Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Cinder House Waiting for Ted
Book SynopsisWAITING FOR TED charts the destruction of Rosalind and Ted’s relationship at the hands of an expensive chaise longue. Rosie comes from a wealthy, upper- class background. She dreams of being a traditional housewife to her big strong working man, cooking, tending the house and instagramming her perfect life. But she also needs to fill her house with things that she can Instagram, so when Ted bans her from spending any more of her father’s money on her ‘work’ as an interior design influencer until she’s actually earning, she begins to scheme – only to watch her schemes unravel, and the rest of her life with them. Told in a series of reflections over the course of an evening spent waiting for Ted, Rosie charts her relationship’s downfall, how she drifted from her only friend (who she never really liked anyway), how she contributed to the breakdown in her parents’ marriage, how she never really let Ted into her perfect world, how she drove them to their spectacular breakdown, and as she does it becomes increasingly clear to the reader that Ted may not be coming home at all.Trade Review"Marieke Bigg is amazing, this is an incredible novel" Books and Bao
£9.49
Cinder House Sinking Bell
Book SynopsisAn ex-con hired to fix up a school bus for a couple living off the grid in the desert finds himself in the middle of their tattered relationship. An electrician''s plan to take his young nephew on a hike in the mountains, as a break from the motel room where they live, goes awry thanks to an untrustworthy new coworker. A night custodian makes the mistake of revealing too much about his work at a medical research facility to a girl who shares his passion for death metal. A relapsing addict struggles to square his desire for a White woman he meets in a writing class with family expectations and traditions. Set in and around Flagstaff, the stories in Sinking Bell depict violent collisions of love, cultures, and racism. In his gritty and searching fiction debut, Bojan Louis draws empathetic portraits of day laborers, metalheads, motel managers, aspiring writers and musicians, construction workers, people passing through with the hope of something better somewhere else. His characters strai
£9.49
Scribe Publications Thunderhead
Book SynopsisDarkly funny, astute, timely' Sofie Laguna, author of The Eye of the SheepPowerful, restless, irresistible' Laura Jean McKay, author of The Animals in That CountryA black comedy, set in suburbia, about one woman's struggle to be free. When Winona Dalloway begins her day in the peaceful early hours before her children, that tiny tornado of little hands and feet', wake up she doesn't know that by the end of it, everything in her world will have changed. On the outside, Winona is a seemingly unremarkable young mother: unobtrusive, quietly going about her tasks. But within is a vivid, chaotic self, teeming with voices a mind both wild and precise. And meanwhile, a storm is brewing
£9.49
Scribe Publications The Good Women of Fudi
Book SynopsisImperial China meets Edwardian England in this epic story of loves lost and gained, set during the aftermath of the Opium Wars. Best friends Jiali and Wu Fang know that no man is a match for them. In their small harbour town of Fudi, they practise sword fighting, write couplets to one another, and strut around dressed as men. Jiali is a renowned poet and Wu Fang is going to be China's first female surgeon. But when Wu Fang returns from medical training in Japan, she is horrified to hear of Jiali's marriage to a man who cannot even match her couplets, and confused by her intense feelings of jealousy towards her friend's new husband, Yanbu. Ocean man Charles has arrived in Fudi to start a new life. He eschews the company of his fellow foreigners, preferring to spend time with new colleague Yanbu, his wife, Jiali, and her friend, Wu Fang. Over the course of several months, he grows close to them all, in increasingly confusing ways, but what will happen when he is forced to choose between
£10.44
Valley Press Blind Sea Reach
Book Synopsis
£10.80
The School of Life Press A Voice of Ones Own
Book SynopsisA young woman's journey of self-discovery and finding her voice as she investigates the root of her self-doubt - accompanied throughout by stylish photos.
£9.49
Cipher Press Earlyfate
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Penguin Adult Well-behaved Indian Women
Book SynopsisA mother-daughter story about three generations of women who struggle to define themselves as they pursue their dreams.
