From the follow-up to Colm Tóibín's beloved Brooklyn and Miranda July's "mid-life coming-of-age tale" to a "quirky time-travel romance", here are our picks for the recently published books you should pack in your late-summer getaway bag. For many of us, summer brings with it the promise of that most valuable commodity - time to lose ourselves in a great book. Whether it's on the sun lounger, a long flight or just a snatched hour in the park, it's a chance to make a dent in that TBR pile, and catch up with some of the best new novels published this year.
A great beach read doesn't have to involve a sun-kissed setting - though that can be a bonus - and it certainly doesn't need to be frivolous. But it should be compelling enough to transport you somewhere else for a few hours. From buzzy debuts and long anticipated sequels to word-of-mouth hits and potential future prize winners, these 12 titles all fit the bill.
Some books aren't just recommended, but pushed into the hands of others with a whispered "you must read this". Such has been the case with Miranda July's second novel, a midlife coming-of-age tale that has become one of the word-of-mouth literary hits of the year. The book follows a 40-something semi-famous artist (much like July herself) who, after receiving an unexpected lump sum, decides to embark on a solo road trip, leaving her husband and child back home in Los Angeles.
Just 30 minutes into the journey though, she leaves the freeway and checks into a small-to.