The next big thing: our pick of the most exciting emerging book genres

From twice Booker-shortlisted author Tim Winton, Juice is a propulsive cli-fi thriller that cuts to the bone. Set in a near-future world scorched by ecological collapse, two desperate fugitives seek sanctuary in the claustrophobic darkness of an abandoned mine. The problem is, they’re not alone . . . More than just a thriller, this is a profound exploration of survival in its rawest form and the cost of comfort in a burning world.

In a hauntingly intimate twist on cli-fi, Not Alone follows Katie and her young son, surviving in the aftermath of an ecological disaster. When their fragile routine is disrupted, Katie is forced to confront the past she’s buried – and the future she’s desperate to protect. Lyrical and deeply emotional, Sarah K. Jackson’s debut is a powerful meditation on motherhood, memory, and what it means to rebuild when everything familiar has fallen away. 

Our Wives Under the Sea embodies ‘New Weird’s' penchant for the uncanny within the familiar. When Leah returns from a mysterious deep-ocean mission, something about her has changed, leaving her wife Miri to grapple with the growing distance between them. As Leah begins to change in increasingly inexplicable ways, Miri comes to realise that the life they had shared might be gone. An eerie and yet tender exploration of love, grief, and transformation, Florence Welch described this novel as “sublime in its creepiness.”

"I’ve never eaten a person but today I might . . ." Venture into the singular and unsettling world of Henry Hoke's Open Throat, a novel that The Guardian lauded as 'an instant classic.' Told from the perspective of a queer mountain lion living beneath the Hollywood sign, this is a story where the urban and the wild collide in unexpected and often disturbing ways. Before starting Open Throat, prepare for a reading experience that is both shocking and thought-provoking, pulsing with the raw, untamed energy of New Weird.

When Lucy discovers her husband’s infidelity, they strike a chilling retributive bargain – but what begins as a controlled reckoning soon spirals into something feral and otherworldly. With sharp, lyrical prose, Lucy’s transformation is both horrifying and captivating, blurring the line between woman and monster. A dark, elegant novel that simmers with quiet fury and asks: what happens when a woman claims her wings?

When a New York family escapes to a luxurious Airbnb in the countryside, their holiday is upended by a mysterious late-night knock and news of an inexplicable blackout sweeping the country. A masterclass in atmospheric horror – the kind rooted not in monsters, but in the gnawing uncertainty of the unknown – Rumaan Alam crafts a chilling, slow-burn literary thriller about race, class, trust, and the fragile illusion of safety. 

Leigh Radford's One Yellow Eye offers a unique twist on the zombie narrative, blending elements of horror with a darkly compelling love story. Kesta, a scientist, desperately seeks a cure for the virus that has claimed her husband, Tim. Her dedication, however, takes a disturbing turn as she keeps Tim hidden and restrained, pushing the boundaries of love and obsession. The novel's willingness to confront the disturbing and the grotesque makes it the perfect read for those eager to try some femgore – a burgeoning subgenre of literary horror.

This is a murder mystery. This is a story about love. Or is it? . . . Abigail's birthday celebration for her brother Benjamin, a seemingly innocent murder mystery party, takes a devastating turn when Benjamin is found dead the next morning and Abigail’s world is literally broken in two. Hegarty masterfully weaves two competing narratives, a whodunit locked-room mystery where everyone’s a suspect, and Abigail's poignant journey through grief, into a puzzle box that will keep you guessing until its heart-wrenching conclusion.

Trust unravels the intertwined lives of a wealthy financier and his wife through four distinct narratives, each challenging the reader's perception of truth and fiction. As each account unfolds, the reader is drawn into a fascinating puzzle about who controls the narrative and what truly happened. A sophisticated and thought-provoking novel that examines the elusive nature of history, the seductive allure of wealth, and the complex interplay between public image and private reality. Prepare to be captivated by its ingenuity and depth.