It's September, time to go back to school and start a new year, or just the last opportunity to enjoy a summer holiday. Whatever your plan is, we have books that can keep you company. A short story of memories and regrets, an innovative food writing memoir-cum-social commentary, a deadly plague devastating the Ottoman Empire, and a magical kids book. Our Books of the Month for September are one of our strongest selections so far. So, without further ado, let's introduce the titles we've handpicked for you this month.

From the Booker-shortlisted, Orwell Prize-winning author of Small Things Like These, a slim and moving story of memory and regret, showcasing the sheer mastery of one of the finest writers of our time.

An uneventful day and a bus journey into a long weekend are the unassuming backdrop for this powerful tale of what could have been, and what was, as Cathal leaves work and reflects on Sabine—a woman he could have spent his life with, if things had been different.

In less than 100 pages of exquisite, perfectly-sculpted prose, of secrets revealed and things left unsaid, Claire Keegan creates a world and a life: this is a writer who can distil the very essence of human existence and the way we relate with the past, giving us a tender story of missed opportunities and the what-ifs that haunt us.

  • From the author of Small Things Like These and Foster
  • 64 pages of pure literary delight
  • Stays with you long after the last page
  • Short books for the win

In the phenomenal Small Fires, Rebecca May Johnson takes you to the next level of food writing: an explosive, moving and boundary-pushing mix of memoir, criticism and cuisine—where semiotics and sausages sit comfortably side by side, where Nigella and Rilke both make perfect sense.

Using the act of cooking as a base, Johnson dives into other topics such as art, literature and psychology. From the personal to the universal, from feminism to the role of women in the kitchen, Small Fires is a dazzling exploration of what our relationship with food says about us.

Unique, impassioned and neuron-thrilling, Small Fires is an essential read that enlarges the edges of non-fiction writing.

  • Food writing like never before
  • Perfect for readers of Maggie Nelson, Olivia Laing and Rebecca Solnit
  • The story of a recipe unfolding over time
  • You'll recommend this when you're done

Evocative, vivid and beautiful, a powerful literary historical fiction of the last decades of the Ottoman Empire.

From Nobel Prize for Literature winner Orhan Pamuk, and translated into English by Ekin Oklap, Nights of Plague is an epic novel of nationalism, identity and a plague that is spreading on the imaginary island of Mingheria.

It's 1901 and the Ottoman Empire is in the midst of ethnic and religious tumults. When Princess Pakize, her doctor husband, and the Royal Chemist arrive on Mingheria they are not ready for what awaits—and for the lingering presence of death.

An historical epic to truly lose yourself in, with elements of playfulness, irony and a detective novel mystery, Pamuk summons a rich world through which fate, danger and mystery weave.

Nine years in the making, Tyger is a book of magic—magic under the streets, within ourselves, and beyond the world we see.

In an alternate version of London, where the British Empire is still in full power, we meet the young Adam Alhambra. Leaving the Soho ghetto, he is followed by peoples' looks, making him feel like he doesn't belong here, making him feel different. While looking for shelter in the backstreets he meets a magnificent talking tyger—a singular beast, regal and wise, who sends him on a journey that takes him deep within himself and beyond, to the battle between immortal powers and the destiny of worlds.

S. F. Said's incredible, immersive worldbuilding and Dave McKean's stunning pen illustrations come together to perfection in this magical and relevant story that is destined to become a classic of children's literature.

  • Foyles Children's Book of the Year 2022
  • A perfect read for children aged 9-12 and adults alike
  • From the author and illustrator of the beloved Varjak Paw
  • Magic, mystery and an immersive world