THE SURVIVORS BY JANE HARPER 

This compulsively readable crime novel by Jane Harper is a fascinating character study centred around a murder linked to a local mystery of the past. The story takes places in a remote Tasmanian beach town, where one too many bodies mysteriously appear on the shoreline for coincidence to be a factor. Secrets ooze out of the woodwork one by one, keeping you guessing as you flip the pages. A fairly slow burn at the start, this novel quickly morphs into a gripping story that will have you reading into the wee hours of the morning.   

WHERE THE CRAWDAD SINGS BY DELIA OWENS

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This deeply enchanting novel by Delia Owens will push you through the wringer from all angles. Going back and forth in time, the story follows the protagonist, a young girl who raised herself in the marsh of the Carolinas. The plot is her coming-of-age story filled with resiliency, survival, hope, love, loss, loneliness, desperation, prejudice, determination, and strength–you’ll easily breeze through this beautifully written book in one reading.  

HONEY & SPICE BY BOLU BABALOLA 

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Fresh off the printing table, this fiery rom-com by Bolu Babalola was just published on July 5 this year. The story follows a popular radio show host as she enters a fake relationship with one of her university’s top players after publicly denouncing him. They start “dating” to preserve their reputations but it all quickly turns into something more. It’s messy, it’s sexy, it’s a must-read for those warm summer days spent lounging in the sun.  

THIS IS HAPPINESS BY NIAL WILLIAMS 

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You can almost feel the soft Irish rain pattering on your skin and smell the dewy grass of green rolling hills as you read this Niall Williams novel. A profound and enchanting story about the loves of our lives and the joys of reminiscing, this luminous book is a delicately observed portrait of a community. The plot brings you on an unforgettable trip to the lost Irish village of Faha, where the narrator looks back roughly 60 years. You escape into the pages and are rewarded with a novel that feels as much like time travel as enlightenment.   

LOLITA BY VLADIMIR NABOKOV

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This unique modern classic is a masterpiece that has withstood the test of time. Sick, scandalous, and spectacular, Vladimir Nabokov’s book has a strong charge of comic genius and is brilliantly written. The story follows a verbose, middle-aged literature professor who marries his landlady - only to be in close proximity to her pre-pubescent daughter. The protagonist is sexually obsessed with young girls and tells of his desires throughout the book, this sensitive subject is so carefully and precisely written that even though it’s potentially offensive, you’re instantly drawn in.  

TO THE END OF THE EARTH: THE SELECTED TRAVELS BY PAUL THEROUX 

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Travel writer Paul Theroux heads to the isolated, unusual, and sensational spots of the world. Evocative, breathtaking, and intriguing, this travel book reads like a marvellous novel, which will make you snuggle deeper into your armchair and voraciously read every word with intent. In it, you travel voyeuristically with Theroux, across the vast wilderness of inner China, the intricate cultures of South America, the sandbagged homes of Vietnam, the coastal towns of England, and more – all viewed through the author’s wonderfully sardonic, detailed, and lippy yet enchanting perspective.