Dream Countby Chimamanda NgoziAdichieArich explorationof female experience, Adichie’s first novel in 10 years charts the lives and loves of four women in Nigeria and the US, from a “dream count” of ex-boyfriends to a section inspired by Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s alleged rape of a Guinean hotel worker in 2011. Magisterial, wide-ranging and delicately done.
Fleshby David SzalayThis spare account of the rise and fall of a contemporary everyman, from small-town Hungary to London’s elite, and back again, gains an extraordinary power through what is left unsaid: buried emotion, the silent depths of trauma, the ultimate unknowability of the self and others. Apropulsive investigationinto sex, power, class and masculinity.
Slagsby Emma Jane UnsworthNot so much a beach read as acaravan comedy. Fortysomething Sarah takes her younger sister on an ill-advised holiday through the Highlands of Scotland: drink is taken, food is cobbled together, there is bad weather and worse parking as unsuitable men and unresolved teenage trauma intrude. This exuberantly funny road trip is also a love letter to the fractious bond between siblings.
Dream Stateby Eric PuchnerIn this big,bittersweet American family saga, golden couple Cece and Charlie are preparing to marry – and then she meets his difficult, unhappy best friend … Mistakes are made and decades sweep by in an immersive panorama of friendship and rivalry, marriages and children, tragedy and love. Meanwhile, the climate crisis bites, and the sands of time are only running in one direction. A book to lose yourself in, but one that doesn’t duck the big issues.
The Namesby Florence KnappThis year’sbuzziest debutlives up to the hype. It’s a sliding doors story where the narrative splits into three paths after a mother registers her baby. We follow the lifelong implications of choosing three different names: Gordon, as her abusive husband (also Gordon) demands; the solid and confident Julian; or the wild yet cuddly Bear. The high concept is carried off with flair, in a tender, clear-eyed portrayal of the horrors of domestic violence and joys of family life.
The Land in Winterby Andrew MillerUnseasonal reading, but Miller’s tale of two young couples in the West Country who get snowed in during the big freeze of 1962-63 has anuncanny beauty and depth. The legacy of the second world war reaches into a present on the brink of seismic change, in a novel that travels into the darkest places of history and the strangest corners of the human mind.
The Pretenderby Jo HarkinBilled as “Demon Copperhead meets Wolf Hall”, this historical rollercoaster hasa charm all of its own. In the chaotic wake of the Wars of the Roses, a farm boy is plucked from obscurity and groomed as the rightful heir to the throne. From Burgundy to Ireland to the paranoid court of Henry VII, Lambert Simnel’s coming-of-age journey is wild indeed – but who is he really? A brainy, heartfelt delight.
The Emperor of Gladnessby Ocean VuongThe follow-up to On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is alushly writtenpanorama of unexpected connections and second chances, set in the struggling blue-collar town of East Gladness, Connecticut. Young Hai forges an unlikely friendship with elderly widow Grazina in a tale of precarity, endurance and small joys.
Gunkby Saba SamsSams made a name with her spiky stories, Send Nudes; her first novel is an equallyfresh and funny portraitof unexpected motherhood and alternative families, as thirtysomething Jules, the manager of a grimy Brighton club, finds herself in a not-quite-love triangle with her useless ex-husband and an unconventional young woman called Nim. Raw, tender and unusual.
The Proof of My Innocenceby Jonathan CoeCoe has enormous fun with acosy crime spoofset against the strange days of Liz Truss’s time as PM. The mysteries – about a sinister rightwing thinktank, and a cult novelist – extend back to the 80s, in a book fuelled with bittersweet nostalgia as well as righteous contemporary anger.
The Benefactorsby Wendy ErskineThis polyphonic portrait of class, power and social exclusion in Northern Ireland – the debut novel from an award-winning short story writer – is centred on the assault of a teenage girl, and the reactions of the boys’ parents. Erskine is a nimble, prodigiously talented author: funny and brutal by turns, with an extraordinary immediacy.
Our Eveningsby Alan HollinghurstSweeping yet intimate, Hollinghurst’s seventh novel becomes abravura historyof English gay life from the 60s through to the pandemic, as it follows Dave Win from his schooldays, an outsider in a world of privilege, through an acting career and into late-life contentment.
