15 great new books you need to know about

You’d be forgiven for thinking six-volume memoirist Karl Ove Knausgaard had contributed enough to the literary world already. But in new novel ‘Morning Star’, the Norwegian master has now turned his hand to Stephen King-style horror – just in time for Halloween.

The tender, delicate poetry of Emily Cooper has been collected into a beautiful debut work full of longing and intimacy – and lots of wild garlic. The bright-blue cover of ‘Glass’ will make you want to leave it on your nightstand indefinitely (and gift it to your all your friends too).

Written by Warren Ellis – musician, composer and member of Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds – ‘Nina Simone’s Gum’ is a beautiful rumination on how the most banal of objects can acquire deep personal significance. It’s an intimate (and frequently profound) self-portrait.

You’ll want to savour this decidedly unsunny Italian classic, but it’s as easy to devour as a hastily scribbled email. ‘The Dry Heart’ is a dark, captivating story about a woman who falls in and out of love; a masterpiece in detachment.

First published in 1983, ‘Weird Fucks’ is a novella all about strange sexual encounters. Today, it reads just as weirdly as ever – and bonus points for the enigmatic cover, which is a decent depiction of the story within.

In ‘Small Bodies of Water’, Nan Shepherd Prize-winner Nina Mingya Powles has created a shimmering, poetic masterpiece. Her ambitious memoir – part essays, part nature writing – covers everything from languages to love, food to swimming.

A long-awaited revolt against the wellness revolution is on the cards, and ‘Comfort MOB’ is leading the charge. It’s a celebration of everything indulgent, greasy and homely. And who better to help you indulge than MOB Kitchen, the most in-vogue voice in fun, affordable cooking?

The haunted-house story meets queer Brighton in ‘Tell Me I’m Worthless’, an alternately thorny and funny debut from Alison Rumfitt. Not for the faint of heart, it’s a supernatural look at the lasting effects of trauma.

‘The Magician’ isn’t the first time Colm Tóibín has turned his hand to dramatising one of the twentieth century’s finest writers. But while 2004’s ‘The Master’ focused on the final years of Henry James, this time Tóibín reimagines the life of Thomas Mann, navigating his subject’s entire life – from his hidden homosexuality to his struggles in Nazi Germany.

No one splits opinion like Jonathan Franzen, and if the Twitter discourse is to be believed, ‘Crossroads’ is going to be picked over for years to come. Touted as the first book in a trilogy, this hazy, 1970s-set family drama is an expansive thriller that could even win over some of the sceptics.

‘The Transgender Issue’ moves away from the neverending gender ‘debate’ to focus on the reality of modern life for trans people in Britain. It’s an essential, comprehensive exploration of housing insecurity, policing, sex work, dating and more.

Billed as ‘Pacific Rim’ meets ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, ‘Iron Widow’ reimagines the age of China’s only female emperor. Combining Chinese folklore with vivid fantasy, it’s a saga of aliens and giant robots – with feminist undertones.

The latest graphic novel from Molly Knox Ostertag draws on folklore influences to weave an enchanting coming-of-age story set on a secretive island. With dazzling full-colour illustrations throughout, you’ll want to demolish every page.

‘What Artists Wear’ is as suave as a well-tailored suit. Spanning the fashion choices of artists as varied as Cindy Sherman and Yves Klein, it makes the case for sartorial reinvention (and has some extremely fun pictures of Lee Krasner’s paint-splattered loafers, too).

An urgent manifesto for tackling the climate crisis, ‘Earthshot’ makes its case with a clear, four-point action plan – and breathtaking photography. Packing starry contributions from David Attenborough, Christiana Figueres and Prince William, it’s the powerful, ambitious call to arms we all need to read.