£14.39
Allen & Unwin One of Those Mothers
Book Synopsis''Domestic noir up there with the best of them. Beautiful settings, believable characters, and a moral quandary to keep you reading through the night - One of Those Mothers is a page turner in all the right ways. - Jacqueline Bublitz, Before You Knew My Name''With stiletto-sharp observation, vibrantly drawn characters and a deeply disturbing secret at its heart, One of Those Mothers had me in its grasp from the first chapter. A terrific debut.'' - Charity Norman, Remember Me''A winning contemporary tale, she wrote. Contemporary woes - children spending too much time online, the ubiquitous and worsening exposure to pornography, terror of the climate crisis, alcohol and substance use and negotiating modern marriage - are entertainingly evoked. - Stephanie Johnson, NewsroomThe residents of Point Heed keep nice houses and sign up as parent help at the local school. Occasionally they cheat on their taxes. Sometimes they fantasise about having sex with someone other than their partner. And every now and then they do drugs. But that doesn''t make them bad people, does it?When a local father is convicted of the possession and distribution of child pornography, the tight-knit, middle-class community is quick to unravel. He is granted permanent name suppression, and soon friend turns on friend, neighbour delivers up neighbour, and hysteria rapidly engulfs them all. Who among them was capable of such moral trespass?Bridget, Roz and Lucy have been friends forever. Their lives revolve around their children, their community, each other. With their husbands and kids, they holiday together every year. Every year, until last summer, when everything went so terribly wrong.They tell you things are never as bad as you fear, but what if they''re worse? Worse than you could have ever imagined.Were they all complicit? Certainly, they were guilty of looking in all the wrong places.
£14.99
Amazon Publishing Burn for You
Book SynopsisA classic fairy tale gets a sexy, edgy twist. Jackson “The Beast” Boudreaux is rich, gorgeous, and unbelievably rude to the staff at Chef Bianca Hardwick’s New Orleans restaurant. Bianca would sooner douse herself in hot sauce than cook for Jackson again, but when he asks her to cater his fund-raiser, Bianca can’t refuse, knowing the cash will help pay her mother’s medical bills. Then Jackson makes another outrageous request: Marry me. The unconventional offer includes an enormous sum—money Bianca desperately needs, even if it does come with a contract—and a stunning ring. The heir to a family bourbon dynasty, Jackson knows the rumors swirling around him. The truth is even darker. Still, he needs a wife to secure his inheritance, and free-spirited, sassy Bianca would play the part beautifully. Soon, though, their simple business deal evolves into an emotional intimacy he’s built walls to avoid. As the passion heats up between them, Bianca and Jackson struggle to define which feelings are real and which are for show. Is falling for your fake fiancé the best happy ending…or a recipe for disaster?
£8.54
Penguin USA The One Only Googoosh
Book SynopsisA celebration of one of Iran?s most iconic musical artists.The legendary Iranian singer and actress Googoosh (born Faegheh Atashin) made her stage debut at age two while performing alongside her acrobat father. By the time she reached adulthood, she was widely considered to be Iran''s first superstar. Googoosh was in the prime of her career and on the brink of international stardom, but after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she was silenced and disappeared from public life for over twenty years. However, her fans did not forget her. And as they sought refuge around the globe, they found ways to keep her music alive.Azadeh Westergaard has crafted an unforgettable love letter to the home she once knew in Iran and to the woman who was and still is a cultural icon?a dazzling performer known as the one and only Googoosh.
£15.29
John F Blair Publisher Dancing Woman
Book SynopsisElaine Neil Orr, born in Nigeria to expat parents, brings us an indelible portrait of a young female artist, torn between two men and two cultures, struggling to find her passion and her purpose. It’s 1963 and Isabel Hammond is an expat who has accompanied her agriculture aid worker husband to Nigeria, where she is hoping to find inspiration for her art and for her life. Then she meets charismatic local singer Bobby Tunde, and they share a night of passion that could upend everything. Seeking solace and distraction, she returns to her painting and her home in a rural village where she plants a lemon tree and unearths an ancient statue buried in her garden. She knows that the dancing female figure is not hers to keep, yet she is reluctant to give it up, and soon, she notices other changes that make her wonder what the dancing woman might portend. Against the backdrop of political
£18.89
Clash Books VHS
Book SynopsisPushcart Prize-winning author Chris Campanioni tells a story about the silences of generational trauma and the tenuous conditions in which stories get passed down in migration, a surface flimsy enough to allow the traffic between novel, notebook, reportage, and myth. While collecting the scattered stories of his parents' entangled passages to the United States, the narrator begins to record the material onto videocassettes through a series of cutting and grafting, splicing footage of his present dislocation and overlaying on the audio track the polyphonic voices of his inherited exiles. VHS reminds us, in its narrative's insistence on mediation, that the slippage between speaker and listener, experience and memory, is also a fault line that can reveal our own prior movements.
