Journey to ‘The Shore,’ a collection of tiny islands off the coast of Virginia, in which wild ponies and quaint, unkempt dwellings meet murder and dark magic. Sara Taylor’s bewitching debut will transport you to a far away place even if all you’re planning is a staycation this year.
Likened to Game of Thrones, but with insects, The Bees is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat (deckchair or otherwise). Laline Paull’s unique tale follows Flora 717, a sanitation bee, the lowest class of her society. Yet Flora is different, possessing talents forbidden and strange to her kin. We guarantee you’ll be hooked as Flora struggles for survival in her hive where ‘mutant’ bees are routinely destroyed.
Half comic satire of the art world, half enchanting love story; Hannah Rothschild’s first novel is a beach read with a difference. Shortlisted for this year’s Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, our judges praised its originality and wit, you’d be well advised to make a little space in your suitcase for this one.
Sandra Newman plunges you into an America devastated by a strange virus known as Posies. This America is populated only by children who perish before their 20th birthday. You’ll find yourself cheering on Ice Cream Star, our unlikely but charismatic 15-year-old heroine, as she takes on the world, hellbent on finding a cure for this disease.
In preparation for Zadie Smith’s long awaited new novel Swing Time, out this Autumn, why not read her most recent novel NW? Following four Londoners as they try to make their way in the world outside of their North-West London council estate, NW is both brutal and beautiful in its portrayal of urban life.
Semple’s hilarious and witty epistolary novel, is a unique and surprising look at an unconventional mother-daughter relationship, tracing the backstory of the eccentric Bernadette and her daughter Bee through a series of emails, letters and even a transcribed TED Talk. This is the perfect summer read to make you want to take off on an impromptu adventure.
This novel will sweep you up in a flurry of crazy characters, pulsing music and age-old questions and not let you go until you’ve turned the final page. Told through vivid anecdotes from former punk rockers, roadies, fans, and including a whole chapter told through as a Powerpoint presentation, this is a wild ride of a book.
This year Half of a Yellow Sun celebrates a decade since publication, it’s now heralded as a classic and was crowned Best of the Best of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction winners of the last twenty years. Adichie weaves an unforgettable tale populated by vivid characters caught up in the horrors, hopes and disappointment of the Biafran war – discover it if you haven’t already.
An enthralling glimpse into the chaos of East London life through the eyes of Nazneen, a Bangladeshi immigrant. Ali beautifully captures both the opportunity and colour, and the isolation and despair Nazneen experiences whilst anchored to an arranged marriage to a husband some 20 years her senior.
A wonderfully clever look at the way we struggle to make meaningful relationships in our age of hyper-connectedness, instead relying on a ‘retweet’ or a ‘like’ to convey how we feel. This 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction longlistee is the ideal read to take along with you if you’re planning a bit of a digital detox this summer.
How about indulging in an iced coffee and Baileys alongside your book? It’s as easy as can be…
50ml Baileys® Original Irish Cream Liqueur
100ml coffee
Brew coffee and allow to cool.
Pour Baileys and coffee into a tall, ice-filled glass.
0.9 units per serve
www.drinkaware.co.uk
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