Five new novels to read in May

Excellent spring releases to get lost in this month

I have to begin by apologising for the impromptu hiatus of Well Read over the last month or two. I’m sure this went by more unnoticed than I’d like to think (I never remember when I’m supposed to be receiving other people’s newsletters; it’s always simply a joy whenever they do appear in my inbox), but, still.

I’ve been moving flats, and weekends I’d usually spend writing this Substack have been taken up with bubble wrap, boxes and building furniture. I’ve also been behind on reading new releases which is why many of the below picks actually came out in April. But they are all so good I can’t not tell you about them. Please enjoy them, tell me what you think, and I promise to be back again much sooner next time!

You Are Here by David Nicholls

I am yet to read a David Nicholls novel which I haven’t devoured, adored and then gone on to treasure as one of my most prized possessions. One Day is prime example, but his latest might have just pipped it to the post as my favourite of his of all time. I know!

You Are Here is about Marnie and Michael, two early midlife lost “lost souls” who find themselves walking the coast-to-coast path together. They begin this epic, 200-mile journey across the north of England as two relative strangers, but the further they make it across the moors, mountains and fells, the more the slow-burn romance develops. This book is glorious and funny and warm, and makes you want to go out and walk. I remain utterly obsessed. (Also, relatedly, scroll down to the end of this newsletter to see something which made my life.)

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Lauren comes home one night to find her husband in her flat. So far, so normal. Except she’s never met him before, doesn’t remember getting married, and is completely freaked out to see her phone background is suddenly a photo of them together. She soon realises that her attic is providing an endless supply of men for her – send one husband up and another comes down – and with each, her life changes around her. But when she can switch through options so easily, how does she know which is the right one?

The Husbands is an absolute riot. It has lots of clever things to say about dating, love, and life satisfaction – but it is also one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun reading before.

Girls by Kirsty Capes

Publishers often bill books as ‘X meets Y’, not always particularly successfully. But the description for Girls, which likens it to both Sorrow and Bliss and Daisy Jones and the Six is probably the most accurate I’ve encountered in a long time. And given that those are two of my favourite novels, that’s high praise indeed.

The story centres on Mattie and Nora, the daughters left behind by Ingrid Olsenn, a celebrated artist but tumultuous mother who has died from cancer in her fifties. The sisters’ already complicated relationship is put to the test as they embark on a road trip to fulfil their mother’s final wishes to throw her paintings into the sea. It’s blisteringly good look at mental health, family and fame.

As Young as This by Roxy Dunn

When we first meet Margot, she is 34, single, and about to make one of the biggest decisions of her life. To find out what led up to this point, As Young as This then transports us back to her first ever relationship when she was 17, and goes on to tell the story of her life since through the men she has dated, loved and lusted after.

This gorgeous debut explores how our relationships mould and shape us; how each chapter of love, friendship, and heartbreak set off their own chain of events which lead us to where we are today. It’s a really very special book, and I’m already dream-casting the adaptation.

The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya

When Sophia was on the precipice of adulthood, she went on holiday to Sicily with her father, a revered-yet-controversial author. By day she typed as he dictated his latest novel to her, a story about the failures of the sexual revolution, and by night she tried to keep out of his way as he brought home women from bars.

Now, in 2020, Sophia’s father takes a seat in the audience of her new play – which, to his horror, recounts what happens on that very trip. The Hypocrite should be filed in the dictionary under the word ‘taut’: it’s one of those pin-sharp, almost unbearably tense novels, but also one which is so propulsive you can’t bear to tear yourself away.

And finally…

Don’t meet your heroes, unless they’re David Nicholls. Last month I had the pleasure of sitting down with the author in his publishers’ office in London to talk him about You Are Here. We discussed walking, ageing, writing, love, loneliness, and, of course, One Day. You can read the interview here.