Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Penguin Books Ltd Kleinzeit
Book Synopsis''An original ... a delight to read'' The TimesOn an ordinary day in a strangely unfamiliar London, Kleinzeit is fired from his advertising job and told he must go to hospital with a skewed hypotenuse. There on Ward A4, he falls in love with the divine, rosy-cheeked Sister and is sent spinning into a quest involving, among other things, a glockenspiel, sheets of yellow paper, Orpheus, the Underground and that dirty chimpanzee, Death.''Kleinzeit, is a sort of holy fool, a fierce, lonely intelligence desperately trying to make sense of a hopeless world. A tour de force ... entirely delightful'' Auberon Waugh, Evening StandardTrade ReviewA very funny quest for creativity and sanity ... There are no boring sentences in a Hoban novel. -- Richard Preston * The Times *Russell Hoban is one of our greatest, timeless novelists. * The Times *Masterly ... a mosaic in which each tiny fragment of wit or dirt or profundity has its appointed place. * Times Literary Supplement *A second tour-de-force... entirely delightful. -- Auberon Waugh * Evening Standard *Brimming with humanity and humour... brilliant handling of language. * Glasgow Herald *Russell Hoban is our Ur-novelist, a maverick voice that is like no other. * Sunday Telegraph *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Lion of BoazJachin and JachinBoaz
Book Synopsis''A piece of invention as original as any of Tolkien''s or C.S. Lewis''s'' New Statesman''I have gone to look for a lion.'' In a world where lions have become extinct, the map-maker Jachin-Boaz nevertheless abandons his wife and son to find one, leaving just this note. But his decision has unexpected consequences. He will be pursued by his son, Boaz-Jachin, and by something else: a tawny-skinned, amber-eyed beast from another place and time, a bringer of life and death.''Magic at work ... Funny as well as beautiful'' Irish Times''Hoban is unclassifiable, thank goodness. His narrative is so minutely and compellingly realistic that after a time you cease to notice that he has stood reality on its head'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewMagic at work ... Funny as well as beautiful. * Irish Times *Amazingly, the mythology is sustained in totally modern terms, desolate, comic and urban. * Time Out *A piece of invention as original as any of Tolkien's or C.S. Lewis's. * New Statesman *Worth rejoicing in ... a banquet of whimsical delights. Each Russell Hoban book is surprising ... but you also know what you're getting, which is curiosity, wonder and a world-encompassing empathy. -- John Self * The Guardian *Mr. Hoban is unclassifiable, thank goodness. His narrative is so minutely and compellingly realistic that after a time you cease to notice that he has stood reality on its head. * Sunday Times *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Mr RinyoClactons Offer
Book Synopsis''Russell Hoban''s imagination knows no bounds ... darkly funny and profound'' The Times''You want to buy my death for a million pounds!'' Piccadilly Circus tube station is an unlikely location for a pact with the Devil, but this is where Jonathan Fitch first meets Mr Rinyo-Clacton. Devastated after his girlfriend Serafina has left him, Jonathan agrees that this mysterious stranger will pay him a million pounds for a year, if he agrees to die at the end of it. What could possibly go wrong?''A poignant and engaging fable of ownership and surrender'' Philip Hensher, Mail on Sunday''Nothing is accidental or optional in this jewelled clockwork egg of a book ... Hoban is a hugely skilled, moving and endlessly entertaining writer'' The Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewNothing is accidental or optional in this jewelled clockwork egg of a book... Hoban is a hugely skilled, moving and endlessly entertaining writer. * Times Literary Supplement *A poignant and engaging fable of ownership and surrender. -- Philip Hensher * Mail on Sunday *He mixes wild invention with subtle observation... the resulting tale reads like a downbeat, offbeat Faust for the tawdry, lottery-playing 1990s. * The Times *Worth rejoicing in ... a banquet of whimsical delights. Each Russell Hoban book is surprising ... but you also know what you're getting, which is curiosity, wonder and a world-encompassing empathy. -- John Self * The Guardian *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Turtle Diary
Book Synopsis''Wonderful, life-saving ... places Russell Hoban among the greatest, timeless novelists'' The TimesBorn to swim thousands of miles in the ocean, the giant sea turtles are now trapped in a tank of golden-green water at London Zoo. But not for much longer. Two lonely people, a bookseller and a children''s illustrator, have begun thinking turtle thoughts. As they come together to hatch a plan to release the turtles into the sea, their diaries reveal how they find their own lives changing in imperceptible and quite unintended ways.''Crackles with witty detail, mordant intelligence and self-deprecating irony'' Time''This lovely human fable seems to me one of the best things of its kind - a fine and touching achievement'' John FowlesTrade ReviewRussell Hoban is our Ur-novelist, a maverick voice that is like no other. * Sunday Telegraph *Worth rejoicing in ... a banquet of whimsical delights. Each Russell Hoban book is surprising ... but you also know what you're getting, which is curiosity, wonder and a world-encompassing empathy. -- John Self * The Guardian *This wonderful, life-saving fantasy places Russell Hoban where he has got to be - among the greatest, timeless novelists. * The Times *Crackles with witty detail, mordant intelligence and self-deprecating irony. * Time *[Turtle Diary] has medicinal qualities. I only need to think about it and I'm in a better mood. -- Max PorterA story about the recovery of life ... Like other cult writers - Salinger for instance, or Vonnegut - Hoban writes about ordinary people making life-affirming gestures in a world that threatens to dissolve in madness. * Newsweek *This lovely human fable seems to me one of the best things of its kind - a fine and touching achievement. -- John FowlesTragicomic pleasure ... Metaphysical speculation undercut by dry humour is the signature style of Russell Hoban. -- Richard Preston * The Times *
£9.49
Penguin Random House Children's UK Serpentine
Book SynopsisPhilip Pullman was born in Norwich and educated in England, Zimbabwe, Australia and Wales. He studied English at Exeter College, Oxford.His first children's book, Count Karlstein, was published in 1982. To date, he has published thirty-three books, read by children and adults alike. His most famous work is the His Dark Materials trilogy. These books have been honoured by several prizes including the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children's Book Prize, and (for The Amber Spyglass) the Whitbread Book of the Year Award - the first time that prize had been given to a children's book. Pullman has received numerous other awards, including the Eleanor Farjeon Award and the Astrid Lindgren Award. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year's Honours List for Services to Literature.Trade Review[Serpentine] brings with it all the familiar delights of Pullman's work: its effortless clarity, its intelligence, its ineffable mix of coziness and darkness, innocence and experience.—Lev Grossman - New York TimesTom Duxbury's linocut-inspired illustrations give Serpentine a handsome look and accessible feel . . . Serpentine offers aficionados a poignant return to Lyra and Pan.—Wall Street JournalForeshadowing the events of The Secret Commonwealth, this gorgeously illustrated volume is a treat for fans of the fantasy.—Sunday Mirror
£8.69
Penguin Books Ltd The Odyssey
Book SynopsisFrom the prize-winning author of Supper Club comes a wickedly funny and slyly poignant new satire on modern life - for fans of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Convenience Store Woman, and J. G. Ballard''s High Rise''Far from normal'' The Times''This book is a serious vibe'' Cosmopolitan''Lara Williams is the queen of smart modern satire. I could read her all day'' Emma Jane Unsworth Meet Ingrid. She works on a gargantuan luxury cruise liner, where she spends her days reorganizing the merchandise and waiting for long-term guests to drop dead in the changing rooms. On her days off, she disembarks from the ship and gets blind drunk on whatever the local alcohol is. It''s not a bad life. And it distracts her from thinking about the other life she left behind five years ago. Until one day she is selected for the employee mentorship scheme - an initiative run by the ship''s mysterious captain and self-anointed
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Lonely Londoners
Book SynopsisThe Lonely Londoners, an unforgettable account of immigrant experience and one of the great twentieth-century London novels, now in in a stunning Clothbound Classics edition.At Waterloo Station, hopeful new arrivals from the West Indies step off the boat train, ready to start afresh in 1950s London. There, homesick Moses Aloetta, who has already lived in the city for years, meets Henry ''Sir Galahad'' Oliver and shows him the ropes. In this strange, cold and foggy city where the natives can be less than friendly at the sight of a black face, has Galahad met his Waterloo? But the irrepressible newcomer cannot be cast down. He and all the other lonely new Londoners - from shiftless Cap to Tolroy, whose family has descended on him from Jamaica - must try to create a new life for themselves. As pessimistic ''old veteran'' Moses watches their attempts, they gradually learn to survive and come to love the heady excitements of London.
