There’s nothing better than lying back on the beach with a good book in your hands! Make the most of the balmy weather with these top picks from Sarah-Kate Lynch, perfect for reading under the sun.
Heavenly Hirani’s School of Laughing Yoga, by Sarah-Kate Lynch. Random House, $37.99
My ninth novel spent a few pre-Christmas weeks at number one on the bestseller list and my family can be relied on to buy one or two copies, but not hundreds, so I feel I can safely recommend it. Empty-nester Annie Jordan is bereft at the departure of her children, her mother and her dog – some more permanently than others – so reluctantly agrees to go to India with her husband to shake off whatever is ailing her, which could, in fact, be him.

Shopaholic to the Stars, by Sophie Kinsella. Random House, $36.99
Everybody’s favourite credit card bandit Becky Brandon hits Hollywood in the latest story of shopping ’til someone drops from Sophie, who was inspired by her own film experience in Tinseltown. Hopefully, she didn’t create havoc on the red carpet like Becky does as she seeks to become an A-list stylist, but if you’re in the mood for a little action on Rodeo Drive, yet lack the cash to go there and splurge yourself, this could glam up your stack of beachside reading.
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Leaving Time, by Jodi Picoult. Allen & Unwin, $36.99
This semi-whodunnit by the popular author is about sassy teen Jenna, whose mum went missing when she was a tot, around the same time as her dad lost his marbles and was institutionalised. Determined to unravel the mystery of whether her mother is dead or alive, Jenna employs a psychic and an ex-cop to track her down, with surprising results. There are a lot of elephants in this book, but I confess I skipped most of those bits. I’m more of a monkey person.

Not That Kind of Girl, by Lena Dunham. HarperCollins, $34.99
I’m a big fan of Lena Dunham’s TV show Girls and thought she was as cute as a button on Graham Norton, so was always going to get this book, but Bossypants by Tina Fey it ain’t. For a start, it’s not very funny but it is enlightening, especially if you want to get inside the reality of being a clever, extremely open, well-to-do miss coming of age in downtown Manhattan. It’s kind of mind-boggling, but then this precocious undisputed talent is known for pushing the envelope.

Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty. Pan MacMillan, $37.99
How can anyone resist a novel about bitchy school mums – especially when you know right from the very beginning that there’s been a murder on trivia night at the beautiful, beachside Pirriwee Primary School and practically everyone is a suspect? I loved The Husband’s Secret by this author, but I think this story about small-town secrets is even better. Highly recommended.

Us, by David Nicholls. Hachette, $36.99
My favourite of the year comes from the pen of the guy who brought us the big hit One Day. Douglas is a good-hearted but buttoned-up husband to Connie, who wants to leave him, and father to Albie, 18, who thinks he’s a dick. The family dynamic doesn’t make the planned grand tour of Europe seem like a very good idea, but Douglas is determined they will go on it anyway and Us is the very heart-warming, very funny, oddly real result.

The Children Act, by Ian McEwan. Random House, $36.99
I was drawn towards this book mostly by its brevity. What can I say? I’m shallow that way. Sometimes my delicate little wrists get tired from holding up the bigger books. Fiona Maye is a family court judge whose husband flies the coop just as an intriguing new case enters her life. My book club and other book clubs loved this, which is why I’m including it, but to be honest, what I mostly liked about it was what drew me to it in the first place.

The Woman Who Stole My Life, by Marian Keyes. Penguin, $37
I’d read sudoku puzzle books if Marian had filled them in – indeed, if you follow her on Twitter, you’ll know that even with only 140 characters at her disposal, she’s a scream. Despite her ongoing battle with depression, she’s pulled another rabbit out of the hat with this story of a failed novelist with a serious health issue and a deads*** husband. There’s a secret, a love affair and the hilarity for which we know and love this Irish treasure.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Allen & Unwin, $28.99
I so did not guess the major twist in this story of Rosemary, a college student separated from her “twin” sister Fern, although when I passed it on to the Ginger, he picked it up almost immediately. Long-listed for the Booker Prize (as was Us), it’s a funny, clever book that poses intriguing questions about family fractures but is not at all up itself.

The One Plus One, by Jojo Moyes. Penguin, $37
Jojo broke all our hearts with her bestseller Me Before You, about a cranky young guy struggling to find a reason to live after a terrible motorcycle accident and the spirited young lass charged with taking care of him. You’ll love this one too, particularly if you like some laughter with your sobbing. Jess is a struggling solo mum with a complicated family who doesn’t quite know what to do when an unexpected knight in somewhat rusty armour turns up on her doorstep.
