Brilliant books in translation

Translated by Joheun Lee

Why read this: Darkly funny, unsettling and razor-sharp, Holy Boy is an electrifying Korean thriller that explores obsession, fandom and the dangerous blur between devotion and possession. What begins as an extreme act of adoration – four fans kidnapping their beloved K-pop idol – quickly spirals into psychological chaos as paranoia, delusion and violence take hold inside a secluded mansion. As the women’s carefully constructed fantasy begins to fracture, Lee Heejoo delivers a gripping descent into toxic idol culture, identity and the terrifying consequences of worshipping perfection. Disturbing, addictive and impossible to look away from, this is fandom horror at its most unhinged.

If you’re looking for: Korean thrillers, dark satire, psychological horror, K-pop culture.

Great for fans of: Butter by Asako Yuzuki, Earthlings by Sayaka Murata and In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami. 

What the experts say: ‘Terrific . . . Lee Heejoo does a wonderful job creating an unhinged, febrile tension and ramping up the sense of foreboding.’ – The Guardian 

Translated by Janet Hong

Why read this: Heartwarming, hopeful and full of quiet emotional wisdom, The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving Korean million-copy bestseller about community, compassion and the possibility of starting over. When Mrs. Yeom offers a homeless man named Dokgo a simple meal after he returns her lost wallet, neither expects their lives – or their neighbourhood – to change forever. As Dokgo slowly becomes part of the convenience store’s daily rhythm, long-buried secrets begin to surface, forcing him to confront the past he cannot remember. Tender and uplifting, this is a story about kindness, belonging and the small acts that can transform a life.

If you’re looking for: Korean fiction, healing narratives, found family, second chances.

Great for fans of: Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa.

What the experts say: ‘Dok-go's realistic and encouraging relationship with the store's customers, who have their problems and aspirations resolved so well through the pages, wins everyone's hearts’ – The Korea Times.

Translated by Jamie Chang

Why read this: Quietly devastating and profoundly humane, Concerning My Daughter is a powerful Korean novel that examines prejudice, ageing and the fragile complexities of familial love. When Green moves back in with her mother alongside her girlfriend, Lane, long-held assumptions about family and respectability begin to fracture. As tensions simmer at home, the mother’s work caring for an elderly dementia patient forces her to confront difficult questions about dignity, loneliness and the value society places on unconventional lives. Spare yet emotionally rich, Kim Hye-jin’s novel is an intimate exploration of generational conflict that unfolds with remarkable compassion and nuance.

If you’re looking for: Family dynamics, LGBTQ+ themes, social commentary, thought-provoking contemporary fiction.

Great for fans of: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo, An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk and Sign by Jessie Greengrass.

What the experts say: 'I can't help but be moved by a story about women meeting, fighting, helping each other, looking after one another, and raising their voices against the prejudice and criticism they are subject to.' – Cho Nam-joo, author of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 

Translated by Laurel Taylor & Hitomi Yoshio

Why read this: A raw, emotionally charged coming-of-age novel, Sisters in Yellow showcases why translated fiction continues to resonate so powerfully with readers worldwide – offering intimate insight into lives, cultures and perspectives that feel both deeply specific and universally human. Mieko Kawakami’s latest novel is an atmospheric portrait of friendship, ambition and survival in 1990s Tokyo. Fifteen-year-old Hana longs for stability and belonging, and when the magnetic Kimiko enters her life, the shabby bar they build together becomes a fragile sanctuary. But beneath the neon glow and fleeting glamour lies something darker. Tender yet unsparing, this is a gripping exploration of girlhood, class and betrayal from one of contemporary fiction’s most fearless voices.

If you’re looking for: Coming-of-age stories, female friendship, literary fiction, 1990s Tokyo, class and poverty.

Great for fans of: Haruki Murakami's books, Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami.

What the experts say:
‘Relentlessly riveting . . . My heart felt very tender reading this. Astonishing Kawakami, as always’ – Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your Face

Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot

Why read this: The latest instalment in Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beloved million-copy bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, Before I Knew I Loved You returns readers to the enchanting Funiculi Funicula café, where a single cup of coffee offers the chance to revisit the past. Through four interconnected journeys across time, Kawaguchi explores grief, regret and the enduring power of love with tenderness and compassion. Whether it’s a chance to reconcile with family, seek closure from lost love or glimpse an uncertain future, each story gently asks what it truly means to cherish the people in our lives before it’s too late.

