{"id":345329,"date":"2025-12-15T13:41:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T13:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/entertainment\/books\/books-of-the-year-2025-part-four\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T13:41:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T13:41:13","slug":"books-of-the-year-2025-part-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=345329","title":{"rendered":"Books of the Year 2025: Part Four"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"text\" wp_automatic_readability=\"119.0197545645\">\n<p>We\u2019re racing towards the end of the year although I spent several weeks of 2025\u2019s last quarter going nowhere very much thanks to plantar fasciitis. Several absorbing novels kept me going, beginning with one which grew out of a social media post during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35649\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20188%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for The Two Roberts by Damian Barr\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts-188x300.webp 188w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts.webp 314w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts-188x300.webp\"\/><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35649\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts-188x300.webp\" alt=\"Cover image for The Two Roberts by Damian Barr\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts-188x300.webp 188w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Two-Roberts.webp 314w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\"\/>Damian Barr\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/10\/the-two-roberts-by-damian-barr-the-golden-boys-of-bond-street\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>The Two Roberts<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is about Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, working class Scottish artists who met on their first day at the Glasgow School of Art in 1933, falling in love at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Bobby, as MacBryde was known, is the extrovert whose open gestures of affection make the buttoned-up Robert nervous. When Robert wins a travelling scholarship, Bobby\u2019s second place is so close he\u2019s also awarded a grant. Their adventure begins in Paris, then Italy before it\u2019s cut short by the impending war but not before laying the foundations of a life together that will see them feted by rich patrons, poverty stricken and homeless, their work bought by New York\u2019s MOMA, then sinking into obscurity, all the time loving each other, fighting, drinking and working ceaselessly. Barr\u2019s gorgeous, immersive love story introduced me to two artists whose work in their heyday was compared to Braque and Picasso.<\/p>\n<p>October\u2019s second favourite was Souvankham Thammavongsa\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/10\/pick-a-colour-by-souvankham-thammavongsa-a-day-in-the-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Pick a Colour<\/em><\/strong><\/a> set over a day in a nail salon run by Ning who, in <picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-35182\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour-187x300.jpg.webp 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour.jpg.webp 311w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20187%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour.jpg 311w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour-187x300.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cover image for Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Pick-a-Colour.jpg 311w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\"\/>\n<\/picture>\nanother life, was a boxer. Everyone\u2019s called Susan at Ning\u2019s salon: it saves on nametags and avoids confusing the customers to whom they all look the same, anyway. Regulars and walk-ins are skilfully persuaded into extras, share their unhappiness and problems, offer unsolicited advice, unaware of the scathing, often funny back and forth between Ning\u2019s team conducted in their own language offering their views on these entitled clients who notice next to nothing about the women who are performing intimate services for them, and care less. I\u2019d been keen to read this one having enjoyed Thammavongsa\u2019s Giller-Prize-winning short story collection, <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2020\/05\/how-to-pronounce-knife-by-souvankham-thammavongsa-theyd-had-to-begin-all-over-again-as-if-the-life-they-led-before-didnt-count\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>How to Pronounce Knife<\/em><\/a>, one of 2020\u2019s standouts, and it didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35769\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20194%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for The Wax Child by Olga Ravn\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child-194x300.webp 194w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child.webp 324w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child-194x300.webp\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35769\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child-194x300.webp\" alt=\"Cover image for The Wax Child by Olga Ravn\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child-194x300.webp 194w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Wax-Child.webp 324w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\"\/>Four excellent November reads rounded off the year beginning with one from a Booker Prize International shortlisted author I\u2019d not come across before. Set in the seventeenth century, Olga Ravn\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/11\/the-wax-child-by-olga-ravn-transl-martin-aitken-i-am-not-a-child-only-something-that-looks-like-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>The Wax Child<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is narrated by the titular child moulded by an impoverished noblewoman charged with witchcraft. Christenze lives in a friend\u2019s household, helping with the birth of Anne\u2019s many children, none of whom survive more than a few days. When Anne\u2019s hope turns to a bitterness, she points a finger at Christenze who flees before accusations are voiced but finds herself under suspicion again. Evidence is gathered and paid for, torture administered, confessions extracted, convictions declared and cruel punishment handed down. As you might expect from a poet, Ravn\u2019s writing is arrestingly vivid. Kudos to Martin Aitken for his expert translation.<\/p>\n<p>Set during in Italy\u2019s Years of Lead, marked by atrocities and violent clashes between the extreme Left and Right, Olivia Laing\u2019s<picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-35656\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book-187x300.jpg.webp 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book.jpg.webp 311w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20187%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for The Silver Book by Olivia Laing\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book.jpg 311w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book-187x300.