Read Reviews & Buy Books : August 2025
This August, Chaifry.org invites you to unwind with a cup of chai and our handpicked collection of page-turning gems. Whether you’re craving bestselling thrillers, heartwarming romances, or hidden literary treasures, we’ve curated the perfect reads to fuel your sun-drenched adventures and lazy summer afternoons.
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Study for Obedience
Sarah Bernstein
Study for Obedience (2023), Sarah Bernstein’s second novel, a Scotiabank Giller Prize winner and Booker Prize shortlistee, is a haunting exploration of complicity and xenophobia. An unnamed narrator, a Jewish woman, moves to a remote northern country to care for her brother. Soon, bizarre events—bovine hysteria, a potato blight, a dog’s phantom pregnancy—coincide with her arrival, fueling the townspeople’s suspicion and antisemitic hostility. Bernstein’s dense, lyrical prose probes the narrator’s subservience and internalized blame, questioning innocence and power. Praised by The Guardian as a “masterly meditation,” it’s a challenging yet rewarding read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published July 6, 2023
208 pages
Average Rating : 3.0 out of 5
Everything Is Tuberculosis
John Green
Everything Is Tuberculosis (2025), a New York Times bestseller by John Green, is a compelling blend of memoir and history. Inspired by meeting Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient in Sierra Leone, Green explores the disease’s global impact, killing over a million annually despite being curable. Weaving Henry’s story with scientific and social histories, he critiques healthcare inequities and human choices that perpetuate this preventable crisis. Green’s empathetic prose, praised by The Associated Press as “deeply considerate,” highlights tuberculosis’s link to poverty and malnutrition. A call to action, it’s available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Green.
Published March 20, 2025
208 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Small Rain
Grath Greenwell
Small Rain (2024), Garth Greenwell’s third novel, winner of the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award, is a profound autofictional exploration of illness and mortality. Set during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, it follows an unnamed poet in Iowa City, hospitalized with a life-threatening infrarenal aortic dissection. Confined to the ICU, he grapples with pain, the dysfunctional U.S. healthcare system, and reflections on poetry, love, and family trauma. Greenwell’s lyrical, introspective prose, inspired by his own health crisis, transforms suffering into a meditation on art and human connection, though some find its pace slow. Praised by The New Yorker as “exquisite,” it’s a must-read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 26, 2025
320 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Flint Kill Creek
Joyce Carol Oates
Flint Kill Creek (2024), a New Yorker Best Book by Joyce Carol Oates, is a chilling collection of twelve short stories blending crime fiction and psychological suspense. Set in settings like upstate New York’s roaring creeks and urban sprawls, these tales explore dysfunctional relationships and hidden darkness. In the title story, a young woman’s dependence on her partner leads to tragedy by Flint Kill Creek. Other stories, like “The Phlebotomist” and “Mick & Minn” (a Pushcart Prize winner), delve into medical unease and abuse, with Oates’ precise prose amplifying the grotesque. Praised by Publishers Weekly as “grimly satisfying,” this collection captivates despite some uneven endings. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Kelli Tager
Published July 1, 2025
256 pages
Average Rating : 3.9 out of 5
Third Millennium Thinking
Saul Perlmutter, John Campbell, and Robert MacCoun
Third Millennium Thinking (2024), by Nobel laureate Saul Perlmutter, philosopher John Campbell, and psychologist Robert MacCoun, is a guide to navigating information overload. Based on a popular UC Berkeley course, it equips readers with scientific tools to think critically and make sound decisions. Addressing challenges like conflicting medical advice or polarized climate debates, the authors advocate for intellectual humility and probabilistic thinking to counter biases and misinformation. Their jargon-free prose, enriched with thought exercises and historical examples, is praised by The Wall Street Journal for empowering better decision-making. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Joe Paulino.
