Cover Here are the best new books coming out in April (Design: Chesca Gamboa)

From Anthony Bourdain's new travel book, Haruki Murakami's short stories to Sabina Khan's powerful story about being an immigrant, here are the best new books to read in April

Take a break from Netflix this April and pick up a book instead. It's time to welcome and check out all the new titles coming out this month.

While social distancing rules in Singapore have eased, it's always a good idea to pack a book while enjoying a day out in the sun, whether it's at the beach or at one of the country's well-loved picnic spots. Or if you prefer to stay indoors, a book is a perfect companion while checking out the new speciality coffee joints around Singapore.

Not sure which book to pick up? We break down the best new books coming out in April.

(Related: How to Pick Up the Habit of Reading Books Again)

1. Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, translation by Sam Malissa

Bullet Train by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka was originally published in 2010 and became a bestseller in Japan. The English translation of this thriller comes out this April and it's the best read to start out the new month. It tells the story of five killers who find themselves on a bullet train from Tokyo, all competing for a suitcase full of money. Which one will make it out alive at the last station?

Release date: April 

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2. First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami, translation by Philip Gabriel

Critically acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami returns with First Person Singular, a collection of eight masterful stories that explore the youth nostalgia, others set in adulthood. Murakami, a master of surrealism, blurs the line between memoir and fiction. Is Murakami himself the narrator of each story? You get to decide.

Release date: April 6

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3. Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan

Sabina Khan's Zara Hossain Is Here provides a closer look at what it means to be an immigrant in America today, telling the story of hope and faith in the face of hate. In the wake of anti-Asian sentiment that sparked the #StopAsianHate movement as well as continued Islamophobia, Khan's novel is a must-read. It follows the story of a 17-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Zara Hossain who has to lay low and not "stir up trouble" to jeopardise her family's visa status. But her hope for a better life comes crashing down when trouble escalates at her school.

Release: April 6

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4. When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Need something exciting to spice up the start of spring? Grab Paula McLain's When the Stars Go Dark which is about a seasoned missing person detective, Anna Hart, who has to solve a series of disappearances that will force her to confront her past. Will the cases help her solve her own trauma? This read is a story of hope and healing as much as it is about solving crimes.

Release: April 13

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5. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

This new book from bestselling author, Sally Thorne is just as clever, funny and unforgettable as her previous works. Second First Impressions follows the story of a muscular, tattooed man who is hired as an assistant to two old women in a retirement home...only to find romance blossoming in the most unlikely of places. It's a unique love story that will surely be a fun read this month.

Release date: April 13

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6. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

We can now see (or read) about the world through Anthony Bourdain's eyes in this new book from the late chef and author. World Travel chronicles some of Bourdain's travels—from his hometown in New York, the tribal longhouse in Borneo to the cosmopolitan cities of Paris and Shanghai. With international travel still off the cards, reading this book is surely a different way we can enjoy travel for now. Despite its title, the book is very much a relevant guide.

Release date: April 20

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7. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

While The Final Revival of Opal and Nev was originally published last month, the hardback version is coming in April. The novel takes you through the fictional history of the beloved rock n' roll duo, Opal & Nev, who shot to fame in 1970s New York. Follow this interracial rock duo's rise, the peak of their stardom and their eventual break-up.

Release date: April 20

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8. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Part-crime story, part-mystery and part-romantic-comedy, Dial A for Aunties have three different genres wrapped into one book. This debut novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto deep dives into Chinese-Indonesian culture and follows Meddelin Chan, who accidentally ends up killing her blind date.

Wanting to save her daughter, her mother calls Meddelin's aunties for help. Thinking they've succeeded in getting rid of any evidence, the dead body ends up being shipped in a cake cooler for a wedding that the family is working on. Talk about chaos, mayhem and some sprinkle of excitement too.

Release date: April 27

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9. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri

Whereabouts marks Pultizer Prize-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri's first novel in nearly a decade. This comeback piece was originally written in Italian and translated into English by Lahiri herself. It's a haunting tale of a woman who moves through the city on her own and tells us what she encounters whether it's bright pavements, shops or bridges. Over the course of a year, she starts to look for a place where she belongs.

Release date: April 27

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