Books

8 hrs ago

A person wearing dark-framed glasses and a light-coloured check-patterned jacket stands in front of a promotional backdrop. The backdrop displays logos including Women's Prize for Fiction 2025, Women's Prize Outstanding Contribution, Audible and Bukhman Philanthropies. The person is facing the camera with hands clasped in front of them.

'I was heading for a breakdown, then books saved my life'

Birmingham author Kit de Waal says a chance conversation changed her life after she left home at 16.

8 hrs ago

1 day ago

Boris Karloff as the creature in Frankenstein (Credit: Alamy)

Why Frankenstein is so misunderstood

A classic of the horror genre that has inspired generations, why is the message of Shelley's 19th-Century novel still overshadowed by its success, more than two centuries on?

1 day ago

A man wearing glasses and a grey coat with a blue shirt underneath looking at the camera.

'Unknown' spy thriller shortlisted for annual award

Ben Macintyre speaks of crafting spy thriller Redwood - a true story that is stranger than fiction.

1 day ago

An illustration featuring the brown Gruffalo holding a wooden spoon next to a smaller creature inside a cave, looking towards a grey, furry character with a walking stick at the entrance.

Gruffalo illustrator considering legal action against AI firms

Axel Scheffler believes firms breach copyright by reproducing his work in AI-generated Gruffalo images.

1 day ago

2 days ago

Close up photo of Emma Cline against the backdrop of a collaged book covers of Switzy (Credit: Penguin/ Caroline Tompkins)

The deathly book that caused a prize controversy

Despite tough subject matter, Emma Cline's novel about a man with dementia choosing to end his life has been one of 2026's hits – and its exclusion from the Booker has caused outrage.

2 days ago

4 days ago

A young woman wearing a black jumper and her hair tied back is smiling, holding a colourful book in front of a bookshop display

ACOTAR fans put real life on hold for latest release

Some fans take the week off to read the latest instalment of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

4 days ago

A wooden stand with copies of the latest ACOTAR release.

Romance and all things fae as new ACOTAR book hits shelves

A Court of Splintered Harmony was released in UK bookshops at midnight on Tuesday.

4 days ago

Katie and Amy stand side by side and smile at the camera. Katie on the left has long, dark hair and is wearing a black jacket. On the right, Amy has shoulder-length, blonde hair and is wearing a pair of black framed glasses and a black leather jacket. Both are stood in front of a large bookshelf.

'I love to escape into a fantasyland of fairies': Fans rejoice as new 'romantasy' book hits shelves

About 40 fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses series celebrated at a "lock-in" event in Carrickfergus.

4 days ago

5 days ago

A black and white photograph of a young child sits with a stuffed teddy bear (Credit: Getty Images

Why the real Christopher Robin resented Pooh Bear

AA Milne's first Pooh book was published a century ago. Its inspiration, the author's own son, told the BBC why he took to "running away when people bring up the subject".

5 days ago