‘I've never been so obsessed with a band': readers' best albums of 2025 so far
Constellations for the Lonely is a fabulous return for Doves: textured, layered and, as ever, occupying a space and sound all their own. From the futuristic reflection of Renegade to the soulful Cold Dreaming to the thought provoking A Drop in the Ocean, and the devastating realisation of loss in Last Year's Man ... This is a band confronting the past, to channel hope and find redemption by coming through challenges that can only be overcome through genuine friendship. Steven, Wolverhampton
This is a timely release, coming mere months after the abhorrent anti-Puerto Rican 'floating island of garbage' comments by Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally. Bad Bunny's response at the time was fierce, rebuking all that was Trump, Republican, bigoted, and his first music since feels like a follow-up. In DTMF, Bunny refuses to cede space or stand down. Either from his position as a mainstay of the US mainstream music world or as a proud Puerto Rican. He crafts an album of one summer anthem after another, built to be listened to by everyone while unmistakably a product of the music of his home. Alex, Belfast
Justin Vernon is finally happy! And he sounds perhaps more enchanting as a man embracing joy as he did as a lone wanderer in the wintery woodlands of Wisconsin. The album opens on familiar ground with the Sable tracks, and these build beautifully until we reach Fable and Vernon exclaims: 'January ain't the whole world'. From there on the album is a gorgeous celebration of accepting love and happiness through some incredibly vibey and experimental songs in the Bon Iver signature. If Only I Could Wait, with Danielle Haim is a standout, alongside Walk Home, and the slow submergence into steady love through the album closers There's a Rhythm and Au Revoir is simply perfect. Pulkit, Manchester
I'm convinced there's a parallel universe somewhere in which guitar-and-drums-driven rock music still has mass mainstream appeal and Vukovi would deservedly be among the UK's biggest music stars. On this, their fourth album, the pop-metal leans towards the heavier side, and lyrically perhaps nothing sums up these songs' exploration of mental health struggles and self-doubt better than opening track This is My Life and My Trauma. But the melodies are strong and front woman Janine Shilstone's vocals are as fiercely defiant yet beautiful as ever, underpinned perfectly by energetic riffs and tight rhythmical playing from guitarist Hamish Reilly and drummer Martin Sharples-Johnston. John K, Birmingham
5ive by Davido gives me a new sense of hope and purpose. It helps me get on with my daily activities and to unwind in my free time. As a mum who's constantly busy caring for a newborn baby, I find listening helps me with my mental health and encourages me to enjoy life and live life to the fullest. The rhetoric in the album is out of this world. Paola Adeitan, Marlborough, Wiltshire
It's such a great commentary on modern times, with real lyrical depth added to a sort of doom-pop atmosphere. I stumbled upon them by chance and saw them at a tiny venue in the Netherlands – they're as great live as they are on their records. I can't comprehend how they're not world famous. Klavdija, Brussels, Belgium
I hadn't discovered the band before this album so it was an absolute treat to work through their back catalogue. I love the textures and layers of the music on this album. It's the perfect soundtrack to my evening walks in my local woods. There is a depth to the music that is spiritual and anything that moves me like this gets my attention. The opening track Waiting has a choral feel. It's sparse yet such a complete sound with beautiful vocals. It's not an upbeat album – far from it – but I find it incredibly uplifting. The production throughout is sublime. Ed Olhausen, High Wycombe
Absolutely every song on the album is worth a listen and suits an occasion in the day. Praying for Your Downfall and Massachusetts are cathartic for different reasons, while Let Me Be Wrong and I Don't Do Drugs are cheeky and honest. Overall, the album is so human – it touches many emotional experiences with compassion and clarity, and shows off the very best of musical commitment to songwriting, vocals, composition, guitar and production. Alice, Cambridge
A perfect storm of everything Sleep Token does best but distilled and sharpened. It's not a concept album, but feels like one. The lyrics have never been more deific but Vessel has never sounded more human. An incredible follow-up to a near-perfect album. I've never been as obsessed with a band as I am with Sleep Token. Ed, Southampton
As a young gay man, Marina (FKA Marina and the Diamonds) was the soundtrack to my teenage years. I adored her cult classic Electra Heart album and remember when she was the undisputed queen of Tumblr. She continued putting out great music, including her previous album, the fantastic and pleasingly political Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land. But now, riding a wave of 2010s nostalgia, Marina is back in the charts and at the top of her game. The whole album is delightfully camp and jam packed with Eurodisco-esque gay club bangers. I predict that, just as with Charli, Marina is heading for a comeback. Oliver, Manchester
It's a gorgeous slice of folk-pop that's swimming with gentle, lovely tunes. World's Worst Girlfriend is a great way in; Richardson, which features the warm tones of Cassandra Jenkins, has set up semi-permanent residence in my head. Tom Evershed, Melbourne, Australia
Time Indefinite is a powerful record and seemed to arrive at exactly the right time for me. Tyler finds and collects sounds, ranging from lo-fi and scratchy to pastoral and lush. Individually, they seem dissolute or even anxiety inducing, but by weaving in his own looping guitar it all builds towards something approaching harmony – or beauty. A bridge over troubled waters. Ed Yates, Knaresborough
It's a grand return to form with the standout tracks for me the Stone Roses-esque titled Elephant Clouds and the bullet train inspired, anthemic Hold It Down. But the whole LP (I continue to buy black gold from my local store) is a superb sonic renaissance that can match that of their Cool Britannia peers Pulp. Give it a spin, it's equally chilled and funky, a perfect way to 'escape the chaos'. Rudi Richter, Nuremberg, Germany
