There are plenty of new books to enjoy this month
April is a good month for book lovers(Image: Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)
With the Easter bank holiday weekend just around the corner and brighter weather on the horizon, you may well be on the hunt for a cracking read to enjoy between chocolate eggs and hot cross buns. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of new titles to choose from, hitting shelves this week and beyond.
From a highly anticipated tradwife satire to a Knives Out-style whodunit set on a remote Scottish island, there’s something fresh for every reader. Here are some of the finest books landing this month, spanning thriller, literary fiction, fantasy, horror and romance. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.
1. The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
Six struggling authors are handed the opportunity of a lifetime after a world-famous author dies, leaving his final novel unfinished. Invited to the author’s private island, they’re given 72 hours to write an ending worthy of the most-anticipated book in history.
But why have they been selected to attend? And just how far would they go to secure a spot on the bestseller list?
A thoroughly gripping locked-room thriller that draws you in from the very opening chapter and keeps you hooked right until the final page, The Ending Writes Itself is well worth picking up this spring, whether you’re a seasoned mystery fan or new to the genre.
The Ending Writes Itself publishes April 7.
2. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke(Image: Talya Honebeek)
Natalie embraces a traditional lifestyle — and her Instagram account is testament to that. She lives in a picturesque farmhouse on her working ranch alongside her devoted cowboy husband and gorgeous family. Never mind the nannies, producers and industrial-grade appliances tucked away behind the scenes. What Natalie’s followers don’t know can’t hurt them.
Then, one morning, Natalie awakens in a bizarre version of her reality. The year appears to be 1805. Is it a hoax? A reality show? A test from God?
Destined to be a firm favourite with book clubs up and down the country, Yesteryear is the ultimate page-turner, offering razor-sharp commentary on family blogging culture and ‘trad wife’ influencers, with a twist that’ll leave you absolutely gobsmacked.
Yesteryear publishes April 9.
3. This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
A woman finds herself thrust into the merciless fantasy world from her beloved book series in This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, the first instalment in a brand-new fantasy series from bestselling husband-and-wife writing duo Ilona Andrews. When Maggie awakens cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it takes her little time to recognise Kair Toren — a city she knows inside out from the pages of a notoriously unfinished dark fantasy series she’s been obsessively reading and rereading while waiting years for the final novel.
Her only weapons for navigating this gritty world? Her vast knowledge of the plot, the setting and the characters’ ambitions and destinies. Yet while she swiftly discovers she cannot be killed, the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she’s growing to adore.
She soon finds herself tangled up in the scheming of rival princes, dukes and villains, alongside a ragtag band of allies including a deadly assassin and a dangerously alluring soldier. But can she rescue everyone from the catastrophic war that only she knows is coming?
This is a brilliant portal fantasy packed with fascinating characters, richly developed lore and history, and a breathlessly action-packed plot that will have you tearing through the chapters.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me publishes April 2.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews(Image: Talya Honebeek)
4. Fruit Fly by Josh Silver
It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of battling writer’s block, she’s desperate to revive her career – and fast. Enter Leo: a young, struggling addict sleeping rough under bridges and trading sex for survival.
Vulnerable and enigmatic, he’s precisely what Mallory has been searching for. But as she sets about telling his story, dark secrets emerge that threaten to destroy far more than just her career. How far will Mallory go to craft the perfect story?
Fruit Fly juggles weighty themes and complex characters with dark humour, all while asking who truly owns a story.
Fruit Fly publishes April 23.
5. Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
When a troubled young man and a rebellious eighteenth-century female samurai discover each other through a doorway connecting their worlds, both are desperately seeking answers.
Yet what awaits them in the groaning old house they inhabit together is far more chilling than either could ever have anticipated.
A breath of fresh air in the haunted house horror genre, this is an unsettling yet strikingly beautiful tale that will have you glued to the pages well past bedtime.
Japanese Gothic publishes April 30.
6. Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
A woman is coerced into carrying out a crime in a desperate bid to rescue her kidnapped teenage daughter in the latest gripping thriller from Famous Last Words and Wrong Place Wrong Time author Gillian McAllister.
Simone’s trip to Texas was supposed to be some much-needed quality time with her daughter Lucy. But on the very first night she awakens to find Lucy gone – with only a mobile phone left in her place. As Simone steels herself to follow the kidnapper’s demands, she knows there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to save Lucy. But becoming a wanted woman is only the beginning…
A nail-biting, breakneck story about just how far we’ll go for those we love, Caller Unknown is an absolute essential read.
Caller Unknown publishes April 9.
7. Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan
Set in the aftermath of the First World War, magic has all but vanished from the world. Mouse Dunne once harboured dreams of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but a single telegram shattered her world entirely. At the Somme, her cousin Bertie’s body was swallowed by the mud, while her brother Roger returned home broken by devastating shell shock. She knew it was time to abandon her childhood fantasies.
