Elevate Magazine: Must-Read Books for 2025
As we step into 2025, the literary world offers an exciting array of new releases that promise to engage, challenge, and captivate. From debut novels that push the boundaries of fiction to poetry collections that tackle powerful themes, this year’s books are set to redefine the landscape. Here are some standout titles that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on readers this year.
Colin Barrett – Wild Houses
Colin Barrett’s Wild Houses is a triumph in the world of contemporary fiction. Known for his mastery of short stories, Barrett takes his craft to new heights with his debut novel, which was recently longlisted for the Booker Prize. Wild Houses showcases Barrett’s trademark sharp wit and profound understanding of human relationships. Set in small, intricate worlds, the novel paints a vivid picture of the complexities that shape our connections. Barrett’s ability to blend humour with keen emotional insight makes this an essential read for anyone interested in the quiet intricacies of everyday life.
Kevin Barry – The Heart in Winter
Kevin Barry’s The Heart in Winter is the culmination of almost 25 years of literary work, yet it reads like a fresh, nimble narrative. At just 224 pages, it’s a sharp, fast-paced tale that mixes the chaotic energy of Deadwood with the biting humour of Blindboy Boatclub. Barry’s linguistic mastery and knack for crafting darkly comic characters shine through in this compelling story, which takes readers on a wild, unpredictable ride. The Heart in Winter is a must-read for those who enjoy bold, unconventional storytelling that packs a punch.
Colin Barrett’s Wild Houses is a triumph in the world of contemporary fiction. Known for his mastery of short stories, Barrett takes his craft to new heights with his debut novel, which was recently longlisted for the Booker Prize. Wild Houses showcases Barrett’s trademark sharp wit and profound understanding of human relationships. Set in small, intricate worlds, the novel paints a vivid picture of the complexities that shape our connections. Barrett’s ability to blend humour with keen emotional insight makes this an essential read for anyone interested in the quiet intricacies of everyday life.
Kevin Barry – The Heart in Winter
Kevin Barry’s The Heart in Winter is the culmination of almost 25 years of literary work, yet it reads like a fresh, nimble narrative. At just 224 pages, it’s a sharp, fast-paced tale that mixes the chaotic energy of Deadwood with the biting humour of Blindboy Boatclub. Barry’s linguistic mastery and knack for crafting darkly comic characters shine through in this compelling story, which takes readers on a wild, unpredictable ride. The Heart in Winter is a must-read for those who enjoy bold, unconventional storytelling that packs a punch.
Samantha Harvey – Orbital
In Orbital, Samantha Harvey delivers a stunning exploration of life, humanity and environmentalism through a uniquely optimistic lens. Set aboard the International Space Station, the novel offers a poetic meditation on our planet’s fragility. Combining elements of speculative fiction with a deeply human story, Harvey’s narrative invites readers to reflect on the urgent need to protect our world. With its graceful prose and thought-provoking themes, Orbital offers an unexpected but moving exploration of our place in the universe.
Rachael Allen – God Complex
Rachael Allen’s God Complex is a striking second poetry collection that intertwines ecological poetics with personal reflection. Allen’s work explores themes of love, partnership, and environmental degradation, bringing an unflinching honesty to her depiction of modern life. Through her sharp, evocative language, she invites readers to reflect on the tension between the mundane and the profound, making God Complex an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of personal and global crises.
In Orbital, Samantha Harvey delivers a stunning exploration of life, humanity and environmentalism through a uniquely optimistic lens. Set aboard the International Space Station, the novel offers a poetic meditation on our planet’s fragility. Combining elements of speculative fiction with a deeply human story, Harvey’s narrative invites readers to reflect on the urgent need to protect our world. With its graceful prose and thought-provoking themes, Orbital offers an unexpected but moving exploration of our place in the universe.
Rachael Allen – God Complex
Rachael Allen’s God Complex is a striking second poetry collection that intertwines ecological poetics with personal reflection. Allen’s work explores themes of love, partnership, and environmental degradation, bringing an unflinching honesty to her depiction of modern life. Through her sharp, evocative language, she invites readers to reflect on the tension between the mundane and the profound, making God Complex an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of personal and global crises.
Mary Costello – Barcelona
Mary Costello’s Barcelona is a quietly powerful collection of short stories that delves into the emotional and psychological dynamics within relationships. Costello’s careful attention to detail and her exploration of power dynamics between couples make this work a standout. Barcelona is a testament to the quiet wisdom that can be found in everyday life, offering readers a gentle but thought-provoking exploration of love, loss and self-discovery.
