Hardcovers are heavy and expensive. Here are 15 new paperbacks worth reading.

Washington Post

31-03-2025

In this new recurring feature, Book World editors round up each month's notable paperback releases.
This Booker Prize finalist experiments with form, using short vignettes to stitch together a chronology of nearly 120 years, beginning with a World War I soldier lying injured on a battlefield, reminiscing about the love of his life. In his review for The Washington Post, Ron Charles called it 'one of the most romantic books I've ever read.'
This Booker Prize finalist experiments with form, using short vignettes to stitch together a chronology of nearly 120 years, beginning with a World War I soldier lying injured on a battlefield, reminiscing about the love of his life. In his review for The Washington Post, Ron Charles called it 'one of the most romantic books I've ever read.'
Robinson's latest is a study of the complex joy and pain of late-life love. It follows Sarah, a divorced, 60-year-old art curator, who runs into Warren, a long-married architect who is also 60. The two dated in their youth; when past feelings resurface, complications ensue, conveyed in writing that is unfailingly clear-eyed and packed with psychological insights.
Robinson's latest is a study of the complex joy and pain of late-life love. It follows Sarah, a divorced, 60-year-old art curator, who runs into Warren, a long-married architect who is also 60. The two dated in their youth; when past feelings resurface, complications ensue, conveyed in writing that is unfailingly clear-eyed and packed with psychological insights.
The debut novel by Gordon, an editor at the Atlantic and a widely published arts journalist, is about a 31-year-old writer who reinvestigates the death many years ago of a high school friend. A podcast ensues. So do thoughts about popular culture and how millennials are handling the march of time.
The debut novel by Gordon, an editor at the Atlantic and a widely published arts journalist, is about a 31-year-old writer who reinvestigates the death many years ago of a high school friend. A podcast ensues. So do thoughts about popular culture and how millennials are handling the march of time.
In Bertino's third novel, Adina, a girl born in Philadelphia in 1977, is actually an emissary from space, sent to report on the potential habitability of Earth and human behavior — via fax machine. Part science fiction, part coming-of-age tale, the book showcases a singular imagination.
In Bertino's third novel, Adina, a girl born in Philadelphia in 1977, is actually an emissary from space, sent to report on the potential habitability of Earth and human behavior — via fax machine. Part science fiction, part coming-of-age tale, the book showcases a singular imagination.
This novel by the undersung Welsh writer Davies opens with a flat-broke minister deposited on a remote northern Scottish island to evict a tenant farmer named Ivar. What follows is a story of connection and communication as the two men come to know each other, rendered in deft and visceral prose.
This novel by the undersung Welsh writer Davies opens with a flat-broke minister deposited on a remote northern Scottish island to evict a tenant farmer named Ivar. What follows is a story of connection and communication as the two men come to know each other, rendered in deft and visceral prose.
Bullwinkel's first novel centers on eight American teens who are competing in Reno, Nevada, to win the Women's Youth Boxing Association title. As the tournament unfolds, readers learn the backstories of each athlete — about their families and personal struggles — and Bullwinkel's spare, evocative prose and eye for unusual details elevate this book beyond a typical sports novel.
Bullwinkel's first novel centers on eight American teens who are competing in Reno, Nevada, to win the Women's Youth Boxing Association title. As the tournament unfolds, readers learn the backstories of each athlete — about their families and personal struggles — and Bullwinkel's spare, evocative prose and eye for unusual details elevate this book beyond a typical sports novel.
Over a 35-year career, Swisher has become the most recognizable chronicler of the digital revolution. In this breezy memoir, the high-flying journalist intersperses tech industry lore with tidbits of gossip, behind-the-scenes backstories and zesty one-liners. Along the way we encounter, through her eyes, some of the legends of the digital economy, including Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
Over a 35-year career, Swisher has become the most recognizable chronicler of the digital revolution. In this breezy memoir, the high-flying journalist intersperses tech industry lore with tidbits of gossip, behind-the-scenes backstories and zesty one-liners. Along the way we encounter, through her eyes, some of the legends of the digital economy, including Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
Growing up in Upstate New York, Majors was often teased for having lighter skin than his four siblings and being able to pass as White. His family had lived in this rural town for decades — trapped by poor education, housing discrimination and a lack of jobs. 'Their wounds just festered and their sins multiplied,' Majors writes. His book is a plainspoken, heartfelt chronicle of his attempt to both escape and understand his past — and to forge his own identity.
