GLAMOUR.com Book Club: Recommended Reads
Want to get stuck into a good book this season? Curl up with one of our recommended reads, and then let us know what you think on the GLAMOUR Book Club Facebook page…
Glamour Must-Read
The Book: The Quick by Lauren Owen, reviewed by Kerry Potter
A fabulously assured Gothic debut, this epic page-turner centres on the Aegolius Club, a Victorian gentlemen’s society so sinister it makes the Bullingdon Club look like playschool. Expect forbidden love, ruined families, supernatural skullduggery and twist after twist.
The Book: The Good Luck Of Right Now by Matthew Quick, reviewed by Kerry Potter
From the author of <Silver Linings Playbook> comes another troubled oddball in need of the love of a good woman. Bartholomew Neil is mourning the death of his beloved mother. Mum was a big Richard Gere fan, so Bartholomew works through his grief by writing letters to the movie star. Quirky, moving and extremely funny.
The Book: Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner, reviewed by Kerry Potter
The debut novel from the author of smash hit <The Flamethrowers> is finally getting a UK release. Here she conjures up 50s Cuba as the revolution gets underway. There’s a colourful sprawl of characters – the showgirl, the arms broker, the wealthy American expat families, the rebels– whose lives interlink on this troubled tropical isle. Dazzlingly vivid writing.
The Book: The Geography Of You & Me by Jennifer E Smith, reviewed by Kerry Potter
Teenagers Lucy and Owen live in the same New York skyscraper and meet when they get stuck in the elevator together. They go their separate ways to travel the world but stay in touch via postcards. Zingy dialogue keeps this cute romantic novel just the right side of cheesy.
The Book: The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life Of Bees)
Who’s It For? Everyone should read this book.
Plot: Hetty ‘Handful’ Grimké is a slave in a wealthy Charleston in the early 19th century. Sarah, a Grimké daughter is given ownership of Hetty on her 11th birthday, and when she tries to refuse, a friendship is formed between the pair that will stand the test of time. Inspired by the real Sarah Grimké, this is a story of slavery, oppression, hardship and, most importantly, love. Available in hardback and ebook, priced £14.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Someone Else’s Skin by Sarah Hilary
Who’s It For? Crime fiction buffs looking for a new heroine.
Plot: Meet Detective Inspector Marnie Rome. She’s fought to come back from the murder of her parents, but nobody really knows what’s going on beneath the surface. And when Marnie’s path crosses with the ladies at the women’s shelter on the day of a stabbing, things get a lot more complicated. Free up a week. You won’t want to put this one down. Available in paperback and ebook from 27 February 2014, £13.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: World After by Susan EE
Who’s It For? Fantasy fiends who think a novel is not a novel without having a hint of the angel apocalypse about it.
Plot: When we left Penryn in Angelfall (spoiler alert…) she’d just been attacked by a scorpion monster, split up from her angel-with-demon-wings love interest Raffe, and reunited with her Frankenstein-like sister and slightly-loopy mother. Things don’t get much easier for Penryn in World After, as she tries to save herself and her family from the angel invasion and get to the bottom of what’s happening on Alcatraz Island. Available in paperback from 21 November 2013, priced £6.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Hunters In The Snow by Daisy Hildyard
Who’s It For? Those who like to dig a little deeper with a multi-pronged tale full of fascinating characters.
Plot: A young woman returns to her grandfather's home following his death, where she finds the book he left unfinished when he died. Part story, part scholarship, where will his book linking four journeys, separated by the centuries, of four great men, lead her? Available in hardback and ebook, priced £14.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Lies You Told Me by Jessica Ruston
Who’s It For? Readers who want an addictive, intriguing emotional roller-coaster from page one.
Plot: Klara Mortimer receives a letter from a mysteriously initialed N. R., which leads to a garage which contains a box of things and her mother's diary. Everything she knows about her mother is thrown into question as she begins to unravel the clues contained in her mother's diary. Available in paperback, priced £7.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Who’s It For? Those looking to be swept up (and away) by a very unusual love story with a very unlikely leading man.