£16.76
Bonnier Books Ltd The Theatre of Glass and Shadows
Book Synopsis'Marvellous' Bridget Collins, The Sunday Times bestselling author of The BindingSometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets .
£9.49
Eye Books Season
Book SynopsisThe Young Man and the Old Man- two fanatics in adjacent seats - form a slow but steady friendship over the course of a football season. As their beloved club lurches towards relegation and they pour even more of their hopes into the ailing team - both men come to realise how much they have in common.
£13.49
Legend Press Ltd The Ghostlights: 'A tale of life's
Book SynopsisCan we ever truly escape our past?The Ghostlights is the poignant story of a family of Irish women who are each looking for the real meaning of home. This is a novel about family, obligation, identity and small-town life, written with deftness and sensitivity by the author of Where the Edge Is.When a stranger checks into a family B&B in a small village in rural Ireland no one takes too much notice... at least until his body is found in the lake four days later.The identity of the unknown guest raises questions for polar opposite twin sisters Liv and Marianne and their mother Ethel, all of whom feel trapped by the choices they made earlier in life. They each find themselves forced to confront their past, their present and what they really want from their future.The new novel from Gráinne Murphy, whose short fiction has been longlisted for 2021 Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award.A tale of life's disappointments with a delightfully wry humour' The TimesGloriously rich' Sunday IndependentA satisfying read' Irish TimesBeautifully observed' WI MagazineA subtle, penetrating delight' Joanna Glen, Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel AwardFunny and moving' Elske Rahill, author of An UnravellingUnflinching look at the choices we make and their impact on those around us' Damhnait Monaghan, author of New Girl in Little Cove
£8.54
Rebellion Publishing Ltd. We Are All Ghosts in the Forest
Book SynopsisWhen the internet collapsed, it took the world with it, leaving its digital ghosts behind - and they are hungry. Former photojournalist Katerina fled the overrun cities to the relative safety of her grandmother’s village on the edge of a forest, where she lives a solitary life of herbal medicine and beekeeping. When a wordless boy finds her in the marketplace with nothing but her name in his pocket, her curiosity won’t allow her to turn him away. But haunting his arrival are rumours of harvest failure and a rampant digital disease stirring up the ghosts, and the mood in the village starts to sour. Accused of witchcraft, Katerina and Stefan escape into the forest, searching for his missing father and the truth behind the disease. If there is a cure, Katerina alone might find it, but first she must find the courage to trust others - because the ghosts that follow her aren’t just digital.
£17.09
Atlantic Books The Cry of the Silkworm
Book SynopsisShi Naseer grew up in China under the one-child policy before immigrating to Australia as a teenager and subsequently earning a master's in mathematics from Cambridge University and PhD in black-hole physics from Harvard University. She currently divides her time between Connecticut and Pakistan, and lives with her husband and son.
£9.49
Whittles Publishing The Lost Chart
Book SynopsisClassic Scottish fiction by Neil M. Gunn. Unusually for Gunn, this is a thriller with an urban setting but with a relevance to events of today.
£9.49
Persephone Books Ltd Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
Book Synopsis
£16.00
UEA Publishing Project Mortal Leap
Book SynopsisMortal Leap tells a story we all know but have never heard: what happens when you have an opportunity to take another person's identity? A wife identifies a man badly disfigured in battle as her missing husband. What happens when he decides to go along with her mistake? Mortal Leap is both adventure story and metaphysical novel.