The Latehomecomer: Essential Stories by Mavis GallantA vital introduction to one of the greatest short-story writers, selected by Tessa Hadley. Canadian Gallant was a sharp-eyed observer of the migrations of the 20th century, imbuing her tales of ordinary people caught up in the tides of history with merciless comedy and flinty compassion.
The Tiger’s Shareby Keshava GuhaA novel of ideas crossed with a juicy family saga, thisstate-of-the-nation snapshotof contemporary India wittily anatomises the battle for resources – environmental, financial, social – in a clash between ambitious daughters and complacent sons.
Perfectionby Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie HughesAn expat couple, digital nomads in a rapidly gentrifying Berlin, meticulously curate their lives – from recipes to LPs, houseplants to sex parties. But meaning and happiness remain stubbornly out of reach … Acool indictment of modern emptinessand global anomie; shortlisted for the International Booker.
The Death of Usby Abigail DeanA horrific home invasion breaks open the cracks in a couple’s relationship. Decades later, their attacker is caught and they must finally face up to the repercussions of that night. A crisply written,slow-burn psychological thrillerfrom a crime writer at the peak of her powers.
Auditionby Katie KitamuraThis daring, riddling novel hinges on the relationship between a successful New York actor and a man young enough to be her son. It’s aliterary hall of mirrorsthat explores the deepest questions about performance, identity and how we relate to each other.
Consider Yourself Kissedby Jessica StanleyAustralian Coralie falls for single dad Adam and they make a perfectly imperfect life together. So why, a decade on, does she feel so lost? Thisrelatable romcomexplores what happens after the happy ever after (who gets the home office, and who does the childcare). Clever, funny, politically aware and full of literary in-jokes.
We Do Not Partby Han Kang, translated by e yaewon and Paige MorrisAn investigation into historical atrocity from the Korean Nobel laureate and author of The Vegetarian. Kyungha travels to Jeju Island, answering a cry for help from an old friend; there, in an uncanny snow-filled landscape,a buried story comes into the light. A strange, beautiful and vital work.
Fundamentallyby Nussaibah YounisShortlisted for the Women’s prize, thisdaring blackly comic debutfollows a British academic who goes to work for the UN in Iraq, rehabilitating Islamic State brides – including bolshie east Londoner Sara, who joined IS at 15, and reminds her irresistibly of her younger self. A smart, informed critique of the hypocrisies of international aid that’s also jampacked with action and jokes.
Open, Heavenby Seán HewittThe poet and memoirist’s debut novel is anachingly beautiful story of first lovein the English countryside, recalled 20 years on. Sensitive teenager James falls for enigmatic Luke, but are his feelings requited? Lyrical, atmospheric and transporting.
Men in Loveby Irvine WelshWelsh pays another visit to Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie, now scattered across Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam and Paris in the wake of the double-crossing drug deal that closed Trainspotting. These are the post-heroin years, chasing romance, dance culture and material success, as the 90s dawn and a new era begins. Out on 24 July.
Spentby Alison BechdelA new graphic novel from the author of Fun Home isalways a joy. Spent finds Alison in midlife, running a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont with her wife, Holly, and considering late capitalism, evolving sexual etiquette, ethical living and her own privilege in a country on the verge of civil war.
Every One Still Hereby Liadan Ní ChuinnThere’s excitement building around this young writer from the north of Ireland, whose debut collection comes out in mid-July. Ranging from the generational trauma of the Troubles to medical students’ first dissection, the stories are scrupulous, surprising and entirely gripping. The arrival of a stunning new voice.
Endlingby Maria RevaA maverick scientist obsessed with rare snails, a marriage industry offering submissive brides for wealthy westerners, a country on the brink of war. Following an excellent short-story collection set in 1980s Soviet Ukraine, the Ukrainian-born Canadian writer comes right up to the minute with a fierce and funny road-trip novel which is – literally – interrupted by Russia’s invasion.
Careless Peopleby Sarah Wynn-WilliamsAs asenior adviser at Facebook, Wynn-Williams saw how its leaders operated at close quarters, wielding influence at home and sowing chaos abroad. Meta has called her account a “false and defamatory book [that] should never have been published” – but since it was, readers are in a position to judge for themselves.
