As summer comes to a close, what better way to mark the changing of the seasons than to read a book that’ll leave you feeling fulfilled? It can be especially hard as the warm days come to an end, but I have the perfect selection of fiction that is worth your time during those months that can feel tedious at the back end of the year. Whether you’re savouring the last warm evenings or looking forward to cosy nights indoors, this month’s column is all about discovering stories you’ll love.
Yellowface – R.F Kuang
This is a sharp and addictive literary satire that takes readers behind the scenes of the publishing industry. Packed with dark humour and uncomfortable truths, ‘Yellowface’ explores the consequences of working in the publishing sector for anyone who is different from the norm. Pulling in themes such as ambition and societal pressures, this is a compelling read that will have you questioning who gets to tell which stories, and how they are told…
James – Percival Everett
Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, ‘James’ brilliantly reimagines Mark Twain’s ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ from Jim’s perspective. As James and Huck travel together down the Mississippi River, the novel transforms a familiar American classic into a gripping story of survival, freedom, and dignity. Everett combines wit, humanity, and powerful social commentary to create a novel that is both entertaining and deeply moving. It really is a fantastic modern reimagining.
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
What if you could revisit the choices you’ve made and see how your life could have turned out differently? This story follows Nora Seed, a woman who finds herself in a mysterious library between life and death, where every book holds a different version of her life based on the choices she could have made. As Nora explores these alternate realities, she begins to understand the meaning of life. This book shot to recognition across the world, and rightly so, with its ability to make the reader feel seen.
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
Heartwarming, charming, and completely original in its ideas, this novel follows a widow whose unexpected friendship with an exceptionally intelligent octopus helps uncover long-buried family secrets. In what has now become a Netflix movie, the book offers a deeper and more intimate view of the tale. Full of humour, hope, and absolutely unforgettable characters, it’s the perfect feel-good read to welcome a new season as the evenings draw in.
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