For book clubs interested in who writes history…

Learwife by J. R. Thorp

Word has come. Care-bent King Lear is dead, driven mad and betrayed. His three daughters too, broken in battle. But someone has survived: Lear’s queen. Exiled to a nunnery years ago, written out of history, her name forgotten. Now she can tell her story. A breathtaking novel of loss, renewal and how history bleeds into the present.

For book clubs who relish subversive stories of complex friendships…

Wahala by Nikki May

Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they question their future. Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Boo enjoys (correction: endures) stay-at-home motherhood; while Simi, full of fashion career dreams, rolls her eyes as her boss refers to her urban vibe yet again. When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them.

For book clubs seeking a fresh exploration of the American Dream…

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

Olga and her brother, Pedro ‘Prieto’ Acevedo, are bold-faced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying, Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan’s power brokers. Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. A story that examines political corruption, familial strife and the very notion of the American dream.

For book clubs ready to feel all the feelings…

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

A bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia. Set in an alternative America, this is a novel of three parts, its narratives traversing a slew of human experience and emotion.

For book clubs needing comfort in warm stories of connection…

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

Cinnamon Gardens Nursing Home is nestled in the quiet suburb of Westgrove, Sydney - populated with residents with colourful histories, each with their own secrets, triumphs and failings. This is their safe place. But this ordinary neighbourhood is not without its prejudices and the serenity of Cinnamon Gardens is threatened by those interested in what makes this refuge different.

For book clubs who need motivation to stick with it…

Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

Johann Hari went on a three-year journey to uncover the reasons why our teenagers now focus on one task for only 65 seconds, and why office workers on average manage only three minutes. He interviewed the leading experts in the world on attention, and learned that everything we think about this subject is wrong.

For book clubs who enjoy dissecting classic romantic tropes…

Serendipity edited by Marissa Meyer

The secret admirer. The fake relationship. The matchmaker.A swoon-worthy collection of stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along. Ten of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads.

For book clubs embracing moving personal narratives…

Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome

This memoir introduces a powerful new talent in Brian Broome, whose early years growing up in Ohio as a dark-skinned Black boy harbouring crushes on other boys propel forward this gorgeous, aching, and unforgettable debut. Brian’s recounting of his experiences - in all their cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking glory - reveal a perpetual outsider awkwardly squirming to find his way in.