When the Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines by Graydon CarterAs editor of Vanity Fair while it still had money coming out of its ears, Carter entertained the stars, nurtured great writers and even (occasionally) broke stories.Come for the gossipabout Anna Wintour’s table manners and Donald Trump’s fingers, stay for the finely observed portrait of New York media before the fall.
The Memoir, Part Oneby CherAs she charts her journey frompoverty to the brink of superstardom, Cher remains “as keenly sensitive to her own absurdity as she is to that of others”, according to our reviewer. This first instalment of the singer’s life story covers her childhood and early success with Sonny Bono.
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian LeslieThere have been many histories of the Beatles, emphasising splits in the band, coming down on the side of either McCartney’s or Lennon’s genius. Leslie takes a different approach,focusing on the intense bondbetween the two lead songwriters.
Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen by Hallie RubenholdShe was described in contemporary accounts as “a flashy, faithless shrew”. In reality, she was theblameless victim of a brutal psychopath. Here, Rubenhold, who brought Jack the Ripper’s victims to life in The Five, gives Cora Crippen her due.
Lookingat Women Lookingat Warby Victoria AmelinaUkrainian novelist Amelina was recording her own wartime experiences – and those of the women around her – when she was killed at the age of 37 by a Russian missile. Our critic described the resulting book as “animportant piece of testimonyand a precious, powerful work of literature: a steady beam of light born amid darkness and violence”.
Minority Ruleby Ash SarkarCampaigner and commentator Sarkarsurveys the political landscapeand finds the left ailing and unsuccessful amid resurgent populism. Where did it all go wrong? Her analysis calls for progressives to ditch identity politics and unite to topple the right.
The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir by Edmund WhiteAriotous and raw accountof gay sex spanning seven decades, this “erotic almanac” turned out to be White’s final work: he died, aged 85, at the beginning of June. A fitting signoff by onewriter called the “patron saint of queer literature”.
The Golden Throne: The Curse of a King by Christopher de BellaigueImmersing the reader intales of power and intrigueat the Ottoman court of Suleyman the Magnificent, this propulsive history in novelistic mode has been dubbed by one critic “Wolf Hall with sultans and eunuchs”.
The Age of Diagnosis: Sickness, Health and Why Medicine Has Gone Too Far by Suzanne O’SullivanWhat do you get with a medical diagnosis? Relief? Effective treatment? Or a self-fulfilling prophecy? Neurologist O’Sullivan believes thatdoctors are casting the diagnostic net too wide, but she approaches her subject with compassion, wisdom and expertise, rather than culture-war carping.
The CIA Book Clubby Charlie EnglishCan literature bring down totalitarian governments? The CIA thought so, covertly funnelling Orwell, Solzhenitsyn and the occasional Agatha Christie to hungry readers in the Eastern Bloc. English’sspy-inflected historymakes the case for the political power of literature.
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Globalby Laura SpinneyBillions of people now speak languages descended from Proto-Indo-European, oncethe mother tongueof a small group of nomadic herders on the Eurasian steppe. How did their influence spread so widely? Spinney traces the indelible imprint of their culture and lexicon.
Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger BregmanSo you’ve been blessed with the skills, self-discipline and means to succeed: what should you do? Don’t work for a blue-chip law firm or financial services company, argues Bregman in thisblend of manifesto and career manual, which encourages bright young things to use their talent in the service of climate action and human rights.
A Different Kind of Powerby Jacinda ArdernThe former prime minister of New Zealand navigated sexism, violence and a global pandemic during her time in office, becoming a household name in the process. She shareshard-won lessons on life and politics.
Isa River Alive?by Robert MacfarlaneStanding in the middle of a torrent in Ecuador, Macfarlanebegins to wonder why we restrict ideas of “life”, and the rights that come with it, to human beings. Nature, he argues, should be afforded the same respect.
Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance by Joe DunthorneNovelist Dunthorne had always believedhis family storywas one of heroic escape from Nazi persecution. The truth, as he discovers after finally reading his great-grandfather’s impenetrable memoir, is far more complicated – and much darker.
