Contemporary Fiction Books

Contemporary Fiction Books

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.

19442 products


  • The Life in Us

    Greenwich Exchange Ltd The Life in Us

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £11.99

  • Better Never Than Late

    Cassava Republic Press Better Never Than Late

    Book SynopsisCharts the unconventional lives and love affairs of a group of Nigerian migrants, making their way in Belgium. The collection is centred around Prosperous and her husband Agu, and the various visitors who gather at their apartment each week. These interconnected stories explore their struggles and triumphs, from unhappy marriages (of convenience or otherwise), to the pain of homesickness, and the tragic paradox in longing to leave Nigeria so that you may one day return to it.Trade Review"This collection ... is so wry and so generous, so astute about human deeds and misdeeds. Under Unigwe's masterful hands, relationship - between Nigerians and Belgians, Naijas and Oyibo, priests and parish, bosses and workers, men and women, parents and children, friends and rivals - are struck, ignite, flicker to life like flames in a candelabra. The circle of light that Better Never Than Late casts is delicate and lucid, warm as a spot of sun or a hearth--which is to say, warm as a home." - Namwali Serpell, author of The Old Drift; "Chika Unigwe writes radiant fiction about Nigerian characters and their encounters with Europe and its ideologies. This essential book shines a light on personal experiences of migration in ways that illuminate and surprise."- Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other; "These stories are so vital, funny and finely made, they make it a little easier to live in a world where love is so important, and yet so unpredictable." - John Freeman, writer and editor of Freeman's; "I loved this book, a universal story of people on the move, a marvellous patchwork of the lives of different people from Nigeria." - Rachida Lamrabet, author of Vrouwland; "These are perfect stories about imperfect people- strangers in strange lands. When a book this awesome gets into your hands- evangelize it, hand copies to friends, foes and even strangers." - E.C. Osondu, writer and winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing; "Chika Unigwe is a master artist of character. She can bring a person to life with a single gesture, a quicksilver thought. Better Never Than Late is a stunning collection by one of our most vital contemporary writers." - Laura van den Berg, award-winning author of The Third Hotel;

    £9.49

  • Routine Matters

    The Conrad Press Routine Matters

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis'Routine Matters', Nat Wilson's precarious life of false starts, agony and ecstasy, is a compelling, cautionary yet enlightening tale for anybody contemplating that elusive new start. A mid-life crisis looms. So, following a Lotto win, Nat decides to circulate between three countries, free from the daily grind and constraints of working life. He creates routines to navigate himself through exile, but underestimates his obsession with the past, the frightening unpredictability of life and the consequences of the relentless passing of time. This intimate journey through Nat's internal and external world in 'Routine Matters' reminds us that life tends to happen when we are planning other things.

    3 in stock

    £11.39

  • Love in War

    Unicorn Publishing Group Love in War

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisLove in War is a love story of its time. Joanna and Johnnie were born in South London in the shadow of the Great War and were still growing up when the narrative begins in 1936 during Hitler’s rise in Nazi Germany. It ends ten years later in 1946, when Johnnie is demobilised. Despite the committed intensity of the five-year relationship, they spent only forty-nine days together. Thus, Love in War is more about managing life apart than being together. The story moves between London and Berlin (where Joanna visits in 1938 and her dear schoolfriend, Ursula lives out the war) and the horrific theatres of war in North Africa and Southern Italy, which have disastrous effects on Johnnie and render him almost unrecognisable on his return to England after the war. As the story closes, it is evident that there are no winners, just losers. Perhaps it is love that emerges as the only victor. The future is uncertain for all concerned. They have almost nothing to show for the last five years; just time lost. There remains a rather modest ray of hope – as Johnnie says at the end, ‘but we are alive.’Trade Review“This is a lovely love story of Johnnie and Joanna. … There is so much more to this story you have to read it.” Paula Learmouth “I always find books based on a true story extra special. This book was so evocative. I've got a feeling Joanna and Johnnie's story will stay with me for a long time. … Overall it's a stunning story of togetherness even in the hardest of times.” Daisy Blacklock “The book delves deep into the vulnerability and strength that come to the fore during times of adversity. I recommend this book to anyone, who appreciates a beautifully crafted love story, intertwined with the historical significance of war.” Books Galore “This is a very well written story about two people and as the title suggests their love in war. It is an epic love story that shows how people adapt during times of hardship. I really enjoyed this snapshot of a very specific time in recent history. It is always good to have a reminder of what times were like and how easily things can change.” Atomic Books “Such an emotional love story with characters that you will remember long after you’ve finished reading! 4 stars” Leanne’s Bookshelf “This book is just breathtaking in it tale. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, from love and sorrow, to the longing through distance. … I loved getting to know the characters and their lives. The author gave us so much detail about them and the lives they lived, in the time of war, plus enough to really make us feel as though we were there in the war, living the same life.” Natural Bri Books “I would recommend this book without hesitation as an interesting and informative read set in the context of a novel told from the viewpoints of Joanna and Johnnie.” From the Book Elf “This book has fantastic and immersive historical information that makes you feel as your watching these characters on their lives. I absolutely devor this book in a few days it's a author I would highly recommend.” Silky Book Lover Fun

