Between Books will be published on May 25, 2027, one year after McEwen’s last book
Ian McEwan is moving into nonfiction with Between Books, his first work in the genre, as his acclaimed novel Atonement marks its 25th anniversary.
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced the new book on Wednesday, September 23, revealing that Between Books will be published on May 25, 2027. McEwan described the project as beginning as a collection of unrelated pieces before developing into what he hopes will be an “emotional and intellectual journey”.
The announcement also comes exactly one year after the publication of McEwan’s latest novel, What We Can Know. Released in September 2025, the book became a national bestseller and was named among The New York Times Book Review’s 100 Notable Books of 2025.
McEwan has previously spoken about his approach to writing, saying he tends to follow his own interests rather than focus on what he believes readers might currently want. He recalled taking a similar approach with Atonement, which he initially thought might appeal mainly to other writers because of its focus on the literary imagination.
Published in 2001, Atonement went on to become one of McEwan’s best-known works. The novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and received several major literary awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The novel was adapted into a 2007 film starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan, bringing McEwan’s story to an even wider audience.
Between Books is now available for preorder ahead of its May 25, 2027 release.