The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West by Shaun WalkerGovernments usually know about theforeign spies in our midst– attached to embassies, with diplomatic cover stories, their existence is a mutually agreed on open secret. But there’s another category – those who go deep underground, mingling with civilians and fooling everyone around them. Guardian reporter Walker tells their stories.
The Heart-Shaped Tin: Love, Loss and Kitchen Objects by Bee WilsonWhen her husband left her, Wilson found herself surrounded by objects that reminded her of their life together, including the heart-shaped tin she used to bake their wedding cake. This is the jumping off point fora moving meditationon the role household items – “kitchenalia” – play in our lives.
No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain by Rebecca SolnitIn aninspiring series of essays, activist and author Solnit addresses the question of how to avoid despair, and keep engaged, in a world that seems to be stumbling from crisis to catastrophe.
Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark by Frances WilsonAnew biography of the singular writerexamines her life up until the publication of her first novel at the age of 39, shedding light on her abusive marriage, the “abandonment” of her son, and her religious conversion.
Homeworkby Geoff DyerDyer, author of The Last Days of Roger Federer, returns with awry but loving homageto small-town 60s and 70s England, conker fights and all.
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killersby Caroline FraserWhy has the Pacific Northwest been home to so many murderers, from Ted Bundy to the Green River Killer? The author of Prairie Fires weaves a different kind of true-crime narrative, in which the industrial history of the region plays a pivotal role.
I Regret Almost Everythingby Keith McNallyThe founder of Balthazar and a slew of other taste-making restaurants blundered into his job as a New York busboy after just two weeks of trying to make it as a film-maker, and the rest is culinary history. From serving Patti Smith and Ingrid Bergman to hanging out with Lorne Michaels and Oliver Sacks, all New York life is here.
We Were Thereby Lanre BakareIn thisacclaimed cultural historyof 1970s and 80s Britain, Guardian journalist Bakare uncovers lesser-known stories of Black life and activism outside London.
Ocean:Earth’s Last Wilderness by David Attenborough and Colin ButfieldBritain’s greatest naturalist teams up with producer and environmentalist Butfield for a lavishly photographed and scientifically rigorous look at how life in the seas is being affected by climate change.
Matriarchby Tina KnowlesBeyoncé’s mother has been intimately involved with her daughter’s work, designing outfits for Destiny’s Child and helping craft her solo image. But she has a story of her own to tell, of a family shaped by the legacy of slavery and a hardscrabble childhood in 1950s Texas.
Intermezzoby Sally RooneyRooney’s fourth novel takes us inside the minds of two very different brothers, a worldly-wise lawyer and a shy young chess prodigy, as they navigate bereavement and romance. Atender, thoughtful page-turnerabout the meaning of life.
Jamesby Percival EverettEverett retells the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved character Jim, exploring the silences and erasures of Mark Twain’s problematic classic ina rollicking adventurethat combines philosophical profundity with bitter black comedy.
All Foursby Miranda JulyThis playful, no-holds-barred account of one woman wrestling with – and newly energised by – the life-upending changes of menopause has become a phenomenon. It’sprovocative, mind-expandingand always surprising.
You Are Hereby David NichollsTwo mismatched, disappointed midlifers; a hike across the Lake District; atentative romancethat is warmly hilarious but never sentimental. Pure pleasure in a paperback.
The Safekeepby Yael van der WoudenIn the wake of the second world war, in the quiet Dutch countryside, repressed Isabel finds her beliefs and desires turned inside out. Shortlisted for the Booker and winner of the Women’s prize, this striking debut is ameasured excavation of 20th-century horrorsas well as a subtle family saga and intense queer love story.
The Secret Publicby Jon Savage: How LGBTQ Resistance Shaped Popular Culture (1955–1979)Savage, a veteran chronicler of music culture, charts the slow but steady emergence of thequeer sensibility in popfrom Little Richard to David Bowie and Donna Summer, showing how it helped pave the way for social and political liberation.
Broken Threads: A Family From Empire to Independence by Mishal HusainThe personal is geopolitical for the former Today programme presenter, who uses her own remarkablefamily as a lens through which to view the partition of India.
