BOOKS OF THE WEEK
The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan W&N, £16.99 (ebook £7.99) Review by Imy Brighty-Potts
Luke and Celine are happy. They have been together for a while – the logical next step, surely, is getting married. It doesn’t matter if they actually want to be with other people, or prefer playing the piano to being with one another, does it? In Naoise Dolan’s new novel following the excellent Exciting Times, she explores LGBTQ+ identity, how our families form us and subversive female characters in the best possible way. The Happy Couple examines bisexuality, heartbreak and complex characters without ambiguity or cliche, with a really brilliant plot designed around a day none of us want to come. Dolan once again crafts a brilliant story that leaves you desperately wanting more.
Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang The Borough Press, £16.99 (ebook £9.99) Review by Prudence Wade
Yellowface is bold, confronting and quite unlike anything else you’ll read this year. Told from the perspective of white writer Junie – who is an entirely unreliable narrator – it weaves a gripping tale of racial politics and who gets to tell what stories. Junie is jealous of the success of her author friend Athena – who is Asian – and when Athena dies in a freak accident, Junie steals the rough manuscript for her latest masterpiece publishes it as her own – to great success. It’s a book about Chinese workers in World War One and the mental gymnastics Junie does to justify why she’s telling this story are astounding. Yellowface reads almost like a thriller – you won’t want to put it down, despite the main voice being so dislikable.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin Faber & Faber, £16.99 (ebook £9.99) Review by Amanda De-Beer
Jen Beagin’s third novel is a tale of sly voyeurism and sexual drama. We’re introduced to Greta, a 45-year-old pharm tech who gives up her job and 10-year relationship to share a rundown house with an anorexic, weedselling cocaine addict. She meets Big Swiss via her transcription work for a sex and relationship coach and becomes infatuated. The two start an affair – Flavia, or Big Swiss as Greta calls her, is larger than life and as damaged as Greta, due to past trauma. Their relationship is doomed to fail, however, we are kept wondering if they can overcome their past traumas and move on. It’s darkly funny, full of clever analogies and quite emotive.
The Success Myth by Emma Gannon Torva, £16.99 (ebook £10.99) Review by Eleanor Fleming
This is a thoroughly thought-provoking and engaging read. Emma Gannon explores the commonly held myths about what it traditionally means to be successful, from money to happiness and ticking society’s ready-made boxes. Through looking at her own journey and interviewing other successful people, Gannon delves into the reasons why our overly celebrated and traditional version of success might be making us feel lonely, unfulfilled, and dispirited – but she believes there is a way to do things differently. The Success Myth aims to help you uncover your individual path to a fulfilling life, whatever that may look like. You will not be able to put this book down.