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
John Murray Press Down Cemetery Road
Book Synopsis*From the creator of SLOW HORSES and soon to be a major TV series starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson*''If you haven''t read Zoë Boehm yet, welcome to your next fiction addiction'' Val McDermid, author of Past Lying''Good characterisation, dialogue and a well-paced narrative make this confident first novel frighteningly plausible'' Daily TelegraphIt''s an evening like any other when an explosion rips through the leafy Oxford suburb Sarah Tucker calls home.In the aftermath, a house now stands devastated, with two adults dead and a young girl missing.With the police more interested in keeping the neighbours from rubbernecking than in searching for the missing child, Sarah becomes obsessed with finding her.She enlists the help of Zoë Boehm''s investigation agency, but Sarah''s and Zoë''s search reveals more secrets than answers, taking them from Oxford''s cobbled streets to the rugged outer rea
£18.70
HarperCollins Focus In Every Life
Book SynopsisWhat happens when a husband''s dying wish is for his wife to find a new love . . . before he''s even gone?Harper is living a life she never expected. After a failed attempt at making it as an artist in New York while falling for and losing her first love, her dreams crumbled in the span of a week. A decade later, Harper is happily living a simpler life as an art teacher in Chattanooga with her beloved new husband, Ben.When Ben is diagnosed with late-stage cancer, their whole world shifts. Despite the bad news, Ben comes up with one final wish for his wife: he wants Harper to find a new partner before he dies. When the New York Times sends a journalist to do a feature story about Ben''s life, Harper comes face to face with Liam Hale, the man she fell madly in love with all those years ago and never saw again.Suddenly, Harper is faced with all of those old what-ifs:What if Harper had ended up with Liam instead of Ben?What if
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd When We Were Friends
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of HOME TRUTHS comes an addictive psychological suspense with a shock twist you WON''T see coming . . . Six friends. One reunion. Countless secrets. It had always been the six of us. Since we met at university twenty-five years ago, we''d faced everything together. Break-ups and marriages, motherhood and death. We were closer than sisters; the edges of our lives bled into each other. But that was before the night of the reunion. The night of exposed secrets and jagged accusations. The night when everything changed. And then we were five. __________ ''Astute and witty'' Sunday Mirror ''Clever, intriguing, chilling - and utterly impossible to put down. Tina Seskis is proving herself to be master of the twist'' Grazia ''A chilling tale of university friends 25 years later . . . the tragic fallout of a summer reuniTrade ReviewThere's a poignant air of nostalgia about the sections set in the women's younger day, and you'll warm to the sharply-drawn characters. Astute and witty. * Sunday Mirror *Clever, intriguing, chilling - and utterly impossible to put down. Tina Seskis is proving herself to be master of the twist * Grazia *Six friends, one reunion, one gigantic mess. One of the best books to read this April * Red Online *A chilling tale of university friends 25 years later . . . the tragic fallout of a summer reunion will make you wish you could read that bit faster * Stylist *This dark whodunit explores just how complex friendships can be * Woman Magazine *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually
Book SynopsisTHE IMMERSIVE AND HEARTFELT EXPLORATION OF FAMILY AND LOVE ''A beautiful bittersweet story of love, loss and families. Tears were shed!'' GRAHAM NORTON ''A moving and powerful novel'' JOHN BOYNE ''Human, graceful and healing, a true gift of a novel'' SEBASTIAN BARRY ''A beautiful story'' SARAH WINMAN ''Lyrical, optimistic and redemptive'' CLARE CHAMBERS''Just loved it . . . so moving on motherhood, depression, family ties and Ireland'' ANNIE MACMANUS __________ On an island off the west coast of Ireland, the Moone family gathers. Maeve is an actor, struggling with her most challenging role yet - as a mother to four children. Murtagh, her devoted husband, is a potter whose craft brought them from the city to this rural life. In the wake of one fateful night, the Moone siblings must learn the story of who their parents truly are, and what has happened since their first meTrade ReviewA beautiful bittersweet story of love, loss and families all set in the most irresistible of locations. Tears were shed! -- Graham NortonA moving and powerful novel from one of Ireland's finest new writers -- John BoyneSuch a true gift of a novel, with its sumptuous forward momentum, and rare precision, and inspired imagery. The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually generates a very bright light, one that is human, graceful, and healing. It's an absolute pleasure to read -- Sebastian BarryJust loved it . . . so moving on motherhood, depression, family ties and Ireland -- Annie MacmanusA beautiful story. I was gripped and held in a state of love for all the characters -- Sarah Winman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tin ManI devoured this, falling in love with the setting and with every character - and when I reached the end, I wept. It is just glorious. A sweeping family safe and, at the same time, a close-up on the everyday beautiful details that make up love -- Emma Flint, author of Little DeathsWe are seduced by the story of the star-crossed lovers * Sunday Times *Cullen's quietly devastating second novel is both a family saga and a careful exploration of the reality of living with mental health issues * i paper *A beautiful meditation on family life in Ireland -- Elaine Feeney, Irish TimesAn extremely moving read. Handles the complexities of love, grief, family life and mental illness with sensitivity and depth. A truly gorgeous novel. -- Ali Land, author of Good Me, Bad MeIntensely moving, beautifully written and drenched with Irish atmosphere, this novel asks brave and thoughtful questions about mental health * Daily Mail *I really enjoyed Helen Cullen's confident voice and lyrical descriptions and was relieved by the optimistic and redemptive ending as I had become so invested in the characters. I'll look out for more from this author -- Clare Chambers, author of Small PleasuresSo wonderful on the Irish family and the utter complexity of motherhood, family entanglement and love -- Elaine Feeney, poet and author of As You WereAn honest meditation on love and motherhood - this is a story of the confessions that aren't easily made; the secret hopes and desires that can feel too complicated or painful to express. Cullen is a thoughtful writer and she dissects the stubborn optimism of the human heart with skill and sympathy * Irish Independent *A compassionate portrayal of love, support and grief, The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually contains moments so recognisable to anyone who has suffered from depression that credit must be given to Cullen for depicting mental illness in all its senseless brutality while never exploiting it for sentimental reasons... There are many strengths to this novel, not least of which is the author's decision not to fill the pages with anguish . . . a writer whose skill is matched by an ability to surprise with each new work -- John Boyne, Irish TimesPrecise, haunting and, above all, beautiful . . . has the twin ability to inspire you to take delight in the world, yet also cry with the pain that unfolds in its pages . . . a book of rare quality * i magazine *I loved this book so much . . . Gorgeous -- Aisling BeaA powerful and poignant narrative told over a lifetime; exploring unconditional love, heartbreak and the beautiful flaws of human nature set within a family unit. (Cullen) is an astute and empathic writer and an incredible voice in Irish literature. You'll fall in love with the Moone family and they will linger in your heart long after you read the final pages -- Cat Hogan, author of They All Fall Down and There Was A Crooked ManBeautifully-observed [...] charts a family across 37 years, living through a tragedy on a remote island; portraying mental health and the fall-out around it with enormous humanity and integrity. Tonally reminiscent of recent Colm Tóibín -- Caoilinn Hughes, author of Orchid and The WaspA beautiful novel - Helen Cullen writes with such deft care and attention about the things that hold us together when everything falls apart -- Rónán Hession, author of Leonard and Hungry PaulSuch a tender read. Astute and compassionate, it made me cry. It's full of love. And it's quietly magnificent -- Tor Udall, author of A Thousand Paper BirdsA perfect combination of deeply-felt tragedy with great hopefulness -- Anne Youngson, author of Meet Me at the MuseumA remarkable book -- Joy Rhoades, author of The Woolgrower’s CompanionA superb second novel that goes to places you mightn't expect but which ultimately end up making a great deal of sense. It touches on a lot thematically and doesn't ever suggest that any one life path can be a cure for severe mental illness and it does some things that... are very pleasing indeed. I had a LOT OF FEELINGS -- Claire Hennessy, author and editor of Banshee JournalLoved it. Beautiful and original * Sunday Independent *A beautifully observed saga of abandoned dreams, loss and self-discovery -- Alan McGonagle, author of IthacaAbsolute poetry and a love letter to family and to the arts. The depiction of depression is as accurate as any I've read and the empathy in this book is beautiful -- Maggie Smith, award-winning author of Good Bones and Keep MovingPowerful, intimate, moving - a beautiful exploration of love and family -- Maria Dickenson, M.D. Dubray BooksThis will touch your soul * Sainsbury's Magazine *Cullen's atmospheric novel captures beautifully the continuity of life even at times of deepest grief. If we avoid tragedy in literature, we're closing ourselves off to some of the most powerful and moving writing, as exemplified by Helen Cullen's second novel which deals delicately and humanely with the subjects of mental health and the ravaging effects of grief * Business Post *An Irish novel moves from a family's joy to tragedy and back in this poignant yet hopeful novel spanning the late 1970s to 2015 * Shelf Awareness *Cullen's lyrical prose drives the immersive and heart-wrenching narrative. This complex study of depression and its impact on family dynamics will lure readers * Publishers Weekly *Love is here in spades... clear a weekend for this gorgeous read * Library Journal (starred review) *Praise for Helen Cullen * - *If you liked Harold Fry and Me Before You, you will love Cullen's nostalgic debut. This life-affirming book will draw you in and keep you there * Independent *Delightful * Sunday Times *Deeply moving * Irish Times *I found myself totally transported into William's poignant and beguiling world of lost opportunities and loveThis will touch your soul * Sainsbury's Magazine *Cullen's writing is precise, haunting and, above all, beautiful . . . has the twin ability to inspire you to take delight in the world, yet also cry with the pain that unfolds in its pages * i *Deals delicately and humanely with the subjects of mental health and the ravaging effects of grief . . . ultimately a hopeful read that lives long in the memory * Business Post *Cullen's quietly devastating novel is both a family saga and a careful exploration of the realities of living with mental health issues * i *A thoroughly moving and frequently funny story of love and compassion * The New European *A tender and unflinching exploration of mental illness and how it can eat into the heart of a family. Full of empathy and genuinely moving, a novel that will stay with me for a long time -- Christine Dwyer Hickey, prizewinning author of The Narrow Land
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Affair