Growing up in Upstate New York, Majors was often teased for having lighter skin than his four siblings and being able to pass as White. His family had lived in this rural town for decades — trapped by poor education, housing discrimination and a lack of jobs. 'Their wounds just festered and their sins multiplied,' Majors writes. His book is a plainspoken, heartfelt chronicle of his attempt to both escape and understand his past — and to forge his own identity.
This wide-ranging and delightful survey by journalist Green is packed with fascinating facts. With infectious humor and enthusiasm, she introduces us to ideas from exobiology (the study of life on other worlds) and researchers who study exoplanets (worlds beyond our solar system), pointing out that these fields rely as heavily on science fiction as on mathematical probabilities.
This wide-ranging and delightful survey by journalist Green is packed with fascinating facts. With infectious humor and enthusiasm, she introduces us to ideas from exobiology (the study of life on other worlds) and researchers who study exoplanets (worlds beyond our solar system), pointing out that these fields rely as heavily on science fiction as on mathematical probabilities.
Manne, a philosopher, argues that fatphobia is a form of structural oppression. She wrote this book, a finalist for a National Book Award, after losing nearly 50 pounds in one year, largely through brutal bouts of self-starvation. After this wake-up call, she decided she wouldn't let her beloved daughter grow up in a home — in a world — where being thin was valued far above physical and mental well-being.
Manne, a philosopher, argues that fatphobia is a form of structural oppression. She wrote this book, a finalist for a National Book Award, after losing nearly 50 pounds in one year, largely through brutal bouts of self-starvation. After this wake-up call, she decided she wouldn't let her beloved daughter grow up in a home — in a world — where being thin was valued far above physical and mental well-being.
In this thorough and sensitive work, historian Geroulanos shows that both wistful and disdainful depictions of the past have been used to justify atrocities in the present, and he complicates the increasingly widespread belief that pining for the past is an exclusively conservative pastime.
In this thorough and sensitive work, historian Geroulanos shows that both wistful and disdainful depictions of the past have been used to justify atrocities in the present, and he complicates the increasingly widespread belief that pining for the past is an exclusively conservative pastime.
Kaplan, the author of a two-volume biography of Frank Sinatra, here offers a compelling biography of Davis, Coltrane and Evans before, during and after their recording sessions for Davis's revolutionary classic 'Kind of Blue.'
Kaplan, the author of a two-volume biography of Frank Sinatra, here offers a compelling biography of Davis, Coltrane and Evans before, during and after their recording sessions for Davis's revolutionary classic 'Kind of Blue.'
Alexander structures this biography around Holiday's final year, flashing back to other periods in her life. He charts how an exceedingly difficult life was transformed into heartbreakingly beautiful, timelessly classic songs.
Alexander structures this biography around Holiday's final year, flashing back to other periods in her life. He charts how an exceedingly difficult life was transformed into heartbreakingly beautiful, timelessly classic songs.
In this novel, a smash hit in Norlin's native Sweden and currently being adapted for TV, an exhausted journalist heads to the woods for rejuvenation. There she finds seven people living in a commune of sorts, though they defy New Age stereotypes. ('Their bodies like a cross-section of bus passengers, they looked like anyone at all. They might as well have been a group of computer programmers.') As she gets to know them, we learn of the group's eventful history.
In this novel, a smash hit in Norlin's native Sweden and currently being adapted for TV, an exhausted journalist heads to the woods for rejuvenation. There she finds seven people living in a commune of sorts, though they defy New Age stereotypes. ('Their bodies like a cross-section of bus passengers, they looked like anyone at all. They might as well have been a group of computer programmers.') As she gets to know them, we learn of the group's eventful history.
Midway across the Atlantic Ocean, a cargo ship with a highly organized female captain stops so its crew of 20 men can enjoy a leisurely swim. When the boat continues on its way, the crew is 21. How that could be true is the slowly approached mystery of this unnerving novel by a French playwright.
Midway across the Atlantic Ocean, a cargo ship with a highly organized female captain stops so its crew of 20 men can enjoy a leisurely swim. When the boat continues on its way, the crew is 21. How that could be true is the slowly approached mystery of this unnerving novel by a French playwright.