Our reviewers' picks for the best books to deck out your shelves...and suitcases this summer
Anthony Cummins
FULFILLMENT by Lee Cole (Faber £18.99, 336pp)
I loved this sharp, funny American novel about half-brothers whose buried grudges surface when one beds the other's wife. Sibling rivalry gives way to page-turning jeopardy when their MAGA-loving mum gifts one of them a loaded gun. It's a tale of lust, envy, revenge . . . told with warmth and killer comic timing.
FUN AND GAMES by John Patrick McHugh (4th Estate £16.99, 400pp)
Set over a single summer, this hilarious Irish debut follows a 17-year-old school leaver riddled with social anxiety as his teammates at a Gaelic football club jostle for bragging rights about sexual experience. You root for the protagonist – yet wince, too, at his relentlessly self-sabotaging errors of judgment.
A brilliant book, tender and fizzy with wit and vim.
Stephanie Cross
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING by Kit de Waal (Tinder Press £20, 320pp)
From the depths of her grief and hatred for the man who killed her lover, we follow the St Kitts-born nurse Paulette on a transformative personal journey, giving rise to acts of extraordinary kindness and compassion. Truly heart-expanding.
THE NAMES by Florence Knapp (Phoenix £16.99, 352pp)
One of the most anticipated debuts of the year, Knapp's ultimately life-affirming story spins three possible futures for domestic abuse victim Cora and her newborn son. While there are some near unbearable moments, I devoured it almost in a sitting.
Claire Allfree
Water in the Desert, Fire in the Night by Gethan Dick (Tramp Press £14, 220pp)
'It's only by imagining very very small that we carry on thinking we know what the future holds,' says the narrator of this punchy, deceptively soft-focus dystopia.
A pandemic, untold numbers dead, an assorted bunch of survivors and their journey to an apparent sanctuary in the South of France make for a refreshing look at ideas of hope, survival and complacency, and an unsettlingly resonant debut.
Flesh by David Szalay (Jonathan Cape £18.99, 368pp)
One of the year's best novels to date, this is the story of Istvan, as his life moves from a Hungarian housing estate to the enclaves of extreme wealth before tragedy threatens everything. Szalay writes in a stark, emotionless prose that captures something of the modern alienation of the age; it's also an excellent novel about masculinity and money.
Crime & Thrillers
Geoffrey Wansell
The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney (Zaffre £16.99, 416pp)
Gordon and Sarah Rutherford have everything – a son they adore, Rory, a house on the beach in Ayrshire and a happy life, until one day Rory disappears. Their lives don't disintegrate at once, not while there's hope, but what should Gordon do? This is McIlvanney at his masterful best.
King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Headline £20, 352pp)
Roman Carruthers is summoned home to central Virginia after his father, who runs the local crematorium, has been in a car crash – leaving him in a coma. Only it wasn't an accident. His family are in trouble and Roman sets out to rescue them – but at a price. Cosby sends a shiver down the spine.
Some of Us are Liars by Fiona Cummins (Macmillan £18.99, 384pp)
Three sisters from Essex, the eldest a Hollywood star, lie at the heart of Cummins' story about the disappearance of a young son and the lies that hide beneath what seems to be the perfect family. Sad, tense and deeply poignant, it is truly thrilling.
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (Hemlock £18.99, 368pp)
Married couple Edward and Isabel, in their early 30s, suffer a terrifying home invasion when an intruder breaks in and rapes Isabel after subduing her husband in another room. The story of what happens to them over the next 20 years is both haunting and terrifying: never to be forgotten.
Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow (Swift £20, 544pp)
Prosecuting attorney Rusty Sabich – star of Turow's breakout thriller Presumed Innocent – makes his reappearance after almost 40 years. This time he is a judge coaxed out of retirement to defend the stepson of his new love against a murder charge. This is every bit as good as its brilliant predecessor.
Wendy Holden
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce (Doubleday £20, 384pp)
Vic Kemp, famous artist, has a mysterious late-life romance. His children think the woman is a gold-digger. Then he dies in strange circumstances and they rush to Italy to confront her. But is Bella-Mae as bad as they imagine, and what are the rest of them hiding anyway? This complex, clever, beautiful novel is my favourite Rachel Joyce so far.
Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich (Hodder & Stoughton £20, 320pp)
But she is the anti-heroine of this funny debut. If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, you'll love this tale of crazed love in a Cardiff office. Julie's mad about Sean but he has other romantic interests, all of whom meet mysterious ends. Narrator Julie explains everything from her own very special point of view. You'll cringe, laugh and feel sorry for her in equal measure.
Bad Influence by C. J. Wray (Orion £20, 336pp)
Jinx is a woman with an exciting past now retired to a Home Counties village. A secretive sort, she's not pleased to have to go on a community bus trip to Tuscany. But there's unfinished wartime business there, and possibly a bit of buried treasure, too. Hilarious.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Jamie Buxton
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh (Orbit £20, 432pp)
Dr Walden is de facto head of a boarding school where magic is very much on the agenda, as are demons of every stripe, adolescent growing pains, monstrous perils and grown-up romance. A boarding school adventure, an exploration of magic, a meditation on ageing . . . and a book to fall in love with.
One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford (Tor Nightfire £22.99, 352pp)
Kesta is a messed up thirtysomething scientist working on a Zombie Apocalypse cure in a secret lab. But that's nothing compared to what she's hiding. Setting this zombie story apart is its deep dive into the mysteries of the human heart. Gripping, grisly and wonderfully written.
Strange Houses by Uketsu (translated by Jim Rion) (Pushkin Vertigo £14.99, 208pp)
A couple of friends stumble on a murder mystery and the only clues lie in a series of detailed, hard-edged architectural plans. The closer they look, the more bonkers the truth appears to be. Original and compelling, the book carves out a space between horror, crime and fantasy.
Debuts
Sara Lawrence
Luminous by Silvia Park (Magpie £16.99, 400pp)
In post-war Seoul, two decades after the reunification of Korea, this sci-fi novel describes a place where robots are completely integrated into society – albeit as second-class citizens. Estranged siblings Jun and Morgan reunite to solve the disappearance of a child robot and all kinds of secrets are revealed. It's beautiful on love and what it means to be human.
Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (Bloomsbury £16.99, 400pp)
Teenage Konstantin is missing his dead dad madly when the unmistakable taste of his father's favourite meal fills his mouth. Soon he is bombarded by flavours and discovers that he has a unique ability to communicate with ghosts through food. By cooking the dishes of the dead, Konstantin can bring them back for a final meal. Twisty, dark and unique.
Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis (W&N £16.99, 336pp)
Nadia works in Iraq for a UN programme rehabilitating Isis brides. She left London after being disowned by her religious mother and dumped by the love of her life. Nadia thought a dramatic change of scene would alter everything but life remains tough until she meets Sara, a Londoner who joined Isis as a teenager. Funny and insightful.
Classic Crime
Barry Turner
Maigret's Holiday by Georges Simenon (Penguin Design Collection £9.99, 208pp)
This splendid new edition of the Simenon classics has the Chief Inspector enjoying the sea air until he is told of a dying woman's delirious confession of complicity to murder. Following his instinct, Maigret challenges the suffocating hypocrisy of tightly knit society to uncover a tragic story of passion and jealousy.
Cyanide in the Sun Edited by Martin Edwards (British Library £10.99, 320pp)
One of the top experts in classic crime, Edwards has delved into the archives for this hugely enjoyable collection of mysteries with a holiday theme. Though many of the authors have long disappeared from print, they are worthy of rediscovery, not least as a warning against swimming too far from the beach.
Against the Grain by Peter Lovesey (Little Brown £21.99, 368pp)
In the last Peter Diamond book, the acerbic head of Bath CID exposes a miscarriage of justice. After hosting a wild party, the daughter of a wealthy landowner goes down for manslaughter. But Diamond believes that the supposed criminal neglect was a planned killing with the murderer still at large. This is police procedural at its best.
Sara Lawrence
So Thrilled for You by Holly Bourne (Hodder & Stoughton £16.99, 432pp)
Set at the baby shower from hell, this rollercoaster read stars Lauren, Nicki, Charlotte and Steffi, best friends from university who are now in their early 30s and experiencing different life stages.
There's an arson attack and a lot of judgment. The narrative alternates between their points of view alongside police reports and newspaper articles about what happened. Sensational.
Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick (Viking £16.99, 352pp)
This is a hilarious, heartbreaking and original story about sisters Mickey and Arlo.
They share a recently deceased father but have never met. Arlo loved him to distraction; Mickey blamed him for everything. Arlo is as surprised to be cut out of his will as Mickey is to receive everything – on one condition. It's unethical, unwise and utterly addictive.
Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose (Brazen £16.99, 320pp)
Young married couple Sam and Yuki are madly in love. Sam is an illustrator and Yuki campaigns against Yareta, a new drug that delivers eternal youth and is the subject of mass debate.
The global divide between those who are on Yareta and those ageing is vast and terrifying. When Sam goes behind Yuki's back their bond is destroyed. Clever and compelling.
Psychos
Christena Appleyard
The Palazzo by Kayte Nunn (No Exit Press £9.99, 304pp)
This book transports you to a luxurious palazzo in the Italian Alps with a dreamy swimming pool and an equally dreamy handsome chef. It's the perfect setting for a summer read; and for an unusual murder.
The glamorous hostess is celebrating her 40th birthday and she has invited a group of special friends, all of whom have secrets. Clever, glitzy and keeps you guessing.
It's Always The Husband by C.L. Taylor (Avon £16.99, 352pp)
Ignoring the gossip at the school gate, newcomer mother Jude gets involved with a
single father whose former partners are now dead or vanished. There's a powerful sense of jeopardy as Jude gets drawn in and her new man refuses to dispel the gossip. A great title that doesn't disappoint.
The Serial Killer's Party by Amy Cunningham (Penguin £8.99, 336pp)
Amelia accepts an invitation to a billionaire's party in Norway because she believes she can solve the mystery of her sister's murder. But the billionaire has his own sinister plans. This combines luxury and escapist scenery with real psychological insights into the bonds that bind sisters.
Eithne Farry
The Pretender by Jo Harkin (Bloomsbury £18.99, 464pp)
Set at the tail end of the War Of The Roses, and jam-packed with plot and counter-plot, Harkin's stand-out debut makes the best of the role Lambert Simnel, a farmer's boy, as pretender to the English throne. Ambitious, mischievous and brilliantly written, her boldly drawn characters and their reckless, ruthless aspirations make for a hugely entertaining read.
The Artist by Lucy Steeds (Michael Joseph £16.99, 304pp)
THE height of summer in 1920s Provence is a place of honeyed heat and slow-burn attraction. This is the intense, beautifully realised tale of reclusive painter Tata, his put-upon niece Ettie, who's living a secret artistic life of her own, and aspiring writer Joseph, who finds himself drawn into their tempestuous, luminous orbit in this smouldering book.
Rapture by Emily Maguire (Sceptre £20, 320pp)
See-sawing between seductive sensuality and religious asceticism, Rapture unspools the story of the legendary Joan, who begins life in 9th-century Mainz as motherless Agnes. Determined to forge a future that encompasses her love of theology and her own provocative beliefs, she binds her breasts and heads out on an adventure that will see her become scholar, preacher and eventually, the pope.