Maurice and Maralynby Sophie ElmhirstWhat happens to a marriage when the couple are forced to spend 118 daysadrift in the oceanafter a terrifying incident involving a whale? Elmhirst’s Nero-prize winning true story asks deep questions about our capacity for hope and resilience.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtIn his urgent warning about thedamaging effects of smartphones on the lives of childrenand teenagers psychologist Haidt analyses the evidence and offers advice for concerned parents.
Question 7by Richard FlanaganFlanagan’suncategorisable fusion of memoir and historytackles physics, war, childhood and environmental change – with a riveting near-death narrative thrown into the mix. A deserving winner of last year’s Baillie Gifford prize.
Recommended by Imogen Russell Williams
Mouse by the Seaby Alice MelvinThis gorgeous 4+ picture book is full of seaside delights – ice-creams, dunes and rock pool treasure hunts – with flaps to lift and a nature guide at the back.
Pandora in Puzzlevale: The Secret Townby Paul Duffield, Poqu and Siobhan McKennaPuzzle lovers of 7 or 8+ will devour this brainteasing, interactive story, helping Pandora solve riddles to track down her missing parents and uncover the mysteries of Puzzlevale itself.
Naeli and the Secret Songby Jasbinder BilanAfter losing her mother, Naeli leaves India to find her father with only a ticket to England, his name and her beloved violin. Her quest takes her from Hyderabad to a remote Northumberland farm, plunging her deep into a devious family plot in this absorbing, atmospheric 8+ historical adventure.
Paddock Grove: A Pony to Ownby JP RoseWinning a scholarship to Paddock Grove equestrian school is George’s dream come true. But when her parents surprise her with scruffy, naughty pony Bear, it turns into a nightmare, especially when the other students make fun of them. Will George and Bear ever learn to trust each other and work together? A joyously satisfying pony book, first in a new 8+ series (out 3 July).
Shadow Thievesby Peter BurnsIn an alternative London, Tom picks pockets to stay out of the workhouse – until his friends are caught, and a stranger offers him the chance to free them by joining an elite school for thieves. Can Tom adapt to his new milieu, save his friends and ward off the dangers threatening the school? This high-octane, fast-paced debut will be impossible to put down, especially for 9+ Skandar fans.
Grimstinkby Daniel PeakWhen alien warrior Grimstink arrives to annihilate life on Earth, 13-year-old Layla Tenby gets displaced to the planet he’s just left. She’s trying to dodge deathbots while Grimstink battles traffic wardens, the Subway ordering system and being hero-worshipped by Layla’s younger brother. Is this the end of everything or the start of a beautiful friendship? An outrageously funny 9+ sci-fi caper by a Bafta-winning author (out 10 July).
Kill Creaturesby Rory PowerLast summer, Nan’s three best friends were lost, presumed drowned. Their fading tourist town has been in mourning ever since. Now, a year on, one of the girls has returned – to the joy of everyone but Nan, who killed them in the first place … A tense, enthralling psychological thriller for 14+, by the author of Wilder Girls.
Lady’s Knightby Amie Kaufman & Meagan SpoonerBlacksmith’s daughter Gwen knows how to forge a sword – and also how to swing one. When she catches the eye of Lady Isobelle, promised in marriage to the winner of the upcoming tournament, Gwen quickly becomes Sir Gawain – but what will happen when their deception is unmasked? This riotously feminist YA romp is full of heart-fluttering queer romance, bitchy knights and angry dragons.
Embrace the Serpentby Sunya MaraAfter escaping the palace, imperial ward Saphira lies low, letting her new master take credit for her skilled jewel-smithing. When the charismatic Serpent King comes searching for a bride, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal. Trapped in a marriage of convenience, can she ever win her liberty? A wild, intricate, romantic YA fantasy.
Run Away With Meby Brian Selznick, Scholastic, £19.99In 1986, 16-year-old Danny spends the summer in Rome, falling in love for the first time with a boy called Angelo and the many layered histories of the city. Selznick’s soft, shaded images and lyrical storytelling combine to create a work of dreamy, poignant beauty.
To explore all the books in the Guardian’s summer reading list visitguardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.