Glossy Magazine’s book editor, Sophie Hughen, offers her expert preview of some of the most anticipated literary works arriving this August/ September. Her selection features a spectrum of genres, celebrated authors, and noteworthy new narratives, ensuring a wealth of engaging options for every reader. For more book related inspiration from our editor follow @readablereviews on Instagram. 

1. The Seventh Floor By David McCloskey £20.00 Hardback (Swift Press Publishing) 

This fast pace and thrilling story follows agent Artemis Proctor as she tries to uncover a Russian mole within her CIA headquarters. After being made a scapegoat for a previous mission gone wrong, Proctor finds herself unexpectedly reuniting with an old colleague who claims to be able to help her on her mission. As they descend into a world of espionage and danger they begin to uncover secrets that could tear the agency apart.

2. Small Boat By Vincent Delecroix £12.99 Paperback 

In this powerful story of fiction, Delecroix delivers a tale of absolute reality and truth. It’s November 2021 and a dingy carrying migrants from France to the United Kingdom capsizes causing the death of 27 people onboard. Through horrific passes of blame, tragic events occur and as a result, the death of 27 innocent people seems to rest on our narrator’s shoulders, or does it? This tale is full of fascinating perspectives and sobering realities of the life of one of the most misunderstood groups in our society. An incredible book that is not to be missed. 

3. Tender By Lauren Du Plessis £11.99 Paperback 

Tender follows the story of Nell, an incredibly successful archaeobotanist, she seems to have her life together, a successful job, seamless social media and the perfect manicure. From the outside it looks like she has her life together, this is until a job takes her on an unexpected path of self reflection. Nell spirals into heated and destructive romances, friendships and relationships that ultimately leave her attempting to reconcile her past and future before it’s too late. A beautiful and honest narration of the fearful nature of womanhood. This story is Du Plessis’ dazzling debut.  

4. Love In Exile By Shon Faye £20.00 Hardback

In this incredible memoir/ social study, Shon Faye tackles the discussions around our need to be loved and desired as individuals in society. Using personal experiences as a trans woman, and her understanding of the queer space, she uses her insight and knowledge to assist in the understanding of our modern day relationships with the term LOVE, and what that truly means in the 21st century. A fascinating read that is reflective, thoughtful and empowering, Shon Faye implores us to potentially look at love slightly differently.

5.  In Ascension By Martin MacInnes £9.99 Paperback

In this fascinating novel about human life we meet Leigh, a young marine biologist living in Rotterdam. When a trench is discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, Leigh joins the exploration team, however what they discover has the ability to change what we know about our own beginnings forever. With her most recent discovery then leading her to work for a new space agency, her unusual findings in the trench seem to be one of several just like it all over the globe. This fascinating story is about humanity, science and nature. MacInnes pushes us to question what we truly know about our existence and more specifically, our oceans.  

6. Tom Lake By Ann Patchett Paperback £9.99 

In this incredible story of memories and love, we see three daughters return to their families orchard in Michigan. Whilst there, they ask their Mother to recall the tales of romance from her past. Particularly her whirlwind relationship with the actor Peter Duke, with whom she used to share the stage at her old theatre company Tom Lake. As stories are shared all four women find themselves reflecting on their lives, the decisions they have made and the ways in which life could have gone differently. A heartwarming and reflective novel bound to get you feeling introspective. 

7. Mongrel By Hanako Footman £9.99 Paperback

In this tangled web of three intricate narratives, Footman takes us on a journey of isolation, belonging, desire and hope. Mei lost her Japanese mother at age six, now living in Surrey she struggles to feel connected to her culture. Yuki leaves Japan for London in hopes of living her dream as a violinist. Haruka navigates the nightlife in Tokyo as a hostess, struggling with the secrets kept from her by her mother. What do all of these three women have in common? They are all in search of something more. Mongrel is a hungry and tenacious read that will leave you hooked.

8. For Art & For Life By Vincent Van Gough £5.99 Paperback

Penguin books have just recently launched a brand new and exciting archive collection, to celebrate 90 years of their archives, they have published 90 of their classic works, one of which is For Art & For Life. An incredibly captivating collection of one of the world’s most famous artist’s letters, in this book we see how Van Gough’s obsession with painting his vision slowly formed into the masterpiece that is ‘The Starry Night’ and how he came to find his methodical creative processes, that lead to the incredible paintings we all know so well today.

9. Even-ings and Week-ends By Oisín McKenna £9.99 Paperback

Set against the sizzling backdrop of the 2019 summer heatwave, London is scorching and lives are changing. Maggie is 30 and pregnant, faced with the task of moving back home she is in a desperate search for her last bout of freedom. Ed, Maggie’s partner, is trying to run away from the demons of his past, when a sudden encounter with Phil, Maggie’s childhood friend, stirs some unsettling emotions. An honest and comforting character driven debut is shown by McKenna, as he powerfully urges us all to be ourselves and to own our truths.