Published March 26, 2024
336 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Caledonian Road
Andrew O'Hagan
Caledonian Road (2024), Andrew O’Hagan’s Sunday Times bestseller, is a sprawling state-of-the-nation novel set in post-Brexit, post-pandemic London. Campbell Flynn, a celebrated art historian from a working-class Scottish background, faces a midlife crisis as his privileged life unravels. Entangled with a radical student, Milo, he navigates a web of corruption involving aristocrats, oligarchs, and gangs along the diverse Caledonian Road. O’Hagan’s Dickensian prose, blending satire and tragedy, explores class, race, and greed, with a cast of over 60 characters. Praised by The Guardian as a “rollicking picaresque,” it’s a vibrant, if dense, portrait of modern Britain. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Michael Abubakar.
Published February 13, 2025
656 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Martyr
Kaveh Akbar
Martyr! (2024), Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a poignant exploration of grief, addiction, and identity. Cyrus Shams, a 29-year-old Iranian-American poet, grapples with his parents’ deaths—his mother killed in a U.S.-shot-down flight, his father in Indiana’s fields. Newly sober, Cyrus fixates on martyrs, seeking meaning in death through poetry. His journey from Indiana to Brooklyn leads him to a dying artist’s “Death-Speak” exhibit, unraveling secrets about his past. Akbar’s poetic prose, blending dark humor and spiritual depth, captures Cyrus’s alienation and queer relationships with vivid characters like his roommate Zee. Praised by The Guardian as “electrifying,” it’s a must-read despite occasional narrative bumps. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook
Published January 23, 2024
352 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Mindset
Carol S. Dweck
Mindset (2006, updated 2025) by Carol S. Dweck, a renowned Stanford psychologist, is a transformative exploration of success through the lens of fixed and growth mindsets. Dweck argues that a fixed mindset—believing abilities are static—limits potential, while a growth mindset—embracing learning and resilience—fosters achievement. Drawing on decades of research, she illustrates how these mindsets shape education, business, sports, and relationships, using vivid examples from classrooms to corporate boardrooms. The updated edition includes new insights on applying growth mindsets in the digital age. Praised by The New York Times as “revolutionary,” this accessible work is essential for educators, parents, and self-improvers. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Marguerite Gavin.
Published February 2, 2012
288 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Praiseworthy
Alexis Wright
Praiseworthy (2024), Alexis Wright’s epic novel, a New York Times Best Book, is a sweeping allegory set in the titular Australian Aboriginal town shrouded in a mysterious haze. This sprawling tale follows Cause Man Steel, who envisions a donkey-powered transport empire to combat climate change, while his wife Dance seeks ancestral wisdom in butterflies. Their sons, Aboriginal Sovereignty and Tommyhawk, navigate love and betrayal amid racism and global warming. Wright’s dense, lyrical prose weaves Indigenous storytelling with political satire, exploring sovereignty and survival. Praised by The New York Times as a “formidable act of imaginative synthesis,” it’s a challenging yet rewarding read. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published February 6, 2024
662 pages
Average Rating : 3.9 out of 5
Night Watch
Jayne Anne Phillips
Night Watch (2023), Jayne Anne Phillips’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is a haunting tale set during and after the Civil War. In 1874, 12-year-old ConaLee and her mute mother, Eliza, are delivered to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum by a violent veteran, “Papa.” Alternating between 1864 and 1874, with an 1883 epilogue, the story traces their trauma from Papa’s abuse and the war’s chaos. ConaLee’s father, a Union sharpshooter with amnesia, works as the asylum’s night watchman, unaware of his family. Phillips’ lyrical prose vividly portrays war’s horrors and recovery, with rich characters like Irish nursemaid Dearbhla. Praised by The Washington Post as “beautiful,” it’s a must-read despite some finding it dense. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published 9 January 2025
304 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
The Absent Father Effect on Daughters
By Susan E. Schwartz
The Absent Father Effect on Daughters (2020) by Susan E. Schwartz, winner of the 2021 IAJS Book Award for Best Clinical Book, explores the profound impact of absent—physically or emotionally—or inadequate fathers on daughters’ psyches. Using Jungian psychology, Schwartz illustrates how this absence creates insecurity, personality fragmentation, and silenced voices, drawing from clinical cases, dreams, fairy tales, and Sylvia Plath’s poetry. She integrates psychoanalytic theories, including André Green’s “dead father effect” and Julia Kristeva’s concepts of abjection. The book offers paths to healing, addressing personal and cultural dimensions of father-daughter dynamics. Praised by The Guardian for its compassionate depth, it’s essential for therapists and those exploring identity. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published 30 November 2020
176 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
The Body Keeps the Score
By Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
The Body Keeps the Score (2014, updated 2025) by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., is a groundbreaking exploration of trauma’s impact on the body and mind. A leading psychiatrist, van der Kolk draws on decades of research and clinical practice to reveal how trauma—from abuse to war—reshapes the brain, leaving lasting physical and emotional scars. He introduces therapies like EMDR, yoga, and neurofeedback that help heal by reconnecting mind and body. The updated edition includes new insights on trauma in the digital age. Praised by The New York Times as “essential,” this compassionate, science-driven book is a must-read for survivors and clinicians. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Sean Pratt.
