Take your pick of our favourite new books.
BLACK CAKE
This debut novel by Charmaine Wilkerson tells the story of Eleanor Bennett, a woman who won’t let her own death get in the way of the truth. When her estranged children Byron and Benny reunite at her funeral, they are made aware of a confusing inheritance — a voice recording from the mother turns everything they think they know about their family upside down. Author Charmaine Wilkerson is an American writer who has lived in Jamaica and is currently based in Italy. Black Cake is her first novel and is in development as a Hulu original series.
THE POWER OF FUN
The Power of Fun by award-winning science journalist Catherine Price explores why fun is the key to a happy and healthy life. Price argues that fun can lead us to the happiness that we so desperately seek while giving us more meaning and energy along the way. The book also includes a practical plan for incorporating more fun into our daily lives. Packed with useful information and advice, this is an eye-opening and engaging read.
THE LAST BEEKEEPER
This story by Siya Turabi is based in Pakistan in 1974 and tells the tale of Hassan, who is torn between decisions of his heart and head. He knows that he must find the last beekeeper and salvage a precious jaw of his mythical black honey to save his mother’s sight, but then he wins a scholarship to study with the state governor in Karachi in the middle of a brewing political storm. His world is further upended when he meets the governor’s niece Maryam. Divided between two worlds, Hassan must choose between Maryam and the beekeeper, England and Pakistan.
LOVE MARRIAGE
Written by Monica Ali, Love Marriage is set in contemporary London. Yasmin Ghorami is training to be a doctor like her Indian-born father and engaged to the upper-class Joe Sangster. The story explores the vast differences between the two families, and as the wedding approaches, misunderstandings and secrets threaten to disrupt both Yasmin’s relationship and that of her parents. The novel makes acute observations about class, sexual mores and the mysteries of the heart in a way that is both humorous and moving.
THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE
From bestselling author Sophie Green, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is a brand-new novel about friendship, love and finding one’s self. Set in tropical Queensland, the story explores the lives of a group of women — a former cane farmer, a high school teacher, a café owner, and their yoga teacher who brings them together at Orange Blossom House, located in a perfumed rainforest. Here, the women find courage, strength and a sense of reconnection.
EM & ME
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Saving Missy, Beth Morrey, comes Em & Me, a novel about finding and taking second chances. The novel tells the story of Delphine, who has been unable to let go of the past for years. When she finally decides to stand up for herself, she begins to remember what it feels like to want more from life. Gradually, she rediscovers her singing voice, opens herself up to friendship, and revives the memory of her mother, who she lost suddenly as a teenager.
MINDWANDERING
Mindwandering: How It Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity by Moshe Bar reveals a fascinating new theory by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists. The theory looks at why the mind wanders and when and why it’s good for you. While mindwandering — involuntary activities like daydreaming and worrying — can contribute to anxiety, Bar suggests that there is a method behind this apparent madness. He brings his decades of research together to explain the benefits of mindwandering within the context of psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry and philosophy and provides practical, helpful knowledge.