Image Courtesy of Aufbau Verlage.
Cemile Sahin: Kommando Ajax
A spectacular art heist, lost masterpieces, a Kurdish wedding, and a sniper’s shot. Cemile Sahin’s latest novel Kommando Ajax, nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize 2025 in the fiction category, unfolds like a fast-cut action film. Blending thriller, family saga, and gangster drama, it follows Ali Hüseyin Korkmaz, a Kurdish exile in Rotterdam, who stumbles upon stolen Vermeer and Rembrandt paintings. As his family faces betrayal, exile, and revenge, Ali’s hidden talent as a painter becomes the key to a high-stakes art deal. Sahin, an award-winning artist and writer born in 1990, crafts a gripping, darkly humorous tale that defies victim narratives, making her Kurdish protagonists the heroes of their own legend.
Image Courtesy of DuMont Buchverlag.
Mascha Unterlehberg: Wenn wir lächeln
Jara and Anto are inseparable, bonded by cherry cola, lip gloss, and a quiet rage simmering beneath the surface. When Anto vanishes into the dark waters of the Ruhr, leaving only a floating baseball bat behind, Jara is left to unravel the events that led them here. What begins as a reckless sisterhood of rebellion soon spirals out of control, forcing them to confront the question: where does all this anger go? With her debut novel Mascha Unterlehberg paints a raw and gripping portrait of female friendship, defiance, and the search for agency in a world that seems to close in. Wenn wir lächeln will be presented at the Leipzig Book Fair on Saturday, 29 March, at the Cammerspiele Leipzig.
Image Courtesy of Thalia.
Alhierd Bacharevič (Thomas Weiler): Europas Hunde
In Europas Hunde, a visionary and politically charged novel, Alhierd Bacharevič introduces a cast of eccentric, dreamers, and misfits who embark on surreal, sometimes absurd, journeys across Europe. From Maŭčun, a boy who dreams of flying west with his beloved goose, to the mysterious investigator Teresius Skima, whose search for a corpse in a Berlin rose garden leads him across Europe to a secret superstate, Bacharevič weaves a tale of rebellion, escape, and the search for meaning. Written long before the recent geopolitical shifts, this novel paints a grim but hopeful portrait of Europe’s future, earning it the 2025 Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. Born in Minsk in 1975, Bacharevič has lived in exile since 2020 as a writer and translator. Europas Hunde is banned in Belarus.
Image Courtesy of Thalia.
Maja Lunde: Die Geschichte der Bienen
Norway is the guest country at the Leipzig Book Fair 2025, with the theme “Dream in Spring”. Among the featured authors is Maja Lunde, whose novel Die Geschichte der Bienen spans three time periods and continents. It follows the stories of a biologist in 1852 England, a beekeeper in 2007 Ohio, and a worker in 2098 China, all connected by the disappearance of bees. Lunde’s novel explores themes of loss, hope, and the bond between humanity and nature, raising important questions about our treatment of the environment and the future we leave behind.
Image Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing.
Aria Aber: Good Girl
In Aria Aber’s debut novel, 19-year-old Nila seeks an escape from her grim life in a Berlin housing project. Surrounded by refugees, neglected spaces, and haunting memories of her late feminist mother, she finds solace in the underground techno scene. In the dark of the club, she meets Marlowe Woods, an American writer who introduces her to a world of art patrons and literary festivals. But soon, the promises of a new life are overshadowed by expectations and manipulations that push Nila to her limits. It’s a raw and electrifying exploration of youth, loss, and artistic ambition, weaving a powerful narrative of sex, drugs, violence, and fractured friendships. The novel is part of the Beste Erste Bücher series, an event at the Leipzig Book Fair that celebrates promising first novels. Aria Aber will be reading from her book at the Ost-Passage Theater.
Image Courtesy of Thalia.
Gazelle & Gialu: Never Not Changing – 25 Erste Male
Gazelle and Gialu, a popular pair with over 1.7 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, share their personal journey through life’s milestones. From their first experiences with karaoke, drilling, and makeup to navigating gender roles, coming-out moments, and self-discovery, they explore the highs, lows, and breakthroughs of their first times. This debut book is a heartfelt, honest, and intimate look at what it means to embrace change, step out of your comfort zone, and grow. Charming and empowering, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to embark on their own journey of self-realization. Gazelle and Gialu will also read from their book at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Image Courtesy of dtv Verlag.
Samantha Harvey (Julia Wolf): Umlaufbahnen
This novel tells the story of six astronauts from different countries orbiting the Earth in a space station. In a single day, they experience sixteen sunrises and sunsets, with their distant home planet only visible through the small window of their station. In the isolation of space, the astronauts grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and the human condition, reflected in flashbacks and nightmares. The Booker Prize-winning novel poignantly portrays alienation and the transformation of the self. The translation by Julia Wolf gracefully guides readers through the various perspectives and expanses of time and space. Umlaufbahnen is also nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize in the translation category.
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Jonas Theresia: Toyboy
Jonas Theresia’s debut novel Toyboy delves into the life of Levin, a young man who monetizes his body through escorting, cam shows, and porn. A path he’s followed since he was unable to break into a modeling career in LA. Now back home, his life seems to be heading in a different direction, one that estranges him from his family, especially his brother Gregor. Levin’s efforts to regain his brother’s trust culminate in a risky plan that threatens to put everyone in grave danger. A poignant, melancholic, and humorous novel which explores themes of body autonomy, self-determination, and the quest for genuine intimacy in a fragmented world. Jonas Theresia will be reading from his novel at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Image Courtesy of Rowohlt Verlag.
Luisa Neubauer: Was wäre, wenn wir mutig sind
For years, people have been advocating for the future habitability of our planet, and Neubauer is one of the key voices in this fight. However, the world continues to struggle with implementing effective climate protection, despite the well-established scientific facts. Luisa Neubauer delves into the power dynamics behind the climate crisis, uncovers the fossil fuel foundations of our democracy, and envisions a realistic and hopeful future for our planet. This book serves as both a call to action and a challenge to confront the crises we face. It urges us to protect our ecological limits and offers a vision of hope amidst the turmoil. Luisa Neubauer will join in a conversation with readers at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Image Courtesy of Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt.
Christian Mitzenmacher: Knallkrebse
This book explores the friendship between Tom, a physics PhD student, and Farid, a sixteen-year-old refugee from Quetta. Their bond, which starts through mentorship, faces a turning point when Farid makes a risky decision. Tom questions loyalty, his own motives, and Farid’s hidden past. Mitzenmacher’s debut novel delves into themes of migration and human connection, blending sharp dialogue, surprising twists, and light-hearted prose. It’s a thoughtful exploration of friendship, trust, and confronting one’s own intentions. Christian Mitzenmacher will be part of the long reading night at the Leipzig Book Fair, offering an insightful discussion of his book.