Why people recommend it
Playworld is an intricate, immersive novel by Adam Ross set against the backdrop of New York City, exploring modern relationships, family dynamics, and psychological depth. On The Book Review podcast in an episode titled Our Book Critics on Their 2025 in Reading published on December 12, 2025, Dwight Garner brought up Adam Ross's novel Playworld during a year-end review, praising the book and suggesting that it might have suffered slightly from the timing of its release in January. Previously, in an episode titled The Books We’re Excited About in Early 2025 broadcast on January 10, 2025, Juman Katib also discussed Adam Ross's new novel on The Book Review, highlighting it as an anticipated release for readers tracking contemporary fiction. Both critics drew positive attention to Ross's storytelling craft, emphasizing the novel's thematic ambition and its ability to capture complex urban lives. These discussions positioned Playworld as a noteworthy highlight of the literary calendar, deserving of close attention from anyone interested in sophisticated contemporary fiction.
Who recommended it
- Dwight Garner Recommended
- Juman Katib Discussed
Dwight Garner — 1 mention
“Yes, and yet the one I actually want to talk about is Playworld by Adam Ross which I think maybe suffered slightly by coming out in January.”
Juman Katib — 1 mention
“so this is Playworld by Adam Ross”