There is a big gap between the books adults think kids should read and the books children actually enjoy, says Georgina Atwell, founder of Toppsta, the book website centred on children’s opinions. She recommends the best new books for kids of 2025 based on feedback from young readers, from a universally loved picture book to immersive novels for confident readers.

We asked Five Books deputy editor Cal Flyn to compile an overview of the memoirs that won major literary prizes in the 2025 awards season: from the posthumously-published autobiography of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to a graphic memoir that wrestles with a legacy of intergenerational trauma.

The economic challenges we face today aren't the result of temporary shocks but structural changes that we need to grapple with, argues Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard and formerly the chief economic adviser to Barack Obama. He recommends five books to get us started—including the future of the dollar, China’s growth model, falling fertility, household financial fragility, and the enduring insights of Adam Smith.

Biography can be a tricky category to keep track of—being so varied in subject matter—so we asked our deputy editor Cal Flyn to put together an overview of the new biographies that won major British or American literary prizes in 2025: from a dual biography of rival Enlightenment scientists to a "compassionate" portrayal of a troubled trans icon.

From police procedurals and traditional mystery books to thrillers that take us to a dystopian future, our editor, Sophie Roell,  talks us through some of her favorite crime novels of the past year.

Whatever space an artist occupies, their ability to communicate to us a vision that emerges from that space takes us well beyond their practice and the space in which their art is made. As Debbie Hillyerd, Hauser & Wirth Partner and Senior Director of Learning, makes clear, we learn about the issues, political or cultural issues or technological issues of the day through their vision.

The Hugo Awards are an annual celebration of fantasy and sci fi work, chosen by fans. Our fantasy editor Sylvia Bishop introduces this year’s winners, with something for everyone to escape into – from the short story winner for a busy day, to the epic series for long winter evenings.

From in-depth accounts of the lives of literary giants to the ups and downs of an American frozen food dynasty, some notable biographies of 2025 have been turned into outstanding audiobooks. AudioFile magazine’s best audiobooks of the year also include heartfelt, bestselling memoirs—narrated by the authors themselves.

What are the most highly acclaimed novels of the year? We asked Five Books deputy editor Cal Flyn to put together a summary of award-winning fiction of 2025—novels that won major literary prizes in the English-speaking world—as one answer to this impossible question.

Cosmic horror explores the sublime, and so has the power to terrify and exhilarate us, says horror writer John Langan. He takes us through forests, cities, sewers and even beach holidays, introducing five books that will confront you with the unknown – and the unknowable.