Published 24 September 2015
464 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
The Anxious Generation
By Jonathan Haidt
The Anxious Generation (2024), a New York Times bestseller by Jonathan Haidt, examines the teen mental health crisis, attributing it to the shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods. Haidt, a social psychologist, highlights the surge in depression, anxiety, and self-harm since the 2010s, linking it to smartphones and social media. He argues overprotective parenting and unrestricted online access disrupt development through sleep deprivation, social isolation, and addiction. Proposing solutions like delaying smartphone use until high school and phone-free schools, Haidt’s data-driven narrative is praised by The Guardian as “urgent.” Despite some criticism for oversimplifying causes, it’s a vital read for parents and educators. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Sean Pratt.
Published January 2, 2025
400 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Proust and the Squid
By Maryanne Wolf
Proust and the Squid (2007, reissued 2025) by Maryanne Wolf is a captivating exploration of the reading brain’s evolution. A cognitive neuroscientist, Wolf traces how humans, not born to read, rewired their brains over millennia to master this skill, from Sumerian tablets to digital screens. Blending neuroscience, history, and literature, she examines reading’s impact on cognition, culture, and child development, highlighting dyslexia’s challenges and gifts. Wolf warns of digital age risks to “deep reading,” urging balanced literacy. Praised by The Guardian as “fascinating,” this seminal work is a must-read for educators and book lovers. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published November 6, 2008
320 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
The Proof of My Innocence
By Jonathan Coe
The Proof of My Innocence (2024) by Jonathan Coe is a sharp, satirical novel blending cozy crime, dark academia, and autofiction. Set during Liz Truss’s brief 2022 premiership, it follows Phyl, a literature graduate living with her parents, whose writing ambitions ignite after discovering a 1980s novelist. Her uncle Chris, investigating a radical right-wing think tank, attends their TrueCon conference, where a blogger’s murder blurs Phyl’s fiction with reality. A flashback to 1980s Cambridge, narrated by Brian, explores the think tank’s origins. Coe’s witty prose tackles nostalgia, political extremism, and truth, earning praise from The Guardian as a “madcap caper.” Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published November 7, 2024
352 pages
Average Rating : 3.9 out of 5
Intermezzo
By Sally Rooney
Intermezzo (2024), Sally Rooney’s fourth novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a poignant family drama set in Dublin. Following their father’s death, brothers Ivan, a 22-year-old chess prodigy, and Peter, a 32-year-old lawyer, navigate grief and strained sibling bonds. Ivan begins a romance with an older woman, Margaret, while Peter juggles relationships with college student Naomi and ex-girlfriend Sylvia. Rooney’s lyrical, stream-of-consciousness prose, inspired by Joyce, explores love, loss, and identity with humor and depth. Praised by The Guardian as “utterly perfect,” it’s her most mature work, though some critique its dense style. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Éanna Hardwicke.
