The Red team's book recommendations for March
At Red, we’re always on the hunt for great reads and we know you are too. So, each month, the team and our contributors will share what we’re reading with you. And that doesn’t always mean something new (Sarra Mannings’ monthly selection should be your go-to for hot-off-the-press works). Instead, we’ll tell you about the fiction and non-fiction that’s got us thinking, laughing, crying or even angry this month (or all of the above!).
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
Since reading Elena Ferrante’s stunning Neapolitan novels (all four of them), I’ve been eagerly waiting to see what she does next, and I haven’t been disappointed. Ferrante’s latest stellar novel, The Lying Life of Adults, takes us back to 1990s Naples where a 12-year-old Giovanna learns that the grown-ups in her life have been lying to her, throwing her life into chaos. What follows is a raw and complex coming-of-age story as we follow Giovanna’s development through her turbulent adolescence while she tries to come to terms with her truth. Nothing will convince you to stay up and read all night more than this gritty novel.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday has become a classic over the years, and a go-to for those who want to live more mindfully. It offers readers a year of life lessons and quotations from great Stoic teachers. I had many Aha! moments when reading this book, and re-read it every year. An insightful non-fiction book packed with ancient wisdom, it’s a must for anyone feeling burnout out from modern living.
Abigail Southan, Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
The late Philip Roth remains a controversial novelist but is undeniably one of the 20th century’s best. After devouring another great work of Jewish-Americana, Fleishman Is In Trouble, I couldn’t help but return to Roth’s iconic American Pastoral (1997). Set in 1960s New Jersey, it tells the story of Seymour Levov, who leaves his Jewish heritage behind in urban Newark to play at all-American WASP “perfection” in the suburbs – until his less-than-perfect daughter arrives, unravelling his carefully laid plans with a single act of chaos. It’s textbook Roth with its dark humour, and ruthless in its assessment of the male psyche and unpicking of the American Dream myth.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Keiko, a single woman in her 30s, adores her part-time job in her local supermarket, where she has worked tirelessly for almost two decades. The pressure to find “suitable” employment and a husband is mounting though, with her friends and family loudly judging her lifestyle and forcing her to take action. At under 200 pages, it’s a short read but it unpacks a lot, providing acute social commentary on misogyny, conformist society and oppression in modern Japan. Sayaka Murata’s brilliant gem of a novel is an empowering, poignant and heartbreaking read that lingered in my thoughts long after I’d turned the last page.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
You might have heard of the Japanese author Mieko Kawakami, or even read her recent acclaimed novel Breast and Eggs. But her second book, Heaven, is my personal favourite. What starts out as an ordinary depiction of a 14-year-old boy’s schooldays quickly transcends into a gripping coming-of-age drama that exposes the heart-breaking realities of bullying. As the protagonist develops a friendship with a similarly ostracised girl, Kojima, Kawakami’s writing becomes more profound – exploring philosophical debates of what compels people to be violent and the human character in its many forms. If you’re looking for a captivating read to see you through a drizzly Sunday on the sofa, this is just the ticket.
Mayola Fernandes, Ecommerce Intern
The Lost Girls is the sequel to Kate Hamer’s bestselling novel The Girl In The Red Coat. It centres around troubled protagonist Carmel, who is now 21 and living with her mother, but is still trying to come to terms with her abduction. Desperate for answers, Carmel discovers that she wasn't the only lost girl and seeks to find out what happened to the others – even if it puts herself in danger. The result is a deeply moving page-turner that took me on an intense emotional journey.
See our editors' February picks below
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
I had no desire to read Hamnet when I first heard of it but I am glad that a few persuasive friends tempted me to give Maggie O'Farrell's prize-winning novel a chance. Although the story is a fictionalised account of the short life of Shakepeare’s son, Hamnet - the novel is above all, a profound study of loss, grief and and the means by which families find their way through after the death of a child. O’Farrell’s lyrical style draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very end.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
Manifest: Dive Deeper by Rosie Nafousi
Our manifesting guru is back, with a follow-up to the Sunday Times Bestseller Manifest. In Dive Deeper, Roxie Nafousi delves further into her seven-step manifesting method and explores topics such as healing your inner child, stepping out of your comfort zone and combating self-limiting beliefs. An empowering read, filled with plenty of practical exercises to help you put Roxie’s tried and tested method into practice and live life on your own terms.