    3 in stock

    £11.69

  • Only Killers and Thieves

    Pushkin Press Only Killers and Thieves

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisBook of the Year in The Times An Amazon.com Best Book of 2018 'A gripping and vivid novel . . . remarkable' John Boyne A story of two brothers on a trail of revenge Queensland, 1885. It is a scorching day in Australia's deserted outback when Tommy McBride and his brother, Billy, return home to discover a devastating tragedy. Distraught and eager for revenge, the young men set out in search of the perpetrators. They are soon forced to seek help from their ruthless neighbour John Sullivan, and the Queensland Native Police - an armed militia infamous for hunting down Indigenous Australians. The retribution that follows will embroil the brothers in a heartbreaking injustice, uniting them in a battle for survival, and forever tearing them apart.

    3 in stock

    £8.54

  • The Resurrected

    The Conrad Press The Resurrected

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisAs this remarkable book, 'The Resurrected', shows in an entertaining, highly original and enlightened way, retirement is a life challenge in itself. The busy hubbub of life is ended and there is time to evaluate and make exciting future plans. But if recent bereavement is added to the equation, finding a significant and comfortable future can be very difficult. In this sequel to 'Sacred Memoirs of a Retired Failure', Doug Spencer's life moves on at speed. Doug has made significant strides forward in his new life, helped by a lady who has hopes for more from their relationship. He now has to balance his past life and present challenges, whilst struggling with the yin and yang of his romantic attachments.

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • The Snow Line

    Scribe Publications The Snow Line

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisOld and young. White and brown. Male and female. British. Indian. Other. Four strangers from around the world arrive in India for a wedding. Together, they climb a mountain â but will they see the same thing from the top?Londoner Reema, who left India before she could speak, is searching for a sign that will help her make a life-changing decision. In pensioner Jacksonâs suitcase is something he must let go of, but is he strong enough?Together with two unlikely companions, they take a road trip up a mountain deep in the Himalayas, heading for the snow line â the place where the ice begins. But even standing in the same place, surrounded by magnificent views, they see things differently. As they ascend higher and higher, they must learn to cross the lines that divide them.

    3 in stock

    £11.99

  • Conception

    Fairlight Books Conception

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisEnter Anonymous, a middle-ranking artist rolling between minor shows in New York, London and Istanbul. With his career sliding into obscurity, shamefully forced to consider advertising work to make ends meet, he knows he must break new ground if he is to survive. With his mother's encouragement, he decides upon his next work of art: an act of self-violation so outrageous, so horrific, the art world will be forced to take notice. But will it be enough to raise him to the ranks of the elite? Conception is the journey of a sociopath who will do whatever it takes to get ahead; a dark comedy exploring who and what determines the value of art.Trade Review'Uyanik will have you grinding your teeth, reaching for your dictionary, wincing and laughing' —Dr Dan Anthony; 'OEzgur Uyanik's debut novel sizzles with subversive humour and macabre energy' —Richard Gwyn, poet and novelist, professor of Creative and Critical Writing at Cardiff University; ''Conception' is a searingly witty and perceptive novel, offering a cutting vision of the contemporary art world. Uyanik's writing is playful and original, his characters are dark and compelling' —Dr Kate North, Author and Reader in Creative Writing at Cardiff Metropolitan University

    3 in stock

    £8.54

  • The Carp Castle

    Galileo Publishing The Carp Castle

    3 in stock

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • Stories We Tell Our Children

    Valley Press Stories We Tell Our Children

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    4 in stock

    £10.80

  • Brothers and Ghosts

    Scribe Publications Brothers and Ghosts

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • Where the Grass no longer Grows

