Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisSet against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret—and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other.“An undercurrent of New Orleans’s dark side propels the story, heightening the tension and supplying McPhail with a wealth of evocative details.” —Publishers Weekly1900: Though the dawn of a new century promises social progress, there are few options for women like Alice Butterworth, pregnant and abandoned by her husband. In desperation, Alice leaves Chicago’s bitter cold and travels to New Orleans, where she offers sewing lessons at an orphanage.Young widow Constance Halstead has thrown herself into charity work since her husband’s death. Seeing Alice’s skill, she offers lo

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Book SynopsisMexican Gothic meets Outlander in this spellbinding, atmospheric timeslip debut novel, as a woman struggling with her mental health spends the winter with her cruel in-laws in their eerie, haunting manor that sweeps her back through time and into the arms of her fiancé''s mysterious, alluring 19th century ancestor.Traveling to be with her fiancé?s terminally ill mother in her last days, Saoirse Read expected her introduction to the family?s ancestral home would be bittersweet. But the stark thrust of Langdon Hall against the cliff and the hundred darkened windows in its battered walls are almost as forbidding as the woman who lies wasting inside. Her fiancé?s parents make no secret of their distaste for Saoirse, and their feelings have long since spread to their son. Or perhaps it is only the shadows of her mind suggesting she?s unwelcome, seizing on her fears while her beloved grieves? As Saoirse takes to wandering the estate?s winding, dreamlike gardens, overgrown and half-wild with neglect, she slips back through time to 1818. There she meets Theo Page, a man like her fiancé but softer, more charming, and who clearly harbors a fervent interest in her. As it becomes clear that Theo is her fiancé?s ancestor, and the tenuous peace of Langdon Hall crumbles around her, Saoirse finds she?s no longer sure which dreams and doubts belong to the present?and which might not be dreams at all . . . ?Rich, immersive, and heartachingly romantic.? ?B. R. Myers, bestselling author of A Dreadful Splendor ?Delivers all the hallmarks of a classic Gothic novel told in a lyrical and hauntingly beautiful new voice.? ?Hester Fox, author of A Lullaby for Witches ?The novel tugs at the heart, filled with yearning for a real love who sees you as you really are, and the journey to step from the shadows to the sun.? ?Kim Taylor Blakemore, author of The Deception ?Richly drawn and evocative…Marielle Thompson is a writer to watch!? ?Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil ?A story about love in its many forms?and the aches it sometimes brings. A Gothic daydream of a read!? ?Briana Una McGuckin, author of On Good Authority ?A story that is at once a haunting gothic novel, a swoon-worthy romantic tale, and an unflinching look at what it can be to live with mental illness.? ?Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

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Book SynopsisJaclyn Gilbert’s piercing and lyrically compelling debut novel about marriage, loss, and finding the path home again. Murray has always known how to suppress his pain. In the shadows of a predawn run, a man tries to escape what he can’t control: His failed marriage. Grief. Even his own weakness. Murray is a college running coach insistent on his relentless training regimen and obsessed with his star athlete—until he finds her crumpled and unresponsive during a routine practice one morning. Unable to avoid or outrun reality, Murray is forced to face the consequences of a terrible accident from the past…and his own increasingly tenuous grip on life. In her debut novel, author Jaclyn Gilbert weaves together the strands of two lives that form a union as finely nuanced and delicate as a spider’s web―and just as vulnerable. Following the relationship of Murray and his ex-wife, Nancy, in alternating narratives, we experience their early moments of hope and desire as well as their fears and failings. With poignancy and grace, Late Air traces the collapse of a marriage, exhausted by time and trauma, and one couple’s journey to regain their footing.

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Book SynopsisA dying wish. A devastating secret. Should the truth really stay buried? The four Bliss siblings have a loving but complicated bond, but when their mother, Dorothy, dies seemingly without a will, this relationship is put to the test. As the mourning siblings try to make sense of the situation, one of them is caught with a secret: before she died, Dorothy entrusted her favourite daughter with her will and a letter—and told her to destroy them both. Of course it was Anna their mother turned to for this mission. Miriam, the eldest, is far too sensible; Sebastian, the baby, too sensitive; and Clare, the middle child, has always been too rebellious to rely on, and long ago cut herself out of her siblings’ lives. But what Anna finds in the documents could change everything. Do the other siblings not deserve to know what it is about them that their mother was so desperate to hide? And if it is revealed, will the Bliss family ever be the same again?

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Book Synopsis“A page-turner that will pull on your heartstrings and affirm your faith in humanity.” —Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love From the bestselling author of Wish Me Home comes a heart-racing tale of resilience and hope. When Sadie Harlan visits her daughter, Lauren, at her summer internship in Yosemite National Park, it seems like the perfect way to forget about her empty nest and failing marriage back home. But when the two women get lost on what’s meant to be a short hike, they suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives. As they search for food, water, and civilization, they battle injury, exhaustion, and natural predators. Sadie, however, is assaulted by more than just the unforgiving elements. She lost her first child years earlier in a tragic accident, and in her sorrow, she’s pushed everyone away—including her husband. Now, Sadie must face her past through a journey of love, loss, and learning to forgive herself if she and Lauren are to stand a chance at getting out of Yosemite alive. Will a mother’s courage be enough to save them both?Trade Review“A baring-of-the-soul emotional story that leaves you with a heart full of love and hope.” —Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author “In Dancing With the Sun, a mother and daughter are forced to lean on each other for survival in the wilderness while learning to let go of years of grief and guilt. Readers will relate to Kay Bratt’s depiction of a mother’s love and her courage in protecting her daughter. Ultimately, though, this novel is a page-turner that will pull on your heartstrings and affirm your faith in humanity.” —Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love “Dancing with the Sun is an evocative story of emotional and physical survival in the harshest of terrains. Mother and wife Sadie Harlan is struggling silently with grief when she and her daughter go missing in Yosemite. Away from the world and focused on keeping her daughter alive, Sadie embarks on an unforgettable journey through loss and guilt to find forgiveness, healing, and strength. Book clubs will love the powerful message of this unique novel.” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us “Dancing with the Sun is an endearing, emotional tale filled with the perfect mix of poignant family heartaches, unshakable mother-daughter love, and a dose of adventure in a dramatic, vivid setting that will sweep you away until the very last page. Don’t miss it.” —Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author “Whether facing the natural terrors of Yosemite or the internal pains of an unforgiven past, this mother-daughter story is beautifully written and relatable as one woman faces a mother’s greatest fear—losing yet another child. Kay Bratt delivers on all levels in this emotional and tense story of loss and resilience.” —Emily Bleeker, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “Nothing like a harrowing, life-threatening, and completely unplanned hike through Yosemite’s backcountry to make you face years of grief and guilt head on. Kay Bratt pulls this off masterfully in Dancing with the Sun, an emotional mother-daughter tale of love, forgiveness, and renewal. Book clubs will love Bratt’s latest!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “In Dancing With The Sun, Kay Bratt captures a mother-daughter relationship with an authenticity rarely seen in novels. Highly emotional, heartfelt, and bristling with tension on every page, this is a story not easily forgotten.” —Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author

