Contemporary Fiction Books

Book Synopsis**Don't miss Penny Parkes's brand-new novel Home – available for pre-order now** WINNER OF THE RNA's ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE YEAR AWARD 2017! ‘A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot, laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ Katie Fforde Meet married mum of two and successful GP Holly Graham as she relocates her family to join the team at The Practice at Beckerford, hoping to find the peaceful life she craves, despite the chaos that comes with her two year old twins and the troublesome state of her marriage. It will certainly be a challenge to keep her private and professional lives separate in such a tight-knit community. Her colleagues have their own issues to contend with. The gorgeous Dr Dan Carter is struggling with to focus on work and the last thing he needs is any more stress; h

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Book SynopsisFrom Jeannette Walls, the bestselling author of The Glass Castle, a riveting new novel about an indomitable young woman in Prohibition-era VirginiaMost folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans. Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the twentieth century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother, who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is the Duke's daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out. Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her p

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Book SynopsisIt's every woman's fantasy: to pack a bag and leave everything behind. Meet Maribeth Klein, a harried working mother who is so busy taking care of her husband and twins that she doesn’t even realise that she has had a heart attack. But her recuperation seems to be an imposition on those who rely on her. So Maribeth does the unthinkable – she packs a bag and leaves. Maribeth has always wondered who she is and where she comes from: and now's the time to find out. Now, far from the demands of family and career, she is finally able to own up to the secrets she has been keeping from herself and those she loves.From the bestselling author of If I Stay and I Was Here comes a stunning new novel for Forman’s adult readers, an unflinching portrait of a woman confronting the joys and sorrows of marriage, motherhood and friendship.  *~*~*Readers love Leave Me*~*~* Trade Review'For all that the subject is emotional and dark, this ultimate forbidden maternal fantasy is written with a light, refreshingly satirical touch - a triumph' -- Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisFrom the million-copy Sunday Times bestseller comes a timeless love story, lost in letters of the past . . . Secrets from the past, unravelling in the present… Uncovering secrets that span generations, Rachel delivers intriguing, involving and emotive narrative reading group fiction like few other writers can.Can a chance encounter unlock one woman's past? On holiday in Italy, Briony Wood becomes fascinated by the wartime story of a ruined villa hidden amongst the hills of Naples. Not only is it the very place where her grandfather was stationed as a soldier in 1943, but she also discovers that it harbours the secret of a love long lost. Handed a bundle of tattered letters found buried at the villa, Briony becomes enraptured by the blossoming love story between Sarah Bailey, an English woman, and Paul Hartmann, a young German. The letters lead her back almost s

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant new novel from the author of The Last Summer of the Water Strider ‘A sharp and very funny portrait of a brash era which is also a surprisingly tender take on flawed masculinity.’ Sarah Hughes, i paper ‘What a terrific novel - wickedly sharp, wildly entertaining - I was gripped from start to finish. With its twisty plots and interwoven characters it paints a vivid portrait of a crucial decade. It's laugh-out-loud funny, too. And with property porn thrown in, what's not to like’ Deborah MoggachMillennium Eve and six people gather on a London rooftop. Recently married, Frankie Blue watches with his wife, Veronica, as the sky above the Thames explodes into a kaleidoscope of light. His childhood companion, Colin, ineptly flirts with Roxy, an unlikely first date, while another old friend, Nodge, newly ‘out’, hides his insecurTrade Review‘A sharp and very funny portrait of a brash era which is also a surprisingly tender take on flawed masculinity’ -- Sarah Hughes, i paper‘What a terrific novel – wickedly sharp, wildly entertaining – I was gripped from start to finish. With its twisty plots and interwoven characters it paints a vivid portrait of a crucial decade. It's laugh-out-loud funny, too. And with property porn thrown in, what's not to like’ -- Deborah Moggach‘Wickedly funny and deeply humane. I loved this book’ -- Sadie Jones‘Tim Lott revisits the years between millennium fever and the financial crisis, and brings this already long-lost era back to life in a novel every bit as evocative and compelling as we would expect from this prodigiously gifted author’ -- Jonathan Coe‘Lott delivers many hilarious and sad scenes of life in a long-term relationship. He also explores the poignancy and fragility of male friendships, in a manner reminiscent of Graham Swift’s Last Orders. . . [He is,] crucially, careful to linger over moral difficulty and vulnerability rather than evading it’ * TLS *‘Lott’s carefully observed period piece captures the mood of an era that now seems like a lost world’ * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis*** Join the residents of Larkford for a festive fling as the snow falls, secrets are revealed and romance blossoms under the mistletoe! *** 'Full of humour, warmth and characters you care about - this is a festive read you're sure to love' Woman's Weekly Larkford Surgery is the heart of a tightknit community in the Cotswolds, as well as a hotbed of drama, rivalry, resentment and romance - and that's just the doctors …   Dr Holly Graham is finding life with two sets of twins exhausting. Even with husband Dr Taffy Jones and devoted friend Elsie by her side, she is completely outnumbered. Making the transition back to work will be no easy feat but a regular slot on Radio Larkford as their on-air doctor might be the perfect stepping stone, until an unexpected job offer changes everything.  Dr Alice Walker’s new canine clin