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Moses Ascending Penguin Modern Classics
Book SynopsisMoses thinks he''s got it made. Originally a poor Caribbean immigrant, he is now the proud landlord of a ramshackle house in Shepherd''s Bush, London. He has visions of being master of his own domain, writing his memoirs while his trusty sidekick and handyman, Bob, does all the work. But Moses'' problems are far from over...Soon a Black Power group take over the basement, headed by the indomitable - but very sexy - Brenda, and an illegal people-smuggling ring is discovered upstairs. Not to mention harassment from racist police, sheep-slaughtering in the back yard and a Black Panther (the human kind) on the loose.Will Moses'' elaborately constructed castle in the air be demolished by these unruly forces?Following the fortunes of characters from Selvon''s The Lonely Londoners, Moses Ascending is a hilarious and telling depiction of 1970s Britain.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Under the Wave at Waimea
Book SynopsisFrom renowned writer Paul Theroux comes a dazzling novel following a big-wave surfer in Hawaii as he confronts ageing, privilege and mortality''It was as if in surfing he was carving his name in water, invisibly, joyously.''Joe Sharkey knows he is passed his prime.Now in his sixties, the younger surfers around the breaks on the north shore of Oahu still revere him as the once-legendary ''Shark'', but his sponsors have moved on, and Joe wonders what new future awaits him on the horizon. Uninterrupted quality time with the ocean, he hopes.Life has other plans.When he accidentally hits and kills a man near Waimea while drunk-driving, he fears he will never rebound. Under the direction of his stubbornly loyal girlfriend Olive, he throws himself into uncovering his victim''s story. But what they find in Max Mulgrave is entirely unexpected: a shared history - and refuge in the sea.Set on the stunning Hawaiian coast, TherTrade ReviewKaleidoscopic. Extraordinary. A frightening ride to the bottom of the soul of a man with a previously unexamined life. This is contemporary Hawaii as it's rarely evoked, with surfing strangely near its troubled heart -- William Finnegan, author of “Barbarian Days”, winner of the Pulitzer PrizeTheroux's new novel is a full-fat epic -- John Self * The Observer *Superb... Under the Wave at Waimea immerses you so elaborately in its watery world that you may start seeing surfing as just another guise for life itself... This probing tale of a man who's come undone and the strong, stark woman who thinks she can reassemble him is one of Theroux's best novels -- Michael Upchurch * The Seattle Times *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd CloseUp Penguin Modern Classics
Book Synopsis''Stylish and stimulating'' The TimesAgeing Hollywood star Marshall Stone is scared. Scared that the parts are drying up. Scared of being forgotten. So when he hears an eminent author is writing his biography, Stone siezes the chance of immortality. But painful memories and suppressed scandals soon threaten to destroy the carefully-constructed fiction of his life. Inspired by Len Deighton''s own experiences of the film industry, Close-Up is a brilliant exposé of the sleaze, venality and betrayals of the studio machine.''The richness, the sardonic humour, the wheeling and dealing ... the power of the book is undoubted'' Evening StandardTrade ReviewThe film industry is in many ways the ideal subject for Mr Deighton's talents. * Times Literary Supplement *Immense skill ... a stylish and stimulating performance. * The Times *The richness, the sardonic humour, the wheeling and dealing world of the films with its parties, its highly coloured characters ... The power of the book is undoubted. * Evening Standard *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd An Expensive Place to Die
Book Synopsis''For sheer readability he has no peer'' Evening StandardParis in the 1960''s caters for every taste, and nowhere more than at the private ''clinic'' run by the enigmatic Monsieur Datt on Avenue Foch, which supplies psychedelic drugs and sexual favours to the city''s elite - all the while secretly filming guests in order to blackmail them. Into this decadent underworld steps a bespectacled British spy. Sent on what seems like a simple mission, he soon finds himself playing a game where the rules are unknown - and even victory could be fatal.''Take this excellent thriller at a single gulp'' Sunday TimesA PATRICK ARMSTRONG NOVELTrade ReviewA first-rate storyteller who rarely if ever strikes a false note. * Daily Mail *Take this excellent thriller at a single gulp. * Sunday Times *For sheer readability he has no peer. * Evening Standard *Len Deighton is the Flaubert of the contemporary thriller writers. -- Michael Howard * Times Literary Supplement *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Hello Stranger a romantic relatable and
Book SynopsisThe uplifting and big-hearted new love story from the author of Until Next Weekend and Saturdays at Noon''TOTALLY UNPUTDOWNABLE'' 5* Reader review''HAVE YOUR TISSUES READY'' 5* Reader review''THE ENDING WAS PERFECT'' 5* Reader review''Clever, poignant, and satisfying'' Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde''An eminently real and relatable love story . . . Lucy and Jamie had me at Hello'' Julietta Henderson, author of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman''Heartbreakingly tender & poignant. It kept me guessing & hoping until the last page'' Sophie Claire, author of A Winter''s Dream_______From their very first date, Jamie and Lucy know they''ve met THE ONE.They''re as different as night and day. Jamie''s a home bird, while Lucy''s happiest on holiday. He has a place for everything - she can never find her keys.Yet, somehow, they make eacTrade ReviewClever, poignant, and satisfying -- Sunday Times bestseller Katie FfordeOh boy did I love Hello, Stranger, a moving and surprising love story -- Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of Wrong Place, Wrong TImePoignant, profound and yet written with a light touch - Marks has done it again. The story engages from the off . . . This is a heartbreaking and heart-warming story * Woman *An eminently real and relatable love story about the tussle between head, heart and the costs of holding on to your own truth. Rachel Marks has perfectly captured the pleasure, pain and poignancy of being human - Lucy and Jamie had me at Hello... -- Julietta Henderson, author of Richard and Judy pick The Funny Thing About Norman ForemanHeart-warming . . . Lovely and thought-provoking * Hello! *A book to cancel plans for - we're still not over the ending * Closer *A heartbreaking and heartwarming read that deals sensitively with difficult issues * Woman's Weekly *A modern love story that's heartbreakingly tender & poignant. It kept me guessing & hoping until the last page. A fabulous read -- Sophie Claire, author of A Winter’s DreamPraise for Rachel Marks * : *Wise and wonderful. I adored it -- Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times bestselling authorRachel Marks packs a novel with all the emotions - hope, fear, love, despair and - ultimately - joy -- Clare Pooley, bestselling author of The Authenticity ProjectHeartbreaking, heartwarming, perfect -- Rosie Goodwin, Sunday Times bestselling authorHeartbreaking and hopeful; this book is a keeper * Woman's Weekly *Unpredictable and satisfying -- Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling authorBeautifully uplifting and at times unexpected * OK! *As tender and emotional as it is funny, it made me laugh out loud A LOT, and it made me sob -- Cressida McLaughlin, bestselling author of The Cornish Cream Tea BusHeartbreaking, funny and emotive * Sun *
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Metamorphosis
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThoughtful, intelligent and light of touch. Lively has the gift, rare and wonderful, of being able to peel back the layers one by one and set them before us, translucent and gleaming * Sunday Telegraph *A sublime storyteller . . . she has us riveted with curiosity as to what will happen next, yet also keeps us consistently aware of the nature of the illusion * Guardian *Each story encapsulates a vividly imagined universe... covering a broad range of styles with ease and elegance, it is a witty and grounding collection * Scarlett Sangster for i *Superb, unmissable ...The writing is as good as it gets * The Times *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Worst Idea Ever
Book SynopsisA white lie never hurt anyone, right? . . .''Worst Idea Ever is SO GOOD! I read it in one mad gulp'' MARIAN KEYES ''Emotionally intelligent and beautifully written'' DAILY MAIL ''I loved Worst Idea Ever, possibly my favourite so far. Riveting'' RUTH JONES ''I literally could not put this book down'' 5***** READER REVIEW ''Funny, insightful, sharp, wicked, brilliant - Jane Fallon at her very best'' MILLY JOHNSON________Georgia is lying to her best friend Lydia.Just a little white lie - a fake Twitter account to support Lydia''s struggling business. No harm meant. But maybe this wasn''t Georgia''s best idea ever.Because Lydia wants to confide in her new (fake) Twitter friend. About Georgia and her husband Nick, who might be having an affair.Georgia wants out. Except what if it''s true? She needs to trick Lydia into revealing all.But there''s another posTrade ReviewI loved Worst Idea Ever. Another Fallonesque treat, possibly my favourite so far. Full of heart, humour and humanity. Great characters and a riveting story from the start. She's so good at tapping into the best and the worst in us. Fabulous -- Ruth JonesWorst Idea Ever is SO GOOD! I read it in one mad gulp -- Marian KeyesWe adore Jane Fallon's novels, and this witty page-turner could be her best yet * Closer 'Must Read' *Brilliant, gripping . . . Emotionally intelligent and beautifully written * Daily Mail *We love everything Jane Fallon writes and this might be her best yet! * Bella *Fallon's trademark warmth and humour is very much to the fore with this tale of friendship gone badly wrong * Connaught Telegraph *Takes us on a deep dive into the emotionally murky waters which exist between protagonists Lydia and Georgia . . . I adored it * Daily Mail *Ingenious. Her eye for detail, compressed emotion and the absurdity that lurks beneath what people say to each other, is unerring. Worst. Idea. Ever. strengthens her claim to be one of our very finest comic novelists * Tortoise Media *Funny, insightful, sharp, wicked, brilliant - Jane Fallon at her very best -- Milly JohnsonJane's talent lies in understanding human behaviour . . . Another winner. You won't regret it * Belfast Telegraph *Fallon constructs a nail-biting situation and has us turning the pages at speed . . . Fraught and fabulous, pacy and persuasive * Platinum *A razor-sharp tale of friendship and secrets * Rescue & Animal Care *Highly recommended * Sun *Praise for Jane Fallon * - *Intelligent, edgy and witty * Glamour *Chick lit with an edge * Guardian *I LOVE her books. She always delivers a fabaliss readA romcom with attitude * Mail on Sunday *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Bournville