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Book SynopsisA stunning new novel—full of wit and warmth—from the bestselling author of The Mango Season. In trendy Silicon Valley, Priya has everything she needs—a loving husband, a career, and a home—but the one thing she wants most is the child she’s unable to have. In a Southern Indian village, Asha doesn’t have much—raising two children in a tiny hut, she and her husband can barely keep a tin roof over their heads—but she wants a better education for her gifted son. Pressured by her family, Asha reluctantly checks into the Happy Mothers House: a baby farm where she can rent her only asset—her womb—to a childless couple overseas. To the dismay of friends and family, Priya places her faith in a woman she’s never met to make her dreams of motherhood come true. Together, the two women discover the best and the worst that India’s rising surrogacy industry has to offer, bridging continents and cultures to bring a new life into the world—and renewed hope to each other.Trade ReviewNamed a Summer Book Pick by Redbook, Working Mother, SheKnows, and Brit + Co “Malladi (The Mango Season, 2003) examines India’s surrogacy industry with honesty and grace. This slice of life will touch all women who have struggled with conception and/or poverty. This thought-provoking novel will be a sure hit with book groups.” —Booklist, Starred Review “Malladi (The Mango Season) writes a poignant novel from two difficult perspectives that spans several complex and often controversial topics. This title would make a great book club selection.” —Library Journal “A House for Happy Mothers explores the lengths people will go for family. The characters are nuanced and sympathetic, and the dueling perspectives of a surrogate and the biological mother are commendable.” —RT Book Reviews “The story provides an intriguing glimpse into the surrogate industry and casts light on the emotional toil those involved face.” —The Associated Press “A feel-good story that warms the heart.” —Redbook “This thoughtful novel examines India’s surrogacy industry with honesty and grace.” —Brit + Co “A wonderful novel that takes you through the journey of surrogacy and the heart-wrenching emotions of those involved.” —Sejal Badani, author of Trail of Broken Wings “How far would you go to have a family, and how far would you go to save the family you already have? In A House for Happy Mothers, Amulya Malladi skillfully and compassionately raises these questions in a story of two women yearning to protect their families. This is a thought-provoking, modern-day family saga set against the backdrop of traditional Indian and American maternal expectations.”—Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Good Neighbor and The Glass Wives “Compelling and filled with insight. [Amulya] Malladi’s voice is layered, and her empathetic powers highly developed. Indian surrogacy is a crucially important and little-considered subject, and Malladi’s novel is thoughtful, enlightening, and moving.” —Leslee Udwin, BAFTA award-winning filmmaker of East Is East and India’s Daughter “A subtly nuanced and compassionate look at the controversial ‘rent a womb’ industry, Amulya Malladi's book is timely and illuminating.” —Nayana Currimbhoy, author of Miss Timmins’ School for Girls “A House for Happy Mothers shines an unblinking light on the business of surrogacy in India, and the emotional fallout. Can anything balance the inequality of power between a poor surrogate and a biological mother? A husband and wife in an arranged marriage? A mother and daughter struggling with years of perceived disappointment? Compelling and realistic, Amulya Malladi’s latest release is the perfect choice for book clubs, and any reader with a questioning mind and an open heart.” —Lorrie Thomson, author of A Measure of Happiness and What’s Left Behind “A sensitive exploration of the emotional terrain of motherhood and the socio-economic complexities of our global world. Amulya Malladi’s novel contains no villains or heroes, just breathing, living characters who will draw you into their heartbreak.”—Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter and The Golden Son “In this timely contemporary novel, Malladi describes the important and controversial issue of surrogate pregnancy with a light and masterful [hand]. Readers will find their hearts deeply touched by the longings of the two women who become inextricably intertwined in this process of giving and receiving the ultimate gift—the birth of a child.” —Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of The Palace of Illusions and Before We Visit the Goddess

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling author of Last Train to Istanbul returns with a tale of love defying all boundaries. Sabahat, a beautiful young Muslim woman, is known in her family for her intelligence, drive, and stubbornness. She believes there is more in store for her life than a good marriage and convinces her parents to let her pursue her education, rare for young Turkish women in the 1920s. But no one—least of all Sabahat herself—expects that in the course of her studies she will fall for a handsome Armenian student named Aram. After precious moments alone together, their love begins to blossom. Try as she might to simplify her life and move on, Sabahat has no choice but to follow her heart’s desire. But Aram is Christian, and neither family approves. With only hope to guide their way, they defy age-old traditions, cross into dangerous territory, and risk everything to find their way back to each other. One of Turkey’s most beloved authors brings us an evocative story of two star-crossed lovers inspired by her own family’s history.

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Book SynopsisRomantic Novel Award Nominee Zoe knows that it wasn’t really her fault. Of course it wasn’t. But if she’d just grasped harder, run faster, lunged quicker, she might have saved him. And Edward doesn’t really blame her, though his bitter words at the time still haunt her, and he can no more take them back than she can halt the car that killed their son. Two years on, every day is a tragedy. Edward knows they should take healing steps together, but he’s tired of being shut out. For Zoe, it just seems easier to let grief lead the way. A weekend in Paris might be their last hope for reconciliation, but mischance sees them separated before they’ve even left Gare du Nord. Lost and alone, Edward and Zoe must try to find their way back to each other—and find their way back to the people they were before. But is that even possible?

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Book SynopsisWhat if the one thing you want is the only thing you can’t have? With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter thinks she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect. But becoming parents proves much harder to achieve than Lucy and Jonah imagined, and when Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, she becomes a constant reminder of what Lucy doesn’t have. Jonah’s love and support are unquestioning, but Lucy’s struggles with work and her own failing dreams begin to take their toll. With Camille’s presence straining the bonds of Lucy’s marriage even further, Lucy suddenly feels herself close to losing everything… This heart-wrenchingly poignant family drama from bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: in today’s hectic world, what does it mean to be a mother?

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Book SynopsisHallie Cavanaugh's late father just left her millions of reasons to stay away from Jim Lawson, deputy sheriff of Paradise, Idaho, and the man who broke her heart fourteen years ago. Hallie has worked hard for independence, but she can't dismiss a massive inheritance, even if she has to follow her father's manipulative terms to get it. How hard can it be to spend six months back in Paradise—and not sleep with her old flame? Former Army Ranger Jim just wants to do his job, raise his daughter…and resist the gorgeous, redheaded reminder of his bad-boy past. Their one unforgettably hot night together had major consequences, and now there's a fortune and a family legacy at stake. But when Hallie is threatened amid a storm of uncovered secrets and conflicted loyalties, protecting her becomes more than a duty: it's a deeply personal fight Jim's heart won't let him lose.Trade Review"A mix of intrigue, romance, and family drama, Take Me Back has a bit of everything that keeps the pages turning." —Roundtable Reviews "James has created an intriguing world of secrets and romance that will suck you in from the first sentence. Anyone who likes contemporary romance/romantic suspense will enjoy this book." —So Many Reads

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Set in the capital city of the world’s happiest country, a comedy of manners about depression, the pressures of marriage, and the possibility of falling in love again, from the bestselling author of A House for Happy Mothers. Sanya was always the perfect wife, but after a breakdown at her office, it’s her husband Harry’s turn to step up. His proposal? A temporary move to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital city. He needs to be there to close a business deal and figures the change of scenery will do her good. Soon Sanya goes from hiding under her duvet to hiding in plain sight—a dark-skinned Indian American in a city of blondes. Within Copenhagen’s glamorous high society, one man stands out—not only because of his intriguing scar but because he sees Sanya in a way Harry hasn’t for years. Anders Ravn owns the company Harry wants to acquire, and soon Sanya begins to fall for him. As allegations of white-collar crime arise, she learns of Harry’s infidelity, and having an affair with Anders seems ever more tempting. Surrounded by old money, smoked fish on dark breads, and way too many bicycles, Sanya slowly moves from breakdown to breakthrough, but where will she end up—and with whom?

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Book SynopsisThere are three sides to every story: Yours. Mine. And the truth… Max and Alissa have a fairy tale life—newlywed, madly in love and enviously rich. Then Max is brutally stabbed to death at their home and Alissa, miraculously, escapes with her life. But why was she spared? The hunt for the killer begins, uncovering a number of leads—was Max’s incredible wealth the motive? Had his shady business practices finally caught up with him? Or was it a stalker with a dangerous obsession? Devoted friends rally around gentle, sweet Alissa as she is left to mourn the loss of her husband and pick up her life. But not everyone is who they seem…Deep-rooted jealousies, secrets and twisted love lie just beneath the surface, and not all fairy tales have a happy ending. Duplicity is a suspenseful thriller from the bestselling author of Look Behind You and Where the Memories Lie.

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Book SynopsisFor Maya, history is like a dream, and her dreams are like a history of her life and how it relates to others. Effortlessly defying and calling into question time and space, Maya inhabits fantastical realities filled with shamans, romantic longing, a daughter's struggles, and a flying dragon. Lyrically flowing between Maya's multiple realities, The Original Dream is the story of a young independent Indonesian woman trying to break free from cultural and social conventions while also searching for her place among family and friends. With guidance from her parents, coworkers, and sister, along with a newborn filled with the wisdom of elders, Maya navigates her perceptions, looking for answers to unknown questions. Whether soaring through the nighttime sky, caring for her nephew, or tending to guests at the hotel where she works, she tries to delineate the difference between dreams and reality and if such a difference even matters.

