Loved and Missed
by Susie Boyt
Our novel of the year: a beautifully written examination of the relationships between mothers and daughters – we were blown away by it.
Manifesto
by Bernardine Evaristo
No memoir has inspired us more this year than Manifesto by the Booker Prize-winner Evaristo. Buy it for every young woman you know.
Mothers, Fathers, and Others
by Siri Hustvedt
We are die-hard Hustvedt fans but even we will admit that not all of her books are easy-going. This new collection of essays, happily, is one of her most accessible, ranging from memories of her mother to essays on the pandemic.
The Fortune Men
by Nadifa Mohammed
Mohammed’s historical novel was shortlisted for the Booker and we can see why. Set in 1950s Tiger Bay, Cardiff, The Fortune Men retells the story of a real-life miscarriage of justice. Brilliantly plotted, a wonderful read!
Consumed
by Arifa Akbar
A fascinating examination by the Guardian’s chief theatre critic of her relationship with her older sister, who died in her 40s of tuberculosis. Scrupulously researched and painfully honest, this is an illuminating tribute to sisterhood as well as an investigation of how someone could die of tuberculosis in present day London.
There’s No Such Thing As Perfect
by Emma Hughes
Our romantic comedy of the year, for fans of Marian Keyes and David Nicholls. Hughes writes about London and its people so brilliantly. She also skewers the problems thrown up by online dating in a way that feels utterly fresh and is often downright hilarious.
We Run The Tides
by Vendela Vida
A much underrated novel in our view, for fans of The Virgin Suicides, this is a gorgeously written coming of age tale set in 1980s California.
The Joy of Small Things
by Hannah Jane Parkinson
We are fans of Hannah Jane Parkinson’s lovely Guardian column, as is Nigella Lawson. Each week, she chooses one of life’s joys to celebrate: from kissing to dressing gowns to gossip. A joy, in all honesty!
Modern Manners
by The Gentlewoman
The subtitle says it all: Instructions for Living Fabulously Well. Contributors range from Joan Juliet Buck to Marina O’Loughlin to Eva Wiseman.
The Status Game
by Will Storr
How brilliant is Will Storr? We find it hard to count the ways but his latest book may be his best yet. Described by one reader as ‘Sapiens on crack’, it’s a thought-provoking examination of how status works and the fact we cannot escape it.
A Little Bird Loves