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Book Synopsis'Taut, clever, compelling and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat…' Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainYou think you know her…But look a little closer   She is a stay-at-home mother of three with boundless reserves of patience, energy and love. After being friends for a decade, this is how Liz sees Jess.   Then one moment changes everything.     Dark thoughts and carefully guarded secrets surface – and Liz is left questioning everything she thought she knew about her friend, and about herself.From the bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal – a new thought-provoking novel exploring the complexity of motherhood and all that connects and disconnects us.  ‘A deep dive into the dark side of motherhood. Highly recommended' Erin Kelly, author of Trade Review‘Each character is brilliantly drawn, and the book delivers surprise after surprise’ -- Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange‘Absolutely brilliant; an emotionally devastating story, brave and honest’ -- Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake‘Compelling, beautifully written, so perceptive and emotionally devastating. Like Anatomy of a Scandal, it feels like an important book as well as a brilliant read’ -- Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party‘Vaughan explores the darker impulses of motherhood - the fear, fury and despair; the frantic juggling, loss of control and exhaustion - and of course the overwhelming love. Refreshingly assured and punchy writing that is sure to hit a nerve’ -- Lucy Atkins'A brilliant storyteller, Vaughan serves up every mother’s nightmare with consummate skill and a big heart. Clever. Totally compelling. Impossible to put down’ -- Eve Chase, author of Black Rabbit Hall‘I loved it and didn’t want to put it down. So, so good on motherhood and friendship’ -- Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request'A true psychological thriller shows us, as all the best ones do, that the scariest place is not the dark alleyway but inside the pathways of our own minds. Compelling…and important’ -- Araminta Hall, author of Our Kind of Cruelty‘An immaculately researched and compelling story about the devastating fall out from one mistake’ -- Jane Shemilt, author of The Playground'Sarah Vaughan turns her pin-sharp attentions to the blame game that is early parenthood, raising the stakes to truly fearful levels. This tense, absorbing read will have parents – in fact, all readers – turning the pages deep into the night' -- Louise Candlish, author of Those People‘Sarah’s writing is so impressive and skilful – the book is gripping, meticulous, and touches the raw nerves of parenthood’ -- Terry Stiastny, author of Conflicts of Interest‘A fabulous twisty look at early motherhood and friendships. Domestic noir and psyche thriller, it’s brave and brilliant’ -- Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love'Sarah Vaughan manages to hit that rare sweet spot between satisfying, literary writing and a plot that grips you by the throat. Little Disasters is every bit as brilliant as Anatomy of a Scandal. Superb' -- Cass Green, author of The Killer Inside'Sarah Vaughan delivers another masterful page-turner, this time tackling early motherhood at its least joyful. As with Anatomy of a Scandal, she writes with intelligence and compassion; the result is a truly gripping read’ -- Catherine Isaac, author of Messy, Wonderful Us'I read this with a fascinated, mounting sense of horror because it could all be too true. Compulsive reading with an ending I didn’t see coming' -- Jane Corry, author of I Looked Away'Little Disasters takes on another topical and emotive issue with the same skill and command Vaughan showed in Anatomy of a Scandal' -- Cara Hunter, author of All The Rage'An emotionally intelligent and beautifully written thriller that oozes with tension. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Sarah throws us a curveball which turns everything on its head. Rich and authentic, this is a truly remarkable book' -- Claire Douglas‘An emotionally terrifying story. Sarah has impressively created characters whose pain and fear is all too real. I could not put this book down’ -- Heidi Parks, author of Now You See Her'Taut, clever, compelling and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat…' -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train‘Full of painful truths about the brutal aspect of motherhood, this punchy thriller is sharply plotted’ * Sunday Mirror *'Vaughan delivers another highly emotional, nail-biting read that you'll tear through in no time at all' * heat *'Difficult to put down' * Bella *'An absolutely gripping read' * Closer *'Emotional and intense' * Crime Monthly *'Dark, desperate and gripping' * Cosmopolitan *'A brilliantly absorbing read… It twists all the way to a satisfying ending' * WI Life *'Another thought-provoking psychological drama' * Woman & Home *'An in depth exploration and revelation of the complicated psychology of early motherhood' * Crime Fiction Lover *‘Painful and realistic, this is a novel that should be read by everyone planning to have a child' * Literary Review *‘Sarah Vaughan brings to this book the same tension building expertise that made her bestseller Anatomy of a Scandal such a success’ * Daily Mail *‘You’ll be kept on the edge of your seat by this carefully crafted novel with multiple twists throughout. It makes for an emotional, often terrifying, and completely gripping read’ * Daily Express *'Expertly crafted... Fans of Anatomy may miss the courtroom tension, but the psychological portraiture in this absorbing study of motherhood is just as rich' * Sunday Times *'Sarah Vaughan… is back with her fourth novel, the shocking, impossible-to-look-away Little Disasters' * Observer *'Told from multiple points of view, this raw and painfully real portrayal of insecurities, guilt, shame and postnatal anxiety is complex, nuanced and moving' * Guardian *'Thought provoking and delicately executed, this beautifully written novel features characters you will want to both rally and reprimand' * The i *'Vaughan's novel is a warning about the terrible effects parenting can have on mental health. It is also a cunningly plotted mystery' * Daily Mirror *'Another thought-provoking psychological drama from Sarah Vaughan... An important book exploring how everything changes once you become a mother - for good and bad' * Woman's Weekly *'In a culture that fetishises motherhood, Sarah Vaughan's novel is an invaluable corrective, a warning about the terrible effects parenting can have on mental health. It is also a very cunningly plotted mystery' -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *'Sarah Vaughan's latest novel markets itself as a psychological thriller, but is more of an exploration of the intensity of motherhood. Thought provoking and delicately executed' * Press Association *'Sarah Vaughan has crafted a psychological drama with great depth' * Woman's Own *'Thought provoking and delicately executed, the beautifully written character drama paints a cautionary portrait of motherhood with recognizable characters you'll want to rally and reprimand in equal measure throughout' * Irish Examiner *

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Book Synopsis*** THE NUMBER ONE EBOOK BESTSELLER*** ‘A warming testament to the elasticity and enduring love of true family bonds. I adored this book' Penny Parkes 'Fresh, funny and utterly fabulous, it’s the perfect holiday read' Heat ‘Feel-good’ Bella ‘A clever concept … with surprises and some shocks in store for both the reader and the characters ... An endearing, funny and poignant read’ ExpressThe first rule of Sunday Lunch Club is … don't make any afternoon plans. Every few Sundays, Anna and her extended family and friends get together for lunch. They talk, they laugh, they bicker, they eat too much. Sometimes the important stuff is left unsaid, other times it's said in the wrong way.    Sitting between her ex-husband and her new lover, Anna is coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy at the age of forty. Also at the table are her ageing grandmother, her promiscuous sister, her flamboyantly gay brother and a memory too terrible to contemplate.   Until, that is, a letter arrives from the person Anna scarred all those years ago. Can Anna reconcile her painful past with her uncertain future?  Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.‘I love Juliet's writing and this book featured so many wonderful characters. I was left wanting to join the family at one of their Sunday lunches’ Samantha, Netgalley reviewer ‘A joy from start to finish. The relationships within the family ring so true. And the twists kept me guessing. A beautiful book’ Laura Kemp   ‘Romantic and gentle, and in places really funny, but it has pace and a couple of twists which kept me reading. The author is good with characters, each with a clear 'voice'’ Penny, reader review   ‘All the characters have their own strong storyline and I enjoyed finding out how their lives unfolded’ Sarah, reader review   ‘A very enjoyable and entertaining book with an interesting plot, complex characters and some food for thought. Recommended’ Anna, reader review   ‘Absolutely loved this joyful, entertaining, and fabulously funny book’ Karen, reader review

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Book SynopsisIce-cold drinks, summer sun and colourful characters – welcome to the perfect village pub!   Nestled in the quiet countryside sits the cosy village of Little Monkham, home of The Star and Sixpence, a renovated pub owned by sisters Sam and Nessie. As the locals welcome the new season, it appears that change is afoot in their tiny community, and not all of it for the better . . .   Nessie is moving in with her boyfriend, leaving Sam alone in the pub. But with the arrival of new chef Gabriel causing a flutter among the women of the village, it seems that Sam might not be so lonely after all. Having just recently come out of a relationship, Sam’s attraction to Gabe is inconvenient, but that’s the least of her worries when an unexpected visitor arrives at the pub, determined to stir up trouble.   As Gabe and Sam grow closer, Little Monkham’s latest arrival threatens to reveal a secret that will turn more than one world up

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Book SynopsisThe brand new novel from bestselling author Holly Hepburn, perfect for anyone who loves Jenny Colgan, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond. A Year at Castle Court is Holly Hepburn's four Castle Court e-novellas collected together as a novel for the first time. Sadie is a single mum, nursing a broken heart. Her best friend from childhood, Cat, is burned out from working long hours as a chef in Paris. In need of a change, they decide to invest in their dream – running their own handmade biscuit shop in gorgeous Castle Court, a three-storey food court tucked away behind Chester's bustling streets.   They soon discover that Castle Court has its own community – a little haven of delight against the stresses of the outside world. But not everyone welcomes the new business; the patisserie owner is less than pleased by what she sees as direct competition and Greg, who runs the fancy bistro that dominates o

