BA reveals books of the month for August

The Booksellers Association has announced The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel (Picador) and I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls and Steve Small (S&S) as books of the month for August.

Fiction Book of the Month for August The Glass Hotel weaves together the stories of Vincent, a young bartender who begins a relationship with a wealthy financier, the collapse of the businessman’s Ponzi scheme, and Vincent’s disappearance from a container ship 13 years later. Moving between the ship, the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and the wilderness of remote British Columbia, The Glass Hotel explores greed, delusion, money and moral compromise.

The author said: “I am deeply grateful for this honour. Independent bookstores are among my favourite spaces in the world—I think of them as little oases of civilization and calm—and I feel immense gratitude toward independent booksellers, who championed my books long before anyone else did.”

Sharon Benton, BA marketing manager, said: “We are delighted that this beautifully written and compelling novel by Emily St John Mandel has been chosen as the Fiction Book of the Month for August. We are sure that booksellers will get behind this title and enjoy recommending it to their customers.”

For the Children's Book of the Month, I’m Sticking With You is the story of best friends Bear and Squirrel who find that although it’s good to have someone to see you through good times and bad, friends can sometimes be overbearing. When Bear breaks Squirrel’s favourite teacup, Squirrel decides he needs some time alone.

Halls said: “I am absolutely overjoyed that I’m Sticking With You has been selected for Indie Book of the Month. Indie booksellers seriously know their stuff. They are passionate, discerning and abundantly wise... so to have a Book of the Month as selected by them means a huge amount. Indie bookshops are doorways to wonder and joy and belong in the very heart of our communities. We have never needed them more than we do now. Delicious children’s books and independent bookshops go together like… well… like jam in a doughnut… like arms in a hug! THANK YOU indies… we’re sticking with you!”

Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting both titles throughout August.

The BA restarted its Book of the Month schemes in July, after suspending them during lockdown.