The best new books to read this month, chosen by our literary editor

Want to escape to a new world this April? You have come to the right place. Red Books editor Sarah Shaffi has compiled her list of the month’s best reads for you to enjoy – and bookworms are spoiled for choice…

Yesterday is Caro Claire Burke

(4th Estate, £16.99) out on 9 April

Tradwife Field has been inescapable for the past year, with many intellectual entertainers shedding light on what life inside this home culture institution looks like.

It offers a lot of ideas about this method, Yesterday – the debut of the US writer Caro Claire Burke – is making its own impression, thanks to its sad humor and a good original plot. At the center of the story is Natalie, a modern-day influencer who likes to promote a simple life to her millions of followers. But when the mother – not that she ever called herself that – wakes up one day from what seems like the past, and with no fathers, producers or helpers to help her, she struggles to adapt to her craft and the needs of her children and her husband. Desperate to return to the present, all he has to do is hold on long enough to escape.

A fascinating examination of our culture’s desire to heal the “perfect” life, this is equal parts whimsical, exciting and unflinching – in the best possible way. It’s already being turned into a movie starring Anne Hathaway, and I can see why it will be a contender on many “book of the year” lists.

What Happened to Madeline Stone? by Louise O’Neill

(Bantam, £16.99, from 9 April)

Louise O’Neill returns with another complex moral tale – this time about twins, Madeline and Chelsea, in the midst of their young acting fame when one of them goes missing. Chelsea retreats from the limelight – until 25 years later, when she realizes that Madeline might still be alive. This is O’Neill at his best, tying together characters and plot with vivid commentary on fame, power and male immorality.

HQ The Ending Written by Evelyn Clarke

(HQ, £16.99, out 7 April)

A group of writers are invited to the Scottish island of writer Arthur Fletch, only to discover that he has died. Everyone has been given the task of writing the finale of their much-anticipated (and unfinished) book – now notice that they are also being chosen, one by one. There was so much I loved about this clever crime novel, from its many perspectives and island setting to the way it beautifully builds tension.

The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary

(Harvill, £16.99, from 16 April)

Detectives Joseph and Laurie are very different: she is the sole survivor of a school bus accident and has lived in Edenscar all her life, having recently arrived in the quiet Peak District town with her husband to care for her sick father. When a brutal crime occurs, the two must meet and face the ghosts of the past. It’s brilliantly clear, sad and unsettling – I can’t put this down.

Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger

(Bloomsbury Archer, £18.99, on April 9)

What if the symptoms you thought were perimenopause turned out to be a little… supernatural? In this fun and mysterious book, Ellie begins to grow a lot of body hair and have strange feelings that hormonal changes can’t explain. With all the classic feminism, this brilliant commentary on female anger is a reminder to never keep anger bottled up.

Penguin My Dear You by Rachel Khong

(Hutchinson Heinemann, £16.99, from 16 April)

This remarkable collection of short stories from the award-winning American author considers everything from relationships to racism to what the future might look like for all of us. From tales of the afterlife to what happens when God decides he’s had enough of human foibles, it’s a fascinating mix that feels grounded, beautifully written and well-crafted.

There’s no such thing as a Monday by Sian Hughes

(Indigo Press, £14.99, from 16 April)

Steffie’s father has spent his life terrorizing his family, but when he dies, he turns away. The loss creates a lot of memories, as Steffie struggles with her grief and guilt over the way her sister was treated as a child. The grim reality of this book reminded me of Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain. Even though it’s a short book, it has a lot to say and really packs an emotional punch.