Published September 24, 2024
448 pages
Average Rating : 4.1 out of 5
Three Cups of Tea
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Three Cups of Tea (2007) by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is an inspiring memoir chronicling Mortenson’s journey from mountaineer to humanitarian. After a failed 1993 K2 climb, Mortenson, nursed back to health in Pakistan’s Korphe village, vowed to build a school there. His efforts grew into the Central Asia Institute, establishing over 170 schools, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The book, blending adventure and cultural insight, highlights education’s role in countering extremism. Despite its uplifting narrative, it faced criticism for inaccuracies and financial mismanagement allegations, as noted in a 2011 60 Minutes exposé. Praised by The Washington Post as “admirable,” it’s a compelling read despite controversy. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published January 30, 2007
368 pages
Average Rating : 4.4 out of 5
Faculty Towers: The Academic Novel and Its Discontents
By Elaine Showalter
Faculty Towers: The Academic Novel and Its Discontents (2005, reissued 2025) by Elaine Showalter is a sharp, witty exploration of the academic novel genre. Showalter, a renowned literary critic, traces its evolution from 1950s classics like Lucky Jim to modern works like Disgrace, analyzing how these novels critique university life’s absurdities—tenure battles, intellectual egos, and campus politics. She highlights shifts in themes, from 1960s satire to 1990s identity politics, drawing on authors like David Lodge and Zadie Smith. Showalter’s engaging prose blends personal anecdotes with keen literary insight, though some note its American-British focus. Praised by The Guardian as “delightfully perceptive,” it’s a must-read for literary enthusiasts. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published August 31, 2009
143 pages
Average Rating : 4.3 out of 5
Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought
By Hannah Arendt
Between Past and Future (2025 edition), by Hannah Arendt, edited by Jerome Kohn, is a profound collection of eight essays exploring modern political crises. Originally published in 1961, this updated Penguin Classics edition delves into the erosion of political concepts like justice, reason, and authority. Arendt, a renowned political theorist, examines freedom, education, and truth through historical lenses, from Ancient Greece to Marxism, urging readers to rethink these ideas for today’s world. Her incisive prose, blending philosophy and history, critiques the loss of tradition post-World War II. Praised by The New York Times as a “brilliant” work, it’s essential for political philosophy enthusiasts. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published September 26, 2006
320 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education
By Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes
The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2019, 2nd edition) by Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes is a provocative critique of the growing therapeutic ethos in education. This seminal work argues that practices like emotional literacy and well-being programs, rooted in popular psychology, foster anxiety and self-absorption rather than resilience and curiosity. Drawing on examples from primary schools to universities, the authors show how therapeutic approaches undermine academic rigor, parental authority, and teachers’ confidence by prioritizing feelings over knowledge. Praised by The Guardian for its bold challenge to educational trends, it calls for a return to intellectual pursuit. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Jane Solomons.
Published February 6, 2019
182 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Black Cake
By Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake (2022), Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel, a New York Times bestseller and Read with Jenna pick, is a sweeping family saga. After Eleanor Bennett’s death in California, her estranged children, Byron and Benny, inherit a voice recording and a traditional Caribbean black cake. Eleanor’s message reveals her tumultuous past as a young swimmer escaping a Caribbean island under suspicion of murder, unveiling secrets of a lost child and betrayals. The novel spans decades and continents, exploring identity, heritage, and reconciliation through vivid prose and multiple perspectives. Praised by The Washington Post for its emotional depth, it’s adapted into a Hulu series. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published February 16, 2023
432 pages
Average Rating : 4.4 out of 5
Where You Come From
By Saša Stanišić
Where You Come From (2021) by Saša Stanišić, winner of the 2019 German Book Prize, is a poignant blend of autofiction and fable, translated by Damion Searls. Set against the Yugoslav Wars, it follows a boy and his family fleeing Bosnia in 1992 to Germany. The narrator, sharing Stanišić’s name, weaves memories of his grandmother’s dementia and their fractured homeland with a choose-your-own-adventure-style finale. Exploring identity, exile, and memory, the novel’s inventive structure and tender prose capture both tragedy and humor. Praised by The New York Times as “wry and devastating,” it’s a must-read for fans of literary fiction. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published November 4, 2021
368 pages
Average Rating : 4.0 out of 5
Thinking, Fast and Slow
By Daniel Kahneman
Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011, updated 2025), by Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman, is a groundbreaking exploration of human decision-making. Kahneman, a pioneer in behavioral economics, introduces two systems of thought: System 1, fast and intuitive, and System 2, slow and deliberative. Through engaging experiments and real-world examples, he reveals how biases, overconfidence, and framing shape our choices, often leading to errors in judgment. The updated edition includes new insights on cognitive biases in the digital age. Praised by The New York Times as “a masterpiece,” this accessible yet profound work is essential for understanding the mind’s quirks. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Patrick Egan.
