This week the heat gang popped our slippers on, took the phone off the hook and polished our spectacles as we sat back and enjoyed a spot of reading. On this week's heat bookshelf: Misfits by Mike O'Leary and Oh Dear Silvia by Dawn French. 

Here's what we thought:

Misfits
Mike O’Leary (Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99)

The plot: It’s the official tie-in book of the reliably rude, hilarious and morally reprehensible E4 drama about ASBO teens with superpowers. It’s written by Mike O’Leary, one of the BAFTA-nominated team who provided the show’s outstanding multiple Twitter feeds when the series was showing on TV, so they’ve kept it in the family rather than farmed it out to a hack. How right that decision was – this is a labour of love by someone who clearly relishes starting a book with the words, “Is it always wrong to kill a cat with a hammer?”

What’s right with it? It’s as filthy and funny as the series and often highly original in the ways it plays with the characters – like a transcript of Simon’s Facebook page after it’s been hacked by Nathan, or Kelly’s genius “telepathy test”.

What’s wrong with it? Scrapbook-style books (in another era, this would have been called the Misfits Annual) can be hard to sit down and read, but that’s not a problem if you have a short attention span.

Verdict: A book that’s actually worthy of the series. A triumph! 5/5 @Clongridgeheat

Oh Dear Silvia
Dawn French (Michael Joseph, £18.99)

The plot: Silvia Shute is a formidable woman. Loved and loathed in equal measure by those close to her, she has never been one to suffer fools. Now, however, she has no choice. Trapped in a coma after a fall from her balcony, Silvia must remain in hospital and endure a stream of visits. Ex-husband Ed finds he can finally open up to her without being interrupted, eccentric sister Jo will stop at nothing to wake her – even dog smuggling – and GP Cat simply can’t bear to be parted from her. As the days slip past and the visits persist, a picture of Silvia’s life begins to take shape – and there are some gigantic skeletons lurking in the cupboard…

What’s right with it? When it comes to characterisation, Dawn deserves a gold, managing to make every person who strolls into coma suite five both unique and intriguing. Cleaner Tia, in particular, is a side-splitting work of art.

What’s wrong with it? Some of the forays into the disturbed minds of the characters are real enough to make you feel genuinely uncomfortable, and squeamish readers may struggle with the letter from Silvia’s soldier son.

Verdict: A darkly humorous tale that will make you laugh with delight, squirm with discomfort and possibly even rethink the way you behave towards everyone you know… just in case. 4/5 @Broomie29