My Spring Rona Reads
If this pandemic has done one thing it’s fixed my recent inability to focus enough to finish a book read for fun rather than work (which has honestly been beyond frustrating). The first month or so of isolation and real-life/news avoidance meant diving into fictional worlds and finishing so many books, so here’s a run down with three (ish) word reviews, all highly recommended:
1. My Dark Vanessa by @kateelizabethrussell @4thestatebooks - out now. Dark, powerful and heartbreaking, with a #metoo inspired look back on a power imbalanced dynamic between teacher and student (tw; sexual abuse)
2. Adults by @emjaneumsworth @boroughpress - out now. Confronting, hilarious and emotional. A little tooo close to the bone on social. Loved it. Love anything Emma writes!
3. Pretending by @hollybourneya @hodderbooks - out now. Honest, unflinching and so painfully funny and important to read (tw; sexual abuse, rape)
4. Exciting Times by @naoisedolan @orionbooks - out now. Connection, deadpan clarity, insightful - and lost... a clever and interesting debut
5. Clap When You Land by @acevedowrites @hotkeybooks - out 5 May. Lyrical (of course, love Liz!), bittersweet, on identity and sisterhood (YA)
6. The Mercies by @kiran_mh @panmacmillan - out now. Witchcraft, forbidden desire, danger - survival and hope. One of my most fave recent reads.
7. Burn by @patricknessbooks @walkerbooksya - out 7 May. Dragons, alt timeline/ epic worldbuilding, fate, danger and conspiracy. Utter magic. (YA)
8. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by #OtessaMoshfegh @penguinukbooks - out now. Frustrating, blackly funny, and provoking
9. The Great Godden by #MegRosoff @bloomsburyya - out July 20. Summer heat, love, lust and complicated relationships - perfect coming of age, adored. (YA)
10. Girl, Woman, Other by @bernadineevaristowriter @penguinukbooks - out now. One of my books of the year. Intertwining stories of feminism, race, black Britishness - on facets of all love and life. Incredible and so highly recommended.
11. The Ash House by @angharadwalker @chickenhousebks - out, tbc Jan 21. A truly unique debut - on belonging, acceptance, community and bravery - watch this space for more! (MG)
12. All The Bad Apples by @moirawithatrema @penguinukbooks - out now. On family, myth, inheritance, shame, secrets and the darkness of the history of Irish laundries. (YA)
13. Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know by @sam_aye_ahm @littlebrown - out now. Dual strong female narrative, hidden stories and Muslim rep, Dumas/Byron art history, beautifully interwoven. Loved. (YA)
14. Blood Moon by @lucycuthew @walkerbooksya - out July 2020. On public shaming, sex and growing up in a social world - unflinching and cleverly presented in verse that makes you fly through. (YA)