Roberta Schroeder, Senior Ecommerce Editor
Allie Rowbottom’s debut novel Aesthetica presents as a buzzy beach read – and it is indeed devourable – but what lies beneath the surface hits at the heftiest themes. Grief, abuse, and the absurd beauty standards bearing down on women today collide in Anna, an aspiring influencer who becomes absorbed into the relentless world of social media, where women’s bodies are – in every sense – no longer their own.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
When I read my way through the 2020 Booker Prize shortlist, Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar was by far my favourite. When the rebellious Tara joins a religious commune in west India, her young daughter Antara comes along for the ride – but is neglected as her mother revels in her new life. Decades later, Tara is showing signs of dementia and Antara is forced to look after the woman who carelessly abandoned her. An intense read from the get-go, Doshi’s gritty debut offers the reader an unflinching look into the complexities of a toxic mother/daughter relationship that is peppered with resentment and cruelty. A fantastic read, albeit an unsettling one.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising is the latest instalment in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s cleverly linked series that follows her bestsellers The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and The Six. Set in 1980's Malibu, we're introduced to protagonist Nina Riva and her dysfunctional family. During Nina's annual end of summer party, revelations about her mother's death, the estranged relationship with her rockstar father and the struggles of her deserted siblings are exposed. The novel concludes with an explosive bash that will never be forgotten. I recommend saving this compelling page-turner for your next holiday – it won’t disappoint.
Emma Henderson, Red contributor
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr Julie Smith
Clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith rose to fame during the pandemic for her excellent, bite-size and relatable videos on TikTok about dealing with everything from anxiety to self-confidence. Following on this success, she put her therapist secrets into a book, which became the UK’s top selling non-fiction book of 2022 – and for a very good reason. She cleverly used a question we all often ask ourselves "Why Hasn’t Anyone Told Me This Before” as the title, which made a pretty big, and often daunting topic, accessible. The book is made up of easy to digest chapters of useful and simple advice. It can also be used as a handbook, instead of something you have to meticulously read from cover to cover. Even if you don't think you need this book, read it. It will arm you with all the right tools.
See our editors' January picks below
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Kate Atkinson’s novel centers around Ursula Todd, who is born on a snowy night in 1910 and dies almost instantly, strangled by her umbilical cord. However, the story does a volte-face and gives Ursula another chance at life. Atkinson then uses the same pattern throughout the book as the narrative starts again and again, taking the readers and the characters on a completely different path each time. Through each of Ursula's new lives, we learn more about her personality and her family as they are impacted by various events of the 20th century including the 1918 flu pandemic and life in WWII England and Germany. In Atkinson’s capable hands the writing is always clever and never repetitive, as she invites her audience to play an endless game of “What Ifs?”.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
Choose Joy is an empowering read for those struggling with burnout or those who are feeling a little disconnected as we head into a new year. A must-read in January, it’s full of research, insights and practical advice from certified positive psychology practitioner Sophie Cliff to help infuse more joy into your everyday, identify your core values and ensure you’re honouring them and boost self-confidence while banishing self-limiting beliefs. Just what I needed to kick off 2023.
