New books to read this week

Fiction

Virgin by Hollie McNish is published in hardback by Fleet

Hollie McNish is the most magical writer. In her new poetry collection Virgin, she takes on purity culture, its constrictions, the shame it triggers and the fun it dampens. From the many unanswered questions around the concept of virginity, separating sex and trampolining (she prefers to), to the nuances of making love outside a Morrisons, coercion, crushing ideas of ‘saving yourself’, and the joy of just experiencing, physically and mentally, the things your body wants and enjoys feeling, her words pin it all down. For those who think poetry isn’t for them, start with the chapter introductions, in which McNish chattily explains her thought processes with wit, personal memories and so much kindness and understanding. She torches belief systems that shame women, upholds the power of a Blockbuster video store and relays the stress of waiting for your period to come. Glorious, life-affirming, silly at times, incredibly profound at others – put it on the school curriculum.

It’s Not A Cult by Joey Batey is published in hardback by Raven Books

The evenings are drawing in and the darker-themed stories are looking more enticing on the bookcase. It’s Not A Cult is a multi-pronged tale of a North East band with no name. In a world full of information and metadata, the group are busy performing in small locations, while filming everything and sharing their movements and songs (which are largely about the gods of small things, the fictional Solkats) online. Their fanbase starts out tiny, but as an influencer embraces their music, things take a violent turn, and that fanbase becomes obsessive, and their gigs almost a religious experience. Joey Batey captures the dark side of success, where you’d imagine the world opens up, but in reality, the world becomes exponentially smaller. Relationships fracture, and questions are asked and explored via folklore. A dark, clever tale that tackles the age of the internet and the impact that mob mentality has on the global community.

The Widow by John Grisham is published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton

The Widow opens with the promise of intrigue: a wealthy widow guarding a secret fortune, a small-town lawyer clinging to a fading career, and a family whose tensions run deep. At its centre is Simon Latch, a Virginia attorney weighed down by debt, marital strain, and diminishing prospects. When Eleanor ‘Netty’ Barnett chooses him instead of her regular lawyer, Latch glimpses a chance to salvage his future. The ingredients suggest a gripping drama, but the delivery is subdued. Rather than driving forward with urgency, the narrative unfolds slowly, often lingering on detail at the expense of tension. Ultimately, The Widow reads as a restrained exploration of greed, trust and vulnerability. It is competently crafted and occasionally insightful, but it never ignites. It was thoughtful, even atmospheric, but ultimately flat. A careful story of inheritance and mistrust that never fully grips.

Non-fiction

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai is published in hardback by W&N

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai offers a vulnerable look into the education activist’s life growing up in the spotlight. Moving beyond the headlines and public perception, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate invites readers into her world and shares stories about adjusting to life in the UK, her school experiences, and time at Oxford University. With honesty and warmth, the now 28-year-old candidly opens up about the complexities of friendship, first love, academic pressure and fame. This compelling memoir is easy to read and reveals a more nuanced and human side of Yousafzai – one that many readers may not have seen before. It’s a story of self-discovery that highlights the extreme ups and downs of early adulthood which will resonate deeply with young women and anyone finding their footing in this unpredictable world. Whether you’re curious to know more about Malala’s life or just adore a coming-of-age narrative, you should add Finding My Way to your autumnal reading list.

Children’s book of the week

The Great Bear by Annie Booker is published in hardback by Two Hoots

It’s not always easy to portray the power of the natural world and the importance of protecting it to children, but debut author and illustrator Annie Booker does it beautifully in this timely, but ultimately hopeful, story of a polar bear and the changing environment. My five-year-old – who happens to have a strange fascination for the Arctic – could follow the message and loved the facts dotted in about real life polar bears and learning what humans are doing to regenerate oceans and protect animals. And who says children’s book illustration has to be bright, bold and garish? Booker won the Batsford Prize for Illustration People’s Choice Award in 2022 and her hand-painted illustrations in The Great Bear are a true work of art, with muted colours and sweeping brushstrokes, capturing the wonder, mystery, and fragility of nature. It feels like a book to gift or keep for years to come.