When The Lights Go Out by Carys Bray
Bray’s debut, A Song For Issy Bradley, marked her out as a writer to watch and this new book delivers on that promise. While Emma is planning for a big family Christmas, her husband, Chris, is worrying about climate change and planning for the end of the world. This gorgeously written novel about a marriage of opposites has wonderfully relatable characters. It is funny and compassionate, and I found it very affecting.
The Heatwave by Kate Riordan
When Sylvie leaves London to return to the French village where she once lived, it brings up painful memories of the loss of her daughter Elodie. But everything is not as it seems, and it’s the slow revelation of what really happened years ago that keeps you gripped in this suspenseful drama.
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
If you enjoyed The Flatshare, you’ll love this new novel from the same author. This story has everything you want to lift your spirits: laughs, romance and lovely characters you connect with emotionally. After high-flyer Leena is forced to take a sabbatical from work, she and her 79-year-old grandmother Eileen decide to swap lives. As Leena struggles to fit in with small village life, Eileen tries online dating in London.
From the author of Station Eleven, this new novel centres around a financier who is stealing from his clients, his beautiful, much-younger wife and her troubled half-brother. The writing is dreamy yet gripping, as we see how the characters’ paths cross and how even the slightest encounter can change everything.
A huge lottery win of £17.8m changes everything for Lexi, Jake and their teenage children. There’s only one snag: their friends claim they were all in a syndicate and they’re entitled to a share of the winnings, too. This gripping read takes a look at the dark side of wealth.
Pew by Catherine Lacey
This unusual novel wowed me with its elegant writing and message about compassion. When a stranger is found asleep on a church bench with no idea of their name and unwilling to speak, the community names the visitor Pew. In the spirit of charity, Pew is taken in and becomes an outlet for people’s secrets.
Where We Belong by Anstey Harris
When Cate is made redundant, she and her teenage son Leo move into her late husband’s ancestral home, which also houses an unusual museum that they must save from closure. I loved this joyful book about friendship, happiness and finding your passion in life.
The Secrets Of Strangers by Charity Norman
A gunman takes eight customers hostage at a London cafe and, as the situation develops, we hear the characters’ stories, including those of the gunman and police negotiator, and how their lives are all connected. It’s the well-written characters in this fast-paced story that keep you turning the pages.
The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill
If you need some escapism, this lovely read set on Italy’s Amalfi Coast is the ideal pick. Join Kim, Colette and Annie as they reunite for a summer holiday six years after they first met. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that each person has secrets that could threaten the friendship
The Motion Of The Body Through Space by Lionel Shriver
From the author of We Need To Talk About Kevin comes a black comedy about the cult of fitness. When Serenata’s 64-year-old husband announces he’s taking part in a triathlon and develops a close relationship with his trainer, she feels left behind. Shriver is so good at making wry observations about human behaviour and this is particularly witty on the dynamics between couples who have been together a long time.
