Staying In

Read Hooked by Asako Yuzuki

In early 2025, almost every bookshop in the country had one canary-yellow, cow-emblazoned bestselling title front and centre: Butter. Penned by award-winning Japanese author Asako Yuzuki in 2017, translator Polly Barton brought the culinary thriller to the UK market with her English translation in 2024 – and, centring on a journalist investigating a food-obsessed accused murderer, it was an instant hit. And now Barton is back, delving into Yuzuki’s back catalogue to bring her 2015 novel, Nairu pachi no joshi-kai (Nile Perch Women's Club), to our bookshelves. Renamed Hooked with a striking pink fish can cover, it’s another deliciously disturbing tale set in contemporary Japan exploring food, womanhood and loneliness as an obsessive relationship unfolds between a straightlaced housewife and a brash woman unafraid of subverting social norms. Out today.

Going Out

See The New David Hockney Exhibition

British artist David Hockney’s new exhibition is now open at the Serpentine. At the heart of the show is A Year in Normandie, a 90m-long piece inspired by the historic Bayeux Tapestry that captures the changing seasons at Hockney’s former studio in Normandy. It is the artwork’s first time coming to London – corresponding perfectly with the Bayeux Tapestry returning to the city later this year for the first time since its creation in the 11th century. In our latest issue, former minister for culture Ed Vaizey writes about the time he met Hockney at a creative industries event during the London Olympics back in 2012. ‘The poor Queen was standing on a podium in front of us, where for an hour she received the great and the good of the arts world,’ he remembers. ‘We both marvelled at her stamina.’ He adds, ‘Hockney, of course, has spoken out against the tapestry coming to London, arguing that moving it will risk irreparable damage to this hugely fragile art work, surely one of the masterpieces of the modern world. I disagree. It is a risk worth taking, if only to revive interest in this extraordinary piece – and perhaps to remind the Brits of our European heritage. In any event, Hockney’s homage will be a masterpiece in itself.’ Until 23 August, serpentinegalleries.org

Property Of The Day

Liberty London. A synonym of luxury, good taste and refinement. Who wouldn’t want to live in a home designed by its founder? Built in 1913, Arthur Liberty had this seven-bedroom Buckinghamshire home constructed for his nephew and heir. Look out for the slightly terrifying figurehead taken from the last wood-built Royal Navy ship.

On the market for £4.25m, search.savills.com

Little Luxury

Dyson has opened its first off-price UK boutique at Bicester Village, with up to £100 off some of its home and beauty favourites. Visitors will be able to trial vacuums on real debris, see live indoor air quality data from purifiers and enjoy styling stations for Dyson Beauty. bicestercollection.com

Competition Time

Thanks to a prize draw from Raffle House, this £2.5m Dorset dream home could be yours for as little as £10. Sound exciting? Plus, enter now to be automatically entered into the draw to win a £60k Land Rover. Click here for the details.

Psssst…

Gillian Anderson has landed a new job role – but this time it’s not on screen. The actor has been appointed as M&S’s first official Chief Compliments Officer, coinciding with the store’s new spring collection launch.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Forget to provide water if you’re hosting at home, says cook Alexandra Dudley: ‘it’s one of my pet peeves when there is no water on the table.’ Her top tips? Stick to what you know, and prep as much as you can beforehand so you can actually enjoy the party with your guests.