With the clocks gone back and the evenings drawing in, there’s no better time to curl up with a brilliant book. Luckily, November brings plenty of reasons to stay indoors, from new releases by Jonathan Coe and Bob Mortimer to the gorgeous, sweeping family epic that is Mary Beth Keane’s – as well as terrific new nonfiction. Here’s our pick of the best new books to get lost in this month.
Michael by Bob Mortimer
Our eponymous hero has just reached death when a mysterious voice gives him a second chance at life. The only catch being he must relive his most difficult period, when he was a boy trying to move on from the loss of his father and work out who exactly he wants to be. Another tale suffused with surreal humour from the beloved comedian.
Whale Harbour by Mary Beth Keane
In a remote fishing village in 1960s Ireland, the world of eleven brothers is rocked by the sudden death of their mother. By following their splintered lives across decades and continents, Keane spins the exact kind of rich family epic that is perfect to sink into on long autumn evenings.
The Hill by Harriet Clark
Once you start reading this tragicomic coming-of-age novel, inspired by the author’s own life, it is near-impossible to put down. It follows Suzanna, who is raised by her grandmother and spends her Saturdays visiting her mother in prison, where she has been since robbing a bank along with a group of fellow radicals.
Sceptre, £16.99
Lessons in Harmony by Jonathan Coe
Coe’s fifteenth novel fictionalises the real-life friendship between composers Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams – their unlikely French-English companionship making a lovely tale about national identity and the power of music, set in the years around the Second World War.
Hope House by Joe Bond
When Bond was growing up in rural Kentucky, his father ran residential programmes for troubled teenagers. Drawing on these experiences, his debut novel set in the 1980s tells the stories of the “delinquent” young men living in a group home. Perfect for fans of Demon Copperhead.
Fig Tree, £16.99
This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
While she counts Reese Witherspoon, Lily King and Ann Napolitano among her fans, Goodman remains largely undiscovered by British readers. Her eight novel centres on a complex, multigenerational family set adrift by the loss of one of the sisters.
Lords of Serendipity by Randy Boyagoda
In a Sri Lankan village, Devi dreams of going to Havard; Katrina, a middle-class American, pretty much has no choice. This brilliantly funny, eviscerating novel weaves together their stories, taking aim at everything from flawed academic systems to helicopter parenting.
Solace in Winter by Mary Lawson
In a sleepy Canadian village in the middle of winter 1969, Jack’s quiet existence is turned upside down when two accidents happen up the road from his cabin – and he finds himself taking in both an injured dog and a young man running from being drafted into the Vietnam War.
Chatto & Windus, £18.99
Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
After losing her mother to the 9/11 attacks, Molly has made a living by running a department that helps when disasters strike. It means she feels prepared for anything – apart from the one calamity she didn’t see coming. Another book-club-tailored read from the author of My Sister’s Keeper.
A History of Britain in 21 Paintings by Alice Loxton
The eminently popular historian cleverly uses famous art as a lens through which to tell the story of Britain, from the image of Christ St Augustine carried when he arrived on English shores in 597AD to L.S. Lowry’s portrayals of 20th century working class life.
Alone with a Book by Tessa Hadley
The esteemed novelist turns her hand to nonfiction for this incisive meditation ‘on reading, writing and looking’ (as the subtitle has it). Tracing her own adventures in literature from a childhood shaped by trips to the library through to the writers that inspire her today, it makes a compelling ode to books.
Big Math by Steven Strogatz and Alex Townsend
Maths shapes our modern world in more ways than many of us can compute. The hidden codes behind our everyday actions- from what we ask Google or ChatGPT to the pictures we share on Instagram – have changed the way we live. But where might that take us next? A fascinating read, even for the less numerically gifted.
Grief Talking by Greg Wise
Be it his sister’s death from cancer, or the tragic drowning of a friend in his twenties, or his own infertility and failed IVF, the actor has lived a life shaped by loss. This poignant and practical read will provide comfort to anyone who has experienced bereavement.
Bluebird, £18.99
Pay Attention by Laura Kuenssberg
The first book from the former Political Editor of the BBC is a deep-dive into the chaos of Britain’s politics in recent decades – from Brexit to the treadmill of failed Prime Ministers – asking how exactly we got here.