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Five new books to read this week

Five new books to read this week
Posted on | Posted on Theodore

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

fiction

1. “The Hotel Avocado” by Bob Mortimer will be published in hardcover by Gallery UK on August 29th

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 enchanted by Mortimer’s humor and his obvious talent as a storyteller.
9/10
(Review by Alan Jones)

2. Precipice by Robert Harris will be published on August 29th in hardcover by Hutchinson Heinemann

Precipice by Robert Harris
(Hutchinson Heinemann/PA)

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 reviews of Cabinet meetings are written alongside his declarations of love and longing. Precipice, the new novel from Robert Harris, seamlessly mixes 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. Incorporating genuine 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 in hardback by Canongate Books on August 29th

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)

Non-fiction

4. “Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak And Dogs” by Jordan Stephens will be published in hardback by Canongate Books on August 22nd

Musician, actor and Rizzle Kicks host Jordan Stephens offers a new take on memoir writing 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 a formative moment in his 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 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)

Children’s book of the week

5. Try by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield with Emma Adams, illustrated by Ben Whitehouse, will be published in hardback by Macmillan Children’s Books on August 29

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, particularly given that Burrow died from Motor Neurone Disease in June this year at the age of 41, and the book will go on 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 comes across clearly.
7/10
(Review by Prudence Wade)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK END 17 AUGUST

HARDCOVER EDITION (BELLEKTION)
1. Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
2. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
3. There are rivers in heaven by Elif Shafak
4. The Book of Bill by Alex Hirsch
5. Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent
6. When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
7. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
8. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
9. The Book Of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville
10. The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable
(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDCOVER BOOK (NON-FICTION)
1. Eighteen by Alice Loxton
2. Pinch Of Nom Air Fryer by Kay & Kate Allinson
3. Hitler’s People by Richard J. Evans
4. Catherine, Princess of Wales by Robert Jobson
5. Trelawny’s Cornwall by Petroc Trelawny
6. How to win the Premier League by Ian Graham
7. Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum
8. Paris ’44 by Patrick Bishop
9. Dinner by Meera Sodha
10. Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)
1. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
3. Message deleted by KL Slater
4. An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris
5. Unruly by David Mitchell
6. None of this is true by Lisa Jewell
7. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
8. A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin
9. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
10. “Local Woman Missing” by Mary Kubica and Jesse Vilinsky
(Compiled by Audible)

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