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Book SynopsisLinnie Wayfair knows just how many people are counting on her. But knowing doesn’t make doing any easier. Everyone in Sweet Lake, Ohio, wants her to muster all her business sense and return the Wayfair Inn to its former glory. Her parents hope she’ll forgive her scoundrel of a brother and reconcile the family. The eccentric Sweet Lake Sirens want her to open the inn—and her heart—to new possibilities. And her hilarious lifelong friends Jada and Cat are dropping none-too-subtle hints for her to ignite a romance with Daniel Kettering, the sexy attorney who’s been pining for her for years… Now a shocking turn of events will open old wounds and upend the world Linnie has carefully built. She has to make changes quickly—and the results, though not entirely what she expected, might be what she’s been yearning for all along.Trade ReviewInternational Book Award Finalist, Fiction: Chick Lit/Women’s Lit “[Sweet Lake] has such a charming small-town vibe and endearing characters that readers will find themselves falling in love with quirky Sweet Lake and hoping for a series. Perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber or Nora Roberts’ romances.” —Booklist “In this uplifting and charming story, each room of the inn is filled with friendship, forgiveness, and love.” —Kirkus Reviews “Craving a literary trifecta of romance, small town drama and soul searching? That’s exactly what you’ll find in Linnie Wayfair’s life as she tries to restore an inn in Sweet Lake, Ohio to glory—all while navigating affairs of the heart. This is the literary answer to Gilmore Girls withdrawals, and we don’t give that compliment lightly.” —YourTango “This irresistible dance of expectations and desires will leave every reader remembering why love is so sweet in the first place.” —Popsugar Sweet Lake is an enchanting story full of lovable characters.” —Redbook “Escape to the small town of Sweet Lake, Ohio, and fall in love with Linnie Wayfair.…This smart, sexy spring read will have you lounging on your front porch with a glass of white wine waiting to see if Linnie will follow her heart or her mind.” —Buzzfeed “Escaping into this novel is like smelling the blooming flowers on your street this spring—it simply makes the soul feel good.” —Brit + Co “Heartwarming and delightful, Christine Nolfi’s Sweet Lake takes place in a small town where endearing and appealing characters abound. It’s the kind of story that makes you wish you could enter into it. I really want a room at the Wayfair Inn! Since I can’t have tea with the characters in real life, I’m happy to be able visit them on the page.” —Nancy Star, bestselling author of Sisters One, Two, Three “A delightful read start to finish. Nolfi’s characters are believable, fun, and easy to love. You’ll want to visit the town of Sweet Lake time and again. Highly recommended.” —Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author "Sweet Lake celebrates determination, friendship, and love. Schedule your visit to the Wayfair Inn—Jada's brownies are delectable, and the Sirens are a real treat!" —Grace Greene, author of The Happiness In Between “Sweet Lake is a sweet read! In her endearing style, Nolfi delivers a cast of quirky characters and a suspense-filled plot in a story you don't want to end!” —Patricia Sands, author of the Love in Provence series

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Book SynopsisIn this powerful narrative, bestselling author Sarah Price takes us on the dark road to addiction. Laura Reese is losing control. Compassionate and conscientious, she excels as a post-op nurse, but her new supervisor doesn’t care how much she needs time off. Although she’s a selfless wife and mother, news of her husband’s promotion only fills her with anxiety. The country-club lifestyle he craves triggers memories of the dysfunctional family she came from, and of her own mother’s single-minded ambition to climb the social ladder. Laura has reached a breaking point. For her, there’s only one way to pull it all together, to balance the demands of her family and job, and to keep pleasing everyone she loves. But her little blue pills are pushing her closer to the edge…

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Book SynopsisAmazon Charts bestselling authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut in this twisty, emotional thriller. Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone. For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise. Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death…Trade ReviewA Publishers Weekly Best Summer Books 2017 Selection, Mystery/Thriller “Fenton and Steinke deliver a complicated tale of love, loss, intrigue, and disaster....This drama keeps the pages turning with shocking twists until the bitter end. A great read; recommended for admirers of Jennifer Weiner and Rainbow Rowell.” —Library Journal “Fans of Joy Fielding will appreciate the story’s fast pacing and sympathetic main character.…[a] solid psychological thriller…” —Publishers Weekly “Fenton and Steinke’s talent for domestic drama comes through.…For readers who enjoy suspense writers like Nicci French.” —Booklist “A fantastic thriller that will keep you on your toes…” —Popsugar “Accomplished authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut with great skill and assurance in this enthralling novel of marital secrets and lies, grief and revelation. The Good Widow led me along a winding, treacherous road and made a sharp, startling turn that I didn’t see coming. Unputdownable!” —A. J. Banner, #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and The Twilight Wife “Liz Fenton's and Lisa Steinke’s The Good Widow begins by asking what you would do if your spouse died in a place he wasn't supposed to be in with a woman he wasn't supposed to be with. What follows is a gut-wrenching thriller, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes darkly funny, but always a page-turner. And as you read it late into the night you'll look over at the person in bed next to you and wonder how well you really know him. A wild, skillfully-written ride!” —David Bell, author of Since She Went Away “An irresistible and twisty page-turner, The Good Widow should come with a delicious warning: This is not the story you think it is." —Deb Caletti, author of He's Gone “The Good Widow is both heartrending and suspenseful, deftly navigating Jacks' mourning and the loss of her less-than-perfect marriage. The writing is sharp and evocative, the Hawaiian setting is spectacular, and the ending was a wonderful, twisty surprise. A quintessential summer beach read!” —Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year “The Good Widow is a fresh take on your worst nightmare—your husband dies and he isn't where, or with who, he said he was. I ripped through these pages to see where Fenton and Steinke would take me, which ended up being somewhere unexpected in the best kind of way. You will not be sorry you read this!” —Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Fractured and Hidden

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Book SynopsisSome people live their entire lives without changing their perspective. For Allison Dennis, all it takes is 180 seconds… After a life spent bouncing from one foster home to the next, Allison is determined to keep others at arm’s length. Adopted at sixteen, she knows better than to believe in the permanence of anything. But as she begins her third year in college, she finds it increasingly difficult to disappear into the white noise pouring from her earbuds. One unsuspecting afternoon, Allison is roped into a social experiment just off campus. Suddenly, she finds herself in front of a crowd, forced to interact with a complete stranger for 180 seconds. Neither she, nor Esben Baylor, the dreamy social media star seated opposite her, is prepared for the outcome. When time is called, the intensity of the experience overwhelms Allison and Esben in a way that unnerves and electrifies them both. With a push from her oldest friend, Allison embarks on a journey to find out if what she and Esben shared is the real thing—and if she can finally trust in herself, in others, and in love.

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Book SynopsisOn the evening of her twenty-second wedding anniversary, Katherine Price can’t wait to celebrate. But instead of receiving an anniversary card from her husband, she finds a note asking for a divorce. Fifty-five and suddenly alone, Katherine begins the daunting task of starting over. She has her friends, her aging mother, and her career to occupy her, but the future seems to hold little promise—until, after a winter of heartbreak, Katherine is persuaded to try a home exchange holiday in the South of France. In Provence, bright fields of flowers bloom below medieval hilltop villages with winding cobblestone streets. Charmed by the picturesque countryside, the breathtaking Côte d’Azur, and the enchantment-filled boulevards of Paris, Katherine feels life opening up once again. Lavender perfumes the air, and chance encounters hint at romance and passion. But memories of heartbreak and betrayal linger—and her former life waits for her back home. Can she find the courage to begin again? Revised edition: This edition of The Promise of Provence includes editorial revisions.

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“A deftly crafted and riveting read from beginning to end.” —Midwest Book Review When two lost souls find love, their devotion may be the ultimate sacrifice. During China’s most chaotic period in history, a revolution creates thousands of innocent victims. Fearful citizens turn against one another and anyone accused of disloyalty to Chairman Mao is at risk of being sentenced to death. When best friends Pony Boy and Benfu get caught in the chaos, they must make heart-wrenching decisions regarding family, friendship, and courage. The prequel to the beloved Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters series, The Palest Ink depicts the trials of two young men—and the women they love—during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution.

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Book SynopsisWhen siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their late grandmother’s derelict Victorian farmhouse, it seems like a dream come true. All they have to do is fix the place up and sell it for a tidy profit! Except—as anyone who has renovated an old house knows—things are never that easy. The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling…and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about. On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show, and as soon as Great Locations presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not. Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks? From bestselling author Nick Spalding comes a hilarious tale of life, love and dodgy plumbing.