Book Synopsis''A wickedly funny, clever, but also tender and lyrical novel about Britain and Britishness and what we have become'' RACHEL JOYCEIn Bournville, a placid suburb of Birmingham, sits a famous chocolate factory. For eleven-year-old Mary and her family in 1945, it''s the centre of the world. The reason their streets smell faintly of chocolate, the place where most of their friends and neighbours have worked for decades. Mary will go on to live through the Coronation and the World Cup final, royal weddings and royal funerals, Brexit and Covid-19. She''ll have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Parts of the chocolate factory will be transformed into a theme park, as modern life and the city crowd in on their peaceful enclave.As we travel through seventy-five years of social change, from James Bond to Princess Diana, and from wartime nostalgia to the World Wide Web, one pressing question starts to emerge: will these changing times bring Mary''s family - and their country - closer together, or leave them more adrift and divided than ever before?*****''A beautiful, and often very funny, tribute to an underexamined place and also a truly moving story of how a country discovered tolerance'' Sathnam Sanghera, bestselling author of Empireland''A hugely impressive state-of-the-nation tale'' Observer''This charming read is as warming, rich and comforting as a mug of hot chocolate'' The TimesWritten with his signature wit, Jonathan Coe''s unmissable new novel, The Proof of My Innocence, is available to order now!Trade ReviewWith his third novel in four years, Coe is on a roll; he tracks the fortunes of a family through snapshots of communal experiences, from the Queen's coronation through the 1966 World Cup to pandemic lockdown, in a moving, compassionate portrait of individual and national change * Guardian, Best Fiction of 2022 *The way Coe starkly captures the paranoia and fear of the early days of the pandemic is impressive and he has written what he calls a "faithful account" of the death of his mother during lockdown. It makes an intensely affecting finale to a fine novel. * Independent, Best Book of the Year *Few contemporary writers can make a success of the state of the nation novel: Jonathan Coe is one of them * New Statesman *Epic in scope, but personal in resonance -- Elizabeth DayCoe's interwoven paeans to the lives of those rooted in the very centre of the UK - The Rotter's Club and Middle England among them - blend comedy, tragedy and social commentary in enjoyably memorable fashion, and his latest, Bournville, is no exception . . . Coe's particular gift is to understand how nostalgia, regret and an apprehension of what the future will bring might make us more, not less, empathetic to the frailties of those around us * FT, Best Audiobooks of the Year *Very tempting * The Times *In this affecting generational saga, framed by the pandemic and structured by seven milestone broadcasts, Jonathan Coe - known for his state-of-the-nation novels - once again takes the temperature of Britain * FT, Best Books of 2022 *At heart Bournville is a novel designed to make you think by making you laugh, and the seriousness of the subject matter is tempered throughout by the author's piercing eye for the more ludicrous elements of human nature * New Statesman *A compelling social history that's sprinkled throughout with Coe's inimitable humour, love and white-hot anger * Evening Standard *A hugely impressive state-of-the-nation tale * Observer *British novelists love to diagnose the state of the nation. Few do it better than Jonathan Coe, who writes with warmth and subversive glee about social change and the comforting mundanities it imperils * Spectator *This charming read is as warming, rich and comforting as a mug of hot chocolate * The Times *This is another eminently readable Coe, full of believable characters and fizzing dialogue. And it couldn't be more timely * Big Issue *Coe has the great gift of combining engaging human stories with a deeper structural pattern that gives the book its heft * Guardian *Set in Coe's nativeMidlands and told through thelives of four generations of onefamily, beginning with 11-year-oldMary in 1945, Bournville is apoignant, clever and witty portraitof social change and how theBritish see themselves. * Radio Times, Best Books of the Year *Bournville is Jonathan Coe's most ambitious novel yet . . . a novel about people and place. Entertaining and often poignant, it presents a captivating portrait of how Britons lived then and the way they live now * Economist *A book of things blended together: comedy with tragedy, England's past with its present, and cocoa solids with vegetable fat . . . the best fictional portrayal of lockdown that I've read * Irish Times *Told with compassion, steadiness, decency and always a glint in the eye, this is a novel that both challenges and delights. For anyone who has felt lost in the past six years, it is like meeting an ally -- Rachel Joyce, author of Miss Benson's BeetleCoe is an eminently readable novelist * Daily Mail *Full of vibrant characters and fabulous dialogue, which switches from laugh-out-loud funny to extremely poignant * Independent *The changing face of postwar Britain is brilliantly captured * FT *As the latest in J Coe's Unrest sequence, Bournville is one of the most warm-hearted, brilliant and beguiling of his State of the Nation novels. To show three generations of an ordinary Midlands family, their paths taken and not taken, their friends, lovers, jobs, achievements and losses; to interweave this with 75 years of national history - and to do so with such a lightness of touch is a tremendous achievement. All the absurdities of our nation wrapped up in something as bitter, sweet, and addictive as a bar of the best Bournville chocolate -- Amanda Craig, author of The Golden RuleAffectionate, full of good humour, and often moving, this is Coe at his best. * Crack Magazine *Slips down a treat * Daily Mail *For all the novel's satirical tang and historical sweep, it's at root a tender portrait of apparently simple folk trying to fathom the mystery of their own personalities * Spectator *A tender portrayal of the state of the nation through the prism of family relationships * Woman & Home *There is much to enjoy here, as in all Coe's novels . . . an intelligent criticism of our shared history since 1945 * Scotsman *[Coe] has a huge talent for balancing humour with poignancy * Book of the month, Good Housekeeping *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Little Misunderstandings of No Importance
Book SynopsisThe short story collection that launched Tabucchi to fame, reflecting on the uncertainties, memories, mistakes and mysteries of life Eleven short stories pivoting on life''s ambiguities and the central question they pose in Tabucchi''s fiction: is it choice, fate, accident, or even, occasionally, a kind of magic that plays a decisive role in the protagonists'' lives? Set in Paris, Lisbon, Madras and New York and blended with the author''s wonderfully intelligent imagination, Tabucchi reflects on the elemental aspects of the human experience, exploring grief, uncertainty, adventure, memory and love.''One of the most admired Italian writers of his generation'' The TimesTrade ReviewTabucchi writes with what Italo Calvino, who shared the same translator, called "quickness" - an agility of mind and economy of narrative that pulls the reader along * Guardian *Elegant ... amusing ... the magic of language, artfully used ... Tabucchi manages to play simultaneously in the treble and in the bass * Los Angeles Times *Meticulously crafted stories marked by wit, emotion, memory and lost grandeur * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Pereira Maintains
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMysterious, menacing, enthralling and mind-bending ... a masterpiece of compression -- Mohsin HamidPereira Maintains is small only in size. Its themes are great ones?courage, betrayal, fidelity, love, corruption; and its treatment of them is subtle, skillful, and clear. It's so clear, in fact, that you can see a very long way down, into the heart of a flawed but valiant human being, into the sickness of a nation, into the depths of political evil. It's the most impressive novel I've read for years, and one of the very few that feels truly necessary -- Philip PullmanGripping and unexpected * The Times *Brilliant ... you'll go on thinking about the characters for weeks * Guardian *A work in the high aesthetic mode, a historical novel cast in delicately evocative prose and filled with witty references to the great figures of modern European literature. In it Italians could examine their political consciences through an artful image of another country's past. The pleasures to be had from Pereira Maintains are rich and varied, but best of all it's very enjoyable * The New York Times *Tabucchi's prose creates a deep, near-profound and sometimes heart-wrenching nostalgia and constantly evokes the pain of recognizing the speed of life's passing which everyone knows but few have the strength to accept -- Alan Cheuse * NPR *A stunningly good novel, and it goes on getting better in one's head after one has stopped reading it - it works as an experience - something that has happened to one, which is of course the proof of great writing -- Diana AthillA brilliant, profound book that also manages to be a thriller -- Roddy Doyle
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd A Rage in Harlem Penguin Modern Classics
Book Synopsis''The greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler'' Sunday TimesJackson''s woman has found him a foolproof way to make money - a technique for turning ten dollar bills into hundreds. But when the scheme somehow fails, Jackson is left broke, wanted by the police and desperately racing to get back both his money and his loving Imabelle.The first of Chester Himes''s novels featuring the hardboiled Harlem detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, A Rage in Harlem has swagger, brutal humour, lurid violence, a hearse loaded with gold and a conman dressed as a Sister of Mercy.With an Introduction by Luc SanteTrade ReviewOutrageous, shocking, wonderful * New York Times Book Review *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder.Chester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer of Chandlerian subtlety though in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own * The Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it.Hieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human conditionThat he could channel this pain and misery into some of the greatest crime novels ever written is a testament to his skill as a writer and his spirit as a man. If this is the first Chester Himes novel you will read then, believe me, you are in for a treat.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Cotton Comes to Harlem
Book Synopsis''A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest'' The New York TimesA preacher called Deke O''Malley''s been selling false hope: the promise of a glorious new life in Africa for just $1,000 a family. But when thieves with machine guns steal the proceeds - and send one man''s brain matter flying - the con is up. Now Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed mean to bring the good people of Harlem back their $87,000, however many corpses they have to climb over to get it.Cotton Comes to Harlem is a non-stop ride, with violence, sex, double-crosses, and the two baddest detectives ever to wear a badge in Harlem.With an Introduction by Will SelfTrade ReviewThe greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler. * Sunday Times *A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest. * New York Times Book Review *Chester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman. -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core. * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer ... in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own. * The Times *The greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler * Sunday Times *A bawdy, brazen rollercoaster of a novel . . . the wildest * New York Times Book Review *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder.Chester Himes is one of the towering figures of the black literary tradition. His command of nuances of character and dynamics of plot is preeminent among writers of crime fiction. He is a master craftsman.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer of Chandlerian subtlety though in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own * The Times *That he could channel this pain and misery into some of the greatest crime novels ever written is a testament to his skill as a writer and his spirit as a man. If this is the first Chester Himes novel you will read then, believe me, you are in for a treat.He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human conditionHieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Real Cool Killers
Book Synopsis''The toughest crime stories in print'' Sunday TimesThe night''s over for Ulysses Galen. It started going bad for the big Greek when a knife was drawn, then there was an axe, then he was being chased and shot at. Now Galen is lying dead in the middle of a Harlem street. But the night''s just beginning for detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson. Because they have a smoking gun but it couldn''t have killed Galen, and they had a suspect but a gang called the Real Cool Moslems took him. And as patrol cars and search teams descend on the neighbourhood, their case threatens to take a turn for the personal.The Real Cool Killers is loaded with grizzly comedy and with all the raucous, threatening energy of the streets it''s set on.Trade ReviewThe greatest find in American crime fiction since Raymond Chandler * Sunday Times *Outrageous, shocking, wonderful * New York Times Book Review *Himes wrote spectacularly successful entertainments, filled with gems of descriptive writing, plots that barely sidestep chaos, characters surreal, grotesque, comic, hip, Harlem recollected as a place that can make you laugh, cry, shudder.A fantasia with a hard brilliant core * Evening Standard *A fine crime writer of Chandlerian subtlety though in a vein of sheer toughness very much his own * The Times *He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human conditionThat he could channel this pain and misery into some of the greatest crime novels ever written is a testament to his skill as a writer and his spirit as a man. If this is the first Chester Himes novel you will read then, believe me, you are in for a treat.Hieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis * The New York Times *Chester Himes is the great lost crime writer, as well a great American dissident novelist per se, and an essential witness to his times. Every one of his beyond-cool Harlem novels is cherished by every reader who finds it.