Sally Rooney – Intermezzo
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo further cements her place as one of the defining voices of her generation. Known for her deft exploration of millennial relationships and class, Rooney’s latest novel continues to examine the intricacies of human connection in the context of Ireland’s rural-urban divide. Intermezzo delivers Rooney’s signature sharpness and emotional depth, reaffirming her literary brilliance and her ability to reveal the complexities lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.
Mary Costello’s Barcelona is a quietly powerful collection of short stories that delves into the emotional and psychological dynamics within relationships. Costello’s careful attention to detail and her exploration of power dynamics between couples make this work a standout. Barcelona is a testament to the quiet wisdom that can be found in everyday life, offering readers a gentle but thought-provoking exploration of love, loss and self-discovery.
Sally Rooney – Intermezzo
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo further cements her place as one of the defining voices of her generation. Known for her deft exploration of millennial relationships and class, Rooney’s latest novel continues to examine the intricacies of human connection in the context of Ireland’s rural-urban divide. Intermezzo delivers Rooney’s signature sharpness and emotional depth, reaffirming her literary brilliance and her ability to reveal the complexities lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.
Gboyega Odubanjo – Adam
The posthumous release of Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam is a poignant and powerful debut collection of poetry. Filled with tributes to Black youth and culture, Odubanjo’s poems are a beautiful testament to resilience and identity in the face of societal adversity. Though heartbreakingly short, Adam offers readers a rich, urgent voice that echoes long after the final verse.
Gustav Parker Hibbett – High Jump as Icarus Story
Gustav Parker Hibbett’s debut poetry collection, High Jump as Icarus Story, explores themes of Black and queer identity with extraordinary depth. From the American Southwest to Ireland, Hibbett’s collection offers a poignant reflection on love, resilience and survival in the face of adversity. Shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize, High Jump as Icarus Story is a remarkable testament to the power of identity and belonging.
The posthumous release of Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam is a poignant and powerful debut collection of poetry. Filled with tributes to Black youth and culture, Odubanjo’s poems are a beautiful testament to resilience and identity in the face of societal adversity. Though heartbreakingly short, Adam offers readers a rich, urgent voice that echoes long after the final verse.
Gustav Parker Hibbett – High Jump as Icarus Story
Gustav Parker Hibbett’s debut poetry collection, High Jump as Icarus Story, explores themes of Black and queer identity with extraordinary depth. From the American Southwest to Ireland, Hibbett’s collection offers a poignant reflection on love, resilience and survival in the face of adversity. Shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize, High Jump as Icarus Story is a remarkable testament to the power of identity and belonging.
Scott McKendry – Gub
Set against the backdrop of Belfast, Scott McKendry’s Gub explores the lingering effects of the Troubles with sharp wit and lyrical intensity. McKendry’s inventive language and powerful storytelling make this debut collection a standout in contemporary poetry, offering a unique perspective on class, identity and the complexities of Northern Ireland’s social landscape.
William Rayfet Hunter – Sunstruck (Due May 2024)
William Rayfet Hunter’s highly anticipated novel Sunstruck, due out in May 2024, promises to be one of the most electrifying literary releases of the year. Set under the scorching, metaphorical sun, Sunstruck explores themes of ambition, identity and human connection. Hunter’s poetic and evocative prose invites readers into a world where desires, dreams, and the weight of the past collide. With an emotional depth and a lyrical flair, Sunstruck offers
Set against the backdrop of Belfast, Scott McKendry’s Gub explores the lingering effects of the Troubles with sharp wit and lyrical intensity. McKendry’s inventive language and powerful storytelling make this debut collection a standout in contemporary poetry, offering a unique perspective on class, identity and the complexities of Northern Ireland’s social landscape.
William Rayfet Hunter – Sunstruck (Due May 2024)
William Rayfet Hunter’s highly anticipated novel Sunstruck, due out in May 2024, promises to be one of the most electrifying literary releases of the year. Set under the scorching, metaphorical sun, Sunstruck explores themes of ambition, identity and human connection. Hunter’s poetic and evocative prose invites readers into a world where desires, dreams, and the weight of the past collide. With an emotional depth and a lyrical flair, Sunstruck offers
an unflinching exploration of the fragility of the human experience and the search for meaning amidst the heat of life’s complexities. This novel is poised to leave a lasting mark on readers and is a must-read for those seeking rich, introspective storytelling.
A Literary Landscape of Diversity and Depth
The books highlighted here represent the breadth of creativity, talent and innovation shaping the literary landscape in 2025. From insightful fiction to thought-provoking poetry, these works offer readers a chance to engage with important themes of love, identity and our shared humanity. For those seeking to expand their literary horizons, these titles are sure to inspire and captivate throughout the year.
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