Book SynopsisEscape to the sun-drenched shores of Lake Como in the irresistible and gripping new novel from the million-copy bestselling author of Thursdays in the Park, The Anniversary and The Lie''Held me spellbound . . . This novel is unmissable'' 5***** Reader Review''Magnificent! So refreshing, this left me on the edge of my seat'' 5***** Reader Review''The tension builds up to a heart-stopping crescendo'' 5***** Reader Review_______Connie McCabe longs for the summer where she spends the days leading tours across the continent.But it''s on the glamorous shores of Lake Como where she is truly swept away, when Jared, a much younger man, falls for her.Despite resisting his advances, Connie finds that he''s got under her skin.And so begins a long, hot, intoxicating summer where Connie succumbs to temptation - breaking her marriage vows.At the end of the season, Connie returns home to her husbanTrade ReviewA simmering slow-burner full of obsession, drama and complicated relationships * Culturefly *A tension packed read * Bella *Breathless and brilliant * Best *Included in 'The Hot List' * Inside Soap *A breath of fresh air . . . An excellent companion for a weekend away * The Lady *Praise for Hilary Boyd * - *As canny as Joanna Trollope at observing family life - and better at jokes * Daily Mail *Smart, with true-to-life characters whose dilemmas will tear at your heartstrings * Sunday Mirror *Boyd is terrific at cutting to the quick of modern relationships * Woman & Home *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Haven
Book SynopsisREAD THE ABSORBING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BETRAYALS AND THE GOOD GIRLFiona Neill has the sharpest eyes and ears for the nuance of family dynamics. The Haven is a brilliant character led thriller' Lisa Jewell, Number One bestselling author of None of This is True----The holiday was supposed to bring them together . . . But has it torn them apart? Cass Sawyer wakes up in the woods. She doesn't know what's happened, or why she is alone. But she recognises where she is. The Haven. An off-grid retreat the setting for what was meant to be the perfect family holiday.As Cass searches her surroundings, memories begin to trickle through. Her father's erratic behaviour. Her mother's pleas that they go back to town. The Haven's unnerving, free-spirited leader. The strange girls that hung on his every word. And a nag
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Whispers
Book SynopsisREAD THE EXPLOSIVE NEW NOVEL FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE PUSHAn ending you'll have to read twice to believe' New York TimesA shimmering, visceral ride through the dark side of family, of community, of womanhood and mothering. She really is in a league of her own' Lisa Jewell----The incident happens in the middle of the night.Whitney Loverly's place: the grandest house on Harlow Street.Friends, neighbours and the authorities gather to piece together the events of the last twenty-four hours.There's talk of secrets, lies. Betrayals.Once the envy of all, is Whitney Loverly CEO, wife, mother about to fall?Behind closed doors the whispering has started.But where will it end? ----Readers are loving The Whispers I''m taking several deep breaths after reading something that cre
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect
Book Synopsis
£9.87
Penguin Books Ltd Let the Games Begin
Book SynopsisA brand new sports rom-com, full of sizzling chemistry and epic romance for fans of ICEBREAKER and THE FAKE OUT****Summer can only mean one thing: the Olympics.And Zeke and Olivia are there to win.Zeke Moyo is the star athlete of Team GB. He's in Athens to claim the title of fastest man in the world. Olivia Nkomo has landed a career-making internship, finally earning her seat at the table.Then Zeke and Olivia collide literally on the first day of the games, and something unexpected (and fiery) begins. But the competition is stirring up uncomfortable memories from Zeke's past. And Olivia's dream job is turning into a nightmare.Will love become a hurdle? Or could running beside the right person change the whole game?****Perfect for fans of:Enemies to loversHe falls firstSports romance****Readers LOVE Let The Games Begin:
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Playing Hard To Get
Book SynopsisEveryone''s a player on The Golden Eagles football team . . . From TikTok sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Lancaster Prep Monica Murphy comes the first instalment in her scorching sports romance series, The Players. Knox Maguire is the star player on the football team and the King of campus. Everyone loves him but no one pays attention to me. When I become his English tutor, things are kept strictly business. Yet Knox is impossible to resist. Next thing I know, we''re getting hot and heavy in the library. When Knox admits he can''t stop thinking about me, I have a realization. I can''t stop thinking about him either. Instead of keeping my distance, I pull him in closer. Until somehow, we''re spending all of our time together and I find myself falling for him. Hard. But is this star athlete playing a game with my heart . . .Tropes/themes: 1. Cross the l
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Little Bones
Book SynopsisShe lifted up her granddaughter from the cot, clutched her to her chest and, without looking at her beautiful daughter lying dead on the floor of her bedroom, ran from the house. Only when she was outside did she let a wail escape her lips, frightening the baby who joined in her screams.When Isabel Gallagher is found murdered on the floor of her baby''s nursery by her mother, a gruelling case begins for Detective Lottie Parker. Isabel''s pyjamas have been ripped, her throat cut and an old-fashioned razor blade placed in her hand. Lottie can''t understand who would want to hurt this innocent family.That very same day she receives a call with devastating news. Another young mother, Joyce Breslin, has gone missing, and her four-year-old son Evan abducted from daycare. Lottie is sure that this case is linked, and when she finds a bloody razor blade in Joyce''s house, her worst fears are confirmed.Desperate to find little Evan, Lottie leaves n
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Not Quite Nice
Book Synopsis___________________''A funny, spirited read'' - Daily Mail''A hugely enjoyable romp of a novel'' - Katie Fforde''Utterly delicious in every way'' - Joanna Lumley___________________Theresa is desperate for a change. Forced into early retirement and fed up with babysitting her bossy daughter's obnoxious children, she sells her house and moves to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There's Carol, the glamorous American and her doting husband David; the British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine and the suave Brian who catches Theresa's eye As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendshTrade ReviewA hugely enjoyable romp of a novel with eccentric characters, a delightful background and a savoury tang of crime * Katie Fforde *A warm, light-hearted, fast-paced tale that fans of Peter Mayle will enjoy * Joanne Harris *A very witty novel by a very witty woman. Hugely entertaining * Julian Fellowes *Utterly delicious in every way * Joanna Lumley *A sunny, funny debut novel … a keenly observed, rollicking tale of mature expats reinventing themselves on the French Riviera * Mail on Sunday *This debut from national treasure actress Celia perfectly captures the colour of ex-pat life and the glitz and glamour of the South of France. A shaft of early summer sunshine, a funny, spirited read * Daily Mail *It’s lots of fun, with adventure at a certain age as its driving force, and sun-kissed recipes as chapter breaks * Sainsbury’s Magazine *
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co Eleanor Park
Book Synopsis''Reminded me not just what it''s like to be young and in love, but what it''s like to be young and in love with a book'' John Green, author of The Fault in our StarsEleanor is the new girl in town, and she''s never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn''t stick out more if she tried.Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor''s eyes - impossibly cool, Park''s worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you''re 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose.Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.Trade ReviewReminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love, but what it's like to be young and in love with a book -- John Green, author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARSThe pure, fear-laced, yet steadily maturing relationship Eleanor and Park develop is urgent and breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking, too * BOOKLIST starred review *Reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love, but what it's like to be young and in love with a book * John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars *'If you haven't come across it before, we very much recommend Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor And Park, which is a gut-punch of a love story that we downloaded and raced through in one train journey.' * EMERALD STREET *A breathless, achingly good read about love and outsiders * Stephanie Perkins, author of Anna and the French Kiss *Eleanor and Park is completely beautiful. Set in 1986 and full of retro pop culture references, it's a book I want to share with everyone. . . I don't think a single person could read this book and not have their heart melted. * ONCE UPON A BOOKCASE *Deliriously beautiful . . . My only problem with this book was that I finished it. And I knew I wanted to keep it in my life, always * Jenny Bird for Forever Young Adult *This sexy, smart, tender romance thrums with punk rock and true love * Gayle Forman, bestselling author of If I Stay *Rowell keeps things surprising, and the solution - imperfect but believable - maintains the novel's delicate balance of light and dark * Publishers Weekly, starred review *The pure, fear-laced, yet steadily maturing relationship Eleanor and Park develop is urgent and breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking, too * Booklist, starred review *Good luck putting down Eleanor & Park . . . You'll melt at all the tiny moments that add up to a killer romance * Seventeen *Funny, hopeful, foulmouthed, sexy and tear-jerking, this winning romance will captivate teen and adult readers alike * Kirkus, starred review *An honest, heart-wrenching portrayal of imperfect but unforgettable love * The Horn Book, starred review *a perfect book and I recommend it to everyone over the age of thirteen. I don't believe I have conveyed even a fraction of how utterly fantastic it was and all I can do is prompt you to grab a copy and brace yourself * GUARDIAN ONLINE *
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co The Wedding Party
Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE IRISH BESTSELLER! ''A burst of warmth and wit, twists and turns'' MARIAN KEYES on Other Women ''Warm, believable women with real, messy lives'' RACHEL HORE on Other WomenFour sisters. One secret. A day they''ll never forget...The story follows the four Robicheaux sisters as they return home for their parents'' wedding, at the beautiful Hotel Sorrento where they all grew up as children. For the first time in 15 years, the sisters are back together - and it doesn''t take long for long-buried secrets to surface...With her inimitable warmth and wisdom, Cathy Kelly shows us that in the messy reality of marriage, family, and romance, sometimes it''s the women in our lives who hold us together. Praise for Cathy Kelly''s irresistibly comforting storytelling: ''Honest, funny, clever, it sparkles with wittyTrade ReviewBrimming with wisdom, warmth and relatable characters, this is a must read for spring. * MY WEEKLY *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Thoughtless
Book SynopsisTHE DARKLY HILARIOUS AND BRILLIANTLY WISE NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF SAD JANET****All her life, Susan''s loved ones have been hiding a terrible secret from her: If she thinks too hard, her head will explode.Until now, Susan has lived happily in a bubble of TV and takeaways, social media and small talk; anything to distract her from the spiralling thoughts that so often haunt the rest of us - thoughts that would be deadly for her. But when reality creeps in and Susan''s perfectly curated world starts to crumble, it begs the question: can we distract ourselves from the real world forever... And should we?****PRAISE FOR LUCY BRITSCH''Surprising and irreverent'' NEW YORK TIMES''A strangely exuberant meditation on sadness'' REFINERY29''A whip-smart, biting piece of tragicomedy... Hilarious, profound'' HUFFINGTON POST''A wicked satire
£9.49
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Comrades Wife
Book SynopsisAn instant classic, the lies and betrayals of love and party politics are told in gorgeous prose with an ear for our time's intimate and public language. The Comrade's Wife follows a turbulent marriage between a rising politician and an academic, told through her life and lens.