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Book SynopsisChloe Daniels doesn’t need a man—after escaping a marriage gone bad, she guards her heart as closely as the details of her past. So when hot-tempered celebrity chef Ben “the Beast” Haddox storms into her struggling toy store, Chloe is determined not to be drawn in by his broad shoulders…or baby-blue eyes. In his hometown, Ben’s culinary career is almost as famous as his bad-boy rep. He’s out to prove to naysayers he’s a success by opening a new restaurant—and the only thing standing in his way is Chloe’s store. But before he has a chance to convert her space into his signature eatery, she cooks up a plan to show him that her shop is worth saving. As things start to sizzle between them, Chloe must figure out how to avoid getting burned. Can she trust herself to love again, or has she jumped out of the frying pan and into desire?

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Book SynopsisIn a country that keeps secrets and buries sins, a stranger learns the price of both. In the remote Andean village of Colibrí, a boy discovers what appears to be the body of an angel. But in the face and wounds of the dead, winged woman, Dr. Gregory Moreno sees something even more disturbing: an uncanny resemblance to his beloved late wife that cannot be mere chance. And in American anthropologist Sophie Lawson, still more echoes of the doctor’s lost love stir…igniting the superstitions of the townspeople, and an elusive killer’s deepest desires and despair. When Sophie vanishes, her son and Dr. Moreno must navigate the streets, politics, and mysteries of a place where tortured ghosts and strange omens exist side by side with mortals both devout and corrupt. But they may need nothing less than a miracle to save her from sacrifice at the altar of a madman’s twisted passion. Conjuring shades of Gabriel García Márquez, Isabel Allende, or even Neil Gaiman, Grave of Hummingbirds is a mesmerizing novel of dreams and demons, beauty and blood.

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Book SynopsisA unique collection of stories from bestselling authors Angela Marsons, Rob Sinclair, Joy Ellis, Louise Beech and many more!Written in the Stars is a festive charity anthology with short stories from a variety of authors, including international bestsellers and award-winning writers. There’s something for everyone, with tales that will make you laugh, make you cry, or make you sleep with the light on. It’s the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter’s night. All net profits from this anthology are in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and The Butterfly AVM Charity, who both work tirelessly to offer help to children and their families with life-threatening illnesses. Authors include: A.A. Abbott, Angela Marsons, Beverley Harvey, Caron McKinlay, Diane Saxon, D.S. Butler, Emma Tallon, Eva Jordan, Gina Kirkham, Helen Walters, Jen Faulkner, John Harkin, Joy Ellis, Keri Beevis, Laura Stewart, Louise Beech Marrisse Whittaker, Mike Walters, Natasha Boydell, Patricia Dixon, Rob Sinclair (writing as CJ Stone), Stephen Edger and Valerie Keogh.

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Book SynopsisRoberto Saviano returns to the streets of Naples and the boy bosses who run them in Savage Kiss, the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Piranhas, the bestselling novel and major motion picture.Nicolas Fiorilla and his gang of children – his paranza – control the squares of Forcella after their rapid rise to power. But it isn’t easy being at the top.Now that the Piranhas have power in the city, they must undermine the old families of the Camorra and remain united among themselves. Every paranzino has his own vendettas and dreams to pursue – dreams that might go beyond the laws of the gang. A new war may be about to break out in this city of cut-throat bargaining, ruthless betrayal, and brutal revenge. Saviano continues the story of the disillusioned boys of Forcella, the paranzini ready to give and receive kisses that leave a taste of blood.Saviano’s Gomorrah was a worldwide sensation, and The Piranhas, called ‘raw and shocking’ by the New York Times Book Review, captured readers with its tale of raw criminal ambition, told with ‘openhearted rashness’ (Elena Ferrante). Savage Kiss, which again draws on the skills of translator Antony Shugaar, is a thrilling story from the brilliant Italian novelist.

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Book SynopsisMorse had solved so many mysteries in his life. Was he now, he wondered, beginning to glimpse the solution to the greatest mystery of them all . . . ? How can the discovery of a short story by a beautiful Oxford graduate lead Chief Inspector Morse to her murderer? What awaits Morse and Lewis in Room 231 of the Randolph Hotel? Why does a theft at Christmas lead the detective to look upon the festive season with uncharacteristic goodwill? And what happens when Morse himself falls victim to a brilliantly executed crime? Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories is a dazzling collection of short stories from Inspector Morse's creator, Colin Dexter. It includes six ingenious cases for the world's most popular fictional detective – plus five other tantalizingly original tales to delight all lovers of classic crime fiction.

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together several major essays on foundational topics of narrative studies and the theory of fictionality by one of the preeminent figures of postclassical narrative theory. It reexamines and reconceives the role of the author, the status of implied authors, the model for unnatural narrative theory, the nature of narrative, and the ideological implications of narrative forms. It also explores the status of historical characters in fictional texts, the paradoxes of realism, the presence of multiple implied readers, the role of actual readers, and the question of fictionality. In addition, an appendix offers a useful approach for teaching narrative theory. The book includes analyses of works by Conrad, Joyce, Woolf, Nabokov, Beckett, Jeanette Winterson, Deborah Eisenberg, and others. Throughout, it argues for a more expansive conception of narrative theory and keen attention to the nature and difference of fiction. This provocative book makes crucial interventions in ongoing critical debates about narrative theory, literary theory, and the theory of fictionality, and is essential reading for all students of narrative.

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Book SynopsisYour Truth or Mine? is about the dark secrets couples keep from one another and how a marriage unravels, perfect for fans of Lauren North's The Perfect Betrayal and Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone.At their wedding Mia and Roy Kapoor promised to love and cherish each other.Whilst not perfect, their marriage is sacred and their commitment absolute.But a knock at the door changes everything when Roy is questioned over the disappearance of a young woman.As Roy and Mia’s life unravels, they must question everything they know about each other if their marriage is to survive.But what if the real truth is not what they, or you, think?Praise from Real Readers‘Excellent debut thriller’ ‘I loved this book! What a ride’‘Totally gripping from start to finish’‘Loved, loved, loved it’‘Fantastic dark thriller’‘This is an amazing book’‘I loved the suspense and the plot twists throughout'‘Classic domestic noir with a colourful British Indian Slant. Loved it’

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Book Synopsis'Spiky, clever, funny' – Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters'Brilliant, propulsive . . . A riot'– Maddie Mortimer, author of Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies'A delicious gallop through 90s tabloid London' – Sam McAlister, author of ScoopsIt’s peak 90s London. Shoulder pads are out, crimped hair is in, supermodels are known by their first names, and Becky Sharp will do anything to escape her past.From mingling with tabloid millionaires to trading favours and fortunes with royalty, she will stop at nothing to reach the top of the career ladder at the Mercury newspaper. Landing scoop after scoop, Becky ruthlessly carves a place for herself in a society determined to ignore her. These are the biggest stories and scandals of the decade, and she has something to do with every one of them.But Becky may have more in common with the people she writes about than she thinks – what takes a lifetime to build takes only a moment to destroy . . .'A Vanity Fair for the mass-media age' - The GuardianTrade ReviewThe luscious draw of the Nineties glitz, the scandal of the press, and the tangibly descriptive jeopardy throughout makes this a true page-turner * The Independent *Addictive reading, [Becky's] darkness provid[es] welcome relief in these over-bright times * The Irish Times *A keenly observed portrait of elite society which skewers snobbery, sexism and celebrity culture . . . A page-turning blockbuster which pulls off its bold premise with panache * Apple Books *Rattles along very enjoyably, as talented Becky sucks up to celebrities and royalty then exploits them ruthlessly for her own ends * The Gloss Magazine *Becky is Sarah May’s sparkling tribute to William Thackeray’s classic novel Vanity Fair . . . entertaining and fast-paced * Daily Express *A scalpel-sharp, visciously funny slice of social comedy fit for our time * Northampton Chronicle *Becky by the supremely talented Sarah May is spiky, clever, funny and dark . . . I’m riveted -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersA brilliant, propulsive novel crafted with just the kind of roaring wit and striking precision Thackeray himself would commend. Becky is a riot, and Sarah May is a genius -- Maddie Mortimer, author of Maps of Our Spectacular BodiesA delicious gallop through 90s tabloid London * Sam McAlister, author of Scoops *A supple, witty take on the tabloid world and on Vanity Fair -- Jo Baker, author of LongbournSharp, brutally funny, coruscating . . . Becky by Sarah May is . . . a tonic -- Sam BakerClever and timely . . . fascinating on the media and power -- Terry Stiastny, author of Acts of OmissionBecky is a darling of the red tops, and a champion of stolen girls. Set against the backdrop of Princess Diana's death, phone tapping scandals and the dripping hot excitement of nineties Britain, Becky is as close to unputdownable as a book could be -- Anna Jean Hughes

