This month’s best books

JOYOUS ROMANCE, STICKY SUMMERS AND BRILLIANT DETECTIVES… THERE’S A LOT TO LOVE THIS MONTH, SAYS LITERARY EDITOR SARRA MANNING

The Magnificent Sons by Justin Myers

(Piatkus, £16.99, out 28th May)

From the very funny Justin Myers comes this equally funny, keenly observed tale about relationships and identity. Jake D’arcy is happy to be Mr Average. Job with prospects, check. Steady girlfriend, check. Steering clear of his loud, rambunctious family, check. But when his wonderfully flamboyant little brother comes out as gay, it makes Jake question his own life and realise that it could be magnificent, if only he’s brave enough to stop pretending.

Remain Silent by Susie Steiner

(The Borough Press, £14.99, out 28th May) A third outing for Steiner’s DI Manon Bradshaw. When Manon investigates the suspicious suicide of a migrant worker, she’s drawn into the brutal shadow-world of modern-day slavery. Manon is also dealing with her rambunctious toddler, menopause and her husband’s ailing health, but she’s as bolshy as ever, and one of my top literary detectives. Steiner isn’t just one of our best crime writers, she’s one of our best writers, full stop.

Heatstroke One Year Of Ugly by Caroline Mackenzie

(The Borough Press, £12.99, out 14th May) Yola Palacios and her family have made the treacherous trip from strife-torn Venezuela to the vibrant Caribbean island of Trinidad. They try to lay low, until they find themselves indebted to a vicious gangster called Ugly and Yola falls for Roman, Ugly’s impossibly handsome henchman. This book tackles heavy subjects: forced immigration, organised crime, trafficking. But it’s also a glorious, darkly funny read that simply roars off the page.

by Hazel Barkworth

(Headline, £16.99, out 28th May) When her teen daughter’s friend, Lily, doesn’t come home, teacher Rachel is consumed with worry for the 15-year-old, who’s also her pupil. As a heatwave grips the country, and it’s revealed Lily isn’t alone but with someone Rachel knows well, she’s forced to confront her own bad choices. Dark and unsettling, Heatstroke is a thriller about power plays and crossed boundaries.

Would Like To Meet by Rachel Winters

(Trapeze, £8.99, out now) What the world needs now is love – and this is a balm for these strange times. Inspired by the meet-cutes of romcoms, unappreciated agent’s assistant Evie strikes a deal with the arrogant but oh-so-good-looking screenwriter Ezra to prove people can fall in love like they do in films. But will she find the Harry to her Sally or humiliate herself in the name of art? The perfect feelgood read.