£14.03
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Revolutionaries House
Book SynopsisStoryteller-in-chief, Nthikeng Mohlele, spins another glorious tale: a former high-flying politician who now sleeps under a bridge in Johannesburg's city centre and washes dishes to survive.
£11.39
Hodder & Stoughton Cold Light
Book SynopsisI''m sitting on my couch, watching the local news. There''s Chloe''s parents, the mayor, the hangers on, all grouped round the pond for the ceremony. It''s ten years since Chloe and Carl drowned, and they''ve finally chosen a memorial - a stupid summerhouse. The mayor has a spade decked out in pink and white ribbon, and he''s started to dig.You can tell from their faces that something has gone wrong. But I''m the one who knows straightaway that the mayor has found a body. And I know who it is.This is the tale of three fourteen-year-old girls and a volatile combination of lies, jealousy and perversion that ends in tragedy. Except the tragedy is even darker and more tangled than their tight-knit community has been persuaded to believe.Blackly funny and with a surreal edge to its portrait of a northern English town, Jenn Ashworth''s gripping novel captures the intensity of girls'' friendships and the dangers they face in a predatory adult world theTrade ReviewAshworth's novel is bleak and gritty, painting an uncompromising portrait of teenage life... In the best possible way this novel is an uncomfortable read. * Lucy Scholes, Sunday Times *That most uncommon delight - a literary page-turner. * Sunday Times *Haunting...it is told by the hand of a true storyteller. * Independent *Award-winning Jenn Ashworth leavens a bleak but pacey story with dry, wry humour, resulting in an extraordinarily perceptive and beautifully written novel * Sunday Express *A psychological thriller of the first order. * The Age, Australia *A wonderful tale, beautifully told. * Bella *Remember teenage bitching and insecurity? This book will take you back there, except with more lies and gruesome murder. Scarily believable. * Fabulous *a chilling, blackly funny novel with a surreal edge about the intensity of teenage friendship. * Grazia *Another cleverly skewed tale told from the self-conscious perspective of an outsider... arrestingly observant... Ashworth's second book confirms that the first was no one-off... her talent could take her a long way * Guardian *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Vanishing Acts
Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER''She is the master of her craft . . . and humanity is what Picoult does best'' Sunday TelegraphAndrew Hopkins lovingly raised his daughter Delia on his own, allowing her to believe that they lost Delia''s mother in a car accident twenty-seven years ago. But as Delia is preparing herself for the next chapter in her life, a policeman knocks on the door and reveals a terrible secret: that Andrew kidnapped his four-year-old daughter and led Delia''s mother to believe she was dead. As he sits behind bars, there is no doubt in anyone''s mind that Andrew is guilty. But does that mean that what he did wasn''t right?MAD HONEY, the stunning and compelling Sunday Times bestseller by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is available now.Trade ReviewPicoult takes a red-hot topic and turns it into a gripping and thought-provoking novel * Woman & Home *Picoult takes a red-hot topic and turns it into a gripping and thought-provoking novel * Woman & Home *The punch of a populist thriller * Elle *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton All Over the Town
Book SynopsisNat Hearn came back from the War to be assistant editor and can carrier in chief of the Sandcome Clarion.R.F. Delderfield takes the lid off small town life with a relish born of experience and reveals the politicking and doubtful but only too human motives that swirl round and through the sieve of a small local paper.Trade ReviewMr Delderfield's manner is easy, modest, heartwarming * Evening Standard *R F Delderfield is a born storyteller * Sunday Mirror *Sheer, wonderful storytelling * Chicago Tribune *It is always a pleasure to read R F Delderfield, because he never seems to be ashamed of writing well * Books and Bookmen *'He built an imposing artistic social history that promises to join those of his great forebears in the long, noble line of the English novel. His narratives belong in a tradition that goes back to John Galsworthy and Arnold Bennett' Life Magazine * Life Magazine *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The High Places
Book SynopsisWinner of the International Dylan Thomas Prize 2017''The judges recognised the mastery of form which is present in Fiona McFarlane''s unforgettable collection of stunning short stories . . . highly varied in tone and brought the reader to characters, situations and places which were haunting in their oddity and moving in their human empathy.'' Chair of judges of International Dylan Thomas Prize 2017, Professor Dai Smith CBEBy the author of The Night Guest, a collection of fourteen scintillating short stories: surprising, wise, thought-provoking and superbly wrought. Ranging in setting from Australia to Greece, England to a Pacific island, they focus on people: their hopes, fears, dreams and disappointments, and their relationships - between ill-matched friends, daughters and mothers, fathers and sons, married couples and sisters. Some are eccentric, like the widower who believes his dead wife''s mechanical parrot speaks to him, or the research scientiTrade ReviewMcFarlane has a gift for cutting into a story at precisely the right angle . . . Her writing is skilled; her point of view is unique. -- Kate Saunders * The Times *Deliciously unsettling, [McFarlane's] characters act and react in unexpected ways, taking both reader and themselves by surprise. -- Lucy Scholes * Observer *In her distinct and unusual voice - the disconcerting tone and dry humour are reminiscent of Margaret Atwood or Valerie Martin - McFarlane examines relationships with uncomfortable clarity and insight, observing the subtext of human behaviour while acknowledging a mysterious power behind the reality we think we know. -- Imogen Lycett Green * Daily Mail *Like a fascinating box of brightly coloured, faintly surreal toys -- Phil Baker * Sunday Times *A terrific collection . . . a baker's dozen of powerful stories -- Jackie McGlone * The Herald (Glasgow) *While the stories in THE HIGH PLACES are imaginative, playful, and intellectually sophisticated, it is no overstatement to suggest that their power resides in the authority of McFarlane's style, not just in her ideas. McFarlane's sentences fizz with imagery . . . The resultant voice is difficult to parse - highly assured, comic but kind, an effervescent admixture of fable, magic realism, and irony . . . [a] remarkable collection. * Australian Book Review *Superb . . . It's not just that McFarlane's descriptions are beautiful prose, though they are. THE HIGH PLACES is more deliberate than that, and more intelligent. McFarlane strikes an emotional note on every page, whether it be humour or nostalgia or discomfort or joy . . . Nothing is forced and the reason I can't pick my favourite is that every one of the 13 stories is a winner. * The Saturday Paper *McFarlane has an intelligent and distinctive voice and she's a marvel at conjuring atmosphere. -- Helen Elliott * Sydney Morning Herald *While lesser writers use similes to render descriptions more vivid, McFarlane's heighten aspects of her characters and advance her plots. -- Christopher Benfey * The New York Times Book Review *McFarlane writes with a deceptively plain hand, and her style gives shape to the unanswered questions of how well we can ever know each other or ourselves . . . The writing is clever and skilful in spades * Kirkus Reviews *McFarlane has a knack for bringing out the macabre . . . and shows herself as an exceptionally fine writer of the ways coercion and care entangle us * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton All Our Names
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE FOLIO PRIZE 2015Two young friends join an uprising against Uganda''s corrupt regime in the early 1970s. As the line blurs between idealism and violence, one of them flees for his life. In a quiet Midwestern town in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, an African student falls for the woman who helps him settle in. Prejudice overshadows their relationship, yet it is equally haunted by the past.Both men are called Isaac. But are they one and the same?Trade ReviewMengestu's most impressive examination yet of the African diaspora . . . Worlds on a cusp, powerfully drawn: notable above all is Mengestu's desperately moving portrait of a compromised friendship. * Sunday Telegraph *Elegiac and beautifully written . . . Mengestu skilfully locates this individual love story in the long shadow cast by the rise of dictatorial regimes across Africa in the turbulent decades that followed the end of imperial rule. * Financial Times *Deeply moving . . . Mengestu addresses, with great lyricism and ferocity, the same themes of exile and loss that animated his two earlier novels . . . he is concerned here not only with the dislocations experienced by immigrants, but also with broader questions of identity: how individuals define themselves by their dreams, their choices, the place or places they call home. * New York Times *A story so straightforward but at the same time so mysterious that you can't turn the pages fast enough, and when you're done, your first impulse is to go back to the beginning and start over . . . The victories in this beautiful novel are hard fought and hard won, but won they are, and they are durable. * New York Times Book Review *What's fascinating about All Our Names is the unsettling way it engages with history - both the history of Uganda and literary history . . . Mengestu is rapidly becoming a writer on the global stage. * Guardian *A tale about human universals, in this case the universal longing for justice and our seemingly universal inability to achieve it without becoming unjust ourselves . . . Weighted with sorrow and gravitas, another superb story by Mengestu, who is among the best novelists now at work in America. * Kirkus Reviews (starred) *
