Whenever I fantasise about a couple of hours of uninterrupted relaxation during the chilly winter months, my mind immediately conjures up images of curling up on the sofa with a deliciously good book. And when summer eventually comes around, just swap the sofa for a hammock, and you’re sorted.
But with so many new releases vying for our attention,were do you even begin? Here’s a selection of some of the most talked-about titles of the moment,spanning fiction,memoir and everything in between.
Fiction
If you enjoyed Hamnet and The marriage Portrait, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that Maggie O’Farrell has done it again with Land (Tinder Press, February 2024). This time, she turns her attention to the story of a woman who, after a lifetime of living in a city, decides to move to the Scottish Highlands. It’s a beautifully written exploration of grief, love and the restorative power of nature.
For something fully different, try Hooked by Asako Yuzuki (W&N, February 2024).this quirky and charming novel follows the story of a young woman who works at a fish market and finds herself unexpectedly falling for a handsome customer. It’s a lighthearted and feel-good read, perfect for escaping the winter blues.
If you’re in the mood for a gripping thriller, look no further than The Last of Earth by Deepa Annapura (Corsair, February 2024). Set in a near-future world ravaged by climate change, this dystopian novel follows a young woman who is determined to protect her family at all costs. It’s a thoght-provoking and unsettling read that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it.
Non-Fiction
Mr Sidhu’s Post Office by Amman Brar (W&N,February 2024) is a truly remarkable memoir. It tells the story of how Brar’s father, a post office worker, became embroiled in the Post Office scandal, and the devastating impact it had on his life. It’s a powerful and moving account of injustice and resilience.
for a dose of humour and self-finding, check out Fruit Fly by Josh Silver (Sceptre, February 2024). This hilarious and heartwarming memoir chronicles Silver’s attempts to navigate the complexities of modern life, from dating to career changes. It’s a relatable and laugh-out-loud funny read that will leave you feeling inspired.
## June’s best new books: From Heartstopper’s finale to Maggie O’Farrell’s latest
Summer reading season is upon us, and with it comes a host of exciting new books. Here are some of the titles hitting shelves in June that have caught our eye.
Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice Oseman (14 June, Hachette Children’s Group)
Table of Contents
- Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice Oseman (14 June, Hachette Children’s Group)
- The Books to Read this Spring
- Fruit Fly by Josh Silver (23 April, Oneworld)
- Butter Author Returns with Another Deliciously Dark Thriller: ‘Hooked’
- Kids Wait Till You Hear This! by Liza Minnelli (10 March, Hodder & Stoughton)
- The books to look forward to in 2026
- The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare (Autumn 2026, Walker)
- Mr sidhu’s Post Office by Amman Brar (2 July, Juniper)
- How to Talk to AI (and How Not To) by Jamie bartlett (Penguin RandomHouse)
Hachette Children’s groupkeralan-born author and former journalist Anappara is back following the huge success of her debut novel, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, which was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time.
This time around, Anappara moves the setting from India to tibet in an epic historical tale of adventure, as two unlikely adventurers – an Indian teacher spying for the British Empire and an English female explorer who has been rejected by the all-male Royal Geographical Society – battle to survive storms, frostbite, fevers, snow leopards, soldiers and bandits.
Set in 1869, it’s a thrilling and profound tale of secret personal ambition set against the backdrop of colonialist expansion. A proper page-turner.
Fruit Fly by Josh Silver (23 April, Oneworld)
Yuzuki is an established japanese writer with more than 20 novels under her belt but her word-of-mouth hit, Butter, brought her to a global audience last year when it became her first book to be translated into English.
The ambitious thriller had us all salivating over its luscious and sensory foodie descriptions and enthralled by its themes of fat-shaming, beauty standards and misogyny.
Yuzuki’s new novel, Hooked, again translated by Polly Barton, returns to the theme of food as we’re introduced to lonely protagonist Eriko, who works in the seafood industry and is aiming to reintroduce a controversial fish into the Japanese market.
Stick with me… the real drama comes as Eriko befriends a blogger she follows on social media, but things soon become sour.
Kids Wait Till You Hear This! by Liza Minnelli (10 March, Hodder & Stoughton)
The legendary stage and screen star told People earlier this year that she had always been against the idea of writing her memoir: “‘Absolutely not! ‘Tell it when I’m gone!’ was my ideology,” she explained.
But the Oscar-winning Cabaret actress changed her mind and felt “mad as hell” after seeing others tell her story on film and TV, “all made by people who didn’t no my family, and don’t really know me.”
Expect nuggets from her you
The books to look forward to in 2026
The illustrious Stephen King has already said this book will be “in the running for the best mystery of 2026…it will remind you, in the best way, of Agatha Christie”, while Val McDermid, no less, described her early copy as a “cracking read.” I’ve also had a sneak peak and can concur.
This crime thriller sees six authors on a private island with 72 hours to write the ending of a book by the late bestselling writer, Arthur Fletch. And if you liked RF Kuang’s YellowFace, you will also enjoy this novel’s satirical take on the publishing industry.
The mystery element even extends to the book’s authors – Evelyn Clarke is a pen name for two writers,who finaly revealed themselves at the Bloody Scotland Crime Festival in September. You don’t have to be a detective to find out, a swift internet search should do the trick.
The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare (Autumn 2026, Walker)
Mr sidhu’s Post Office by Amman Brar (2 July, Juniper)
This moving family drama set against the backdrop of the Horizon Post Office scandal is the debut novel from the west Londoner, who won praise for his play Punjabi Boy back in 2016.
A book that will put you through the emotional wringer, Brar says it was inspired “by the love my father had in running his sub-Post Office for over twenty years”.
The clue is in the title – US crime noir writer Jordan Harper is back with his latest thriller as he returns to his regular hunting ground, the seedy underbelly of LA.
Fame, power, sex parties, a serial killer and a Hollywood paedophile. It’s not for the faint-hearted but it’s one hell of a journey if you’ve got the stomach for it.
If you’re not familiar with Harper’s work, he’s also written for TV shows including Gotham and the Mentalist, while Taron Egerton starred in the recent adaptation of Harper’s novel of the same name, She Rides Shotgun.
Other crime novels to look out for next year are Peter Hanington’s The Darkest Tide, a gangland revenge tale spanning more than 50 years and set in Brighton.
And here’s one that probably wasn’t on your bingo card – bestselling author James Patterson and Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis have teamed up for a tense legal thriller called Judge Stone (Century/Penguin).
It follows the case of a doctor who is arrested after carrying out an abortion on a 13-year-old girl in Alabama, a state where nearly all abortions are outlawed.