Sharon Van Etten's work has always been emotionally cathartic, both for her and for us listeners; but I've always felt, much as I've always enjoyed her previous work, that something was being held back; but no more. Working with her new band and collaborators, the Attachment Theory, she has finally been fully let loose as a singer and communicator, and the results are staggering, moving, uplifting and devastating by turns. Her shows in the spring brought the new record vividly to life, and breathed new vital life into her existing material. Clearly these are the collaborators that she has always needed, and this record will undoubtedly be reckoned as one of the finest releases this year, as it would be in any year. Luke Dixon, London
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The Review Geek
42 minutes ago
- The Review Geek
Poker Face – Season 2 Episode 9 'A New Lease on Death' Recap & Review
Episode 9 The Murder Episode 9 of Poker Face Season 2 begins with an old woman named Anne and her granddaughter Madeline speaking with a lawyer. They live in a comfortable apartment in NYC, which is affordable due to rent control. Anne tells the lawyer she wants to adopt her granddaughter as her daughter. He quickly realises this is to maintain the rent control, which can only be passed down to a spouse or child. Later, when they're leaving the house, Anne stops by a fruit cart where she meets a woman named Kate. Two weeks later, Maddy comes home and walks in on her grandma having sex with Kate. Anne reveals that they are dating and that she's even asked Kate to move in with them. Kate and Maddy don't get on well, and eventually, the latter pays a tattooed man to find more information on Kate. Sometime later, Maddy confronts Kate with proof that she's faking her identity. Her real name is Amelia, she's been to prison, and even has a few warrants out for her arrest. Maddy accuses Kate of simply being after the rent-controlled apartment. She threatens to tell the authorities if Kate doesn't leave Anne immediately. She allows Kate one day to say goodbye to Anne. They have this argument in the laundry room where Kate notices the washing machine shakes during the spin cycle, enough to drop a can of coke sitting on top of it. The next day, she spills some descaler on the floor below the machine and places a bottle of bleach on top of it. She also messes with the lock on the laundry room door. She then tells Maddy to get her laundry while she 'breaks up' with Anne. Maddy goes down and as the spill cycle hits, the washing machine knocks the bleach to the floor. Mixed with the descaler, it creates a gas that ends up killing Maddy. The Investigation Charlie arrives in New York City, telling her radio friend Good Buddy that she's hoping all the lies will become white noise in the city. He tells her to use his NYC apartment in Brooklyn and she heads to the same building where Anne and Maddy stay. The landlord, Otto, catches her but she claims she's here just to water Good Buddy's cactus plants. She then goes to a nearby store run by a man named Abdul. There, she bumps into Kate, who is trying to scam her way into getting free fruit. Back at the apartment, Charlie is forced to hide from Otto and runs into the laundry room, where she meets Maddy. The laundry door locks them inside and Maddy complains that the landlord never fixes it. She uses her bike tools to break them out. Maddy invites her to watch Jeopardy with her grandmother. The tattooed man from earlier joins them and Charlie learns that he's Ricardo, a librarian who is good at research. Charlie then takes up a remote job as a captcha technician. When she returns to the apartment, she sees the place crawling with firefighters. One of them, a fellow resident in the building named Mickey, tells Charlie about the accident in the laundry room. A woman sitting nearby tells Charlie that the descaler and bleach reacted to produce chlorine gas, which killed Maddy. Charlie goes upstairs to give her condolences and is surprised to see Kate open the door to Anne's house. Kate doesn't let her meet Anne. Charlie then comes across Otto, who insists he had fixed the lock on the door. Charlie knows he's telling the truth and they go to the laundry room where Otto points out the door has a new handle, a different model from the one he'd bought. While cleaning Maddy's things, Kate finds the paper with her real identity on it. She notices Ricardo's name, since he accessed the information, and threatens him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Charlie tries to find out from Abdul if anyone bought the new door handle. He has face blindness, so it takes a while but Charlie eventually realises it was Kate. Charlie heads back to the building and tries to speak to Ricardo about her suspicions about Kate. Before he can say anything, Kate (who was eavesdropping) pulls the fire alarm which forces them all to leave the building. Afterwards, Kate returns and is happy that the apartment is basically hers now. But her bubble bursts when she sees Otto showing a new tenant around. Anne reveals that she's too upset because of losing Maddy and wants to move out of the apartment. Kate is frustrated and tries to pressure Anne into marrying her immediately. She runs out to get the forms and when she's back, Charlie is waiting with Anne. She's told her everything. Anne asks Charlie to step into another room and confronts Kate. Kate tells Anne it's all a lie and asks her to go get her laundry while she deals with Charlie. After Anne leaves, Kate pushes Charlie off the balcony. But thanks to Charlie's good friend Mickey — who had laid out an inflatable platform to catch her — Charlie's absolutely fine. In fact, Anne has seen the whole thing and her lawyer, who was hiding in the apartment, has recorded Kate's attempted murder. In Charlie's words, she's cooked. Poker Face Season 2 Episode 9 ends with Charlie helping Anne pack up her things as the new tenant makes plans for redoing the apartment. The Episode Review Poker Face Season 2 Episode 9 is a fun ride, even if it is a bit more straightforward than some of Poker Face's other episodes. This one has fewer twists and turns compared to even last week's episode, which offers a solid plot twist and unexpected reveal at the end. And there are a few details, like the woman who gives Charlie a free coffee, that aren't tied up in the larger plot. Awkwafina feels a bit underused as well. It's still quite an enjoyable episode, though, particularly with that New York aesthetic and how Charlie meets a firefighter who wanted to be a tap dancer and a woman who used to be a journalist but now peels potatoes outside the building. It's also nice to see that Charlie and Good Buddy are still in touch, although we could use some more information about him. The humour is pretty on brand as well and that one joke about Vague magazine will stay with me for a while. All in all, another solid Charlie Cale adventure. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The 20 best superhero TV shows of all time