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Long Way Home
Book Synopsis‘Thoroughly enjoyable, with endearing, believable characters and long-held secrets’ Katie Fforde 'The plot reels you in until you have no choice but to devour every word' Heat 'Absorbing, intelligent and an absolute joy to read' Daily Express 'A fantastic read from one of our favourite authors' Bella 'Fanny Blake is a master at leading us gently through the complexities of life' Woman & Home 'Blake writes fantastically about families and anyone who has ever despaired of a screen-addict teen will especially love this warm-hearted novel' Daily Mail 'Fanny Blake leads us gently and reassuringly through the complexities of everyday family life' Woman’s Weekly ‘Just perfect – as a grandmother myself it made me smile&
£15.00
Little, Brown Book Group Test Kitchen
Book Synopsis''Test Kitchen is phenomenal - a mad, magical, ten-course feast of a novel, gorgeously written, totally original, packed with ideas and invention. Incredibly ambitious too - so many characters, so many stories, all of it choreographed so expertly. I have no idea how Neil Stewart did it, even after reading it twice. It deserves to be a massive success. Three Michelin stars'' Paul Murray, author of The Bee Sting''An amazing novel . . . Veering from humorous to horrifying, Test Kitchen shows real insight into the mildly unhinged nature of both high-end restaurants and their diners - with wit, lyricism and a killer turn of phrase'' Marina O''Loughlin''A gorgeous tasting menu of a novel, a glittering mystery as sharp as a paring knife and as artfully constructed as its fictional restaurant'' Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining GirlsWelcome to a Tuesday night at London restaurant Midgard. The kitchen is buzzi
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group Coming Home
Book SynopsisSpring, 1947. In a few months'' time the British flag will be lowered all over India, and with Independence thousands of those who made their lives there - as planters, civil servants, or in the Indian army - will be returning to England. Among those coming home, as everyone speaks of it, are Will and Flo Sutherland, who fell in love at the end of the war. India has been the defining experience of their lives: how will they make a new life now? Sue Gee''s new novel is filled with pathos and humour, beautifully evoking an all-but vanished world.Trade Review'[An] elegantly written, sympathetic, quietly sensational tale' * Daily Mail *'Powerful and convincing... A compelling story with subtle characterisation and engaging humanity' * Daily Express *'Gentle, evocative and totally involving' * Woman & Home *A compelling read, Coming Home will awaken all your senses * Independent *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group This Is How It Always Is
Book SynopsisThe Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick''Every once in a while, I read a book that opens my eyes in a way I never expected'' Reese Witherspoon (Reese''s Book Club x Hello Sunshine book pick)''It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think'' Liane Moriarty, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little LiesThis is how a family keeps a secret...and how that secret ends up keeping them.This is how a family lives happily ever after...until happily ever after becomes complicated.This is how children change...and then change the world.This is Claude. He''s five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess.When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl.Rosie and Penn want Claude to be whoever Claude wTrade ReviewI was lucky enough to receive an advance reading copy of this very special book about a family with a secret. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think. -- Liane Moriarty, bestselling author of THE HUSBAND'S SECRET and TRUE LITTLE LIESAn astonishing balance of humour, complexity, and above all, kindness -- Ruth Ozeki, bestselling author of A TALE FOR THE TIME BEINGHuge heart, humour and compassion. A sparkling tale about the power of secrets, loyalty and love, this novel is wonderfully engaging, gorgeously written and has characters that will captivate you * Sunday Mirror *Heart-warming and funny... I found this both unputdownable and enlightening. I'm so glad I've read it - I know so much more about life now -- Katie FfordeA lively and fascinating story of a thoroughly modern family and the giant, multifaceted love that binds them. THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS sparkles with wit and wisdom -- Maria Semple, bestselling author of WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTEAn intelligent, life-affirming, emotionally charged story. This is a very relevant read for today's world - it'll make you laugh and cry * Prima *Wonderful, magical * Red *Thought-provoking and topical * Woman & Home *Written with wry humour and compassion, this is a personal story of parenting, love and understanding * Sunday Express *A touching novel * Good Housekeeping *This wise and often funny novel is a compassionate lesson in discovering and welcoming what makes each of us unique * Redbook *With emotional acuity, admirable bravery, utter compassion, and complete understanding, [Frankel has] created a family attempting to forge a path through one of life's most mystifying challenges: how to define what it is that makes your child who he or she is: unique, beloved, and whole. This is a novel everyone should read. It's brilliant. It's bold. And it's time -- Elizabeth George, bestselling author of A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCESA beautiful, thought-provoking novel that will make you think differently about the world -- Adele ParksA beguiling tale of a sprawling, loving, ever-changing, unconventional and yet completely typical modern family... Wonderfully moving -- Garth Stein, author of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAINA fresh new voice * Glamour *Deeply satisfying...An intimate family story...Day-to-day parenting dilemmas are where Frankel shines * New York Times Book Review *Sharp and surprising. This is a wonderfully contradictory story - heartwarming and generous, yet written with a wry sensibility * Publishers Weekly *This big-hearted novel about a family with a transgender child is in the lead for the most sensitively and sincerely told story of 2017... Frankel's portrayal of even the most open-hearted parents' doubts and fears around a child's gender identity elevates this novel * People, 'Book of the Week' *A tender, endearingly human piece of work * Straits Times *A heart-warming and bittersweet story of identity and family * Irish Country Magazine *Brave, complicated, occasionally horrifying and frequently very funny...Frankel is a first-rate storyteller * Seattle Times *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group If I Could Say Goodbye
Book SynopsisA heart-warming and uplifting story about love, loss and finding the strength to say goodbye, from the author of The First Time I Saw You. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern, If I Could Say Goodbye is sure to ''break your heart but put it back together again'' (Katie Fforde) Jennifer Jones'' life began when her little sister, Kerry, was born. So when her sister dies in a tragic accident, nothing seems to make sense any more.Despite the support of her husband, Ed, and their wonderful children, Jen can''t comprehend why she is still here, while bright, spirited Kerry is not.When Jen starts to lose herself in her memories of her sister, she doesn''t realise that the closer she feels to Kerry, the further she gets from her family. Jen was never able to say goodbye to her sister. But what if she could? Would you risk everything if you had the chance to say goodbye?<Trade ReviewPraise for Emma Cooper:If I Could Say Goodbye is a poignant story about love, loss and letting go. A compelling exploration of tragedy and hope, sensitively handled and beautifully written. Jennifer's journey will captivate you all the way to its life-affirming conclusion. -- Holly MillerBeautifully observed, tender and genuinely funny -- Josie SilverGorgeous, tender, spine-tingling storytelling - an absolute heart-rending joy. -- Miranda DickinsonFans of authors Jojo Moyes and Lucy Dillon will love this touching read from Emma Cooper * Hello *Will have you weeping one minute and laughing the next * Woman's Weekly *It's impossible not to be moved by this beautiful book... Achingly poignant, heart-breaking and yet also with moments of real humour, you will be holding your breath until the very end * Hot Brands, Cool Places *Heartwarming and uplifting * Bella *Believable and compelling, sad and funny, morbid yet full of life, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a book that will leave you feeling a little mauled, but definitely also uplifted * My Weekly *An evocative, warm and character-driven read that is truly memorable * Woman & Home *A heartwarming, charming novel which had me falling in love and desperate to be part of their happy ending -- Olivia BeirneA gorgeous heart-breaking rollercoaster of a love story that made me laugh and cry in equal measures -- Fiona HarperCooper creates characters that come alive with pathos and heart and humour * Magic Radio *It's a tale to restore your belief in love conquering all... Witty and warm * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *
£8.54
Headline Publishing Group Face Off
