Today's Read Contributor On December 18, 2025, the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) unveiled its longlists for the most distinguished books of the year, celebrating an eclectic range of works across various genres, including nonfiction, fiction, autobiography, and translated literature. These longlists are an important milestone in the U.S. literary calendar, marking the beginning of the awards season as critics and readers alike turn their attention to the potential winners of the 2026 NBCC awards.
Among the longlisted titles in the autobiography category are two highly anticipated memoirs that have captured the literary world’s attention. Margaret Atwood, the celebrated author of The Handmaid’s Tale, earned a spot on the list with her reflective work, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts (Doubleday), a personal exploration of her life and writing. Alongside her is Beth Macy, whose memoir Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America (Penguin) offers a poignant reflection on the complexities of family life and societal challenges in contemporary America. Both books showcase the power of the memoir genre to connect deeply with readers by addressing universal themes of identity, personal history, and social change.
In the biography category, two books stand out for their meticulous research and storytelling. Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America (Random House) by Sam Tanenhaus delves into the life of William F. Buckley Jr., the influential conservative intellectual who helped shape modern American political thought. This work is praised for its nuanced portrayal of Buckley and his significant impact on American society. Also longlisted is Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood’s First South Asian Star (W.W. Norton) by Mayukh Sen, which tells the fascinating story of Merle Oberon, a pioneering actress in early Hollywood who broke barriers as the first South Asian star to achieve fame in the American film industry. Sen’s biography sheds new light on Oberon’s life and the complexities of race and identity in the golden age of cinema.
The NBCC longlists include works from authors who have already earned critical acclaim, as well as emerging voices in the literary world. Each category reflects the diverse literary landscape of 2025, celebrating both established authors and fresh perspectives. Critics’ evaluations of the most compelling writing published in the U.S. this year highlight a wide range of topics, from personal memoirs and biographical explorations to fictional narratives that engage with contemporary issues and themes.
The longlists not only recognize the artistic achievements of authors but also offer readers a curated selection of books to explore as they enter the awards season. Books that make it to the longlist often experience a surge in readership and critical attention, which can lead to increased sales and greater visibility for the authors as they approach the finalists and eventual awards ceremony. This cycle of recognition brings new works into the spotlight, giving authors a platform to reach a wider audience and further solidifying their place in the literary conversation.
The finalists for the 2025 NBCC awards will be announced on January 20, 2026, with the winners revealed at a prestigious ceremony in New York City on March 26, 2026. As the longlists are just the beginning of the process, many of these books will continue to gain momentum as they move toward the final stages of the awards cycle. For book lovers and literary professionals alike, the announcement of the longlists serves as an exciting preview of the year’s best works and an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable diversity of voices shaping the literary world in 2025.
