Books
The Skinny book guide – bringing you book reviews, features, events, reviews and author interviews. Find previews and on the ground reporting from festivals of literature and poetry in Scotland and beyond.
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Book ReviewsThe Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers
An affair mostly happens in a bored wife's mind in this interesting yet formally uninventive novel from Erin Somers Read more »| 12 Jan 2026 -
EventsScottish Books Events: January 2026
It's a quiet month for book events but there's still some big names – Ali Smith launches her latest novel Glyph, while Madeleine Gray, Bryan Washington and Tyler Coburn all hold launches too Read more »| 07 Jan 2026 -
Book ReviewsJackson Alone by Jose Ando
Despite a compelling premise, Jose Ando's workplace mystery lacks the clarity needed to fully satisfy Read more »| 05 Jan 2026 -
Book ReviewsAll Consuming by Ruby Tandoh
Ruby Tandoh returns with All Consuming, an investigation into how taste is formed Read more »| 09 Dec 2025 -
Book ReviewsOpen Wide by Jessica Gross
Jessica Gross explores ideas of attachment and romantic infatuation in her smart and funny body horror-cum-romance novel Read more »| 09 Dec 2025 -
FeaturesThe Skinny's Favourite Books of 2025
We asked The Skinny book team to name their favourite book of 2025 – it's not too late to make your reading goals for the year Read more »| 05 Dec 2025
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Book ReviewsTerry Dactyl by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore's transcendental novel explores the twin crises of AIDS and COVID-19 as lenses through which to explore the queer experience Read more »| 04 Dec 2025 -
FeaturesThe Skinny on... Michael Pedersen
Ahead of his annual Christmas show and New Year's Day appearance with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the incumbent Edinburgh Makar takes on our Q&A Read more »| 02 Dec 2025 -
Book ReviewsPalestine -1, ed. by Basma Ghalayini
In Comma Press's latest anthology, 12 writers imagine the year leading up to the Palestinian Nakba Read more »| 28 Nov 2025 -
FeaturesExpress Yourself: Jay Mitra on punk poetry
We chat with poet and multi-slam champion Jay Mitra about the role of punk in poetry ahead of their appearance at Push the Boat Out Festival Read more »| 12 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsBad Language by So Mayer
So Mayer's manifesto-memoir Bad Language explores words as weapons of oppression and resistance Read more »| 12 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsIn Love With Love by Ella Risbridger
Ella Risbridger's warm and witty In Love With Love is an intimate and thought-provoking love letter to romance literature Read more »| 06 Nov 2025 -
FeaturesDalia al-Dujaili on her memoir Babylon, Albion
We chat with author Dalia al-Dujaili about her migration memoir Babylon, Albion ahead of her appearance at Edinburgh's Radical Book Fair Read more »| 04 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsNoopiming: The Cure for White Ladies by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Anishinaabe author Leanne Betasamosake Simpson articulates the enduring spirit and colonial struggles through which their characters operate Read more »| 04 Nov 2025 -
Book ReviewsThe Wax Child by Olga Ravn
International Booker Prize-shortlisted author Olga Ravn returns with a new novel that's by turns delicate and visceral, pleasurable but disjointed Read more »| 03 Nov 2025