Book SynopsisThis is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS meets Karen Rose...New York Times bestseller Brenda Novak''s third novel in the Evelyn Talbot series sees the return of psychiatrist Dr Evelyn Talbot in her purpose-built facility housing America''s most terrifying psychopaths.Over twenty years ago, Dr Evelyn Talbot was scarred for life when her teenage boyfriend Jasper Moore tortured her and left her for dead. And she fears one day he will return to finish what he started.Evelyn has tried to move forward and turned her trauma into her life''s work. As a leading psychiatrist at Hanover House in remote Alaska, she is confronted with psychopaths and danger every day. She delves deep into their minds, despite the horrors that hide there, trying to figure out why they do what they do.When a woman goes missing from a nearby cabin, Evelyn immediately believes one of the Hanover House killers might be involved. But somethingTrade ReviewGut-gripping suspense -- Karen RoseHer Darkest Nightmare is as stimulating as it is gripping, and Novak has crafted an exceptional new series that will leave you wanting more * True Crime magazine *Seamless plotting, emotional intensity and true-to-life characters...completely satisfying -- Allison BrennonSpins a taut, spine-tingling story with imagery so vivid it leaves you breathless -- Christine FeehanRichly detailed with believable characters and gripping action...Brenda Novak just gets better and better -- Carla NeggersBrenda Novak has carved out her spot among the masters of suspense and mystery -- Sherrilyn KenyonAnother engrossing addition to Novak's addictive series * Library Journal *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Carer
Book Synopsis''Moggach is at the height of her powers with this book, which moves from a beautifully observed comedy of middle-class life to an immensely moving celebration of two imperfect marriages'' Sunday TimesAn unforgettable novel about age, caring and with a twist you won''t see coming...''A cracking, crackling social comedy, with some brilliant observations about ageing and a devilish plot twist'' The TimesFrom the bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a deliciously funny, poignant and wry novel, full of surprising twists and turns:James is getting on a bit and needs full-time help. So Phoebe and Robert, his middle-aged offspring, employ Mandy, who seems willing to take him off their hands. But as James regales his family with tales of Mandy''s virtues, their shopping trips and the shared pleasure of their journeys to garden centres, Phoebe and Robert sense something is aTrade ReviewUnputdownable, fun and tender with characters that jump off the page. Perfection -- Marian KeyesMoggach is at the height of her powers with this book, which moves from a beautifully observed comedy of middle-class life to an immensely moving celebration of two imperfect marriages * Sunday Times *A cracking, crackling social comedy with some brilliant people observations about ageing and a devilish plot twist -- Robbie Millen * The Times *Moggach's latest is full of warmth and humour as well as blistering truths about the sorrowful threads that bind families * Daily Mirror *This is a world full of charm, warmth and pitch-perfect humour, but it is also a world punctuated by Moggach's blistering truths on the tangled, sorrowful threads of resentment and disappointment that bind families together * Sunday Express, S Mag *Infuses the subject with her trademark humour and pathos, reshaping a societal dilemma into a family drama, by turns compelling and surprising - her nuanced characterisations make the subject matter really come alive -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *Moggach addresses an all too common nightmare with ruthless honesty and sublime wit - The Carer is one of the funniest novels I have read for ages -- Kate Saunders * The Times *If you enjoyed THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, there's a chance you'll love the author's new novel even more. A heartwarming triumph * Woman & Home *Wickedly, witty entertainment. Moggach is so very good at describing the ordinary, she transforms it into the unusual, shocking and fascinating. Behind the normality of people's lives there often lies an extraordinary story. It's this that Moggach tells with insight, acute observation of character and mordant humour. The Carer is an immediately relevant work, a fiction anchored in reality * Spectator *Surprising, funny and certain to have more than one reader wincing in recognition * The i *I love her book - and this one especially. It's marvellous -- India KnightThis joyous novel ... a sustained satire on smug middle-class mores, like a deranged Archers omnibus. Can there be higher praise? -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *A sharp, witty, characteristically generous and gallopingly readable novel * Readers Digest *A witty tale, with beautifully drawn characters * Best *Moving and funny * Good Housekeeping *Good, rollicking, and occasionally, what with the file of evasions, duplicity and fractured emotion, wounding and reflective stuff * Private Eye *I just loved it - so touching and wise and funny, full of all the lovely touches that Debby is so good at. She draws characters so deftly; you begin to think you know them from the smallest of observations. They're all so human! -- Sabine DurrantThe Carer will ring bells for any reader with parents reaching the grab-rail stage of life but proves as touching as it's funny. Moggach writes in the best funny-ouch tradition, her humour always rooted in acute observation of our frailties and appetites -- Patrick GaleDeborah Moggach's warm heart and cool eye for hilarious British idiosyncrasies are both on top form here - I laughed like a drain. Specially at the hippy Lothario in the wet Welsh woods -- Louisa YoungBeautifully written, oozing interesting characters that you genuinely care about -- Adele ParksLit up a dull day with its warmth and wit * Tessa Hadley *The most endearing of humorists, Deborah Moggach casts a penetrating eye on our foibles and fantasies. Neither ageing, nor death - as The Carer so beautifully demonstrates - can resist her comic scrutiny * Lisa Appignanesi *A wry, witty and wise novel, full of insight and understanding' * Susie Boyt *
£8.54
Headline Publishing Group Hope for the Best
Book SynopsisThe tenth book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary''s series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde, Ben Aaronovitch or Doctor Who, you won''t be able to resist Jodi Taylor.''Jodi Taylor does it again. A brilliant yomp through history'' - Reader ReviewYou can''t change History. History doesn''t like it. There are always consequences.Max is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands. Especially when she''s had A Brilliant Idea. Yes, it will mean breaking a few rules, but - as Max always says - they''re not her rules.Seconded to the Time Police to join in the hunt for the renegade Clive Ronan, Max is a long way from St Mary''s. But life in the future does have its plus points - although not for long.A problem with the Time Map reveals chaos in the 16th century and the wrong Tudor queen on the throne. History has gone rogTrade ReviewTakes readers on a carnival ride through laughter and tears with a bit of time travel thrown in for spice - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewA true page-turner - SF RevuI've never seen time travel handled this way. I like it - wethenerdy.com[An] appealing cast of characters... [with] with plenty of humour, lots of action, and even a touch of romance - Library Journal
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Echoes of the Runes
Book Synopsis''Fabulous. Highly recommended for fans of Barbara Erskine and Susanna Kearsley - and if you want a thumping good read'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review''Wow! This book should come with warning! It''s almost as addictive as chocolate!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewChristina''s stunning and evocative new dual-time standalone epic novel, Hidden in the Mists, is available to preorder now!Winner of the 2021 RNA Romantic Fantasy Novel Award. Brimming with romance, adventure and vivid historical detail, Christina Courtenay does for the Vikings what Diana Gabaldon''s Outlander and Clanlans does for Scottish history............................................................................Their love was forbidden. But echoed in eternity. When Mia inherits her beloved grandmother'
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Homeland Elegies
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST AND ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR''I read it in a fever, swept up in the kind of rapture you fall into when your most audacious friend kicks off on a hilarious, outrageous, but deeply sincere rant'' Torrey Peters, Guardian Books of the Summer''A beautiful novel about an American son and his immigrant father that has echoes of THE GREAT GATSBY'' New York TimesA deeply personal novel of identity and belonging in a nation coming apart at the seams, HOMELAND ELEGIES blends fact and fiction to tell an epic story of belonging and dispossession in the world that 9/11 made. Part family drama, part satire, part picaresque, at its heart it is the story of a father and son, and the country they call home.Ranging from the heartland towns of America to palatial suites in Europe to guerrilla lookouts in the mountains of Afghanistan, Akhtar forges a narrTrade ReviewAn urgent, intimate hybrid of memoir and fiction, HOMELAND ELEGIES thrusts us into the heart of a father-son relationship and in the process - improbably - does nothing short of laying bear the broken heart of our American dream turned reality TV nightmare... Stunning * A M Homes *A beautiful novel about an American son and his immigrant father that has echoes of The Great Gatsby * New York Times *Ayad Akhtar offers up his heart and life with an honesty that astonishes. Never have I experienced such a reading thrill * Maria Semple *Perhaps the best American novel I have read in several years -- Richard FlanaganA passionate, wrenching portrayal of Americans exiled into otherness by a post 9/11 world * Jennifer Egan *The challenge of remembering one's identity in a racist culture is at the heart of Akhtar's remarkable new book, HOMELAND ELEGIES...It would not surprise me if it wins him a second Pulitzer Prize * Washington Post *A triumph. Akhtar rages, he sings, he indicts, he falls in love, he sorrows, he dreams, he mourns, he transcribes! - and finally he transmutes injustice into the sublimest art * Joshua Ferris *The astonishing work of an absolutely brilliant writer. With exquisite prose and lacerating honesty, Ayad Akhtar reveals the intersections of art, finance, race, religion, academia and empire * Philip Klay *This is the book of the year * Oprah Magazine *Part fiction, part memoir, and all brilliant * Ron Charles *Provocative and urgent... a revelation * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Sofia Khan and the Baby Blues
