Plaything by Bea Setton review: It’s not just the mice who suffer in this Covid-era novel
A cold novel, then, but one that will remain with John Boyne
Silverback by Phil Harrison: Dark and unnerving tale of heartless fathers and damaged sons in Belfast
Harrison conjures a malignant universe of betrayals, fights and even sado-masochism
Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands: From pishpuddles to pee-the-beds
Humourless narrator is difficult to root for in this novel set in Fife, Scotland
The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas: A love story par excellence
A novel about two damaged men who understand that when a decent guy shows up, he needs to be held close
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham: Does not deliver enough despite an intriguing depiction of Barack Obama
US politics junkies will find things to relish but this novel falls short of being revelatory
Hey, Zoey by Sarah Crossan: shocking and moving
A wife discovering a sex doll is the catalyst but the author offers deep insights into loneliness and human frailty
Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna: Impressive debut with hints of rap as a novel
Compelling narrative is set across one long, sweltering weekend in London
Spirit Level by Richy Craven: A winningly daft comic novel with more than enough laughs to keep the pages turning
A fatal drink-driving incident might not seem like an obvious premise for a comic novel, but the author makes a lighthearted read of the supernatural consequences
The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota: Brave exploration of class and race from multiple angles
Sunjeev Sahota’s tale of a trade union is politically charged but shifting narrative voice is a flaw
Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan: enjoyable but groans under the weight of its own ambition
The strands of this 700-page novel feel more like a series of loosely-linked narratives than a cohesive whole
John Boyne on Family Politics by John O’Farrell: hilarious and highly relevant
Labour supporters the Hughes are caught in a bind when their son switches sides
The Tower by Flora Carr: a gripping, claustrophobic read
John Boyne: Carr builds a gripping and claustrophobic read of an incarceration
Pity by Andrew McMillan: Hardship, disaster and hidden love in Thatcher’s Britain
The debut novel from a writer better known for his poetry is overall a resounding success
‘None of the characters seems curious while the romantic lives of the students aren’t touched on at all’
Come and Get It reads like the work of a skilled novelist who has lumbered herself with a story that just isn’t very interesting
Wellness by Nathan Hill: A faded romance worth rooting for
Though his second novel could have done with more ruthless editing, Hill is a hugely entertaining voice in American fiction