The new books to look forward to in 2023
The best new fiction and non-fiction to look forward to this year, including Margaret Atwood, Prince Harry, Robert Thorogood and more
In the words of American musician and composer Frank Zappa, there are ‘so many books, so little time’. And, as a new year begins, those words still ring true. With the publishing schedule for the year ahead set to feature fan favourites such as Margaret Atwood, widely anticipated tell-all hardbacks (thank you, Prince Harry), and new debuts from up-and-coming writers, there’s plenty to get excited about in the world of books.
Whether you’re a seasoned bibliophile or settled on ‘read more’ as one of your New Year’s resolutions, our guide to the best new books coming out in 2023 is here to help you expand your library with novels, biographies and must-reads you’ll actually enjoy.
The best new fiction for 2023
Death Comes To Marlow by Robert Thorogood
From the creator of the BBC One smash-hit series Death in Paradise comes the second instalment in The Marlow Murder Club Mysteries. After the original became a bestseller last year, Thorogood’s new novel, publishing on 5 January, is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year, with thousands having been pre-ordered ahead of publication. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, Death Comes to Marlow follows the lives of Judith, Suzie and Becks — an unlikely crime-busting trio living in leafy Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Following last year’s events, the trio are looking forward to a bit of downtime until they discover another suspicious murder.
Looking Out For Love by Sophia Money-Coutts
Lovers of Bridget Jones, say hello to Sophia Money-Coutts — a writer recently dubbed one of the best romcom authors of the decade. Previously a journalist at Tatler and the Daily Mail, Money-Coutts changed tack to kickstart a career as a book author and now has five novels to her name. In Looking Out For Love (publishing 2 February), Stella Shakespeare wants to find The One but, at 32, has struggled to find anything of the sort. When a dashing man walks into her life, it seems like everything is falling into place until Stella starts to question whether she’s really in love with him, or just the idea of romance. This is a heartwarmingly funny novel from an author who has taken the world of romcoms by storm — and is definitely one to watch in the future.
The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore
Pegged as one of the best debuts of the year, Georgina Moore’s new novel is a moving story of sisterhood set against the backdrop of the beautiful Isle of Wight. Having worked as an award-winning publicist for more than two decades (alongside big names including Hillary Clinton, Patrick Gale and Maggie O’Farrell), Moore finally decided to put pen to paper for her own novel, publishing on 16 February. When their father walked out, sisters Rachel, Imogen and Sasha Garnett were left to look after their heartbroken mother as she shut herself away from the world. Here, Moore creates an intense portrait of three young women trying to navigate life from the remnants of a broken family and questions whether you can ever truly be free of your parents’ mistakes.
A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James
From the internationally-acclaimed author of Mothers and Daughters, which became a Sunday Times bestseller, A Secret Garden Affair is a heartbreaking but glorious tale of love and secrets by Erica James, publishing on 30 March. The story is inspired by one of England’s most ground-breaking garden designers and socialites, Norah Lindsay — a woman who seemed to have it all until her marriage collapsed. James’s new novel follows Libby as she discovers her husband-to-be in bed with her best friend in the early 1980s. She flees London and seeks the comfort of Larkspur House and its lively older residents, Elfrida and Bess. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Elfrida and Bess’ minds turn to the past, revealing secrets, romances, and tragedies.
Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood
A collection of 15 stories featuring a glorious literary cast, from George Orwell to Martha Gellhorn, this is the perfect book for literary types to sink their teeth into this year. Atwood’s wild imagination is at its best in Old Babes in the Wood as she takes you on a journey underpinned by the narrative of a married couple navigating life together. However, it comes with its twists and turns. Think beloved cats, a confused snail, Martha Gellhorn, George Orwell, philosopher-astronomer-mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria and an alien tasked with retelling human fairy tales. Published on 7 March, don’t say we didn’t warn you…
The best non-fiction of 2023
Eat More Vegan by Annie Rigg
Publishing just in time for Veganuary on 5 January, Annie Rigg’s latest cookbook details 80 plant-based recipes she promises everyone will love. As a Leith’s-trained chef who’s worked for Delia Smith, and is part of the Great British Bake Off team, Rigg knows a thing or two about food and has recently turned her hand to vegan ingredients. In six chapters, Rigg reveals her favourite recipes, including Insta-friendly sushi sandwiches, inventive salads including black rice with chargrilled sweet potatoes, Brussels sprout slaw and freekeh tabbouleh, ingenious spring onion pancakes and jackfruit bao buns for party dining. Veganuary has never been easier. You can thank us later…
Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Already one of the most talked about books of 2023, Spare is Prince Harry’s memoir of life inside the Royal Family — and outside of it. It follows the key moments of the prince’s life, from walking behind his mother’s coffin to marrying Meghan Markle. It’s rumoured to contain a few bombshells, with its publication date moved to 10 January after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Gennaro's Cucina by Gennaro Contaldo
Gennaro Contaldo’s warmth, Italian spirit and delicious recipes have led him to become one of the UK’s most-loved chefs. A former mentor to Jamie Oliver and proprietor of award-winning Italian restaurants, his new cookbook, publishing on 2 February, Contaldo revisits a childhood of seasonal diets and imaginative methods of preservation to make simple dishes go further, including salting, drying and curing. In this inspirational cookbook, Contaldo takes you on a culinary journey of regional basic Italian staples and turns them into beautiful meals. From Sicilian chickpea fritters to lentil soups and bread salads to more elaborate filled vegetables and simple sweet biscotti, this book is essential for expanding your Italian culinary knowledge.
Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition by Munroe Bergdorf
In Transitional, writer and trans activist Munroe Bergdorf assesses how transitioning, in all its shapes and forms, is a normal part of human life. Drawing on her own experiences and the expertise of other professionals and activists, Bergdorf creates an intimate and life-affirming exploration (publishing 16 February) of how societies and individuals can heal, become stronger and become more forgiving.
Dispatches from the Diaspora by Gary Younge
Best known for his work as editor-at-large at the Guardian, British journalist Gary Younge has experienced some of the biggest events and most significant personalities to impact the Black diaspora over the past three decades. From accompanying Nelson Mandela on his first election campaign and joining celebrations in Chicago during Obama’s victory, to visiting New Orleans days after Hurricane Katrina and interviewing Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Younge has witnessed first hand the highs and lows for Black communities across the world in recent times. In just 350 pages, Younge examines and condenses a powerful portrait on race, racism and Black life into what has been rumoured to be one of the best books of the year. Out 16 March.
Home: The Way We Live Now by Kate Watson-Smyth
Think beyond the floorplan of your home with the help of award-winning interiors journalist Kate Watson-Smyth. From the lens of a post-pandemic world, Watson-Smyth looks at how to accommodate the “new normal”, whether you own or rent, with advice on flexible office spaces, garden sheds, moveable storage versus built-in, and how to use the space you have to revolutionise the way you live. Through detailed graphs, intricate illustrations and handy tips, discover how to make the most of a small bathroom, how much space you should ideally have between a coffee table and a sofa, and even how far away from the TV you should sit depending on its size. Perfect for the budding interior designer, this book is published on 27 April.
Growing at Greenfields by Diana Yates
Is 2023 the year you’ll finally turn attention to your garden? Be inspired by Diana Yates, who spent a year nurturing the garden of her Scottish home, Greenfields, into a beautiful fruit and vegetable harvest ground. In her book, out on 11 May (just in time for spring), Yates proves that gardening doesn’t require too much expertise and that the UK’s inclement weather shouldn’t stop the green-fingered among us getting stuck in. She shows that anyone can raise their own veg, create a plant theatre, cook seasonally and decorate spaces using home-grown dried or fresh flowers. Guided by the seasons, there are helpful checklists of essential garden tasks, advice on seeds and cuttings, how to store your precious produce, planting for wildlife and more. Yates also shares her favourite garden-to-table family recipes so you can show off your produce to full effect.
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