Book reviews, December 2025

35 books reviewed by the critics in December 2025, most-reviewed first.

Cover of On the Calculation of Volume III by Solvej Balle

On the Calculation of Volume III

Solvej Balle

4 of 4 critics positive · 9 reviews

Cover of This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin

This Is Where the Serpent Lives

Daniyal Mueenuddin

6 of 6 critics positive · 9 reviews

Cover of Flat Earth by Anika Jade Levy

Flat Earth

Anika Jade Levy

6 of 7 critics positive · 8 reviews

American Canto

Olivia Nuzzi

0 of 7 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of Capitalism by Sven Beckert

Capitalism

Sven Beckert

4 of 5 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

Cape Fever

Nadia Davids

4 of 4 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of Palaver by Bryan Washington

Palaver

Bryan Washington

0 of 2 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen

Bad Bad Girl

Gish Jen

4 reviews, verdicts not stated · 4 reviews

Converts

Melanie McDonagh

1 of 1 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of It Girl by Marisa Meltzer

It Girl

Marisa Meltzer

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Killing the Dead by John Blair

Killing the Dead

John Blair

1 of 1 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of The Curious Case of Mike Lynch by Katie Prescott

The Curious Case of Mike Lynch

Katie Prescott

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of The Effingers by Gabriele Tergit

The Effingers

Gabriele Tergit

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

The English House

The English House

Dan Cruickshank

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of All My Precious Madness by Mark Bowles

All My Precious Madness

Mark Bowles

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Bog Queen by Anna North

Bog Queen

Anna North

1 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today by Naomi Alderman

Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today

Naomi Alderman

2 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Joyride by Susan Orlean

Joyride

Susan Orlean

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

The Dead Don’t Bleed

The Dead Don’t Bleed

Neil Rollinson

1 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

The Zorg

Siddharth Kara

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke

A Mind of My Own

Kathy Burke

1 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Ever Since We Small by Celeste Mohammed

Ever Since We Small

Celeste Mohammed

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Freezing Point by Anders Bodelsen

Freezing Point

Anders Bodelsen

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Hamnet

Maggie O’Farrell

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of The Innocents of Florence by Joseph Luzzi

The Innocents of Florence

Joseph Luzzi

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of The Land Trap by Mike Bird

The Land Trap

Mike Bird

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Ice by Jacek Dukaj

Ice

Jacek Dukaj

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Making Mary Poppins by Todd James Pierce

Making Mary Poppins

Todd James Pierce

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Pulse by Cynan Jones

Pulse

Cynan Jones

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Cat by Georges Simenon

The Cat

Georges Simenon

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg

The Dead of Winter

Sarah Clegg

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Divided Mind by Edward Bullmore

The Divided Mind

Edward Bullmore

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Master of Contradictions by Morten Høi Jensen

The Master of Contradictions

Morten Høi Jensen

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of William Golding: The Faber Letters by William Golding

William Golding: The Faber Letters

William Golding

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

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