Superheroes might have been a screen staple since the 1950s but capes, tights and masks never go out of style. Indeed, a ceaseless production line of Hollywood blockbusters have made them the dominant genre of the early 21st century. Marvel's latest TV effort is Black Panther/Iron Man spin-off Ironheart, following science student Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) as she invents an Iron Man-style armoured suit. But what are the best shows ever to pow, zap and fly into our living rooms? Here's our countdown of the all-time TV top 20. How did we select our 20? As Spider-Man's Uncle Ben always had it, 'with great power there must also come great responsibility' (although, sorry, Spidey, you haven't made our cut). We've looked at the entirety of the superhero genre on TV, determined not to fall into the cliché of just relying on Marvel and DC staples. That means, you'll find some more whimsical family favourites nestling between the stern jaws and pumped pecks of some of our line-up. Heartfelt apologies, however, to SuperTed, the 1960s Spider-Man cartoon (of 'does whatever a spider can,' fame) and the Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno The Incredible Hulk series; all of which just fell outside our selection. Turns out there's one super-villain that can't be beaten: The capricious TV critic! 20. He-Man & The Masters of the Universe (CBS/ITV, 1983-1985) 'By the power of Grayskull!' The biggest, daftest cartoon of the Eighties was this fantasy romp based on a Mattel toy range. When helmet-haired, muscle-bound Prince Adam held aloft his sword and uttered the magic words, he transformed into the universe's most powerful human and foiled the evil plans of cackling villain Skeletor. It spawned literal sister series, She-Ra: Princess of Power, plus films, reboots and even more toys. Ker-ching. 19. Moon Knight (Disney+, 2022) If you can overlook leading man Oscar Isaac's creaky Cockney tones, which creep into Dick Van Dyke territory, there is much to enjoy in this tragicomic Marvel miniseries. As a mercenary with dissociative identity disorder, Isaac had a ball giving each alter ego a different personality (and accent) as he unravelled a mystery involving nocturnal warriors and Egyptian gods. Wild, weird and witty. Cor blimey, Mary Poppins. 18. Wonder Woman (ABC/CBS/BBC One, 1975-1979) 'All the world is waiting for you / And the power z you possess / In your satin tights / Fighting for your rights / And the old red, white and blue.' It's since had a Hollywood reboot – hasn't everything? – but the DC Comics adaptation about an Amazonian princess coming to America is a true cult classic. Lynda Carter became a pop culture icon as the feminist heroine, battling crime with her bullet-deflecting bracelets and golden lasso. Huge fun and just camp enough. 17. The Thundermans (Nickelodeon, 2013-2018) This surprisingly sophisticated teen-com followed the titular superpowered family as they attempted to live a normal existence in the fictional city of Hiddenville. While the parents struggled not to use their powers, their wisecracking children enjoyed exploring theirs – or, in the case of son Max, dreamed of becoming an evil supervillain – complete with a sassy talking rabbit. 16. Daredevil (Netflix, 2015-2018) British actor Charlie Cox excelled as blind New York lawyer Matt Murdock, who used his heightened senses to lead a double life as a masked vigilante. His nocturnal crusade set him on a collision course with crime lord Wilson Fisk (a skin-crawlingly creepy Vincent D'Onofrio). The bruising combat scenes, memorably a pulverising corridor fight, were widely acclaimed. It was recently resurrected for Disney+ sequel series Daredevil: Born Again. 15. Preacher (AMC/Amazon Prime Video, 2016-2019) A trio of Britons led this western-style comic book adaptation. Dominic Cooper starred as Texan preacher Jesse Custer, who was infused with a supernatural gift during a crisis of faith. He sets out on a quest to understand his new-found cosmic powers, joined by gun-toting ex-girlfriend Tulip (Ruth Negga) and vagabond Irish vampire Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). Gleefully gory, it blended horror with humour to hugely entertaining effect. 14. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (CBS/BBC One, 1987-1996) It was conceived as a superhero parody but soon took on a life of its own. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo – a Renaissance-named quartet of anthropomorphic turtle brothers, trained in ninjutsu (still with us?) – became 'heroes in a half-shell' by fighting evil from the sewers of New York City. The cartoon became a playground phenomenon, birthing a turtle-powered franchise of comics, films, games, toys and even breakfast cereal. Cowabunga indeed. 13. Agent Carter (ABC/Fox UK, 2015-2016) The Marvel universe did period drama – and did it jolly well – in this stylishly rendered series about Captain America's love interest. Our own Hayley Atwell was winningly charismatic as all-action spy Peggy Carter, battling baddies and post-war sexism at the Strategic Scientific Reserve. A perky, pulpy romp with a knowing wink and pleasing Britishisms ('Crikey O'Reilly!' was among her catchphrases). 