Five new books to read this week
FICTION Green Dot by Madeleine Gray is published in hardback by W&N.
Available now
Australian Gray’s impressive debut plunges us headlong into the restless existence of twentysomething slacker Hera. An academic high-achiever, she’s drifting through life until she lands a job at a Sydney news outlet. Here she meets older journalist, Arthur, with whom she begins an ill-advised but all-consuming affair. As the story unfolds, what begins as a laugh-out-loud observation of office politics, slowly gives way to a deeply poignant and, at times, heartbreakingly detailed journey of messy selfdiscovery. The layered characterisation that will have you riveted. 8/10
My Friends by Hisham Matar is published in hardback by Viking.
Available now
Love, friendship and longing. They’re the three themes you’ll come across in this story about friends living in political exile. Readers are introduced to Khaled Abd al Hady, a literature student who, when visiting London, attends an antigovernment demonstration in front of the Libyan embassy. The spur-of-themoment decision is one that impacts the rest of his life, leaving him, and two others, longing for their beloved country. My Friends isn’t just a story about political exile – it’s about the country that defines us and the actions we would take to protect our beloved home. 8/10
The Fury by Alex Michaelides is published in hardback by Michael Joseph. Available now
Former film star Lana Farrar invites a small group of friends to a private Greek island to relax in the sun, reconnect and be wined and dined. But the holiday quickly turns from a happy get-together to a gripping murder mystery. Winds batter the island, leaving the group stranded and caught up in a terrifying search for the murderer. The book is narrated by Elliot Chase, who is both charming and evil, with a cunning plan to split Lana from her husband and eventually marry her. The Fury is surely set to follow Michaelides’ first book, The Silent Patient, and become a bestseller.
8/10
Lovers In Auschwitz: A True Story by Keren Blankfeld is published in hardback by WH Allen.
Available now
In this poignant and moving true story, the lives of two Holocaust survivors, Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia, unfold against the backdrop of notorious death camp Auschwitz. The narrative guides us from the circumstances that led them to Auschwitz to the daily struggles for survival, culminating in a remarkable reunion over 70 years later. This compelling tale of love and sacrifice is presented with great sensitivity, offering readers a genuine glimpse into the atrocities committed under the Nazi regime. 10/10
There’s A Tiger On The Train by Mariesa Dulak, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, is published in paperback by Faber & Faber.
Available now
This is a captivating children’s story about a boy and his dad taking a trip on a train for a seaside outing. The story follows a lovely cadence of rhyming couplets, with a three-year-old able to jump in to fill in the gaps and be a part of reading the book. While there is the anticipation of reaching the beach, the adventure turns out to be the train ride itself – with a whole host of different animals joining as fellow passengers. Quite the commotion unfolds, which is brought to life with great illustrations. 8/10