Popular fiction
EVERY BREATH
by Nicholas Sparks (Hachette, $35) This was a two-day read. I knew it would be because I’m always fast with Nicholas Sparks’ books. Then I’m disappointed it’s over and that I have to wait another year or two until he writes another. Every Breath covers new territory for Sparks because it’s inspired by a true story of the Kindred Spirit Letterbox at Sunset Beach, North Carolina. This is a place where strangers can share stories of love, life, loss and heartbreak, hope and happiness. Sparks tells the story of Hope Anderson, a 36-year-old woman desperate for her boyfriend of six years to settle down, and Tru Walls, an unconventional 42-year-old man, divorced with one child. These two strangers meet and deliver us a love story to remember but feelings have to give way to heart-breaking choices of regret and enduring hope. I loved this one and have already passed it on to my favourite bookie friend to devour as well.
HOW TO BE PERFECT
by Holly Wainwright (Allen & Unwin, $33) I want all Insta-mums to read this book and probably its prequel too. It’s a clever and comedic story of three women, all striving to navigate the trials of parenting and equally the unavoidable evils of social media. Abi is a blogger of the organic, Earth-child type; Elle has reinvented her blogging career, but fakes her very on-trend influencer lifestyle, and Francis is a new and overwhelmed mum, who signs up to one of Elle’s retreats hoping it’s the answer to all of her troubles. Though these are three very different characters, no one in this book is “perfect“and they are all the more likeable for it. I laughed my way through these pages and found it a refreshing, downto-earth and entirely entertaining read.
THE NECESSARY MARRIAGE
by Elisa Lodato (Hachette, $35) This story is told from three perspectives, beginning with the intriguing tale of Jane who, at 16, falls for Leonard, 16 years her senior and also her teacher. They marry when Jane becomes pregnant but after two kids, she finds herself wondering if there is more than the humdrum domesticity of her life. Enter Andrew and Marion, the new neighbours who Jane can’t help but notice have a violent, fiery and passionate relationship and two children of similar ages to Jane’s. The third and final perspective focuses on the four kids at the centre of it all. I was taken by surprise by this book, not just by the twists and turns throughout but by how a seemingly predictable storyline could deliver so much more.
FRIEND OF THE FAMILY
by Tasmina Perry (Hachette, $35) This starts slowly but builds to to deliver one of the best endings I’ve read in a while. Amy Shepherd is in line for her dream job as editor of her favourite magazine, she has a perfect husband and an adorable daughter, Tilly. But when she agrees to help out an old childhood friend by giving her daughter some work experience, the wheels fall off and Amy’s life consists of paranoia, sabotage and revenge. I’d almost describe it as a dark and manipulative version of the TV series Ugly Betty, wonderfully crafted with a whole lot of bitchiness and backstabbing — and many, many secrets.