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Book Synopsis'A real page-turner' – Ian RankinThe Party House by Lin Anderson is a deeply atmospheric psychological thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.Devastated by a recent pandemic brought in by outsiders, the villagers of Blackrig in the Scottish Highlands are outraged when they find that the nearby estate plans to reopen its luxury ‘party house’ to tourists.As animosity sparks in the community, a group of locals take action. By the end of the night, the house hot tub has been smashed to pieces and, in the ensuing chaos, the body of a young woman is found in the foundations. Seventeen-year-old Ailsa Cummings went missing five years ago, never to be seen again. Until now.The excavation of Ailsa’s remains reignites old suspicions towards the men of this small community, including Greg, the estate’s gamekeeper. He is loath to discuss old wounds, but Greg's new lover, Joanne, is frightened by his reaction to the missing girl’s discovery. Joanne begins to doubt how well she knows this new man in her life. Then again, he’s not the only one with secrets in their volatile relationship . . .'Lin's first standalone sees her expertly mix psychological thrills with a perplexing mystery simmering in a small community. It has all the ingredients of a hit to stand alongside her Rhona MacLeod series' – Douglas Skelton, author of The Blood is Still Trade ReviewA real page-turner -- Ian RankinLin Anderson is one of Scotland’s national treasures -- Stuart MacBride, author of Cold GraniteA cleverly crafted nail-biter with spectacular suspense. An all-consuming, one-sit read that I absolutely loved. Brilliant book -- Helen Fields, author of One for SorrowAn engrossing Highland tale, with layer upon layer of intrigue, skilfully drip-fed by a classy writer -- Mari Hannah, author of The Murder WallAs dark, mysterious and intriguing as the Highland landscape the book is set in, Lin has created a taut, twisting tale where secrets refuse to stay buried and the past haunts every page -- Morgan Cry, author of Thirty-One BonesLin's first standalone sees her expertly mix psychological thrills with a perplexing mystery simmering in a small community. It has all the ingredients of a hit to stand alongside her Rhona MacLeod series -- Douglas Skelton, author of The Blood is Still

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Book SynopsisSoon to be a major film directed by Coky Giedroyc and starring Ladybird's Beanie Feldstein as Johanna Morrigan and Game of Thrones's Alfie Allen as John KiteMy name’s Johanna Morrigan. I’m fourteen, and I’ve just decided to kill myself.I don’t really want to die, of course! I just need to kill Johanna, and build a new girl. Dolly Wilde will be everything I want to be, and more! But as with all the best coming-of-age stories, it doesn’t exactly go to plan…A Number One Sunday Times bestseller in hardback and paperback, from the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of How to Be a Woman. Trade ReviewRude, big-hearted, wise-cracking novel -- Christina Patterson * The Sunday Times *Brilliantly observed, thrillingly rude and laugh-out-loud funny -- Helen FieldingAn entertaining read, with Moran in fine voice – hilarious, wild, imaginative and highly valuable…Moran is in danger of becoming to female masturbation what Keats was to Nightingales… -- Barbara Ellen * The Observer *A Portnoy's Complaint for girls… when I see this book described as "laugh-out-loud funny" I feel affronted; it could make you laugh out loud with one hand tied behind its back, while wanking itself off to fantasies of Satan. Laughing out loud is just the start -- Zoe Williams * The Guardian *spirited coming of age novel romps from strength to strength…I’m a Moran fan -- Lionel Shriver * The Times *

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Book SynopsisEncapsulates the highs and lows of friendship in your twenties. Perfect for fans of Dolly AldertonThe struggle is real but at least they're all in it together.Ever managed to kill a succulent after just a few days?Got seven reminder letters on the kitchen table because you forgot to pay your council tax?Become a hot mess who’s falling apart because they’ve been broken up with?Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat are navigating their chaotic and confusing twenties together. They have jobs and pay their own rent (well, most of them) but don't know how to bleed radiators, defrost a freezer or test the smoke alarms. With break-ups to deal with and major decisions to make, life can get messy especially when they're still trying to get the hang of this 'being a grown-up' thing. Welcome to the joys of being almost adults.A relatable and uplifting coming-of-age novel about 'adulting' and female friendships perfect for fans of Holly Bourne's How Do You Like Me Now?, Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare and Lucy Vine's Are We Nearly There Yet?Trade ReviewEncapsulates the highs and lows of friendship in your twenties. Perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton * COSMOPOLITAN *ALMOST ADULTS is a tonic for anyone with a niggling suspicion they may not have this ‘growing up’ business completely sussed. Pantony’s writing is funny, searingly honest and a total treat * EVENING STANDARD MAGAZINE *Lively, charming and a really authentic, intimate look at the highs and lows of female friendship. I enjoyed ALMOST ADULTS enormously -- DAISY BUCHANAN * bestselling author of The Sisterhood *Ali's writing is such a tonic. She puts emotions and friendship to paper so beautifully and heartbreakingly. I loved Almost Adults and I know everyone else will too -- LUCY VINE * bestselling author of Hot Mess and Are We Nearly There Yet? *ALMOST ADULTS brilliantly captures female friendships in all its forms and flaws. You'll want to message the girls immediately after reading -- YOU MAGAZINEIn one easy-to-read, thoroughly enjoyable book Ali Pantony manages to chart the highs and lows of love, loss and friendship without skipping over any of the gory bits. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you hope, it makes you feel, and most importantly, it reminds you that you're not alone * RED MAGAZINE *ALMOST ADULTS celebrates the power of female friendship. Ali has created a cast of four twenty-something women who show that no matter what happens in life, they will always have each other. In turn moving, funny, real and wise, this is a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page -- ALICE PETERSON * bestselling author of If You Were Here *A funny, relatable and beautifully uplifting story about the agony and ecstasy of growing up in your twenties. I smiled, laughed (and cringed!) as I read this engaging tale of female friendship -- ROXIE COOPER * bestselling author of The Day We Met *Ali Pantony brilliantly taps into how hard adulthood can be but how our friends are there for all the ups and downs. Funny, relatable and life-affirming, this is the must-read book of the summer * GLAMOUR *A beautiful exploration of friendship and growing up -- LAURA JANE WILLIAMS * bestselling author of Our Stop *A very real, raw and relatable story about the beauty of female friendship. Ali writes with great humour and with an obvious, infectious appreciation of what matters in life. It's genuinely a delight to read -- KATE LEAVER * bestselling author of The Friendship Cure *

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Book Synopsis'A . . . tender love story . . . This book is alive. It pulses with warmth and intelligence' The TimesA wickedly observed novel about falling in love at the end of your life, by the Man Booker Prize-winning author of The Finkler Question.At the age of ninety-something, Beryl Dusinbery is forgetting everything – including her own children. She spends her days stitching morbid samplers and tormenting her two carers with tangled tales of her husbands and affairs. Shimi Carmelli can do up his own buttons, walks without a frame and speaks without spitting. Among the widows of North London, he’s whispered about as the last of the eligible bachelors. He forgets nothing –especially not the shame of a childhood incident that has long hung over him. There's very little left remaining for either of them. . . But perhaps just enough to heal some of the hurt inflicted along the way, and find new meaning in what's left.*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WINGATE LITERARY PRIZE 2020*Trade ReviewA joyous new novel… A life-affirming tale of late-flowering love… if we manage to live a little longer, we might have the privilege of enjoying more novels such as this one. * Sunday Times *Let’s pause to consider [Howard Jacobson’s] comic elegance and precision… Just look at the way he makes the English language dance for us… the characters, as they converse, striking sparks off one another. * Spectator *Brilliantly observed… No other novelist writing in Britain could dramatise this nonagenarian love story with greater verve and tenderness, while never forgetting that this is a resplendently comedic form. * Observer *[Howard Jacobson] is not one to let the catastrophe of old age get in the way of a good laugh, or a surprisingly tender love story… [Live a Little is] merrily bonkers… This book is alive. It pulses with warmth and intelligence, and, unusually for a novel about old age, it has a lot of style. * The Times *A master of the slightly dark comedy… Jacobson brings this little pocket of North London to life superbly, and his two ageing protagonists are wonderful creations, depicted with wit and compassion. * Tatler *