Book SynopsisTHE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE HILARIOUS ROMANTIC COMEDY SOFIA KHAN IS NOT OBLIGED''The perfect balance of romance and humour'' INDEPENDENT''Fun, fresh and funny'' MHAIRI MCFARLANE''A smartromcom . . . Huge fun'' JENNY COLGANSofia Khan is going about everything the wrong way. At least, that''s what her mother, Mehnaz, thinks. Sofia is twice-divorced, homeless and - worst of all - refusing to give up on a fostered baby girl. Sofia''s just not behaving like a normal woman should.Sofia doesn''t see it like that. She''s planning to adopt Millie, and she''s sure it''ll be worth it. (Even if it means she and Millie have to stay at Mehnaz''s place for a while.) And as Sofia finally begins to live the life she''s chosen, she finds both romance and happiness start to blossom.But then someone comes back from the past - and not even SoTrade ReviewPraise for SOFIA KHAN IS NOT OBLIGED:Rather like a contemporary Barbara Pym [Malik] redraws the boundaries of what stories about British Muslims might look like. . . it touches our capacity for human sympathy and connection in important ways * THE TIMES *Wise and warm-hearted * SUNDAY TIMES *Feisty, funny and relatable, it's the feminist comedy you've been waiting for * ELLE *A courageous, revealing, fiendishly funny and important book. Genuinely ground-breaking * Vaseem Khan *I adored this. A gorgeous, funny, smart uplifting story about seeking unity during times of division. Wish I could prescribe it to the country * Daisy Buchanan *"A light-hearted book crammed with witty humour... It's an entertaining debut with laugh-out-loud moments - a contemporary love story you won't want to miss!" * Candis Magazine *"Fans of Bridget Jones certainly won't be disappointed, since Malik achieves the perfect balance of romance and humour" * Independent *"Move over Bridget Jones - there's a new heroine charting her romantic disasters- this time minus the Chardonnay... refreshing and funny" * Sunday Mirror *"Best of the New Books... For fans of Bridget Jones's Diary" * Grazia *"Must-read... Liven up your daily commute or boost your bedtime routine with [this] page-turner" * Marie Claire *"Most refreshing of all, Sofia doesn't need to undergo some sort of wild identity crisis before she gets her happy ending... [a] sharp, funny but ultimately very normal portrayal of life as a British Muslim" * The National *Part of "a new wave of female-focussed fiction... Bridget Jones-esque" * Stylist *
£6.99
Headline Publishing Group Damnation Spring
Book Synopsis*''Probably the best novel I''ll read this year. It''s about work and love and characters who ring true. By the time I was 50 pages in I couldn''t put it down. Can''t stop thinking about it'' Stephen King*For generations, Rich Gundersen''s family has made a living felling giant redwoods on California''s rugged coast. It''s treacherous work, and though his son, Chub, wants nothing more than to step into his father''s boots, Rich longs for a bigger future for him. Colleen just wants a brother or sister for Chub, but she''s losing hope. There is so much that she and Rich don''t talk about these days - including her suspicions that there is something very wrong at the heart of the forest on which their community is built. When Rich is offered the opportunity to buy a plot of timber which borders Damnation Grove, he leaps at the chance - without telling Colleen. Soon the Gundersens find themselves on opposite sides of a battle that threatens to rip theiTrade Review[An] ambitious, assured debut... a devastating page-turner with a love story at its centre * LitHub *A strong work of climate fiction... rooted in age-old man-versus-nature storytelling. An impressively well-turned story about how environmental damage creeps into our bodies, psyches, and economies * Kirkus (starred review) *Beautiful, timeless and breathtaking * Nickolas Butler *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Dazzling
Book Synopsis''I am truly dazzled'' TRACY CHEVALIER''A rich tapestry of African mythology and magic'' CHERIE JONES''Bursting with magic, bright and visceral'' JENNIFER SAINT''A feast of shimmering, beautiful prose'' CHIKA UNIGWESoon you will become the thing all other beasts fear.Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure''s daddy died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a spirit who promises to bring her father back - but she has to complete a monstrous task for him first.Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back that can''t be scratched. An itch that tells of her great and terrible destiny, passed down through generations, to defend her people by becoming a leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honour this was before he vanished, but it''s one she couldn''t want less.But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group The Lost Queen
Book Synopsis''Well researched, elegantly written, with a deft touch for both romance and historical detail. The Lost Queen is a gripping historical drama to be savoured'' ANNE O''BRIEN''An excellent read, meticulously researched, beautifully told. Berengaria is a delicious heroine, thoroughly engaging, a refreshingly unusual viewpoint for this epic tale'' JANE JOHNSON1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina. There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Horses
Book Synopsis''A quiet and tender apocalyptic story'' NATALIA THEODORIDOU''Stayed with me after the final page'' FREYA BROMLEYA moving story of isolation and mankind''s connection with nature, perfect for fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Jon McGregor.Sarah wakes up one morning feeling that something big, something irrevocable has happened. To the small island community of Black Crag, it seems as though the rest of the world has gone to sleep - aeroplanes no longer criss-cross the sky, the radios have gone silent and the ferry no longer brings their supplies. When the ferryman Arthur arrives, traumatised and silent, the whispers about what has happened on the mainland quickly turn into heated arguments. As the chasm dividing the villagers continues to grow, Sarah struggles to find her purpose amidst the chaos. With a harsh winter fast-approaching, will the villagers learn to work together in order to ensure their collective surviva
£17.00
John Murray Press An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk
Book SynopsisA startling collection of stories from a debut British writer.Trade ReviewGreengrass is undoubtedly that rare thing, a genuinely new and assured voice in prose. Her work is precise, properly moving, quirky and heartfelt * AL Kennedy *A number of the individual story titles are fantastic, too. I must also mention that this volume has been beautifully produced and is one of the first offerings from JM Originals, a new list by John Murray . . . You'll want to keep an eye out for others in the series * Bookbag *One of the first books to come from the John Murray Originals imprint (the cover is stunning) which I want to read for the title, and title story, alone * Savidge Reads *The stories in this impressive and unusual debut collection chronicle the lives of the lonely and estranged . . . a highly original collection from a distinctive new voice in fiction * Independent on Sunday *[An] accomplished debut collection . . . She has a Mantel-esque way with metaphor, in which clarity of the image illuminates plot and theme . . . this talented writer has all the resources to break out of her comfort zone * Daily Telegraph *The stories in Jessie Greengrass' debut work would be auspicious even without its singular title . . . Greengrass's scope is ambitious, and at times self-consciously sedulous, compensated for by admirable technical skill, and an exhilarating sense of the unknown . . . The majority of the collection soars. Greengrass's language can switch from elegant and frosty to richly sensual . . . sheer range and conspicuous talent * Financial Times *A striking debut from a British writer with a distinctive philosophical imagination, a precise prose style and an interest in varieties of extinction and survival * Sunday Times *[A] striking first collection * Times Literary Supplement *A collection suffused with isolation and memory but, and critically, a collection that is wrought by a brilliant and original stylist, not something I thought I would have the pleasure of admitting anytime soon... An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It, is published under a new list by John Murray (Byron's publisher), JM Originals, for fresh and distinctive writing. Whoever saved An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It from the slush pile, should be knighted in the New Year's honours list * Echo *Elegant, learned and melancholic * Telegraph *Restraint and a formal writing style, by a philosophy graduate from Cambridge University, give a tone of melancholy to this spectacularly accomplished, chilly debut collection of short stories about thwarted lives and opportunities missed. The strongest are also the most ordinary * The Economist *Highly original and beautifully controlled * Sunday Times *
£8.99
Hachette Books Ireland A Talented Man
Book SynopsisIn the vein of Sarah Waters and Patricia Highsmith, a master forger 'discovers' a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula ... and will stop at nothing to claim his prize.
