What could be better than shelves and shelves of glorious books? We know you love to be spoilt for choice, but sometimes the plethora of books in the stores can be overwhelming. To help you narrow your choice (or choices), Exclusive Books recommends these trending titles you can indulge in.
Fiction:
Red Ink by Angela Makholwa is a gripping thriller. Set in present-day Johannesburg, it has a distinctly local flavour and brings the city to life through all its contrasts and contradictions.
Anthony Marra’s Mercury Pictures Presents spans many moods and tones, from the heartbreaking to the ecstatic. It is a love letter to life’s bit players, a panorama of an era that casts a long shadow over our own, and a tour de force by a novelist whose work The Washington Post calls ‘a flash in the heavens that makes you look up and believe in miracles.’
“Haven by Emma Donoghue is a beautiful and timely novel about isolation, passion and the conflict between obedience and self-preservation. The island setting and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading” —Sarah Moss.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid is described as “Gorgeous. The kind of sharp, smart, potent book you have to set aside every few pages just to catch your breath. I’ll take a piece of Carrie Soto forward with me in life and be a little better for it.” —Emily Henry.
In A Jewish Girl in Paris by Melanie Levensohn & Jamie Lee Searle, a young Jewish girl, Judith, meets a young man, the son of a wealthy banker and Nazi sympathizer – his family will never approve of the girl he has fallen in love with. As the Germans impose more and more restrictions on Jewish Parisians, the couple secretly plan to flee the country.
The Quality of Mercy by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu proposes that ties of kinship and affiliation can never be completely broken – and that love can heal even the most grievous of wounds.
In Dark Music by David Lagercrantz & Ian Giles, a murder investigation brings together two unlikely allies in a race to uncover a shadowy international conspiracy. Professor Hans Rekke: born into a wealthy Stockholm family, a world authority on interrogation techniques, capable of vertiginous feats of logic and observation . . . But he might just fall apart when the going gets tough, leading to substance abuse and despair.
In Florence Given’s debut novel, Girlcrush we follow Eartha on a wild, weird and seductive modern-day exploration as she commences life as an openly bisexual woman whilst also becoming a viral sensation on Wonder Land, a social media app where people project their dream selves online.
“Exquisitely written, acutely observed and breathtakingly original. There was not a single page that didn’t contain at least one phrase or sentence that I wanted to underline to return to later. Tess Gunty’s prose crackles with energy, wit and intent. Reading The Rabbit Hutch is like experiencing a literary hallucination! I loved it!” —Claire McGlasson
By a riverbank in Africa, two lovers meet for the first time in Ben Okri’s The Last Gift of the Master Artists. They make a promise to meet again the next day, same time, same place, but only one of them shows up.
Nandi Nxumalo and Femi Adewoye are in love In the Midst of It All by Thabile Shange. But although the ladies at Nandi’s favourite hair salon drool over her handsome Nigerian boyfriend who has his own auto repair shop, she is forced to hide her relationship from her xenophobic father who will never allow his Zulu, daughter, to date a ‘foreigner’.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is ‘”Utterly brilliant. In this sweeping, gorgeously written novel, Gabrielle Zevin charts the beauty, tenacity, and fragility of human love and creativity” —John Green.
1660, General Edward Whalley and Colonel William Goffe, father- and son-in-law, cross the Atlantic in Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.
Non-fiction:
It’s Our Land You Want by Robin Binckes is a well-researched, hard-hitting and detailed account of our history that covers the period 1852 through 1918 and highlights milestone events which affected all the different people of this country from the time of the four independent states through Union and beyond.
The Jersey by Peter Bills goes to the heart of the All Blacks’ success. It is also an epic story of not just a rugby team but a nation, whose identities are inextricably linked.
Working Backwards by Colin Bryar & Bill Carr shows how success is not achieved by the genius of any single leader, but rather through a commitment to and execution of a set of well-defined, rigorously executed principles and practices that you can apply to your own company, no matter the size.
In Farm Killings in South Africa by Nechama Brodie Dr Nechama uses information gathered from media reports, together with statistical data, police reports, legal cases and civil society actions, to try and understand and explain what we do and do not know about farm killings in South Africa.
Ivor Swartz is ‘n depressielyer, maar hy kies die lewe in Leer dans in depressive. In hierdie intense persoonlike, dog toeganklike reis gee Ivor nie maklike antwoorde nie, maar vra dat ons ons oe sal oopmaak vir mense rondom ons, en dat ons hulle sal ondersteun.
The Last Colony by Philippe Sands & Martin Rowson illuminates the continuing horrors of colonial rule, the devastating impact of Britain’s racist grip on its last colony in Africa, and the struggle for justice in the face of a crime against humanity. It is a tale about the making of modern international law and one woman’s fight for justice, a courtroom drama and a personal journey that ends with a historic ruling.
Legendary world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and international bestselling poet-philosopher Noah BenShea join forces to offer you insight on a path of purpose, hope, and faith in The Surfer and the Sage. This timely guidebook alternates between Tomson’s inspiring experiential essays and BenShea’s spiritual commentary that lift the soul, all accented with stunning full-colour surfing photographs.
“Influence Empire by Lulu Yilun Chen is so much more than the long-awaited story of Tencent and its vital everything app, WeChat, the messaging tool used by 1.3 billion people. It’s also the sobering account of an entire generation of high-flying Chinese tech entrepreneurs, whose wings were clipped by the omnipotent hand of their own government.” — Brad Stone.