Sarah Coleman, Digital Design Lead
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel has been on my “to-read” book list for some time. From the first page, we are transported into Celie’s world of poverty and segregation as an African-American living in rural Georgia in the first half of the 1900s. Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, we learn of Celie’s repeated sexual abuse from a man she calls father, her separation from her beloved sister Nettie, her forced marriage to an abusive man, and in time, her tender relationship with the glamorous and caring singer, Shug. The story takes readers on an emotional journey of resilience and hope as we eventually see Celie come into her own. A must-read classic.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellers
If you’re tired of sappy love stories with oh-so-predictable happy endings, Coco Mellers’ debut Cleopatra and Frankenstein is for you. It follows the tumultuous love affair between Cleo, a beautiful young artist struggling to find her place in the world, and Frank, a wealthy older man who drinks more than he should. After meeting by chance on New Year’s Eve, the pair instantly bond over their troubled pasts, fall hopelessly in love and are married within six months – but the relationship is destined to fall apart as swiftly as it began. Although the novel deals with incredibly heavy themes (failing nuptials, addiction, declining mental health and suicide), it’s surprisingly fun, witty and tender. It’s a stunning depiction of a chaotic relationship between two flawed characters who are desperate for happiness and love in a messy, modern world. I can’t wait to see what Mellors does next.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to broaden your bookshelf, Becky Manawatu’s debut novel Auē is one to add to your “to-read” list as soon as possible. Described as a new voice in New Zealand fiction, Auē is a compelling read that tells the story of two brothers torn apart. In its darkest moments the novel depicts gang culture, violence towards the Māori communities and domestic abuse. However, embedded within these harrowing images are lyrical folktales, budding friendships, and an appreciation of nature. This emotional novel is guaranteed to stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.
Mayola Fernandes, Ecommerce Intern
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Anyone who likes a fast-paced, mysterious thriller with supernatural elements should read Hidden Pictures. It centers around former addict Mallory Quinn who lands a job working for an affluent family as a babysitter for five-year-old Teddy. Mallory quickly takes to her new job – but notices Teddy's obsession with drawing pictures. While most of his artwork is harmless, she stumbles upon an alarming life-like sketch that seems to depict an unsolved murder. Disturbed, Mallory takes it upon herself to decipher the image and discover the truth. The result is a unique thriller that’s filled with paranormal activity and is illustrated with artistic drawings throughout.
See our editors' December picks below
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is one of my favourite books of all time, so I was eager to read the British-Japanese author’s latest release, Klara and The Sun – and it did not disappoint. The story follows Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) designed to provide companionship to teenagers, as she befriends the smart but frail young character Josie. Through this friendship Ishiguro explores themes of hope, loneliness and what ultimately makes a person human. Although stories of kind robots helping humans on their life journeys are common in the science fiction genre, Ishiguro managed to bring a unique style and elegance to his eighth novel. It kept me awake and thinking long after I finished reading.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
"The thriller I recommend to everyone, I devoured this book by Alex Michaelides in days. The Silent Patient became an instant No.1 New York Times bestseller when it was first released in 2019 – and for good reason. It’s dark, it’s gripping and it features an epic twist. The novel follows the story of Alicia, a psychotherapy patient who shoots her husband and never speaks a word again, and her relationship with her criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber. It goes to unimaginable places as it explores the themes of murder, betrayal, guilt and psychological treatment. I won’t spoil it any more but if you like Gone Girl, The Girl on The Train or Before I Go To Sleep, you’ll love this."
Abigail Southan, Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
After seeing Stanley Tucci in the 1996 film Big Night and those viral lockdown martini videos, I knew Taste was going to be a good read. This book is about food, if you hadn’t guessed, but it’s a memoir at heart. Its pages detail the actor’s quintessential Italian-American upbringing in Upstate New York, his bohemian journey into acting and subsequent life in London with second wife Felicity Blunt, with whom he wrote The Tucci Table cookbook in 2015. Tucci takes care to pepper painful memories with comforting recipes – everything from spaghetti carbonara to lamb chops – and a healthy dose of celebrity name-dropping. And with friends like Colin Firth and Blake Lively, who can blame him?
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Sure, we’ve all had those days where we just want to stay in bed. Ottessa Moshfegh’s unnamed protagonist goes one step further and spends an entire year sleeping; occasionally reawakening to take prescription drugs, rewatch her favourite Whoopi Goldberg films and refuel with animal crackers. As bleak and bizarre as it sounds, My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a strangely tender and darkly funny glimpse into the life of a privileged, bored socialite in the depths of grief and depression. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a must-read for anyone who likes their heroines a little unhinged.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
It came as no surprise to me that Damon Galgut’s novel The Promise won last year's Booker Prize. His family saga, set in a remote farm in the South African countryside, revolves around the White Afrikaans Swart family who frequently debate the ownership of their home. After a promise is broken to one of the Swarts’ Black workers, the drama begins to unravel. Infused with wit and humour Galgut’s exploration of race, justice and legacy had me hooked from the very first page.
