The Money Goddess

Pensions, mortgages, maternity leave and that building society account opened years ago and never questioned: the corners of money that tend to make brows furrow are laid out here plainly, with women's financial lives specifically in mind. Paula Hawkins, a financial journalist before she turned to fiction, threads her advice through the story of a fictional group of girlfriends, so each topic arrives attached to someone's predicament.

The ground covered is wide: clearing debt, starting to invest, buying a house, planning for retirement. The research is thorough but the tone stays light, closer to a frank chat with a well-informed friend than a lecture. Some figures will have moved on since 2006, but the habits it teaches hold up. A sensible, reassuring guide for any woman who suspects she ought to know more about her money.