Five new books to read this week
By Prudence Wade, Press Association
The queen of thrillers Lisa Jewell is back with her latest page-turner…
Fiction
1. Queenie Is Working On It by Candice Carty-Williams is published in hardback by Trapeze. Available now
Confronted with a racing biological clock despite not knowing whether she wants children, priced out of the housing market in the place she grew up, and trapped in a situationship when all she wants is the love of her life back, these are the problems facing Queenie Jenkins. The heroine of Candice Carty-Williams’s acclaimed 2019 debut novel Queenie, about a stumbling Jamaican-British woman living in London, returns in Queenie Is Working On It. She’s bigger, not better; older, but not wiser; and facing a whole new set of obstacles to overcome. Dubbed the black Bridget Jones, the novel is a sharp and insightful examination of the everyday prejudices black women face in the UK. Carty-Williams’s writing is witty, incisive, and deeply relatable. While Queenie can be frustrating at times, she remains a protagonist you’ll find yourself rooting for. Queenie Is Working On It is another triumph from Carty-Williams.
9/10
(Review by Lynn Rusk)
2. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell is published in hardback by Century. Available now
Lisa Jewell’s It Could Have Been Her turns London’s idyllic Hampstead Heath into a place of nightmares. A strange house at the edge of the famous park is the perfect backdrop to one of the thriller-writer’s darkest books yet. It is centred around the twisted Black family, whose secrets leave the reader both disturbed and intrigued. Amidst the heaviness, there is light in Jane’s blossoming relationship with her stepson who joins her to crack the case. Despite moving at a slower pace than Jewell’s more recent work, tension is built throughout, keeping the reader hooked until the very end. Fans of the author will not be disappointed with her latest addition to her impressive collection.
8/10
(Review by Rhiannon James)
3. The Island Secret by Lorraine Kelly is published in hardback by Orion. Available now
Morning TV legend Lorraine Kelly is back with the sequel to her debut work of fiction, 2024’s The Island Swimmer. The Island Secret might be a follow-up, but it works just as well as a standalone read. It returns to the Scottish island of Orkney, centring on painter Evie and her colourful cast of friends (along with her sister, with whom she has a somewhat fractious relationship). Evie’s peaceful life is upended by the arrival of a long-lost cousin from America, Amelia, who looks just like her but doesn’t seem to have the best of intentions. It’s an easy read – perfect for the summer – with plenty of drama and highs and lows. Kelly has a readable style – while it might not stay with you long after you’ve read it, it’s a solid holiday pick.
7/10
(Review by Lily Rose)
Non-fiction
4. The Fall And Rise Of The Mölkky Bar Kids by Neil Squires is published in hardback by Icon Books. Available now
The World Cup may be in full swing but Neil Squires’ The Fall And Rise Of The Mölkky Bar Kids is a timely reminder that British sporting fairytales come in all shapes and sizes. Squires and his group of unlikely pub past-its lived the dream shared by thousands of aspirant Harry Kanes by sporting GB kit – ill-fitting, granted, and in an obscure game of Finnish skittles, admittedly – on the global stage. This book chronicles their unlikely journey all the way to Japan, where they seek a level of success of which England’s footballers can only dream. Squires’ experience as a top-level sports reporter is evident in his witty and eloquent prose that brings their uproarious, improbable and frankly defiant tale to life. This rollicking ride will give hope to all those whose playground dreams have long dwindled into the sedentary sporting autumn of late middle age.
9/10
(Review by Mark Staniforth)
Children’s book of the week
5. Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman is published in paperback by Hodder Children’s Books. Available now
Nick and Charlie are the perfect couple, but can their love survive now Nick is heading to university while Charlie still has to finish school? They have already seen relationships in their close-knit group being tested as friends like Elle embrace new opportunities which take them away from the others. The final chapter of Oseman’s popular graphic novel series perfectly captures the emotions when one phase of life is ending and what comes next feels exciting, but a bit scary. Fans will be sad to say goodbye to Charlie, Nick and their friends with this easy to read, picture-led book – and the Netflix film Heartstopper Forever which follows on July 17 –but Oseman says their story will be complete. Seeing people like themselves will have enriched many readers’ lives and Heartstopper’s legacy is the hope that a kinder, more accepting world really is possible.
8/10
(Review by Beverley Rouse)
BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 4th
HARDBACK (FICTION)
1. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell
2. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
3. Land by Maggie O’Farrell
4. Daggermouth by H. M. Wolfe
5. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
6. Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
7. Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
8. The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
9. The Ballad Of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker
10. John Of John by Douglas Stuart
(Compiled by Waterstones)
HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)
1. London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
2. Regime Change by Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan
3. Stranger Things by Gina McIntyre
4. The Land And Its People by David Sedaris
5. An Expert Witness by Professor Dame Sue Black
6. BBQ by Jamie Oliver
7. The Book Of Birds by Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris
8. The Finest Hotel In Kabul by Lyse Doucet
9. Things I Told My Notes App by Milly Goldsmith
10. Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins & Sawyer Robbins
(Compiled by Waterstones)
AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NONFICTION)
1. It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell
2. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
3. Regime Change by Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan
4. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
5. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
6. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
7. London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
8. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
9. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
10. The Defence by Rob Rinder
(Compiled by Audible)
