It’s been twenty years since her mother was photographed, blood-soaked, outside the family home. A famous TV food personality, she fled the country. Since that time, the girl has grown up. She’s bought an apartment, learned her own cooking style, fallen in love. She lives a quiet life, working as a copywriter for a health insurance company. She’s found happiness, finally.

But strange things are in the air. Her easygoing boyfriend has started sleeping with men. Her mother is selling the infamous family home. And a glamorous, pregnant neighbour has moved into the apartment downstairs, calling into question everything the girl believes about her own desires.

Among conspiracies, dubious loyalties, and mercenary impulses, how do we work out who is worthy of our devotion and who is just a fan? Shirley charts a search for meaning in a world where the fracturing of ambitions – work and purpose, real estate and home, family and love – has left us uncertain how to recognise ourselves.

Popularised by the Dunbar Number, which suggests that our cognitive limit for maintaining stable social relationships is around 150 people, this book is a fascinating if highly cerebral and scientific take on friendship, trust, loneliness and social cohesion. Its academic exploration provides a practical guide  and homage to human connection for anyone looking to understand the nuances of friendship groups.

Promoted as a book to counteract self-sabotage, it actually covers many aspects of life including happiness, decluttering, denial, procrastination, finding inner peace, trusting yourself and so on. If you are an avid self help book reader it may feel like many well-worn concepts that have been repackaged into a booklet without chapters that speaks like the Tao Te Ching. While we may well be responsible for our own lives, the emphasis on personal responsibility could feel overwhelming or dismissive of the complex factors that contribute to mental health struggles, including the society we operate in.

This a dense, well researched and thought-provoking book written in a pacy approachable and inquisitive way. The author makes a solidly built case that the universal components of human experience are not emotions, but changes on a continuum of arousal on the one hand, and pleasantness and unpleasantness on the other. Ultimately we are all creating our world from moment to moment.

This is a practical, realistic and very honest approach to relationships based on Matthew being devastated by his own divorce which he really didn’t see coming as he thought he was a ‘good guy’. With a strong emphasis on active listening and practicing gratitude for your partner to build emotional connection, this book has something that all relationships, married or not, can get some good take away messages and practises from.

Many people think you can get the gist of this book by reading Gemma’s article featured in Harper’s Bazaar in 2017, however, her follow up book to the article is well worth the read. There are many fantastic quotes to reflect on, but the biggest take away is making the invisible, visible. The domestic labour divide is visible and correctable, emotional labour, not so easily defined, until now. “Emotional labour is emotional management and life management combined. It is the unpaid, invisible work we do to keep those around us comfortable and happy.” If the well thumbed copy from the library is anything to go by, this book resonates!

This book invites us to question the way we have been taught to think of value. It is well researched and sheds a timely light on the hidden toll of emotional labour. It clearly articulates the gender bias and misogyny underlying what the author calls “extractive emotional capitalism.” The book investigates the roots of gender inequality but also provides answers to the concern.

This is a simple but very clear book that has aesthetically pleasing illustrations by the author, making the information easy to absorb and ensures that the content is not overwhelming. A great tool or resource for diagnosed or undiagnosed people with ADHD and for their friends and family to make sense of and understand their experience.

This highly approachable book is empathetic, accessible and filled with real life scenarios. Its non-judgemental tone encourages readers to be open about approaching common fears and taboos surrounding sex. The relatable tone helps to explore and articulate sexual desires and boundaries, as well as understanding a partner’s needs.

A riveting, engaging, candid and honest personal story and broader exploration of how deception operates in relationships. Offering insightful analysis of the emotional and psychological effects of being deceived, this book will resonate with many as it addresses universal themes of trust and identity, referencing wider global stories of a similar nature.

The central theme of this book is the concept of living an undivided life, where one's inner truth aligns with their outer actions. The writing is both poetic and accessible, weaving together personal anecdotes, philosophical reflections, and practical advice that is engaging and thought-provoking. Highly recommend if you are looking to bridge the gap between your inner and outer worlds and to live with greater purpose and integrity.

Combining expertise in clinical psychology with holistic health, this book reflects the idea that cultivating self-love and self-compassion can transform your relationships with others. Key concepts are understanding and healing your past, cultivating self-love and developing self-awareness. Huge on Instagram Nicole, aka the Holistic Psychologist provides in depth insight into living a more authentic life.

Based on extensive research with numerous studies and personal anecdotes, this beautiful, hopeful and practical book explores the science behind the emotion of awe, which is defined as the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that transcends our understanding of the world.

A thorough and very well researched book which brings gender data bias to the forefront of public discourse. Covering public transport, urban design, the dangerous gap in health care and more, this book is a significant call to action, awareness & advocacy to create a more inclusive world for the 50% of women who inhabit the planet.

A super clear, truthful, liberating and accessible book. Accesses our why and how to truly embody pleasure. Introduces a radical paradigm called sexual intelligence which is classified into five pillars—embodiment, health, collaboration, self-knowledge, and self-acceptance.

Challenge societal norms and redefines what it means to be truly whole. Does not offer a quick fix but takes you on a profound and considered journey of self-discovery, encouraging people to embrace all aspects of ourselves – flaws and all. Has a realistically optimistic tone and insightful wisdom which makes it highly readable and highly recommended.

A foundational book in understanding the interplay between emotions and intelligence. Provides valuable insights into improving emotional skills and emotional competence. Emphasis self-awareness and self-regulation and expands into organizations aiming to cultivate a more emotionally intelligent workforce.

Social psychologist and researcher Justin Lehmiller conducted one of the largest surveys on sexual fantasies in the United States, involving over 4,000 participants. This book aims to shed light on the nature of sexual desire, debunk myths, and provide practical advice. It’s cleverly packed with modern references to popular media, including movies, TV shows, and books, to illustrate how sexual fantasies are portrayed and perceived in modern culture.

Dr. Gabor Maté’s typically unique perspective, combines professional expertise with personal experience, making this book a compassionate, insightful, and practical guide to understanding and managing ADHD for anyone affected by ADHD, whether directly or indirectly.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to improve their dating life with insights from Angela who literally went on 100 dates. In terms of understanding the dynamics of modern romance it’s a valuable resource and for finding practical advice rooted in real-life experience and scientific research.