Mayola Fernandes, Ecommerce Intern
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine focuses on the life of Eleanor, a witty and antisocial heroine whose isolated and orderly existence makes for an interesting plot. Eleanor is content with her routine and has no desire to break out of her unhealthy habits. When she meets Raymond from work, however, everything starts to change and they find themselves rescuing each other from their lives of isolation. The novel unpacks past traumas and experiences but concludes with the protagonist understanding that she too can find friendship—and even love. An incredible page-turner that had me juggling emotions of laughter, sadness, and compassion.
See our editors' November picks below
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Crying in H Mart might be the best book I have read this year. In this intimate and raw memoir, Michelle Zauner (best known as the lead vocalist of indie band Japanese Breakfast) explores her complicated relationship with her late mother and the incredible bond they shared through Korean food. She also shares her experience of growing up as young Korean-American woman and the difficulties of straddling two cultures. A book about food, grief, and memory – it made me both ravenous, emotional, and eager to discover more about Korean culture
Abigail Southan, Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor
Motherwell: A Girlhood, Deborah Orr
Though the late journalist and editor Deborah Orr lost her battle with cancer in 2019, her frank and vivid voice lives on in every page of the posthumously published Motherwell. If memoirs have a tendency towards narcissism, Orr’s approach feels totally fresh – basically, you’ll learn a lot reading this book. While chronicling her journey from Lanarkshire council estate to Guardian news room, Orr weaves in apt commentary on post-industrial Scotland, working class family life, bourgeois fantasies and feminism. Once you’re done devouring Motherwell, move on to Google and delve into her impressive body of work.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
Yoga: A Manual For Life by Naomi Annand
Yoga: A Manual For Life by Naomi Annand is a gorgeous and inspiring read for anyone who wants to live a more balanced life. For beginners and experts alike, it will help you master yoga poses with its picture-led sequences and discover the power of your breath in an accessible way. All while delving into how this traditional practice can be applied to modern day life and teaching you how to sleep better, calm an anxious mind and wake up feeling energised. It really is the ideal life-long companion for those practicing yoga at home.
Sarah Coleman, Digital Design Lead
The Cypress Tree by Kamin Mohammadi
Mohammadi's memoir explores the past hundred years of the history of Iran through the eyes of three generations of women – Mohammadi herself, her mother and her grandmother. Her family fled Iran during the 1979 revolution, and her family remained in exile in Britain, where she shunned her background, choosing to assimilate with her British peers instead. At the age of 27, she took steps to reconnect with her rich heritage, taking us on her emotional journey of rediscovery. Although, the book was released over 10 years ago, it provides essential context for the current struggles of Iranian women today.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
Claire is only a child when her sister Alison goes missing during a family holiday on the Caribbean island of Saint X. Two local men are arrested – but are later released without charge. Years later, Claire is living in New York when she encounters one of the men originally suspected of murdering her sister, triggering an obsessive pursuit for the truth. Saint X sounds like your standard pacey thriller – but it cleverly delivers acute social commentary on white privilege and racism, community and class, and society’s morbid fascination with white female murder victims. A hugely intelligent, atmospheric novel, this stayed with me long after I’d turned the last page.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
When mother Joy Delaney goes missing, her perfectly perceived family falls apart. Through a story of twists and turns, a mysterious house guest and a suspected murder investigation, Liane Moriarty explores the complexities of marriage, the burden of a family business and the toil of motherhood. After speeding through her bestselling novels (and now major TV series’) Big Little Liars and Nine Perfect Strangers, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Moriarty’s ninth book Apples Never Fall. If like me you’re here for the family drama and end of chapter cliff hangers, pick this one up ASAP.