12. Jessica Jones (Netflix, 2015-2019) The most noirish of the first wave of Marvel series, this brooding, slow-burn thriller followed a traumatised ex-superhero, superbly played by Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter. Hard-drinking Jessica Jones fought her demons by working as a private eye in Hell's Kitchen. Our sardonic anti-heroine faced off against a worthy foe in David Tennant's monstrous, mind-controlling Kilgrave. 11. Super Gran (ITV, 1985-1987) Is there nothing she cannae do? Like a Beano comic strip come to life, this Tyne Tees caper saw a sweet old lady (Gudrun Ure) acquire superpowers when zapped by a magic ray. As she kept the town of Chisleton safe from villainous Scunner Campbell (Iain Cuthbertson), the series was sold worldwide and won an Emmy. A gallery of guest stars included Billy Connolly, George Best and Barbara Windsor. It just edges out SuperTed, Bananaman and Danger Mouse in our 'quintessentially British children's TV parody' slot. 10. Heroes (NBC/BBC Two, 2006-2010) 'Save the cheerleader, save the world.' Creator Tim Kring's pre-Marvel, post-Lost fantasy yarn was impossibly exciting when it first touched down on our screens. As a seemingly ordinary group of civilians slowly became aware of their special abilities, it delivered globe-straddling, comic book-style thrills. Later series got too wrapped up in mystical mumbo-jumbo and its own mythology but for a while back there, Heroes was ambitious, blockbuster television. 9. The Penguin (HBO/Sky Atlantic, 2024-present) Arguably this dark psycho-drama doesn't quite qualify because its anti-hero is technically a baddie. But the show's sheer quality means we've turned a blind eye. A Sopranos-esque mob saga stars Colin Farrell, near-unrecognisable under heavy prosthetics, as disfigured gangster Oz Cobb on his rise through Gotham City's criminal underworld. Fox drama Gotham – another Batman prequel, this time starring Ben McKenzie as a young Chief Gordon – isn't half bad either. 8. Misfits (E4, 2009-2013) This very British riff on the genre began with a group of gobby young offenders doing community service. When stuck outdoors during a strange electrical storm, they acquired a supernatural power apiece. Think X-Men with an Asbo. Howard Overman's scripts fizzed with street humour, while the bright young cast – Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Lauren Socha and scene-stealer Robert Sheehan – would go on to bigger things. 7. WandaVision (Disney+, 2021) Marvel's first Disney+ series was unexpectedly eccentric and an utter delight. Witchy Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and android Vision (Paul Bettany) were the Avengers-turned-homemakers, trying to conceal their true natures while living in a sitcom-style suburban idyll. Each episode paid loving homage to TV history, slowly peeling back the couple's domestic bliss to expose the darker truths beneath. A love story wrapped in a David Lynchian mystery, this was a thoughtful exploration of grief and nostalgia. 6. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (ABC/BBC One, 1993-1997) This sparky screwball-style spin on the Man of Steel made stars out of Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher, who were hugely charming as Daily Planet colleagues Clark Kent and Lois Lane. The pair's will-they-or-won't-they romance provided the backdrop to Clark secretly donning the costume to fight for justice. Airing at Saturday teatimes in the pre-Strictly era, it united the generations. As Superman TV series go, it eclipses teen prequel Smallville, which ran for a few series too long and lost its way. 5. Watchmen (HBO/Sky Atlantic, 2019) Alan Moore's graphic novel masterpiece is traditionally described as 'unfilmable', so Lost creator Damon Lindelof called his miniseries a 'remix'. Smart, cinematic and endlessly surprising, his wild reimagining dropped the masked vigilantes into present-day Oklahoma. A cast led by Regina King, Don Johnson and Jeremy Irons served up a boiling brew of racial tension and dystopian chaos. Defying expectations of a comic book adaptation, this was bold, bravura TV. 4. Supacell (Netflix, 2024-present) The newest UK entry on our list transcended superhero tropes to become something truly ingenious. Created by musician and director Rapman, the distinctive drama saw five South Londoners suddenly develop supernatural abilities. Their contrasting reactions to their newfound powers were compelling. Raising awareness of sickle cell disease while acting as a metaphor for black Britishness, this was supa-smart social commentary. 3. The Boys (Amazon Prime Video, 2019-present) Incongruously, one of Amazon's biggest hits is this near-the-knuckle, anti-capitalist twist on the familiar superhero formula. A welcome antidote to dark origin stories and cinematic pomposity, The Boys is like Marvel's lippy teenage brother, with a taste for ultra-violence and transgressive sex scenes. Pitting the commercialised 'Supes' against a band of black ops vigilantes, it's a nihilistic satire with plenty to say about institutional corruption and corporate America. And it usually says it in luridly vulgar language. In Antony Starr's sociopathic Homelander, it also boasts one of the best villains on TV. 2. Legion (FX/Fox UK, 2017-2019) Writer Noah Hawley, who masterminded the award-winning Fargo anthology and the upcoming Alien: Earth, is one of the most boundary-busting showrunners on TV. His 'anti-Marvel Marvel series' was built around a stunning star turn from Downton Abbey alumnus Dan Stevens as the schizophrenic son of X-Men leader Charles Xavier. Imprisoned in a psychiatric facility, he tried to control his mutant powers and fight the sinister forces who wished to harness them. Dramatising the inner workings of the human mind, it was visually dazzling and utterly unique. 1. Batman (ABC/ITV, 1966-1968) Holy top spot, Batman! Nowadays the Caped Crusader is a brooding, traumatised creature of the night. Once upon a time, he was actually fun. Starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as sidekick Robin, this swinging Sixties crime caper followed the Dynamic Duo as they defended Gotham City from a rogue's gallery of camp supervillains. With hammy performances, tongue-in-cheek humour, a killer theme song and shameless cliffhangers, it gleefully embraced its comic book origins, coming to define the genre for the next three decades. Its only rival in the TV Batverse is Nineties modernisation, Batman: The Animated Series. Ker-pow!