£14.24
Wakefield Press The Tower of Love
Book SynopsisA captivating exercise in intriguing symbolism. John Taylor, Times Literary SupplementWhen Jean Maleux, a young sailor, is appointed assistant keeper of the Ar-Men lighthouse off the coast of Brittany, he is drawn into a dark world of physical peril, sexual obsession and necrophilia. The lighthouse is home to the eccentric, embittered keeper Mathurin Barnabas: an irascible and grizzled old man who appears to be more animal than human.Time passes in alternating stages of mind-numbing monotony and bouts of horror as our hero struggles against the endless assaults of wind and loneliness, with only his duties and his mute companion for distraction. The sea evolves into a wild force and the lighthouse itself into a monster that Jean must tame if he is to survive. First published in French in 1899 and never before translated, The Tower of Love will be of keen interest to readers of Decadent, Symbolist and Romantic horror fiction.Rachilde was the pen name of Marguerite Vallette-Eymery (18601953). She was the only female writer for the literary journal Le decadent.Melanie C. Hawthorne is a professor in the Department of Global Languages & Cultures at Texas A&M University. She is the translator of Rachilde's novels The Juggler and Monsieur Vénus.
£14.24
John Murray Press Gulf
Book Synopsis''INSTANTLY GRIPPING'' JENNIFER EGANThe lives of five women collide in the Arabian Gulf as each looks for a way to rewrite their future. Dounia, a young Saudi finds herself alienated and alone as she prepares for motherhood in an air-conditioned mansion in the middle of the desert. After losing her home and baby in a natural disaster, Flora does the unthinkable and leaves her surviving child in the Philippines to become an overseas domestic worker. Pushed by her family to marry a jihadist, Zeinah, a Syrian woman finds herself joining the city''s morality police. Justine uproots her progressive New York family to curate an exhibit in Abu Dhabi, where she must reckon with her ethical limitations. And Eskedare, a spirited and defiant Ethiopian teenager, flees an arranged marriage to search for her friend.The consequences of their meetings are devastating and profound as they all discover how far they''re willing to go in order to survive.Written with unsettling intimacy and fierce empathy, GULF is a blazingly powerful and original novel about cruelty, rebellion and resilience. Most of all it''s about the power of hope.
£16.14
Boldwood Books Ltd The Godmother: An emotional and powerful book
Book Synopsis‘Stop trying to be brave all the time, Rachel. Fear is a necessary part of being alive. Sometimes we have to let it show. We have to own up to it or it drives us mad.’Rachel Elliot is single and attractive, a director of a successful advertising agency, with a handsome lover, close friends, and a clutch of beloved godchildren. But as her fortieth birthday approaches, so does a whispering fear that she might have missed the point...Almost imperceptibly over the years her friends and contemporaries have settled down and started families. Rather less subtly her parents have been urging Rachel to do the same. Managing a shocking incident at work is soon taking up all her energies and she adores her godchildren. So, is a child of her own what she really wants? Or is motherhood just what everyone else wants for her? If she picks the wrong path, there will be no turning back...Join Amanda Brookfield as she revisits and refreshes her novel, The Godmother, and rediscover how she got her well-deserved reputation for writing about women’s lives with humour and honesty. Includes a brand-new foreword from the author.Praise for Amanda Brookfield:'An engaging, emotionally-charged and intriguing story' Michelle GormanNo one gets to the heart of human relationships quite so perceptively as Brookfield.' The Mirror'Unputdownable. Perceptive. Poignant. I loved it.' bestselling author Patricia Scanlan on Before I Knew You'If Joanna Trollope is the queen of the Aga Saga, then Amanda Brookfield must be a strong contender for princess.' Oxford TimesWhat readers are saying about Amanda Brookfield:‘I felt so involved in this story that I found myself thinking about it a lot during the day. A fantastic read. Gripping, moving, characters you care about, highly recommend.’‘Packed with suspense, (I actually held my breath during some of the scenes) and full of relatable characters, this book will draw you in from the first page. Highly recommend.’ ‘The tension builds on every page, the characters, as always with this author’s books, are drawn beautifully. I couldn’t put it down and am looking forward greatly to Amanda Brookfield’s next offering hopefully before too long!’‘Brookfield is undoubtedly one of Britain's foremost chroniclers of human relationships. It goes without saying that this novel is another page turner – guaranteed to make you read the last 50 pages before sleep, even though you know you have an early start in the morning – but it is much, much more.’
