Must read books for June Whet your appetite with snapshots of summer holidays spent by the seaside, or perhaps immerse yourself in a gripping thriller – here are this month’s sumptuous book releases.
A Day at the Beach Hut: Stories and Recipes Inspired by Seaside Life by Veronica Henry (June 10th) A family enjoy their last holiday at a much-loved beach hut. The tide brings in an old face – and a new temptation – while a writer’s retreat is shaken up by a surprise arrival. The simple pleasures of the seaside compete with the Instagram dream, a couple’s future is turned upside down, and a celebratory evening takes a stormy turn. And as the sun sets, an unexpected romance is simmering... Escape to the coast with this delicious collection of short stories and beach-hut inspired recipes from Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry the perfect summer treat! The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker (June 24th) Not for the faint-hearted, this chilling debut wastes no time in pulling the reader deep into its murky undertow. A taut and impeccably crafted page-turner about what propels one eight-year-old girl to commit an unspeakable act, and the tensely moving effect it has on the rest of her life, The First Day of Spring is not just about how neglect and loneliness can shape a child, but also how they can have a lasting impact even when that child becomes a mother herself.
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The Ugly Cry: A Memoir by Danielle Henderson (June 8th) Having firmly made a name for herself as a television writer (Maniac, Divorce and Dare Me), Danielle Henderson now turns her formidable talent to the memoir. Documenting a difficult childhood during which she grew up ‘black, weird, and overwhelmingly uncool in a mostly white neighbourhood in upstate New York’, Henderson uses wit and candour to delve into some important topics. Mostly though, it is a book about family and the fierce bond between a vulnerable child and her devoted grandmother. Hungry by Grace Dent (June 10th) The highly anticipated memoir from one of Britain’s bestloved food writers, Hungry is a joyous journey through Dent’s fascinating life. From growing up eating beige food to becoming a celebrated London gourmand, it is a personal story, but also everyone’s story – from cheese and pineapple hedgehogs and treats with your nan, to the exquisite joy of a chip butty covered in vinegar and too much salt in the school canteen on a grey day; this a poignant reminder of why food is such an integral part of our lives and our various cultures.
