The Power by Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman has written a disturbingly insightful novel exploring what would happen if women were given more power. This isn't about gender equality, it's about the physical power to hurt at the flick of a wrist. The book covers ten years for four very different characters; two young girls, a female mayor and a male...

At The Edge Of The Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

Sadie, James and their family moved to Black Swamp Ohio in the early 19th century. In order to settle they must have fifty fruit trees so James spends a lot of time working on the orchard. He loves his apple trees, and has an admirable determination to get to the magic number fifty despite his...

Calm by Michael Acton Smith

Calm is a collection of short exercises for you to complete, quotes for you to contemplate and ideas to help you take a step back from a busy life. It is easy to pick up and put down at any time. You can start with any part of the book and just pick a page...

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Don Tillman is a scientist through and through. Everything he does is measured, calculated and precise. He isn't particularly successful with relationships as a result and so decides to set up The Wife Project. A questionnaire is compiled to evaluate applicants as potential wife material for Don. Only the best will do; they must fit...

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

It's 1686 when Nella arrives in Amsterdam to move into her new husbands home. She is greeted by her husbands sister and the maids , but no husband (Johannes). It doesn't seem a great start to married life. He soon returns to their home but is often distant and too busy working to speak to...

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

Maud has problems with her memory. She finds herself stocking her cupboards full of peaches because she can't remember what to buy at the shop. To help, she leaves notes to herself around the house and in her handbag to remind herself: Coffee helps memory And No more peach slices Elizabeth is a good friend...

The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

Esme has moved from England to New York to go to college. She finds that she is pregnant and is dumped by her boyfriend before she has a chance to tell him. She decides to keep the baby regardless and so gets a job at a quirky old bookstore to try and save some money...

Us by David Nicholls

Douglas and Connie have planned a great holiday through Europe with their teenage son Albie who is soon to leave home and start college. One last big adventure as a family. Connie tells Douglas that she thinks their marriage is over, making the adventure seem awkward and uncomfortable but also the one last chance to...

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Jess is a hardworking single mum with two kids and two jobs. She works hard to make sure her family have everything they need despite little support from her ex-husband. Tanzie is her daughter; a maths genius who is destined to do well for herself if she can find the right way to push forward...

Harvest by Jim Crace

Jim Crace has won the James Tait Black Prize for fiction given by Edinburgh University. I read this back in March. Here's what I thought about it: I loved the way I could really get into the setting of the book. The writing gave me a vivid picture of the fields, trees, and main house...