We break down our first reading list for 2021 – all the books we read in January 2021 – some backlist reads and some new releases, including from Lori Gottlieb, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Becky Cooper. The full reviews are available here.
1.Nicola Williams, Without Prejudice
An astonishing legal thriller re-published by Penguin and out this Thursday, narrating the experience of Lee Mitchell, a black female barrister, as she sets forth her defence case for millionaire playboy Clive Omartian. The plot is a breathless, twisting and turning narrative that reveals as much about Britain and the legal system as it does about the dark side of wealth.
Pick this up if you loved: the TV series The Undoing / any books by Jo Nesbo or John Grisham
Pick up a copy here.
2. Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
Big Magic is Elizabeth Gilbert’s thesis statement and creativity, offering musings on the source of inspiration to resolution. A phenomenal read for those who want to feel inspired and liberated to live a more creative life – even if you feel stuck in a bit of a rut.
Pick this up if you loved: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Pick up a copy here.
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Brandon Taylor’s deliciously engaging novel narrates the story of Wallace, a laboratory student, and his interactions with his white classmates, both romantic and platonic.
Pick this up if you loved: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Pick up a copy here.
4. Caleb Azumah Nelson, Open Water
A startling debut novel out this week through Penguin, Open Water is a breathtaking narration of the love story between two young artists in London, coming together and growing apart through miscommunication. It’s frustrating, engaging and everything a good work of literature should be, beckoning in a new era for Nelson.
Pick this up if you loved: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Pick up a copy here.
5. Becky Cooper, We Keep The Dead Close
Becky Cooper’s astonishing revelatory book unpicking her personal investigation into a murder at Harvard. This is one of the best true crime narrations since Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, providing real insight into the human psyche and our own biases when approaching murder.
Pick this up if you loved: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Pick up a copy here.
6. Lori Gottlieb, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
We have never read a book that really explored the nuances of therapy, both from the therapist and from the client’s perspective. This book is incredibly powerful narrating Gottlieb’s experiences getting over a break-up in therapy and her own journey of self-discovery.
Pick this up if you loved: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Pick up a copy here.
7. Naoise Dolan, Exciting Times
Naoise Dolan’s debut novel narrates the story of an Irish woman in Hong Kong and her experience navigating relationships and interactions. It is raw, honest and at times almost painfully awkward and real.
Pick this up if you loved: Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
Pick up a copy here.
8. Diksha Basu, Destination Wedding
Diksha Basu’s deliciously engaging novel Destination Wedding dives into the experience of Tina Das as she goes to her cousin’s lavish wedding in Delhi. The novel is more than just a wedding romance though as Basu addresses Tina’s sense of belonging – questioning whether she is more at home in Brooklyn or in India. The novel is lavish, indulgent and filled with wild, but powerfully and astutely written characters.
Pick this up if you loved: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Pick up a copy here.
9. Rumaan Alam, Leave The World Behind
One of the best novels we’ve read in a while, Rumaan Alam’s astonishing novel navigates the interactions between two couples as the world ends around them – questioning whether they should trust each other and even if they want to. This is a breathtaking read.
Pick this up if you loved: Black Mirror / The Need by Helen Phillips
Pick up a copy here.
