Exciting Debuts
2025 is set to introduce a wave of new talent with captivating debut novels. Catherine Airey’s Confessions spans three generations of women across Ireland and New York, tackling themes of sexual violence, abortion, and immigration. Garrett Carr’s The Boy from the Sea explores the life of a baby found abandoned on an Irish beach, narrated by a tight-knit coastal community. Irish poet Seán Hewitt makes his fiction debut with Open, Heaven, a tale of first love in rural England.
Belfast-based Wendy Erskine’s The Benefactors examines privilege and maternal bonds when three mothers rally to protect their sons accused of assault. Meanwhile, Roisin O’Donnell’s Nesting tells of a young mother escaping abuse, and Florence Knapp’s The Names uses a “sliding doors” narrative to explore life’s pivotal moments. Lucy Rose’s The Lamb blends folk horror and coming-of-age themes, while Adam Kay’s debut novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, revisits the medical world he explored in his bestselling memoir.
Big-Name Returns
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie breaks her fiction hiatus with Dream Count, delving into the lives of Nigerian women during the pandemic. Taylor Jenkins Reid takes readers to the 1980s Space Shuttle program in Atmosphere, while Emily Henry returns with her latest romance, Great Big Beautiful Life. Stephen King’s Never Flinch features crime-thriller regular Holly Gibney, and Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June captures a mother-daughter bond over a wedding weekend. Richard Osman continues his Thursday Murder Club series with its fifth installment.
Anticipated Follow-Ups
Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness explores an unusual friendship, while Torrey Peters’ Stag Dance offers interconnected stories of trans lives. Irvine Welsh revisits his Trainspotting universe with Men in Love, picking up where the original left off. Ali Smith’s Glyph continues the dystopian narrative of Gliff, and Natasha Brown follows her acclaimed Assembly with Universality.
Literary Highlights
Eimear McBride’s The City Changes Its Face tells of a turbulent 1990s love affair, and Colum McCann’s Twist investigates underwater cable networks. Katie Kitamura’s Audition follows a theater actress at a life-altering juncture. Eric Puchner’s Dream State spans decades of friendships and family ties, while Edward St Aubyn’s Parallel Lines explores the interconnected fates of disparate lives.
Compelling Memoirs and Real-Life Stories
Pope Francis offers his first memoir, Hope, chronicling his journey of faith. Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter’s When the Going Was Good recalls the golden age of magazines, while restaurateur Keith McNally’s I Regret Everything dives into Manhattan’s dining scene. Bill and Melinda Gates share personal reflections in Source Code and The Next Day, respectively.
Victoria Amelina’s posthumous Looking at Women Looking at War documents the Ukraine conflict through powerful photographs and diaries, with a foreword by Margaret Atwood.
With such a rich lineup, 2025 promises to be a memorable year for book lovers.
