Bryony Gordon’s delightful debut in this month’s contemporary fiction

People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon (Viking £20, 304pp)

Olivia Greenwood always focuses on other people’s happiness, never puts herself first and swallows all the negative feelings that come with that.

Taken for granted at home and sidelined at work, 44-year old Olivia hides it all and joins colleagues on a drunken celebratory night out – after which she finds she is unable to lie.

Her demanding children, exercise-obsessed husband, controlling mother and alcoholic father are all used to Olivia doing everything for them while never showing her resentment. Everything changes as Olivia begins to find her voice.

It’s brilliant on the transformational power of standing up for yourself. Fabulous.

My Year as a Fraud by Johanna Swanberg (Hutchinson Heinemann £16.99, 384pp)

Swedish Cassi lives on the outskirts of society, drinking heavily and working as a supermarket shelf stacker.

She used to be successful and popular but now doesn’t talk to anyone except at work.

When an opportunity to move to a remote farmhouse presents itself, chaotic Cassi somehow makes it work.

But in the process of moving, Cassi inadvertently gives the impression that she is some sort of mental health guru planning to offer retreats and therapies at her new rural abode.

Word spreads and it’s not long before she has a queue at her door. Desperate for isolation but also enjoying some of these interactions, Cassi plays along, performing treatments and charging for her services.

I rooted for her all the way.

Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone? is available now 

Whatever happened to Madeline Stone? by Louise O’Neill (Bantam £16.99, 320pp)

When twins Chelsea and Madeline Stone are babies, a psychic tells their mother one of them will be a superstar and the other will die before her 30th birthday.

The psychic cannot say which is which. Both become child stars but Maddie seems to have the edge. Their acting careers progress in tandem until Chelsea wins the role of a lifetime.

When Maddie disappears and is presumed dead, Chelsea retreats from the limelight. But social media makes anonymity almost impossible, especially when new evidence comes to light.

In order to find out what really happened, Chelsea has to step back into the spotlight and engage with the past. An addictive look at the dark side of the entertainment industry.