Published May 28, 2012
512 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
My Dark Vanessa
By Kate Elizabeth Russell
My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell’s 2020 debut novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a provocative exploration of trauma and consent. Alternating between 2000 and 2017, it follows Vanessa Wye, a 15-year-old boarding school student, entangled in a manipulative relationship with her 42-year-old teacher, Jacob Strane. In 2017, amid the #MeToo movement, another former student’s allegations force Vanessa to confront her past, grappling with whether it was love or abuse. Russell’s raw, introspective prose delves into power dynamics, memory, and victimhood, earning praise from The Guardian for its “unflinching” depth. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published March 10, 2020
384 pages
Average Rating : 4.3 out of 5
Nightshade
By Michael Connelly
Nightshade (2025), Michael Connelly’s 40th novel, a New York Times bestseller, launches a gripping new series set on Catalina Island. Detective Sergeant Stilwell, exiled from LA’s homicide squad after clashing with corrupt colleague Rex Ahearn, tackles petty crimes until a woman’s body, marked by purple hair, is found in Avalon Bay. Simultaneously, he probes a mutilated buffalo case tied to tourism scams. Ignoring orders, Stilwell’s dogged pursuit of justice uncovers dark secrets, threatening his budding romance with harbormaster Tash Dano. Connelly’s tight prose and relentless pacing craft a thrilling procedural, praised by Kirkus Reviews for its atmospheric setting. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published May 21, 2025
352 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
A Hope in the Unseen
By Ron Suskind
A Hope in the Unseen (1998, updated 2025), Ron Suskind’s Pulitzer Prize-inspired biography, follows Cedric Jennings, a gifted African-American student, from Washington, D.C.’s crime-ridden Ballou High School to Brown University. Facing poverty, an absent father, and peer ridicule, Cedric’s ambition, fueled by his mother Barbara’s sacrifices, drives him to excel despite a subpar education system. At Brown, he grapples with academic gaps and cultural alienation among affluent peers. Suskind’s vivid prose, born from his 1995 Wall Street Journal series, explores race, class, and resilience. Praised by The New York Times as “extraordinary,” this updated edition chronicles Cedric’s college journey and beyond. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published May 4, 1999
400 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Other People's Children
By Lisa Delpit
Other People's Children (2006, updated edition 2025) by Lisa Delpit, a MacArthur Fellow, is a seminal work on cultural dynamics in education. This collection of essays examines how racial and cultural misunderstandings, often between white teachers and students of color, lead to miscommunication and academic struggles. Delpit, drawing on her experiences as an African-American educator, advocates for culturally responsive teaching that respects students’ linguistic and cultural identities while teaching the “language of power.” The updated edition includes a new introduction and essays by Herbert Kohl and Charles Payne. Praised by Harvard Educational Review for addressing power imbalances, it’s a must-read for educators. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published August 1, 2006
256 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Dandelion
By Jamie Chai Yun Liew
Dandelion (2022), Jamie Chai Yun Liew’s debut novel, runner-up for Canada Reads 2025, is a poignant tale of migration and motherhood. Lily, a new mother, seeks answers about her mother Swee Hua’s disappearance from their family in 1987, when Lily was eleven, growing up in a British Columbia mining town among few Asian families. Her stateless father embraced Canadian assimilation, while Swee Hua, isolated, yearned for Brunei. A clue sends Lily to Southeast Asia, unraveling family secrets and her own identity. Liew’s tender prose explores belonging, mental illness, and diaspora, earning praise from The Guardian as “moving.” Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published October 6, 2022
