There's only one place to start when it comes to books, and that's with Zadie Smith's first novel in four years, Swing Time. But there are plenty of other treats too, from a gorgeous Christmas poem in Ruth Padel's Tidings to humour and nostalgia with Enid Blyton's Five Go Gluten Free and laughs aplenty at Jade Chang's portrait of post-financial crash America The Wangs Vs the World.

There's humour of a different kind in Ruby Elliott's It's All Absolutely Fine, a collection of brilliant illustrations on mental wellbeing. For those who want to curl up with an absorbing novel (once you're done with Swing Time), you have your pick from Brad Watson's Miss Jane, which I'm so glad crossed my path, Morgan McCarthy's intriguing The House of Birds, and Wray Delaney's addictive An Almond for a Parrot.

If you're pressed for time pick up Joy Williams' short story collection The Visiting Privilege and delight in stories full of depth and emotion. And finally, Helena Kelly's Jane Austen: The Secret Radical will mean you'll never look at Pride and Prejudice the same way again.

Click through to see Stylist's pick of the best books for November 2016...

From a fresh look at Jane Austen to Zadie Smith's new release: the most captivating new reads of November