    Dedalus Ltd Where the Grass no longer Grows

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Arms & Legs

    Gallic Books Arms & Legs

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis'Gripping' Daily Mail'Chloe Lane’s writing continues to astound me' Clare Fuller, author of The Memory of AnimalsA searingly intimate exploration of marriage, motherhood and desire from a bold New Zealand talent. Georgie’s marriage has stagnated. But in a Florida almost claustrophobic with life, there’s no room to attend to it: forests burn, termites abound, teeth break, and there’s something in her husband’s eye. Then she finds a body in the woods. As the repercussions of her discovery and a doomed affair come to land, Georgie is forced to confront her past, examining the often heartbreaking power of the things we witness and the scars they leave behind. Trade Review'Gripping in its exploration of trauma, desire and the knotty, day-by-day business of staying together' Daily Mail'Lane is expert at taking us deep inside the body, heart and mind of Georgie, showing us her most intimate desires with exquisitely agonising clarity' Claire Fuller, author of The Memory of Animals‘Arms & Legs zig zags between comedy and despair as Georgie seeks to understand her life, her son, the wilderness outside and inside of her. This perceptive, nuanced novel charts the murky, contingent boundaries we draw around our homes and hearts’ Kirsten McDougall, author of She’s a Killer ‘An astute, fine-grained novel about the fires we light to sustain ourselves – and what happens when they get out of control’ Emily Perkins, author of Lioness‘This intense examination of a marriage with its rifts and sorrows had me spellbound. The images of fire give it an extraordinary brilliance, a moving subtle light casting brightness, shadows and a constant rising tension’ Fiona Kidman, author of This Mortal Boy 'This beautifully crafted novel lights the story on fire’ Gillian Best, author of The Last Wave ‘A gritty, sexy novel that will have you aching for its characters, for the things they can and cannot say to each other. Lane’s taut control of the narrative echoes the story’s fecund, humid Florida landscape . . . and her ability to sustain suspense lasts well beyond the final page’ Sue Orr, author of Loop Tracks ‘Gives you the feeling of having witnessed something authentic, something palpable . . . There is an emotional resonance, an emotional truth, to Lane’s words’ Academy of NZ LiteraturePraise for The Swimmers‘Tackles the subject of assisted dying with wit and pathos’ The Independent‘Lane’s unsentimental prose nails the strange enormity and mundanity of love and death with perfect piquancy’ Daily Mail‘A powerful and intense debut’ The Sun‘Exquisitely observed, harrowing yet surprisingly funny’ SAGA Magazine‘Poignant and subtle with humorous elements as this disjointed family struggles to fulfil the final wishes of their loved one’ Candis Magazine‘Darkly funny, desperately sad, brilliantly written. I absolutely loved it’ Claire Fuller, author of The Memory of Animals‘Spectacular. A perfect blend of devastating humour and sadness’ Emily Austin, author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead ‘A beautiful, heart rending and totally absorbing narrative, a compulsive page turner from start to end . . . A little masterpiece’ Fiona Kidman, author of This Mortal Boy‘A tender portrait of indestructible family bonds and unrepentant, rule-breaking independence’ Bookanista‘An observational tragicomedy, [The Swimmers] traces the small panics, collaborative denial, and suburban antics that a family perfects in their attempts to keep their heads above dangerous emotional waters’ Foreword Reviews‘Nuanced and beautifully drawn, complicated women in all their glory’ Alice Jones, The Debut Digest‘An intense, moving and darkly comic story about unrepentant, difficult women’ New Zealand Herald

    3 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Liquid Eye of a Moon

    Scribe Publications The Liquid Eye of a Moon

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA Nigerian Catcher in the Rye, Uchenna Awoke's masterful debut breaks the silence about a hidden and dangerous contemporary caste system. Fifteen-year-old Dimkpa dreams of the day his father will be made village head. He will return to school and maybe even go on to university; his mother will no longer have to break her back foraging wild food to sell at market; they will have the money to build a fine tomb for his aunt Okike; and his family's status as ohu ma, the lowest Igbo caste, won't matter anymore. But when his father is passed over for a younger man, breaking tradition, Dimkpa realises that he must make his own fate. Journeying from his small village in rural Nigeria, to Lagos, Awka, and home again, Dimkpa learns that no money is easy money, that superstition runs deep, that knowledge is power, and that sometimes it is better to live in the present than always be chasing a future just out of reach. The Liquid Eye of a Moon is by turns hilarious and poignant, capturing al

    2 in stock

    £15.29

  • The Old Haunts

    Fairlight Books The Old Haunts

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisRecently bereaved Jamie is staying at a rural steading in the heart of Scotland with his actor boyfriend Alex. The sudden loss of both of Jamie's parents hangs like a shadow over the trip. In his grief, Jamie finds himself sifting through bittersweet memories, from his working-class upbringing in Edinburgh to his bohemian twenties in London, with a growing awareness of his sexuality threaded through these formative years. In the present, when Alex is called away to an audition, Jamie can no longer avoid the pull of the past: haunted by an inescapable failure to share his full self with his parents, he must confront his unresolved feelings towards them. In spare, evocative prose, Allan Radcliffe tells a wistful coming-of-age story and paints a tender portrait of grief in all its complexities.Trade Review'Equally heart-warming and sorrowful. Each and every sentence has been so elegantly penned' -The Scots Magazine; 'Written with an honesty and understanding that is rare, it's a novel full of love, kindness, and compassion' -Skinny Magazine; 'A rippling, multifaceted jewel of a novel - Poignant and compelling, it is resonant with vivid images' -Kevin MacNeil, author of 'The Brilliant & Forever'; 'Allan Radcliffe's debut touched my heart. Both insightful and observant, warm and infinitely relatable' -Henry Fry, author of 'First Time for Everything'; 'This poignant Bildungsroman is at once a tender tale of queer awakening in the Edinburgh of the 80s and 90s and a heartbreaking love letter' -Mary Paulson-Ellis, bestselling author of 'The Other Mrs Walker', 'The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing' and 'Emily Noble's Disgrace'