336 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Why Boys Fail
By Richard Whitmire
Why Boys Fail (2010, reissued 2025) by Richard Whitmire, a former USA Today editorial writer, is a compelling exposé of the educational crisis facing boys. Drawing on data, interviews, and case studies, Whitmire reveals boys’ academic slide across racial and economic divides, debunking myths like video games or feminized classrooms as primary causes. He pinpoints lagging literacy skills—demanded early in today’s verbal-heavy schools—as the core issue, leading to higher dropout rates and fewer male college graduates (60% female graduates). Inspiring case studies highlight schools boosting literacy through phonics and sustained reading programs. Praised by The Washington Post as “brilliant,” this urgent call to action urges parents and educators to address the gender gap. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published January 01, 2010
256 pages
Average Rating : 4.5 out of 5
The Benefactors
By Wendy Erskine
The Benefactors, Wendy Erskine’s 2025 debut novel, a BBC Best Novel and Observer Best Debut, is a polyphonic portrait of modern Belfast. Centered on a teenage girl, Misty, assaulted by three wealthy boys, it explores class, power, and parenthood through the mothers—Frankie, Miriam, and Bronagh—who defend their sons, leveraging privilege. Misty, raised by her taxi-driver stepfather Boogie and matriarch Nan D, fights back with resilience. Erskine’s sharp, Virginia Woolf-inspired prose blends humor and heartbreak, capturing flawed, vivid characters and societal inequalities. Praised by The Guardian as “brimming with humanity,” this 336-page work is a must-read despite occasional narrative overwhelm. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Erskine.
Published June 19, 2025
320 pages
Average Rating : 3.7 out of 5
The Sisters
By Jonas Hassen Khemiri
The Sisters, Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s 2025 novel, a New York Times Best Book, is a vivid family saga spanning three decades and continents. Translated from Swedish by Khemiri, it follows the Mikkola sisters—Ina, Evelyn, and Anastasia—Swedish-Tunisians navigating a supposed family curse. Ina, the responsible eldest, marries after a New Year’s rave; Evelyn drifts into acting; Anastasia, the wild youngest, finds love in Tunisia. Jonas, a writer sharing their mixed heritage, intersects their lives from Tunis to a Stockholm jet crash. When Evelyn vanishes in New York, Jonas helps break the curse, unveiling a shocking revelation. Khemiri’s tender, time-bending prose explores identity and belonging. Praised by The Guardian as a “masterpiece,” it’s available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published July 17, 2025
656 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Great Black Hope
By Rob Franklin
Great Black Hope, Rob Franklin’s 2025 debut novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a gripping coming-of-age tale. David Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate from Atlanta’s Black bourgeoisie, faces turmoil after a cocaine arrest in the Hamptons. Reeling from his roommate Elle’s overdose death, he navigates New York’s nightlife, Atlanta’s elite, and a racialized justice system. Franklin’s lyrical, humorous prose explores race, class, addiction, and identity, blending satire with heartbreak. Praised by The Guardian as a “love letter” to New York, it’s a must-read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 19, 2025
320 pages
Average Rating : 3.7 out of 5
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood
By Ashley Jordan
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, Ashley Jordan’s 2025 debut novel, a Reese’s Book Club pick, is a heartfelt contemporary romance. Eve Ambroise, a playwright grappling with writer’s block and grief from two miscarriages, flees Brooklyn for her grandmother’s Tennessee cabin near Dollywood. Posing as a writing retreat, her solitude crumbles when she meets Jamie Gallagher, a single dad fresh from a custody battle. Their prickly start blooms into a tender, steamy romance, navigating mutual trauma and family secrets. Jordan’s raw, witty prose explores race, infertility, and healing, earning praise from Library Journal as “laugh-out-loud funny” yet profound. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published August 5, 2025
