While summer reads are fun, there’s nothing quite like getting stuck into a deliciously thick book in the colder weather. Luckily, some excellent reads are coming up, in both fiction and non-fiction. Here are some of the books on our radar for the next few months…
Fiction
In terms of fiction, there are some really exciting books on the horizon over the next few months.
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
For fans of Clarke, this is a must-buy. The Wood at Midwinter follows nineteen-year-old Merowdis, who has the power to communicate with animals and trees. Preferring the outdoors to other people, Merowdis comes across a strange figure that changes her life for good.
If you read and enjoyed Clarke’s other work like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, this could be the perfect mid-Autumn read, with a release date of the 24th of October.
Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson
Readers of a certain age, it’s time to get excited! If, like me, you loved the Girls series by Jacqueline Wilson when you were younger, you’ll finally get to find out what happened to the characters in this adult follow-on to the series.
Think Again allows us to check in again with Ellie, her daughter Lottie, and her best friends Magda and Nadine. If you ever wondered what became of these beloved girls, this is one to get excited for. The release date is coming up quickly on the 12th of September, so not long to wait.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
This looks to be a thoughtful, perceptive read for fans of character-driven novels. Tell Me Everything takes place in Maine in the beautiful autumn months, following Bob Burgess and his friend Lucy Barton. They take long walks, have deep conversations, and meet the interesting local Olive Kitteridge.
Tell Me Everything, I suspect, will be a good choice for book clubs, and it has a release date of the 19th of September.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
What can be said about Sally Rooney? The phenomenally popular author is back with her next novel, Intermezzo, which follows brothers Peter and Ivan, struggling with grief in the wake of their father’s death.
This looks to be a study of grief and human connection, and the delicate nature of family relationships. It has a release date of the 24th of September, so it’s a perfect autumn read.
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Richard Osman is the king of cozy murder mysteries! In We Solve Murders, we will be introduced to Steve, a retiree living in the New Forest, and his busy and stressed daughter-in-law Amy Wheeler. When a dead body and a bag of money enter the picture, life takes a dramatic turn for both Amy and Steve as they work together to solve a mystery that spans the globe.
This looks like an unputdownable read, with a release date of the 12th of September.
Non-fiction
If you prefer non-fiction, there are some excellent reads coming up too:
Nexus by Yuri Noah Harari
Yuri Noah Harari’s work is fascinating. NEXUS is all about the flow of information: how humans have built communication networks, right from the Stone Age, through the Bible, witch-hunting, and Nazisim, right up to the present day.
This looks to be a big book about a big topic, and a vital read to understand how we work and how the world around us was built. It has a release date of the 10th of September.
You Don’t Have to Have a Dream by Tim Minchin
You might know Tim Minchin from his comedy performances, but did you know he’s also an interesting and thought-provoking writer? You Don’t Have to Have a Dream is about life and how to fill it: how to find meaning, how to spend your time, and how to be both a critical thinker and a romantic at the same time.
This looks to be an uplifting read and an excellent gift for a loved one. It has a release date of the 5th of September.
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
This looks to be a fantastic and intriguing memoir. Lisa Marie Presley is, of course, the child of Elvis Presley. Which, of course, must lead to an incredible and unusual childhood. Presley had been working on a memoir for years before her death; it was up to her daughter, Riley, to listen to the tapes she’d made and finish the memoir for her.
This looks to be a beautiful and moving read, with a release date of the 8th of October.
Ottolenghi COMFORT by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh
This is a must-have for foodies. Ottolenghi COMFORT is a book packed with recipes that warm both your belly and your soul. From soups to stews, to big bowls of pasta, these are bound to be flavour-packed recipes that will go down a treat on colder winter days.
Ottolenghi COMFORT has a release date of the 5th of September, so you can enjoy the recipes throughout the autumn and winter months.
Never: The Autobiography by Rick Astley
Again, readers of a certain age, rise up! Astley’s long-awaited autobiography is going to be an enlightening read for ’80s teens, covering his sudden sky-rocket into fame and how he felt behind the glitz and glamour.
Not just for Astley fans, this looks to be an interesting insight into both the pop industry and the mind of a deeply devoted musician. It has a release date of the 10th of October – plenty of time to grab it as a Christmas present for a friend.