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book-187x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cover image for The Silver Book by Olivia Laing\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book-187x300.jpg 187w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The-Silver-Book.jpg 311w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\"\/>\n<\/picture>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/11\/the-silver-book-by-olivia-laing-we-are-all-in-danger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>The Silver Book<\/em><\/strong><\/a> follows Nicholas who has fled London for Venice. After a chance encounter with costume and set designer, Danilo Donati, he finds himself working first on Fellini\u2019s <em>Casanova<\/em>, then Pasolini\u2019s <em>Sal\u00f2<\/em>, a reimagining of De Sade\u2019s <em>The 120 days of Sodom<\/em> played out against the backdrop of the eponymous republic where Mussolini was installed by the Nazis. When <em>Casanova<\/em> resumes, Danilo and Nicholas return to Rome where the delight of finishing the film is interrupted by news of Pasolini\u2019s brutal murder. There\u2019s a convenient confession, but no one really believes the confessor. The blurb uses the word \u2018noirish\u2019 presumably for the mystery of what\u2019s brought Nicholas to Italy but this is much more a beautifully executed novel of ideas wrapped up in an homage to Italian cinema which sounds a loud warning about our own times.<\/p>\n<p><picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-36167\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl-199x300.jpg.webp 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl.jpg.webp 332w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20199%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl.jpg 332w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl-199x300.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cover image for Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bad-Bad-Girl.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\"\/>\n<\/picture>\nGish Jen\u2019s difficult-to-categorise <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/11\/bad-bad-girl-by-gish-jen-a-novel-with-some-truth-in-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Bad Bad Girl<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is the story of her mother\u2019s life: a novelisation, leaning very much towards memoir. Born to a privileged family in 1924, Jen\u2019s mother was the first child of a progressive father prescient enough to encourage her ambition to study in America where she meets her Chinese husband. She gives birth first to a son, then to Lillian who eventually chooses to go by her nickname Gish, followed by three more children. Lillian forges ahead with little support, her friends shocked by her treatment at home not least the violence dished out by her mother, but only to Lillian. Jen\u2019s achingly poignant book is a moving depiction of a dysfunctional relationship which has grown out of an equally difficult one.<\/p>\n<p>My last book of 2025 was a surprise hit for me. Aja Gabel\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/11\/lightbreakers-by-aja-gabel-a-story-of-impossible-things-made-possible\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Lightbreakers<\/em><\/strong><\/a> follows Noah, who\u2019s been invited to take part in<picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-36001\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers-199x300.jpg.webp 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers.jpg.webp 331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" www.w3.org=\"\" 2000=\"\" svg\"%20viewbox=\"0%200%20199%20300\" %3e%3c=\"\" svg%3e\"=\"\" alt=\"Cover image for Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" data-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers.jpg 331w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers-199x300.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cover image for Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/t9z6e6y4.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lightbreakers.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\"\/>\n<\/picture>\n what is essentially a time travel experiment funded by a billionaire, and his wife, Maya, stalled in her art and needing a direction, who accompanies him out into the Texan desert. Together for eight years, they\u2019ve reached a stage where a decision must be made about having children, complicated by the loss of Noah\u2019s daughter with his ex-wife and the grief that split them apart. Once inducted into the Janus Project, it\u2019s clear that Noah\u2019s to be the subject rather than involved in its design, a human lab rat to be \u2018folded\u2019 into time. I enjoyed this touching, immersive novel which poses questions about our versions of the past and the danger of not letting go while making the timely point that the desire of the ultra-rich to play God is a pernicious one.<\/p>\n<p>And if I had to choose one? Impossible, as ever, but <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/07\/seascraper-by-benjamin-wood-vividly-atmospheric\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Seascraper<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/03\/woman-in-blue-by-douglas-bruton-he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Woman in Blue<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/03\/a-room-above-a-shop-by-anthony-shapland-a-love-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>A Room Above a Shop<\/em> <\/strong><\/a>are all in the frame.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s it for 2025\u2019s books of the year. Thanks to all who stayed the course and for those who\u2019d like to catch up, the first three parts are <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/12\/books-of-the-year-2025-part-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/12\/books-of-the-year-2025-part-two\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alifeinbooks.co.uk\/2025\/12\/books-of-the-year-2025-part-three\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Time to look forward to 2026\u2019s treats\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded\" id=\"like-post-wrapper-52859811-36665-69400ff9430d4\" data-src=\"https:\/\/widgets.wp.com\/likes\/?ver=15.3.1#blog_id=52859811&amp;post_id=36665&amp;origin=alifeinbooks.co.uk&amp;obj_id=52859811-36665-69400ff9430d4\" data-name=\"like-post-frame-52859811-36665-69400ff9430d4\" data-title=\"Like or Reblog\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Like this:<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"button\"><span>Like<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"loading\">Loading&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sd-text-color\"\/><a class=\"sd-link-color\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;margin-top:32px;margin-bottom:32px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px\" wp_automatic_readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-bottom:24px\"\/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:10px\">Discover more from A Life in Books<\/h3>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:15px\">Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re racing towards the end of the year although I spent several weeks of 2025\u2019s last quarter going nowhere very much thanks to plantar fasciitis. Several absorbing novels kept me going, beginning with one which grew out of a social media post during the pandemic. Damian Barr\u2019s The Two Roberts is about Robert MacBryde and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[144521,168038,1752,168039,168040,168041,144523,79594,168042,3341,168043,69472,168044,168045,168046,629],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-345329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","tag-aja-gabel","tag-bad-bad-girl","tag-books","tag-books-of-the-year-2025","tag-damian-barr","tag-gish-jen","tag-lightbreakers","tag-olga-ravn","tag-olivia-laing","tag-part","tag-pick-a-colour","tag-souvankham-thammavongsa","tag-the-silver-book","tag-the-two-roberts","tag-the-wax-child","tag-year"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Books of the Year 2025: Part Four - 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