See our editors' October picks below
Sally Newall, Editorial Director, Ecommerce
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott is the feminist icon we all need right now. Living in conservative 1960s California, she’s a brilliant but overlooked scientist turned unconventional TV cook. (She wears a lab coat, calls salt ‘sodium chloride’, and implores fans to subvert the patriarchy.) We follow her fighting – literally at times – against the deep inequalities in the lab and TV studio, while bringing up daughter Mads in her mould. Garmus tackles themes of sexual assault, grief and injustice with sensitivity, yet never without the humour that comes when resolutely rational minds collide with an irrational status quo. Inspiring, joyful and angry – this is my book of the year.
Zlata Rodionova, Red Acting Digital Editor
Zadie Smith’s debut novel White Teeth was published in 2000, yet feels so prescient. Spanning a period from mid-1970s London and leading up to the turn of the century, it follows the lives and families of two first-generation immigrants, Samad Iqbal from Bengal and the English Archie Jones. Smith fully inhabits her characters – the novel is told from ten distinct perspectives – to deliver a vibrant, intimate portrait of multicultural England and the complexity of the immigrant experience. It’s also a story of familial ties, misunderstandings, coming-of-age, and our inability to escape our past – all told in a beautifully crafted and incredibly witty narrative.
Abigail Southan, Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor
Fleishman Is In Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Fleishman Is In Trouble is the first novel from The New York Times journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner and now an upcoming mini-series starring Jesse Eisenberg as the titular Toby Fleishman and Claire Danes as his ex-wife. The book depicts the chaotic-yet-mundane life of a divorced dad, sending up mid-life crisis stereotypes while also tenderly exploring the complexities of marriage and parenthood. Brodesser-Akner's witty writing, as well as the plot's thriller undertones, is what makes this well-trodden territory feel so fresh. The author’s voice is like a woke, female Philip Roth and a breath of fresh air if you’re tired of millennial chick lit.
Ciara McGinley, Red Deputy Digital Editor
Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverly
At just 25 years old, Grace Beverly is the founder of two businesses: eco-conscious activewear brand TALA and fitness app SHREDDY. The influencer-turned-author has already landed a spot on the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and now adds author to her list of credentials. Working Hard, Hardly Working is a practical guide to feeling more fulfilled and less stressed. With plenty of career advice and tips on boosting productivity while still prioritising self-care – it’s a fresh take on the modern world of work, where hobbies, passions and businesses overlap, and lines can easily get blurred. It’s a must-read for those who want to shake up their work-life balance with realistic solutions.
Hattie Parish, Deputy Wellness Ecommerce Editor
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
A "tale of two sisters" sounds at best heartwarming, at worst twee. But there’s nothing saccharine about this story of teenagers linked by their bigamist father. One sibling is oblivious to her sister’s existence, the other navigates coming-of-age in full knowledge that, as an illegitimate lovechild, she'll always come second. Set in 1980s Atlanta, we follow African American Dana as she grapples with the role of secret sister; envy conjuring up an idyllic imagined life for Chaurisse, the daughter of her father’s public family. We soon learn that Chaurisse’s lot is far from perfect, and the girls have more in common than a philandering father. Alongside exploring identity as a woman of colour in Reagan-era America, Jones delves into issues of class, sisterhood and family. It's a moving, beautifully written novel about womanhood, the weight of the truth and the irresistible pull of kinship.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
The Last House on Needless Street
This gothic horror-cum-thriller feels an apt read in the run up to halloween. Catriona Ward’s genre-bending tale centres upon Ted, a lonely man who lives in a ramshackle house on Needless Street with his 12-year-old daughter and cat. Meanwhile, a new neighbour arrives with a hidden agenda – she's convinced that Ted is behind her younger sister’s disappearance. Told from the perspective of a string of unreliable narrators (including the cat), Ward keeps you guessing. Tense, compelling and utterly unique, it’s no surprise that Stephen King’s a fan.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
I am ashamed to say I knew very little about Vietnam’s vast and complex history before reading Nguyen Phan Qué Mai’s The Mountains Sing. However, if you’re going to learn about this resilient country, Mai’s poetic novel (that was written in tribute to her family) is the best place to start. This epic spans two decades, beginning with the notorious bombing of Hanoi in 1972. Amid the conflict, Huong’s grandmother recounts The Great Famine of 1945 and Land Reforms of the ’50s. If, like me, you enjoy historical fiction told through the lens of a family saga (see also my September's recommendation, Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko), you’ll love this novel that focuses on sacrifice, forgiveness, and determination.
