Fine autumn reads

From insightful non‑fiction to exciting page‑turners, here are the books to fall in love with this autumn.

THE PANIC YEARS by Nell Frizzell

Somewhere between grappling with periods and the onset of menopause, every woman has to confront the biggest decision of all: whether or not to have a baby. Frizzell calls this period ‘The Panic Years’ and her book is a journey through hers. Described as hilarious and disarmingly honest, it’s not simply a memoir but a push to start a conversation about this critical juncture in life.

A BRIGHT RAY OF DARKNESS by Ethan Hawke

Hawke’s first novel in almost 20 years tells the struggle of a young actor making his Broadway debut as his marriage collapses. He harbours a vague hope of reconciliation and, as he tries to manage the chaos of his life, the challenge of playing Hotspur in a production of Henry IV becomes his saviour. The book offers a transfixing story about art, love, fame and heartbreak.

SHIVER by Allie Reynolds

Former freestyle snowboarder Allie Reynolds delivers what publisher Hachette declares “a spectacularly sinister psychological debut”. Five friends who haven’t seen each other for ten years meet up for a reunion in the French Alps, only to realise they don’t know who invited them and to discover they are stranded. This fast-paced whodunnit thriller is one you won’t want to put down.

HOW TO AVOID A CLIMATE DISASTER by Bill Gates

Gates said this book is to share what he has learned from more than a decade of studying climate change with experts. He set out to clearly explain the science and outline strategies that individuals, companies and governments can take to avoid a climate disaster. The book is a road map to zero greenhouse gas emissions – a goal he acknowledges as difficult, but one he believes is achievable.

WINTERING by Katherine May

This book takes us to our darker and colder times, showing us ways to face them. For author May, wintering is “the fallow period in life when you’re cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress, or cast into the role of an outsider”. May explores ways to heal ourselves by slowing down, expanding our spare time, getting enough sleep, and resting – key ingredients for living in this overactive world.

Find your fine autumn reads at Dymocks Camberwell

Camberwell Place, Shop 110B, Level 1, 793 Burke Rd, Camberwell.