Archive

Book reviews, May 2026

41 books reviewed by the critics in May 2026, most-reviewed first.

Cover of Whistler by Ann Patchett

Whistler

Ann Patchett

5 of 7 critics positive · 8 reviews

Cover of Prestige Drama by Séamas O'Reilly

Prestige Drama

Séamas O'Reilly

7 of 7 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of The Savage Landscape by Cal Flyn

The Savage Landscape

Cal Flyn

4 of 4 critics positive · 7 reviews

Cover of I Want You to Be Happy by Jem Calder

I Want You to Be Happy

Jem Calder

2 of 4 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of If This Be Magic by Daniel Hahn

If This Be Magic

Daniel Hahn

3 of 3 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa

Said the Dead

Doireann Ní Ghríofa

4 of 4 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Weimar by Katja Hoyer

Weimar

Katja Hoyer

3 of 3 critics positive · 6 reviews

Cover of Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Seascraper

Benjamin Wood

3 of 3 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cover of The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams

The Vivisectors

Missouri Williams

0 of 4 critics positive · 5 reviews

Cast Away

Cast Away

Francesca de Tores

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Crossing the Wine Dark Sea

Crossing the Wine Dark Sea

Emily Wilson

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of One Leg on Earth by 'Pemi Aguda

One Leg on Earth

'Pemi Aguda

3 of 3 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of Stephen Sondheim by Daniel Okrent

Stephen Sondheim

Daniel Okrent

2 of 2 critics positive · 4 reviews

Cover of A Billion Years of Sex Differences by Steve Stewart-Williams

A Billion Years of Sex Differences

Steve Stewart-Williams

0 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

Backtalker

Backtalker

Kimberlé Crenshaw

1 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Iran and the Revolution by Homa Katouzian

Iran and the Revolution

Homa Katouzian

2 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of John of John by Douglas Stuart

John of John

Douglas Stuart

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans

3 of 3 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of This Book May Cause Side Effects by Helen Pilcher

This Book May Cause Side Effects

Helen Pilcher

1 of 1 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of What Am I, a Deer? by Polly Barton

What Am I, a Deer?

Polly Barton

2 of 2 critics positive · 3 reviews

Cover of Capture by Amanda Lohrey

Capture

Amanda Lohrey

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Caroline Aherne by David Scott

Caroline Aherne

David Scott

0 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Fieldwork As a Sex Object by Meena Kandasamy

Fieldwork As a Sex Object

Meena Kandasamy

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of High and Low by Amanda Craig

High and Low

Amanda Craig

2 reviews, verdicts not stated · 2 reviews

Cover of Homebound by Portia Elan

Homebound

Portia Elan

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller

Hunger and Thirst

Claire Fuller

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Israel: What Went Wrong? by Omer Bartov

Israel: What Went Wrong?

Omer Bartov

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly

Kingfisher

Rozie Kelly

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Lady C by Guy Cuthbertson

Lady C

Guy Cuthbertson

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Offseason

Offseason

Avigayl Sharp

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Phantom Days by Angela O'Keeffe

Phantom Days

Angela O'Keeffe

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Solace House by Will Maclean

Solace House

Will Maclean

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of The Given World by Melissa Harrison

The Given World

Melissa Harrison

2 of 2 critics positive · 2 reviews

What We Ask Google

What We Ask Google

Simon Rogers

1 of 1 critics positive · 2 reviews

Cover of Escaping Babylon by Jesse Bernard

Escaping Babylon

Jesse Bernard

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Goodbye, My Love by Yumna Kassab

Goodbye, My Love

Yumna Kassab

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Smallie

Smallie

Eden McKenzie-Goddard

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Songwriters on the Run

Songwriters on the Run

Robert Forster

0 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

The Book of Birds

Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Cover of Uprising by Tahmima Anam

Uprising

Tahmima Anam

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

Vocal Break

Vocal Break

Lauren Elkin

1 of 1 critics positive · 1 review

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