£7.59
Hodder & Stoughton Snowflakes over Moon Cottage
Book Synopsis**Summer Days at Sunrise Farm, the new book in the Animal Ark revisited series, is currently available!**The perfect cosy winter romance featuring the characters from the globally bestselling Animal Ark series. Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Holly Martin and Katie Fforde. ''A comforting Christmas read'' - Woman''s Own*****It''s Christmas-time in the little Yorkshire village of Welford, and the first snowflakes are just starting to fall.As far as Susan Collins is concerned, this Christmas is all about quality time with her family, especially her son Jack. After a string of terrible dates she''s given up on love, and Susan''s certainly got plenty to keep her busy. That is, until she meets handsome children''s author Douglas Macleod. Dishevelled in appearance with bright red hair he is the opposite of Susan''s usual type, but an unTrade ReviewA comforting Christmas read * Woman's Own *'A stunning, emotional, beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the importance of being who you need to be. I laughed, I cried, and I became completely ensnared, and I cannot recommend it highly enough - it really has got it all!!' -- Books of All Kinds'An adorable read [with] a real sense of village community' -- Bookworms and Shutterbugs'Just the right amount of nostalgia... wonderful and very poignant' -- The World is a Book Blog'An incredibly lovely story' -- Rachel's Random Reads'A lovely story of what it's like to be working with animals and travelling around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside' -- Jaffareadstoo'The romance, tragedy and drama play[s] out alongside some deeply poignant animal stories...an absolute must read for animal lovers' -- The Book BagPraise for the Hope Meadows series * : *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Boy Made of Snow
Book Synopsis''A haunting and thrilling read'' Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat''Original and unsettling - and just a little bit heartbreaking'' Rachel Rhys, author of Dangerous CrossingIn a sleepy English village in 1944, Annabel and her son Daniel live in the shadow of war. With her husband away, an increasingly isolated Annabel begins to lose her grip on reality.When mother and son befriend Hans, a German PoW consigned to a nearby farm, their lives are suddenly filled with thrilling secrets. To Annabel, Hans is an awakening from the darkness that has engulfed her since Daniel''s birth. To her son, a solitary boy caught up in the magical world of fairy tales, he is perhaps a prince in disguise. But Hans has plans of his own and will soon set them into motion with devastating consequences.Trade ReviewA testament to the power of stories, THE BOY MADE OF SNOW had me compulsively turning the pages to find out the fate of Daniel and his mother. A haunting and thrilling read. I absolutely loved it -- Kate Hamer, author of THE GIRL IN THE RED COATAn evocative and stunning debut from an exciting new writer -- Jane Harris, author of GILLESPIE AND IOriginal and unsettling - and just a little bit heartbreaking -- Rachel Rhys, author of DANGEROUS CROSSINGTHE BOY MADE OF SNOW is an evocative and haunting story with moments of heart-breaking poignancy. This dark and compelling tale, of wartime austerity and one boy's vivid imagination and its devastating consequences, is an assured and beautifully written debut -- Amanda Jennings, author of IN HER WAKEHeartbreaking, chilling and beautifully written, THE BOY MADE OF SNOW will stay with me for a very long time -- Laura Marshall, author of THE FRIEND REQUESTThere is much to admire in this ambitious debut, primarily Mayer's handling of Annabel's unsettling descent into a slothful haze * THE TIMES *Calling upon classic fairytales - in their original, not Disney-fied versions - this is a beautiful and evocative debut * STYLIST *The novel wins through on both the evocation of the period and the setting, brilliantly capturing the isolation of mother and son, making the awful inevitability of what follows extra affecting -- Fanny Blake * DAILY MAIL *In 1944, a young boy obsessed with fairy tales, and his troubled mother, befriend a German POW - with heartbreaking results. Your jaw will drop at the dramatic events * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *When a young mother falls for a German POW, she sets off a train of events that will shatter lives. The period and her son's imaginery world makes this special * WOMAN & HOME *This story is unlike anything I have ever read. Some books move you - and this is one of them. I absolutely loved it * THE SUN *A promising debut . . . every new chapter of the book starts with a quote from a famous fairy-tale, and the writer interestingly juxtaposes the stark reality of war with the fictional world. Annabelle's struggle with motherhood is depicted with delicacy and the story shines a light on how issues like postpartum depression and PTSD went unrecognized and unacknowledged for the longest time -- Rabeea Saleem * BOOKRIOT *THE BOY MADE OF SNOW is exquisitely imagined, beautifully written and I was completely enthralled by it . . . It is chilling and poignant and at times, utterly heartbreaking. Daniel is a carefully crafted masterpiece, and his innocence shines through, even when his actions bring about the most tragic and horrendous consequences . . . An ambitious debut novel from an author who is obviously so very talented. I have no more words; it's brilliant and I recommended it highly. It's a marvel. -- Anne Cater * Random Things Through my Letterbox *The characters are beautifully drawn, their emotion and feelings leaping from the page . . . The desperation of Annabelle, her inability to drag herself from the depth of depression and the need for Daniel to please her, to make her notice him and love him. It is something that will linger with the reader long after that last page has been turned and the book closed . . . It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, so confident and assured is Mayer's writing. I cannot wait for her next novel -- Amanda Duncan * mybookishblogspot *Absolutely captivating . . . Chloe Mayer written such an emotion filled debut that I struggled to put down. . . I felt I could see scenes playing out through the beautifully clear descriptive writing . . . I could not fault this book at all, it is flawless and wonderful, and I highly recommend it * The Quiet Knitter *A stunning debut from an exciting new author, with Meyer writing characters beautifully and using Daniel's love of fairytales to marvellous effect . . . excellent, complex characters help drive the story to an unforgettable conclusion * DORSET ECHO *A novel of motherhood, childhood, relationships, war and consequences but most of all imagination. This is a very accomplished first novel, both in its writing and narrative; a haunting tale with a chill at its heart, perfect for this time of year * Bookliterati.com *THE BOY MADE OF SNOW is a breathtaking, haunting, and heartbreaking story that will stay in your mind long after you turn the last page . . . If you buy one book this Christmas, make it this one. -- Linda Green * BOOKS OF ALL KINDS *A stunnung debut from an exciting new author, with Meyer writing characters beautifully and using Daniel's love of fairytales to marvellous effect. * DAILY GAZETTE *Dark and compelling and will have you frantically turning the pages to discover the protagonists' fate * WEST ESSEX NEWS *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co I Want What I Want
Book SynopsisA reissue of Geoff Brown's groundbreaking classic novel about a man who wants to be a woman. Published in 1966, I Want What I Want was one of the first novels to explore the life of a trans woman.
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co The Hummingbird
Book SynopsisA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE GUARDIAN: ''DEEPLY PLEASURABLE''A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE SPECTATOR: ''WHAT A JOY''''Magnificent'' Guardian''A towering achivement'' Financial Times''Inventive, bold, unexpected'' Sunday Times''Everything that makes the novel worthwhile and engaging is here: warmth, wit, intelligence, love, death, high seriousness, low comedy, philosophy, subtle personal relationships and the complex interior life of human beings''Guardian''Not since William Boyd''s Any Human Heart has a novel captured the feast and famine nature of a single life with such invention and tenderness''Financial Times''There is a pleasing sense of having grappled with the real stuff of life: loss, grief, love, desire, pain, uncertainty, confusion, joy, despair - all while having fun''The Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA masterpiece of love and grief ... Everything that makes the novel worthwhile and engaging is here: warmth, wit, intelligence, love, death, high seriousness, low comedy, philosophy, subtle personal relationships and the complex interior life of human beings ... magnificent - moving, replete, beautiful ... what makes the book special is that The Hummingbird is such an intelligent meditation on life, family, the human heart and the "dictatorship of pain" that comes with grief -- Edward Docx * THE GUARDIAN *A masterpiece of articulation ... a towering achievement ... Not since William Boyd's Any Human Heart has a novel captured the feast and famine nature of a single life with such invention and tenderness. Veronesi explores, with great humour, how the passage of time both expands and expunges the impact of events. And, he suggests, after the pounding of years it is only an individual's character that determines whether or not the edifice will hold -- Christian House * FINANCIAL TIMES *Instantly immersive, playfully inventive, effortlessly wise... a family saga that pays homage to the quiet heroism required by day-to-day existence -- Hephzibah Anderson * THE OBSERVER *A big name in European literature ... Veronesi originally trained as an architect and, rather marvellously, it shows: the structure is inventive, bold, unexpected - slightly bonkers but elegant, and cohesive ... conveys life's messy unpredictability: joy and desperation, simple pleasures, moments of transcendence, much reeling and confusion ... There is a pleasing sense of having grappled with the real stuff of life: loss, grief, love, desire, pain, uncertainty, confusion, joy, despair - all while having fun -- Lucy Atkins * SUNDAY TIMES *A tender, beguilingly epic novel... The complex, subtle design of the novel, with a patchwork of key episodes moving back and forth through time, and its textual variety - partly made up of letters, emails, transcripts of phone calls - disguise its saga-like scale, its epic proportions catching you off guard. It's almost only once you emerge from its acutely painful ending that you realise how much of life you have witnessed - the vastness, as well as the richness, of the story. * NEW STATESMAN *Veronesi's novel has been hotly anticipated by English readers. The bird of the title is Marco Carrera, blessed with the gift of being able to stay still while the world around him turns to chaos. Life-affirming * NEW EUROPEAN *An inventive, a beautiful, complex book. * IRISH EXAMINER *The Hummingbird is a masterly novel, a brilliantly conceived mosaic of love and tragedy. Veronesi creates a thought-rich and ultimately comic meditation on human error and lost chances. It's a cabinet of curiosities and delights, packed with small wonders, strange and sudden turns, insights of great poise and unusual cultural reference points. The Hummingbird in an object lesson in authorial control. Veronesi truly knows and loves all matters of the heart. * Ian McEwan *Somehow or other Sandro Veronesi pulls off the extraordinary feat of making you believe he is