5 new books to read this week

One Day author David Nicholls is back with his latest romantic novel…

Fiction

1. You Are Here by David Nicholls is published in hardback by Sceptre, priced £20 (ebook £11.99). Available now

It’s 20 years since his debut novel Starter For Ten launched David Nicholls’ hugely successful career as a bestselling novelist and screenwriter, followed by top romantic tales including One Day and Us, all of which were adapted for screen. Now, he brings us another story of love, as two lonely strangers – Marnie and Michael, both with their share of emotional baggage – are brought together by a well-meaning mutual friend, and together embark on the windswept, rain-lashed coast to coast walk in England. It is here that they slowly develop a newfound friendship, opening up about their lives and loves, as they make their way towards the end of their journey – and towards new beginnings. All the classic Nicholls ingredients are here; humour, heartache and hope in a highly relatable, tender love story. Hopefully there will be another screen adaptation for this romantic gem.

9/10

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(Review by Hannah Stephenson)

2. Funny Story by Emily Henry is published in hardback by Viking, priced £18.99 (ebook £8.99). Available April 25

Daphne and Peter appear to be living a blissful life together. Daphne moves to Peter’s hometown and revolves her life around his, until he unexpectedly ends things with her, striking up a relationship with his childhood best friend, Petra. Left heartbroken, Daphne finds solace in Miles, Petra’s former partner, who invites her to move in with him. Bonding over their shared heartbreak, over drinks one night they devise a plan to fake a romantic relationship on social media, aimed at unsettling their exes. This sets off a series of events that binds them together. As their friendship blossoms, the question arises: could their friendship evolve into something more? However, beyond this lies a deeper journey of self-discovery. Emily Henry writes very likeable characters who aren’t without their imperfections. Through the rawness of their heartbreaks, Daphne and Miles are forced to rebuild their lives and analyse themselves. This light, funny read will keep you rooting for them until the very end.

9/10

(Review by Jacqueline Ling)

3. A Beginner’s Guide To Breaking And Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray is published in hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Available April 25

Al has rules for breaking into wealthy people’s second homes when the owners are away, such as wearing gloves, never running away if seen, and having at least two stories if he has to explain what he’s done. He also doesn’t go back to the scene of a previous ‘interlope’, as he calls his break-ins – and Al isn’t his real name. But all his careful planning for living a life at someone else’s expense changes dramatically when he discovers a group of similar ‘interlopers’ – and they stumble across a dead body. The unlikely group of unofficial house-sitters go on the run, trying to avoid being charged with murder but determined to find a killer. The book is filled with humour, shocks, love and hate – and a few handy tips on how to beat the housing crisis. Fans of the podcast No Such Thing As A Fish – which Murray co-hosts – will love his trademark style of being funny, thoughtful and all-round entertaining.

8/10

(Review by Alan Jones)

Non-fiction

4. The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power Of Our Everyday Actions by Michael Norton is published in hardback by Penguin Life, priced £20 (ebook £9.99). Available now

In a world that is flooded with opinions and prescriptions on how to change your life – telling us to make new habits in 21 days, saying we constantly need to be stepping out of our comfort zone – Michael Norton, instead, has written an essay about why, as a species, we have harnessed the power of ritual. From the family traditions that make Christmas special to the number of times tennis star Serena Williams bounces the ball before serving, via the growing movement of purple dresses worn by the Red Hat Society. Ritual gives us order, a sense of belonging and mostly control, Norton suggests. However, rituals can also have a dark side and Norton doesn’t shy away from the psychology of this either. As the pages turn, you can see more of these rituals in day-to-day life and the door to opening your mind to more perspectives. An entertaining view of why we do what we do.

7/10

(Review by Rachel Howdle)

Children’s book of the week

5. Addie Ant Goes On An Adventure by Maren Morris and Karina Argow, illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton, is published in hardback by Chronicle Books, priced £13.99 (ebook £11.99). Available now

This book takes you on an exciting adventure with Addie Ant, across unknown and previously untravelled territory from one side of her garden to the other. She sets off from her tomato bed and crosses the vast garden to visit the watermelons and see where the sunflowers grow. Although Addie is nervous about her big adventure, she’s also excited at what she will find. Along the way, Addie meets up with old friends who give her directions and comforting advice when she becomes a little anxious. Written by country music singer Maren Morris with her close friend, former school teacher Karina Argow, this book is an inspiration to young people – giving them confidence to be independent, and showing it’s good to ask for help. It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will be enjoyed by all.

8/10

(Review by Joanne Brennan)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 20

HARDBACK (FICTION)

1. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

2. My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

3. Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan

4. A Calamity Of Souls by David Baldacci

5. Close To Death by Anthony Horowitz

6. James by Percival Everett

7. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

8. The Gentleman From Peru by André Aciman

9. Until August by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

10. The Last Murder At The End of the World by Stuart Turton

(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)

1. Knife by Salman Rushdie

2. Ten Years To Save The West by Liz Truss

3. Bored Of Lunch Healthy Air Fryer: 30 Minute Meals by Nathan Anthony

4. An African History Of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

5. The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson

6. Forever Max by Kerry Irving

7. Easy Wins by Anna Jones

8. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

9. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2024

10. Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen

(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)

1. My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

2. Close To Death by Anthony Horowitz

3. The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

4. Atomic Habits by James Clear

5. Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

6. Unruly by David Mitchell

7. Hornet Flight by Ken Follett

8. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu & Ken Liu

9. The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson

10. None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

(Compiled by Audible)