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Edinburgh Reporter
36 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
A new book celebrates Hibs 150th anniversary
The Club was formed at a meeting of the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS) on 6 August 1875 at St Mary's Street Hall in the Cowgate. That night Canon Edward Joseph Hannan and fellow-Irishman, Michael Whelahan, announced that a football team was to be created for the benefit of its members. That club was named Hibernian Football Club, its badge the harp and its motto Erin go Bragh (Ireland Forever). A number of events are taking place to mark the occasion, including the release of a new book, Edinburgh's First Hibernian,published by Thirsty Books and written by history graduate and lifelong Hibs fan Mike Hennessy. (Edinburgh's First Hibernian – The Mission of Edward Joseph Hannan by Mike Hennessy) Edinburgh's First Hibernian is a meticulously researched account of the life of the Edward Hannan, a Catholic priest who rose from poverty in rural Ireland to become one of the most influential figures in 19th-century Edinburgh. In Augst 2019, on a whim, a group of friends decided to visit Ballingarry, the home of Hannan, one of two recognised founders of Hibernian FC. The self-titled 'Unfamous Five' (They did not want to be known as the Infamous Five and the Famous Five had already been taken) who made the trip to County Limerick were Mike Hennessy, John Hennessy, Martin Donaghy, Paul Reilly and Ian Mckenzie. Surprisingly there appeared to be scant knowledge of Hannan in his hometown and the idea to research his life took shape. Mike said: 'I had just retired and had time on my hands and thought why not? Initially it was meant to be an essay or thesis to uncover as much as possible about the man for future generations of Hibs supporters but suddenly I had 100,000 words and a friend advised me that I had enough for a book. 'It seemed appropriate timing given the approach of the 150thanniversary. 'Then the hunt for a publisher began and I had to kiss a few frogs until Thirsty Books agreed. 'Six years of painstaking research and writing later and here we are.' The book is divided into four parts Part One – Ireland covers the Great Famine, the Catholic Resurgence and the Hannan family including Edward's education. Part Two – Scotland describes the Revival of Scottish Catholicism, Life in the Capital, the Catholic Young Men's Society, Hibernian Football Club, Personal Relationships and James Connolly. Part Three – The Final Years deals with the Diocesan Strife and the End of an Era. Part Four – The Lasting Memories Scotland, The Final Years and The Lasting Legacy deals with unanswered questions and The Man and the Legacy. The biography illustrates the significant contribution that Hannan made to his adopted city at a time of rapid social change and urban renewal. It is richly illustrated in full colour throughout with 120 images and contains footnotes referencing to an extensive range of sources. Mike continued: 'I wanted the book to be more than just the Hibs story. The Club is obviously part of his legacy but there are lots more. It's a social, economic and political history.' Edward Joseph Hannan was born in 1836 at a farm in the Glen, Ballygrennan ,Co Limerick where would have witnessed the worst excesses of the Great Famine. This experience may well have convinced him to dedicate his life to the championing of the poor. He was ordained in 1860 and the following year moved to Edinburgh where he became a junior curate at St Patrick's Church in the Cowgate at the age of 25. Hannan embarked upon a mission to educate the poor and to encourage temperance, clean living and improve the physical and moral state of his parishioners who were mostly poor first-and second-generation Irish living in the most appalling slum conditions. One vehicle was the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS), and he opened a branch in 1865 which became the most successful in Scotland providing a savings bank, funeral and benefits society, a library, reading rooms, a drama society, a ball courtand a large hall for major events such as concerts and, later, political meetings. In his foreword, Hibernian legend Pat Stanton says: 'Without this Irish priest's work with the Irish poor of the Old Town all those years ago, there would not be a Hibernian Football Club.' Mike Hennessy is a native of Edinburgh, born in 1952, missing by a month the moment Hibs last won the Scottish League. He was first taken to Easter Road by his grandfather Bernard McQueen to whom he dedicates the book. After graduating in History from Stirling University, Mike left Scotland in the hope of fame and fortune, neither of which materialised, living and working in London, Paris and Barcelona before settling in his current abode in East Cheshire. In retirement, he has kept himself fully occupied with various good causes such as the Princes Trust, and most recently writing this, his first book, about the man whose former residence he passed every week in his youth without realising it. Author proceeds from the book will be donated to the Hibernian Historical Trust. Mike will be signing copies of the book on Wednesday 6 August at St Patrick's Church. At the same time the Club will be hosting an exhibition at St Mary's Halls nearby featuring a unique collection of items from the Club's rich and storied past. and the people who've shaped the journey. Copies of the book are also available at St Paul's bookshop at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral 2B Little King St, and other major bookshops in the city. It can also be purchased online at Thirsty Books. On Sunday 10 August he will be at Easter Road for Hibs first home game of the season before another book signing from 5pm at the Hibernian Supporters Club in Sunnyside. Former Scotland international and current Hibs supporter Pat Nevin said: 'This is a stunningly researched piece of work that gives an intimate insight into an era as well as the genesis of a great football club. Through the deep back story of a founding father, it is a serious historical piece but also a very readable one. You don't have to be a Hibernian fan to enjoy it, but it might help.' Malcolm McPherson Non Executive Chairman of Hibernian FC said: 'The life and times of a cleric working in 19th century Edinburgh is an unlikely topic to hold my interest but as a lifelong fan of Hibernian I was fascinated to read of the origins of our Club and the circumstances of its creation. 