The Dawning, Megan Taylor, Weathervane Press, £7.99 On a momentous New Year's Eve amidst the backdrop of the Peak District, the seemingly ideal Haywood family unravels in this tense second novel by Nottingham author Megan Taylor. The characters are all intelligently formed, with mum Stella the stand-out personality. And whilst some scenes are uncomfortable to read, there is a deliciously realistic atmosphere plus some clever plot devices.

★★★★★

Trespass, Rose Tremain, Chatto & Windus, £17.99 A departure from her optimistic last novel, The Road Home, winner of the 2008 Orange Prize, this is a much darker tale, set in the Cevennes hills of southern France. It tells of rivalry and love between two sets of siblings. A French brother and sister, Aramon and Audrun, share a tarnished history that has yet to be forgiven or forgotten. The arrival of Anthony Verey, an antiques dealer from London, sets things in motion.

★★★★★

No And Me, Delphine de Vigan, Bloomsbury, £9.99 A funny and tender story told through the eyes of an intellectually precocious 13-year-old. At home, her mother barely speaks to her and has been depressed since the death of her sister. She meets No, a homeless girl who moves in to the family home but is soon forced to leave. Lou and her school friend, Lucas, team up to save No from life on the streets.

★★★★★