New books to read this week

Fiction

Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth is published in hardback by The Borough Press

Emma Jane Unsworth brilliantly captures the messy intensity of sisterhood, friendship, and teenage obsession in her latest novel, Slags. The story follows Sarah as she embarks on a chaotic, whisky-soaked road trip around Scotland to celebrate her sister Juliette’s birthday – an adventure full of revelations and emotional detours. Unsworth’s rich, evocative descriptions bring the Scottish landscape to life, immersing the reader in the wild ride of two sisters figuring out life in their 40s. Interwoven throughout are flashbacks to Sarah’s 15-year-old teenage self, offering insight into her quirks, emotional patterns, and complicated attachments. The author nails the raw, impulsive voice of adolescence, capturing all the confusion, longing, and recklessness that come with it. The novel explores Sarah’s fractured relationships with men, sex, and her own identity – but at its heart, it’s a moving exploration of sisterhood and how it transforms over time. Both hilarious and heartfelt, this is a compulsively readable novel packed with painfully relatable moments.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong published in hardback by Jonathan Cape

Ocean Vuong made a name for himself with his moving debut, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, and he continues his beautifully poignant writing with The Emperor Of Gladness. It follows Hai, a 19-year-old with a pill addiction who’s considering ending it all, until he’s waved off a bridge by elderly Lithuanian woman, Grazina. The two form an unlikely friendship and he becomes her live-in carer, navigating her complex memory issues, and finding a sweet sort-of family in his work at a local fast-casual restaurant. The characters are fully formed and arresting – Hai’s eclectic colleagues include his Civil War-obsessed cousin and a wannabe wrestler manager – and while there are some properly funny moments, there’s a definite backdrop of sadness; everyone’s lives seem to be touched with struggle, loss, grief, addiction and more. While Vuong’s devastatingly beautiful style can occasionally err into overwritten, it’s still a captivating tale of what it means to be human.

Bitter Honey by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom is published in hardback by Apollo

Two time frames run in tandem in this compelling, if slightly dread-filled novel. In 2006, overnight singing sensation Tina is dealing with sudden, blinding fame as she prepares to represent Sweden in the Eurovision song contest, when a person from her past unexpectedly turns up in her dressing room. In 1978, Tina’s mother Nancy, a student from Gambia, is discovering Sweden, from the Fika (a Swedish staple of coffee and a sweet pastry) to the discomfort of being black in a largely white community, all while navigating the attentions of her much older lecturer. It’s a compelling read, even though the bulk of the characters are painfully frustrating and irritating at times, but Lola Akinmade Akerstrom is firm in making them uncompromising, and that has power when exploring nuanced themes of immigration, racism and unseemly politics. It’s got some racey moments too, making Bitter Honey a thrillingly pacey novel with precise historical detail that could be gulped down in just a few sittings.

Non-fiction

Not Just A Period by Dr Hazel Wallace is published in hardback by Bluebird

Former NHS medical doctor Hazel Wallace, also known for her revolutionary YouTube series The Food Medic, switches focus with, Not Just A Period: Reclaim Your Cycle, Harness Your Hormones, and Take Control of Your Health. Offering insight into this women’s health subject which is, at times, inexplicably considered taboo, Wallace looks at a range of elements – sleep, nutrition, mood, body image, skin and hair, libido, and movement – and how these affected and are impacted by the menstrual cycle. It’s a fascinating read, with practical advice and theory, and it’s wonderful to find a book putting power into the reader’s hands through information. It is, however, a lot to take in, and you may find yourself revisiting certain sections over again, to fully digest.

Children’s book of the week

Frank the Pizza by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Mike Byrne, is published in paperback by HarperCollins Children’s Books

This picture book is genuinely hilarious, although perhaps more so for parents than any super-young offspring – but don’t worry, they’ll grow into it. Frank, who is a lovely slice of pizza, is invited to a birthday party, but his parents are concerned – pizza is usually on the menu at birthday parties, not joining in with pass-the-parcel. But Frank is so excited about the party, they relent. There are some lovely, spot-on touches (Frank’s parents make him wear anchovies to the party, so he appears less tasty; his dad’s own party-going trauma is deftly illustrated by Mike Byrne via a bite out of his head), and a rather moving message around friendship too, when Frank meets Frances, a cupcake with beetroot flavoured icing. It’s pretty wonderful on the first read, but Eoin McLaughlin’s witty caper gets better with return visits. If you don’t find yourself shouting out Frank’s parents’ signature catchphrase: ‘Life’s dangerous when you’re delicious!’ at random moments, we don’t know what’s wrong with you