Catherine Newman’s “Wreck” brings back beloved narrator Rocky for a funnier, more poignant sequel. Facing a health scare and local tragedy in western Massachusetts, Rocky navigates family life with Nora Ephron-esque wit. Newman brilliantly blends domestic comedy with meditations on mortality, creating intelligent comfort reading that resonates deeply.
Arti Mishra’s new book, ‘The Silent Cage,’ stands out as an important work for India because, it brings to light the untold stories of women in rural and semi-urban India.
Twice for Mrs. Naren, published in 2025 by Rampart Books, is a sultry murder mystery that deftly blends elements of romance, crime, and psychological intrigue. Set against the vibrant yet chaotic backdrop of 1998 Delhi.
Vidya Math’s “The Book of Gems” emerges as a captivating new entry in the magical fantasy genre, serving as the much-anticipated sequel to her earlier work, “The Book of Stamps.” While the first novel introduced readers to the enchanting world of Zohor through the innocent eyes of a little girl named Othelia, this new installment delves into a more mature and introspective chapter of her life.
“Deceptive Murders” is an engaging, fast-paced crime mystery with deceptive twists and a reader-friendly structure. It excels as a focused page-turner, ideal if you enjoy concise thrillers that keep you guessing.
Verghese’s The Covenant of Water flows like Kerala’s monsoon rivers—patient, powerful, inevitable. Through three generations haunted by mysterious drownings, we discover how ancient wisdom meets modern medicine. This isn’t merely storytelling; it’s an immersion into lives connected by water’s eternal covenant, where individual sorrows merge into humanity’s greater current.
Rahul Maru’s book ‘Be the Sales Champion’ shifts away from pushy and spammy sales tactics and instead shows how you can bring meaning to your role as a salesperson. He infuses techniques and strategies how to remain in alignment with your calling, with yourself, with what you are selling, with your prospects, and with what you are saying to your prospects.
Mieko Kawakami’s Under the Eye of the Big Bird defies categorisation as part novel, part interlinked stories. Set in humanity’s distant future, this ambitious work explores extinction through fragmented narratives that gradually coalesce. Despite its bleak premise, moments of love and humour shine through, creating something genuinely original and haunting.
‘The Luminosity of Crystals & Dimensions of the Heart’ offers a blend of clean fantasy and insightful magical moments, making it a cozy and imaginative read for those who enjoy stories that step beyond the ordinary.
Salman Rushdie stands as one of contemporary literature’s most significant voices, fundamentally reshaping postcolonial narrative through magical realism. His masterpiece Midnight’s Children weaves personal and political history, creating a distinctive fusion of Eastern and Western storytelling that captures the complexity of cultural displacement and hybrid identity in our globalised world.
In a literary landscape often dominated by predictable storylines and familiar formats, “Heart Lamp” arrives like a bolt of lightning—unexpected, brilliant, and impossible to ignore. This year’s International Booker Prize winner has captivated readers worldwide with its innovative approach to storytelling and its deeply resonant themes.
The Tanzanian-born British novelist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021 “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents,” crafts narratives that deftly navigate the complex terrain of displacement, cultural identity, and the lingering shadows of empire.
Vidya Math is a Cambridge-based author who was born and raised in Scotland. Her background includes scientific discoveries in Microbiology, running a dance school, performing dance, and songwriting with a love for poetry. She has also written “The Book of Stamps” and “The Luminosity of Crystals & Dimensions of the Heart.” Some of her life’s skills are evident in this book such as dancing.
Han Kang’s literary landscape is one where beauty and brutality coexist in uncomfortable proximity, where the body becomes both canvas and battlefield for psychological and historical trauma. Her prose, marked by crystalline precision that renders the unbearable tangible, transforms collective wounds into universal meditations on human existence.
Paul Lynch occupies a singular position in contemporary Irish literature—a writer who has consistently pushed against the boundaries of conventional storytelling to excavate the darkest corners of human experience. His 2023 Booker Prize victory for Prophet Song represents acknowledgement of a literary project building momentum for over a decade.
Anappara’s fiction is deeply rooted in the bustling, chaotic landscape of modern India, where gleaming shopping centres cast shadows over sprawling slums, and where children navigate between hope and despair with remarkable resilience. Her writing demonstrates a profound understanding of class dynamics, urban inequality, and the particular vulnerabilities of India’s most disadvantaged communities.
‘Contours of Him’ brings remarkable depth to our understanding of men and their bodies, helping to redefine masculinity in ways that are more compassionate, complex, and authentic. By inviting readers into intimate relationships with the physical male form as experienced across diverse cultures, this anthology advances our collective conversation about gender and embodiment
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s revolutionary decision to abandon English for Gikuyu represented more than linguistic choice—it constituted a radical political act challenging European cultural hegemony. His transformation from James Ngugi symbolises the broader decolonisation project that has defined his career, fundamentally reshaping postcolonial literature and inspiring indigenous language movements worldwide.
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ emerges as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African literature, establishing herself through work that interrogates Nigerian society whilst maintaining unflinching commitment to authentic storytelling. Her nuanced exploration of marriage, family dynamics, and societal expectations creates literature that resonates both locally and globally.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” stands as one of the most compelling and devastating literary works to emerge from postcolonial African literature, offering readers an unflinching examination of the Nigerian Civil War through the interconnected lives of characters whose personal struggles mirror the broader tragedy of a nation tearing itself apart.
The Asian Review 