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Book Synopsis‘Just downright brilliant... a transcendent, transporting experience’ ObserverA motherless girl grows up in isolated luxury, hidden from the world by her wealthy father. She believes their life together is normal – but as time passes, she has a growing sense that something between them is very wrong.She cannot escape, so she seeks solace in her books. Her favourite tales are those that conjure ancient worlds – of angry gods and heroic mortals, one of whom will some day come to her rescue.Soon, she will forget where the page ends and her mind begins.‘A full-throttle blast of storytelling mastery’ Max PorterTrade ReviewWondrous... a violent, all-action thrill ride shuttling between antiquity and the present... just downright brilliant... a transcendant, transporting experience... A helix, a mirror ball, a literary box of tricks… take your pick: this is a full-spectrum pleasure, mixing metafictional razzmatazz with pulse-racing action and a prose style to die for. I’ll be staggered if it’s not spoken of whenever prizes are mentioned this year -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *A beautifully rendered retelling…[and] a gripping novel that, despite its rollicking plot, never feels relentless, and is often very affecting indeed -- Jon Day * Financial Times *The extraordinary force and vividness of Haddon's prose ensure that The Porpoise reads [...] as a continually unfolding demonstration of the transporting power of stories... This is language that knows how to do things: sail a ship, make a gold buckle, negotiate the tides of the Thames. It's a stunningly effective combination of the quotidian and the mythic that pins impossibility to the page -- Justine Jordan * Guardian *Compelling, satisfying and moving... Haddon's writing is exquisite, balancing simple storytelling with searing insight -- Paul Connolly * Metro *The Porpoise is terrifically violent, with a bright, innocent ferocity … Haddon wants to restore agency to the female characters sidelined by the Antiochus legend. This could feel like a condescending attempt to end up on the right of history, but doesn’t -- Katy Waldman * The New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisThe cult gay classic of the early 1990s, reissued to mark the year of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riotsBetween nights, earning his keep at Excellent, Idaho's outrageously pink whorehouse, Shed or, Duivichi-un-Dua - lives a life of drinking, talking and smoking opium stardust with his eccentric family. But soon, he will leave this tiny turn-of-the-century town in search of the true meaning of his Shoshone name - and in search of himself.Along the way Shed will fall in love with the philosophical, green-eyed, half-crazy cowboy Dellwood Barker, a man who talks to the moon, on a journey that will lead Shed to enlightenment and understanding of man's relationship to himself and the natural world.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ANDREW McMILLAN, AUTHOR OF PHYSICAL'A brilliant novel... Flawlessly authentic, beautifully captured' ObserverTrade ReviewA brilliant novel... Flawlessly authentic, beautifully captured * Observer *Haunting and earthy, a deeply felt tale of love and loss... Tom Spanbauer's wild west is the hurly burly of the mind. He takes us into territories where few of us would ever dare to go * Publishers Weekly *This brave, original, ribald, funny, heartrending fable about the Old West . . . is a book as bright as it is dark, full of fictional and philosophical pleasures, a quirky, unsettling look at American history and a vision quest in the grand old tradition * Los Angeles Times Book Review *The miracle of the novel is that it obliges us to rethink our whole idea of narration and history and myth. . . . Spanbauer captures the music of the mind and the body * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis'An extraordinarily powerful, deeply moving novel' Amitav GhoshNOW A MAJOR FILM ON NETFLIX In the world of his large family - affluent Tamils living in Colombo - Arjie is an oddity, a 'funny boy' who prefers dressing as a girl to playing cricket with his brother.But as Arjie comes to terms with his own homo-sexuality and with the racism of the society in which he lives, Sri Lanka is plunged into civil war as fighting between the army and the Tamil Tigers gradually begins to encroach on the family's comfortable life. Sporadic acts of violence flare into full scale riots and lead, ultimately, to tragedy. Written in clear, simple prose, Shyam Selvadurai's first novel is masterly in its mingling of the personal and political.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY NEEL MUKHERJEETrade ReviewAn extaordinarily powerful, deeply moving novel -- Amitav GhoshSelvadurai writes as sensitively about the emotional intensity of adolescence as he does about the wonder of childhood * New York Times Book Review *Glittering and wise... Funny Boy keeps repeating that the human condition can, in spite of everything, be joyful. You are not alone, it says to the reader. I understand you. I too was there. I remember -- Alberto ManguelA quiet masterpiece * Gay Times *At first sight an innocently observed portrait of Tamil family life in seventies Sri Lanka, it metamorphosed into a lucid, serious piece of writing... Selvadurai's world is delightful, frightening, important and he describes it with touching clarity... His novel is a graceful and intelligent account of the random nature of growing up * Observer *Exquisitely written...superb * Independent *The unadorned and simple prose has elegance and great sophistication. Moreover, Selvadurai has a genius for touching a nerve with a feather-light touch... A powerful and beautifully written novel * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisA tense, stunningly well-observed heist novel from 'the bastard child of Graham Greene and Patrica Highsmith' (Metro)Sarah Talbot Jennings, a young American living in New York, has fled to Bangkok to disappear. Armed with a suitcase full of cash, she takes up residence at the Kingdom, a glittering complex slowly sinking into its own twilight. There, against a backdrop of shadowy gossip and intrigue, she is soon drawn into the orbit of the Kingdom's glamorous ex-pat women. But when political chaos and a frenzied uprising wrack the streets below, and Sarah witnesses something unspeakable, her safe haven begins to feel like a trap. From a master of atmosphere and suspense comes a brilliantly unsettling story of cruelty and psychological unrest, and an enthralling glimpse into the shadowy crossroads of karma and human greed.Trade ReviewShowing Osborne at the height of his powers, The Glass Kingdom upends the Western reader's most basic assumptions about the human world . . . stylish and disquieting -- John Gray * New Statesman *Bangkok is the star of this accomplished novel. Its denizens are aliens to themselves, glittering on the horizon of their own lives, moving - restless and rootless and afraid - though a cityscape that has more stories than they know -- Hilary MantelThe author's exceptional descriptive skills fuel an overwhelming sense of menace . . . the next day you will still be thinking of Sarah's fate with horror -- Louise Doughty * New York Times *Osborne's novels are lavishly filmic . . . The setting is luxurious, the lifestyle hedonistic, the climate oppressively hot. Prodigious amounts of alcohol are consumed. As events accelerate towards a violent finale, the reader is kept guessing. How severe will the consequences be for the interloper? Which will prevail, revenge or forgiveness? -- Blake Morrison * London Review of Books *Lawrence Osborne goes from strength to strength. In The Glass Kingdom he once again displays a feel for the Westerner abroad in an alien culture, where misunderstandings can prove deadly. The author has lived for years in Bangkok, whose seediness runs deeper than the superficially icky red light district most foreign writers take on. Great characters, plenty of suspense, and a killer ending -- Lionel Shriver * Evening Standard, Books of the Year *An atmospheric, gripping novel . . . a horror-satire of globalised capital in which money might buy you idle time or the semblance of power, but it also makes you a target. The Kingdom's residents are blind to its fragility until it is almost too late: as apt a metaphor for 2020 as a novel could hope to provide -- Ed Cumming * i *Bewitching -- Geoffrey Wheatcroft * Daily Mail *Osborne, who specialises in stories about hapless Westerners coming a cropper in foreign lands, has another hit on his hands with this sinister, sensuous and wonderfully evocative tale -- Katie Law * Evening Standard *Oozing menace, Osborne's compelling novel is wonderfully atmospheric and deeply macabre -- Anthony Gardner * Mail on Sunday *Lawrence Osborne did not disappoint in his atmospheric thriller The Glass Kingdom -- Lionel Shriver * Observer, *Books of the Year* *Osborne masterfully depicts . . . a Bangkok where an irrational yet intoxicating mix of Buddhism and animism holds sway alongside laissez-faire economics . . . eroding his characters' sense of autonomy through attrition -- Max Crosbie-Jones * ArtReview *