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Salt Eaters Penguin Modern Classics
Book Synopsis''A book full of marvels'' New YorkerThe American Deep South, in the 1970s. Velma Henry, once a formidable political activist, has grown weary and disillusioned with the fight for civil rights. She wants to end it all. But then she finds herself in the hands of a Black faith community, and the fabled healer Minnie Ransom. As she works through the rage and fear of her traumatic past, Velma finds herself changing, becoming whole and, maybe, free. The Salt Eaters is a boldly optimistic, profound exploration of memory, the self, power and Black health as liberation.''A hymn to individual courage'' The Times Literary Supplement''Her characters inhabit the nonlinear, sacred space and sacred time of traditional African religion'' The New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewA long, rich dream -- Anne TylerA hymn to individual courage, a sombre message of hope * Times Literary Supplement *A book full of marvels * New Yorker *Daringly brilliant -- Gloria HullToni Cade Bambara's writing is so great it lifts you off the ground * New Statesman *Nobody writes with her breathtaking humour, empathy, ferocity, and surrealness ... her observation and humanity are timeless. As a reader, I release myself into Ms. Toni's sure and steady hands, knowing every part of me will be illuminated by her gaze -- Adjoa Andoh * Glamour *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Hollow Sea The unforgettable and mesmerising
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Penguin Books Ltd Good Dirt
Book SynopsisFROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK CAKE COMES A GRIPPING TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND THE SEARCH FOR A NEW BEGINNING.''A beautifully imagined family saga, with a moving and hopeful ending' NEW YORK TIMES''A sensational story about hidden heartbreak, hope, and the power of embracing one''s ancestry'' JESSICA GEORGE, author of MAAME''Will be every reader''s highlight of 2025'' ETHAN JOELLA, author of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS''Glittering and discerning prose, poignant yet hopeful'' NIKKI MAY, author of WAHALAA family full of secrets. A chance to set them all free.When Ebby Freeman travels to France to take a three-month hiatus from her complicated home life, the last person she expects to find is her ex-fiancé Henry, with his new girlfriend in tow.Nearly twenty years earlier, the Freemans were the only African American family living in a wealthy coastal enclave in Connecticut when armed robbers invaded their home and tragedy changed their lives forever.Then, just as Ebby thought she had a new chance at happiness, her storybook romance with Henry fell apart.Now, this unexpected encounter with Henry will force Ebby to reckon with her past and to think on the other loss her family suffered that day the destruction of a beloved stoneware jar crafted by an enslaved ancestor and passed down through the generations. A piece that might hold not only her family history, but also the key to reclaiming her future.--''One of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time'' ABI DARE, author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE''I''m in utter awe of Charmaine - she is the real real'' HARRIET CONSTABLE, author of THE INSTRUMENTALIST''Her brilliance knows no adequate words'' ORE AGBAJE WILLIAMS, author of THE THREE OF USPraise for Charmaine Wilkerson and Black Cake:''Completely blew me away'' Red''Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching'' Grazia''You can''t help but fall in love with this book'' Stylist''A novelist to watch'' Independent''Beautiful, deeply resonant . . . A story that is as meaningful as it is delicious'' Taylor Jenkins Reid
£999.99
Penguin Books Ltd More Than Youll Ever Know
Book SynopsisA RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK SCREEN RIGHTS SOLD TO THE PRODUCTION COMPANY OF BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA ''One of the best suspenseful dramas I''ve read in years'' ASHLEY AUDRAIN ''A sprawling, stunning, twisting triumph'' CHRIS WHITAKER ''Intelligent and nuanced . . . raises a host of difficult but fascinating questions'' GUARDIAN ''Breath-taking and brimming with empathy, exploration of motherhood, marriage, and the consequences that come from obsessions with true crime'' COSMOPOLITAN _______ A secret double life, a tragic murder. Lore Rivera was married to two men at once, until on a baking hot day in 1986, one of them found out and shot the other. That''s the story the world knows. It''s not the story that fascinates Cassie Bowman. Carrying the weight of her own family tragedy, true-crime writer Cassie wants to know more about Trade ReviewIntelligent and nuanced . . . raises a host of difficult but fascinating questions * GUARDIAN *A sprawling, stunning, twisting triumph. By turns heart-pounding and heart-wrenching, this is a story of marriage and murder, of the secrets we endure and the lies we tell ourselves to keep them. So achingly clever and stylish, More Than You'll Ever Know is a special novel from a very special writer -- Chris WhitakerBreath-taking and brimming with empathy, exploration of motherhood, marriage, and the consequences that come from obsessions with true crime * Cosmopolitan *I was enthralled with More Than You'll Ever Know from the very first pages of Gutierrez's rich and assured writing. A gripping and thoughtful exploration of motherhood and marriage, the complexity of female desire, and the consequence of our obsession with true crime, it's one of the best suspenseful dramas I've read in years. An exceptional, stunning debut-I absolutely loved it -- Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The PushA sweeping novel, unflinching and evocative in its engrossing study of love, motherhood, sex, Mexico, journalism and more * Washington Post *A stunning portrait of female reckoning - Katie Gutierrez creates layered and vivid characters, forced to confront the complexities of their own desires. An immaculate novel that explores marriage and choice, partnership and autonomy, More Than You'll Ever Know is a wonder to behold -- Danya Kukafka, bestselling author of Notes On An ExecutionSmart, sophisticated and sly, Katie Gutierrez masterfully weaves a tale of two families, a double life and an ultimate act of passion that will have you on the edge of your seat as the truth is revealed. There are thrillers that tease, but More Than You'll Ever Know will haunt your dreams. A stunning debut from a magnificent storyteller -- Adriana TrigianiA tale of two women, two timelines, two sides of a border and two husbands, More Than You'll Ever Know is a novel both compelling and resonant - a novel which grips you like a thriller as you are reading it, with characters and themes which linger in the mind like the best literary fiction. This is an unforgettable story, told brilliantly - one of those novels where from the first page you know you are in the hands of a writer of verve, confidence and conviction -- Ellery LloydA taut, unputdownable thriller, but also a gorgeously written examination of motherhood, ambition, and sacrifice, set between Texas and Mexico city. I loved every moment. -- Grace Li, Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a ThiefThis is a crime book unlike any I've read before. More Than You'll Ever Know is written with such beauty and tenderness - about the ferocity of love, the lure of desire, and the strength of family bonds. It blew me away -- L.V. Matthews * bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick, The Twins *What happens when a mother wants more? A seductive, urgent tale about desire, family, the pursuit of truth, and the art of storytelling, More Than You'll Ever Know will astonish readers with its vastness, romance, tragedy, and abundant heart. I became obsessed with Katie Gutierrez's restless, secret-keeping heroines and didn't want this book to ever end -- Jessamine Chan, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good MothersI love a complicated female character, someone who doesn't behave as society dictates, and I was hooked by both Cassie and Lore's stories. A brilliant debut that doesn't just tiptoe around the grey edges of morality, but dives right in -- Louise HareMy favourite book club book so far . . . Brilliantly observed, psychological drama -- Tim Smith * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *Enthralling, breathtaking, and propulsive, MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW is the kind of book that only comes around once every decade. With hypnotic, shimmering prose set against a masterful plot, Katie Gutierrez has crafted an explosive modern classic--a groundbreaking, razor-sharp exploration of what it means to be a woman in all its complexity, as well as a deep dive into the morally gray areas of the double lives we all lead. Equal parts literary tour de force and domestic suspense, with a sweeping, sprawling narrative, More Than You'll Ever Know is poised to become the buzziest book of the year -- May Cobb, author of The Hunting WivesSuch a great story . . . with a sense of time and place in America and Mexico -- Bobby Pryor * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *I love this book more than Dolores "Lore" Rivera loves both her families and now you have to read this book to understand what I mean * CrimeReads *Every book here does something new and exciting within the genre, managing to tackle big, weighty themes while also being exceptionally readable . . . An unapologetic, unflinching examination of love, sacrifice and desire -- Grace Li, Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief * Washington Post *As addictive as a real-life who-dunnit, with thoughtful attention to the ethical implications of the true crime genre, More Than You'll Ever Know explores how we entangle ourselves one choice at a time, and what it costs to unravel the damage. Crystalline and multi-faceted, this is a page-turner brimming with empathy, a window into 1980s Mexico City and Laredo, and the ways community both bouys and pulls us under. Katie Gutierrez is a force, and she writes fabulously complicated, fully-realized characters who will linger with you long after the final page -- Julia Fine, author of The Upstairs House and What Should Be WildIt's difficult to believe that this masterful novel is a first book. Katie Gutierrez handles its dangerous turns like a Formula One driver. That elegance, darkness, even fear are deftly intertwined in the story make it a wonderful read. More books, please -- Luis Alberto UrreaI really enjoyed this book . . . A warning against self-deception . . . Appeals to people who enjoy domestic noir -- Ann Cleeves * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *An electrifying debut * Woman's Own *Doesn't read like a debut . . . Everybody should be picking this book up * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *With thrilling, atmospheric prose set against an intricate plot, Katie Gutierrez's debut More Than You'll Ever Know is both a suspenseful mystery, a family drama, and an astute examination of motherhood, love, and secrets. I read this morally complex novel ravenously, desperate to discover the fates of the two women at its center. You won't be able to put this book down -- Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We KeptWith beautifully written prose and razor-sharp insight, Katie Gutierrez draws us into More Than You'll Ever Know's gripping and complex world. Even as the dual storylines left me breathless, I found myself more captivated by Gutierrez's intimate and compassionate portrayal of these women, their men, and the many secrets they kept. Passionate, supremely intelligent, and thrilling -- Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie LeeA complex portrait of marriage and desire, a thought-provoking exploration of motherhood, and a fascinating look at our collective obsession with true crime . . . Combining domestic drama, crime, slow-burn psychological mystery and a touch of historical fiction, More Than You'll Ever Know is a true page-turner * Culturefly *Enthralling and beautifully written * Boston Globe *An evocative drama . . . This masterful work of literary suspense marks the debut of an extraordinary new writer * Mummy Pages UK *Suspenseful, seductive, gorgeously written * Minneapolis Star Tribune *An intriguing story of complex characters and their long-buried secrets * Daily Express *A must-read for true crime lovers * Buzzfeed Books *'I can hear the book club discussions now... undeniably powerful' -- New York Times * Chandler Baker *Infuses the summer mystery genre with some serious ideas about our obsession with crime stories and our sense of women's identities. -- Los Angeles TimesA taut, unputdownable thriller but also a gorgeously written examination of motherhood, ambition, and sacrifice, set between Texas and Mexico City. I loved every moment. -- Grace Li, Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd More Than Youll Ever Know
