Transcription by Ben Lerner review – a stunning exploration of technology and storytelling
Ranging from quantum mechanics to eating disorders to the nature of fiction, this is a breathtaking interrogation of family, connection and memory
Lázár by Nelio Biedermann review – a Hungarian epic from a 22-year-old author
The fortunes of a single family are entwined with the turmoil of the 20th century in this ambitious, gothic-inflected debut
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
A deep dive into the horror novelist’s archives reveals pedantry, penny-pinching, and a total redraft of Carrie
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Musical inspiration from Corinne Bailey Rae; danger in a magical academy; the adventures of an otter pup; a YA queer gothic fantasy, and more
Love Lane by Patrick Gale review – a homecoming tale with echoes of Brokeback Mountain
This kindly and companionable story of a man returning to 50s England after living in Canada offers a colourful evocation of the times
No New York by Adele Bertei review – a vivid, vibrant, musical coming of age
1970s and 80s New York are viscerally evoked in this potent memoir of the ‘no wave’ scene
A Far-flung Life by ML Stedman review – a masterful examination of loss
In her follow-up to The Light Between Oceans, the Western Australian author follows generations of a farming family as they weather calamity and change
The Two Roberts by Damian Barr audiobook review – love and lost dreams in bohemian London
This fictionalised account of the relationship between real-life artists Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun vividly depicts their romance and rise to fame – and the fall from grace that followed
Muskism by Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff review – how Elon Musk is reshaping the world
Henry Ford changed the face of industry forever – what kind of economic model do Musk’s methods presage?
Orwell: 2+2=5 review – documentary portrait doesn’t wholly add up
Raoul Peck’s film about the Nineteen Eighty-Four novelist makes a compelling case for its continuing relevance but could ask more searching questions about its author
Permanence by Sophie Mackintosh review – high-concept adultery fable
Unfaithful lovers escape to an uncanny alternate world, in this compelling allegory for infidelity and desire
Underland review – poetic exploration of life deep beneath the Earth’s surface
Sinkholes, storm drains, manmade labs miles underground … this documentary, based on Robert Macfarlane’s book, burrows deep into some of humanity’s great unknowns
Kurdish kitchens, baked bean alaska and Mexican soul: the best spring cookbooks for 2026 – review
These are the new titles for your kitchen shelf – plus a classic to dust off
Black Bag by Luke Kennard review – a campus comedy for our end times
Drawing on a real-life 1960s experiment, this story of an out-of-work actor paid to cover himself in a black leather bag fizzes with wit and invention
Enough Said by Alan Bennett review – a man for all seasons
Nostalgia, shame and gossip from Alan Bennett in the fourth instalment of his diaries