Brexit, the Budget, the weather, Kim Kardashian… escape them all with a great book. Read on for shelf-loads of great reads reviewed by our editorial experts and free opening extract tasters of what we think will be well worth reading in April.
This is your monthly chance to get a taste of the next big things before they hit the shelves. It’s a great way to browse for new books!
| When She Was Bad, Tammy Cohen. Mounting horror grips in this office-life saga. Original, Hypnotic, harrowing and compulsive.
| The French Lesson, Hallie Rubenhold. A wonderfully bawdy period memoir. Scandal and intrigue against a backdrop of social change and revolution. |
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The Summer Before the War, Helen Simonson. Heartbreaking, beautifully written portrayal of small town folk and the war to end all wars. |
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| Flawed, Cecelia Ahern. Debut YA novel from bestselling adult author that raises interesting questions about society and personal responsibility. |
Tastes Like Fear, Sarah Hilary. Third in the award-winning crime series from the author of the bone-chilling debut Someone Else’s Skin. |
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Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All, Jonas Jonasson. Hugely readable, quirky, madcap walk through life’s darker side. |
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Literat-HER – Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction
Celebrating its 20
th anniversary, the highly coveted international prize for the very best writing by women announced its longlist on 8 March. Take a look at the titles that we are tipping for the top – not necessarily the obvious names from the longlist but we rate these ones as well worth a read.
Award-winning Romance
We think 7 March must be the most Romantic Day of the Year, so far, as the winners of the RNA (Romantic Novelists’ Association) Book Awards were announced at a simply splendid lunch in London. Novelist Fern Britton handed out the gongs and our very own Sarah Broadhurst was a judge.
Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey, described as ‘a skilfully told story with captivating characters, convincing and compelling’ was the overall winner. It and the category winners are on the shelf below.
The surprise but totally deserved winner of the Man Booker,
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge, has just been published as a beautiful gift edition.
James Heneage, chair of the final judges, said: “Part horror, part detective, part historical, this is a fantastic story with great central characters and narrative tension. It’s not only a fabulous children’s book but a book that readers of all ages will love.”
Find out more.
We have Spring festivals with something for everyone. New in Kent is the
Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival (Bank Holiday weekend 1-3 May) with
10% off all tickets for Lovereading members, whilst the Cotswolds offer book-lovers
Chipping Norton Literary Festival (21-24 April) and
Chipping Campden Literature Festival (3-8 May).
This is where we guide you to other authors who resemble your favourites. This month, if you like Sophie Kinsella you’ll love
Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel by Jane Costello, a toe-tappingly funny tale of friendship, love and salsa!
And for fans of Martina Cole then look no further than Julie Shaw with her gritty and gripping
Tales of the Notorious Hudson Family series.
As the weather gets better why not pick up a fresh eBook to make reading anywhere a simple pleasure.
Drawn from his own experiences and using the imaginative construct of narrative through objects rather than characters, Harry Parker’s new
novel Anatomy of a Soldier is a compelling and compassionate modern war tale. Forty-five objects, one incredible story.
A truly unique novel with a language that elevates it to beautiful. If you’re looking for a
tour de force, look no further.
As ever, resident editorial guru Maxim Jakubowski has plundered the shelves to give us his top tips this month. With stellar new titles and a stonking reissue to feast on, even the hungriest appetite will be satisfied. Here’s a taster of the top table:
Box Nine by Jack O’Connell – Desolate and mind-twisting detective story, with characters as weird as their surroundings and a plot that is just as modern today as when first published in 1998.
13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough – Jealousy, cunning and outright evil. A twisting, relentless delve into the cruelties of the mind, which is gripping and chilling to the end.
If you haven’t already discovered Denzil Meyrick’s
DCI Daley series, you’re in for a treat! The former Glasgow police officer brings a stunning sense of reality to his action-packed, gutsy and suspenseful tales that menace and harass your senses. No mundane murders here! The latest title
The Rat Stone Serenade, due in April, combines old family secrets with a long forgotten curse and certain death awaits.
See the whole series here and if you are new to it get reading ahead of the new one.
Mike Hollow’s series of crime novels, set in WW2 London, are perfect for fans of
Foyle’s War or
Murder on the Home Front and anyone who enjoys period murder mysteries.
DI Jago, ‘The Blitz Detective’, is engaging, reliable and hiding hurts from the previous war. His young side-kick DC Craddock is wet behind the ears and keen as mustard. Their first case is
Direct Hit and just out is the second book in the series,
Fifth Column.
In 2013, aged five and a half, Toby Little decided to write a letter to someone in every single country in the world. His Mum, Sabine, embraced the challenge and began to seek out people who would be interested in writing back to Toby. A website went live and became a means of storing the letters, social media leapt aboard and Toby’s dream started to come true.
Dear World, How Are You? is gorgeous, fascinating and heartwarming in equal measure; a book to put a smile on your face and to share with children to inspire them to take up a challenge.
Back in 2012 bestselling author Jodi Picoult, co-writing with her daughter who came up with the idea, told a brilliantly romantic YA story of love across a divide (in this case a book!) in an entertaining and thought-provoking story about stories, characters and readers.
Now coming in April 2016 we have their next delightful collaboration
Off the Page. A stand-alone novel as well as the sequel to the authors’ bestseller
Between the Lines, perfect for readers looking for a fairytale ending. Read an Opening Extract now, or if you are new to the duo catch up with the
first one.
That’s it for March. Happy Reading. See you in April… but don’t forget to enter our Free Prize Draw to win a DVD Box set of series 1 -3 of the dark and cleverly crafted Shetland.
P.S. We loved the gorgeously eloquent and touching novel
The Turning Point by Freya North when it was published in hardback last year so it’s great the paperback is out next week… time to turn off the TV and phone to enjoy undisturbed.
P.P.S. Are you in a reading group? Then don’t miss one of our top highlights this month,
The Broken Road by Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn, the engaging and satisfying family tale, full of drama and emotion. Packed full of plot lines to get you all talking.
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