Comedian turned author Bob Mortimer is back with a sequel to The Satsuma Complex…

1. The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer will be published in hardback by Gallery UK on 29 August for £22 (e-book £11.99)

Comedian Bob Mortimer has dug deeper into the fruit bowl for the sequel to his bestselling debut novel, The Satsuma Complex. The Hotel Avocado is a stunning sequel full of crazy plots, delicious intrigue and garnished with corruption and violence in the police and local government. The story revolves around Gary Thorn, who is undecided whether to keep his not very exciting job as a lawyer in London, watching football in his local pub and eating cake with neighbor Grace and her dog, or start a much more exciting life in Brighton and help his friend Emily open a hotel. At weekends he goes to the seaside while Emily works hard to improve the hotel with the help of a giant plastic avocado that has been attached to the entrance – without planning permission. His already complicated life is turned upside down by the arrival of the menacing Mr. Sequence, who brutally threatens Gary and Emily and tries to force him not to give evidence in a trial for police corruption. It’s really hard to put this book down – you’ll be charmed by Mortimer’s humour and his obvious talent as a storyteller. 9/10 (Review by Alan Jones)

2. “Precipice” by Robert Harris will be published in hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann on 29 August at a price of £22 (e-book £10.99).

As Britain wrestles with the prospect of World War I, the nation is unaware that its Prime Minister is having a romantic affair with a young society lady half his age. Official government documents are sent through the mail and discussions at Cabinet meetings are written alongside his declarations of love and longing. Precipice, the new novel from Robert Harris, seamlessly blends fact and fiction with authentic correspondence from then Prime Minister H.H. Asquith to Venetia Stanley. When a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate leaks of top secret documents, their romantic and sometimes obsessive affair becomes a matter of national security. By incorporating real telegrams, newspaper reports and official documents from the time, Harris takes his readers on a gripping journey as the war begins overseas while on the home front, Miss Stanley gradually becomes one of the most significant women in British political history. 9/10 (Review by Hannah Cottrell)

3. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig will be published on 29 August in hardback by Canongate Books for £20 (e-book £15.99)

At first glance, Matt Haig’s The Life Impossible is another life-affirming modern fairytale. But add a surprisingly tough pensioner as the protagonist and a dose of the paranormal and he’s created something magical. Hopelessly mired in grief and regret, 70-year-old Grace finds life dull until a mysterious inheritance whisks her away to Ibiza. The search for the truth culminates in a stirring encounter with another world that fundamentally changes her humdrum life. But with transformative new beginnings comes responsibility, and Grace must thwart nefarious plans that threaten the sanctity of her sun-drenched paradise. As joyously entertaining as a Balearic club and enchantingly addictive, this is a lesson in embracing the unknown, overcoming heavy burdens on the soul, protecting nature and living every moment to the fullest. It’s entirely possible that you’ll devour this uplifting story immediately, and you may not find a more emotionally satisfying read this year. 9/10 (Review by Amanda Willard)

4. “Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs” by Jordan Stephens is out on 22 August in hardback from Canongate Books for £16.99 (e-book £8.99)

Musician, actor and Rizzle Kicks host Jordan Stephens offers a new take on memoir in Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs (that’s the acronym for ADHD, a nod to the fact that he was diagnosed with the disorder twice). He explores his upbringing, experiences with ADHD and more, but focuses mostly on one formative moment in time: a painful breakup with a girlfriend after he made a drunken mistake and cheated on her. It’s a raw meditation on heartbreak, self-loathing and the search for oneself – Stephens blames himself, blames others, even embarks on a spiritual healing trip to Brazil. He doesn’t shy away from the uglier sides of life, or even himself, and raises interesting questions about masculinity and love. One just wonders if a broader perspective would have been better than that one breakup. 7/10 (Review by Prudence Wade)

5. Try by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield with Emma Adams, illustrated by Ben Whitehouse, will be published on 29 August in hardback by Macmillan Children’s Books at £12.99 (e-book £6.99)

This is the second book from rugby-playing friends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield, following 2023’s With You Every Step, which raised £27,000 for the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity. It’s a picture book that tells the sweet story of school friends Rob and Kev, who are asked who their hero is. As the day goes on, they realise that their heroes don’t necessarily have to be the rich and famous – but much closer to home. It’s a sweet story, especially given that Burrow died from Motor Neurone Disease in June this year at the age of 41, and the book will continue to raise money for the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity. While parents may find the plot a little cheesy, the powerful message of bravery and friendship is palpable. 7/10 (Review by Prudence Wade)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK END 17 AUGUST

HARDBACK (FICTION)1. Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid2. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon3. There Are Rivers In The Sky by Elif Shafak4. The Book Of Bill by Alex Hirsch5. Guilty By Definition by Susie Dent6. When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker7. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors8. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros9. The Book Of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves & China Miéville10. The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)1. Eighteen by Alice Loxton2. Pinch Of Nom Air Fryer by Kay & Kate Allinson3. Hitler’s People by Richard J. Evans4. Catherine, The Princess Of Wales by Robert Jobson5. Trelawny’s Cornwall by Petroc Trelawny6. How To Win The Premier League by Ian Graham7. Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum8. Paris ’44 by Patrick Bishop9. Dinner by Meera Sodha10. The Diary Of A CEO by Steven Bartlett(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)1. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover2. Atomic Habits by James Clear3. Message Deleted by KL Slater4. An Officer And A Spy by Robert Harris5. Unruly by David Mitchell6. None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell7. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman8. A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin9. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien10. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica & Jesse Vilinsky(Compiled by Audible)