We recommend: The best new book releases
The best of new fiction
The Dead Fish by Rajkamal Choudhary, translated by Mahua Sen: Set in twentieth century Kolkata, the novel centres on Nirmal Padmavat—a ruthless and emotionally volatile businessman. In depicting Padmavat’s violent behaviour and deteriorating relationships with the women in his life, Choudhary offers an indictment of Indian societal norms on LGBTQ+ identity. (August 5)
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine: From the author of thrillers such as ‘How to Survive Your Murder’ and ‘Two Sides to Every Murder’, this one delves into the life of a celebrity chef named Maria Capello who has a secret which ties to her chef husband’s disappearance 20 years ago. The plot is a bit like ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid wherein the protagonist is looking for a publisher publishing her memoir. The big mystery: did Maria really kill her husband Damien for his recipes and the legendary ‘secret ingredient’? (August 7)
A Shimla Affair by Srishti Chaudhary: Set in 1940s Shimla, this historical fiction novel follows three sisters—Nalini, Noor, and Afreen—who run the lavish Royal Hotel, a hotspot for British elites. But when an underground revolutionary group ropes them into a deadly plot during a grand summer ball, things spiral fast. Add to that Nalini’s forbidden romance with a British officer, and you’ve got a gripping mix of espionage, emotion, and rebellion—all set against the backdrop of India’s fight for independence. (August 18)
Katabasis by RF Kuang: The best selling author of the Poppy War trilogy, ‘Babel’ and ‘Yellowface’ is back with another dark academia book. This one draws from Greek mythology. In fact, ‘Katabasis’ in ancient Greek means journey to the underworld. So, following that, the story focuses on two rival graduate students Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, who have teamed up to go save their professor Grimes’ soul from Hell. (August 28)
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura, translated by Yuka Maeno: If you’re a fan of slow burn Japanese novels with a bit of supernatural in the mix such as ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’, ‘What You Are Looking for Is In the Library’ and ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’, you can check this one out. The plot: Sakura and her calico cat, Kobako patiently take the souls in need to a journey of solace and healing. (August 28)
This month’s poetry pick
Selected Poems by Gopal Lahiri: The Kolkata-based bilingual poet returns with his latest collection, drawing on a variety of topics, including history and nature a la Wordsworth. This set has been curated by fellow poet Sanjeev Sethi. (August 3)
The best of the non-fiction list
Why The Poor Don’t Kill Us by Manu Joseph: A sharp and darkly funny take on Indian society, Manu Joseph asks a blunt question—why don’t the poor rise up against the rich in one of the world’s most unequal countries? From being stuck in endless chores to the quiet acceptance of everyday exploitation, the book examines everyday hypocrisies and the invisible systems that hold inequality in place. (August 5)
Nautch Boy by Manish Gaekwad: In this deeply personal memoir, Gaekwad tells the story of growing up in a kotha as the son of a celebrated courtesan, surrounded by glamour, dance, and longing. While his mother sends him to a boarding school in hopes of giving him a different life, he’s caught between two worlds—performing film songs in secret at night and studying English poetry by day. The book traces his journey from the fading splendour of the kotha to the corridors of elite education and journalism. (August 14)
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy: The award-winning author and political commentator has written her first memoir in the wake of her mother’s passing. Taking the reader on a journey from Kerala to Delhi, Roy looks back on how her mother was ‘her shelter and her storm’—their complex relationship shaping her into the person she is today. (August 28)
