By Anais Aguilera, Amber Alexander, Katie Norris and Sophie Poirier
It’s a new year and with it comes new titles to add to your shelves.
Amazon
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis follows a rare-book dealer named Ashlyn, who has an equally rare ability to feel the emotions of a book’s previous owners. One day, she uncovers a pair of books that tell the romance of their two authors. As she dives deeper into the mystery of their lives, she learns as much about herself as she does them.
For romance lovers, Meghan Quinn’s He’s Not My Type could be a great book to ring in 2024 with. Our main character has been pining over Blakely White for a while when he gets the opportunity to be her fake date for a wedding. This sports romance boasts some well-loved tropes in the genre: fake dating, one bed, roommates to lovers, and more.
WHSmith
For those who have been keeping up to date with TikTok trends, Netflix releases and LGBTQ+ news, you have probably already heard about, watched or read the hugely popular graphic novel series Heartstopper. This Christmas, Alice Oseman released Volume 5 of this series, and it has, unsurprisingly, jumped straight up the charts. If you have been eagerly anticipating the next step in Nick’s and Charlie’s journey, then this new release is just for you.
Judi Dench’s new book Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays Rent is a wonderfully unique approach to one of the most renowned writers in the English language. Dench recalls all the wildly unthinkable actions and positions she undertook in the name of Shakespeare to create a witty, inspiring and provocative piece that might just change your approach to the Bard and theatrical performance for good.
Waterstones
Tess Gunty’s The Rabbit Hutch has found its way back to the Waterstones paperback charts after winning the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize in 2022. While living in a run-down apartment in the sweltering American Midwest, high school dropout Blandine finds herself caring for three teenage boys who have aged out of the foster care system. Gunty’s characters are complex, intelligent and tough as they navigate the difficult circumstances of their lives.
One of the most highly anticipated releases for January 2024 comes from a mysterious, unknown author going by the name of Elly Conway. Spy thriller Argylle made the Waterstones bestseller list from its publication date, and with all the buzz it’s generated, that doesn’t come as a surprise. The novel is said to be the inspiration behind a film of the same name, also to be released in 2024. And whether it’s a publicity stunt or a gripping tale about Russian spies, you’ll have to read it and decide for yourself.
Social Media
Author Maud Ventura has recently published a novel that is the perfect story to start off the new year. Ventura’s debut novel My Husband is a suspenseful and psychologically complex story about a woman who lives the perfect life: a successful career, two children, and an ideal husband. However, to keep their relationship perfect, the woman must prepare for every encounter with him, testing her husband to make sure he loves her as much as he did when they first met. Then, one day, she goes too far.
Looking for an adult coming-of-age novel? Check out Meg Mason’s novel Sorrow and Bliss. At the age of seventeen, Martha Friel experienced a change of behaviour that redirected the course of her life. Countless doctors, endless sessions of therapy, and various drugs could not fix what was going on with her; she did not know what was wrong with her. With no more solutions and a husband who has moved out, Martha must go back home to start over.
Noteworthy Author
This week’s noteworthy author is Emma Cline. Cline has recently appeared in the Penguin Random House article “15 Authors Under 35 to Watch,” with her debut novel The Girls, published in 2016. Cline’s talent for writing really shows through as she has been published in many renowned magazines such as The New Yorker, The Paris Review and Granta. With her bestselling debut novel The Girls, short story collection Daddy and her latest novel The Guest, published in 2023, Cline is an up-and-coming author that you won’t want to miss.
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