1

Comrade Aeon’s Field Guide to Bangkok by Emma Larkin

Larkin’s debut novel plunges into the complex enigma that is contemporary Bangkok. To three local residents, a plot of land behind a city slum represents a sanctuary, a welcome distraction, and the business deal of a lifetime – but only the slum-dwelling spirits know its darkest secrets.

2

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

Violette Toussaint, the caretaker of a cemetery in Bourgogne, is determined to discover who was responsible for the tragic loss of her daughter. A runaway bestseller in Italy and France (it was dubbed Italy’s favourite lockdown novel of 2020), this is a story of love and loss, the poetic in the ordinary, and the value of kindness.

3

Grown Ups by Marie Aubert

Written by one of Norway’s rising stars and critical sensations, Grown Ups explores sibling rivalry, modern motherhood, and the increasingly debated choice to be child-free. Laced with cringe-worthy comedic moments and biting insight, Aubert’s depiction of the simmering tensions between 40-year-old architect Ida’s dysfunctional family is quintessential contemporary Scandinavian fiction at its sharpest.

4

Paul by Daisy Lafarge

Winner of a Betty Trask Award (which recognises writers under the age of 35 for their first novel), Lafarge’s novel follows graduate student Frances, who evades her scandal-stricken past in Paris and volunteers in rural France only to become entangled with Paul, the charismatic and manipulative owner of an eco-farm.

5

Love, Lies and Indomee by Nuril Basri

At the end of her tether with her mother’s nagging and the unwelcome prospect of an arranged marriage, independent career woman Ratu turns to Jakarta’s online dating scene and embarks on a tricky mission to find her tall, slim, and handsome dreamboat.

6

Song of the Nile by Hannah Fielding

Set on avenging her father’s death, Aida El Masri returns from war-torn London to her family’s estate in Egypt. What Aida does not expect is to fall for the son of the man who she believes betrayed her father – and in the process, rediscovering the homeland she loves.

7

Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little

Against the chaotic backdrop of a movie set festering with accidents, scandals, and perilous schemes, film editor-turned-sleuth Melissa finds herself investigating the real-life murder at the centre of the project. A sprightly, defiantly feminist whodunnit that examines our cultural addiction to true crime stories.

8

The Mission House by Carys Davies

Selected as last year’s Novel of the Year by The Sunday Times, The Mission House traces the path of Englishman Hilary Byrd as he leaves his demons behind in Britain, fleeing to a mission house located in the former British hill station of Ooty in South India. Brewing religious tensions, however, threaten to disrupt the safety of his newfound haven.

9

Chronicles of a Circuit Breaker by Joseph Chiang

For those who prefer an alternative to a conventional novel, this collection of comic strips by visual artist and cartoonist Chiang revisits the strange and surreal times of Singapore’s Circuit Breaker days from April to June 2020, putting a quirky spin on unexpected lockdown-related issues such as forced family time and toilet paper shortages.

Bath Time: Turtle: Colour-Changing Bath Book by Pat-a-Cake

Consider this the key to getting some uninterrupted poolside time if you’re bringing a little one with you. This splash-proof, squishy book changes colour when it comes into contact with water, revealing friendly sea creatures who’ll keep babies and young ones entertained while you sunbathe.