If you’re looking for: Cosy Japanese fiction, time travel stories, healing reads, found family.

Great for fans of: Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa.

Translated by Jesse Kirkwood

Why read this: For readers drawn to the reflective beauty of translated Japanese fiction, The Lantern of Lost Memories is a quietly moving novel about memory, regret and the moments that shape us. Set in a mysterious photo studio suspended between life and death, the novel follows guests as they revisit treasured memories through old photographs, searching for peace before moving on. As each character relives a single pivotal day, Sanaka Hiiragi explores how memory can soften, distort and heal over time. Gentle, life-affirming and full of emotional insight, this is a comforting read.

If you’re looking for: Cosy Japanese fiction, healing narratives, memory and nostalgia, found family.

Great for fans of: Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.

Translated by Louise Heal Kawai

Why read this: Whimsical, wise and deeply heartfelt, The Cat Who Saved the Library is a charming celebration of books, imagination and the importance of critical thinking. Thirteen-year-old Nanami finds comfort among the shelves of her local library, but when beloved books begin mysteriously disappearing, she is drawn into an unexpected adventure alongside a sharp-tongued tabby cat named Tiger. Together, they uncover secrets that threaten not just the library, but the value of stories themselves. Blending fantasy, mystery and heartfelt reflection, this is an uplifting reminder of why books matter – and why readers do too. This is the highly anticipated sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books.

If you’re looking for: Cosy Japanese fiction, magical realism, bookish stories, uplifting adventures, libraries and literature.

Great for fans of: Sosuke Natsukawa’s The Cat Who Saved Books, The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.

Translated by Megan McDowell

Why read this: Eerie, unsettling and impossible to shake, Good and Evil and Other Stories is a masterclass in literary horror from one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary translated fiction. Samanta Schweblin’s stories carry an uncanny intensity that feels both intimate and deeply disorientating, demonstrating how translated fiction can open the door to entirely new rhythms of storytelling and psychological unease. Across six razor-sharp tales, ordinary moments slip suddenly into a nightmare: a child left alone for seconds too long, a ghost haunting a distant apartment block, a desperate act of kindness with terrifying consequences. Spare yet emotionally devastating, Schweblin’s writing lingers in the spaces between fear and tenderness, creating stories that are as haunting as they are profoundly human.

If you’re looking for: Literary horror, psychological suspense, dark short stories, surreal storytelling, existential themes.

Great for fans of: Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin, Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez.

What the experts say: ‘Remarkably taut, clear, precise, and yet capable of capturing the extent of our human messiness, these stories are perfect for the times we dwell inside.’ – Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon 

Translated by Nick Caistor

Why read this: Fast-paced, razor-sharp and packed with twists, Red Queen is the explosive opening to Juan Gómez-Jurado’s internationally bestselling thriller series. At the centre of the story is Antonia Scott, a brilliant but deeply isolated investigator whose extraordinary mind has helped solve countless crimes – until personal tragedy drove her into hiding. But when a brutal new case emerges in Madrid, Antonia is drawn back into a dangerous world of serial killers, corruption and psychological games. Intelligent, darkly funny and relentlessly suspenseful, Red Queen is a gripping thriller that balances breakneck action with complex character drama. Discover more from the Antonia Scott series – White King and Black Wolf.

If you’re looking for: Crime thrillers, serial killer mysteries, fast-paced suspense, psychological tension, cat-and-mouse thrillers, dark humour.

Great for fans of: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Killing Eve, Silence of the Lambs 

What the experts say: ‘An electrifying serial-killer thriller, a fiendishly clever puzzle mystery . . . Red Queen tops even The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a thinking reader’s thriller.’ – A.J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 

Translated by Lahiri alongside Todd Portnowitz

Why read this: Elegant, introspective and rich with atmosphere, Roman Stories is a striking collection from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri that captures the beauty and contradictions of life in Rome. The collection is a fascinating example of translated fiction as both artistic reinvention and cultural exploration. Across these interconnected stories, Lahiri turns her attention to outsiders, transience and the fragile connections between people living on the margins of an ever-changing city. From grief-stricken couples to restless neighbours and fleeting encounters on Roman streets, each story reveals quiet emotional depths beneath everyday moments. Evocative and deeply humane, Roman Stories transforms Rome itself into a living, shifting character.

If you’re looking for: Literary short stories, atmospheric settings, stories about belonging, European literary fiction, contemplative reads.

