As summer comes to a close and the nights start drawing in, few things feel more cosy than grabbing a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and curling up with a good book. The choice can be overwhelming, though, so to make life a little easier, we're bringing you 15 of the best new releases in a range of genres, set all over the world, from chilly Dublin to steamy Brazil. Whether your idea of escapism is a lovely romance [1], a chilling thriller, a historical epic, or a heartwarming memoir [2] (or you just want to smash the 2018 Reading Challenge [3]), we've got you covered.
The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp
Sarra Manning's witty retelling of Vanity Fair, The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp [4], transports Thackeray's ruthless heroine from 1848 to 2018. Now she's a Big Brother celebrity and Instagram influencer, although her ability to elbow her way up the social ranks is unchanged. But does she have what it takes to stay there?
Normal People
Few novelists are better at observing the peculiarities of human behaviour than Sally Rooney. Her latest, Normal People [5], which has been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, is about Connell and Marianne and the ways their feelings for each other change as they grow older.
How to Love a Jamaican
How to Love a Jamaican [6] is a sharply observed short-story collection about Jamaican immigrants from a variety of backgrounds who have a wide range of experiences, from mental illness to international stardom. No wonder Zadie Smith and Oprah are fans.
This Really Isn't About You
Still reeling from her dad's recent death, Jean Hannah Edelstein is diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that makes her more prone to cancer. Witty and insightful, her memoir This Really Isn't About You [7] talks about family relationships, dating with a diagnosis, and how to appreciate life in the midst of loss.
Mrs Gaskell & Me
In Mrs Gaskell & Me [8], Nell Stevens writes about an affair between Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell and a man she met in Rome in the 1800s, using it as a point of comparison for her own love life. A clever concept with a lot to say about love and the lasting impact of great writing.
The Silence of the Girls
If you love to dig into a historical epic, they don't come more epic than this. In The Silence of the Girls [9], acclaimed author Pat Barker turns her attention to Greek mythology, telling the story of the siege of Troy from the point of view of the women who survived it.
America for Beginners
A road trip novel featuring a woman who travels from India to America to reconnect with her son after the death of her husband, America for Beginners [10] is all about family, cultural differences, and navigating life without a map.
Heartburn
Nora Ephron wrote several screenplays (including When Harry Met Sally [11]), but only one novel, which has been re-released for its 40th anniversary. The story of Rachel Samstad, a pregnant cookery writer whose marriage is on the rocks, Heartburn [12] is funny, fast-paced, and filled with recipes.
She’s Having Her Baby
Just when you thought you'd heard every twist on the romantic comedy, Lauren Sams reinvigorates the genre with She's Having Her Baby [13], the story of a woman whose best friend asks to borrow her uterus for nine months, with complicated results.
My Boyfriend Is a Bear
Written by Pamela Ribon with illustrations by Cat Farris, My Boyfriend Is a Bear [14] has to be a contender for the quirkiest and most heartfelt book of the year, suggesting love can cross all kinds of boundaries — but what happens when one of you needs to hibernate?
People in the Room
If you're fascinated by what's going on with your neighbours, check out Norah Lange's People in the Room [15], which is all about a woman who becomes oddly obsessed with the people across the road. Translated into English for the first time, it's drawn comparisons to Virginia Woolf.
You Have the Right to Remain Fat
Part memoir, part body acceptance manifesto, You Have the Right to Remain Fat [16] by activist Virgie Tovar encourages readers to live their best lives and embrace the brilliant things their bodies can do, no matter what size they might be.
The Affair
In her latest nail-biting thriller, The Affair [17], Sheryl Browne introduces us to Alicia, an otherwise trustworthy wife and mother who is covering up a lie and a past relationship that she has to keep hidden from everyone she loves — or else.
A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings
If you loved The Bees [18], pick up A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings [19] by Helen Jukes, who is stressed and depressed until a friend gives her a colony of bees and she has to learn how to take care of them — and herself.
The Air You Breathe
The Air You Breathe [20] starts in 1930s Brazil, when nine-year-old orphan Dores meets spoiled Graça, who comes from a wealthy family. They bond over a shared love of music, but when one of them has a shot at stardom, can their friendship survive? One for fans of Elena Ferrante.