Books of the Month June 2025

BOOKS OF THE MONTH - JUNE

This month, our books take you on sizzling summer adventures and chilling mysteries, to romance and family friction. 

From Felicity Cloake’s coast-to-coast culinary quest in Peach Street to Lobster Lane to JM Hirsch’s genius no-fuss Freezer Cocktails, you’ll laugh out loud with Gill Sims’ hilariously relatable holiday chaos, feel the heat of a secret romance on reality TV in Summer of Love, and dive into gripping tales of obsession, grief, and long-buried truths. Whether you're looking for something dark and twisty or light and heart-warming, there’s a story here to match every summer mood.

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Peach Street to Lobster Lane by Felicity Cloake. Determined to prove there’s more to American cuisine than burgers and doughnuts (though she tries those too), Felicity sets off on the ultimate coast-to-coast adventure. Biking across the U.S. during an election year, she counts campaign flags and uncovers local favourites like crawfish stew and sauerkraut balls. From Memphis barbecue to Mission burritos, Italian beef to Tex-Mex-Chinese breakfast dumplings, she dives into iconic American dishes and the surprising stories behind them. In a year marked by deep political divides, Felicity explores the one thing that unites the nation: its love of food. Drawn to the sheer scale, energy, and contrasts of a country as diverse as its cuisine, she invites us to join her journey, mile by mile, meal by meal. This is not just a food tour, but a celebration of the people, places, and flavours that define America’s endlessly inventive palate. Published on June 5th 2025 by Harper Non-fiction. £16.99 Hardback. Pre-order here

Freezer Cocktails by JM Hirsch. This clever collection of 75 cocktails lets you mix drinks directly in the bottle and store them in the freezer—so your favourite cocktail is ready when you are. There’s a time for careful home mixology, but more often, we just want a quick, delicious drink with zero fuss. Pour. Sip. Simple. Build your cocktail in batches right in the spirit bottle, pop it in the freezer, and enjoy whenever the mood strikes. Whether it’s a perfectly chilled Negroni after a long day or a refreshing Mojito with friends, these freezer-ready recipes have you covered. From Margaritas and Manhattans to Cosmopolitans, Espresso Martinis, and more, this creative guide makes it easy to always have a bar-quality drink on hand. Ideal for entertaining or unwinding solo, these drinks deliver great flavour with minimal effort. Just open the freezer and enjoy—no shaker, stirring, or stress required. Published on June 5th 2025 by Hamlyn. £14.99 Hardback. Pre-order here

COOK: Serve up Joy. The first book from the frozen meals brand COOK features over 80 recipes designed to bring joy to your table—whether it’s a quick weeknight supper, a cosy night in, or a meal for a crowd. Nothing connects people like sharing good food, and the award-winning COOK kitchens know just how to make that happen. Serve Up Joy is packed with delicious, practical dishes for every occasion, from family dinners and fuss-free entertaining to vibrant salads, sides, and irresistible desserts. With kitchen wisdom and menu-planning tips throughout, it’s your go-to guide for cooking with ease and heart. Enjoy favourites like Chicken Alexander, Moroccan Lamb Tagine, Warm Prawn Noodle Salad, and indulgent rolled pavlovas. Whether you're short on time or looking to impress, these recipes make it easy. COOK’s ethos is simple: good people, good food, and the joy of sitting down together. Welcome to the table. Published on June 5th 2025 by Kyle Books. Pre-order here

Why Mummy Drinks on Holiday by Gill Sims. Ellen is on a well-earned sabbatical and has a vision: The Ultimate Family Summer. She’ll cherish every moment with her precious moppets, Peter and Jane, and her ride-or-die best friend, Hannah. Picture it—wicker baskets, vintage bikes, pink sunshine wine, and absolutely no electronic babysitters. Their not-quite-a-château in the sun is the perfect setting. But as reality barges in—tantrums, exhaustion, and chicken nuggets masquerading as tapas—Ellen’s dream starts to unravel. Can she hold onto the vision without cracking under the pressure of gentle parenting and nightly negotiations over broccoli? Or will she reach the end of her tether (and her parenting book) as the perfect summer spirals into chaos? Warm, sharp, and wickedly funny, this is a story of good intentions, guilty snacks, and the beautiful, impossible fantasy of a flawless family holiday. Because sometimes, survival is the dream. Published on June 19th 2025 by HarperCollins. £9.99. Paperback. Pre-order here

