New Chapters: Nikki May

Nikki May is a prize-winning Anglo-Nigerian author, whose debut novel Wahala is being adapted into a BBC drama. Her new novel This Motherless Land, a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, was recently shortlisted for The Nigeria Prize for Literature. She lives in Bristol with her husband an two schnauzers. 

Here are her three must-pack holiday reads: 

“Sexy, smart, and a real page-turner, The Idea of You by Robinne Lee is the perfect beach read. On the surface, it’s froth and glamour, but dig deeper for an important story about female ageing, double standards, and a woman’s worth. Warning: you may need to nip to your room for a cold shower.

I can’t get enough of Mick Herron’s extraordinarily well-plotted Slough House books. Part spy story, part political satire, the outstanding feature is how devastatingly laugh-out-loud funny they are. Holidays are all about fun so I’d pack Clown Town, the ninth in the series. And you’ve got to read it before you watch it!

Short stories are great on holiday – dip in, dip out, a bit like the pool. Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad is a collection of twelve shorts by Damilare Kuku. Her unique voice nails – with wit, humour, wisdom and sensitivity – the perils of trying to find lasting love and companionship in modern-day Lagos.”