£20.69
Boldwood Books Ltd A Good Enough Mother
Book Synopsis'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo BartlettMia is telling me a story. It's about a princess, who lives on a street just like ours. I'm distracted for a moment by her little hand softly slipping into mine. My daughter. My angel. But then she says something that snaps me back to reality. She says that there's an old lady who's a queen, and who's kind. Except that she doesn't treat the princess well. She punishes her and doesn't let her eat anythingHelen, my neighbour, has been so good to me. And more importantly, she's amazing with the children, looking after them when I am struggling as a single parent, having escaped an abusive relationship. Surely this is just another story of Mia's, just make believe?But if it's not, what if my own father was right, and I was never good enough to be a mother in the first place?I tighten my grip on my sweet, trusting little girl's hand. And vow I will do whatever it takes to protect herA heartbreaking and uplifting story about the choices a mother makes for the sake of her children, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Emma Robinson and Kate Hewitt. Readers love A Good Enough Mother:Loved this book!!!!! Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!! I definitely recommend it!!!' ????? Reader ReviewA breathtaking novel about motherhood I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy. Grabbed my heart Phenomenally emotive.' ????? Reader ReviewA masterpiece story of a family finding their way Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.' ????? Reader ReviewA remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact Truly captivating.' ????? Reader ReviewA really great read. I really enjoyed this story Beautifully written and a mother's love for her children shines throughout the book as Jess struggles to make a home for them all and keep them safe.' ????? Reader ReviewI LOVED this book. I was so drawn in by the weird dynamics between Jess and the neighbours.' ????? Reader Review
£20.69
Vintage Publishing Everybody's Right
Book Synopsis‘I’m going back to what I was twenty years ago. I’m riding across a terrain of buried curiosity, the adrenaline is starting to flow again, and the old obsessions are coming back: I want to start doing cocaine every day, I want to run after every female who passes, I want to smell the smells of Italy again, I want my old life back. It’s a bit late for all that, I know, but who gives a fuck? I want to die stark naked, drowned in a well of Ballantine’s, surrounded by whores. All this I want, suddenly, I want it very much indeed. But I hide it well.’This is the story of Tony Pagoda, a hero of our time, a man of incredible energies and appetites with a dark secret in his past and a unique perspective on the world.1980s Italy is Tony’s oyster. A charismatic singer, he is talented and successful, up to his neck in money, drugs and women, enjoying an extravagant lifestyle in Naples and Capri. But when life gets complicated, Tony decides it’s time for a change. While on tour, he disappears to Brazil and an existence free from excess, where all he has to worry about are the herculean cockroaches. But after eighteen years of humid Amazonian exile, somebody is willing to sign a giant cheque to bring Tony back to Italy. How will he face the temptations of his old habits and the new century? A huge bestseller in Italy, Everybody's Right is an extraordinary debut novel from the award-winning film director Paolo Sorrentino. It is a book about Italy and a book about the modern world; a book about Tony and a book about all of us. Through Tony’s irresistible voice Sorrentino illustrates his imaginative power and his incredible gifts for drama and satire.Trade ReviewFrequently funny writing... The story speeds along with a fast-moving, Raymond Chandler type plot, although it finishes with a shocking tenderness * Daily Mail *[A] visceral first-person account and fantastically unreliable narration brilliantly capturing the brand of modern-day Italy that Berlusconi exported… A novel of bleak gallows humour * GQ *Flooded with neat aphorisms and winning vignettes…it works as a cock-eyed state-of-the-nation address after the years of Berlusconification… A blackly comic birl through a life of excess, regret and reflection * Glasgow Sunday Herald *A furious, ironic, idiosyncratic, unexpurgated torrent, capturing Italian modernity * Kirkus *Sorrentino uses this novel to deal with Italy's unstoppable descent into today's dazed, corrupted and tragically foolish reality...[in] exceptionally adventurous language * La Repubblica *
£14.39
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Flowers for Papa
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Boldwood Books Ltd We Belong Together: The perfect heartwarming,
