For pairing with a feast of Indian food…

The Parcel by Anosh Irani

In the swollen and crumbling red-light district of Kamathipura, at the heart of Bombay, lives Madhu. Her home is Hijra House, one of the last bastions in the land war slowly consuming the area as property developers vie for land. It is here that hijras – eunuchs, people of the third sex, ‘neither here nor there’ – ply their trade. Madhu has been given the difficult and potentially lucrative task of preparing a newly arrived ‘parcel’ for its opening. She struggles with the task, and as the land war comes to a head, realises she must do something to save herself – and soon.

For unanswerable questions at the pub…

The Answers by Catherine Lacey

Estranged from her Evangelist family, plagued by debt collectors and beset by chronic pain, Mary signs up for a mysterious job advertised as ‘The Girlfriend Experiment’ – or, The GX. Masterminded by a successful Hollywood actor with a string of failed relationships behind him, The GX seeks to pin down and capture the essence of love, before it fades. Mary is hired to play the part of multiple girlfriend types, each with her own difficulties, past loves and secrets. But as Mary and the actor are drawn ever closer together, the nature of the experiment changes.

For a frank chat about society’s obsession with ‘wellness’…

Wellmania by Brigid Delaney

Wellness has become a billion-dollar industry but does any of this stuff actually work? Journalist Brigid Delaney decided to find out, starting with a brutal 101-day fast. As Delaney tests the things that are meant to make us well – yoga classes, colonics, meditation, CBT, Balinese healing, silent retreats and group psychotherapy – she attempts to sort through what works, and what is just hype. Wellmania is an in-depth, entertaining, laugh-out-loud-funny exploration of one of the weirdest trends in our culture.

For book clubs with serious literary cred…

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

Here Comes the Sun is the stunning first work of fiction from Nicole Dennis-Benn and sees a cast of unforgettable women battle for independence, while a maelstrom of change threatens their Jamaican village. It’s been published by Oneworld Publications, whose books have won the Man Booker prize over the last two years (A Brief History of Seven Killings in 2015 and The Sellout in 2016). Carlton bookseller Ed Moreno wrote a rave review of this novel, which you can read here.

For transporting everyone back in time…

Koh-I-Noor by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand

This is the first comprehensive and authoritative history of the Koh-i Noor, arguably the most celebrated jewel in the world. This treasure’s long-accepted history was woven together from gossip, disfigured by the fog of mythology. Now, historians William Dalrymple and Anita Anand offer a new and revitalising understanding of its place in popular culture. Through an impressive slice of south and central Asian history, they reveal the diamond’s true history as one of greed, murder, torture, colonialism and appropriation.

For a mysterious conversation…

Kingdom Cons by Yuri Herrera (translated by Lisa Dillman)

In the court of the King, everyone knows their place – or they should… As the Artist wins hearts and egos with his ballads, uncomfortable truths emerge that shake the Kingdom to its core. Part surreal fable and part crime romance, Kingdom Cons questions the price of keeping your integrity in a world ruled by patronage and power. This is the latest book from Yuri Herrera, ‘Mexico’s greatest novelist’, to be translated to English. It’s a strange, slim volume that is sure to generate discussion.

For an inspiring gathering of feminists…

Not Just Lucky by Jamila Rizvi

Not Just Lucky is a feminist career manifesto from journalist and former political staffer Jamila Rizvi that offers practical advice on everything – from negotiating a raise and dealing with difficult bosses, to overcoming imposter syndrome and coping with failure. Carlton bookseller Kara Nicholson, ‘This is not a book about changing the system, but rather a toolkit for survival within it.’ Not Just Lucky is perfect for inspiring a lively conversation, followed by action!

For a chatty, personal catch-up with friends…

The Mighty Franks by Michael Frank

Michael Frank, had an unusual childhood – his aunt was his father’s sister and his uncle his mother’s brother. The two couples lived blocks apart in the hills of LA, with both grandmothers in an apartment together nearby, and Michael’s world largely orbited around his Auntie Hankie, an eccentric and sharp-eyed writer. As a child, Michael was the darling of her eyes, but as he grew up, their relationship fractured into something more sinister. Doncaster bookseller Jo Case writes: ‘I gobbled up this deliciously dark, profoundly poignant memoir in two half-days.’