Book SynopsisLore Rivera was married to two men at once. She led a secret double life - until one man shot the other.That''s the story the world knows.But true-crime writer Cassie Bowman wants to know more - about the mysterious woman at the heart of it all, and about what really happened the night of that tragic murder. How did Lore lead two lives? How did it feel when it all came crashing down?After years of hiding, Lore is finally ready to tell her story. But as her tragic tale unfolds, will either woman be ready for the consequences when the long-buried truth comes to light?Trade ReviewIntelligent and nuanced . . . raises a host of difficult but fascinating questions * GUARDIAN *A sprawling, stunning, twisting triumph. By turns heart-pounding and heart-wrenching, this is a story of marriage and murder, of the secrets we endure and the lies we tell ourselves to keep them. So achingly clever and stylish, More Than You'll Ever Know is a special novel from a very special writer -- Chris WhitakerBreath-taking and brimming with empathy, exploration of motherhood, marriage, and the consequences that come from obsessions with true crime * Cosmopolitan *I was enthralled with More Than You'll Ever Know from the very first pages of Gutierrez's rich and assured writing. A gripping and thoughtful exploration of motherhood and marriage, the complexity of female desire, and the consequence of our obsession with true crime, it's one of the best suspenseful dramas I've read in years. An exceptional, stunning debut-I absolutely loved it -- Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The PushA sweeping novel, unflinching and evocative in its engrossing study of love, motherhood, sex, Mexico, journalism and more * Washington Post *A stunning portrait of female reckoning - Katie Gutierrez creates layered and vivid characters, forced to confront the complexities of their own desires. An immaculate novel that explores marriage and choice, partnership and autonomy, More Than You'll Ever Know is a wonder to behold -- Danya Kukafka, bestselling author of Notes On An ExecutionSmart, sophisticated and sly, Katie Gutierrez masterfully weaves a tale of two families, a double life and an ultimate act of passion that will have you on the edge of your seat as the truth is revealed. There are thrillers that tease, but More Than You'll Ever Know will haunt your dreams. A stunning debut from a magnificent storyteller -- Adriana TrigianiA tale of two women, two timelines, two sides of a border and two husbands, More Than You'll Ever Know is a novel both compelling and resonant - a novel which grips you like a thriller as you are reading it, with characters and themes which linger in the mind like the best literary fiction. This is an unforgettable story, told brilliantly - one of those novels where from the first page you know you are in the hands of a writer of verve, confidence and conviction -- Ellery LloydA taut, unputdownable thriller, but also a gorgeously written examination of motherhood, ambition, and sacrifice, set between Texas and Mexico city. I loved every moment. -- Grace Li, Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a ThiefThis is a crime book unlike any I've read before. More Than You'll Ever Know is written with such beauty and tenderness - about the ferocity of love, the lure of desire, and the strength of family bonds. It blew me away -- L.V. Matthews * bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick, The Twins *What happens when a mother wants more? A seductive, urgent tale about desire, family, the pursuit of truth, and the art of storytelling, More Than You'll Ever Know will astonish readers with its vastness, romance, tragedy, and abundant heart. I became obsessed with Katie Gutierrez's restless, secret-keeping heroines and didn't want this book to ever end -- Jessamine Chan, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good MothersI love a complicated female character, someone who doesn't behave as society dictates, and I was hooked by both Cassie and Lore's stories. A brilliant debut that doesn't just tiptoe around the grey edges of morality, but dives right in -- Louise HareMy favourite book club book so far . . . Brilliantly observed, psychological drama -- Tim Smith * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *Enthralling, breathtaking, and propulsive, MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW is the kind of book that only comes around once every decade. With hypnotic, shimmering prose set against a masterful plot, Katie Gutierrez has crafted an explosive modern classic--a groundbreaking, razor-sharp exploration of what it means to be a woman in all its complexity, as well as a deep dive into the morally gray areas of the double lives we all lead. Equal parts literary tour de force and domestic suspense, with a sweeping, sprawling narrative, More Than You'll Ever Know is poised to become the buzziest book of the year -- May Cobb, author of The Hunting WivesSuch a great story . . . with a sense of time and place in America and Mexico -- Bobby Pryor * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *I love this book more than Dolores "Lore" Rivera loves both her families and now you have to read this book to understand what I mean * CrimeReads *Every book here does something new and exciting within the genre, managing to tackle big, weighty themes while also being exceptionally readable . . . An unapologetic, unflinching examination of love, sacrifice and desire -- Grace Li, Sunday Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief * Washington Post *As addictive as a real-life who-dunnit, with thoughtful attention to the ethical implications of the true crime genre, More Than You'll Ever Know explores how we entangle ourselves one choice at a time, and what it costs to unravel the damage. Crystalline and multi-faceted, this is a page-turner brimming with empathy, a window into 1980s Mexico City and Laredo, and the ways community both bouys and pulls us under. Katie Gutierrez is a force, and she writes fabulously complicated, fully-realized characters who will linger with you long after the final page -- Julia Fine, author of The Upstairs House and What Should Be WildIt's difficult to believe that this masterful novel is a first book. Katie Gutierrez handles its dangerous turns like a Formula One driver. That elegance, darkness, even fear are deftly intertwined in the story make it a wonderful read. More books, please -- Luis Alberto UrreaI really enjoyed this book . . . A warning against self-deception . . . Appeals to people who enjoy domestic noir -- Ann Cleeves * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *An electrifying debut * Woman's Own *Doesn't read like a debut . . . Everybody should be picking this book up * BBC Radio 2 Book Club *With thrilling, atmospheric prose set against an intricate plot, Katie Gutierrez's debut More Than You'll Ever Know is both a suspenseful mystery, a family drama, and an astute examination of motherhood, love, and secrets. I read this morally complex novel ravenously, desperate to discover the fates of the two women at its center. You won't be able to put this book down -- Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We KeptWith beautifully written prose and razor-sharp insight, Katie Gutierrez draws us into More Than You'll Ever Know's gripping and complex world. Even as the dual storylines left me breathless, I found myself more captivated by Gutierrez's intimate and compassionate portrayal of these women, their men, and the many secrets they kept. Passionate, supremely intelligent, and thrilling -- Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie LeeA complex portrait of marriage and desire, a thought-provoking exploration of motherhood, and a fascinating look at our collective obsession with true crime . . . Combining domestic drama, crime, slow-burn psychological mystery and a touch of historical fiction, More Than You'll Ever Know is a true page-turner * Culturefly *Enthralling and beautifully written * Boston Globe *An evocative drama . . . This masterful work of literary suspense marks the debut of an extraordinary new writer * Mummy Pages UK *Suspenseful, seductive, gorgeously written * Minneapolis Star Tribune *An intriguing story of complex characters and their long-buried secrets * Daily Express *A must-read for true crime lovers * Buzzfeed Books *'I can hear the book club discussions now... undeniably powerful' -- New York Times * Chandler Baker *Infuses the summer mystery genre with some serious ideas about our obsession with crime stories and our sense of women's identities. -- Los Angeles Times
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Crossing the Mangrove
Book Synopsis''An extraordinary storyteller'' Bernardine Evaristo''People say that on the first night Francis Sancher spent in Rivière au Sel the wind in its temper screamed down from the mountains...''Francis Sancher always said he would come to an unnatural end. So when this handsome newcomer to the Guadeloupean village of Rivière au Sel is found dead, face down in the mud, no one is particularly surprised. Loved by some - especially women - and reviled by others, Francis was an enigmatic figure. Where did he come from? What caused his strange nocturnal wanderings? What devils haunted him? As the villagers come to pay their respects, they each reveal another piece of the mystery behind his life and death - and their own buried secrets and stories come to light.''The grand queen, the empress, of Caribbean literature'' Fiammetta Rocco, GuardianTrade ReviewThe grand queen, the empress, of Caribbean literature -- Fiammetta Rocco * Guardian *Maryse Condé's prodigious fictional universes are founded on a radical and generative disregard for boundaries based on geography, religion, history, race, and gender -- Angela Y. DavisA story of life in all its flavours . . . a fluid, mobile narrative, passing easily from person to person. Fascinating and beautiful -- John Self * The Observer *A masterly storyteller * New York Times Book Review *A treasure of world literature, writing from the center of the African diaspora with brilliance and a profound understanding of all humanity -- Russell BanksCondé writes elegantly in a style that beautifully survives translation from the French. . . She gives readers a flavor of the French and Creole stew that is the Guadeloupan tongue. In so doing, Conde conveys the many subtle distinctions of color, class, and language that made up this society * Chicago Tribune *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd SecondClass Citizen
Book Synopsis''Fresh, timeless ... a lively work of art'' Observer''Buchi Emecheta was the foremother of black British women''s writing . . . powerful fictions written from and about our lives'' Bernardine Evaristo ''Most dreams, as all dreamers know quite well, do have setbacks. Adah''s dream was no exception, for hers had many''They nicknamed Adah ''the Igbo tigress'' at school in Nigeria, she was so fearless. Now she has moved to London to join her husband, and is determined to succeed. But her welcome from 1960''s England - and the man she married - is a cold one. Providing for her growing family, struggling to survive and negotiating everyday injustices along the way, Adah still resolves that she will never give up her dream of becoming a writer.''Bold, brave, defiant ... its exploration of blackness, the white gaze, and the development of the main character Adah''s sense of self is extremely powerful'' Gal-demTrade ReviewFresh, timeless ... a lively work of art -- John Self * Observer *The foremother of black British women's writing . . . her early books, in particular, were powerful fictions written from and about our lives -- Bernardine Evaristo * TLS *Haunting . . . the trials and tribulations in Adah's personal life . . . are set against the endemic racism (and to only a slightly lesser degree, the sexism) she has to contend with in sixties London -- Lucy Scholes * Paris Review *Emecheta's prose has a shimmer of originality, of English being reinvented ... issues of survival lie inherent in her material and give her tales weight * John Updike *A harrowing immigrant story of racism and domestic violence - it shook me to the core when I first read it . . . Buchi Emecheta was a writer who struggled against all kinds of odds to produce novels that are now lodged deep in the DNA of almost every African writer -- Leila Aboulela * author of The Museum *Gripping and authentic * Guardian *Bold, brave, defiant ... its exploration of blackness, the white gaze, and the development of the main character Adah's sense of self is extremely powerful and continues to hold great relevance in contemporary British society * Gal-dem *Buchi Emecheta re-ignited the rich place of women at the heart of African literature . . . without her the current strong generation of women writers, who write well and fearlessly, would not exist -- Ben OkriEmecheta revealed the thoughts and aspirations of her countrywomen, shaped by a patriarchal culture but stirred by the modern promise of freedom and self-definition * The New York Times *Emecheta's women do not simply lie down and die ... always there is resistance, a challenge to fate, a need to renegotiate the terms of the uneasy peace that exists between them and accepted traditions * The Voice Literary Supplement *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Not Safe For Work Author of the viral essay My
