We all cycled through a wild range of emotional states at the height of the pandemic, grappling with fear and confusion and ruminating on what we wanted our lives to look like on the other side. Out today, British poet and playwright Claire Pollard’s debut novel Delphi (Penguin) explores the psychological effects of lockdown from the perspective of an unnamed narrator, a classics professor stuck at home with her husband and 10-year-old son. As she tries to teach her university students from home and maintain sane relationships with her family, she’s also reckoning with the chaos of the outside world.

“If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, you’ll enjoy Delphi – the book’s narrator is equally obsessed and constantly brings up ancient legends, which is fascinating in its own right,” says Stylist Loves writer Kiran Meeda. “But what I loved most about this quick read is the straight-talking, frustrated narrative voice, which feels so real and relatable when I remember how I felt during the lockdowns. Her son wants nothing to do with her and she’s trying to maintain a marriage when she and her partner are constantly on top of each other, while analysing every aspect of her life at lightning speed. It feels almost like a non-fiction societal commentary, one that perfectly captures the anxieties of the pandemic. There’s something strangely comforting about seeing the messiness of lockdown life through fictional eyes.” £12.99, Bookshop.org