See our editors' August picks below
Zlata Rodionova, Red Digital Editor
Atmospheric and haunting, Daisy Johnson’s second novel, Sisters, explores the uncomfortable and increasingly toxic relationship between siblings September and July, who were born less than a year apart. Following a mysterious tragic event, the girls have moved to an isolated cottage on the edge of the North York Moors with their troubled mother, Sheela. In poetic, fragmented parts, Johnson gradually reveals the story. This is a gothic tale at heart – think bleak landscapes, sinister characters, and creaking old houses – and its beguiling eeriness had me hooked.
Abigail Southan, Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor
Grace Dent’s first book is a self-professed ‘memoir of wanting more’. The now acclaimed food critic describes her upbringing in Thatcherite Carlisle, eating ‘beige’ foods like chip butties, tinned macaroni and ‘sketty’ (spaghetti). Dent reminisces through these dinnertime tales; recalling her rebellious teens, wryly poking fun at her on-the-make mother and delicately chronicling her father’s dementia. She also explores metaphorical hunger: her drive for success – any Millennial would submit to snowflake slurs after reading about Dent squatting in London – and its subsequent impact on her relationships. Despite now eating at Michelin-starred restaurants weekly, she never once scorns the comfort food of her working-class childhood. This book made me hungry for simpler times – and more memoirs from Dent.
Sally Newall, Editorial Director, Ecommerce
We all know the story of Jack the Ripper, right? But what about his victims? Before I read The Five, all I could recall was hearing the brutal ways these "prostitutes" were murdered, dressed up as entertainment. Historian Hallie Rubenhold is on a mission to change the too-often misogynist narrative and put the women front and centre. Here, she painstakingly unearths their varied and surprising pasts. For social history nerds like me it’s a fascinating look at Victorian life, but more importantly, it’s a battle cry to reclaim power and an identity beyond victimhood for the murdered. There’s an accompanying podcast, Bad Women: The Ripper Retold, but I recommend the book for the impeccably researched detail.
Sarah Coleman, Digital Design Lead
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
It's 20 years since The Secret History was first published and countless people have recommended it to me. Psychological thrillers aren’t my usual bag but it turns out ‘dark academia’ just might be. The novel follows six American students at an elite New England college studying classics under the tutelage of an eccentric professor. The lessons become all-encompassing and things swiftly descend into chaos, with morality left at the door. We know events have escalated to murder right from the start, but are tantalisingly drip-fed the story through the –complicit – narrator’s eyes. It’s a hugely intelligent book with such compelling characters. I might be late to the party but I’m now talking about it to anyone who’ll listen.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Counting Reese Witherspoon and Marian Keyes as fans, Miranda Cowley Heller’s debut is as gripping as it is moving. The protagonist Elle’s story takes place at her family’s Cape Cod holiday home (aka The Paper Palace), where she has a passionate encounter with her childhood best friend. Disturbed, Elle reflects upon her life, exploring the tragic events that led her to this moment. Although I’ll forever recommend it, it isn’t an easy read – I guarantee that your copy will be tear-stained by the time you finish.
Rosie Davenport, Ecommerce Fashion Writer
Love historical fiction? You’re in for a treat with Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko. Spanning eight decades and four generations, this epic novel follows the lives of a family from Yeongdo, Korea and delves into themes of discrimination, trauma, and belonging. It’s much more than a family drama though – through beautiful-yet-heartbreaking prose, Lee uses a Dickensian approach to hone in on each character. The result? We’re transported into the life struggles and racism endured by Koreans living in Japan during World War II. If you’ve already sped through this tear-jerking page-turner, be sure to check out this year’s Apple TV adaptation.
