Seascraper

This Booker longlisted novel has a lot in common with Ben Shattuck's The History of Sound, which was one of my favorites of 2025. The protagonist is twenty-year-old Thomas, who lives a quiet life with his mother on England's northern coast, making his living from the sea. Then a stranger comes to town—and, despite Thomas's initial skepticism about what the stranger has to offer, everything will soon be changed. I really enjoyed this, and strongly recommend the audiobook version, as read by the author. Thomas's private desire to write folk songs features prominently in this story, and the book ends with a dazzling performance.