    7 in stock

    £7.59

  • Becoming Delilah

    Fairlight Books Becoming Delilah

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn a windswept island off Cape Cod, Delilah moves into a cottage by the shore. After growing up in precarious circumstances with her Abuela, both of them hiding a terrible secret, all Delilah wants now is a beautiful place of her own - and she's paid a high price for it. The neighbours watch the newcomer and wonder about her. They don't like it when she plants a wild and colourful garden in the front yard, and they like the visits from her married lover even less. Meanwhile, her new cottage shares a driveway with the reclusive Anton, who has a secret of his own. When the two meet, sparks fly - but will the past catch up with them?Trade Review'A rich and moving story of identity' -Elizabeth Crane, author of 'This Story Will Change'; 'Serene and sensuous... Marchant's prose is as measured and lush as a summer garden' -Liska Jacobs, author of 'The Pink Hotel'; 'A sly and delicate novel of secret lives on a small island' -Michael Scott Moore, author of bestselling 'The Desert and the Sea'; 'Becoming Delilah excavates without sentimentality the things women must do to survive in a world where "men make the rules"' -Gina Frangello, author of 'Blow Your House Down' and 'A Life in Men'; 'Marchant reveals her keen insight into human behavior and life in a world of stacked decks' -Deanne Stillman, author of 'Twentynine Palms'; 'This book peels back layer after layer of Delilah's life in a way that is profoundly moving, unexpected and satisfying' -Mary Waters; 'This is a book to be read slowly, savoring each subtle twist and turn of these small lives lived largely' -Tod Goldberg

    3 in stock

    £8.54

  • Antiquity

    Scribe Publications Antiquity

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Dracula Park

    Sandstone Press Ltd Dracula Park

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn post-Communist Romania, on the border with Transylvania, the sleepy little town of B. is losing its young people to the West. A young painter returned from Paris and her eccentric great-aunt seem unconcerned with the decline of the town, until a mutilated corpse is found in the family crypt of Prince Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. As the world’s attention turns to B., the mayor and his son take advantage and turn the town into a vampire-inspired theme park. Tourists flock, but beneath the surface ancient horrors live on. Dracula Park by Dana Grigorcea is a breathtaking, atmospheric tale of revenge, extremism and the longing for a strong leader, for a strict, cruel judge - like Dracula.Trade Review‘An incredible writer.’‘A dreamy and rock-hard horror story.’ * Frankfurter Rundschau *‘An artistic Dracula story, an artist novel, a farce, and it’s all told with great eloquence.’ * SWR 2 *‘Topical and worth reading far beyond Romania.’ * SRF 2 *‘As dizzying as it is poetic and entertaining.’ * Die Presse *

    2 in stock

    £11.69

  • Cold Coffee in Asmara

    The Book Guild Ltd Cold Coffee in Asmara

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen traumatised aid worker John Cousins arrives in north-east Africa he hopes to find a sense of personal peace among a gentle people rebuilding their lives following a bitter and prolonged war. In Eritrea he begins to forget his own emotional pain and lay to rest the ghosts of his previous mission in Pakistan. Will the work with fellow aid worker and nurse Hannah Johnson help heal the scars? And what is the secret of her own past?Cold Coffee in Asmara is a story of personal loss, redemption and love set against a backdrop of humanitarian work in a remote corner of the world where African, Arab and European influences collide.

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Within You, Without You

    Valley Press Within You, Without You

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £10.20

  • Eton Rogue

    Legend Press Ltd Eton Rogue

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis A delicious tale in which class, politics, and a toxic press all jostle for our horrified attention' Tunku Varadarajan, The Wall Street Journal Eton Rogue is a hilarious and shocking story of scandal and rebellion all set in the heart of the world's most famous school, Eton College.Meet our Eton Rogue: Seventeen-year-old Cary, now embarking on his extraordinary final year at Eton. Prince William has joined the school and the British tabloids are ravenous for headlines. Cary is the mole who's making thousands selling stories to the Sun newspaper - and while he's at it, he's secretly dating a housemaster's daughter.Based on true events, the rule of Eton Rogue is simple: The more outrageous the tale, the greater the chances that it actually occurred.

