New books to read this week

Fiction

Love In Translation by Joss Wood is published in paperback by Afterglow Books

Love In Translation is a romance that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. Rheo Whitlock, reeling from a career-ending mistake as a UN interpreter, escapes to her grandmother’s secluded retreat. When Fletcher Wright, an adventure-seeker, ends up sharing the same rental there is an instant connection between them. This pushes them to confront their deepest fears – Rheo’s need for control and Fletcher’s fear of commitment. The novel shines through its contrasting characters, delivering an engaging push-and-pull dynamic that keeps readers hooked. While seasoned romance fans might anticipate the twists and find the resolution predictable, the story’s charm lies in its feel-good nature and emotional depth. Love In Translation is a great read that will leave you smiling long after the final page.

Accused by Lynda La Plante is published in paperback by Zaffre

In Accused, Lynda La Plante does not reinvent the wheel as detective mystery fiction goes, but the crime author provides a satisfying plot. The novel begins with the vividly drawn character of Cassie Booth, who vanishes after a paper round, and detectives Pat North and Michael “Mike” Walker (who you might recognise from the Trial & Retribution TV series) are soon drawn in to figure out what has happened. The investigation takes several turns, and has a moment where North ends up under extreme pressure as two suspects, persistent complainer Stephen Warrington and boathouse owner Karl Wilding, step into the frame. The third book in the Trial And Retribution series, much like the TV show, wraps up the loose ends with a trial, and also gives a glimpse into how legal issues can have a bearing on a case. Hopefully La Plante turns more to revisiting her TV characters – she leaves the reader eager to see more of the series.

Beating Heart by Laura Pavlov is published in paperback by HQ

Light and fluffy is the name of the game with the latest instalment of the Magnolia Falls series – books that are all set in the same small American town, but can be read as standalone novels. This time round, it switches perspectives between Nash, a gruff single dad who’s dedicated to his asthmatic son; and Emerson, a doctor from the big city who moves to the town, fleeing heartbreak. There’s just about every cliche you can think of in there – the two initially dislike each other, but then something deeper grows between them (and it can’t hurt that Laura Pavlov goes to great pains to highlight how attractive they both are). If you enjoy predictable romances, this will tick every box – anyone looking for much more will likely want to steer clear.

Non-fiction

Trauma Proof: Healing, Attachment And The Science Of Prevention by Benjamin Perks is published in hardback by Ithaka

In Trauma Proof, Benjamin Perks – head of advocacy at UNICEF – expertly weaves the personal and the educational. He has intimate experience with childhood trauma, after a chaotic upbringing often spent in violent care homes, and is then honest about how long it took him into adulthood to address these deep wounds. Perks writes openly and engagingly, but this isn’t just his story: he gives a full and varied picture of childhood trauma through the lens of different children, parents, teachers and more, also exploring survivors and descendents of historical trauma like the Holocaust. It’s a new and fascinating look at childhood trauma, considering what the impacts really are – and what needs to be done. An important read.

Children’s book of the week

When The Stammer Came To Stay by Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, is published in hardback by Walker Books

This gentle tale of sisterly support and the power of learning from personal challenges draws on Women’s Prize winner Maggie O’Farrell’s own experiences of having a stammer. Min is too chatty and her sister Bea is too tidy; then one day, Min can’t get her words out. She spots a grey orb – a ‘dibbuk’ – sitting on her shoulder, stuffing them in its own mouth. But with the help of Bea, a librarian and a mycologist (O’Farrell doesn’t dumb down at all), Min learns to come to terms with, and even cherish, her stammer. The soft, intricate illustrations by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini are particularly nostalgic – even as an adult reader, you find yourself lost in the double-page drawing of the sisters’ ramshackle home, stuffed with fascinating lodgers and the girls’ glorious attic bedroom. At times it’s a little slow and lacks gripping drama, but its reassuring tone will bring comfort to anyone who has struggled to find their voice.