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Article  •  1 February 2024

 

What you should read in February and why

Thrills, romance, fantasy and a novel collaboratively written by a collection of literary legends; check out our top reads for February!

Fourteen Days No Author

If you like literary experiments and a cast of brilliant characters, Fourteen Days might be for you. Set in a New York apartment building over lockdown this is a surprising and heartwarming novel with an unusual twist: each character in this diverse, eccentric cast of New York neighbors has been secretly written by a different, major literary voice! Life-affirming and, of course, beautifully written.

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The Book of Doors Gareth Brown

If you were a fan of the Night Circus then you'll probably enjoy The Book of Doors, a thrilling contemporary fantasy. New York bookseller Cassie Andrews finds herself in possession of a mysterious and magical book. But where there is magic there is power and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess it. Cassie's about to find out that some books are worth killing for.

 

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The Other Bridget Rachael Johns

If you're looking to fill the Emily Henry shaped rom-com hole in your TBR pile try The Other Bridget! Named after another hopeless romantic, librarian Bridget Jones believes that connecting books to their readers is her superpower. If only her love life was that easy. A sweet, smart and warm romantic comedy complete with love triangles, misunderstandings and all of the feels.

 

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The Fury Alex Michaelides

If modern-day Agatha Christie type twists and turns are what you're craving, you might like The Fury. A masterfully paced murder mystery about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder. Multiple motives to kill, a location to die for, and a locked room mystery to keep you guessing until the shocking finale. 

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Lonely For You Only Monica Murphy

If BookTok hasn't steered you wrong yet, you should try Lonely for You Only. In this swoon-worthy new adult romance, young heiress Scarlett Lancaster and disgraced former pop star Tate Ramsey agree to fake a relationship for their mutual benefit. A sizzling love story filled with the banter, chemistry and sexual tension Monica Murphy's readers have come to expect.

 

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The Murder Inn James Patterson, Candice Fox

If you're after guaranteed thrills you can't go past The Murder Inn. Since leaving the Boston Police Department, Bill Robinson has run The Inn by the Sea, offering a safe home for his long-term guests. But now, two murderers are heading to Bill’s door. One needs his help to evade the cops. The other plans to kill again to silence the truth. Standing in their way are the residents of the Inn. And not everyone will get out alive.

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Bird Child and Other Stories Patricia Grace

If you want to escape into beautifully written New Zealand stories, try Patricia Grace's latest collection. In Bird Child and Other Stories, mythology and contemporary Maori life are woven together seamlessly by an icon of literature in Aotearoa. The titular story ‘Bird Child’ plunges you deep into Te Kore, an ancient time before time. In another, the formidable goddess Mahuika, Keeper of Fire, becomes a doting mother and friend. 

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