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Summer reading: the 50 hottest books to read now
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieA rich exploration of female experience, Adichie's first novel in 10 years charts the lives and loves of four women in Nigeria and the US, from a 'dream count' of ex-boyfriends to a section inspired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn's alleged rape of a Guinean hotel worker in 2011. Magisterial, wide-ranging and delicately done. Flesh by David SzalayThis spare account of the rise and fall of a contemporary everyman, from small-town Hungary to London's elite, and back again, gains an extraordinary power through what is left unsaid: buried emotion, the silent depths of trauma, the ultimate unknowability of the self and others. A propulsive investigation into sex, power, class and masculinity. Slags by Emma Jane UnsworthNot so much a beach read as a caravan comedy. Fortysomething Sarah takes her younger sister on an ill-advised holiday through the Highlands of Scotland: drink is taken, food is cobbled together, there is bad weather and worse parking as unsuitable men and unresolved teenage trauma intrude. This exuberantly funny road trip is also a love letter to the fractious bond between siblings. Dream State by Eric PuchnerIn this big, bittersweet American family saga, golden couple Cece and Charlie are preparing to marry – and then she meets his difficult, unhappy best friend … Mistakes are made and decades sweep by in an immersive panorama of friendship and rivalry, marriages and children, tragedy and love. Meanwhile, the climate crisis bites, and the sands of time are only running in one direction. A book to lose yourself in, but one that doesn't duck the big issues. The Names by Florence KnappThis year's buzziest debut lives up to the hype. It's a sliding doors story where the narrative splits into three paths after a mother registers her baby. We follow the lifelong implications of choosing three different names: Gordon, as her abusive husband (also Gordon) demands; the solid and confident Julian; or the wild yet cuddly Bear. The high concept is carried off with flair, in a tender, clear-eyed portrayal of the horrors of domestic violence and joys of family life. The Land in Winter by Andrew MillerUnseasonal reading, but Miller's tale of two young couples in the West Country who get snowed in during the big freeze of 1962-63 has an uncanny beauty and depth. The legacy of the second world war reaches into a present on the brink of seismic change, in a novel that travels into the darkest places of history and the strangest corners of the human mind. The Pretender by Jo HarkinBilled as 'Demon Copperhead meets Wolf Hall', this historical rollercoaster has a charm all of its own. In the chaotic wake of the Wars of the Roses, a farm boy is plucked from obscurity and groomed as the rightful heir to the throne. From Burgundy to Ireland to the paranoid court of Henry VII, Lambert Simnel's coming-of-age journey is wild indeed – but who is he really? A brainy, heartfelt delight. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean VuongThe follow-up to On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a lushly written panorama of unexpected connections and second chances, set in the struggling blue-collar town of East Gladness, Connecticut. Young Hai forges an unlikely friendship with elderly widow Grazina in a tale of precarity, endurance and small joys. Gunk by Saba SamsSams made a name with her spiky stories, Send Nudes; her first novel is an equally fresh and funny portrait of unexpected motherhood and alternative families, as thirtysomething Jules, the manager of a grimy Brighton club, finds herself in a not-quite-love triangle with her useless ex-husband and an unconventional young woman called Nim. Raw, tender and unusual. The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan CoeCoe has enormous fun with a cosy crime spoof set against the strange days of Liz Truss's time as PM. The mysteries – about a sinister rightwing thinktank, and a cult novelist – extend back to the 80s, in a book fuelled with bittersweet nostalgia as well as righteous contemporary anger. The Benefactors by Wendy ErskineThis polyphonic portrait of class, power and social exclusion in Northern Ireland – the debut novel from an award-winning short story writer – is centred on the assault of a teenage girl, and the reactions of the boys' parents. Erskine is a nimble, prodigiously talented author: funny and brutal by turns, with an extraordinary immediacy. Our Evenings by Alan HollinghurstSweeping yet intimate, Hollinghurst's seventh novel becomes a bravura history of English gay life from the 60s through to the pandemic, as it follows Dave Win from his schooldays, an outsider in a world of privilege, through an acting career and into late-life contentment. The Latehomecomer: Essential Stories by Mavis GallantA vital introduction to one of the greatest short-story writers, selected by Tessa Hadley. Canadian Gallant was a sharp-eyed observer of the migrations of the 20th century, imbuing her tales of ordinary people caught up in the tides of history with merciless comedy and flinty compassion. The Tiger's Share by Keshava GuhaA novel of ideas crossed with a juicy family saga, this state-of-the-nation snapshot of contemporary India wittily anatomises the battle for resources – environmental, financial, social – in a clash between ambitious daughters and complacent sons. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie HughesAn expat couple, digital nomads in a rapidly gentrifying Berlin, meticulously curate their lives – from recipes to LPs, houseplants to sex parties. But meaning and happiness remain stubbornly out of reach … A cool indictment of modern emptiness and global anomie; shortlisted for the International Booker. The Death of Us by Abigail DeanA horrific home invasion breaks open the cracks in a couple's relationship. Decades later, their attacker is caught and they must finally face up to the repercussions of that night. A crisply written, slow-burn psychological thriller from a crime writer at the peak of her powers. Audition by Katie KitamuraThis daring, riddling novel hinges on the relationship between a successful New York actor and a man young enough to be her son. It's a literary hall of mirrors that explores the deepest questions about performance, identity and how we relate to each other. Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica StanleyAustralian Coralie falls for single dad Adam and they make a perfectly imperfect life together. So why, a decade on, does she feel so lost? This relatable romcom explores what happens after the happy ever after (who gets the home office, and who does the childcare). Clever, funny, politically aware and full of literary in-jokes. We Do Not Part by Han Kang, translated by e yaewon and Paige MorrisAn investigation into historical atrocity from the Korean Nobel laureate and author of The Vegetarian. Kyungha travels to Jeju Island, answering a cry for help from an old friend; there, in an uncanny snow-filled landscape, a buried story comes into the light. A strange, beautiful and vital work. Fundamentally by Nussaibah YounisShortlisted for the Women's prize, this daring blackly comic debut follows a British academic who goes to work for the UN in Iraq, rehabilitating Islamic State brides – including bolshie east Londoner Sara, who joined IS at 15, and reminds her irresistibly of her younger self. A smart, informed critique of the hypocrisies of international aid that's also jampacked with action and jokes. Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt The poet and memoirist's debut novel is an achingly beautiful story of first love in the English countryside, recalled 20 years on. Sensitive teenager James falls for enigmatic Luke, but are his feelings requited? Lyrical, atmospheric and transporting. Men in Love by Irvine WelshWelsh pays another visit to Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie, now scattered across Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam and Paris in the wake of the double-crossing drug deal that closed Trainspotting. These are the post-heroin years, chasing romance, dance culture and material success, as the 90s dawn and a new era begins. Out on 24 July. Spent by Alison BechdelA new graphic novel from the author of Fun Home is always a joy. Spent finds Alison in midlife, running a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont with her wife, Holly, and considering late capitalism, evolving sexual etiquette, ethical living and her own privilege in a country on the verge of civil war. Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní ChuinnThere's excitement building around this young writer from the north of Ireland, whose debut collection comes out in mid-July. Ranging from the generational trauma of the Troubles to medical students' first dissection, the stories are scrupulous, surprising and entirely gripping. The arrival of a stunning new voice. Endling by Maria RevaA maverick scientist obsessed with rare snails, a marriage industry offering submissive brides for wealthy westerners, a country on the brink of war. Following an excellent short-story collection set in 1980s Soviet Ukraine, the Ukrainian-born Canadian writer comes right up to the minute with a fierce and funny road-trip novel which is – literally – interrupted by Russia's invasion. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WilliamsAs a senior adviser at Facebook, Wynn-Williams saw how its leaders operated at close quarters, wielding influence at home and sowing chaos abroad. Meta has called her account a 'false and defamatory book [that] should never have been published' – but since it was, readers are in a position to judge for themselves. When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines by Graydon CarterAs editor of Vanity Fair while it still had money coming out of its ears, Carter entertained the stars, nurtured great writers and even (occasionally) broke stories. Come for the gossip about Anna Wintour's table manners and Donald Trump's fingers, stay for the finely observed portrait of New York media before the fall. The Memoir, Part One by CherAs she charts her journey from poverty to the brink of superstardom, Cher remains 'as keenly sensitive to her own absurdity as she is to that of others', according to our reviewer. This first instalment of the singer's life story covers her childhood and early success with Sonny Bono. John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian LeslieThere have been many histories of the Beatles, emphasising splits in the band, coming down on the side of either McCartney's or Lennon's genius. Leslie takes a different approach, focusing on the intense bond between the two lead songwriters. Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen by Hallie RubenholdShe was described in contemporary accounts as 'a flashy, faithless shrew'. In reality, she was the blameless victim of a brutal psychopath. Here, Rubenhold, who brought Jack the Ripper's victims to life in The Five, gives Cora Crippen her due. Looking at Women Looking at War by Victoria AmelinaUkrainian novelist Amelina was recording her own wartime experiences – and those of the women around her – when she was killed at the age of 37 by a Russian missile. Our critic described the resulting book as 'an important piece of testimony and a precious, powerful work of literature: a steady beam of light born amid darkness and violence'. Minority Rule by Ash SarkarCampaigner and commentator Sarkar surveys the political landscape and finds the left ailing and unsuccessful amid resurgent populism. Where did it all go wrong? Her analysis calls for progressives to ditch identity politics and unite to topple the right. The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir by Edmund WhiteA riotous and raw account of gay sex spanning seven decades, this 'erotic almanac' turned out to be White's final work: he died, aged 85, at the beginning of June. A fitting