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Book SynopsisFor readers of Expectationand Daisy Jones and the Six, a breakout novel from Emily Gould about music, ambition, sacrifice, and howcompromises and rebellion shape women's destiniesTrade Review'A story of the challenges women face trying to nurture both their children and their own creativity. Generous and truthful – painfully so on occasion – it captures something of the elusive buoyancy of those "perfect tunes".' Observer 'I felt like I was inhaling the pages... really smart and exceptionally good.' Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Rodham '... we meet Laura at flashpoints throughout the next few years, when she’s swapped Marshall amps for motherhood and finds her youthful dreams are incompatible with the reality of raising her daughter alone. I’m a sucker for a New York novel and a rock ‘n’ roll novel so Perfect Tunes hit my sweet spot and will also appeal to anyone who loved Daisy Jones & The Six.' Sarra Manning, Red August best books 'What did you dream of being when you were younger? And if you got the opportunity to fulfil that dream now, would you take it? ... Wise and tender, this novel will make you think about how you can reclaim your own forgotten dreams.' Hush, 6 new books to curl up with this autumn 'Gould poignantly and carefully explores what happens when plans go awry, expectations and priorities shift, and people adapt in their pursuit of love, meaning and fulfilment.' Buzzfeed 'Her writing is observant and unfussy, and she has a knack for addressing serious subjects, such as the hardships of parenting and the darkness of depression, while keeping things light… The pleasure of this book is in Gould’s astute details about everything from a hangover (which made Laura’s head feel like a “black banana”) to relationships.' Washington Post ‘Perfect Tunes has many of those big before-and-after moments and many of those rippling after-effects; it shows the ways in which we are all, always, having to reimagine the story of our lives… Gould's insights into what makes up the sometimes barely perceptible beats of our lives are sensitive and spot-on — as is her perfect description of what it's like to have sex in a too-close-to-the-ceiling loft bed.’ Refinery29 ‘A heartfelt exploration of the mother-daughter relationship and what it means to let go of the life you once wanted for yourself.’ Bustle ‘The internet’s foremost chronicler of the millennial condition… looks back on the 21st century and draws a line through the decades-long series of little choices that make us who we are.’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Fans of Daisy Jones & the Six will appreciate Emily Gould’s Perfect Tunes – a story about one mother’s journey to pursue her singing dreams and her daughter’s quest to find the answers she’s desperately searching for 15 years later.’ Marie Claire ‘This exploration of music, motherhood, identity, and the dividing line between love and lust feels like a time capsule of post-9/11 New York, and its time jump to present-day Brooklyn will feel familiar to many readers struggling to keep families intact under less-than-ideal circumstances.’ Vogue ‘It's as much a meditation on what it means to grow up as it is an ode to motherhood and love in its purest form.’ InStyle 'Perfect Tunes is an intoxicating blend of music, love, and family from one of the essential writers of the internet generation. From the obsessive spark of first love to the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, Emily Gould captures life’s ups, downs, and in-betweens with wisdom and wry humour, giving us one of the great New York coming-of-age stories.' Stephanie Danler, author of Sweetbitter 'Perfect Tunes is mind-blowing. I have yet to read any text longer than like one page by Emily Gould in which she doesn't articulate something I often thought, or felt, but never previously articulated or acknowledged. She is brilliant and fearless... full of unspeakable insights, or at least I thought they were unspeakable, but there they are.' Elif Batuman, author of The Possessed 'Perfect Tunes is a zippy and profound story of love, loss, heredity and parenthood. I gulped it down, as will all mothers, New Yorkers, music fans, and lovers of quick-moving novels that are both funny and deep. I loved every page.' Emma Straub, author of The Vacationers 'The author of Friendship returns with a second novel about the intricacies of relationships between women, this time centred on a mother and daughter searching for answers across the mysterious gulf of the mother's past... Brimming with gemlike insight and humour, Perfect Tunes is a moving investigation of love, loss and parenthood.' Esquire 'A subtle and complex meditation on motherhood and how it can throw all of our choices, and their costs, into sharp relief... pitch-perfect observations about life, youth and infatuation that sear with emotional accuracy.' Los Angeles Review 'Perfectly illustrates the message of how we can never truly escape our passion in life... a poignant read that showcases the love one woman has for motherhood and music that is sure to pull at both guitar and heartstrings.' Gotham magazine

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Book SynopsisThe gripping new novel from Dagger-Award-Winning author Danuta Kot, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Tana French and Denise Mina.

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Book Synopsis **Could you find your perfect man by looking at his book shelf?** 'Frankie, think about it. Literature is your life. You've been trawling Tinder looking for well-read intellectuals, but it's not working. Let's shake things up! Just use your favourite books to find a man.' Frankie Rose is desperate for love. Or a relationship. Or just a date with a semi-normal person. It’s not that she hasn’t tried – Frankie is the queen of online dating. But she has had enough. With the help of her best friend and colleague Cat, Frankie decides to embark on the ultimate dating experiment. Inspired by her surroundings at The Little Brunswick Bookshop where she works, Frankie places her hope in her favourite books to find her the perfect man… Secretly planting copies on trains, trams and buses, Frankie hopes to find the man of her dreams throug

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Book Synopsis***Penny Parkes' brilliant new novel MAYBE TOMORROW is out now!*** 'Moving, hopeful and heartfelt... an ideal book group read' AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird A gripping and heartfelt story about overcoming the past and finding where you belong.   Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people’s lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously.   But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start.   Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to pTrade Review'Moving, hopeful and heartfelt... an ideal book group read' -- AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird'A gorgeous, thoughtful read' -- Catherine Isaac, author of The World at My Feet'As heartbreaking as it is uplifting, this book wouldn’t leave me. I loved it’ -- Katie Fforde, author of A Wedding in the Country'Clever, warm and funny, Penny writes with a big heart, a light touch and supreme confidence. Home will be on all the best bookshelves! The ultimate comfort read' -- Veronica Henry, author of A Wedding at the Beach Hut‘I loved this warm and touching story about home, belonging, and finding your way in the world. Vivid, evocative and beautifully written, with a message of hope at its heart’ -- Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You'Friends are where the heart is… I very much enjoyed this thoughtful and absorbing novel' -- Kate Eberlen, author of Only You

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Book Synopsis‘Nicely observed, with deft writing that makes it look easy. I think we all know someone like Germaine’ GRAEME SIMSION, bestselling author of The Rosie ProjectOffice life can be a minefield …Germaine Johnson likes suduko, biscuits, maths and Chinese food. She’s less sure about the complexities of social interaction and her tendency to just say what she thinks often lands her in hot water. Unfortunately, after 'the incident' at Wallace Insurance, she finds herself unemployed.   When her cousin suggests a job at the local council, manning the Senior Citizens Helpline, Germaine really doesn’t have any other option than to say yes. It’s still social interaction, but at a safe distance. However, it turns out Mayor Verity Bainbridge has something more interesting in mind for her. A secret project to stop ‘the troublemakers’ at the senior citizens ce

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Book Synopsis'ONE OF THE GENRE'S STANDOUT STARS - THERE IS SO MUCH HEART IN THIS BOOK!' heat Escape to the beautiful town of Littlewood with this heart-warming read, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Holly Hepburn and Jo Thomas. Welcome to Brew, a cafe where kindness is almost as important as coffee... almost!Abbie has fled London and the humiliation of not being able to make rent after being made redundant. Her sister, Louise, unlucky in love, has thrown herself into her career at the local hospital. And Eszter, who has travelled from Hungary with her daughter Zoe, is hoping to fulfil her husband's dying wish: to reunite his family. This summer, three very different women are inspired by the random acts of kindness written up on the Kindness Board at Brew, and decide to make a pact to be kinder to others and to themselves.Can a

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Book SynopsisCONTAINS TWO NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED SHORT STORIES: 'The Lord Cardinal' and 'The Man Who Shot the President' 'Harry Perkins was buried on the day that America declared war on China.' The definitive post-Brexit novel, and long-awaited sequel to the bestselling A Very British Coup.  'Brexit Britain was a gloomy place.  True, the Armageddon that some had prophesied had not occurred, but neither had economic miracle promised by the Brexiteers.  Instead there had been a long, slow decline into insularity and irrelevance.  The value of the pound had fallen steadily against the Euro, the dollar and the Yuan.  The much vaunted increase in trade with the Commonwealth had not materialised.  The Americans, too, were proving particularly obstreperous.   Even now after a nearly decade of negotiations no significant agreements had been reached. At the UN there was talk o