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Book Synopsis'As cryptic and compelling as a fever dream... Bae Suah is one of the most unique and adroit literary voices working today' Sharlene TeoFinishing her last shift at Seoul's only audio theatre for the blind, Kim Ayami heads into the night with her former boss, searching for a missing friend. The following day, she looks after a visiting poet, a man who is not as he seems. Unfolding over a night and a day in the sweltering summer heat, their world's order gives way to chaos, the edges of reality start to fray, and the past intrudes on the present in increasingly disorientating ways. Untold Night and Day is a hallucinatory feat of storytelling from one of the most radical voices in contemporary Korean literature.'Highly original... Once I finished it, much of it slipped into my subconscious' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewHypnotic… an uncannily affecting and dreamlike story of parallel lives and worlds. -- Chloe Ashby * Guardian *[A] highly original novel, full of unsolved mysteries, repeated motifs and startling prose… Remarkably fresh… Exhilarating… Once I finished it, much of it slipped into my unconscious. All that remains is a sense of Bae's boundless yet precise imagination. -- Luiza Sauma * Daily Telegraph *A metaphysical detective story, Untold Night and Day...draws on ideas from Korean shamanism...to venture in style and ambition far from the conventions of mystery narratives... Storylines echo one another and are braided into multilayered fictional universe with extraordinary skill… Bae’s novel complicates the boundaries between self and other reality and make-believe, night and day. -- Sarah Shin * Observer *Bae Suah is one of Korea’s most radical contemporary writers… Untold Night and Day is a hallucinatory novel propelled by the logic of dreams… Bae masterfully layers [her] themes into an almost hidden code beneath the novel’s meditative surface. -- Jay G Ying * Guardian *Bae Suah’s disturbing, beautifully controlled novel Untold Night and Day is a book of doubles, shadows and parallel worlds... a slim yet labyrinthine twist on a “choose your own adventure” story that disarms even as it disorients. -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis'The new masterpiece by eminent Chinese writer Yan Lianke . . . two revolutionaries take matters disastrously into their own hands while conducting a crazed affair' MARGARET ATWOOD on TwitterA breakneck adventure story following the erotic love affair of party cadres Aijun and Hongmei during China's Cultural RevolutionThis is the story of the freewheeling love affair between married soldier Aijun and Hongmei, a beautiful young woman from his village in the Balou Mountains.Intoxicated with one another, Aijun and Hongmei hurl themselves into their town's revolutionary struggle. Spending their days and nights stamping out feudalism, writing pamphlets and organising rallies, they become inseparable: they are the engines of history.But as their political activity reaches new heights, so does the danger of getting caught... 'A blistering tour-de-force... Sensuous and riveting' MADELEINE THIEN, Booker-shortlisted author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing'Fascinating... This tale of an illicit tryst during the Cultural Revolution is a stinging satire' The Times**A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST FICTION IN TRANSLATION BOOK 2021**Trade ReviewThe new masterpiece by eminent Chinese writer Yan Lianke . . . two revolutionaries take matters disastrously into their own hands while conducting a crazed affair -- Margaret Atwood on TwitterA blistering tour de force . . . Carlos Rojas's exceptional translation makes English feel new again. Yan's linguistic daring, and the novel's relentless stream of provocative images and observations, create a sensuous and riveting world . . . a sharp, desperately moving analysis of the logic of ideology -- Madeleine Thien * Guardian *A fascinating work . . . Yan's challenge, to his samizdat readers in China and those beyond, is to look in the murky glass of ambition and self-deception and find the face that resembles their own -- John Phipps * The Times *A vivid, even lurid, portrait of the vandalistic savagery and hypocrisy of the post-1966 Cultural Revolution . . . Well-served by Carlos Rojas's agile and richly textured translation -- Boyd Tonkin * Financial Times *The novel, a parody, sets itself up as a kind of Maoist Anna Karenina . . . At its core, Hard Like Water seeks to make a mockery of claims to political purity. As Hongmei and Aijun arouse each other with propaganda slogans and revolutionary citations, the novel pokes fun at how easily an ideology can be contorted to satisfy individual desires -- Jennifer Wilson * New York Times *A piercing satire of Communism and the language of revolutions -- Ángel Gurría-Quitana * Financial Times, *Books of the Year* *Yan probes the darkness and absurdity of Chinese society and history with a sexy satirical tale of the Cultural Revolution as wrought in a small village . . . distinctive and punchy. Yan's exuberant and unflinching tragicomedy is undeniably appealing -- Publishers WeeklySurreal and amusing, biting and fun -- Caroline Overington * The Australian *A gritty, memorable story . . . Yan's study of power and class struggle becomes, in the end, a near-classic tragedy -- Kirkus ReviewYan's signature biting wit creates another indelible work of bittersweet humor and socio-political insight * Booklist *Predicted to become a new future classic . . . this is a powerful, multi-faceted book that questions everything from marriage to sexual desire, power and the dangers of hubris -- Clara Strunck * Buro *Gao Aijun, the narrator of this boisterous novel, set during the Cultural Revolution, finds his life charmless: his village is like "a pool of stagnant water," and his wife makes him feel "a clump of cotton" in his throat. Then he meets a beautiful woman, also married, and, to attract her, sets out to lead the "revolution" in their village. In speech larded with Mao quotes and traditional maxims, Gao reveals how their romance, fuelled by the feverish political climate, pitches the village into ever-escalating extremism -- a years-long parade of self-advancing schemes culminating in an unthinkable end * New Yorker *

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Book Synopsis'A book of resistance and love, as urgently necessary now as it was thirty years ago' Olivia Laing First published in 1990, discover this blistering novel about a love triangle in New York during the AIDS crisis. The perfect novel to read after bingeing It's A Sin. It was the beginning of the end of the world but not everyone noticed right away. It is the late 1980s. Kate, an ambitious artist, lives in Manhattan with her husband Peter. She's having an affair with Molly, a younger lesbian who works part-time in a movie theater. At one of many funerals during an unbearably hot summer, Molly becomes involved with a guerrilla activist group fighting for people with AIDS. But Kate is more cautious, and Peter is bewildered by the changes he's seeing in his city and, most crucially, in his wife. Soon the trio learn how tragedy warps even the closest relationships, and that anger - and its absence - can make the difference between life and death. 'Strong, nervy and challenging' New York TimesTrade ReviewSarah Schulman is a brilliant visionary, and this is a book of resistance and love, as urgently necessary now as it was thirty years ago -- Olivia LaingA scathing and darkly hilarious apocalypse-now * The Nation *Strong, nervy and challenging * The New York Times *Startlingly powerful -- Dorothy AllisonA witty, angry and anguished novel * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA tender portrait of grief, fatherhood and a life going to pieces from the bestselling author.'Vivid and moving... It would be hard to find a better writer than Petterson' Irish TimesIn 1992 Arvid Jansen is thirty-eight, divorced and paralysed by grief. More than a year has passed since the tragic accident that took his parents and two of his brothers.Existence has become a question of holding on to a few firm things. Loud, smoky bars, whisky, records, company for the night and taxis home. Or driving his Mazda into the stunning, solitary landscape outside of Oslo, sleeping in the car when his bed is an impossible place to be.Adrift and inept, Arvid feels his life unravelling. Is there any redemption for a man in his situation?'Per Petterson writes about masculinity as well as anyone' Torrey Peters'A rare insight into male vulnerability' Evening StandardTrade ReviewPetterson's spare and deliberate prose has astonishing force * The New Yorker *Petterson is a profoundly gifted novelist -- Richard FordIs there a living writer better at conveying the disconcerting relationship between time and memory?... There is pleasure, too, in watching Petterson shift through the gears from pleasure to unease in one of those gloriously sinuous sentences that have become something of a trademark -- Adrian Turpin * Financial Times *Petterson is remarkably gifted -- James WoodReading a Petterson novel is like falling into a northern landscape painting-all shafts of light and clear palpable chill * Time *