Book SynopsisThe compulsively readable novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul - perfect for fans of Sweetbitter, My Dark Vanessa and Exciting Times''Glittering. A funny, spiky, compulsive story about toxic workplaces, lean-in culture and #MeToo'' EVENING STANDARD''A frank study of the psychological, and at times literal, gymnastics that are required of striving women'' RAVEN LEILANI, bestselling author of LUSTER''A blistering look at the hidden side of Hollywood'' GLAMOUR, ''BEST NEW BOOKS''''Frank, funny and unputdownable'' CLAIRE MESSUD________You are a young, ambitious, college-educated feminist. And you''ve just landed a job in television.To climb the ranks, you do whatever it takes:- Pull all-nighters- Lean on your powerful mother''s contacts- Stay in shape at cult-like fitness classes- Secretly wear your
£13.59
Penguin Books Ltd The Trouble with Happiness
Book Synopsis''So clear is Ditlevsen''s eye that it is impossible to tear yourself away'' John Self, GuardianAn unforgettable collection of stories from the author of The Copenhagen Trilogy''The most important thing is probably always precisely the thing you can''t have. That''s where all the happiness is''In these brief, acid-sharp stories of love, marriage and family from one of Denmark''s most celebrated writers, the ordinary events of everyday life - a wife anxious not to wake her husband, a little boy losing his father''s beloved knife, a woman''s obsessive longing for a yellow silk umbrella - become dark and disconcerting. Here Tove Ditlevsen explores yearning, fear and the elusiveness of that strange thing called happiness.''The purity and dazzling insight of Ditlevsen''s writing speaks for itself'' Daily Telegraph''Authentic, unforced and utterly lucid'' Sunday Times''Ditlevsen''s wonderful and devastatingly bleak short stories simmer with melancholy and despair'' Daily MailTranslated by Michael Favala GoldmanTrade ReviewSplendid short stories... the purity and dazzling insight of Ditlevsen's writing speaks for itself -- Lucy Scholes * The Telegraph *An intense reading experience... so clear is Ditlevsen's eye that it's impossible to tear yourself away from the fates of her characters, however grim -- John Self * Guardian *These short stories show off her astonishingly precise prose -- New Statesman * Ellen Peirson-Hagger *A bracingly bleak selection of stories by the celebrated Danish writer Tove Ditlevsen... These are perfectly judged pieces: authentic, unforced and utterly lucid -- Phil Baker * Sunday Times *Ditlevsen's wonderful and devastatingly bleak short stories simmer with melancholy and despair ... Her prose is clear and spare, pared back to the essential task of describing the struggle for an unwon freedom from domestic despair and unsatisfactory marriages * Daily Mail *The depths of desire and despair are Ditlevsen's subjects and illuminating them is her talent * Monocle *Ditlevsen's writing is crystal clear and vividly, painfully raw * The Paris Review *A terrifying talent * The New York Times *Her writing is incredible, so focused and clear. Not a word that doesn't need to be there -- Tracey Thorn
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Bad Relations
Book SynopsisA TALE OF A TRAGEDY SEEPING THROUGH GENERATIONS, AND A FAMILY FRACTURED BY HISTORY AND DESIRE ''Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you''re likely to read this year'' The Times''Haunting and beautiful... In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families... I don''t often wish a book were longer, but this one I did'' ObserverOn the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William''s experience of war will bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries.In the 1970s, William''s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relation, to stay in their house in the English countryside - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a shocking fall from grace.Half a century later, a confTrade ReviewA ravishing novel from the great family saga-teller Cressida Connolly and an honourable tribute to the past * The Times, Best Books for the Summer *Connolly's vivid characterisation, supple prose and striking imagery sweep you along, in an absorbing and affecting saga that uses one family's story to anatomise the different stages of grief * Daily Telegraph *In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families . . . I don't often wish a book were longer, but this one I did * Observer *Masterful . . . a joy to see it garnering the ecstatic reviews it deserves -- Polly Samson, author of A Theatre for DreamersMoving [and] powerful . . . Connolly's vividly drawn characters grapple with trauma, unkindness and greed in an intriguing novel where past actions reverberate in the present * Daily Mirror *Connolly, like Anne Tyler and Tessa Hadley, is a master of fluidly shifting perspectives, a sharply witty observer of social class, and a champion of imaginative empathy * Daily Mail *Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you're likely to read this year * The Times *Elegantly written, this subtle, satisfying, well-observed novel is a delight * Country and Town House, Books of 2022 *Another fascinating, moving story from the author of After the Party * Good Housekeeping *This clever novel set across three timelines tells the story of a family haunted by tragedy. A skilfully written, powerful drama * BEST *The plot is neat, tight and unexpected but the novel's deep satisfaction comes from Connolly's total immersion in historical atmosphere and profound understanding of human pain * Literary Review *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country and Townhouse *What if you could write a novel whose main plot points are a death in combat, a suicide and the breakdown of family relations, and make it beautiful? What if you dared not to show the grimmest bits, but let them happen off-stage, while using elegant, beautiful prose to paint the spaces around them? Cressida Connolly is that brave writer and Bad Relations is her latest masterpiece . . . ravishing * The Times *Haunting * Observer *The characters in Bad Relations are so brilliantly real, so wonderfully compelling at their best, and at their worst, that I can't get them out of my head. A wonderful novel -- Nina StibbeA writer who seems able to peer directly into the human heart -- John PrestonUncanny, evocative, atmospheric * Sunday Times on 'After the Party' *Connolly is a terrifically subtle writer... [she] slyly sweeps her readers into the period drama as tensions tauten between families and social classes * Daily Telegraph on 'After the Party' *Profound and moving and completely original, with a storyline that is completely satisfying. It'll be one of those novels that stays in my mind forever... it's a work of art -- Craig Brown on 'After the Party'I finished it in two days flat and I've never read anything quite like it -- Hilary Spurling on 'After the Party'A wonderfully subtle and interesting account of the Mosley women, with a compelling voice -- Linda Grant on 'After the Party'Fascinating, moving * Good Housekeeping *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country & Townhouse *A compelling family saga * Sunday Times *
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd Bad Relations
Book SynopsisA TALE OF A TRAGEDY SEEPING THROUGH GENERATIONS, AND A FAMILY FRACTURED BY HISTORY AND DESIRE''Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you''re likely to read this year'' The Times''Haunting and beautiful... In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families... I don''t often wish a book were longer, but this one I did'' ObserverOn the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William''s experience of war will bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries.In the 1970s, William''s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relation, to stay in their house in the English countryside - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a shocking fall from grace.Half a century later, a confrTrade ReviewA ravishing novel from the great family saga-teller Cressida Connolly and an honourable tribute to the past * The Times, Best Books for the Summer *Connolly's vivid characterisation, supple prose and striking imagery sweep you along, in an absorbing and affecting saga that uses one family's story to anatomise the different stages of grief * Daily Telegraph *In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families . . . I don't often wish a book were longer, but this one I did * Observer *Masterful . . . a joy to see it garnering the ecstatic reviews it deserves -- Polly Samson, author of A Theatre for DreamersMoving [and] powerful . . . Connolly's vividly drawn characters grapple with trauma, unkindness and greed in an intriguing novel where past actions reverberate in the present * Daily Mirror *Connolly, like Anne Tyler and Tessa Hadley, is a master of fluidly shifting perspectives, a sharply witty observer of social class, and a champion of imaginative empathy * Daily Mail *Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you're likely to read this year * The Times *Elegantly written, this subtle, satisfying, well-observed novel is a delight * Country and Town House, Books of 2022 *Another fascinating, moving story from the author of After the Party * Good Housekeeping *This clever novel set across three timelines tells the story of a family haunted by tragedy. A skilfully written, powerful drama * BEST *The plot is neat, tight and unexpected but the novel's deep satisfaction comes from Connolly's total immersion in historical atmosphere and profound understanding of human pain * Literary Review *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country and Townhouse *What if you could write a novel whose main plot points are a death in combat, a suicide and the breakdown of family relations, and make it beautiful? What if you dared not to show the grimmest bits, but let them happen off-stage, while using elegant, beautiful prose to paint the spaces around them? Cressida Connolly is that brave writer and Bad Relations is her latest masterpiece . . . ravishing * The Times *Haunting * Observer *The characters in Bad Relations are so brilliantly real, so wonderfully compelling at their best, and at their worst, that I can't get them out of my head. A wonderful novel -- Nina StibbeA writer who seems able to peer directly into the human heart -- John PrestonUncanny, evocative, atmospheric * Sunday Times on 'After the Party' *Connolly is a terrifically subtle writer... [she] slyly sweeps her readers into the period drama as tensions tauten between families and social classes * Daily Telegraph on 'After the Party' *Profound and moving and completely original, with a storyline that is completely satisfying. It'll be one of those novels that stays in my mind forever... it's a work of art -- Craig Brown on 'After the Party'I finished it in two days flat and I've never read anything quite like it -- Hilary Spurling on 'After the Party'A wonderfully subtle and interesting account of the Mosley women, with a compelling voice -- Linda Grant on 'After the Party'
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Over Sharing The hilarious and sharply written
