The Land in Winter

Fiction

Dec 28

About the book

Author: Andrew Miller
Publisher: Europa Editions

More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.

Buy and support indie bookstores (+ I earn a small commission):
Bookshop.org (print or ebook) | Libro.fm (audio)

My review

The Land in Winter was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, and after having read it, I can see why. This is just the type of book the Booker favors — interior and quiet, but poignant and rich, one that would surely reward a reread. I really enjoyed my time with it even if it didn’t blow me away, but I feel like it’s probably one of those books that will only grow on me as time passes.

The narrative focuses on two couples: Eric, a local doctor covets what he doesnt have; Irene, his wife who’s expecting and also missing her social life in London; Bill, the kind-hearted son of a wealthy slum lord who has randomly decided to become a farmer; and Rita, his wife who’s a former club dancer and also expecting. The two women form a friendship, which then drives the rest of the book through the (true to history) Big Freeze of 1963.

I was very glad I read this with my book club, because there’s plenty to unpack here; each character feels distinct and some are more likeable than others; the relationships between the two couples and the two women are rich and nuanced. Despite being a pretty quiet book overall, the pace does ratchet up quickly in the last third, and the ending felt both unexpected but also, somehow, just what the book needed it to be.

I don’t think I would have rooted for this to win, but I do think it was a worthy nominee.