When you’re surrounded by a sea of books, it can be hard to choose your next read. From romance to thrillers and everything in between, your local bookstore is likely jam-packed with titles you’ve never even heard of. To make your search a little easier, we’ve enlisted the help of our Content Specialist and resident literary enthusiast, Miriam El Abbassi, to give us a breakdown of a few new releases we think you’ll love.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Miriam’s take: “This is a delightfully heartwarming read thats less about the murder-mystery at hand and more about the loveable protagonist at its centre. If you’re ever in need of a pick-me-up, I highly recommend The Maid.”
The Maid introduces us to Molly Gray, a 25-year-old who struggles interacting with the outside world. She depended on her grandmother, who guided her through much of her life, until her passing several months prior. Left to fend for herself, Molly throws herself into work as a hotel maid. All seems to be going well until she finds a wealthy guest murdered in his bed and is now the primary suspect. With a team of unlikely friends by her side, Molly embarks on a hunt for clues to unmask the killer before it’s too late.
Wahala by Nikki May
Miriam’s take: “This is a refreshing perspective on friendship in a world where it feels like things can get a little repetitive.”
Wahala follows a trio of three Anglo-Nigerian best friends – Ronke, Boo and Simi – who all lead unique lives, but their strong bond is what holds them together. But when a fourth, Isobel, enters the group, it seems like things couldn’t be better, until they start to take an unexpected turn.
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brene Brown
Miriam’s take: “This won’t be something you read cover-to-cover, but it will be something you pick up when you just can’t find the right words. Atlas of the Heart helps you navigate the highs and lows of human emotion during the most turbulent times.”
Atlas of the Heart is an extensive compendium detailing eighty-seven emotions and experiences through the lens of Brown’s decades-long research in human connection. Expand your emotional vocabulary and explore a new framework that challenges the traditional ideas of what it means to feel and connect.
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Miriam’s take: “While very reminiscent of The Handmaid’s tale, this book is a more modern take on this familiar dystopian universe”
Jessamine Chan’s debut novel tells the story of Frida, a mother struggling to stay afloat. In a world where the Big Brother-esque government is the population’s biggest threat, everyone must remain on their best behaviour. Until one day, Frida’s life is thrown off course. She is now a candidate for a government-run reform school for “bad mothers” and must prove her worthiness or risk losing her daughter forever.
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
Miriam’s take: “This book will have you glued to its pages at all hours of the night. You’ll want to devour it all in a single sitting and savour it all at once. While the thrilling nature of this story is intriguing, it’s the layered characters that keep you wanting more.”
This story follows the life of Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic who spends her time searching for the missing people the world has long forgotten about. When Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager from a rough Boston neighbourhood, turns up missing, Frankie starts to realize there may be something different about this case. Risking her own safety, Frankie embarks on a journey to find Angelique, in a place where there seems to be more questions than answers.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Miriam’s take: “For those who’ve been waiting since The Martian for another fun-filled sci-fi novel, I’m happy to report this book goes above and beyond.”
This book follows Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up as the sole survivor on a deep-space mission, but without any memories of how he got there. All he knows is that he’s just awoken from a deep sleep with an assignment he doesn’t know how to complete. With all of his crewmates dead, Ryland is now humanity’s last hope for survival.
If consuming content in an audio format is more your style, check out our roundup of podcasts we think you’ll love.
Images courtesy of: Goodreads (The Maid); Goodreads (Wahala); Goodreads (Atlas of the Heart); Goodreads (The School for Good Mothers); Goodreads (Before She Disappeared); Goodreads (Project Hail Mary).