Book SynopsisTHE QUEEN OF THE REVENGE COMEDY''S HILARIOUSLY SHARP AND REFRESHING TALE OF ENVY AND DECEIT''It''s a joy - a smart, sharp revenge comedy, with plenty of lols too'' DAILY MAIL''Jane Fallon''s razor-sharp wit runs through this novel...another laugh-out-loud funny read'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''Over Sharing is Jane Fallon at her wickedly witty best'' ISABELLE BROOM''Quickest I''ve read a book in a very long time. Sharp, thought-provoking and utterly addictive'' SARAH TURNER, author of STEPPING UP and THE UNMUMSY MUM''A delightfully dark read. Thoughtful and clever. Simply a damn good and gripping read'' RED MAGAZINECan you live a lie without spilling the truth? . . .__________Once, Iris was happy. She had the home, the husband, the promise of a family. Now she''s divorced and renting out her spare room to make ends meet. Life could be worse. But coulTrade ReviewQuickest I've read a book in a very long time. Sharp, thought-provoking and utterly addictive - I genuinely did not want to put it down -- SARAH TURNER, author of STEPPING UP and THE UNMUMSY MUMA brilliant tale of life, relationships, rejection and family * SUN *The queen of the revenge novel returns with a delightfully dark read about Maddy, a content creator whose brand is all about wholesome family life, and Iris whose marriage she destroyed. Oof! For a thoughtful and clever takedown of influencer culture and simply a damn good and gripping read, Over Sharing gets all my likes -- Sarra Manning * RED MAGAZINE *It's a joy - a smart, sharp revenge comedy, with plenty of lols too * DAILY MAIL *Jane Fallon's wicked wit shines through in this unputdownable revenge thriller -- Isabelle Broom * HEAT *A deliciously dark read. Oof! -- Sarra Manning * RED *I'm a big fan of Fallon's twisty, sharp and emotionally intelligent novels, and I'm delighted to report this latest is just as compelling as the rest . . . Fabulous * DAILY MAIL *A wonderful modern-times storyteller...Jane Fallon's books never disappoint -- RUTH JONESJane Fallon's razor-sharp wit runs through this novel. With sparky lead characters and sharp insights into the world of influencers, Fallon has delivered another laugh-out-loud funny read -- Charlotte Heathcote * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Clever, fun and so good! * FABULOUS *
£16.99
Penguin Books Ltd The House of Hunger
Book Synopsis''One of African literature''s most fascinating and unorthodox figures'' Brian Chikwava''When all else fails, don''t take it in silence: scream like hell, scream like Jericho was tumbling down, serenaded by a brace of trombones, scream''Dambudzo Marechera burst onto the literary scene in 1978 with this vivid roar of a book exploring township life in pre-independence Zimbabwe. Rejecting what he saw as the narrow stereotypes of African literature, Marechera''s stories portrayed a world flashing with violence and anarchic humour, as his narrator expresses his desperate alienation - from his family, from his student friends, from Zimbabwe itself.''A writer who considered fiction a form of combat, complex, challenging - and uniquely potent'' Guardian''Like overhearing a scream'' Doris Lessing''A terrible beauty is born out of the urgency of his vision'' Angela CarterTrade ReviewA profound, even if exaggeratedly self-aware writer, an instinctive nomad and bohemian in temperament, Marechera was a writer in constant quest for his real self -- Wole SoyinkaA terrible beauty is born out of the urgency of his vision -- Angela CarterThe metaphors are simultaneously so unclichéd and so apt that he reinvigorates the language -- China Mieville on THE BOOKS THAT MADE MELike overhearing a scream -- Doris LessingA writer who considered fiction a 'form of combat', his work is complex, challenging - and uniquely potent -- Chris Power * The Guardian *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Half Moon
Book SynopsisThe highly-anticipated new novel from the New York Times bestselling authorFor fans of Sorrow and Bliss and The Paper Palace___________''Best Book of 2023'' in Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, People, Book Page, Literary Hub''I could not put this book down'' MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER''Compelling, touching, exquisitely crafted'' LIANE MORIARTY''Prepare to lose yourself in this book'' SARA COLLINS___________There are two sides to every story. . .Malcolm is a bartender at the Half Moon in Upstate New York. He has always dreamed of owning a bar, and so when his boss finally retires, he seizes his chance, despite his wife''s protests.Jess has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby, she''s struggling to accept the idea that motherhood might not be in her future. She finds herself slipping away fromTrade ReviewMary Beth Keane writes to the heart of the human heart. She shows us how love can deepen, how love can stall - hang in the sky like a half moon, waxing and waning in the same moment, equal parts shadow and light. I could not put this book down' -- Miranda Cowley Heller, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Paper PalaceAbsorbing ... Keane excels at moments of interior deliberation ... it's such a pleasure to sink into Keane's quietly luminous prose ... Her recordings of the small, significant moments of life have a way of standing for something larger... [Keane's] perceptive, generous observations and attention to her characters' inner lives make for a book that is much, much more than the sum of its characters. She manages to find the extraordinary grace in our achingly ordinary world * New York Times *I adored this compelling, touching, exquisitely crafted story about a marriage in crisis. As a devoted fan of Mary Beth Keane, I'm already looking forward to whatever she chooses to write next! -- Liane MoriartyI fell in love with The Half Moon from the first page, and barely looked up until I'd finished. Mary Beth Keane has written another brilliantly absorbing novel about complicated marriages and family dynamics - how they shape us, yes, but how they undo us as well. Prepare to lose yourself in this book -- Sara Collins, bestselling author of The Confessions of Frannie LangtonMary Beth Keane is one of our finest writers on the interior complexities of marriage and family. She shines a flashlight on the intricate clockwork of love and longing that runs inside us; and because of the thoughtfulness of that examination, beauty and possibility are visible. I ran my finger over sentences while reading, thinking: Yes, exactly. This kind of fiction recognizes us, and allows us to look around our own lives with respect and kindness, and is therefore a great gift -- Ann Napolitano, author of New York Times bestseller Dear EdwardKeane writes in a sturdily realist vein-the vivid, domesticated world of Anne Tyler, of William Trevor, of Elizabeth Strout-but her insights into matters of the heart, longing and restlessness especially, have astonishing delicacy * Vogue US *A quietly marvellous story of dreams, disappointments and second chances, but, mostly, love -- Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black CakeKeane explores the sacrifices of a marriage . . . The tension is undeniable and deeply compelling . . . with an unexpected twist, Keane's charming, tautly-paced, and introspective novel will delight * Booklist *Here, a full marriage story is compressed within the span of a single week as charming, gregarious bartender Malcolm and his conscientious lawyer wife Jess confront the longtime fissures in their union and the many dreams deferred * The Best in Upcoming Fiction, Entertainment Weekly *You'll root for both sides in this deftly written novel * Grazia *A man walks into a bar... at the start of this remarkable novel, and how does Mary Beth Keane do it? Because I walked right on in there after him, into this sublime, shaken snow globe of a story. A story that unpeels the human psyche with compassion and wisdom and extraordinary insight. She is hands down one of my favourite writers -- Fran Littlewood, author of Amazing Grace AdamsI LOVED The Half Moon. She's an extraordinary writer who explores the complications of human relationships with so much perceptive brilliance. Every character in this wonderful book is so nuanced - I've thought about it often since finishing -- Caroline Lea. author of Prize WomenPoignant * LA Times *Keane is an expert at writing about the complexities of marriage and family * Good Housekeeping *Another beautifully written book * Hello! *
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd The Favourite
Book Synopsis*PRE-ORDER* the unmissable new novel from Fran Littlewood, the New York Times bestselling author of Read With Jenna pick Amazing Grace Adams: a story of three grown sisters, whose father - in a moment of crisis - accidentally lets slip that he has a favourite daughterA STYLIST MUST-READ BOOK OF 2025A SUNDAY TIMES STUFF EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT PICK''FABULOUS . . . God, I wish I had written it. Funny, dark, fascinating and UTTERLY convincing. On my QWJ (Queasy With Jealousy) Scale, I award it 16/10.'' MARIAN KEYES''Once I picked up The Favourite, I did not want to put it down until the last page was turned.'' LOTTIE HAZELL, author of PigletWonderful and very funny. You''re in for such a treat.'GEORGINA MOORE, author of The Garnett Girls''So sharp, funny, pacey and incredibly well-observed. I loved it.''REBECCA WAIT, author of I''m Sorry You Feel That Way''Fabulous - funny and brilliantly claustrophobic on family dynamics.''LAUREN BRAVO, author of Preloved''Fran Littlewood has the incredible ability to write like she''s been observing you and your family for years.''ORE AGBAJE-WILLIAMS, author of The Three of Us''Sizzles with familial tension . . . Heartbreaking, candid and witty.''JUSTIN MYERS''Brilliantly funny, dark, insightful, wildly satisfying.''NATASHA POLISZCZUK''Has a cinematic quality . . . Every moment feels alive. Full of tender moments and thoughtful insights, The Favourite will be a favourite of readers, perfect with those with imperfect families - which is to say, all of us.''SHELF AWARENESSNothing derails a family holiday like your dad revealing he has a favourite child.Alex, Nancy and Eva Fisher. Three grown-up sisters; each wonderful and imperfect in their own individual ways. And loved equally by their parents, Vivienne and Patrick.Or so they thought.Right up to the moment when, during a family party, Patrick inadvertently lets slip that he has a favourite. While they try to gloss over it, this sets in motion the unravelling of everything the sisters thought they knew. As their past is re-written, secrets and lies are uncovered, and the Fisher clan implodes in a way they could never have dreamed possible.But will it take falling apart to bring them closer together?From the New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace Adams comes a witty, tender portrait of a family's highs and lows over the years, examining how all siblings are equal but some are more equal than others. PRAISE FOR AMAZING GRACE ADAMS ''Littlewood writes with ferocity and compassion about . . . the impossibility of spinning all the plates that modern life expects us to manage. Read it and weep (then cheer)'' THE TIMES ''A rip-roaring, empowering story of redemption, discovery and starting over. Glorious'' DAILY EXPRESS ''I just adored this . . . An unforgettable read'' LIANE MORIARTY ''Compelling, funny and poignant. I devoured it'' PAULA HAWKINS ''Never have I felt more seen'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ''I loved it. Vivid, visceral and incredibly emotional. I laughed and sobbed'' TIM MINCHIN
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd On the Road
Book SynopsisJack Kerouac''s Great American Novel, now in a delightful new Clothbound Classics editionOn the Road swings to the rhythms of 1950s underground America, jazz, sex, generosity, chill dawns and drugs, with Sal Paradise and his hero Dean Moriarty, traveller and mystic, the living epitome of Beat. Now recognized as a modern classic, its American Dream is nearer that of Walt Whitman than Scott Fitzgerald, and it goes racing towards the sunset with unforgettable exuberance, poignancy and autobiographical passion.Trade ReviewThe most beautifully executed, the clearest and the most important utterance yet made by thegeneration Kerouac himself named years ago as "beat" * The New York Times *Pop writing at its best. It changed the way I saw the world, making me yearn for fresh experience -- Hanif Kureishi * Independent on Sunday *On the Road sold a trillion Levis and a million espresso machines, and also sent countless kids on the road -- William Burroughs
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Siblings
Book Synopsis''Spare, chilling, with wild flashes of vivid colour and the tempo of a thriller, Siblings jolts us into the beating heart of a family and post-war East Germany, conjuring the political dreams and divisions that make and ultimately break both'' Lisa Appignanesi1960. The border between East and West Germany has closed.For Elisabeth - a young painter - the GDR is her generation''s chance to build a glorious, egalitarian socialist future. For her brother Uli, it is a place of stricture and oppression. Separating them is the ever-wider chasm of the Party line; over them loom the twin spectres of opportunity and fear, and the shadow of their defector brother Konrad. In prose as bold as a scarlet paint stroke, Brigitte Reimann battles with the clash of idealism and suppression, familial loyalty, and desire. The result is this ground-breaking classic of post-war East German literature.Translated by Lucy Jones
