From escapist novels to moving memoirs, these are the best new books to read now

Whether cosied by the fire or sprawled in the sun, there is always occasion for a good book, no matter where the season may take you. Here, we deliver a line-up of recently released, unmissable reads that run the gamut from moving memoirs to gripping novels to escapist reads.

Captivating Reads
Novels to Inspire Escapism

Finding Grace 

by Loretta Rothschild

Finding Grace is a poignant debut about resilience, redemption, and the unexpected paths to healing, within which protagonist Honor’s picture-perfect life shatters when a devastating event upends her family’s future — the ramifications of which have a lasting impact.

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Speak to Me of Home 

by Jeanine Cummins

From the author of American Dirt comes a heart-wrenching novel about three generations of women navigating love, regret, and belonging. As a deadly storm strikes Puerto Rico, a mother races to mend fractured bonds and bring her family back together before it’s too late.

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Immaculate Conception

by Ling Ling Huang

In the high-stakes art world, Enka’s obsession with her brilliant friend Mathilde spirals when a new technology promises to heighten empathy, at a dangerous cost. Immaculate Conception is a chilling exploration of art, identity, and the boundaries of human connection.

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Slags

by Emma Jane Unsworth

In this sharp, funny, and bittersweet novel, 41-year-old Sarah, once a wild party girl, embarks on a whisky-fuelled road trip across Scotland with her sister. As past obsessions and teenage dreams resurface, she navigates midlife, nostalgia, and the search for something more.

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Never Flinch

by Stephen King

A killer seeking revenge. A vigilante targeting a feminist icon. As Holly Gibney investigates two chilling cases — one a cryptic mass murder threat, the other a rising stalker — these twisted narratives collide in King’s gripping new tale of justice, obsession, and deadly reckoning.

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Bitter Sweet 

by Hattie Williams

In Bitter Sweet, a young book publicist embarks on a magnetic affair with her literary idol — only to discover how power, desire, and disillusionment can entwine. Set in London’s publishing world, this emotionally charged debut explores ambition, vulnerability, and the high cost of loving the wrong person.

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Captivating Reads
Books to Cosy up With

Atmosphere

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980 Space Shuttle program, this gripping novel follows a physicist as she pursues her dream of spaceflight. Amid intense training, unexpected love, and deep friendships, one fateful mission forces her to confront the limits of ambition.

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The Emperor of Gladness

by Ocean Vuong

In a rainy Connecticut town, Hai, on the brink of despair, is saved by Grazina, an elderly widow battling dementia. Their unlikely bond becomes a journey of healing, survival, and profound love, exploring the transformative power of second chances and chosen family.

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Ordinary Love

by Marie Rutkoski

A gripping novel of love, ambition, and second chances, Ordinary Love follows Emily as she reconnects with her former best friend and first love, Gen. Torn between desire and duty, Emily must decide if risking everything is worth rekindling a once-lost romance.

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Captivating Reads
Real Life Reads to Shift Your Perspective

Girl on Girl

by Sophie Gilbert

Tour de force of cultural criticism Sophie Gilbert explores how pop culture distorted feminism, turning a generation of women against themselves. Through sharp analysis, she reveals how hyper-objectification and internet culture reshaped societal attitudes, with lasting consequences that impact us all.

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Fix Iron First

by Dr Libby

With her signature warmth and scientific clarity,
Dr Libby’s Fix Iron First is a vital wake-up call to one of health’s most overlooked culprits. Insightful, compassionate, and deeply practical, it reframes iron as a foundation for energy, clarity, and lasting wellbeing.

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Homework

by Geoff Dyer

Author Geoff Dyer’s memoir paints a vivid portrait of his working-class childhood in postwar England, exploring the pivotal moment that shaped his future. Through humour and reflection, Homework traces his journey from school misadventures to a blossoming love of literature and life.

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Notes to John

by Joan Didion

A deeply moving testament to resilience, Notes to John offers an intimate glimpse into Joan Didion’s private reflections during a turbulent time. With her signature precision and clarity, she chronicles therapy sessions in notes meant for her husband, revealing a raw, questioning, yet courageous voice amid profound personal reckoning.

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I Regret Almost Everything

by Keith McNally

Restaurateur Keith McNally’s memoir is witty, candid, and unexpectedly poignant, tracing his journey from a rough London childhood to shaping New York’s dining scene with Balthazar and Pastis. Through humour and sharp insight, he reflects on fame, family, reinvention, and resilience after a life-altering stroke.

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John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs

by Ian Leslie

John & Paul is a fresh, emotionally rich portrait of Lennon and McCartney’s complex bond — part friendship, part rivalry, all genius. Tracing their creative highs and personal fractures, Ian Leslie explores how two young visionaries reshaped music — and each other — through collaboration, conflict, and an enduring musical dialogue.

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