'Much has been written before but never with the diligent research into original documents as Mike Hennessy has put in. The book gives a fascinating insight to the life of those who created this amazing football institution. It is a good read and I enjoyed learning more of the history of both the Club and my City.' Proclaimer Charlie Reid said: 'I cannot imagine a world without Hibernian FC. The triumphs and disasters of the Club run so fiercely through my life that – at times – it felt like Hibs WAS my life. 'This book is a moving and meticulously researched tribute to the club's founder, Edward J Hannan. Canon Hannan's lifetime's work among the impoverished people of Edinburgh's 'Little Ireland' is as good a case of a life well lived as anything I know of. 'Every Hibs goal is in memory of Hannan and all those troublesome immigrants of the Cowgate. 'Glory Glory to the Hibees.' Like this: Like Related
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Spike Lee, Adam McKay and over 2,000 writers decry Trump's ‘un-American' actions in open letter
More than 2,300 members of the Writers Guild of America, including Spike Lee and Adam McKay, have signed an open letter decrying the actions of Donald Trump's administration that represent 'an unprecedented, authoritarian assault' on free speech. The letter, a combined effort from the WGA East and West branches, cites the US president's 'baseless lawsuits' against news organizations that have 'published stories he does not like and leveraged them into payoffs'. It specifically references Paramount's decision to pay Trump $16m to settle a 'meritless lawsuit' about a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The letter notes that Trump 'retaliated against publications reporting factually on the White House and threatened broadcasters' licenses', and has repeatedly called for the cancellation of programs that criticize him. Additionally, the letter blasts Republicans in Congress who 'collaborated' with the Trump administration to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting 'in order to silence PBS and NPR'. And it says the FCC, led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, 'openly conditioned its approval of the Skydance-Paramount merger on assurances that CBS would make 'significant changes' to the purported ideological viewpoint of its journalism and entertainment programming. 'These are un-American attempts to restrict the kinds of stories and jokes that may be told, to silence criticism and dissent,' the letter reads. 'We don't have a king, we have a president. And the president doesn't get to pick what's on television, in movie theaters, on stage, on our bookshelves, or in the news.' Signees include Tony Gilroy, David Simon, Mike Schur, Ilana Glazer, Lilly Wachowski, Celine Song, Justin Kuritzkes, Desus Nice, Gillian Flynn, John Waters, Liz Meriwether, Kenneth Lonergan, Alfonso Cuarón, Shawn Ryan and many other prominent names in film and television. The letter, released on Tuesday, calls on elected representatives and industry leaders to 'resist this overreach', as well as their audiences to 'fight for a free and democratic future' and 'raise their voice'. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced last Friday that it would shut down after 57 years in operation, following the decision by the Republican-controlled House last month to eliminate $1.1bn in CPB funding over two years, part of a $9bn reduction to public media and foreign aid programs. The corporation, established by Congress in 1967 to ensure educational and cultural programming remained accessible to all Americans, distributed more than $500m annually to PBS, NPR and 1,500 local stations nationwide. Despite the federal grants, stations mostly relied on viewer donations, corporate sponsorships and local government funds to stay afloat. The Trump administration has also filed a lawsuit against three CPB board members who refused to leave their positions after Trump attempted to remove them. 'This is certainly not the first time that free speech has come under assault in this country, but free speech remains our right because generation after generation of Americans have dedicated themselves to its protection,' the letter concludes. 'Now and always, when writers come under attack, our collective power as a union allows us to fight back. This period in American life will not last forever, and when it's over the world will remember who had the courage to speak out.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Christian McCaffrey pays heartfelt tribute to wife Olivia Culpo after her first weeks as new mom
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife Olivia Culpo after her first weeks as new mom after she gave birth to their daughter. The couple announced the birth of Colette Annalise McCaffrey on July 13 in a joint social media post. The 33-year-old model has been at home taking care of the couple's child while McCaffrey has been with the 49ers at training camp. Now, McCaffrey has given a sneak peak about what his life away from the gridiron has looked like as a new parent. 'She's been great She's been so cool. … I feel guilty at times,' McCaffrey said. 'I'm sleeping well in the hotel bedroom while she's doing the dirty work but super thankful for it and she's doing an incredible job.' McCaffrey added that both of their families ae helping out due to both of their busy schedules.