signoff by onewriter called the 'patron saint of queer literature'. The Golden Throne: The Curse of a King by Christopher de BellaigueImmersing the reader in tales of power and intrigue at the Ottoman court of Suleyman the Magnificent, this propulsive history in novelistic mode has been dubbed by one critic 'Wolf Hall with sultans and eunuchs'. The Age of Diagnosis: Sickness, Health and Why Medicine Has Gone Too Far by Suzanne O'SullivanWhat do you get with a medical diagnosis? Relief? Effective treatment? Or a self-fulfilling prophecy? Neurologist O'Sullivan believes that doctors are casting the diagnostic net too wide, but she approaches her subject with compassion, wisdom and expertise, rather than culture-war carping. The CIA Book Club by Charlie EnglishCan literature bring down totalitarian governments? The CIA thought so, covertly funnelling Orwell, Solzhenitsyn and the occasional Agatha Christie to hungry readers in the Eastern Bloc. English's spy-inflected history makes the case for the political power of literature. Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global by Laura SpinneyBillions of people now speak languages descended from Proto-Indo-European, once the mother tongue of a small group of nomadic herders on the Eurasian steppe. How did their influence spread so widely? Spinney traces the indelible imprint of their culture and lexicon. Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger BregmanSo you've been blessed with the skills, self-discipline and means to succeed: what should you do? Don't work for a blue-chip law firm or financial services company, argues Bregman in this blend of manifesto and career manual, which encourages bright young things to use their talent in the service of climate action and human rights. A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda ArdernThe former prime minister of New Zealand navigated sexism, violence and a global pandemic during her time in office, becoming a household name in the process. She shares hard-won lessons on life and politics. Is a River Alive? by Robert MacfarlaneStanding in the middle of a torrent in Ecuador, Macfarlane begins to wonder why we restrict ideas of 'life', and the rights that come with it, to human beings. Nature, he argues, should be afforded the same respect. Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance by Joe DunthorneNovelist Dunthorne had always believed his family story was one of heroic escape from Nazi persecution. The truth, as he discovers after finally reading his great-grandfather's impenetrable memoir, is far more complicated – and much darker. The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West by Shaun WalkerGovernments usually know about the foreign spies in our midst – attached to embassies, with diplomatic cover stories, their existence is a mutually agreed on open secret. But there's another category – those who go deep underground, mingling with civilians and fooling everyone around them. Guardian reporter Walker tells their stories. The Heart-Shaped Tin: Love, Loss and Kitchen Objects by Bee WilsonWhen her husband left her, Wilson found herself surrounded by objects that reminded her of their life together, including the heart-shaped tin she used to bake their wedding cake. This is the jumping off point for a moving meditation on the role household items – 'kitchenalia' – play in our lives. No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain by Rebecca SolnitIn an inspiring series of essays, activist and author Solnit addresses the question of how to avoid despair, and keep engaged, in a world that seems to be stumbling from crisis to catastrophe. Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark by Frances WilsonA new biography of the singular writer examines her life up until the publication of her first novel at the age of 39, shedding light on her abusive marriage, the 'abandonment' of her son, and her religious conversion. Homework by Geoff DyerDyer, author of The Last Days of Roger Federer, returns with a wry but loving homage to small-town 60s and 70s England, conker fights and all. Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline FraserWhy has the Pacific Northwest been home to so many murderers, from Ted Bundy to the Green River Killer? The author of Prairie Fires weaves a different kind of true-crime narrative, in which the industrial history of the region plays a pivotal role. I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNallyThe founder of Balthazar and a slew of other taste-making restaurants blundered into his job as a New York busboy after just two weeks of trying to make it as a film-maker, and the rest is culinary history. From serving Patti Smith and Ingrid Bergman to hanging out with Lorne Michaels and Oliver Sacks, all New York life is here. We Were There by Lanre BakareIn this acclaimed cultural history of 1970s and 80s Britain, Guardian journalist Bakare uncovers lesser-known stories of Black life and activism outside London. Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness by David Attenborough and Colin ButfieldBritain's greatest naturalist teams up with producer and environmentalist Butfield for a lavishly photographed and scientifically rigorous look at how life in the seas is being affected by climate change. Matriarch by Tina KnowlesBeyoncé's mother has been intimately involved with her daughter's work, designing outfits for Destiny's Child and helping craft her solo image. But she has a story of her own to tell, of a family shaped by the legacy of slavery and a hardscrabble childhood in 1950s Texas. Intermezzo by Sally RooneyRooney's fourth novel takes us inside the minds of two very different brothers, a worldly-wise lawyer and a shy young chess prodigy, as they navigate bereavement and romance. A tender, thoughtful page-turner about the meaning of life. James by Percival EverettEverett retells the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved character Jim, exploring the silences and erasures of Mark Twain's problematic classic in a rollicking