BOOKSHELF
Book of the month
The latest reads
THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo
I can’t stop raving about this book, and putting it into the hands of everyone I know. Violet and her three sisters have grown up in the shadow of the all-consuming love of their parents and are struggling to find their own happy-ever-afters. When the child that Violet gave up for adoption is tracked down years later, it affects the whole family. The relationships between the sisters are complicated, loving and realistic. A terrific read to get lost in on your sunlounger.
#Metoo thriller WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker
When the CEO of a big firm is found dead, it looks like sleazy Ames Garrett will be appointed as his replacement. The female employees know what Ames is like and take action, but what they start has dire consequences. A clever whodunnit that confronts what it’s like to be a working woman right now.
Coming-of-age novel SWEET SORROW by David Nicholls
It’s 1997, Tony Blair is Prime Minister and the mood of the country is different. It’s a life-changing summer for 16-year-old Charlie, too, as he falls in love for the first time. Nicholls writes so vividly about the hopefulness and awkwardness of being a teenager that you’ll be swept right back to that time. Read our interview with Nicholls on page 156.
THREE WOMEN by Lisa Taddeo Female friendship explored EXPECTATION by Anna Hope
Cate, Lissa and Hannah have known each other since uni, but their friendships become uneasy as the years pass, while dealing with infertility, failing careers and broken marriages. Hope’s writing is sublime and her characters are so well fleshed out that they’ll feel like friends by the end of the book.
Eye-opening biography
This piece of non-fiction is gripping and unlike anything else I’ve read. For eight years, Taddeo lived alongside three women, recording their hopes and disappointments, and focusing on their sexual desires and relationships. Their experiences are both personal and universal, and can teach us a lot.
Fascinating drama THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH by Stephanie Butland
When a photo she took stars in a feminist exhibition in the 1960s, as the women’s liberation movement kicks off, Vee reflects on how that shot cost her everything. I enjoyed reading about this feisty woman and her friendship with activist Leonie.
Thought-provoking weepie AFTER THE END by Clare Mackintosh
In this emotional read, a couple face a heartbreaking parental decision. Bestselling psychological thriller writer Mackintosh heads in a new direction with this book, drawing on personal experience, which makes it all the more poignant.
Touching read THE CARER by Deborah Moggach
When widower James can no longer look after himself, his middle-aged children, Phoebe and Robert, hire a carer. They’re happy to see their father’s joie de vivre return, until belongings go missing. Moggach’s novel is both moving and funny, with a satisfying ending. Read Moggach’s feature on page 52.
Page-turning spy novel THE MOST DIFFICULT THING by Charlotte Philby
The author of this book is the granddaughter of double agent Kim Philby, which gives this spy thriller, set in upper-class London, a real ring of authenticity. It opens with Anna walking out on her life with her husband and three-year-old twins, with the intention of never seeing them again. Compulsive and chilling.
Life-affirming fiction SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR
by Richard Roper Andrew lies about having a wife and two kids in a job interview, then has to keep up the pretence with his new colleagues. In reality, he lives alone. When Peggy joins the company, their friendship threatens his lies. This book has moments of hilarity while conveying a message about stepping out of comfort zones.