeness

Sarah Moss

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

The Salt Path

Raynor Winn

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of How to Save the Amazon by Dom Phillips

How to Save the Amazon

Dom Phillips

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of No Straight Road Takes You There by Rebecca Solnit

No Straight Road Takes You There

Rebecca Solnit

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Pathemata by Maggie Nelson

Pathemata

Maggie Nelson

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Red Pockets by Alice Mah

Red Pockets

Alice Mah

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter

Sunstruck

William Rayfet Hunter

0 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

The Empress Murders

The Empress Murders

Toby Schmitz

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

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