Plot: Don Tilman, a socially challenged genetics professor, has decided he's getting married - he just doesn't know who to yet. Enter Rosie, a beautiful young woman who doesn't meet any of the requirements set out on Don's suitability questionnaire (and isn't interested in applying). Don's carefully-controlled world of organisation is about to be turned upside-down. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is published in hardback by Michael Joseph, £12.99.
We haven't fallen in love with a book (or a leading man) so quickly in years. Simsion's debut novel is an absolute must-read for GLAMOUR girls... Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley
Who’s It For? Those wanting a book that will really get those little grey cells working. Peggy's dark debut novel will definitely make an impact.
**Plot:**Amity & Sorrow follows the story of two sisters and their mother Amaranth, on the run from an end-of-the-world cult run by their father. Their temple has been burnt to the ground, but as Amaranth tries to move on, it becomes clear that one of the sisters didn't want to get away. Available in hardback, priced £14.99, and also available in eBook and as an audio download.
We were utterly and completely hooked throughout... Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory
Who’s It For? Fans of Gregory's brilliant historical fiction - especially the ones already hooked on her Cousins' War series.
Plot: <> In The Kingmaker's Daughter, Gregory continues her Plantagenet series, The Cousins' War, with Anne Neville, the girl who would be queen. We follow the story of Anne Neville and her sister Isabel, daughters of the powerful Earl of Warwick, in their quest to fulfill their father's dream of getting a Neville girl on the throne. But has Anne underestimated the powers of the beautiful queen (and her rival to the throne) Elizabeth Woodville? Available in paperback, priced £7.99.
Thoroughly researched and as enthralling as ever - we loved hearing Anne Neville's side of the story... Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Look Of Love by Paul Willetts
Who’s It For? Look away now if you’re a prude because, circa the 1950s and 60s, Paul Raymond was the king of the peepshow. He was also a whizz at pithy one-liners and there’s plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this well-researched biography.Plot: Paul Willetts’ book inspired the soon-to-be-released film, starring Steve Coogan, but goes further into the maverick’s fascinating life, delving into how his strict Catholic upbringing and innate charm helped him become the richest man in Britain. Paul Raymond’s rise wasn’t without pathos too: he was the victim of an extortion scheme and ended his life estranged from most of his family. The Look Of Love looks past the sleaze to discover the man himself. Available in paperback for £8.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Requiem by Lauren Oliver
Who’s It For? Loveaholics who have been itching to find out what would happen to Lena, Alex and Julian since the first two Delirium installments.
Plot:[i] The beautiful first book introduced us to Lena, our hero, a pre-procedure schoolgirl showing the first signs of the disease. Oliver's second instalment, Pandemonium, told us a darker story, of Lena's life outside the confines of 'disease-free America', without the protection of her beloved Alex. Requiem sees the return of Alex (oh, wonderful Alex) and Lena getting involved in the resistance. You won't want it to end. Available in hardback now, £12.99 and as an ebook.
Fall in love and then... Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Twelve by Justin Cronin
Who’s It For? Fans of apocalyptic thrillers who aren't afraid of the dark. Read part one of the trilogy The Passage first, or you'll be somewhat lost.
Plot: Twelve death row inmates are infected with a virus with the hope of turning them into America's deadliest weapons. But the virals end up turning half the population of North America into fellow bloodsuckers, and killing the other half. The epic story of The Passage continues in book two of the trilogy. Hardback out now, £20.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Days Of Blood And Starlight by Laini Taylor
Who’s It For? Fans of starry paranormal fiction who have been itching for Daughter Of Smoke And Bone’s Sequel.
