April Highlights: Best Reviewed Nonfiction Titles

April and May 2025 bring a wealth of notable new book releases across fiction and nonfiction, with critics highlighting both bold narratives and thought-provoking histories. Among the best-reviewed fiction are Katie Kitamura’s 'Audition', praised for its psychological nuance and haunting meditation on identity, and David Szalay’s 'Flesh', a moving novel about overcoming adversity. In nonfiction, Diarmaid MacCulloch’s 'Lower Than the Angels' is lauded for its candid exploration of Christianity’s complex relationship with sexuality, while Elaine Pagels’ 'Miracles and Wonder' offers an illuminating investigation into the historical mystery of Jesus. Readers and writers alike are also recommending works that reimagine history and examine the natural world, such as Álvaro Enrigue’s 'You Dreamed of Empires' and Zoë Schlanger’s 'The Light Eaters', as well as engaging biographies and memoirs. The spring season’s new releases reflect a diverse literary landscape, with books that challenge perspectives, deepen understanding, and celebrate both personal and historical stories.