Glyph by Ali Smith

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Ali Smith’s writing. So I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her latest book, due out this May. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ali Smith is known for her use of wordplay and tendency to bend time, perspective, and narrative structure. I enjoy her writing because it is highly intellectual while at the same time thoroughly readable. I’m also trying to get a head start on potential Booker nominees and while I’ve heard conflicting things about Smith submitting her books for consideration, she’s been on the list before and is a good candidate for Booker lists. So how’s her most recent novel? Here is my review

Glyph by Ali Smith
Expected Publication: May 19th, 2026
Reviewed by: Jen
Rating: ★★★★.5
Pre-order it here: Glyph

Glyph is a follow up to Gliff and it extends upon a story hidden in the first book. Like many of Smith’s works, its plot resists way summary — and that is part of the pleasure. In Glyph, Smith continues to push the boundaries of genre, blending fiction with poetry and fun wordplay and resulting in a somewhat fragmented but thematically connected enjoyable and intellectual book. 

On the surface, the novel tells the story of sisters Petra and Patch and their relationship to each other and the world around them. As young children, the sisters hear a traumatic story from the past. One night, when Petra wakes to hear her younger sister crying, she invents a ghost—Glyph—to comfort her. What begins as an act of care becomes something more enduring: Glyph evolves into a shared language, a private mythology that helps the sisters make sense of the world and their place within it. Over the years, the sisters become estranged until 30 years later when another ghost makes an appearance in theirs lives and brings them back together. 

Glyph is a wonderfully reflective, funny, and remarkably clever book. It is the sort of book that can be read through once for the magical story telling and humor but it can (and should) be read multiple times since it’s jam-packed with important reflections, word-play, and beautiful fragments. Glyph is so much more than a tale of two sisters. It’s a book that explores the power of story-telling, the impacts of war, reliability of memory, and the boundaries of the historical, the real, and the imagination. It beautifully blends contemporary politics into a thoroughly readable and astute story of family and connection. 

So who will enjoy this book? Glyph will especially appeal to readers who enjoy literary fiction that experiments with form and language. Fans of Ali Smith’s earlier work, as well as readers of writers like David Mitchell (is it any small wonder that I love both Smith and Mitchell?), will appreciate its playful structure, shifting perspectives, and thematic depth. It’s a great fit for readers who don’t mind ambiguity, enjoy rereading to uncover layers of meaning, and are interested in stories that explore memory, storytelling, and the blurred boundaries between reality and imagination.

Want to try it for yourself? You can pre-order your copy here: Glyph

We want to hear from you. Do you plan on reading this book? Are you a fan of Ali Smith’s other works? Which of her past works are your favorites?