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Book Synopsis‘A dark, twisty and frightening tale of revenge – gripping’ Shari Lapena'Impossible to put down' Laura Dave'A real page-turner' Radio TimesHOW FAR WOULD A FATHER GO TO DEFEND HIS FAMILY? When Nick Wychwood loses his wife Elise in a shocking accident, he is left to bring up their daughter Lucy on his own. Moving house gives them the fresh start that they need, where they can put tragedy behind them and forge new friendships.   But Lucy, is fragile, vulnerable, easily led. When someone offers her their shoulder, their warmth and understanding, even love, she accepts, unquestioningly. But this ‘someone’ is an online monster; dangerous, deceptive, manipulative – and patiently laying a deadly trap.   As he uncovers the hideous truth of what happened to his beloved daughter, Nick vows to track down the person behin

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Ollie Ollerton, Andy McNab and Stephen Leather - the new compulsive thriller from Sunday Times bestseller and bomb-disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. THE ENEMY IS CLOSE TO HOME . . . Left reeling from the disappearance of his daughter and ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is a haunted man. After months of investigating, he has exhausted nearly all leads in his hunt for answers. As Riley decides to make one final, desperate push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs have been located on board a civilian cruise ship and he is thrown into action in the middle of the ocean. With little information on the person behind the threat other than the alias BaseHeart, Riley must keep his head together if he has any chance of neutralizing the threat. And it’s not long until the first bomb detonates. But it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real dan

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Celeste Ng comes a transfixing debut novel about how life’s small decisions can ultimately yield the most powerful consequences.  Everyone always wants to know why relationships fail. It’s a spiteful curiosity thing, schadenfreude, but also a self-preservation thing. People want to understand how to avoid the fall.The answer is complicated. There isn’t one reason, one event. It has something to do with smoking cigarettes and drinking all night. It takes into account thousands of hours of labour on a small house, projects finished and unfinished. It is late-night conversations and inside jokes and making love and having a child. The answer is wrapped up, shrouded and ensconced in prioritization, ambition and work. Caring about these things is not the problem. Not caring about them is death.   Emma has settled into her hometown bar for the evening. It was in this very room that she met Lucas Trade Review‘Seen through keen eyes and full of deep feeling, Ordinary Hazards delves into the psyche of a woman grappling with grief, loss and the burdens of inheritance. Anna Bruno vividly renders the messiness of a single human life in all its joy and heartbreak’ Claire Lombardo, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had ‘Crisp, haunting and intelligent. Beneath the surface of this booze-soaked, small town, dive bar novel lies a devastating story of loss, guilt and grief. Bruno’s narrator proves a dark, funny, unflinching companion as you descend with her, step by step, towards the revelation of what has led her to the bar tonight’ Stephen Markley, author of Ohio ‘It’s rare to read a novel that takes such an unflinching look at grief, self-recrimination and the way people try to put themselves back together after loss’ Lydia Kiesling, author of The Golden State ‘Each character in Ordinary Hazards bears the weight of their history, and Bruno shows how even the most devastating secrets deserve redemption’ Fatima Mirza, author of A Place for Us ‘Quiet but emotionally engaging, this atmospheric novel has a raft of enduring characters . . . Bruno has a gift for observation which she uses to produce a haunting examination of love, loss and grief’ Daily Mail ‘Impressive . . . a beguiling portrayal of grief’ Prima Magazine ‘Devastating’ Woman’s Way ‘A kaleidoscopic novel of the best variety, spinning into and out of itself as it explores grief, love and loss in ways that will haunt readers long past the last page’ Shelf Awareness ‘Bruno shows a masterful talent for sketching both the outlines and depths of depression, guilt and self-loathing . . . A spellbinding portrait of grief’ Kirkus Reviews 'Echoing the small-town atmospheric work of Richard Russo, Andre Dubus III and Jane Smiley, Bruno's novel introduces a lyrical, earnest and heartfelt voice. For the regulars, or anyone who's walked into a woodpaneled haven and had their drink of choice slid across a well-polished bar without exchanging a word, Ordinary Hazards burns deliciously, but goes down easy' Booklist 'Engrossing . . . Bruno’s thoughtful tale offers memorable insights on the meaning of home' Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisTHE HIDDEN YEARS, the captivating new novel from million-copy bestselling author Rachel Hore, is out now in paperback.Loyalty and betrayal, hope and despair, One Moonlit Night tells the captivating story of a husband and wife separated by secrets as well as by war.'Brimming over with everything I love about this author's writing: atmosphere, intrigue, wonderful characters and a beautiful love story. Pure delight to read' Tracy Rees‘So complex and moving, with a sense of mystery as powerful as the sense of love and betrayal’ Cathy Kelly‘Beautifully rich in period detail – an absorbing and touching story’ Erica James, Sunday Times bestselling author of Mothers & DaughtersAccept it, he is dead.No, it’s not true.It is. Everyone thinks so except you. F

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Book SynopsisAs a novelist, Graham Swift delights in the possibilities of the human voice, imagining his way into the minds and hearts of an extraordinary range of characters.

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Book Synopsis'Compelling, original, hilarious' Lucy Vine, author of Bad Choices ‘Sara-Ella Ozbek’s writing shines with insight’ Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults ‘What a talent!’ Laura Jane Williams, author of The Love SquareHow far would you go to protect a friend? Jax Levy is an almost thirty-year-old low-paid ‘journalist’ with no hope of progression. She has a love life only ever centred around a bad decision and a family too complicated to explain.  The one area of life that Jax has down are her friends – Clara, Omni and Alice are the loves of her life. So, when Clara announces her engagement to Ed, Jax hides all of her feelings of insecurity, and commits to becoming the perfect maid-of-honour.  That is until she discovers something about

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Book SynopsisDon't miss Nothing I Wouldn't Do, the compelling, original and hilarious new novel from Sara-Ella Ozbek. 'Addictive, hilarious, bold' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults ‘If you were a fan of Lena Dunham’s Girls then Sara-Ella Ozbek’s latest could be your new best friend’ heat   'A beautiful, messed-up mash-up of The Devil Wears Prada and Fleabag’ Sarra Manning author of The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp *Scarlett is far from perfect.  She changes herself to please others.She makes mistakes – over and over again.She repeatedly goes back to people that have hurt her.   Scarlett has a tricky relationship with her mother and is desperate for p

