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John of John by Douglas Stuart (2026)
Why am I here, if not to make grand, wildly premature proclamations, that Douglas Stuart’s John of John is my book of the year. OK, so it’s obviously too early to make that call. But I truly cannot fathom a better novel publishing this year. If this doesn’t take the top spot—jeez, if it’s not…
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Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (2026)
This is the story of high school student Waldo, who pursues an affair with her married 40-year-old creative writing teacher Mr. Korgy. It’s a reckless, seemingly senseless undertaking, but as the contours of her upbringing take shape, her bad choices and infatuations feel less inexplicable: they’re rooted in personal trauma; a pretty fucked-up upbringing. Waldo’s…
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Land by Maggie O’Farrell (2026)
My first tentpole book of the year—and it’s a knockout. Rich, sweeping historical fiction that hits every mark. Land opens in Ireland in 1865, then sweeps forward between the alternating perspectives of a splintered family, capturing their hardships and heartbreaks over the course of their lives. A masterwork of design and scope; a real triumph…
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The Samurai Detectives: Volume 1 by Shotaro Ikenami (2025)
A huge disappointment. This didn’t click with me at all. Which is a bummer, man. Because: Samurai! Detectives! I love those two things. And combined?! Take my money. But. The prose is utilitarian. And its episodic nature—the stories were originally serialized, which is probably its ideal format—means there’s no panoptic cohesion. Everything about it just…
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How To Be Both by Ali Smith (2014)
I reckon you need to read Ali Smith’s How To Be Both at least twice. The first time, because it’s Ali Smith, obviously. She’s a genius, and should be read by everyone. The second time, because it’s a fabulous novel, but one that requires revisiting to truly master it, and appreciate its richness of theme,…
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Simon McDonald 