Ethereal and dream-like, Sophie Mackintosh’s debut was justifiably longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Grace, Lia and Sky have been raised in complete isolation, with little or no understanding of the outside world. When three men arrive on the island things start to go awry. If David Lynch did the end of the world it would be something like this.

Picked by John

Grace, Lia and Sky live in an abandoned hotel, on a sun-bleached island, beside a poisoned sea. Their parents raised them there to keep them safe, to make them good. The world beyond the water is contaminated and men are the contamination. But one day three strangers wash ashore – men who stare at the sisters hungrily, helplessly. Men who bring trouble.