Books of the Month September 2025

Books of the Month - September

This month's books selection brings a fantastic mix, perfect for anyone wondering what to read in September. From gripping crime thrillers and page-turning psychological dramas to heartfelt memoirs, quirky non-fiction, and inspiring autobiographies, there's something for everyone. 

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The Holder of Hope by Hannah Treave. Firefighter Ava has always been driven by a quiet mission, when she finds precious keepsakes in the wreckage of fires, she returns them to those who have lost everything. But when she takes in Cassie and her young son after a blaze destroys their home, Ava begins facing her own brokenness. Struggling with the strain of failed IVF treatments and yearning to understand her birth family, Ava embarks on a journey to Ireland that will unravel painful truths and unexpected connections. Treave writes with tenderness, capturing both the ache of absence and the fragile beauty of found family. This is a heartfelt story about what it means to lose, to love, and to discover that sometimes what we seek has been with us all along. Published 21st August 2025 by Canelo. Paperback £9.99. Order here

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan. A taut thriller spanning thirty years. In 1994, rookie Garda Julia Harte stumbles into a nightmare: a serial killer is loose in Cork, leaving her scarred by what she witnesses that night. Haunted for decades, Julia builds an impressive career but retreats into seclusion upon retirement, desperate for peace. Then, in 2024, the murders begin again, eerily mirroring the crimes from her past. Called back into action, Julia must confront both an elusive killer and her darkest memories. Jordan masterfully balances atmospheric dread with the grit of police work, giving readers a heroine forged by pain yet unwilling to yield. This is an immersive, chilling page-turner with a protagonist determined to outwit evil one last time. Published 11th September 2025 by HarperCollins. Paperback £9.99. Order here

What the Wife Knew by Lia Middleton. A razor-sharp psychological thriller that plays with truth, deception, and the fragile façade of marriage. Frank stands accused of murdering his wife, but his shocking defence is that she took her own life. His lawyer, Harry, faces the career-defining challenge of proving Frank’s innocence - even as doubts creep in. But Harry’s wife, Piear, carries a secret that could unravel everything: the trial, their relationship, and the version of events everyone believes. Full of tension questioning loyalty, perception, and how far people will go to protect the ones they love, or themselves. Each revelation peels back another layer of lies. Twisty, unsettling, and emotionally charged, it will keep you guessing until the very last page. Published 25th September 2025 by Penguin Books. Paperback £9.99. Order here

Why Is Downing Street Painted Black? by Jonnie Fielding. Read about London’s quirks, oddities, and hidden histories. With 365 bite-sized facts—one for each day of the year, bringing the city alive through charming trivia and offbeat tales. Did you know you can’t dine as a group of 13 at the Savoy without a feline guest? Or that 'Bond Street' doesn’t technically exist? Fielding has spent 15 years as a walking tour guide, and his passion for the city’s eccentricities shines through every page. This book is part history, part pub-quiz cheat sheet, and all joy. Enhanced with illustrations, it’s perfect for Londoners who think they know it all or dreamers enchanted by the capital from afar. Lighthearted yet informative, Fielding reignites wonder for one of the world’s most fascinating, and delightfully peculiar, cities. Published 25th September 2025 by HarperCollins. Hardback £14.99. Order here

Inside the Cartel by Martin Suarez with Ian Frisch. An undercover FBI agent, spending years infiltrating the world’s most dangerous Colombian cartels under the alias “Manny”, Martin is trusted by ruthless narcos. He smuggled billions’ worth of cocaine, laundered millions of dirty dollars, and exposed shadowy financial networks implicating banks, corporations, and politicians. Yet behind the smooth-talking persona lay a man torn between duty and family, risking not just his life but his identity. Written with Ian Frisch, the book crackles with tension, immersing readers in the perilous duplicity of undercover work. It’s not just about crime and cartels—it’s about resilience, sacrifice, and how living a double life leaves scars that never fade. Published 25th September 2025 by HarperCollins. Hardback £25. Order here

Inside: Winning. Losing. Starting again by Boris Becker. Once a global tennis icon, Wimbledon champion at 17, six-time Grand Slam winner - Becker had it all: fame, wealth, and the adoration of millions. But his glittering career crashed when financial ruin and personal mistakes led to his 2022 imprisonment. Here, Becker strips away the veneer, recounting life as inmate A2923EV in two of the UK’s toughest prisons. He writes candidly about humiliation, survival, and how he turned to Stoicism and reflection to endure. Yet this isn’t just a prison memoir—it’s a story of resilience and reinvention. Becker confronts his flaws with brutal honesty, acknowledging the choices that cost him dearly, while clinging to hope of rebuilding. Emotional, raw, and unexpectedly philosophical, Inside is the gripping story of a fallen champion finding his way back. Published 25th September 2025 by HarperCollins. Hardback £25. Order here

No Other Place: My Autobiography by George North. An inspiring, heartfelt reflection on one of rugby’s modern greats. With 121 caps, 47 tries, and a reputation as a powerhouse on the field, North is a legend of Welsh rugby. Now retired from the international game, he looks back on the extraordinary journey that took him from Anglesey to global sporting stages. Co-written with Tom Fordyce, the book combines insight, honesty, and warmth, capturing North’s competitive fire alongside his natural charisma. From the thrill of his debut try at 18 to the gruelling demands of professional rugby, his story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. More than a career retrospective, this autobiography reveals the sacrifices, resilience, and passion behind greatness. For fans of rugby, or just great human stories, North’s voice is as compelling as his play. Published 11th September 2025 by HarperCollins. Hardback £22. Order here

The Last Laugh Club by Steve Jones. Delivering dark humour with heart, this is a tale that blends crime, comedy, and mortality. Former policeman Ray “Sugar” Leonard is battling cancer and enduring group therapy with an unlikely cast: a bouncer, a wannabe tycoon, and a foul-mouthed old woman. Life already feels bleak. until a mugging goes wrong and Ray’s old instincts kick in, leaving his attacker dead. Suddenly, Ray wonders if justice might become his final calling. With gallows humor and grit, Jones explores morality, mortality, and what we do when time is running out. Ray’s voice, world-weary yet sharply witty, makes him an unforgettable anti-hero. Equal parts tragic and hilarious, the novel asks: if you’ve got nothing left to lose, what’s stopping you from rewriting the rules? Published 4th September 2025 by Penguin Books. Paperback £9.99. Order here

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