writing for your ears alone. I cannot tell you what The Hummingbird is about because that would be to betray a confidence. But I can tell you it's a mightily clever novel. * Howard Jacobson *I love The Hummingbird. A real masterpiece. A funny, touching, profound book that made me cry like a little girl on the last page. * Leïla Slimani *Long considered one of Italy's leading writers, Sandro Veronesi has dazzled both readers and critics with novels that are not only page-turners but profoundly literary. An heir to Italo Svevo, he explores, from book to book, intergenerational conflict, existential anguish and the passage of time. These themes, in Veronesi's hands, burst with vitality. Trained as an architect, he plays inventively with form, producing works that are unconventional, disarming, and profoundly humane. With his latest novel, The Hummingbird, he has re-written the family saga. Ardent, gripping, and inventive to the core, it has already been hailed a classic. * Jhumpa Lahiri *The Hummingbird is a profound story about the myriad ways in which human passions collide with forces beyond human control. From its first page to its last, it's as full of surprises as it is jolts of recognition. Sandro Veronesi has overcome the ultimate, and most difficult, of any novelist's challenges-created a story of such depth and scope that it can stand unembarrassed alongside life itself. It's a remarkable accomplishment, a true gift to the world. * Michael Cunningham *Reading The Hummingbird is a spellbinding experience; it's so clever, funny and deeply moving. * Roddy Doyle *Much more than a novel about a family - which its deceptively unadorned surfaces might suggest it to be - The Hummingbird portrays a subtle and intriguing political vision, depicting the reach of history into the lives of people we might well believe are outside history's notice. * Richard Ford *Sandro Veronesi is a writer I have always admired. He's funny, smart, rueful, deeply feeling. The Hummingbird stands with his finest work. It's some of the most poignant contemporary writing I know of. * Rick Moody *An extremely beautiful and generous novel about time, family, home, love and loss, passion and pain. Funny, heart-breaking, eccentric, tender and completely brilliant. A triumphant, life-affirming novel. Now I want to read everything by Sandro Veronesi. * Edward Carey, author of LITTLE *I love Sandro Veronesi's book, The Hummingbird. A real masterpiece. A funny, touching, profound book that made me cry like a little girl on the last page. * Leila Slimani *Sandro Veronesi's captivating novel is at once a gripping tale of family bonds and a provoking meditation on fate and choice, suffering and endurance, love and hatred, and the elusive nature of happiness. I greatly admired its wit and erudition and its deep charm. * James Lasdun, author of SEVEN LIES *I have known for quite some time that Sandro Veronesi was one of the most skillful and profound Italian storytellers of the past thirty years. But The Hummingbird is the decisive proof of his sensitivity, of his extraordinary strength as a writer. * Domenico Starnone, National Book Award Finalist author of TIES and TRICK *The Hummingbird is a book full of that roller-coaster ride that is life itself, a succession of defeats and unexpected ascents. Crucially, this is a novel that has the courage to pass the baton to the new generations: in the sea of cynicism in which we all risk to drown, it gives us a glimpse of a possible new future. * Nicola Lagioia, author of FEROCITY (winner of the Premio Strega) *Outstanding. A perturbing masterpiece. Absolute beauty in the smallest detail. * CORRIERE DELLA SERA *The novel flits back and forth between multiple decades of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the narrative is interspersed with letters, emails and transcripts of telephone conversations. Instead of the familiar pattern of trauma, grief and healing, everything seems to happen at once and, indeed, keeps happening. Relationships end before they begin, characters die and are resurrected, only to die again. The reader's foreknowledge of certain events could rob the plot of suspense, but Veronesi uses dramatic irony to poignant effect, and still manages plenty of twists and revelations... Excellent: Marco Carrera is a compelling main character, a devoted father an oblivious husband, a dutiful son and an inadequate brother. The novel's conclusion is a beautiful study of the resilient bonds of flawed love. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Sandro Veronesi is a gracious, generous and mature writer, and under his guidance the many narrative devices and chronological leaps back and forth (also into the future) grow and mature into a remarkable novel. This piecemeal approach shouldn't work, but Maestro Veronesi is in control: it's a clever structure and the plot twists and turns and thunders along. 'Il Colibrì' won the 2019 Premio Strega, Italy's top literary prize, and thanks to Elena Pala (who was obviously born to translate this novel) it has become The Hummingbird. It is Veronesi's ninth novel and his second Strega. If you don't yet know the work of one of Europe's finest writers, start here -- Rosie Goldsmith * EUROPEAN LITERATURE NETWORK *No other writer in Italy today can tell a story like Sandro Veronesi. * LA STAMPA *Powerful and seductive. * REPUBBLICA *A great novel, vibrating with life and death, happiness and pain, nostalgia and hope for the future. * VANITY FAIR *Reading The Hummingbird is like getting on a rollercoaster: it's a vertiginous ride - almost to the point of physical pain - and then you are left in a state of wonder. * RADIO 24 *Reading The Hummingbird is not just a moving experience: it's almost like a therapy session, a lesson in persevering, in letting go of guilt to find ourselves again. * HUFFINGTON POST *Everything that has made Veronesi one of the greats is distilled in The Hummingbird - just more mature and ambitious. * ESQUIRE *A wonderful book that covers so many bases, while the protagonist keeps his position and moves little in relation to all that is happening around him - he is 'the hummingbird'. The structure is inventive and varied, and contains a rainbow of emotions, played pizzicato across a lifetime of families at their best and worst. It's wry, eccentric, perceptive, creative, nostalgic - you name it, there's many a bell inside the pages that will ring just for you. It really is as good as the stellar list of authors on the back (Ian McEwan, Howard Jacobsen, Jhumpa Lahiri etc) who line up to sing the praises of both the author and this extraordinary book -- David Roche * BOOKBRUNCH *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Puppet Boy of Warsaw
Book SynopsisThe story of Mika, a Jewish boy, who finds a way to survive in the Warsaw ghetto - a stunning novel for anyone who was moved by The Tattooist of AuschwitzI was twelve when the coat was made. Nathan, our tailor and dear friend, cut it for Grandfather in the first week of March 1938. It was the last week of freedom for Warsaw and for us...Even in the most difficult of lives, there is hope. When Mika''s grandfather dies in the Warsaw ghetto, he inherits not only his great coat, but its treasure trove of secrets. In one remote pocket, he finds a papier mache head, a scrap of cloth... a puppet prince. And what better way to cheer the cousin who has lost her father, the little boy who is ill, the neighbours living in one cramped room, than a puppet show? Soon the whole ghetto is talking about the puppet boy - until the day when Mika is stopped by a German officer and is forced into a secret life...This is a story about survival. It is an epic jTrade ReviewThe powerful story of a friendship between a Jewish boy and a German soldier and the part played in both their lives by a simple puppet. * CHOICE MAGAZINE *This story plucks at the heart strings and is well worth reading. * JEWISH NEWS *The powerful story of a friendship between a Jewish boy and a German soldier and the part played in both their lives by a simple puppet. * CHOICE MAGAZINE *This story plucks at the heart strings and is well worth reading. * JEWISH NEWS *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Happy Couple
Book Synopsis''A brilliant contemporary novel'' Colm Tóibín ''I am fully in awe of Dolan''s talent'' Douglas Stuart''I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it'' Marian Keyes''Dazzling. Not a word is out of place'' Katherine HeinyMeet Celine and Luke. To all intents and purposes, the happy couple.But Celine''s more interested in playing the piano, and Luke''s a serial cheater.And as their big day approaches, the complicated lives of the wedding party begin to unravel. A fed-up bridesmaid, a lovesick best man, guests and family members all find themselves searching for their own happily ever afters.From the author of Exciting Times, this is a sparkling ensemble novel about love and marriage, fidelity and betrayal.
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Bear Boy
Book Synopsis''Sparky, mischievous, witty, dazzlingly clever'' Ali Smith''A cause for celebration. Here we have a heroine to love, a story we can''t let go of'' Ann PatchettIt had always been my habit-- privately I felt it to be an ecstasy-- to enter, as into a mysterious vault, any public library.1930s New York is filling with Europe''s ousted dreamers, turned overnight into refugees.Rose Meadows, book-loving and orphaned at eighteen, takes a job as assistant to the eccentric Professor Mitwisser. Cast out from Berlin''s elite, the Mitwisser family''s household is chaotic and Rosie''s fate there hangs on the arrival of the Mitwissers'' mysterious benefactor, James A''Bair.Inspired by the real Christopher Robin, James is the Bear Boy, the son of a famous children''s author. Running from his own fame, James was boy adored by the world but has grown into a bitter man. It falls to Rosie to help them all resist James''s reckless orbTrade ReviewHer wittiest, most engrossing book to date... Abundantly rich in ideas, language and emotion, the novel enchants and satisfies with its zesty union of heart and brain. * INDEPENDENT (26/5/06) *Ozick's prose is warmed by a humanity reminiscent of the best Victorian novelists, making this a gratifying read. * OBSERVER (4/6/06) *
£9.49
Kensington Publishing A Brides Guide to Marriage and Murder
Book Synopsis“Pure unadulterated fun” (Publishers Weekly) for fans of Ashley Weaver, Deanna Raybourn, and Tasha Alexander, the Agatha Award-winning Countess of Harleigh Mysteries are a witty romp through the high society of Victorian England with a touch of romance, an independent female lead, and rich historical detail. In this charming historical mystery, Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . .On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and
£14.39
Kensington Publishing Blueberry Blunder
Book SynopsisAmanda Flower’s USA Today bestselling Amish Candy Shop Mysteries combines a fascinating look at Amish life with the sugar rush of candy making, a quirky whodunit, and a hint of romance between chocolatier Bailey King and her law enforcer boyfriend. This eighth installment raises the charm even more, as filming begins for Bailey’s new reality TV show just in time for a big blueberry festival to jam up the small town of Harvest, Ohio. Bailey King, star of TV’s Bailey''s Amish Sweets, is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. But no sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds the dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies—including people in the Amish community. To add to the drama, Bailey is being filmed by a crew for her upcoming show. . .When Bailey’s TV producer pitched a reality show about building the factory, Bailey was shocked that the network picked it up. She&r
£7.59
