Jetting away this month and need a good read? Let Loose take the pressure off. Here, we list our top five books this August.
Happy Hour, Marlowe Granado
No plot, just vibes. Isa and best friend Gala enter New York City at the beginning of summer, and they're determined to make ends meet to keep up their party girl lifestyle. The language is difficult to digest at times, and it may seem boring if you need a plot, but if you want a book about the vibes of summer in New York, this is the one. 2.5/5 ★
Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid
On the night of the famous end-of-summer party, the Riva siblings’ secrets finally come to light. An immersive read perfect for the beach. Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, strikes again. 4/5 ★
The White Album, Joan Didion
A collection of essays by the iconic Joan Didion, the voice of the sixties. The White Album explores a shift in Californian culture following the Manson family murders, alongside tales of Didion's life. 3/5 ★
Black Swans, Eve Babitz
Essays depicting Eve Babitz’ glamorous, hedonistic life in the 80s/90s. If you like memoirs, short stories, or anything to do with Hollywood, you'll love this. Babitz is a symbol of groupie culture in 60s/70s Hollywood, and this collection of essays give bite-sized novels that always hit. 5/5 ★
And our pick...
Cleopatra and Frankenstein, Coco Mellors
Cleo, a starving artist with an eccentric sense of style, meets Frank, an advertising mogul, on New Year's Eve. Six months later, they’re married; Cleopatra and Frankenstein depicts the story of the couple’s marriage, from start to end. A great read with characters that stay with you, long after the last sentence. 5/5 ★