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Rubble of Rubles

    Dzanc Books Rubble of Rubles

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom Man Booker International Prize finalist Josip Novakovich comes a satiric novel with teeth—a tale of Russia in the early aughts, perfect for fans of Dostoevsky and Gary Shteyngart.In this picaresque novel set in the early 2000s, David, an investment banker with Eastern European roots, goes bankrupt from the Enron fiasco, and moves to Russia to do some soul-searching. In the shadow of the Khazan cathedral, he’s arrested for the murder of two Georgian wine-importers. David is imprisoned at Kresty, bewildered and alone. One day, Putin himself visits, with a modest proposal for David: to travel to Georgia and slip plutonium into the president’s wine. This is the price of freedom: to assassinate a president. Told with Josip Novakovich's signature skill and satiric wit, Rubble of Rubles delves into the absurdity and menace of totalitarianism. At the crossroads of literary fiction, satire, and crime, this is a novel for modern fans of Notes from Underground and Absurdistan.Trade Review“Throughout the madcap plotting, a pervasive sense of menace never dissipates. An international comedy of errors that ventures to knowingly bleak places.” —Kirkus starred review “In vertiginous scenes that evoke Kafka, Dostoyevsky, and Alice in Wonderland, the police and prison officials subject David to extortion, drugging, and interrogation, and even Putin himself gets a cartoonish and nightmarish cameo. Not only is this sickeningly surreal, it’s a hell of a ride.” —Publishers Weekly starred review “Josip Novakovich’s latest novel is a tour de force that exposes the complete corruption of the Russian police and legal system under Putin. David Dvornik is an insomniac, former investment banker, Russophile, amateur historian, and ex graduate student from Yale, who uses sarcasm and farce to describe the absurdity of his daily life in Saint Petersburg. Novakovich turns the idea of Crime and Punishment on its head. Rather than the inevitable capture of the guilty, we see the inevitable punishment of the innocent.” --Josh Barkan, author of Mexico: Stories “Crime and the lack of punishment—Josip Novakovich conjures up a picture of Saint Petersburg that would terrify Dostoevsky.” —Tibor Fischer, author of Under the Frog “Rubble of Rubbles shows Josip Novakovich at his best. I know of no other writer who knows how to ridicule the ridiculous and find meaning in the seemingly meaningless. This is a comic novel with serious content, rich in dark humor and startling cultural insights.” —Jim Heynen, author of The One-Room Schoolhouse “This novel took hold of me from the beginning and never let go. Kafkaesque for the first two-thirds, and then something else. I am not sure what: maybe a bit of the Wizard of Oz, and a bit Hitchcock, with a happy ending. I shall never think of Russia the same way, or of Georgian wine. A timely book filled with humor and twists and turns.” —Robert Appelbaum, author of Terrorism Before the Letter: Mythography and Political Violence in England, Scotland, and France 1559-1642 “In a thrilling mix of an adventure novel and satire, Novakovich provides us with a fresh glimpse into that horrifying and mysterious Russian soul. So relevant that it’s scary!” —Lara Vapnyar, author of Divide Me By Zero “Josip Novakovich's narrative style—powerfully direct, crisply precise, bluntly confident without arrogance—is instantly recognizable and entirely sui generis. No single sentence goes to waste in his texts, no word a throwaway one. His prose resonates with distant rhythms of faraway histories. He is one of the preeminent storytellers of our time—and one of the very best we have. In this remarkable, highly immersive novel, set in early-aughts Russia poised on the cusp of becoming the moral catastrophe of a state it is today, his satire is cutting and unswerving, his gaze steadfast and uncommonly, uncannily observant.” —Mikhail Iossel, author of Every Hunter Wants to Know

    4 in stock

    £11.04

  • First Few Feet in a World of Wolves

    At Bay Press First Few Feet in a World of Wolves

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    4 in stock

    £17.99

  • Taipei at Daybreak

    Watkins Media Limited Taipei at Daybreak

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • MR HOLMES ADVENT CALENDAR VOL 4 24 SOLVE

    MX PUBLISHING MR HOLMES ADVENT CALENDAR VOL 4 24 SOLVE

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisMr Holmes Advent Calendar Vol. 4 is simply brimming with 24 brand-new solve-it-yourself Christmas crimes for all the family. A story a day throughout the Advent season. Flip the page to see the solution and the next case waiting. Find the murderer or decode a secret message. Can you solve the mystery faster than the legendary master detective?

    4 in stock

    £14.24

  • DHRUV: Love Story of an Alchemist

    Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd. DHRUV: Love Story of an Alchemist

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisSomeove stories are cherished, some become folklore, but the saga of Dhruv and Emma marks the ascension of a man who goes on to become aegend. The holy Ghats of Banaras are witness to the inspiring story of Dhruv, the proverbial shining star, who is destined for greatness, but ravaged by misfortune and deceit. Blessed by goddess Saraswati with an indomitable spirit, Dhruv dares to dream and rise above, as he and Emma embark on a journey of passion, redemption and dharma. Will Dhruv discover the higher purpose of hisife? Will theove of Dhruv and Emma be fulled, or is it destined to be a tale of pain and melancholy? Can a man overcome misfortune and predestined hardships by the power of his will and karma? Inside each one of us, there is an alchemist raring to come out and spread its magic.

