Dua Lipa‘s November pick for her Service95 book club is ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘ by Margaret Atwood. The iconic novel tells the story of a woman trapped in the hellish world of Gilead, a totalitarian theocracy that was once the United States. Offered, our protagonist, is now a Handmaid: stripped of the rights to her own body, she is ceremonially raped by her Commander and ordered to surrender any child conceived to their families, just like all Handmaids. Atwood said she didn’t make any of this up, as the basis for the novel was taken from horrifically episodes throughout history. Stay tuned for Dua’s interview with Atwood, coming November 4th.

Follow us on X/Twitter to stay updated.

Dua Lipa talks to David Szalay about his book, Flesh, as part of the Service 95 book club. This conversation was recorded live at the New York Public Library on September 15th.

Follow us on X/Twitter to stay updated.

On September 15th, Dua Lipa attended a live recording of her Service95 book club podcast in New York, which was hosted by Spotify and the New York Public Library. Dua’s interview was with ‘Flesh’ author David Szalay and the conversation was moderated by Spotify Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa)

Follow us on X/Twitter to stay updated.

Dua Lipa‘s September pick for her Service95 book club is ‘The Trees‘ by Percival Everett. The novel opens with a series of brutal murders in the rural town of Money, Mississippi. The murders present a puzzle as each crime scene presents a second dead body. Wisecracking detectives Ed Morgan and Jim Davis are sent down to investigate from the big city and soon discover that each victim has a connection to historical cases of lynching, particuarly that of 14-year-old Emmett Till who was brutally murdered in that same down in 1955.

Dua Lipa adds:

It might sound like a grim tale – and, of course, the subject matter is harrowing. But as the story unfolds, author Percival Everett cleverly sends up all the usual tropes, from TV cop shows to classic detective stories, using satire to bring deep-rooted political issues to light in this masterful blend of horror and humour. He even throws in zombies for good measure.

And then there’s the simmering rage that lies at the heart of this book: at racial violence, at police brutality, at the inequity of American history. It’s Percival at his very best – delivering one-liners that will make you howl with laughter, while simultaneously punching you in the gut.

Nobody puts it better than Herberta Hind, the book’s straight-talking (Black) FBI agent, when she says: “History is a motherfucker.” And once you’ve read The Trees, you’ll understand why.”

Follow us on X/Twitter to stay updated.

Dua Lipa‘s August pick for her Service95 book club is ‘This House of Grief‘ by Helen Garner. This non-fiction book tells the true story of a murder trial. On Father’s Day 2005, a recently divorced man in rural Victoria, Australia, drove his car off the road and into a dam. He swam to safety, but his three young boys drowned. When local writer Garner saw it on the news, she wanted it to be an accident. Her House of Grief takes us inside the real-life trial of Robert Farquharson as Garner sits through days of detailed evidence, weeks of witness testimony, and years of appeals.

Dua said: “What [Garner] reveals along the way is not simply a courtroom drama but a sharp and forensic analysis of the human condition. This is what really drew me to Helen’s writing. She’s not looking for monsters – her interest lies with ordinary people who seem to have been pushed beyond their emotional limits. As the trial progresses, I found myself questioning my own reactions, asking myself less, Did he do it? and instead, Is it possible to have empathy for this man, even if he did the worst thing imaginable?”

Follow us on X/Twitter to stay updated.