Book reviews, January 2026

36 books reviewed by the critics in January 2026, most-reviewed first.

Cover of Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Departure(s)

Julian Barnes

3 of 6 critics positive · 11 reviews

Cover of Vigil by George Saunders

Vigil

George Saunders

2 of 9 critics positive · 11 reviews

Glyph

Ali Smith

9 of 9 critics positive · 10 reviews

Cover of The Score by C. Thi Nguyen

The Score

C. Thi Nguyen

1 of 1 critics positive · 8 reviews

Cover of Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Half His Age

Jennette McCurdy

4 of 4 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

Lost Lambs

Madeline Cash

4 of 4 critics positive · 6 reviews

The Flower Bearers

The Flower Bearers

Rachel Eliza Griffiths

3 of 3 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of The Oak and the Larch by Sophie Pinkham

The Oak and the Larch

Sophie Pinkham

2 of 3 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Workhorse by Caroline Palmer

Workhorse

Caroline Palmer

3 of 5 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Everybody Loves Our Dollars by Oliver Bullough

Everybody Loves Our Dollars

Oliver Bullough

2 of 3 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of Off the Scales by Aimee Donnellan

Off the Scales

Aimee Donnellan

3 of 4 critics positive · 5 reviews

The Bed Trick

Izabella Scott

1 of 1 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken

A Long Game

Elizabeth McCracken

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cameo

Rob Doyle

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Love Machines

James Muldoon

4 reviews, verdicts not stated · 4 reviews

Cover of Made in America by Edward Stourton

Made in America

Edward Stourton

3 of 4 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry

May We Feed the King

Rebecca Perry

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Seven by Joanna Kavenna

Seven

Joanna Kavenna

1 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers

The Ten Year Affair

Erin Somers

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar

A Guardian and a Thief

Megha Majumdar

1 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Belgrave Road by Manish Chauhan

Belgrave Road

Manish Chauhan

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Blank Canvas by Grace Murray

Blank Canvas

Grace Murray

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Custody: The Secret History of Mothers by Lara Feigel

Custody: The Secret History of Mothers

Lara Feigel

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of The Only Cure by Mark Solms

The Only Cure

Mark Solms

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Arborescence by Rhett Davis

Arborescence

Rhett Davis

1 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray

Chosen Family

Madeleine Gray

1 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Virgin by Hollie McNish

Virgin

Hollie McNish

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Be More Bird by Candida Meyrick

Be More Bird

Candida Meyrick

0 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Googoosh: A Sinful Voice

Googoosh: A Sinful Voice

Googoosh with Tara Dehlavi

0 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

On Censorship

Ai Weiwei

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Bright Side by Sumit Paul-Choudhury

The Bright Side

Sumit Paul-Choudhury

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

The Long Shoe

Bob Mortimer

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Puma by Daniel Wiles

The Puma

Daniel Wiles

0 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

This, My Second Life

This, My Second Life

Patrick Charnley

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Two Women Living Together by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo

Two Women Living Together

Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Wise by Frank Tallis

Wise

Frank Tallis

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

← February 2026 · December 2025 →