    3 in stock

    £8.24

  • A Dream of White Horses

    Bluemoose Books Ltd A Dream of White Horses

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisIt is a story about journeys. The two strands of the narrative are Ben travelling from London to a small German island to see his friend Pascal, who is in his last days of his life. As he travels, he listens to voice notes from Pascal, each relating to a photograph from a different moment in his life.

    3 in stock

    £10.79

  • FAT BOY NO MORE

    Europe Books FAT BOY NO MORE

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £10.49

  • Fire Force Omnibus 10 Vol. 2830

    Kodansha America, Inc Fire Force Omnibus 10 Vol. 2830

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis Dive feet-first into the world of devil-fighting firefighters with this 3-in-1 omnibus edition of the hit manga from the creator of Soul Eater! Blaze past the anime, 600 large-sized pages at a time. Includes Vol. 28-30 of the Fire Force manga. In the year 198 of the Age of the Sun, Tokyo is a crowded cosmopolis. But the world''s most populous city is threatened by devils that cause people to burst into flame at random! The only ones who can stop it are the Pyrofighters, a team of specialized firefighters. The young Shinra, blessed with the ability to ignite his feet and travel at the speed of a rocket, wants nothing more than to be a hero, and knows that this is the place for him! But he''s not the best at following orders...

    5 in stock

    £16.99

  • Bluemoose Books Ltd Orca Bird

    3 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Rescue

    Little, Brown Book Group Rescue

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIs love always worth saving - no matter what the cost?The car crash should have killed her. But rookie paramedic Peter Webster takes the emergency call, and helps the young woman, Sheila Arsenault, to survive. After the accident, she haunts his thoughts, despite his misgivings about getting involved with a patient. Soon he is embroiled in an intense love affair and in Sheila''s troubled life. Eighteen years later, Sheila is long gone and Peter is raising their daughter, Rowan, alone. But Rowan is veering dangerously off course and for the first time in their quiet life together Peter fears for her future. He seeks out the only person who may be able to help Rowan, although Sheila''s return is sure to unleash all the questions Peter has been carefully keeping at bay: Why would a mother leave her family? How did the marriage of two people in love unravel?

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • The Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper

    Marotte Books The Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £7.99

  • Vagabonds

    Headline Publishing Group Vagabonds

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe stunning final book in the classic Emma Grady trilogy by Sunday Times bestselling author Josephine Cox.Twenty-two years ago Emma Grady was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to transportation to Australia. Just before her departure she bore and lost her baby daughter - conceived during a passionate affair with Marlow Tanner. It is now 1885, and Emma has returned to Blackburn. Reunited with Marlow, she has a loving family, yet she is still haunted by the past, unable to forget how her uncle Caleb Crowther ignored her desperate plea to save her and her tragic first-born.Crowther curses his niece''s return and also hounds Molly, Emma''s lost daughter. Molly and her children run away and, contending with hunger, exhaustion and the unwelcome attentions of the men who are drawn to Molly''s dark beauty, their life at times is almost unbearable. But Molly has inherited Emma''s indomitable spirit...

    10 in stock

    £8.79

  • ANARCHY

    Fisher King Publishing ANARCHY

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    4 in stock

    £11.69

  • Pity Party

    Little, Brown Book Group Pity Party

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis''What a read! What a tear jerker! But very funny, and written with such breezy wit, and characters I ADORED. Daisy is EXCELLENT'' MARIAN KEYES''Brilliant characters, a heartfelt story and lots of soul. Daisy''s ability to bring characters to life and plot out brilliantly messy storylines is a gift. I loved this book'' FEARNE COTTONKatherine lives by the rules, ticks all the boxes and prepares for the worst, even while she hopes for the best.Then the worst actually happens and, as she tries to navigate life as a young widow, it turns out she was not prepared at all.Nothing scares Katherine more than stopping, but everyone insists she needs to take some time for herself. Head to a wellness retreat, they said. Enjoy some me-time, they said...Except this retreat isn''t the pity party she was hoping for. Instead of massages, she has erotic meditation, and instead of spa treatments she has scream therapy.Katherine ha

    1 in stock

    £15.19

  • The Third Reich

    Vintage Publishing The Third Reich

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisWar-games champion Udo Berger is finally on holiday.Travelling to the Costa Brava with his long-ignored girlfriend, Ingeborg, there they meet another vacationing German couple, Charly and Hanna, and a band of shady locals. They have fun, see the sights, relax. Then, late one night, Charly disappears without a trace.Desperate to solve the mystery, Udo refuses to leave, even after Ingeborg returns home. Increasingly frightened, the situation slips beyond his grasp and Udo suddenly realizes that the consequences of this game' are much more serious than he ever imagined.TRANSLATED BY NATASHA WIMMERCapering, weird, rascally and short... The Third Reich is giddily funny, but it is also prickly and bizarre enough to count among Bolaño's first-rate efforts' The EconomistA mesmerizing tale: sleek, linear, easily digested, beautifully translated Classic Bolaño' Washington Post

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • A Summer Without You

    Parthian Books A Summer Without You

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis short novel by Petar Andonovski tells a complex story of three men enmeshed in a love relationship. It is a novel about the internal struggles, about alienation between partners, about the enduring search for truth.

