{"title":"Shirl's Top 10 Must-Reads of 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003e2026 has already had some amazing books released and there are still more to come! Here are my Top 10 reads that I have been lucky enough to get an ARC copy for including the upcoming \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/meg-mason\"\u003eMeg Mason\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/lisa-jewell\"\u003eLisa Jewell\u003c\/a\u003e. I'm so looking forward to the new \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/bonnie-garmus\"\u003eBonnie Garmus\u003c\/a\u003e as I was a fan of Lessons in Chemistry. 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Even when he was eleven, his classmates seemed to have settled on a goal: doctor, lawyer, broker, engineer. Good jobs that automatically command respect and security. Now Batter is in his early 20s, living in New York City, and he wants something different; something that alienates some people and bores most. Poetry. And yet to him - and exactly thirty-nine editors at a company called Peck \u0026amp; Peck - poetry not only represents the power of humanity but holds the key to its survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBatter was named after his mother's dog, who seemed to have achieved more in his short years on earth than he ever will. But as an identical twin who lost his brother at birth, Batter finds himself confronted by the everyday dualities that make up life: right vs. wrong, truth vs. lies, rejection vs. acceptance. It's almost as if his dead brother is a reminder: there are always two sides to every story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, wait. Make that three.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003ePeck \u0026amp; Peck\u003c\/i\u003e, Bonnie Garmus has created a tour de force of a novel. Hugely original, brilliantly funny and peopled with unforgettable characters, \u003ci\u003ePeck \u0026amp; Peck\u003c\/i\u003e is both a passionate ode to the written word and a heartwarming exploration of all that makes us human.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e________________________________________\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the author of the award-winning, global bestseller \u003ci\u003eLessons in Chemistry\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTranslated into more than forty languages and developed as a major TV series for Apple TV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatured on BBC Radio 4 and BBC TV Between the Covers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinner of the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinner of the Books are My Bag Reader's Choice Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinner of the Books are My Bag Breakthrough Author Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinner of the Paul Torday Prize\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShortlisted for the HWA Crown Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Book of the Year for: \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTimes\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGood Housekeeping\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWoman \u0026amp; Home\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eStylist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTLS\u003c\/i\u003e, Oprah Daily, \u003ci\u003eNewsweek\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, NPR, India Knight, Hay Festival, Waterstones, Amazon and many more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBonnie Garmus was awarded Author of the Year at the British Book Awards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eLessons in Chemistry\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Sparky, rip-roaring, funny' \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The most charming, life-enhancing novel I've read in ages' INDIA KNIGHT, Book of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Funny, thought-provoking and stylish' \u003ci\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'I loved it' NIGELLA LAWSON\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Iconic' PANDORA SYKES\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Page-turning and highly satisfying tale' MAGGIE SHIPSTEAD\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47335168475372,"sku":"9781786588821","price":31.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781786588821_3ab0a017-9952-44e6-a628-46db8f01d8ba.jpg?v=1779918874"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/shirls-top-10-must-reads-of-2026.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}