Best Of Friends

Kamila Shamsie, Bloomsbury Circus, £16.99

In this novel of contrasting halves, one set in 1988 dictator-ruled Pakistan, the second in modern day UK, Shamsie explores the decades-long friendship of Zahra and Maryam.

Zahra is the studious and sensitive daughter of a cricket journalist, and Maryam, a wilful, spoilt heiress. Fast forward to London in 2019 where the women find their bond tested by diverging ethics and motivations.