Books published in July 2023
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
As a death doula, Clover Brooks spends her days holding hands with those at the end of their lives, and collecting their wisdom in three treasured notebooks: Advice, Confessions, and Regrets. Claudia, a spirited old lady, has lived the kind of thrilling life that Clover wouldnt dare carve out for herself, but even she has one major regret: a lost love. Claudias final wish to track him down sends Clover on a journey in more ways than one.
Life Unseen by Selina Mills
At once a personal account and a fascinating deep dive into the history of blindness in Western cultures, Life Unseen takes the reader on a jaunt from the Vatican to Vienna, and Paris to London as it charts the lives and achievements of blind people through time. It also draws on classic characters such as Homer and Oedipus and tales of 18th century miracle workers to explore and break down historic myths and stereotypes around what it means not to see.
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan
Following a scandal, the Greens emigrated from Ireland to the UK in search of a more stable life but their quiet existence is interrupted when a child goes missing and they are instantly suspects. Tom Hargreaves, meanwhile, is the tabloid reporter desperate for the exclusive in this engrossing story.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
After growing up in an Italian-American neigbourhood in Chicago, the lives of the four Padavano sisters are only just beginning when a series of transformative events an unplanned pregnancy, a death and a love affair tear them apart. Hello Beautiful is an exquisite family drama about love and loss; betrayal and friendship.
The List by Yomi Adegoke
Ola Olajide, a high-profile journalist, is about to marry Michael, the love of her life. Then an anonymous social media account circulates a list of allegations against a series of people and Michaels name is on it.
I Wish We Werent Related by Radhika Sanghani
When Reeva hears her dad has died, it is a shock but only because shed been told he died when she was five years old. Finding out he has been alive all this time forces her to confront her absent mother and overly calculating sisters in this witty novel about a brilliantly complex and chaotic family.
Tough Crowd by Andi Osho
When Abi falls for Will, everything goes perfectly. Until she has to try and win over his two daughters from a previous relationship, that is.
The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer
In drawing on the real 17th-century witch hunts in East Anglia, Meyer has penned an astonishingly absorbing debut novel. Martha, a midwife and servant, is at the heart of it as she becomes an inadvertent witness harbouring her own secret.
The Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney
As the French capital comes under siege during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, three of its residents Anne, a former asylum patient, Ellis, an army surgeon and Lawrence, a photographer get caught up in the turbulence. The Beasts of Paris is an evocative portrait of a lesser-known slice of history.
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
With a vivid Cape Cod setting, Little Monsters follows Adam, who stops taking his bi-polar medication as he approaches his 70th birthday, his two children, who harbour secrets of their own, and Steph, who appears in town without making her connection to the family known.
Baby Does A Runner by Anita Rani
Baby Saul has had it up to here with being asked when she is going to settle down. So coming across her grandfathers love letters clearly not sent to her grandmother is the perfect excuse to head to India on a journey of family and self discovery.
Second Self by Chloe Ashby
Cathy and Noah married knowing neither wanted children. Eight years later, Cathy is less sure. Second Self is a magnificent novel about big decisions, social pressures, complex questions and finding clarity in the face of uncertainty.
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
William Wooler might appear a family man, but the affair he has been having in a motel down the road has just ended awfully, and now his daughter Avery is missing.
Hello Stranger by KATHERINE CENTER
Just as Sadie finds she is a finalist in an art competition, she has to undergo an unexpected brain surgery. Suddenly, Sadie finds she has face blindness, hopefully, just a temporary complication that she is determined to hide. As soon as she meets her new vet, Sadie instantly starts fantasizing about their future wedding. Yet before they can even go on a date, Sadie finds herself increasingly drawn to her annoying neighbor. As Sadie struggles to paint a portrait without being able to see faces, her personal life implodes around her, teaching her love can come from the most unexpected of places.
The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt
Bob Comet is a retired librarian who lives his life through the books he adores. When he encounters an elderly and confused woman, he brings her back to the retirement home in which she lives. He decides to distract himself from his loneliness by volunteering at the senior centre.
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
This family drama is loosely based on the story of Cain and Abel. Ken and Abby lost their mother at a young age and had to depend on each other. As adults, their relationship is strained as they each fight for top spot in the family.
The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
Mrs. King is a housekeeper for one of the biggest homes in Mayfair. While she was born into a life of con artists, she is reformed until she is fired suddenly. Now, she is out to get revenge. With the help of a group of women, they set out to remove all the possessions from the mansion in the middle of a costume ball.