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Book SynopsisTHE MOST EXTRAORDINARY DEBUT OF 2021This is a story about taking a leap of faithAnd believing the unbelievable  They say those we love never truly leave us, and I’ve found that to be true. But not in the way you might expect. In fact, none of this is what you’d expect.  I’ve been visiting my mother who died when I was eight.And I’m talking about flesh and blood, tea-and-biscuits-on-the-table visiting here.  Right now, you probably think I’m going mad. Let me explain…   Although Faye is happy with her life, the loss of her mother as a child weighs on her mind even more now that she is a mother herself. So she is amazed when, in an extraordinary turn of events, she finds herself back in her childhood home in the 1970s. Faced with the chance to finally seek answers to her questions – butTrade Review‘I really enjoyed Space Hopper. It’s such an unusual, intriguing novel’ Marian Keyes ‘A magical story of love, loss and the ways that grief changes us forever . . . This is a brave and powerful novel that asks big questions about time, memory and whether those we love ever truly leave us’ Margo Rabb ‘A lovely, deeply moving story of loss and love and memory made real. The sort of book that makes you feel the tenderness of joy restored, and the tearing pain of a choice between the two halves of your heart’ Diana Gabaldon ‘This story will bounce joyfully through your heart, leaving you with a fresh belief in second chances’ Anstey Harris ‘Tender, mesmerising and original, Space Hopper is a beautifully observed debut told with warmth and luminosity. I devoured it in two sittings’ Lucy Clarke ‘Charming and powerful . . . captures the longing we all share to see once again those we have lost and to transcend time and space to answer the questions we wish we’d asked’ Marjan Kamali ‘A nostalgic, time-travelling romp’ Independent ‘Uplifting’ Cosmopolitan ‘A quirky book full of wisdom’ Woman & Home ‘Unprecedented times call for unprecedented novels . . . sounds odd but it works because of Fisher’s beautifully clear writing and the radiant sincerity of the heroine . . . Love, childhood, motherhood; whether you can or should fix the past, it’s all in this amazing book’ Daily Mail ‘A quirky, nostalgic tale’ Daily Express ‘Prepare to be entranced . . . Brilliantly exploring themes of grief, love and loss, and peppered with cultural references that will delight anyone who grew up in the 1970s, Space Hopper will draw you in and keep you hooked right up until the last page’ Heat ‘Conjuring up Rowan Coleman’s The Summer of Impossible Things and The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Space Hopper is the story of Faye who has a happy and loved life but lost her mother as a young girl. Then she stumbles across a way to travel back through to time to 1977, where she meets both her mother and her younger self. It sounds bonkers but it’s beautiful and explores grief, acceptance and love – providing much-needed solace right now’ Stylist ‘This is a magical, moving story about past and present, grief and healing, choices and yearning. A heart-warming, touching novel’ Platinum ‘It’s hard to believe that this is a debut, it’s so confidently written. This is a story that will sing to all’ Woman’s Way ‘A quirky story, full of love and laughter’ Best ‘Filled with nostalgic references, this heartfelt book is a lesson on living in the here and now’ My Weekly ‘Quirky, magical and wise. A wistful reflection on the love between a mother and daughter’ Woman ‘An unputdownable debut from a writer to watch’ Bustle ‘Incredibly moving, bittersweet and perceptive . . . a profound book that makes you think, makes you feel and makes you grateful for the family and friends you have around you’ Culturefly ‘A touching exploration of mother/daughter relationships, it’s an enthralling story of venturing into the past . . . nostalgic, original and slightly crazy’ NB magazine ‘A warm, witty, wholehearted glimpse inside a parallel universe. Genuine and touching . . . a delight’ Booklist ‘Enchanting . . . Fisher’s achingly authentic characters leap off the page and capture readers’ hearts. This addictive, emotionally heavy page-turner marks a delightful spin on the time travel genre’ Publishers Weekly ‘A magical combination of tenderness and grief starring an unforgettable protagonist . . . Fisher writes gorgeous, lyrical prose, and every scene is infused with magic and heart . . . riveting, surprising and deeply touching’ Bookreporter

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Book SynopsisIt is Brighton, 1959, and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile, Jack – Jack Robinson, as in ‘before you can say’ – is everyone’s favourite compère, a born entertainer, holding the whole show together.   As the summer progresses, the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures.   Rich, comic, alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition. 'One to watch for 2020' according to:The Sunday Times The TimesThe Daily Telegraph The Guardian Financial Times Evening Stan

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Book SynopsisThe sparkling new novel from Caroline Bishop, author of The Other Daughter. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Elizabeth Noble and Rachel Hore.  *****************1957, France. *****************Florence and Lilli meet at finishing school in Lyon. Despite some differences, they forge a firm friendship that promises to last a lifetime. But a terrible betrayal prematurely tears them apart. Years later in England, Florence has become the woman her friend knew she could be – creative, bold, and independent. The exact opposite of Alice, a young woman troubled by a recent trauma, whom Florence is determined to help bring out of her shell. Just as Lilli once did for her. When Florence discovers that the novel she’s reading is written by Lilli and is based on their time at school, the two stories begin to unfold together. Past events illuminate the futur

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Book Synopsis‘A fresh, original, passionate and page-turning story about women’s choices and past secrets that demands to be read’ Rachel Hore, author of The Love ChildYou only get one life – but what if it isn’t the one you were meant to live?  ‘When it finally arrived I was shocked to see it; to read the words Mum wrote about these women fighting for rights I know I take for granted. Mum was here. And while she was, something happened that changed the entire course of my life. Perhaps, if I can summon the courage, the next eight weeks will help me finally figure out what that was . . .’   When Jessica discovers a shocking secret about her birth, she leaves her London home and travels to Switzerland in search of answers. She knows her journalist mother spent time in the country forty years earlier, reporting on the Swiss women’s liberation movement, but whTrade Review‘A fresh, original, passionate and page-turning story about women’s choices and past secrets that demands to be read’ -- Rachel Hore, author of The Love Child'Well written and pacy. Full of gorgeous scenery, emotion and SUCH fascinating stuff about women's rights through the decades' -- Tracy Rees, author of The House at Silvermoor‘A gripping and emotional story’ -- Patricia Wilson, author of Greek Island Escape'A tightly plotted and absorbing tale of one woman's journey to uncover the secrets of her birth. It beautifully fuses the personal and the political in its exploration of motherhood and women's rights, as Jess tries to reconcile herself to her own choices, and the choices made by those who came before her' -- Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy'Fascinating and fast-paced, The Other Daughter had me hooked from the start. A timely reminder of how hard it is to succeed in a man's world’ -- Rosanna Ley, author of From Venice with Love‘A fascinating and beautifully told exploration of women’s rights and one woman’s fight to uncover the secrets of her birth. The Other Daughter is a stunning debut I loved it' -- Clare Empson, author of Mine‘I couldn’t put it down. I felt totally drawn into the story and invested in the characters. It took me into areas of Swiss history that I knew nothing about, but I felt like I was living it with the characters, not being given a history lesson. It’s also the most beautiful portrait of mother-daughter relationships’ -- Caroline Scott, author of The Photographer of the Lost

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 1996The classic edition of one of the 20th Century's finest novels Four men once close to Jack Dodds, a London butcher, meet to carry out his peculiar last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea at Margate. For reasons best known to herself, Jack’s widow, Amy, declines to join them . . . On the surface a simple tale of an increasingly bizarre day’s outing, this Booker-prize winning, internationally acclaimed novel is a resonant and classic exploration of the complexity and courage of ordinary lives. Intensely local but overwhelmingly universal, faithful to the fleeting rhythms and accidental eloquence of everyday speech but also to the timeless truths of life and death, it succeeds in being comic and heartstopping, affectionate and wise, and in conferring on its stumbling, disappointed characters an enduring decency, dignity and depth.  ‘A surpassing testament to

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LAST ORDERS AND MOTHERING SUNDAY, reissued for the first time in Scribner?The classic edition of one of the 20th Century's finest novels by the winner of The Booker Prize One summer morning in 1943, lock-keeper Henry Crick finds the drowned body of a sixteen-year-old boy. Nearly forty years later, his son Tom, a history teacher, is driven by a bizarre marital crisis and the provocation of one of his students to forsake the formal teaching of history—and tell stories . . .Waterland is a classic of modern fiction: a vision of England seen through its mysterious, amphibious Fen country; a sinuous meditation on the workings of time; a tale of two families, startling in its twists and turns and universal in its reach. Compulsively readable, it is a novel of resonant depth and encyclopaedic richness, mixing human and natural history and exploring the tragic forces that take us

