fiction

Top 5 books about returning home, selected by Susannah Dickey  
Top 5

Top 5 books about returning home, selected by Susannah Dickey  

Five novels that explore the theme of home and returning
Crux by Gabriel Tallent book review: feats of wild imagination
Review

Crux by Gabriel Tallent book review: feats of wild imagination

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward book review: slow-burn thriller with a nerve-shredding finale
Review

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward book review: slow-burn thriller with a nerve-shredding finale

Top 5 romantasy reads, chosen by author Clíodhna O’Sullivan
Top 5

Top 5 romantasy reads, chosen by author Clíodhna O’Sullivan

May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry book review: communing with the past
Fiction

May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry book review: communing with the past

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Glyph by Ali Smith book review: radical energy, resistance and courage
Fiction

Glyph by Ali Smith book review: radical energy, resistance and courage

Top 5 magical books for kids, chosen by teacher-turned-author Paula Harrison
Top 5 books

Top 5 magical books for kids, chosen by teacher-turned-author Paula Harrison

Your Life Without Me by James Meek review: a deeply original novel 
Books

Your Life Without Me by James Meek review: a deeply original novel 

Palaver by Bryan Washington review: a subtle and deft look at family relationships
Review

Palaver by Bryan Washington review: a subtle and deft look at family relationships

Top 5 horror novels, chosen by British Fantasy Award-winning author Catriona Ward
Fiction

Top 5 horror novels, chosen by British Fantasy Award-winning author Catriona Ward

Discipline by Larissa Pham review: the past sure is tense
Review

Discipline by Larissa Pham review: the past sure is tense

The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad review: gorgeously bizarre, time-warping tales
Review

The Age of Calamities by Senaa Ahmad review: gorgeously bizarre, time-warping tales

Top 5 landmark LGBTQ novels, chosen by cultural critic Kaye Mitchell  
Top 5

Top 5 landmark LGBTQ novels, chosen by cultural critic Kaye Mitchell  

Departure(s) by Julian Barnes review – a swan song of wit and grace
Books

Departure(s) by Julian Barnes review – a swan song of wit and grace

Top 5 atmospheric thrillers, chosen by journalist, critic and novelist Thrity Umrigar
Books

Top 5 atmospheric thrillers, chosen by journalist, critic and novelist Thrity Umrigar

Flat Earth by Anika Jade Levy review – the state we're in
Books

Flat Earth by Anika Jade Levy review – the state we're in

Top 5 graphic novels, chosen by author and illustrator Beccy Blake
Graphic novels

Top 5 graphic novels, chosen by author and illustrator Beccy Blake

Read Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's new Christmas story, created especially for Big Issue
Exclusive

Read Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's new Christmas story, created especially for Big Issue

The ultimate guide to the best books of 2025 – as chosen by Big Issue critics
Books

The ultimate guide to the best books of 2025 – as chosen by Big Issue critics

From rowdy forest animals to wig-loving goths: These are the best children's books of 2025
Children's books of the year

From rowdy forest animals to wig-loving goths: These are the best children's books of 2025

The Wax Child by Olga Ravn review – a portrait of women on the outskirts
Books

The Wax Child by Olga Ravn review – a portrait of women on the outskirts

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Nymph by Stephanie LaCava review – hollowing out the espionage genre
Books

Nymph by Stephanie LaCava review – hollowing out the espionage genre

Top 5 Books for under-13s, chosen by children's author Sophie Kirtley
Books

Top 5 Books for under-13s, chosen by children's author Sophie Kirtley

The Tower by Thea Lenarduzzi review – a strange, engrossing literary hall of mirrors
Books

The Tower by Thea Lenarduzzi review – a strange, engrossing literary hall of mirrors

A Long Winter by Colm Toíbín review – a short but brilliant piece of fiction
Books

A Long Winter by Colm Toíbín review – a short but brilliant piece of fiction