See our editors' July picks below
Natasha Lunn, Features Director
Every Family Has A Story by Julia Samuel
Love so often traces back to family. To the losses we inherit and the patterns we recreate; to the childhood insecurities that creep into adult relationships; or the unsaid things that steer our fears and desires, without us even knowing it. Thankfully, psychotherapist Julia Samuel has written a book to help us understand how love is shaped by family and how families shape us.
Through eight stories, Samuel explores the complexities that come with family ties, from trauma to divorce, bereavement and addiction. Rather than clinical case studies presented from a distance, these stories are intimate and beautifully told. They made me see my family – and myself – with fresh empathy.
Sally Newall, Editorial Director, Ecommerce
Boys Don’t Cry by Fiona Scarlett
I’ve just finished this for my book club and I can’t stop recommending it. Fiona Scarlett’s debut centers around brothers growing up on a Dublin estate, where family life is steeped in crime and violence. At 17, Joe, a talented artist, is determined he won’t follow in his Da’s footsteps and, on his watch, nor will his 12-year-old brother, Finn. Life has other plans: Finn falls dangerously ill and, with their father in prison and their mother cocooned in her grief, Joe has to make some tough decisions.
It's an intensely moving story that’s so evocative of working-class Dublin life. It puts in sharp focus the toxic societal pressures – not least for boys and men to keep any emotion buried – that can make breaking destructive cycles so hard.
Ciara McGinley, Deputy Digital Editor
Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life by Roxie Nafousi
It’s the little orange book you’ve seen all over your Instagram feed this year, and it really does live up to the hype. I’ve been devouring Manifest by Roxie Nafousi this month – it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to feel more empowered. The seven-step plan to manifesting your best life will help you better understand the practice (and how much action really is involved in the process), explore anything that’s holding you back (fear, doubt or lack of self-worth) and help you get clear on what you want out of life and how you can align your behaviour to get it. A roadmap for embracing gratitude, cultivating self-love and unlocking the magic within you so you can turn your dreams into your reality.
Lauren Codling, Ecommerce Home and Garden Writer
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Frances Cha’s debut novel follows four women in South Korea, for whom spending money on plastic surgery is as commonplace as getting a haircut. Their lives revolve around strict social hierarchies, chasing wealth and striving for unattainable beauty. It’s a bleakly captivating look into the cut-throat world of contemporary Seoul, that’s incredibly written with a distinctive cast of characters. I finished it in two sittings, have re-read it twice since and I’d still happily read it again – it’s a serious contender for one of my favourite books ever.
Joanna Whitehead, Editor and Writer
The Transgender issue by Shon Faye
There’s a lot of noise in the UK media about the alleged “risks” posed by trans people, yet these are largely pronounced by cisgender people (those whose gender is the same as that assigned at birth). That we so rarely get to hear from trans people themselves seems to fly in the face of parity, whilst doing us all a disservice. Thankfully, Shon Faye has taken up the mantle with this accomplished state-of-the-nation work that conveys the reality of trans lives in the UK, from housing to healthcare, work to family and beyond. Read this to discover the truth behind the salacious headlines.
Rhalou Allerhand, Ecommerce Editor - Wellness
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
What would you do if your entire family were gunned down in front of you by a Mexican drug cartel and you were forced to flee overnight to save your life? This fast-paced thriller about a mother and sons’ treacherous journey along Mexico’s lawless migrant trail towards the US border takes you on a breathless, heart-in-your-mouth journey into the world of displaced people. Admittedly the author has come under fire for cultural appropriation, so it’s worth keeping the authenticity of the narrator in mind. But if you’re looking for an action-packed, pacey, and emotive read that stays with you, this is it.
Mayola Fernandes, Ecommerce Production Assistant
You might have seen the buzz around Ghost Lover, Lisa Taddeo’s new collection of short stories that explore female desire. But if, like me, you need to catch up on her original delve into the subject, Three Women, why not start now? It traces the complex relationships and needs of Maggie, Lina and Sloane – three very different, but innately connected, American women. Taddeo is meticulous in her research; she worked on the book for eight years, even moving to the subjects’ towns to entwine herself in their lives. The result is a hugely compelling deep-dive into female sexuality, in all its messy complexity.
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