At the start of the new year I typically write up lists of forthcoming fiction and non-fiction for different publications - always a fab way to get ahead of the year to come.
But I can’t always list every book I’ve been sent or told about, for various reasons including space. That leaves me with many books that I’ll hope to mention or cover in some way during the year when the books come out.
I’m also usually lucky enough by January to have a pile of proofs (preview versions of a forthcoming book) on my desk for the year ahead. So this year I thought I’d do something different on the newsletter, and highlight a big chunk of the 2025 proofs in audio form.
The books mentioned in the audio are for the most part (with a couple of exceptions) books I haven’t mentioned in any of the articles I’ve written so far. I’ve included several books that I’ve read (including a few I really loved) because I want to give you my thoughts. I literally sat down at my desk with the proofs while recording, so you’ll hear some shuffling of books and pages as I chat!
Before we get into the audio:
Here’s a link to my giant piece on non-fiction 2025 books in the Irish Independent.
My piece on Irish fiction for 2025 in The Journal, and my piece on international fiction in The Journal.
Books mentioned in the audio:
Here’s a list of the books mentioned in the podcast/audio clip, plus publishing date.
44 Poems on Being With Each Other - Pádraig Ó Tuama (30 Jan)
The Gorgeous Inertia of the Earth - Adrian Duncan (30 Jan)
The Boy From The Sea - Garrett Carr (6 Feb)
Frogs for Watchdogs - Seán Farrell (14 Feb)
In The Good Seats - Essays on film - PVA Books (26 Feb)
The Stolen Child - Carmel Harrington (27 Feb)
The Paris Express - Emma Donoghue (20 March)
There Came a Tapping - Andrea Carter (27 March)
Fair Play - Louise Hegarty (3 April)
The Best of Everything - Kit de Waal (10 April)
Burn After Reading - Catherine Ryan Howard (10 April)
Show Me Where it Hurts - Claire Gleeson (10 April)
Open, Heaven - Sean Hewitt (15 April)
What A Time to Be Alive - Jenny Mustard (24 April)
The Names - Florence Knapp (8 May)
Long Story - Vicki Notaro (5 June)
Let me know which ones tickle your fancy - and if you enjoyed this type of newsletter!
If audio doesn’t work for you, there should be a transcript and closed captions available on this page - if you have any issues accessing these please let me know.
Thanks to the publicists and publishers who sent me the proofs.
Share this post