adventure that combines philosophical profundity with bitter black comedy. All Fours by Miranda JulyThis playful, no-holds-barred account of one woman wrestling with – and newly energised by – the life-upending changes of menopause has become a phenomenon. It's provocative, mind-expanding and always surprising. You Are Here by David NichollsTwo mismatched, disappointed midlifers; a hike across the Lake District; a tentative romance that is warmly hilarious but never sentimental. Pure pleasure in a paperback. The Safekeep by Yael van der WoudenIn the wake of the second world war, in the quiet Dutch countryside, repressed Isabel finds her beliefs and desires turned inside out. Shortlisted for the Booker and winner of the Women's prize, this striking debut is a measured excavation of 20th-century horrors as well as a subtle family saga and intense queer love story. The Secret Public by Jon Savage: How LGBTQ Resistance Shaped Popular Culture (1955–1979)Savage, a veteran chronicler of music culture, charts the slow but steady emergence of the queer sensibility in pop from Little Richard to David Bowie and Donna Summer, showing how it helped pave the way for social and political liberation. Broken Threads: A Family From Empire to Independence by Mishal HusainThe personal is geopolitical for the former Today programme presenter, who uses her own remarkable family as a lens through which to view the partition of India. Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie ElmhirstWhat happens to a marriage when the couple are forced to spend 118 days adrift in the ocean after a terrifying incident involving a whale? Elmhirst's Nero-prize winning true story asks deep questions about our capacity for hope and resilience. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtIn his urgent warning about the damaging effects of smartphones on the lives of children and teenagers psychologist Haidt analyses the evidence and offers advice for concerned parents. Question 7 by Richard FlanaganFlanagan's uncategorisable fusion of memoir and history tackles physics, war, childhood and environmental change – with a riveting near-death narrative thrown into the mix. A deserving winner of last year's Baillie Gifford prize. Recommended by Imogen Russell Williams Mouse by the Sea by Alice Melvin This gorgeous 4+ picture book is full of seaside delights – ice-creams, dunes and rock pool treasure hunts – with flaps to lift and a nature guide at the back. Pandora in Puzzlevale: The Secret Town by Paul Duffield, Poqu and Siobhan McKenna Puzzle lovers of 7 or 8+ will devour this brainteasing, interactive story, helping Pandora solve riddles to track down her missing parents and uncover the mysteries of Puzzlevale itself. Naeli and the Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan After losing her mother, Naeli leaves India to find her father with only a ticket to England, his name and her beloved violin. Her quest takes her from Hyderabad to a remote Northumberland farm, plunging her deep into a devious family plot in this absorbing, atmospheric 8+ historical adventure. Paddock Grove: A Pony to Own by JP Rose Winning a scholarship to Paddock Grove equestrian school is George's dream come true. But when her parents surprise her with scruffy, naughty pony Bear, it turns into a nightmare, especially when the other students make fun of them. Will George and Bear ever learn to trust each other and work together? A joyously satisfying pony book, first in a new 8+ series (out 3 July). Shadow Thieves by Peter Burns In an alternative London, Tom picks pockets to stay out of the workhouse – until his friends are caught, and a stranger offers him the chance to free them by joining an elite school for thieves. Can Tom adapt to his new milieu, save his friends and ward off the dangers threatening the school? This high-octane, fast-paced debut will be impossible to put down, especially for 9+ Skandar fans. Grimstink by Daniel Peak When alien warrior Grimstink arrives to annihilate life on Earth, 13-year-old Layla Tenby gets displaced to the planet he's just left. She's trying to dodge deathbots while Grimstink battles traffic wardens, the Subway ordering system and being hero-worshipped by Layla's younger brother. Is this the end of everything or the start of a beautiful friendship? An outrageously funny 9+ sci-fi caper by a Bafta-winning author (out 10 July). Kill Creatures by Rory Power Last summer, Nan's three best friends were lost, presumed drowned. Their fading tourist town has been in mourning ever since. Now, a year on, one of the girls has returned – to the joy of everyone but Nan, who killed them in the first place … A tense, enthralling psychological thriller for 14+, by the author of Wilder Girls. Lady's Knight by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner Blacksmith's daughter Gwen knows how to forge a sword – and also how to swing one. When she catches the eye of Lady Isobelle, promised in marriage to the winner of the upcoming tournament, Gwen quickly becomes Sir Gawain – but what will happen when their deception is unmasked? This riotously feminist YA romp is full of heart-fluttering queer romance, bitchy knights and angry dragons. Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara After escaping the palace, imperial ward Saphira lies low, letting her new master take credit for her skilled jewel-smithing. When the charismatic Serpent King comes searching for a bride, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal. Trapped in a marriage of convenience, can she ever win her liberty? A wild, intricate, romantic YA fantasy. Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick, Scholastic, £19.99 In 1986, 16-year-old Danny spends the summer in Rome, falling in love for the first time with a boy called Angelo and the many layered histories of the city. Selznick's soft, shaded images and lyrical storytelling combine to create a work of dreamy, poignant beauty. To explore all the books in the Guardian's summer reading list visit Delivery charges may apply.