    3 in stock

    £9.50

  • The Spirit of Science Fiction

    Vintage Publishing The Spirit of Science Fiction

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTwo young poets, Jan and Remo, find themselves adrift in Mexico City.Obsessed with poetry, and, above all, with science fiction, they are eager to forge a life in the literary world. But as close as these friends are, the city tugs them in opposite directions.Jan withdraws from the world, shutting himself in their shared rooftop apartment where he feverishly composes fan letters to the stars of science fiction. Meanwhile, Remo runs head-first into the future, spending his days and nights with a circle of wild young writers, seeking pleasure in the city's labyrinthine streets, rundown cafes, and murky bathhouses.TRANSLATED BY NATASHA WIMMERFascinating... Achingly beautiful... It reads like a dispatch from beyond the grave' New YorkerThe Spirit of Science Fiction functions as a kind of key to the jewelled box of Bolaño's fictions... A cocktail of sorrow and ecstasy' Paris Review

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Stairwell Books The Vanity Project of Father Brendan Coglan

    2 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    2 in stock

    £13.30

  • The Orange Room

    Random House The Orange Room

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisCan we live fully when we are too afraid to be seen? Rhianne is about to find outRhianne expresses her inner world through line and colour. This summer, though, back home in the west country, she is seeking distraction in heat and noise. Art school in London has ripped away her confidence and sense of safety: better for now to be swept along by the hotel kitchen where she's working, where the pressure is high and the dangers are more obvious. Sharp knives. Hot plates. Little time to think.Her dad, Dominic, is concerned for Rhianne but relieved to have her close. Her step-mum, Melissa, is on alert, though trying to tread carefully. But then there's Callum, just across the chef's pass, with his controlled manner and intent gaze. There's attraction. There's everything that comes next.''The deliberate diminishing of a partner, the dimming of their inner light, is something so many of us have either experienced or witnessed in a friend and Price reveals

    3 in stock

    £17.09

  • The Rich People Have Gone Away

    Vintage Publishing The Rich People Have Gone Away

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisOrdinary New Yorkers are brought together in a story of betrayal, race, what connects us to each other and what sets us apart***A ROXANE GAY BOOK CLUB 2024 SELECTION***''A marvel... A masterpiece'' PAUL HARDING''Prescient and profound'' BRYAN WASHINGTONBrooklyn, 2020. Theo Harper and his blonde, blue-eyed, pregnant wife Darla head upstate to their summer cottage to wait out the lockdown. Not everyone in their fancy apartment building has this privilege: not Xavier, the restless teenager in the Cardi B t-shirt, nor Darla's black best friend Ruby and her partner Katsumi, who stay behind to save their restaurant.During an upstate hike, Theo lets slip a long-held secret about his mixed-up ancestry and when Darla disappears after the ensuing argument, he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect at the centre of a front-page police search for the perfect missing woman.''A lush study'' RAVEN LEILANI''R