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Book SynopsisIf you loved One Day and The Rosie Project, you will fall head-over-heels for The Two of Us.Anyone can fall in love. But not everyone can stay there. Fisher and Ivy have been an item for a whole nineteen days. They both know that this is something special and that they are meant to be together. The fact that they know little else about each other is just a minor detail. Over the next year their lives change forever, and Fisher and Ivy discover that falling in love is the easy part. What matters most is what happens next . . . The Two of Us is a charming, honest and heart-breaking novel about life, love, and the importance of taking neither one for granted. 'Honest, gripping, bittersweet and very funny' Jenny Colgan ‘Sincere, honest, moving and funny’ Heat 'Beautifully written and wonderfully engag

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Book SynopsisIT'S THE MOST MAGICAL TIME OF THE YEAR It's been two years since Ethan Greene and Gary Knowles collided one fateful evening outside Tiffany & Co on Fifth Avenue. A mix-up with their shopping bags sent each man's life on an unexpected trajectory, and now they’re back in New York where Gary and his fiancée Rachel are counting down the days until they tie the knot in the city where it all began. As the temperature drops and snow begins to fall, the Big Apple comes alive with festive lights and potential. These charming short stories bring to life the magic of a New York winter and how it casts its spell on everyone, whether they’re looking for love or not.In the city that never sleeps, sometimes life is just like the movies, and a little festive sparkle can spark a life-changing romance . . .   Praise for Melissa Hill: ‘Enchanting, warm and fun' Closer

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Book Synopsis‘A moving, relatable and heart-thumpingly good story about family secrets and the lengths we’ll go to protect our loved ones.’ CATHY BRAMLEY When Hope’s only son Paul met and married Edie, Hope was delighted that he had found love and was settling down to make his own family. Hope has loved bringing up her own child, and is happy to step in and help out now and again – but is always worried about overstepping the line between grandmother and mother.   Edie was hoping that having children with Paul would fulfil her as much as her busy job as a barrister has. But the reality is far from her dream. And with her mother-in-law Hope constantly poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, she finds herself frustrated and alone.   Both women could be each other’s greatest ally, but both have secrets that could ruin their relationship. Secrets neither wants Paul to uncover…'A deTrade ReviewPraise for Fanny Blake and The Long Way Home: ‘Fanny Blake knows how to pinpoint what goes on in families. She is warm but never sentimental and her stories take a grip on the reader’ Elizabeth Buchan ‘No-one does family and friendship better than Fanny . . . Warm, funny, wise and relatable’ Veronica Henry ‘Loved it . . . a beautiful story of coming back to life in middle age, full of love, joy and hope’ Liz Fenwick ‘A hopeful, warm, generous-hearted novel about how love transcends difference’ Julie Cohen 'A warm, uplifting read' Rosanna Ley '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’ Dinah Jefferies 'Seamlessly moving from past to the present, this is a heart-warming read' Heat 'A heart-warming story of the importance of family bonds' People’s Friend ‘A sensitive exploration of thorny family ties’ Daily Express

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Book SynopsisThe first in a hotly anticipated new graphic novel series DS-5, a biologically-enhanced law enforcement marshal, is due to be decommissioned after decades in deep space. He returns to a solar system finally rising out of a devastating climate war following the discovery of a miraculous new energy source: Titan Green. His pod crashes on Titan following a mysterious explosion, and DS-5 deploys for his final mission: an investigation into mass murder that becomes entwined with a geologist's quest for her missing father. But as DS-5's ageing tech begins to fail, human faculties and memories resurface, forcing him to confront the dark provenance of his recruitment.Jed Mercurio and Prasanna Puwanarajah have taken the Conspiracy Thriller and the Western and sent them into orbit. Stunningly illustrated by Coke Navarro, Sleeper is a riveting work of imagination.  

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Book SynopsisPre-order Victory for Ambridge, the brilliant new novel in The Archers series, coming in paperback in Spring 2025.‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde ‘The BBC’s most downloaded radio show’ The Guardian‘Incredible legacy’ ​The BBC ‘Longest running drama in the world’ The i News 'a gripping plot full of love affairs, deceit, loss and more' Radio TimesIn celebration of the 70th anniversary of The Archers hitting the radio waves.  It’s 1940 and war has broken out. It is midnight at the turn of the year, and Walter Gabriel speaks the same line that opened the very first radio episode –  'And a Happy New Year to you all!' For Ambridge, a village in the heart of the English countryside, this year will bring change in ways no one was expecting.Trade Review‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde ‘The opening words of the first radio episode of The Archers 70 years ago set the scene for a novel that takes readers back to before the much-loved “everyday story of country folk” began . . . Nostalgia for avid listeners with long memories’ Choice ‘In this new novel celebrating the 70th anniversary of the beloved radio show, we follow the lives of the families of Ambridge before it all began . . . families that listeners have known and loved for generations face an uphill battle to keep their secrets hidden’ Countryside ‘An inventive cosy crime prequel to the “everyday story of country folk”, first aired 70 years ago . . . a good novel tautly constructed and often laugh-aloud funny’ The Times ‘You don’t need to be a fan of The Archers to enjoy this . . . It’s a comfort blanket of a book with a rich vein of spicy intrigue’ Woman

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Book SynopsisPre-order Victory for Ambridge, the brilliant new novel in The Archers series, coming in paperback in Spring 2025.‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde‘The BBC’s most downloaded radio show’ The Guardian‘Incredible legacy’ ​The BBC‘Longest running drama in the world’ The i News'Wonderfully nostalgic and comforting' Culture Fly It's 1941 and the war rumbles on. Nowhere is immune to the effects of war, not even Ambridge. But in England's favourite village, something else is occupying the residents... When a prominent villager dies, the main beneficiary's name is a mystery, and no one knows who is set to inherit the estate, cottage and all. The name is hidden within a locked box and the villagers much uncover the password to find out the name

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Book SynopsisPre-order Victory for Ambridge, the brilliant new novel in The Archers series, coming in paperback in 2025. ‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde‘The BBC’s most downloaded radio show’ The Guardian‘Incredible legacy’ ​The BBC‘Longest running drama in the world’ The i News'Wonderfully nostalgic and comforting' Culture FlyIn celebration of the 70th anniversary of The Archers hitting the radio waves.  It’s 1940 and war has broken out. It is midnight at the turn of the year, and Walter Gabriel speaks the same line that opened the very first radio episode –  'And a Happy New Year to you all!' For Ambridge, a village in the heart of the English countryside, this year will bring change in ways no one was expecting.  <Trade Review‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde ‘The opening words of the first radio episode of The Archers 70 years ago set the scene for a novel that takes readers back to before the much-loved “everyday story of country folk” began . . . Nostalgia for avid listeners with long memories’ Choice ‘In this new novel celebrating the 70th anniversary of the beloved radio show, we follow the lives of the families of Ambridge before it all began . . . families that listeners have known and loved for generations face an uphill battle to keep their secrets hidden’ Countryside ‘An inventive cosy crime prequel to the “everyday story of country folk”, first aired 70 years ago . . . a good novel tautly constructed and often laugh-aloud funny’ The Times ‘You don’t need to be a fan of The Archers to enjoy this . . . It’s a comfort blanket of a book with a rich vein of spicy intrigue’ Woman

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling heart-warming family saga from the much-loved author of A Cornish Orphan and Solomon's Tale. The first novel in The Boy With No Boots series...  Freddie Barcussy knows hardship and pain. His parents Annie and Levi are struggling to make ends meet, both suffering with illness and poverty. Freddie is an outsider at school, misunderstood and angry. They need their luck to change. Unbeknown to his parents, Freddie holds the key to their future. He has a gift, a gift he has told no one about. If he can learn how to ovecome his fears, he could use it to change all their lives for ever ... Searching to overcome hardship and prejudice, can Freddie find love and happiness or will mistrust ruin his life?A nostlagic family saga about love, loss and keeping family together, for fans of Sheila Newberry and Katie Flynn WHAT READERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SHEILA JEFFRIES’ BOOKS . . .<

