Books: Recent releases September 6

Much buzz surrounds Stephanie Clifford's debut novel.

Everybody Rise
By Stephanie Clifford (Hachette)

The buzz about this novel is loud - a bidding war with a $1 million advance, film rights sold, praise on Gwyneth Paltrow's blog goop. All of which raises expectations for New York Times journalist Stephanie Clifford's debut. Set in 2006 amid the old money, Waspy world of Manhattan, it's a classic morality tale. Evelyn Beegan has escaped the clutches of her social-climbing mother and moved to New York where she has landed a job on an elite social networking site called People Like Us. This requires her to infiltrate the upper echelons of society and learn the rules. Life becomes all about charity benefits, camps in the Adirondacks and summer in the Hamptons. Befriending It-girl Camilla Rutherford seems like Evelyn's ticket to success. But as she tries to keep pace with the Upper East Side crowd, she loses sight of what is important and who she really is. There is something endlessly fascinating about the way the rich and privileged live and Everybody Rise provides an entertaining tour through their world. This part of society has been well fictionalised over the years but if you're seeking a breezy, fun read it fits the bill.

The Cook And Baker
By Cherie Bevan and Tass Tauroa (Murdoch Books)

An antidote to the current mania for clean eating, this is a cookbook for devotees of wheat, dairy, sugar and fat. It's the work of two New Zealanders who run a successful Sydney cafe serving modern versions of traditional treats like lamingtons and jammy donuts. They share recipes for glorious cakes from the complex-but-worth-it spiced ginger and roasted pear cake to the simple-but-still-outrageous flourless chocolate fudge cake. There are sweet tarts and slices including Kiwi classics like ginger crunch and lolly cake. Gloriously indulgent, temptingly photographed and with recipes to appeal to ambitious cooks and bakers as well as those looking for easier options, it is the ultimate guide to filling the tins.

Historic Churches: A Guide To Over 60 Early New Zealand Churches
By Linda Burgess (Penguin Random House)

This book is a history of New Zealand through its religious buildings. Wellington writer Linda Burgess travelled the country with her photographer husband Robert, finding and recording 60 churches, some architecturally and historically significant, some humble and weather-beaten, others grand. Each one has stories and Burgess explores their pasts and the people involved in them. Her prose style is chatty but informed and the photography captures moments - wild horses in the cemetery of Christ Church Raukokore, a bridal party at the Church Of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo - as well as the buildings and their interiors. We may not have the towering cathedrals of Europe but in Burgess' hands a simple corrugated iron, prefabricated church becomes as worthy of attention. Clearly this book has been a labour of love and her passion for these places and their pasts is infectious.

Starlight Peninsula
By Charlotte Grimshaw, Vintage

Starlight Peninsula is the beguiling new novel from celebrated writer Charlotte Grimshaw. The author uses instantly recognisable characters and scenarios from recent events in New Zealand politics and media to create a tale of power and influence, as well as an enthralling glimpse into the mind of a lost woman. Eloise Hay is forced to slowly confront trauma from a past that suddenly seems full of layers and hidden meaning. The novel feels deeply embedded in the New Zealand landscape and still universal. Every character is like a small, perfect portrait, and the stunning writing creates an atmosphere of dreamy mystery.

• Review by Ngaire Atmore who blogs about books at bookiemonster.co.nz

The Bones Of You
By Debbie Howells (MacMillan)

I had to drag myself away from this novel. When I saw the title, my first thought was, another Lovely Bones spinoff perhaps? And yes it is a murder mystery about a girl, but it is startlingly original. Rosie is a sweet 18-year-old whose corpse is found in the forest near the house of her horsey adult friend Kate. Rosie herself opens the tale with a compelling description of her own murder. She continues to provide snapshots from her corridor of memories from time to time, which helps the reader piece together her tragic tale - beware though: there are many red herrings along the way. Convinced the police are missing something, Kate tries to piece together the puzzle for herself. But with a desolated, grieving mother who turns to alcohol for solace, a larger-than-life father who awes people wherever he goes, an angry boyfriend with a criminal record and a younger sister who is taciturn to the extreme; how to unravel the mystery? As it turns out appearances are satisfyingly deceiving for the reader.

• Review by Victoria Elmes, an Auckland teacher of English and classics.

When I Am Happiest
By Rose Lagencrantz and Eva Eriksson (Gecko Press)

It's the second-to-last day of Dani's first year of school and she is extremely happy. She is looking forward to dressing up on the last day and is thinking of all that has happened during the eventful year. She just needs to finish the book she is writing about how happy she is when her teacher calls her out of the class to tell her some devastating news. Dani feels like she will never be happy again. This is the third story about Dani and once again the writing perfectly reflects the experiences and feelings of a 5-year-old girl. Through her relationships with her friends, teacher and grandparents she works her way back to being able to finish her happiness story and even looking forward to the summer ahead. A fantastic early chapter book with simple but effective black and white illustrations.

• Review by Mary and Helen Wadsworth of Auckland's Dorothy Butler's Children's Bookshop

Nicky's best read

If you appreciate thoughtful, brave, witty prose and especially if you happen to be a woman approaching middle-age, then feminist writer Suzanne Moore on the subject of the menopause is a treat. Find her article There Won't Be Blood at newstatesman.com