Great for fans of: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

What the experts say: ‘Stimulating, elegant, distinctive and thought-provoking’ – The Sunday Times

Translated by Stephen Sartarelli

Why read this: Witty, atmospheric and irresistibly sharp, The Shape of Water introduces one of crime fiction’s most beloved detectives: Inspector Salvo Montalbano. When the body of a prominent engineer is discovered in a notorious area on the outskirts of Vigàta, the authorities are eager to dismiss the case as natural causes. Montalbano, however, suspects there is far more beneath the surface. As corruption, political pressure and Mafia intrigue close in, he must untangle a web of lies while navigating the pleasures and frustrations of Sicilian life. Clever, immersive and full of personality, this is crime fiction with unmistakable charm. Discover the whole Inspector Montalbano mysteries series here.

If you’re looking for: Italian crime fiction, detective novels, atmospheric mysteries, Mediterranean settings, police procedurals.

Great for fans of: Inspector Montalbano TV series

What the experts say: 'Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb.’ – Sunday Times

Translated by Shaun Whiteside

Why read this: Spare, powerful and emotionally devastating, What You Need From the Night is an intimate portrait of family, grief and political division in contemporary France. After the death of his wife, a father struggles to hold his small family together in a neglected industrial town where opportunities are scarce and resentment simmers beneath the surface. While one son dreams of escape through education, the other is drawn towards the dangerous certainty offered by the far right. As tensions escalate towards a shocking act of violence, Laurent Petitmangin explores masculinity, belonging and unconditional love with remarkable compassion and restraint. Quietly heartbreaking, this is a novel that lingers long after the final page.

If you’re looking for: French literary fiction, family drama, political and social commentary, working-class stories, father–son relationships, morally complex characters.

Great for fans of: The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis, Wioletta Greg

What the experts say: ‘A tragedy of unconditional love’ – L'Obs

Translated by Lara Vergnaud

Powerful, inspiring and profoundly moving, The Book Collectors of Daraya is a remarkable true story about resistance, hope and the enduring importance of literature in the darkest of circumstances. Amid the devastation of the Syrian civil war and the brutal siege of Daraya, a group of young revolutionaries risked their lives to rescue books from bombed buildings, creating a secret underground library that became a sanctuary for learning, debate and survival. Drawing on interviews conducted over Skype with those involved, journalist Delphine Minoui crafts an unforgettable testament to courage, intellectual freedom and the transformative power of books.

If you’re looking for: Books about books, inspiring true stories, political nonfiction, stories of hope.

Great for fans of: Patrick Hennessy, Paulo Coelho, Behrouz Boochani and Christina Lamb.

What the experts say: '[An] incredible chronicle . . . The book tells the kind of story that often gets buried beneath images of violence.' – Corinne Segal, LitHub

Translated by Emma Rault

Why read this: Sharp, unsettling and frighteningly plausible, We Had to Remove This Post is a chilling exploration of life online and the hidden psychological toll of the digital world. Desperate for work, Kayleigh takes a job moderating violent and hateful content on social media, spending her days filtering humanity’s darkest impulses through the glare of a screen. At first, the role offers friendship, belonging and even love, but the constant exposure to disturbing material slowly begins to reshape her sense of reality. Tense, thought-provoking and deeply disquieting, this is a haunting examination of technology, morality and what happens when empathy starts to erode.

If you’re looking for: Psychological suspense, dystopian realism, internet culture, social commentary, thought-provoking reads.

Great for fans of: Leila Slimani’s Lullaby, Severance by Ling Ma

What the experts say: ‘This novel gives us an acid glimpse into a new form of labor existing today . . . Fascinating and disturbing’ – Ling Ma, author of Severance

Translated by Sarah Death

Why read this: Dark, intelligent and simmering with tension, The Axe Woman is a masterfully layered Scandinavian crime novel from one of Sweden’s most acclaimed thriller writers. Returning to work after personal tragedy, Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti is assigned a supposedly straightforward cold case: the disappearance of Arnold Morinder, whose partner just happens to be convicted murderer Ellen Bjarnebo. But as Barbarotti digs deeper, the case twists into something far stranger and more dangerous than expected. Elegant in its pacing and rich in suspense, The Axe Woman balances classic detective fiction with sharp emotional insight, proving why Nordic noir continues to captivate readers worldwide.

If you’re looking for: Nordic noir, psychological suspense, atmospheric mysteries, slow-burn thrillers, detective series.

Great for fans of: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels

What the experts say: ‘One of the best Nordic Noir writers.’ –The Guardian