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Book Synopsis*Read the book that inspired THE SISTER, the major ITV drama starring RUSSELL TOVEY* 'Stunning' Peter James'Creepy, unsettling, and subtle' Guardian'For fans of Hitchcock' IndependentNathan is desperate to escape his past. If only his past was willing to let go . . .  He has never been able to forget the worst night of his life: the party that led to the sudden, shocking death of a young woman. Only he and Bob, an untrustworthy old acquaintance, know what really happened and they have resolved to keep it that way. But one rainy night, years later, Bob appears at Nathan's door with terrifying news, and old wounds are suddenly reopened, threatening to tear Nathan's whole world apart. Because Nathan has his own secrets now.  And Bob doesn't realise just how far Nathan will go to pr

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Book Synopsis36 questions guaranteed to make two strangers fall head over heels in love with each other?Trade Review"Clever, wry and funny", says Hot Key of this contemporary rom-com which poses the question: can love be engineered between two strangers?' * The Bookseller *'A wonderful romance with an interesting twist. Each question will take you closer and closer to these loveable, complex characters. A genuinely lovely novel.' * The Bookbag *[A] meet-cute story that offers lots of laughs and a message about looking past appearances to make a connection * Publishers Weekly *What do I love most about Vicki Grant's new novel? The brilliant setup? The witty banter? The heart-pounding, swoon-worthy, sweep-you-off-your-feet romance? Yes, yes, and 36 times yes! * Sarah Mylonowski *Realistic, lively and hilarious, the ongoing discussions make this book easily accessible. The gradual revelations of the events of their lives provide depth that will resonate with most readers of contemporary YA fiction. An intriguing premise and quirky, oddly endearing characters make this book a joy to read * Atlantic Books Today *A surprisingly funny, fast-paced contemporary with a solid hook and some great dialogue, though the ending is rather abrupt and it lacks the spark of truly brilliant YA. If you like books by Keris Stainton, Emma Mills or Sarah Mlynowski, you may find something to like here * The Paper Alchemist *36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You dodges all the rom-com cliches though and has a very realistic grasp on what it's like to grow up and find yourself in today's world. 36 Questions is a fun and uplifting book that shows you that taking a chance might really change your life. Our must read of the month * Thirteen:fourteen *Hildy and Paul join a university psychological study asking the question: can love be engineered between two strangers? The 36 questions make the protagonists laugh, cry, run away and lie. But once they've uncovered each other's secrets, will they fall in love? * The Independent *I couldn't help but find it adorable and romantic. If this was a rom com movie, I think it'd do really well. And I'd definitely be queuing up to see it * The Books Are Everywhere *I love this book. It puts a great modern twist on romance. I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny love stories * Teen Titles *

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Book SynopsisNell's big dream is finally coming true.After months of failing spectacularly to land a job, twenty-one-year-old Nell has snagged a highly-sought after internship writing for her favourite comedy sketch show Punching Up. Even better? Everyone knows there's a guaranteed job at the end if you prove yourself.But the cutthroat world of television is no laughing matter, and Nell hasn't banked on there being another intern to compete against. Especially one like Charlie, who is infuriatingly good looking and a total nepo baby, gifted the opportunity by his chief executive father.With the odds stacked against her, Nell vows to do everything she can to out-perform him. But as she gets to know Charlie, she discovers there's more to her workplace rival than meets the eye . . .Full of big-hearted humour, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT LOVE is about going all out to achieve your dreams - and finding love along the way. Perfect for f

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Book SynopsisLate summer in North Dakota, 1999: Landreaux Iron stalks a deer along the edge of the property bordering his own. He shoots with easy confidence but only when he staggers closer does he realise he has killed his neighbour''s son. Dusty Ravich, the deceased boy, was best friends with Landreaux''s five-year-old son, LaRose. The two families have been close for years and their children played together despite going to different schools. Landreaux is horrified at what he''s done; fighting off his longstanding alcoholism, he ensconces himself in a sweat lodge and prays for guidance. And there he discovers an old way of delivering justice for the wrong he''s done. The next day he and his wife Emmaline deliver LaRose to the bereaved Ravich parents. Standing on the threshold of the Ravich home, they say, ''Our son will be your son now''.LaRose is quickly absorbed into his new family. Gradually he''s allowed visits with his birth family, whose grief for the son and brother thTrade ReviewLouise Erdrich is the most interesting American novelist to have appeared in years - Philip RothElectric, nimble, and perceptive, this novel is about 'the phosphorous of grief' but also, more essentially, about the emotions men need, but rarely get, from one another. - Kirkus Reviews [starred review]Powerful and affecting, LaRose is the story of two heartbroken families and the fragile bond between them in the wake of a major loss. - Buzzfeed, Incredible New Books You Need To Read This SpringEdrich's prose style is hugely engaging, a lovely, tender unfurling of day-to-day concerns and emotions alongside the mystical world of seat lodges, visions and visits from long lost elders - Sunday ExpressA magnificent, sorrowful tale of justice, retribution, and love - Vanity FairA chronicler of the continuing destruction of Native American communities, she writes beautifully about what Indian children used to learn from their parents - HeraldGrief and guilt and unquenchable yearning overwhelm the pages ... Erdrich has considerable powers as a writer of tragedy and comedy ... it's wonderful - Literary ReviewErdrich is a poet of lists, placing like and unlike together as if they were a series of Christmas lights, each individually illuminating, each gaining luster and brilliance from its placement, the whole blazing, incandescent . . . Perhaps the most important of Erdrich's achievements is her mastery of complex forms . . . Woven into the specificity of these narratives is Erdrich's determination to speak of the most pressing human questions. - New York Times