Hoerkind deur Herman Lateganis ’n aangrypende relaas oor verlies én oorwinning wat jou sal laat lag, en jou hart ’n paar keer breek. Jy sal jou kop skud oor die wreedheid van ’n wêreld waar mense aan mekaar uitgelewer is, maar jy sal verwonderd staan oor die omvang van goedheid, juis omdat mense op mekaar aangewese is.
Part manifesto for mastery, part playbook for genius-grade productivity and part companion for a life lived beautifully, The 5am Club by Robin Sharma is a work that will transform your life. Forever.
Positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority of our time in What We Owe The Future by William MacAskill. This is the idea fuelling a burgeoning movement of long-term thinkers: it explains why Elon Musk is trying to colonise Mars and why Jeff Bezos spent $42 million on a clock that will last 10,000 years.
Young Adult:
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being – and each has met an untimely end in Belladonna by Adalyn Grace. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy …
In I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys, Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship. The country is governed by fear. When the secret police blackmail him, Cristian has an impossible choice. Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family, or risk his life – and all of theirs – by resisting?
“Tiffany Jackson takes the classic haunted house story to the next level by infusing it with her trademark twists and turns and her brilliant and unflinching prose. White Smoke is a gripping, unsettling, and incisive novel by a YA powerhouse who knows her thrills—and her chills.” — Courtney Summers
In a world where anyone can create a life-destroying curse, only one person has the power to unravel them in Unraveller by Frances Hardinge. Kellen does not fully understand his talent but helps those transformed maliciously – including Nettle.
Filled with charm and romance, and inspired by some of classic literature’s most beloved characters, The Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl & Melissa De La Cruz is the perfect blend of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden—and the perfect companion to Jo & Laurie.
“Splendid storytelling. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas dazzles with adventure, breathing life into a bustling fantastical world filled with both wonders and evils. Aiden Thomas is a brilliant talent” —Chloe Gong.
Children 10 – 12 years:
The first day at a new school is always challenging – but even more so when you’re deaf in Once Upon A Sign #1: Ayen’s First Day by Nancy Gaylard. Ayen’s first day starts out well – her new teacher knows Sign Language and some of the children are very friendly. But then things start to go very wrong: some other kids start teasing and bullying Ayen and the school really isn’t equipped to be Deaf friendly or accessible.
When Darren Devlin is arrested for destroying his school with his bare hands, it’s not just the police who are after him in 21% Monster by P.J. Canning. Enter Marek Masters, 14 years old, 19% alien, and the most intelligent, most wanted “almost human” alive. Marek is here to tell Darren the truth – he is 21% monster, and together they must take down the secret organisation that created them.
Peanut Jones and the Twelve Portals by Rob Biddulph – “Peanut Jones is AWESOME. I loved this book from start to finish – the story is packed with twists and turns, and Rob’s illustrations are full of wit and warmth . . . I need to know what happens next!” — Nadia Shireen.
“The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown by Elizabeth Laird surprised and fascinated and delighted me, evoking so completely such a recently vanished world. I loved so many things about it: the family setting, the welcoming multicultural house and the growing up of Charity from ill child to a funny, confident young person.” — Hilary McKay.
Children 6 – 9 years:
In Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories… Red is an oak tree that is many rings old. Red is the neighbourhood wishtree – people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches.
WELCOME TO THE ISLE OF MULCH in Slime by David Walliams & Tony Ross … This little island is home to a large number of HORRIBLE grown-ups who like nothing more than making children miserable. The most AWFUL one of all is Aunt Greta Greed who owns the whole island.
In Protect our Planet, take action with Romario by Romario Valentine, Romario enthusiastically guides young nature lovers through key environmental topics – from recycling and reforestation to pollution solutions and climate change.
Count down the days to Christmas with magical tales of princes and princesses, elves and emperors and many more enchanting characters in the Advent Calendar Book Collection. As the big day approaches, there are plenty of festive treats including The 12 Days of Christmas and the timeless story of The Nativity.
Toddlers:
In Cocomelon 5 Pencil Sets by Hinkler, children will love practising nursery rhymes, learning letters and numbers, drawing, colouring and so much more on the pages inside. Best of all, the five adorable pencil toppers and pencils will delight little ones as they create, erase and colour the days away with JJ and his lovable playmates.
Mr Men Little Miss Discover You Worries by Roger Hargreaves, is a sensitive and engaging Mr Men Little Miss story about worries, big and small, and how to manage them. Mr Worry worries about everything. It sometimes starts with a funny feeling in his tummy. Do you ever feel worried? Everyone worries sometimes. But Mr Worry worries all the time.
In Mr Men Little Miss Discover You Try Again by Roger Hargreaves, Mr Bump finds that he bumps and trips his way through life, but he always bounces back. Do you try again if things go wrong? It can be hard to be resilient when times are tough, but being able to adapt and recover from change or misfortune is as important for us as it is for the Mr Men and Little Miss.
Young learners can find out all about light and sound, the planets in the Solar System, how plants grow, and much, much more in this one-of-a-kind introduction to key curriculum subjects. For lovers of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and all bright young minds, The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Very First Encyclopedia by DK is the ultimate must-have.
The perfect way to let every child know just how precious and loved they are. Through gentle rhyming words and magical illustrations, On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman captures the overwhelming love and joy felt when a new baby is born.
#Booktok Made Me Read It is trending on the Exclusive Books recommended reading list for October – available instore at one of their 42 branches, online, phone and Uber Eats!
The rise of BookTok is a phenomenon that is fast growing thanks to its founding app – TikTok. It is skyrocketing readership interest, whilst highlighting some of the trending reads across all genres and ages, all because influencers and users are utilising the TikTok platform to voice their reviews and best recommendations in the most unique of settings. Exclusive Books had to hop on this trend too!
Click here for some of the popular books of 2022.
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