From stunning debut novels to highly-anticipated follow-up releases, here are the best new books to read this August 2021
We've halfway through the year and if you've missed out on our monthly reading recommendations, it's not too late to pick up a book. This month, a number of stunning debut novels are coming out together with highly-anticipated follow up titles of bestselling authors.
Whether you're looking for a light read out at the beach or on a picnic or something more powerful that packs a punch that you need to absorb at home, we've got it covered. Read on to find out the best new books you should be reading this month.
If you missed it, you can still check out our round-up in June and July.
1. Radiant Fugitives by Nawaaz Ahmed
Nawaaz Ahmed's debut novel, Radiant Fugitives follows three generations of a Muslim Indian family in the US, during the days of the Obama presidency. This tour de force novel is told from the point of view of Seema's child, at the moment of his birth, seeing the world through his mother's work as a political activist.
Seema has been exiled from her family after she came out as a lesbian, making her fend for herself. Being nine months pregnant, she seeks to reconcile with her family—her sick mother, Nafeesa who is travelling alone from Chennai to California and her religious sister Tahera. Ahmed fuses the words of Wordsworth, Keats and the Quran in his debut novel, delivering a bold new view that looks at the tension in the same family as they navigate a changing political landscape.
Release date: August 3