Best new books, Summer 2018
We’ve read our way through 2018’s new books to find those that definitely deserve some space in your suitcase (or kindle!) this summer
How Do You Like Me Now by Holly Bourne
Tori Bailey is the heroine we need and deserve. The narrator of How Do You Like Me Now is an author-cum-influencer famed for her straight-talking sass, hit self-help memoir and oh-so-instagrammable happy ending. But behind Tori's ‘candid’ captions and quippy clapbacks, she’s falling apart. Writer Holly Bourne is already a big name in Young Adult fiction and now she captures the slide into early thirties with wince-inducing accuracy. You’ll guffaw as she mocks wedding and baby shower scenarios. But you’ll also find yourself deeply moved by Tori’s attempts to stifle her own doubts and desires. Within this zingy comedy is a potent exploration of emotional abuse, an important reminder that happiness isn’t what it looks like, and a lead character who’s best friend material.
The Lido by Libby Page
Libby Page’s unashamedly feel-good debut novel is this year’s answer to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. It’s a warm, tender story of community spirit and unlikely friendship. Young journalist Kate is feeling aimless and anxious, trying to make it in London. When she is sent to cover the proposed closure she makes friends with Rosemary, a passionate swimmer 50 years her senior. Together the two women campaign explore the history of the Lido and campaign to preserve it for future generations. At once plucky and profound, The Lido is a heart-warming hug of a book that you’ll pass on to friends immediately.
The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder by Sarah J Harris
There’s nothing like a murder to make those summer nights fly by – and this is an especially juicy, quirky mystery. Told from the perspective of 13-year-old Jasper who has synesthesia and learning difficulties, the intense, unexpected descriptions combine intrigue with originality. Something has happened to his neighbour, the titular Bee Larkham, but all Jasper remembers is a jumble of screams and sensations. As nobody else seems to care or pay attention, it’s down to this unusual teenager to follow the twists and turns to find out the truth.
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
English Patient author Michael Ondaatje weaves another tale of love, loss and memory against a backdrop of World War II. Warlight revolves around the shadowy nature of memory. After London’s blitz, 14-year-old Nathaniel and his sister Rachel are left in the care of a dubious, strange man called The Moth. The mysteries come together through a complex, non-linear narrative that revisits and revises each development with careful scrutiny.
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
This strange, slippery story of three sisters living on an island is tricky to describe. In the evocative, evasive dystopian world, we know that something is not right about their reclusive existence. The girls are brought up to fear men, but as each narrator proves more unreliable, readers are left to wade through for their own conclusions. Sophie Mackintosh’s prose is hypnotic, rippling with water imagery and slipping from voices and perspective. The Water Cure is a short dreamy read for those who like their stories murky and deep.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Classics teacher turned award-winning writer Madeline Miller translates the narrative mastery and lyricism of Greek mythology for modern readers. First there was surprise hit Song of Achilles, a best-selling re-imagining of The Iliad. Now she draws inspiration from The Odyssey. Honing in on the plight of Helio’s outcast daughter, Circe. The story of a young woman deemed strange and threatening, banished to an island and left to discover her own extraordinary powers is exhilarating. Rather than faithfully adhering to Homer’s text, Miller takes ownership, transmuting the tale with the craft of a contemporary novelist. The result is irresistible in its own right, and all too easy to read in a single sitting.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
New York Times best-selling writer Meg Wolitzer bores into the barbed tangles of contemporary feminism with disarming charm. The Female Persuasion revolves around the all-too recognisable desire to be accepted by those you admire the most. Shy student Greer Kadetsky is in awe of famous feminist Faith Frank. Wolitzer captures the ambition and angst of growing up with warmth and wisdom in a book that’s at once searingly intelligent and gloriously light.
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
If you enjoyed Sarah Parry’s The Essex Serpent you will be enchanted by this atmospheric tale of mermaids and madams. On a dark September night in 1785, Jonah Hancock discovers what appears to be a mermaid. This mythical creature triggers a story of desire, obsession and danger. Imogen Hermes Gowar draws us into Georgian London with prose that’s as effervescent as it is intelligent.
Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughn
Anatomy of a Scandal has all the hallmarks of a truly gripping read: handsome yet duplicitous husband, salacious secrets, twisting courtroom revelations and two bright brilliant women in the eye of the storm. We devoured our review copy in a single weekend. And while Sarah Vaughan reels you in with a tense, pacy crime, she explores thorny issues of consent, trauma and forgiveness with remarkable sensitivity.
A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better by Benjamin Wood
Since making the critics stand to attention with the narrative force of first The Bellwether Revivals then The Ecliptic Benjamin Wood has been very much a novelist to watch. And his third novel is the best yet. Exploring the bond between father and son and the persistent, purifying power of childhood trauma, A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better is an unsettling, evocative story of self-acceptance and reconciliation.
The Only Story by Julian Barnes
The Booker-winning author of Sense of an Ending and Flaubert's Parrot crafts a tender portrait of a young man in love with an older woman. Julian Barnes's talent for capturing matters of the heart gives the story a glow of sensitivity and wisdom. Though it's artfully wrought, The Only Story is remains readable and deeply touching.
Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
Anne 'the Jane Austen of our time' Tyler is always a safe bet for a colourful, consuming story rooted in relatable domesticity. Clock Dance, her 22nd (!) novel, shows that the prolific novelist is still as shrewd and stylish as ever. Clock Dance tells the story of Willa, who abandons her own life and crosses the country to help her son's ex-girlfriend. It's a nimble and warm testament to life's surprises.