“The Harpy” by Megan Hunter
Megan Hunter’s contemporary fiction starts when the main character Lucy’s routine life is upended by the discovery that her husband Jake has been having an affair. The couple comes to a special arrangement: They will stay together, but to make things even, Lucy will hurt Jake exactly three times without repercussion.
“Rhythm of War” by Brandon Sanderson
Rhythm of War” is a sequel to “Oathbringer” and part of the Stormlight Archive series. This epic fantasy picks up a year into a protracted, brutal war between the Knights Radiant and their enemy, when a new technological advancement begins to change the face of the battle. Meanwhile, Kaladin Stormblessed is facing his own issues within the Knights Radiant and must find a solution if they’re going to stand a chance against the evil god Odium.
“White Ivy” by Susie Yang
Ivy Lin learns to pilfer and lie from her immigrant grandmother while growing up outside of Boston. But when her mother discovers her mischievous ways, Ivy is shipped off to China. Years later, Ivy returns to Boston, only to bump into the sister of her childhood crush (or obsession), Gideon Speyer. What transpires is a twisting tale that’s a love triangle.
“The Office of Historical Corrections” by Danielle Evans
Danielle Evans’ collection of short fictional stories explores big issues, such as race and culture, through the lens of individual characters at specific moments in their lives. Her diverse cast of characters experience love, lust and grief.
“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama
The first volume of Barack Obama’s presidential memoir, “A Promised Land.” He details his journey from young man to leader of the free world, discussing everything from his victory to assessing world leaders, running for office as a Black American, the impact of the presidency on his family, and more.
“Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there’s a century-old cafe that serves more than coffee. Rumour has it the cafe offers visitors the chance to go back in time — with certain rules, of course. The main one? Your trip can only last as long as it takes for your coffee to get cold.
“Ready Player Two” by Ernest Cline
In “Ready Player Two,” Wade Watts must solve a final Easter egg from Oasis founder James Halliday while facing a new dangerous rival. What hangs in the balance this time? Wade’s life, the future of Oasis and the fate of humanity.
“Spellbreaker” by Charlie N. Holmberg
When she’s just a child, Elsie Camden learns that the world has two kinds of wizards: those who are born with magic (like her) and those who pay for it. As an adult, Elsie is the Robin Hood of the magical community, fighting against the elite even though she doesn’t have a licence to practice her spells. However, when she stumbles upon a dangerous mystery involving the murder of wizards she may have to team up with a man who seems to stand for everything she’s fighting against.
“The Butcher’s Blessing” by Ruth Gilligan
Steeped in the rich history of Ireland, The Butcher’s Blessing by Ruth Gilligan is a gothic thriller about the cost of keeping traditions alive. Úna’s father is one of the Butchers, a group of men of who travel around Ireland’s farmlands slaughtering cattle in accordance with the ancient ways. However, not everyone supports the Butchers and their archaic methods, and when a photographer captures a violent scene, the group and Úna’s life will be forever changed.
“Dearly” by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a master storyteller who is known for novels and short stories, but she’s a poet as well. In Dearly, Atwood uses poetry to delve into life’s most complex issues covering everything from the nature of love to the heartbreak of loss — and she somehow still makes time for an ode to zombies.
“Little Threats” by Emily Schultz
After spending 15 years in prison for allegedly murdering her best friend, Kennedy returns home to a media circus and inescapable doubt about what really happened in the woods the night she supposedly killed her friend. With new details about the case emerging, Kennedy is beginning to question everything — including her family and their motives.
“We Keep the Dead Close” by Becky Cooper
Part memoir, part true crime novel, “We Keep the Dead Close” by Becky Cooper dives into the mysterious murder of Jane Britton, a 23-year-old graduate student in Harvard’s anthropology department in 1969, who was found bludgeoned to death in her apartment in 1969. The circumstances around Britton’s death have been plagued with misinformation fuelled by misogyny and a desire to protect the elite institution for years.
“What Kind of Woman” by Kate Baer
Baer uses poetry to examine what it means to be a woman in today’s society, from the transformative experience of becoming a mother to the power of surrounding yourself with female friends.
“Do Not Disturb” by Claire Douglas
Kirsty Woodhouse moves her family to Wales in hopes of escaping the trauma they experienced in London, but when her troublemaking cousin walks back into her life after 17 years, Kristy realises Wales isn’t the safe haven she hoped it would be.
“The Killer’s Shadow” by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
The Killer’s Shadow chronicles Douglas’ hunt for the white supremacist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin, and his eventual confrontation with the man once he was behind bars. Along the way, Douglas recalls how Franklin’s case became make or break for the FBI’s then new behavioural science unit.
“The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany” by Lori Nelson Spielman
Thanks to a curse, for over 200 years no second-born sister in the Fontana family has found love. But that all changes when cousins Emilia and Lucy get a call from their 80-year-old Aunt Poppy, who vows to break the curse if they’ll accompany her on a once in a lifetime trip to Italy.
“These Violent Delights” by Chloe Gong
Stylish and engrossing, These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong transports readers to 1920s era Shanghai for a supernatural-tinged retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Former flapper Juliette Cai returns home to assume her role as the rightful leader of the Scarlet Gang only to find herself on a bloody collision course with the leader of rival gang the White Flowers, Roma Montagov, her first love.
“The Thirty Names of Night” by Zeyn Joukhadar
The Thirty Names of Night is a work of magical realism that follows three generations of a Syrian American family. At the centre of the story is Nadir, a transgender man struggling to paint as his mother’s ghost haunts him. However, when he discovers a journal that seems to include parts of his family history that he’s never heard before, Nadir’s world opens up in new and unexpected ways.
“The Ickabog” by J K Rowling
Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them. But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks…
“Dark Tides” by Philippa Gregory
Two unexpected visitors arrive at a shabby warehouse on the south side of the River Thames. The first is a wealthy man hoping to find the lover he deserted twenty-one years before. James Avery has everything to offer, including the favour of the newly restored King Charles II, and he believes that the warehouse’s poor owner Alinor has the one thing his money cannot buy—his son and heir…