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Delphi
Book Synopsis''Inviting, stylish and candid ... Pollard''s future, as a novelist, is very bright indeed'' The i''Clever, warm, and funny'' Sarah Moss, The Guardian''This isn''t the first - and most certainly won''t be the last - pandemic novel, but it might be the most brilliant'' Daily Mail''I am sick of the future. Up to here with the future. I don''t want anything to do with it; don''t want it near me''It is 2020 and in a time more turbulent than any of us could have ever imagined, a woman is attempting to write a book about prophecy in the ancient world.Navigating the tightening grip of lockdown, a marriage in crisis, and a ten-year-old son who seems increasingly unreachable, she becomes fixated on our many forms of divination and prediction: on oracles, tarot cards and tea leaves and the questions we have always asked as we scroll and click and rage against our fates.But in doing so she fails to notice
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd The White Rock From the bestselling author of The
Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BALLROOM AND EXPECTATION''Poetic, philosophical and wildly captivating... I swam in this book and didn''t want to come up for air'' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Animals and Adults___________________They are separating, she and her husband, after two decades together.This fact is new. Only really a fact for a few weeks or so. Before that it was a possibility - one potential outcome among many. But now it appears to be, unequivocally, the case.There are many ways of telling the tale ... There are many different sides to every story ...The White Rock stands, ancient and sacred, off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Four people, across four centuries, each navigating ruptures to the world they know, are irresistibly drawn to it.A British writer travels i
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Good Left Undone The instant New York Times
Book Synopsis**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**THE SWEEPING, SUN-DRENCHED STORY OF LOVE, FAMILY AND UNTOLD SECRETS SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WWII, FROM THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLER''Adriana is a storyteller second to none'' HEATHER MORRIS, bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz''Trigiani never fails to sweep you away . . . an emotional and beautiful tale of family, love, and loss'' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, bestselling author of Malibu Rising''There is a reason Adriana Trigiani is so beloved by her millions of devoted readers . . . gorgeous'' SARAH JESSICA PARKER''A big, beautiful, wonderful book; romantic, moving, transporting, affecting I will do everything I can to encourage everyone to read it'' LOUISE DOUGLAS, bestselling author of The House by the Sea_________Domenica Cabrelli had two great loves of her life.The first, her childhood sweetheart: a boy from the sa
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd Killer Instinct
Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING, TWISTY NEW LEGAL THRILLER STARRING UNDERDOG BARRISTER LEE MITCHELL IN A CASE THAT STRIKES AT THE HEART OF HER CHAMBERSBritish crime fiction has a dazzling new voice in Nicola Williams' Tony ParsonsWhen the Head Clerk at her Chambers is murdered, Lee Mitchell doesn't know who she can trust.One of the last people to see him alive, the crime is pinned on Junior Clerk Dean who seems like the type'. Working-class and still living on the estate where he grew up, he has the most to gain from Tom's death.But Lee knows how easily prejudices can snowball into convictions and steps in to defend him. As the trial progresses, people Lee has worked with for years become suspects as her Chambers crumbles into a world of chaos and deceit.And, what of the diary, whispered about by those at Chambers? The one Tom used to blackmail Lee's friends and enemies alike to do his bidding? The one containing secrets some might kill to keep hidden?Maybe finding it will be the key to solving his murder. Or maybe some secrets are better left buried . . .An authentic thought-provoking new voice in crime fiction' Kate Ellis
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Tomás Nevinson
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Joys of Motherhood
Book Synopsis''A scorching portrayal of a woman''s life . . . the female, feminist counterpart to Things Fall Apart'' Bernardine Evaristo''God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody''s appendage? ... when will I be free?''There is no greater honour for a woman in an Ibo village than to have children - especially sons. Unable to conceive in her first marriage, Nnu Ego is sent away to a new husband in the city of Lagos, where she finally succeeds in becoming a mother. But things are changing, and a war that unfolds thousands of miles away threatens her family''s fortunes and her entire way of life. In a world where motherhood is everything, what will be left for her at the end of it all?''Sparkling intelligence and a certain kind of honest, lived, intimate insight into working-class colonial Nigeria'' Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieTrade ReviewI read and admired all her books ... The book I adored most was The Joys of Motherhood, for its sparkling intelligence and a certain kind of honest, lived, intimate insight into working-class colonial Nigeria -- Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieA scorching portrayal of a woman's life in pre-independence Nigeria . . . should be up there as the female, feminist counterpart to Chinua Achebe's celebrated and widely taught novel Things Fall Apart -- Bernardine EvaristoA rich, multilayered work of fiction, full of drama and written with deceptive simplicity * Essence *Writes with subtlety, power, and abundant compassion * New York Times *Fresh and relevant . . . expertly and sensitively shines a light on the distortion of traditional values -- Lola Jaye * Lit Hub *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd a
Book SynopsisPart novel, part Pop artwork, Andy Warhol''s a is an electrifying slice of life at his Factory studio''A work of genius'' NewsweekIn the early 1960s, Andy Warhol set out to turn the novel into pop art. a, the first book he wrote, is the result. Transcribed from audiotapes recorded in and around his legendary art studio, it begins with the actor Ondine popping pills, then follows a cast of thinly-disguised superstars, musicians and prima donnas as they run riot through Manhattan. A knowing response to James Joyce''s Ulysses, using the freewheeling, spontaneous techniques as Warhol''s visual art, this filthy, funny book is a uniquely creative insight into Factory life.''Hellish hymns from Amphetamine Heaven, the vox populi of the Velvet Underground ... These people are witty and they are grand, they do terrible things and make awful remarks'' New York Review of BooksTrade ReviewHellish hymns from Amphetamine Heaven, the vox populi of the Velvet Underground. . . . The characters of a represent the bizarre new class, untermenschen prefigurations of the technological millenium. * The New York Review of Books *a documents glamour going down on the mores of the day. . . . important and very funny -- FriezeYou really ought to own it * Esquire *A new kind of pop artifact * Library Journal *
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd The Lottery Shirley Jackson Little Clothbound
Book SynopsisIntroducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Step into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson with a collection of her finest, creepiest short stories, revealing the queen of American gothic at her mesmerising best. This selection includes ''The Lottery'', Jackson''s masterpiece and one of the most terrifying and iconic stories of the twentieth century.''An amazing writer ... If you haven''t read her you have missed out on something marvellous'' NeiTrade ReviewAn amazing writer ... if you haven't read any of her short stories ... you have missed out on something marvellous -- Neil GaimanThe world of Shirley Jackson is eerie and unforgettable -- A. M. HomesShirley Jackson is one of those highly idiosyncratic, inimitable writers...whose work exerts an enduring spell -- Joyce Carol Oates
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Ballad of the Sad Café
Book SynopsisIntroducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Few writers have expressed loneliness, the need for human understanding and the search for love with such power and poetic sensibility as the American writer Carson McCullers. The Ballad of the Sad Café is her masterpiece: an unruly, bittersweet novella concerning the most unlikely of love triangles.''The greatest prose writer that the South produced ... She has examined the heart of man with an understanding that no other writer can hope to surpass'' - Tennessee WilliamsTrade ReviewUnexpectedly moving, grimly amusing, intensely atmospheric * The Times *Of all the Southern writers, she is the most apt to endure * Gore Vidal *Brilliant ... a panorama of a remarkable talent ... McCullers's finest story * The New York Times *
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd Babettes Feast
Book SynopsisLittle Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Karen Blixen, author of the acclaimed memoir Out of Africa, was also a master of the short story form: her tales offer luminous meditations on rebirth and redemption, on the mystery and unexpectedness of human behaviour. Alongside ''Babette''s Feast'', this selection also includes ''Sorrow-Acre'', often thought to be one of her finest stories.''Tales as delicate as Venetian glass'', The New York Times
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd Nothing Serious
Book SynopsisA blisteringly sharp novel of self-acceptance, friendship and making connections in the most unexpected of places . . . **** ''Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling'' DAILY MAIL ''A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong'' RED ''Best Books of January 2024''''Sharp, sublime and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it'' CHRIS WHITAKER, New York Times bestselling author ''This book blew me away, I''m still reeling from it . . . This is a powerful novel that will bring out a world of emotions in you . . . Just brilliant'' ***** Reader Review****Nicki - 30ish, care worker, living in Brighton - is scrolling for her next hook-up. A difficult home life, a job that''s going nowhere, she seeks solace in random encounters. Amber - 17, college student, lost - desperately needs someone to notice her. She creates ''Kevin'', a fake dating profile for a man in his thirties.Neither Nicki nor ''Kevin'' has any idea what they''re about to get into. They quickly match, and an unlikely friendship develops, giving each other the validation they both sorely need. But can you ever truly connect when one of you is a liar?***''A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we''ll go to create connections'' HEATHER DARWENT, Sunday Times bestselling author ''Emotive . . . a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive'' AMY BEASHEL''WHAT. A. BOOK. I was utterly gripped from the first page. One that people will be talking about long after they finish reading'' LISA HALLTrade ReviewAlways emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling * Daily Mail *A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong * Red, 'Best Books of January 2024' *Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it -- Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the EndA searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections -- Heather Darwent, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Things We Do To Our FriendsAn emotive insight into the consequences of bruising loneliness, Nothing Serious is a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive -- Amy Beashel, author of Spilt MilkWHAT. A. BOOK. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before, I was utterly gripped from the first page. I loved Emma's characters, they felt real and balanced, flawed and relatable. Such a perfectly relevant read, and one that I think people will be talking about/thinking over for a long time after they finish reading -- Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and MeMagnetic, raw and powerful, this is a compulsive novel about loneliness and connection that will stay with me a long time -- Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
£15.29