528 pages
Average Rating : .... out of 5
The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea
By Liz Eeles
The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea (2023), the sixth book in Liz Eeles’ Heaven’s Cove series, is a heartwarming standalone novel set in Devon’s idyllic coastal village. Estranged sisters Caitlin and Isla reunite after their grandmother Jessie’s death, tasked with solving a family riddle from her will. Joined by Caitlin’s stepdaughter Maisie, they uncover a generations-old love story while navigating personal secrets and reconciliation. Eeles’ vivid prose paints a cozy seaside escape, blending family drama, romance, and mystery. Praised by The Guardian for its emotional depth, it’s perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published October 19, 2023
348 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Double Tap on Life
By Arwa Baldiwala
Double Tap on Life (2025) by Arwa Baldiwala is a refreshing self-help guide tackling the pressures of modern life. Baldiwala, inspired by her own journey, explores finding balance amid social media’s validation traps and relentless competition. The book delves into mental health, toxic comparisons, and societal expectations, offering practical steps like journaling and mindfulness to prioritize self-care over hustle culture. Its relatable tone and actionable chapter-end exercises empower readers to break free from perfectionism and embrace contentment. Praised for its honesty, it’s ideal for those seeking equilibrium without toxic positivity. Available on Amazon.in in paperback or Kindle.
Published January 11, 2025
192 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Waist Deep
By Linea Maja Ernst
Waist Deep, Linea Maja Ernst’s 2024 debut novel, a Scandinavian bestseller translated by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg, is a sultry comedy of manners set in rural Denmark. Five university friends reunite for seven days at a lakeside cabin, hoping to recapture their radical youth. Sylvia, nursing a decades-long crush on Esben, who’s marrying Karen, grapples with her monogamous relationship with Charlie. Quince, embracing his trans identity, navigates tensions with Gry’s husband, Adam. Ernst’s lush, Virginia Woolf-inspired prose explores desire, queerness, and millennial ennui, though some find its multiple perspectives pretentious. Praised by Vogue as a “quintessential millennial novel,” it’s a vibrant read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published May 8, 2025
224 pages
Average Rating : 3.2 out of 5
So Far Gone: A Novel
By Jess Walter
So Far Gone, Jess Walter’s 2025 novel, a New York Times bestseller, is a witty, poignant road-trip thriller set in a fractured America. Rhys Kinnick, a retired environmental journalist, lives off-grid in a Washington cabin after punching his conspiracy-obsessed son-in-law, Shane, at a 2016 Thanksgiving dinner. Seven years later, his grandchildren, Leah and Asher, arrive, fleeing their mother Bethany’s absence and Shane’s ties to the Army of the Lord militia. When the kids are kidnapped, Rhys embarks on a madcap quest to rescue them, joined by ex-girlfriend Lucy and eccentric ex-cop Chuck. Walter’s sharp prose blends humor and heartbreak, tackling Christian nationalism and family rifts. Praised by Ann Patchett as an “American original,” it’s available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 10, 2025
272 pages
Average Rating : 4.4 out of 5
Flashlight
By Susan Choi
Flashlight, Susan Choi’s 2025 novel, longlisted for the Booker Prize, is a sweeping saga of a Korean-American family’s unraveling. In 1978, ten-year-old Louisa and her father, Serk, a Korean émigré academic, walk a Japanese beach. Serk vanishes, presumed drowned, leaving Louisa traumatized and her mother, Anne, distant. The narrative spans decades and continents, weaving Serk’s Zainichi Korean roots in Japan, his American life, and the geopolitical shadow of North Korean abductions. Choi’s intricate prose explores exile, memory, and identity, with shifting perspectives revealing family secrets. Praised by The New York Times as “gorgeous” and “heartbreaking,” this poignant tale captivates. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.