Saskia de Coster, trans. Nancy Forest Flier (World Editions)

Saskia de Coster is already an established Belgian author, and now the award winning We and Me has been translated into English. With a laconic grandmother, a neurotic mother, a career-driven father, a felon uncle and nosy neighbours, young Sarah tries to carve out her place in the world. Set on a private estate on a mountain, the location adds a fascinating element of claustrophobia which reflects the family tensions.  The characters are cleverly constructed with intriguing idiosyncrasies and revealing eccentricities such as the mother who combs her carpets fastidiously as a form of therapy. The book provides a wonderfully witty narrative about family relationships that everyone will be able to relate to in some way: an incredibly accessible novel that is hugely entertaining.

Price: £11.38 paperback, £8.01 Kindle. Info: www.worldeditions.org

words LUCY MENON