Then comes the unexpected news that her uncle has bequeathed her Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor nestled in the English countryside, once blessed by the Faerie King himself. There is, however, a catch: unless Mouse restores the house within a month, she will lose her inheritance and any chance of providing for her brother.
The task seems utterly hopeless, until a mysterious Faerie arrives with a tantalising proposition. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie — particularly one so infuriatingly handsome and arrogant — yet she has no other choice. Dark and magical forces are stirring within the house, and Mouse must face the demons of her past… or risk losing everything.
Thistlemarsh is a captivating tale brimming with dangerous bargains and unforgettable characters. Fans of historical fantasy with a dash of romance and a richly atmospheric backdrop are sure to absolutely love it.
Thistlemarsh publishes April 23.
8. The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe(Image: Talya Honebeek)
In the hushed surroundings of her therapist’s consulting room in 1960s London, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself laying bare secrets she’d rather keep buried. Giving up her thriving modelling career to become the perfect wife to her husband Henry has left her feeling hollow and unfulfilled. Her mother-in-law is pushing for a grandchild that Evelyn has no desire to provide. And each night she is tormented by a recurring nightmare in which she transforms into a snake devouring its own tail.
As Evelyn’s sessions with the mysterious Dr. Daley raise more questions than they resolve, her fascination with him spirals into full-blown obsession. But is her therapist genuinely offering the help she so desperately needs, or is she being played?
A gripping exploration of power and obsession, this is a chillingly masterful historical psychological thriller that whisks you back to 1963 London, leaving you deeply unsettled long after the final page.
The Model Patient publishes April 9.
9. The Lies of Lena by Kylie Snow
In Tovagoth, Mages like Lena Daelyra live in constant fear of persecution, and even after escaping to Otacia, Lena keeps her magical abilities concealed. That is, until she begins to develop feelings for Quinn Callon, a sharp-tongued swordsman who teaches Lena to fight, entirely unaware of the truth she harbours.
Meanwhile, Silas La’Rune, Crown Prince of Otacia, has been confined within the Kingdom’s castle since his sister’s murder. When tragedy wrenches Lena away from Quinn, her path collides with Silas’, with the very fate of Magekind resting in their hands. With accessible worldbuilding, a distinctive magic system and plenty of jaw-dropping plot twists, this has everything you could possibly desire in a dark romantasy. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand.
The Lies of Lena publishes April 9.
10. No Ghosts by Max Lury
Kieran and Harlow’s best friend Annie vanished a year ago. And now, so have the ghosts.
Reunited at Annie’s memorial, Kieran and Harlow embark on separate searches for their missing friend, while simultaneously attempting to mend their fractured friendship. Their individual journeys take them through a world that feels both familiar and eerily distant as they seek to uncover the truth behind Annie’s – and the ghosts’ – disappearance.
A must-read for Severance fans, No Ghosts is a surreal, deeply moving and thought-provoking page-turner. An absolute gem for anyone with a passion for speculative fiction.
No Ghosts publishes April 16.
11. How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles
Pining for Bridgerton and searching for something to keep you going until the next series? Step forward Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte. The son of a French noblewoman unjustly convicted for a notorious crime, Nico is determined to raise the funds to salvage her reputation. Or so he claims.
Fortunately, he discovers the perfect opportunity in Titus Pilcrow, an unassuming shopkeeper who accidentally wed an extraordinarily wealthy woman on her deathbed and now finds himself the target of every fraudster and scrounger in London. Titus is Nico’s golden ticket to riches… until he finds himself falling for the very man he’s attempting to swindle. Hilarious hijinks and a heartfelt romance make this a fresh, fun springtime read.
How to Fake it in Society publishes April 30.
12. The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer(Image: Talya Honebeek)
Macy Mullins is desperate for work. After an seemingly endless series of unsuccessful interviews, things are reaching breaking point. So when she stumbles across a vaguely ominous job listing for a caretaker role covering just three days, she feels she has little option but to throw her hat in the ring.
Yet what begins as a peculiar side job swiftly descends into a living nightmare. An unfathomable evil may lurk on the grounds, and Macy might be the only thing standing between it and the whole of humanity.
With a creeping sense of dread and no shortage of spine-chilling twists and turns, The Caretaker is ideal for any horror enthusiast seeking a story that will linger in their mind long after they’ve turned the final page.
The Caretaker publishes April 23.
13. Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai
A devoted daughter will stop at nothing to rescue her father, taking on a perilous assignment travelling through hostile territory to track down a missing prince.
Yet with vengeful spirits, enemy spies and dark secrets threatening to put Siying’s father, and their entire kingdom, in grave danger, their voyage is fraught with hazards.
This debut seamlessly weaves folklore with adventure to craft a richly detailed Chinese-inspired fantasy world, tailor-made for devotees of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Boasting a grumpy x sunshine romance with a twist and a captivating mystery, this is simply not to be missed.
Deathly Fates publishes April 23.
