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We break down the best literary releases for the month, and make it easy to help you pick out the perfect book for your mood or situation. Whether you need something to keep you busy on the bus, over a weekend or even to give you a bit of inspiration, there’s something for everyone this month!
 Best to read all in one go over a wet weekend
This Charming Man, Marian Keynes
The newest novel from this best-selling writer is one that will have you gripped from start to finish. Four women react in differing ways to the news that Paddy de Courcy, Ireland’s most eligible politician is about to wed. Lola self-destructs, while Grace tries to maintain a professional focus. Marnie struggles to keep her sobriety, and Alicia as the bride-to-be attempts to act as befits Paddy’s fiancée. All of these women are hiding a secret, which unfolds as the book progresses.
I found this book irritating to begin with, as it’s written in the four ‘voices’ of the women, with Lola’s in an overdone Bridget Jones style. However, once you get past this, Keyes’ superb storytelling won’t let you go until the dramatic finale. Michael Joseph, RRP $38.00
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 Best to keep you busy on the bus
Song Yet Sung, James McBride
This beautifully written novel follows Liz, a runaway slave, as she struggles to cope with visions of the future and the reality of life as a hunted escapee. Liz becomes known as ‘The Dreamer’ among the slave community, after being hit on the head and waking with visions of everything from Martin Luther King to hip-hop. She strives to understand these dreams as she is hunted by a renowned slave-taker among the swamps of Maryland.
Kidnappings and gunfights follow, as Liz and her friends struggle to keep the unwritten ‘Code of the Slaves’ safe from those who would use it against them. This book is not only an entertaining story, but a commentary on the nature of freedom and the state of America today. Hodder & Stoughton, RRP $38.99
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 Best for those who love their celebrity gossip
Mr Paparazzi, Darren Lyons
The autobiography of the Aussie lad who set up one of the biggest paparazzi companies in the world is hilariously entertaining, motivating and at times thoughtful. Darren Lyons moved to London from small-town Australia, determined to make it big in Fleet Street. A combination of luck and good photography skills saw him leaping up the ranks before making it on his own, and becoming a celebrity in his own right.
This brash account follows his career from the Geelong Advertiser to the Television programme Dragon’s Den, and contains hundreds of photos of everything from Bosnian war victims to Brad and Angelina. Of particular note was the large amount of space devoted to Princess Diana and her death, an event that seems to have particularly impacted on Darren’s life. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in the backstage workings of the paparazzi. Viking, $39.95
Click here to buy now  Best to read when secure with your relationshipHis Other Lover, Lucy Dawson This thriller paints the picture of what can happen to the ‘perfect’ relationship when one party discovers it isn’t so perfect. Mia pities her younger sister Clare for yet another failed relationship, while she is happy in her ‘adult’ relationship with Pete. However, Mia’s world is turned upside-down when she happens to find a text on Pete’s phone with kisses from an unknown ‘Liz’. From that moment on, Mia is obsessed with discovering this mysterious Liz and getting her out of their lives.
Dawson paints an unflattering picture of a woman descending to new lows as she attempts every trick in the book, driven almost mad by the thought of her beloved Pete’s infidelity. The twist at the end will literally have you gasping - I could not put this one down! Sphere, RRP $27.99
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 Best to transport you to a different placeThe Miracle at Speedy Motors, Alexander McCall Smith This latest instalment from the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency was the first time I’d read one of the series, but definitely won’t be the last. Set in Botswana, the books follow the adventures of Mma Ramotswe and her able assistant, Mma Makutsi, as they attempt to help families back together and track threatening letters. The beauty of this book is in its simplicity of story and the earthy characters. They are complex individuals, but have clear morals and ideals. This, together with the carefully crafted descriptions of their surroundings makes for a stunning novel. Little Brown, $39.99
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Jessi
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