Summer of Love by Lily Easton. Oliver is Declan’s type on paper—but what about off-screen? For boxer Declan King, appearing on the UK’s Number 1 reality show, Summer of Love, will be the toughest performance of his life. To win, he has to convince five million viewers he’s searching for the perfect girl. In truth, he’s falling fast—for the wrong guy. Ballet dancer Oliver Wright needs the prize money to win back his ex, but when his on-screen bromance with Declan turns into an off-screen kiss, everything changes. As sparks fly behind the scenes, producers meddle, co-stars compete for airtime, and the nation watches their every move. Caught between fame and the truth, Oliver and Declan must decide what they’re willing to risk for love. Can they follow their hearts when the world expects something else—or will the pressure of the spotlight tear them apart? Published on 5th June 2025 by Canelo. £9.99 Paperback. Pre-order here

Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang. Mathilde is a dazzlingly talented, tortured artist on the rise—and Enka, struggling to create work that feels original, is instantly drawn to her. Their intense friendship quickly deepens, but as Mathilde’s fame grows and her art becomes more extreme, Enka becomes desperate to stay close—at any cost. She marries a billionaire whose family is funding empathy-enhancing technology that could let someone inhabit another’s mind and absorb their trauma. Enka sees a chance to truly understand Mathilde from the inside out. But as their co-dependency spirals, the line between them begins to dissolve. As reality and identity blur, a haunting chain of events is set in motion—one that neither woman can control. Dark, provocative, and deeply emotional, this is a story of obsession, art, and the dangers of losing yourself in someone else—especially when you’re no longer sure where they end, and you begin. Published on June 5th 2025 by Canelo. £14.99 Paperback. Pre-order here

Whistle by Linwood Barclay. Celebrated children’s author and illustrator Annie Blunt has had a dreadful year. After her husband dies in a tragic accident and one of her books sparks a scandal, she moves with her young son Charlie to a quiet town in upstate New York, hoping to heal. But things only get worse. Charlie, bored and lonely, discovers an old train set in a locked shed on their property. Though Annie is glad to see him smile again, the toy unnerves her. She begins hearing phantom train sounds at night—despite no tracks nearby—and strange events unfold in the neighbourhood. Even more troubling, Annie finds herself obsessively sketching a sinister new character, one that doesn’t belong in any children’s story. Grief can blur reality, but Annie starts to believe something darker is at play. She may have escaped one nightmare, but another—more terrifying one—has just begun. Published June 5th 2025 by HarperCollins £20. Paperback. Pre-order here

Believe by S.M. Govett. For ten years, Natalie has tried to move on from the two events that shattered her life: first, being assaulted by her boss; second, watching a jury find him not guilty, branding her a liar. She’s rebuilt her world piece by piece—until it begins to crumble again. Her husband, Ryan, is accused of the same crime. Natalie wants to believe him. She has to. But when the body of the young woman who made the accusation is found in the woods near their home, Ryan becomes the prime suspect—and Natalie’s certainty begins to crack. As buried trauma resurfaces and secrets come to light, Natalie finds herself spiralling into fear and confusion. Who can she trust now? Her husband? Her friends? Even herself? In a race against time and truth, Natalie must confront a past she’s long tried to bury—before it tears her entire life apart. Published on June 19th 2025 by Michael Joseph. Pre-order here

The Sugar Man by Nicolás Obregón. Dakota’s world shattered the day her best friend, Flora, was murdered—and she’s never been able to confess the dark secret she’s kept about that day. Years later, now a detective, Dakota is still haunted by guilt and trauma she can’t shake. When she’s assigned a new case, she’s shocked to find herself back in her rural hometown, face-to-face with memories she’s tried to bury. The murder she’s investigating bears chilling similarities to Flora’s death—and leads back to the same insular, Amish-like community nearby. The devout group lives by strict rules, but Dakota suspects someone among them is hiding a killer. With each step closer to the truth, long-buried secrets begin to surface. Dakota must untangle the past and present before the killer strikes again. Her job is to find a murderer. But her heart is desperate to finally learn what really happened to Flora. Published on June 5th 2025 by Michael Joseph. Pre-order here

The Favourite by Fran Littlewood. Alex, Eva, and Nancy—three adult sisters, each brilliant, flawed, and utterly unique. They’ve always believed they were loved equally by their parents, Vivienne and Patrick. But during the family’s annual holiday, everything changes. Patrick lets slip that he has a favourite daughter. Just a careless comment—or something deeper? The revelation cracks open old wounds, and long-buried tensions begin to surface. Resentments simmer. Rivalries reignite. And as the week unfolds, secrets emerge that could reshape everything they thought they knew about each other—and about their family. Set over seven intense days, The Favourite explores the shifting dynamics between siblings and the quiet heartbreaks that ripple through generations. It’s a story of loss and grief, of blame and forgiveness, of who we were, and who we’ve become. But at its heart, it’s about the fierce, complicated love that binds a family—even when everything threatens to tear it apart. Published on June 12th 2025 by Michael Joseph. Pre-order here

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