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Book Synopsis''Phenomenally powerful and beautifully written'' the GuardianThe women in these stories live lives of privilege and of poverty, are in marriages both loving and haunted by past crimes or emotional blackmail. A pair of sisters, grown now, have been inseparable ever since they were abducted together as children, and must negotiate the elder sister''s marriage. A woman married to a twin pretends not to realize when her husband and his brother impersonate each other. A stripper putting herself through college fends off the advances of an overzealous customer. A black engineer moves to Upper Michigan for a job and faces the malign curiosity of her colleagues and the difficulty of leaving her past behind. From a girls'' fight club to a wealthy subdivision in Florida where neighbors conform, compete, and spy on each other, Gay delivers a wry, beautiful, haunting vision of modern America.''Gay brings the powerful voice that flows through her work asTrade ReviewThe stories, phenomenally powerful and beautifully written, demonstrate the threats so many women in reality face, but also how, whatever their situation, they have agency, resilience and identities away from stereotypes created and reinforced by men. * The Guardian *Roxane is a powerhouse of a writer. * Lena Dunham *Powerful . . . Gay's fantastic collection is challenging, quirky, and memorable. * Publishers Weekly *Different to anything I've read before . . . Be warned, it can get a little dark at times, but the collection is worth it * Stylist *A powerful, two-fisted collection with heart under its surface. * Sunday Times *A writer of prodigious, arresting talent * Guardian *Gay tells intimate, deep, wry tales of jaggedly dimensional women. . . . Be they writer, scientist, or stripper, Gay's women suffer grave abuses, mourn unfathomable losses, love hard, and work harder * Booklist *Gay expands her writing prowess with this collection featuring colorful women protagonists . . . Refreshing yet intricate . . . This work will appeal to lovers of literary and feminist fiction * Library Journal (starred review) *Unified in theme ? the struggles of women claiming independence for themselves ? but wide-ranging in conception and form . . . Gay is an admirable risk-taker in her exploration of women's lives and new ways to tell their stories * Kirkus Reviews *Astonishing, arresting, and staggering * Book Riot *Gay has fun with these ladies. Her narrative games aren't rulesy. She plays with structure and pacing . . . She moves easily from first to third person, sometimes within a single story. She creates worlds that are firmly realist and worlds that are fantastically far-fetched * New York Times *Gut-wrenching . . .They aren't just characters. They are our mothers, sisters and partners. They are human. They are us . . . Difficult Women is not a collection of happy stories, but these are real stories about real experiences and women seeking, deserving happy endings. They aren't victims but survivors . . . Gay makes mosaics out of these women, seeing them as perfectly imperfect wholes in a world that routinely tries to break them down to pieces. * USA Today *The great James Baldwin once said, "You want to write a sentence as clean as a bone. That is the goal." In "Difficult Women," Gay achieves that goal. Her writing is unfussy, well matched to the women and men she's created, and she finds a distinct rhythm both elegant and plainspoken . . . In "Difficult Women," Gay gives these often-overlooked lives color and meaning. From a ramshackle Michigan trailer park to the affluence and ennui of a gated community in Florida - and myriad points in between - Gay writes of chances missed and unexpected joy, love gone awry or resurrected, and the slivers of hope that keep these fascinating women alive. * The Boston Globe *The women here are complex, but not in the typical way of fiction. Much like Mireille, the protagonist of Gay's profound and violent novel, "An Untamed State," the women here reveal themselves in how their minds adjust to a world that seems bent on violating their bodies . . . This collection begs for a slow, serious reading. * Star Tribune *Dark, yes, difficult, yes, but also luminous, transporting, and totally worth the effort. * Vogue.com *Gay's signature dry wit and piercing psychological depth make every story mermerisingly unusual and simply unforgettable. * Harper's Bazaar *Gay brings the powerful voice that flows through her work as a novelist and cultural critic to the 21 short stories in her first collection . . . Gay's "difficult women" are unforgettable. * BBC.com *Gay's writing encompasses so much-simultaneously direct, funny, whipsmart, sometimes painful, and always thought-provoking . . . Difficult Women [is] wonderful. * Chicago Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times-bestselling powerhouse Roxane Gay, Ayiti is a powerful collection exploring the Haitian diaspora experience.

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Book SynopsisChuck Palahniuk returns with the chilling tale, in classic Palahniuk tradition, of a father in search of his daughter, a young woman with a secret, and a malicious recording that can make the whole world scream at the exact same time.Private detective Foster Gates is a father is in search of his missing daughter, and sound engineer Mitzi harbors a secret that may help him solve the case. It''s Mitzi''s job to create the dubbed screams used in horror films and action movies. She''s the best at what she does.But what no one in Hollywood knows is the screams Mitzi produces are harvested from the real, horror-filled, blood-chilling screams of people in their death throes--a technique first employed by Mitzi''s father and one she continues on in his memory--a deeply conflicted serial killer compelled beyond her understanding to honor her father''s chilling legacy.Soon Foster finds himself on Mitzi''s trail. And in pursuit of her dark art, Mitzi realizes sheTrade ReviewChuck Palahniuk's stories don't unfold. They hurtle headlong, changing lanes in threes and banging off the guard rails of modern fiction... With his love of contemporary fairytales that are gritty and dirty rather than pretty, Palahniuk is the likeliest inheritor of Vonnegut's place in American writing * San Francisco Chronicle *One of the most feverish imaginations in American letter * The Washington Post *Like Edgar Allen Poe, Palahniuk is a bracingly toxic purveyor of dread and mounting horror. He makes nihilism fun * Vanity Fair *Dark riffing on modernity is the reason people read Palahniuk. His books are not so much novels as jagged fables, cautionary tales about the creeping peril represented by almost everything. * Time *This dark, humorous tale sparkles with the inventive details -- including a scream powerful enough to crumble buildings -- and provocative insights on the 'commodification of pain' and what it means to turn 'people's basic humanity into something that could be bought and sold.' The result is a wry, devilish delight * Publishers Weekly *Palahniuk expertly balances skewering of cultural institutions with profound insights into the nature of authenticity and the myriad ways we become damaged. The sheer abundance of creative ideas buoyed aloft by the vibrancy of the prose signal a master storyteller energized by delight in his own ingenuity...After his foray into literary advice, Consider This (2020), Palahniuk's heralded return to fiction will galvanize his many avid readers * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION, 2023''Knocked my socks off . . . it is set entirely in the ocean. It''s not science fiction. It''s realistic. It''s set in the here and now . . . And it''s fascinating'' Barbara Kingsolver in the New York Times''A pacy, provocative tale of survival in a fast-changing marine landscape'' Daily MailBestselling author Laline Paull returns with an immersive and transformative new novel of an ocean world - its extraordinary creatures, mysteries, and mythologies - that is increasingly haunted by the cruelty and ignorance of the human race.Ea has always felt like an outsider. She suffers from a type of deafness that means she cannot master the spinning rituals that unite her pod of spinner dolphins. When tragedy strikes her family and Ea feels she is partly to blame, she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice and leave.As Ea ventures into the vast, she disTrade ReviewLaline Paull succeeds splendidly in rising to the most important literary challenge of our time - restoring voice and agency to other-than-human beings * Amitav Ghosh *A pacy, provocative tale of survival in a fast-changing marine landscape * Daily Mail *Extraordinary...A haunting story * Red magazine *One for those intrigued by Cli-Fi . . . [a] terrifying novel * Cosmo, 'Best new good books to read' *Thought provoking...The dramas of the ocean are played out in a perfectly compiled plot and, as you'd expect, the beauty of the underwater is vividly and sensitively written. It's another conversation starter * Belfast Telegraph *What an extraordinary empathetic tale of life beneath the waves that spoke deeply to my salty heart . . . an absolutely essential read of an almost "psychedelic shaman" perspective of our underwater cousins * Ed Gillespie, author of Only Planet *Any Laline Paull book release is something to get excited about. I love her work. Truly a distinctive force * Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch *Propulsive and pertinent... at once beautiful and terrifying, Paull captures the complexity of the dolphin pod dynamics, themes of family and belonging, and an eye-opening perspective of humanity's huge influence on the lives of sea creatures * Bridge Bookshop *Keep an eye out for Pod ... [a] brilliant new novel, set amongst a dolphin community * The Bookanista *Knocked my socks off . . . it is set entirely in the ocean. It's not science fiction. It's realistic. It's set in the here and now . . . And it's fascinating * Barbara Kingsolver in the New York Times *

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Book Synopsis''Breathtakingly good'' Observer''One of the best twist-writers at work today'' Guardian---We are all wearing masks. That''s what makes us interesting. These are stories about those masks, and the people we are underneath them.Secure your own mask before reading. Before being transported to worlds filled with witches, watchers and big black bees, with deathless Kin and pirate girls, with things that prowl in the darkness beyond the circle fire, to find the Shadder lurking at your journey''s end. But then what happens? There''s always something waiting for you. There''s always more. Just keep turning the pages.This cornucopia of storytelling will open your eyes to the darkness around you, the magic and the monsters, the myths and the miracles, and the truths we find in the most extraordinary of places.''He masters fear like no other writer'' Independent on SundayNEIL GAIMAN. Trade ReviewThose unacquainted with the author's catalogue of work will doubtless appreciate his imagination and wit, especially in his efforts to air ideas that all too often remain undiscussed * Skinny *This month's big paperback... An essential purchase for anyone who loves Gaiman's work... he's frequently on top form **** * SFX *

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