Life

5 new books to read this week

This week’s bookcase includes reviews of Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell and Sweat by Emma Healey.

New books to read this week
New books to read this week New books to read this week
By Prudence Wade, PA

Irish writer Roisin O’Donnell’s hotly anticipated debut novel is here…

Fiction

1. Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell is published in hardback by Scribner UK, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99). Available January 30

Roisin O’Donnell’s debut novel Nesting starts with what might seem like a routine family outing for Skerries Beach, just north of Dublin. But it is the start of a wave of tension which does not break for more than 350 pages of a deeply-affecting book. Ciara, a mother of two who learns she is expecting another, is trapped in a coercive relationship. The bruises are not visible, Ryan is not physically violent, but the tentacles of his control over her life reach much further than she realises until she makes the snap decision to grab her kids, Sophie and Ella, and escape. As Ciara fights to keep her children, put a roof over their head and food in their bellies, O’Donnell captures an almost claustrophobic sense of dread that this fragile world could all be taken away. Beautifully paced and filled with compassion, Nesting pays tribute to hidden strength.

8/10

(Review by Ian Parker)

2. The Day Of The Roaring by Nina Bhadreshwar is published in hardback by Hemlock Press, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99). Available January 30

A new female detective is in town, investigating a grisly murder while facing racism and misogyny among her colleagues. The detective is DI Diana Walker, the town is Sheffield, and the murder is of a headmaster whose dismembered body is found on the derelict site of a recently closed school. This debut novel from former journalist and teacher Nina Bhadreshwar delves into the fast moving multi-cultural world of Sheffield, touching on the different communities affected by the crime.

The so-called Operation Kestrel flies off at pace, uncovering missing teachers, unreported crimes and silent witnesses. The death of another teacher complicates the investigation, as well as the involvement of a book club which DI Walker’s mother belongs to. DI Walker is a worthy addition to the band of fictional female detectives and is set to become a firm favourite for crime fans. 6/10

(Review by Alan Jones)

3. Sweat by Emma Healey is published in hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann, priced £16.99 (ebook £8.99). Available January 30

Ever been presented with an opportunity that made you giddy with power? That’s how Cassie felt, after a bad break up with her extremely-controlling boyfriend Liam left her scared of her own shadow. This page-turning, unsettling thriller – by the author of multi-million bestseller Elizabeth is Missing – will make you question each move she makes in her bid to make Liam regret his manipulating past, where he tried to perfect his girlfriend’s body in extreme ways. Their love/hate narrative unfolds the deeper you get into this book, with twists and turns galore and flashbacks intermittent as the stakes begin rising for Cassie during her risk-taking manoeuvres. But can she get the perfect revenge? You’ll be left wanting more with each paragraph. Brilliantly written, difficult to put down.

8/10

(Review by Karen Shield)

Non-fiction

4. The Burnout Doctor: Your 6-step recovery plan by Dr Claire Ashley is published in paperback by Bloomsbury, priced £16.99

GP Dr Claire Ashley wants to help tackle the relatively new phenomenon of burnout, drawing on her own experience of suffering from it twice early in her career as a GP, as well as her degree in neuroscience. She has designed a phased recovery programme; including getting healthy, preparing for change, and actioning change. There’s the latest scientific research and real-life case studies, along with sound, easy-to-follow advice and practical exercises for anyone on the brink of burnout, in the midst of it, or wishing to prevent it in the first place.

Crucially, there’s important context, like age (Gen Z are most at risk in the workplace, she says), race (saying Black, Asian and Latina mothers may suffer more) and how an unequal mental load in cis-hetro relationships is a factor, which helps make readers feel seen. The therapeutic exercises, like reassessing your personal values, and crafting your current role into one more meaningful, feel really worthwhile. There aren’t pictures though, so it can be a heavy read, but Ashley has everything covered in this informative guide.

8/10

(Review by Lauren Taylor)

Children’s book of the week

5. Ten-Word Tiny Tales Of Love by Joseph Coelho is published in hardback by Walker Books, priced £14.99 (ebook £10.99). Available now

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love is a remarkable collection that showcases the art of brevity, distilling the essence of love into powerful, evocative micro-stories. Each tale, crafted with just ten carefully chosen words, invites readers to explore the depth and complexity of love in its myriad forms—romantic, platonic, unrequited, and self-love.

The collection’s strength lies in its ability to provoke thought and emotion within such a limited framework. Each story is a masterpiece of precision, leaving space for the reader’s imagination to fill in the gaps. Whether poignant, whimsical, or bittersweet, the tales resonate deeply, demonstrating that love can be both universal and deeply personal.

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love is a testament to the power of storytelling, proving that sometimes, less truly is more. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty of language and the enduring allure of love.

4/10

(Review by Joanne Brennan)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 18

HARDBACK (FICTION)

1 Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

2. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

3. Daughter of Chaos:The Dark Pantheon by A S Webb

4. Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

5. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

6 Quicksilver by Callie Hart

7.In Too Deep: Jack Reacher by Lee Child and Andrew Child

8. So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

9. Death in the Arctic by Tom Hindle

10. Killing Time by Alan Bennett

(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)

1. Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

2. What’s Your Dream? by Simon Squibb

3. The DOSE Effect by TJ Power

4. A Pawtobiography: My adventures on Gone Fishing by Ted the Dog

5. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

6. The Book of Gifts by Lucy Claire Dunbar

7 Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous by Gillian Anderson

8. The Food For Life Cookbook by Tim Spector

9. HOPE: The Autobiography by Pope Francis

10. I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You, by Miranda Hart

(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

2. What’s Your Dream? by Simon Squibb

3. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

4. The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

5. The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer

6. Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

7. Make Change That Lasts by Dr Rangan Chatterjee

8. I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart

9. Unruly by David Mitchell

10. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

(Compiled by Audible)