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Book Synopsis'James Scudamore is now a force in the English novel' Hilary Mantel'A very impressive novel' Sarah MossWhen ten-year-old Max is sent to boarding school, his idyllic childhood comes to an abrupt end. Away from the freedom of his grandfather's farm, a world of rules and punishment awaits. But so too does the companionship of a close-knit group of classmates. Years later, as Max and his friends face down adulthood, a dark secret from their schooldays is revealed, drawing them together in unforeseen ways. Who knew what, and when? And who now wants to see justice done?'Breathtakingly good' Observer'Dark, tender, troubling' GuardianTrade ReviewJames Scudamore is now a force in the English novel, his voice calm and assured. English Monsters is psychologically astute as a study of collusion and denial, and effective as a picture of time and class; but it has wider reach, as a story about the limits of empathy, the ease of retribution and the difficulty of justice -- Hilary MantelBreathtakingly good. Imagine Edward St Aubyn writing The Secret History and you’ll get an idea of how exquisite and compelling this story about male friendship and betrayal is -- Alex Preston * Observer *Heart-wrenching... A searing indictment of a culture that downplays and covers up horrors... Harrowing, deeply moving and richly insightful, this is Scudamore’s best novel yet -- Philip Womack * Financial Times *The pages bubble with quiet rage about an elite education system that wrecks even those it elevates... Scudamore is here for the long haul -- John Self * Spectator *There are few prizes that Scudamore hasn’t been nominated for, and English Monsters will only add to his impressive tally… Scudamore’s insights are keen and his masterfully evocative writing never less than assured… His descriptions of [Max’s schooldays] etch themselves into your brain * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2020 A powerful criticism of modern life by one of the most provocative and prophetic writers of our ageFlorent-Claude Labrouste is dying of sadness. Despised by his girlfriend and on the brink of career failure, his last hope for relief comes in the form of a newly available antidepressant that alters the brain's release of serotonin.When he returns to the Normandy countryside in search of serenity, he instead finds a rural community left behind by globalisation and red-tape agricultural policies, with local farmers longing for an impossible return towhat they remember as a golden age.'Despite its provocations, this is a novel of romantic and sorrowful ideas: Houellebecq as troubadour, singing lost loves' Rachel Kushner Michel Houellebecq has good claim to be the most interesting novelist of our times. . . Exhilarating in its nihilism, often very funny and always enjoyable' Evening StandardTrade ReviewExhilarating in its nihilism, often very funny and always enjoyable… Serotonin burns with anger… [Michel Houellebecq is] the most interesting novelist of our times’ * Evening Standard *Houellebecq has once again managed to put his finger on modern French (and Western) society’s wounds, and it hurts * Economist *Any new book by Houellebecq is guaranteed to make waves, and Serotonin is no exception ... A bleak, uncompromising novel. But it also feels like an important one, asking some necessary questions in characteristically mordant fashion * Mail on Sunday *A cautionary tale about dissipated manhood… Houellebecq may be, in certain respects, a man for our times * Literary Review *While Houellebecq is provocative and at times deliberately controversial, his success is not based solely on his ability to shock. He also has a beautiful fluid writing style…and an uncanny ability to evoke the spleen that for him is at the core of existence * Irish Times *The author’s prescience has certainly proved as eerie as his reported politics are contentious, yet Serotonin’s brilliance far exceeds its accuracy as a cultural barometer… Houellebecq is a disarmingly rich and nuanced writer; Serotonin is mordant, haunting but never (quite) embittered -- Lisa Hilton * TLS *Despite its provocations, this is a novel of romantic and sorrowful ideas: Houellebecq as troubadour, singing lost loves -- Rachel KushnerHouellebecq has a sociological curiosity few other novelists possess... The agony and rage of the demoted, the discarded, the “deplorable” (a segment of them, if not the whole basket), laid bare. What other novelist would have the willingness to go there, let alone the wherewithal * Guardian *To some, he is the only serious writer prepared to look at disagreeable aspects of the modern world – sex tourism, radical Islam, airports, free markets, pornography ... [Houellebecq’s] novels have a journalistic knack of chiming with events * Sunday Times *Houellebecq’s disdain for the emptiness of modern western life often leaves him spookily ahead of the game ... The satirist carves up the branded ghastliness of restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and the like with a steady butcher’s hand * Financial Times *Houellebecq is a supreme chronicler of the psyche of modern European man * Spiked *Houellebecq’s vision in his new novel, Serotonin, is blacker and sharper than ever…in Shaun Whiteside’s English translation, Houellebecq has never sounded more fluent * i *

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Book SynopsisDiscover this heartrending story of orphans, outcasts and the grip of the past from award-winning novelist Caryl Phillips – inspired by Wuthering Heights.It is the 1960s. Isolated from her parents after falling in love with a foreigner, Monica Johnson raises her sons in the shadow of the wild Yorkshire moors. But when her younger son Tommy, a loner who is bullied at school, disappears, the family bond is demolished – with devastating consequences.Deftly intertwined with this modern narrative is the story of the ragged childhood of Emily Brontë’s Heathcliff, one of literature’s most enigmatic lost boys. Recovering the mysteries of the past to illuminate the predicaments of the present, The Lost Child is an exquisite novel about exile, freedom and what it is to belong. ‘Heartbreaking…compelling’ IndependentTrade ReviewHeartbreaking... Compelling * Independent *The prose is as sleek as you would expect from a writer as accomplished as Phillips * Guardian *Phillips has found a way to enlist the strange energy of Emily Brontë’s work and redirect it to powerful and surprising effect * Times Literary Supplement *Expertly written and artfully crafted * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE****SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**Booker Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie has created a dazzling Don Quixote for the modern age. Inspired by the Cervantes classic, Sam DuChamp, mediocre writer of spy thrillers, creates Quichotte, a courtly, addled salesman obsessed with television, who falls in impossible love with the TV star Salman R. Together with his (imaginary) son Sancho, Quichotte sets off on a picaresque quest across America to prove worthy of her hand, gallantly braving the tragicomic perils of an age where 'Anything-Can-Happen'. Meanwhile his creator, in a midlife crisis, has equally urgent challenges of his own. Just as Cervantes wrote Don Quixote to satirise the culture of his time, Rushdie takes the reader on a wild ride through a country on the verge of moral and spiritual collapse, with the kind of storytelling magic that is the hallmark of his work. The fully realised lives of DuChamp and Quichotte intertwine in a profoundly human quest for love and a wickedly entertaining portrait of an age in which fact is so often indiscernible from fiction.Trade ReviewRushdie is one of the greats of his generation… But it’s rare for a writer to produce their best work towards the end of their career… Quichotte is one of the cleverest, most enjoyable metafictional capers this side of postmodernism… This novel can fly, it can float, it’s anecdotal, effervescent, charming, and a jolly good story to boot… Encore! Encore! * Sunday Times *A brilliant, funny, world-encompassing wonder… His readers realize that they would happily follow Rushdie to the end of the world… a glimmer of hope, like an impossible dream, is left for us [in Quichotte]. * Time Magazine *A triumphant assault on the coarsened American sensibility… [A] packed, funny, melancholy, masterpiece of a novel. * The Times *A novel that is as sharp as a flick-knife and as clever as a barrel of monkeys... More than just another postmodern box of tricks, [Quichotte] is a novel that feeds the heart while it fills the mind. * The Times *Rushdie’s fans will find much to love in this hyperactive, tenchicolour satire… Many balls are juggles here, but, somehow, Rushdie keeps them all gloriously in the air. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe dreamlike story of a young woman in contemporary Beijing forging a different life for herself, from one of our brightest new literary stars.One morning in autumn, just after breakfast, Jia Jia finds her husband dead in the bathtub of their Beijing apartment. Next to him is a piece of folded paper, a sketch of a strange creature from his dream. He has left her no other sign. Young, alone, and with many unanswered questions, Jia Jia sets out on a journey. It takes her deep into her past where, for the very first time, she begins to have a sense of her future.'Startlingly original... A portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free' Guardian'Rich and wild...it gets under your skin' Observer'An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist' Sunday Times'A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope' Daily MailTrade ReviewAn elegant, dreamlike tale of a woman’s self-realisation in contemporary Beijing. Yu’s writing has an arresting, unadorned lyricism * Daily Telegraph *A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope that moves from high-rise Beijing to rural Tibet and the mysterious, magical ‘world of water’ -- Fanny Blake * Daily Mail *A startlingly original imagination... Braised Pork is a sensitive portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free * Guardian *Rich and strange … Braised Pork is a debut that gets under your skin -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *Braised Pork is mesmerising, incisive and utterly disarming. An Yu writes beautifully about loneliness, the experience of isolation — from others, from one’s own past — and the possibility of human connection, however fragile. * Rosie Price *So elegant and poised, so tuned to the great mysteries of love and loss. Like a breeze on a still day, An Yu’s is a voice I didn't know I needed until I felt it. Braised Pork is a major debut * John Freeman *Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer. * Katie Kitamura *What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before. * Idra Novey *Yu’s novel has a cool, poised elegance that only adds to its enigmatic allure * Economist *A dizzying read… An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist -- Lucy Knight * Sunday Times *Richly associative, the book’s imagery insinuates itself into the reader’s consciousness long after it’s finished -- Jude Cook * Spectator *This exquisite novel is many things: a detective story in which the real object of pursuit is how one makes meaning of a sometimes ineffable existence; a meditation on the talismanic power of art and the indefatigability of the human spirit; and a many-faceted, perfectly cut gem of psychological portraiture set in well-wrought sentences burnished to a gorgeous luster. The emotions in this book keep pace with you, shadowing you with a quiet intensity, until in the last stretch they overtake you completely. * Matthew Thomas *What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before. * Idra Novey *Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer.' * Katie Kitamura *

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