Plunging into the pages of a novel or memoir is a way to hit the standby button on reality, with books offering a welcome escape when the real-world is failing to live up to expectations. Hate your boss? Ghosted by a potential date? Going through family drama? No fear, books will transport you to an alternate reality instantly. In them we find flawed characters, villains who can’t ruin our lives, happy endings and self-contained challenges. The stakes are as high as you want them to be. You get to end the story exactly when you want.
From novels about love, friendship and masculinity, to non-fiction and essays that explore how we live now, we’ve put together a list of must-reads that promise to a well-rounded reading experience and hours of entertainment.