    3 in stock

    £17.09

  • Ashridge Publishing Little Women Journal

    2 in stock

    2 in stock

    £8.63

  • Before the Ruins

    Profile Books Ltd Before the Ruins

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis'Engrossing, beguiling, and with an undertow of menace, Before the Ruins is a masterly debut from a richly talented author.' Sarah Waters 'Jaw-droppingly brilliant writing' Marian Keyes Andy believes that she has left her past far behind her. But when she gets a call from Peter's mother to say he's gone missing, she finds herself pulled into a search for answers. Bored and restless after their final school exams, Andy, Peter, Em and Marcus broke into a ruined manor house nearby and quickly became friends with the boy living there. Blond, charming and on the run, David's presence was as dangerous as it was exciting. The story of a diamond necklace, stolen from the house fifty years earlier and perhaps still lost somewhere in the grounds inspired the group to buy a replica and play at hiding it, hoping to turn up the real thing along the way. But the game grew to encompass decades of resentment, lies and a terrible betrayal. Now, Andy's search for Peter will unearth unimaginable secrets - and take her back to the people who still keep them.Trade ReviewEngrossing, beguiling, and with an undertow of menace, Before the Ruins is a masterly debut from a richly talented author. -- Sarah WatersVictoria Gosling has crafted a perfectly balanced literary page-turner filled with evocative detail about rural youth paired with a genuinely thrilling mystery. -- Ben FergussonFour disaffected teenagers, a deserted manor, an unlimited supply of drugs, and a cache of potentially explosive secrets. What could go right? Before the Ruins, Victoria Gosling's stunner of a debut novel, is rich with mystery and moral disorder. It put me in mind of Edward St. Aubyn and Donna Tart; dark, fierce, and totally addictive. -- Valerie MartinReading this reminded me of being young and tucked into an Agatha Christie. It granted the same delicious pleasure as I watched the puzzle put back together. -- Rowan Hisayo BuchananI don't know the last time I enjoyed a book this much. Unbelievably tense and incredibly smart, Victoria's Gosling's story about four friends playing a truly terrifying game of cat-and-mouse in a deserted manor house is the perfect ménage à trois of superb plotting, haunting characters, and gorgeous, atmospheric prose. Tana French fans will devour this. -- Aimee MolloyA stellar debut... The gorgeous, poetic prose perfectly complements the suspenseful plot. * Publishers Weekly starred review *Lush and razor-sharp, Before the Ruins is both deliciously gothic and completely contemporary. Every single page is absorbing and surprising. -- Flynn Berry, author of Under the HarrowGosling is a stylish, sophisticated writer, and we realize that we are following Andy on what amounts to a grand scavenger hunt for the truth. Rain falls relentlessly, and the ensuing floods form an ominous backdrop to a story that becomes darker as it goes along. * The New York Times *Atmospheric... Gosling uses her richly ruinous setting as a jumping off point to examine class, innocence, morality, and loss * LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2021 *A whip-smart debut * Shelf Awareness *Wonderfully sophisticated and beautifully conceived... a captivating and thought-provoking novel * New York Journal of Books *Richly atmospheric and exquisitely written, Before the Ruins is wistful and haunting, hopeful and beautiful. * BookPage *Gosling's atmospheric debut takes a familiar theme - the way the things we do as teenagers reverberate in later life - but treats it with care and empathy... the finely drawn characters, especially the spiky narrator Andrea, linger in the memory * Mail on Sunday *

    4 in stock

    £9.74

  • A Sisters Hope

    Headline Publishing Group A Sisters Hope

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisFinalist for the Romantic Novelist Association''s ''The Romantic Saga Award 2023'' for A Mother''s War1941Determined to contribute to the war effort, eighteen-year-old Connie runs away from home to work as a carpenter''s apprentice in Scarborough.Though life on the workshop floor is tough, Connie finds comfort in the friendship of her glamorous flatmate, Valentine. But when Valentine disappears one night, Connie doesn''t know where to turn. With the war raging the police won''t investigate, and so Connie must take matters into her own hands.How far will she go to discover the truth of Valentine''s disappearance? And what terrible secrets will she uncover along the way?Praise for Mollie Walton:''Mollie Walton captures your attention from the very first page and doesn''t let go!'' Diney Costeloe''A Journey. Compelling. Addictive'' Val Wood''Feisty female characters, an atmospheric setting ... A

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Hopes And Expectations

    Chronos Publishing Hopes And Expectations

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    3 in stock

    £9.49

  • Loki Unbound

    Canelo Loki Unbound

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Wolves of Odin must bring a rogue Viking chief to heel, in the rolling Yorkshire DalesAD 1044. Fleeing the machinations of William the Conqueror in France, the Wolves of Odin set sail for Britain.They make for the north of the country, heading to Jorvik Viking York. Its earl, Sigurd, doesn't believe they have arrived with peaceable intentions. To prove their good faith, he challenges them to fix a problem for himNorth of Jorvik, in the Dales, a rogue Viking warlord, Arkil, resists Sigurd's rule with a small army. Sigurd's forces are spread too thin to deal with him directly, and so it falls to the WolvesThe pulse-pounding fifth installment in the Wolves of Odin series, with a thrilling mission in northern England. Perfect for fans of Angus Donald and Matthew Harffy.

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • Smash The Broxteth Devil

    Rebellion Publishing Ltd. Smash The Broxteth Devil

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn action-packed team-up featuring a host of classic British comics characters - The Spider, Janus Stark, The Steel Claw, Jane Bond, Adam Eterno - written by Paul Grist (Jack Staff) with art by Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), Anna Morozova (Lowborn High), Jimmy Broxton (Goldtiger) and V.V Glass (The Last Witch).THE EVIL WITHIN! In Victorian London, when Janus Stark traps a demon in a stone idol he creates a prize too alluring for criminal masterminds to resist. Enter the King of Crooks - The Spider - who tasks his infamous Crime Syndicate with stealing the statuette. Thus begins a six decade-spanning adventure featuring a host of British comics’ finest heroes as The Steel Claw, Jane Bond, Robot Archie and Adam Eterno - with a little help from Maxwell Towers’ rogue AI - team up to ensure The Spider never lays his hands on the idol. This action-packed team-up is written by Paul Grist (Jack Staff

    3 in stock

    £13.49

  • Moth Books Worlds Apart

    4 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    4 in stock

    £11.69

© 2026 Book Curl

    • American Express
    • Apple Pay
    • Diners Club
    • Discover
    • Google Pay
    • Maestro
    • Mastercard
    • PayPal
    • Shop Pay
    • Union Pay
    • Visa

    Login

    Forgot your password?

    Don't have an account yet?
    Create account