This month’s BEST BOOKS

LITERARY EDITOR Sarra Manning PICKS YOUR NEW FAVOURITE READS…

Dear Dolly: On Love, Life And Friendship by Dolly Alderton

(Fig Tree, £16.99, out now)

A compendium of good advice from her Sunday Times column, Dear Dolly is Dolly Alderton at her wise, warm and witty best. Every facet of human life is contained in these pages: from dating apps to eating disorders, too much sex, not enough sex and the ebb and flow of friendships, relationships and situationships. I felt like a better, kinder person for having read these letters and Dolly’s thoughtful replies.

The Book Of The Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran

(Faber & Faber, £16.99, out now)

Writer turned book dealer Lily hears rumours about an occult manual, The Book Of The Most Precious Substance, which promises to grant its owner their darkest, deepest desires. The money Lily will make from the very many wealthy people who want the book will change her life, but as Lily’s quest takes her from LA to New Orleans to Paris, has the book got her in its thrall, too? A sexy, addictive thriller with a festering heart – I gasped out loud at the big reveal.

Idol, Burning by Rin Usami (translated by Asa Yoneda)

(Canongate, £14.99, out now)

A Japanese publishing phenomenon, Idol, Burning is a window into the world of teenage obsession and the dark places it can venture to. High-school student Akari lives only for her oshi (idol) Masaki, a singer in a pop group. But when Masaki is accused of assaulting a female fan, Akari’s world shatters. This is like nothing else I’ve read. Also, a reminder to get my Harry Styles crush under control.

The Dazzle Of The Light by Georgina Clarke

(Verve Books, £9.99, out 17th November) 1920s London comes alive in this tale of two very different women. Beautiful Ruby belongs to the notorious Forty Thieves gang, while journalist Harriet is about to become wife to an ambitious MP. When their worlds collide, can they change the cards they’ve been dealt? Fans of Kate Atkinson and Sarah Waters will adore this compelling and utterly gripping novel, which deserves to be huge.

Molly & The Captain by Anthony Quinn

(Little, Brown, £16.99, out now)

From one of my favourite writers comes the story of a missing painting by a celebrated Georgian artist, William Merrymount. Beginning with the painter’s daughter, Laura, Molly & The Captain is a story in three parts, set across three centuries and centred on the women whose lives are changed by this elusive piece of art. It’s a breathtakingly ambitious novel that nails the small personal triumphs and tragedies of each woman’s life.