Plot: The last we saw of Karou she’d found out the truth about the dark but beautiful angel Akiva. Things are about to get epic in the war of these two non-human worlds. Let Laini Taylor’s snappy second-parter consume you completely before spitting you out even more desperate for more. Hardback out 8 November 2012, £14.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Dark Heroine: Dinner With A Vampire by Abigail Gibbs
Who’s It For? Teen and twenty-something vampire-lovers. Abigail began posting chapters of her debut novel on Wattpadd in 2009 and has had almost 17million reads of the online chapters. Aged just 17, this is Gibbs’ first published novel, and her online fans will have to pick up a copy of the paperback or download the e-book to see how the story ends.
Plot: Follow 18-year-old Violet Lee as she enters the dark and dangerous world of vampire royalty after a night out in London ends in a Trafalgar Square bloodbath. Will Violet stick to her guns and shun vampire life, or will the dark and dangerous Kaspar Varn change her mind? You’ll soon find out as this easy read captures your imagination and turns back the clocks on a world of teenage emotions. E-book out now, paperback released 25 October 2012.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Hard Twisted by C. Joseph Greaves
Who’s It For? Crime-lovers who want a genuinely gripping read.
Plot: It’s 1934, and 13-year-old Lucile has just met the charismatic Clint Palmer, who will change her life forever. As Lucile’s father disappears, she is led on a journey through the American southwest – and a spree of violence and murder follows. Based on a true story. Paperback and e-book out 8th November, £12.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Merivel: A Man Of His Time by Rose Tremain
Who’s It For? Historical fiction fans who enjoy bursts of humour.
Plot: The lovable Robert Merivel, renowned physician and courtier to Charles II, is off to the French court. A chance encounter with Madame de Flamanville leaves him dreaming of a future that he fears will never be his. Out now in hardback, £18.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling
Who’s It For? J. K. Rowling fans who're all grown up.
Plot: Idyllic English market town Pagford is left in shock after the death of Barry Fairbrother. Tensions throughout the community come to a boil as Barry’s seat on the parish council comes up for grabs at election. Out now in hardback, £20, and e-book, £11.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern
Who’s It For? Romantics.
Plot: Kitty Logan, a journalist whose career has been destroyed by scandal, is set the task of writing a story her mentor never had the chance to tell, with just a list of 100 names to go by. Will she succeed?
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Who’s It For? Historical fiction lovers who want a side-serving of magic.
Plot: When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford's Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family's legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer...
The Book: The Other Half Of Me by Morgan McCarthy
Who’s It For? Readers who like their books to have an edge.
Plot: Jonathan and Theo are left to roam their rural estate following the death of their father, until their grandmother arrives to take the children under her wing. But they soon find out that something very sinister lies in their past… Paperbook and e-book out 8 November, £7.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: Reflected In You by Sylvia Day
Who’s It For? Both loud-and-proud and shhh-it’s-a-secret erotica fans.
Plot: Find out what happens next in Eva and Gideon’s relationship in part two of Sylvia Day’s hugely popular Crossfire Trilogy. The first part, Bared To You, is Penguin’s biggest-selling fiction title ever… Available in e-book from 2 October, £7.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: San Miguel by T. C. Boyle
Who’s It For? Bookworms in search of their new favourite wordsmith.
Plot: San Miguel tells the story of three generations of women trying to survive in isolation on an island off the coast of California. A really beautiful read. Hardback and e-book out 11 October, £14.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Secret Life Of William Shakespeare by Jude Morgan
Who’s It For? History-loving, romantic types.
Plot: Get stuck into the secret life of the greatest writer of all time. How did a glove-maker from Warwickshire rise to such dizzy literary heights? Dive into Jude Morgan’s world and find out. Paperback and e-book out 11 October, £7.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
The Book: The Bat by Jo Nesbo
Who’s It For? Crime-lovers who love a murder-mystery.
Plot: Harry Hole is sent to Australia to investigate after a young Norwegian girl is murdered. The hunt is on to find the serial killer, but the murderer will only talk to Harry… Hardback and e-book out 11th October, £18.99.
Give us YOUR review at www.facebook.com/GLAMOURBookClub