Book Synopsis'Every day is a perfect day to read this.’ Shari Low Eleanor Sharpley has been living a lie...Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm. But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, her eight-month old daughter Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about), and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm. Damson Farm lies at the edge of the village of Ferrington, with the river Maddon flowing at its heart. But Ferrington is a village divided by more than just a river - it is split in two by an age-old feud – between the Old Side and the New Side. Eleanor has run from her problems, straight into a family and a world that has problems of its own. But Damson Farm has magic too, and as winter gives way to spring, the old farm starts to come to life under Eleanor’s love and care. The orchard starts to blossom with daffodils and bluebells, and the sound of bees busy in their hives fills the warming air. Can Eleanor bring Daniel and the feuding village of Ferrington back to life too, or will her secrets catch up with her first? Beth Moran’s books are heart-warming, funny, and completely addictive. Perfect for all fans of Jill Mansell, Julie Houston, and Jenny Colgan.Praise for Beth Moran:'Beth Moran's heartwarming books never fail to leave me feeling uplifted' Jessica Redland‘Life-affirming, joyful and tender.’ Zoe Folbigg * 'Every day is a perfect day to read this.’ Shari Low*'A British author to watch.' Publisher's Weekly
£17.24
Boldwood Books Ltd Rainbows Over Puddleduck Farm: An uplifting
Book SynopsisDon’t dream your life, live your dreams….Phoebe Dashwood is a passionately committed vet who’s living the dream. She’s about to open her own small animal practice at her grandmother’s animal shelter, Puddleduck Farm in the New Forest. Phoebe is helped by her two oldest friends. Her best friend Tori is a mix of hard-headed journalist and hopeless romantic, who thinks love will conquer all when she finds the right man! Then there is Sam, Phoebe’s staunchest ally, whose integrity and selflessness mean he would do anything to make Phoebe happy, no matter what the cost to himself. Very soon Phoebe discovers that fantasy and reality don’t quite match. An unscrupulous bunny breeder, a poisoned stream, and a complicated attraction all conspire to throw her dreams in a spin. Events come to a shocking climax at the New Forest Show where Phoebe’s world is turned upside down and she has to make some life changing decisions.What everyone is saying about Puddleduck Farm: 'A delightful story, full of fun and animal drama!' Jo Bartlett 'A beautifully written, gentle story about self-acceptance, family and friendship.' Sarah Bennett 'Puddleduck Farm will find its way into your heart - a wonderfully cosy read!' Fay Keenan 'A warm, delightful read full of friendship and family with a touch of love on the horizon ... I can't wait to see what happens next at Puddleduck Farm!' Helen Rolfe 'Heart-warming, filled with engaging characters and a delightful cast of animals. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Puddleduck Farm!’ Jill Steeples
£20.69
The Book Guild Ltd Under The Hickory Tree
Book SynopsisA multigenerational tale of family secrets, betrayal, and redemption. Spanning continents and decades, it weaves fact and fiction to explore identity, resilience, and forgiveness.
£9.49
Bookouture The Violinist of Auschwitz
Book SynopsisAbsolutely adored this! Incredibly moving. I had tears welling up and my heart was racing. Did not want to put it down... I felt like I was actually there, I could practically hear the orchestra in the room with me. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????Inspired by the unforgettable true story of Alma Rosé, The Violinist of Auschwitz brings to life one of history''s most fearless, inspiring and courageous heroines. Alma''s bravery saved countless lives, bringing hope to those who had forgotten its meaning...In Auschwitz, every day is a fight for survival.Here, Alma is inmate 50381, the number tattooed on her in blue ink. But in her previous life, she was an esteemed violinist, her performances leaving audiences spellbound.When Alma is appointed as the conductor for the camp orchestra, performing for high-ranking Nazis, she refuses: They can kill me but they won''t make me play. But soon she realises the power this position offers. How many others can she save from the clutches of death?Her new role leads her to Miklos, a talented pianist. Surrounded by despair, they find happiness in secret notes and joint concerts. But in Auschwitz, the very air is tainted with loss, and tragedy is the only certainty... In such a hopeless place, can their love survive?This devastatingly heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful tale proves that even in the darkest of days, love can prevail--and give you something to live for. Fans of The Choice, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Orphan Train will lose their hearts to this magnificent tale.Readers love The Violinist of Auschwitz:If I could give this book ten stars I would! Was sorry when the book finally ended... Will remain with me for a very long time... I absolutely loved this. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????Wow! Just wow... Utterly heartbreaking... I''m speechless. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????Phenomenal! Absolutely brilliant! This book requires a standing ovation for sure!... Crushingly heart-breaking yet beautiful. Battle of the Books, ?????I absolutely loved it!!!... Amazing. It was so beautifully written... Amazingly well done. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????Soul-wrenching... I have been through boxes of Kleenex... Even writing this review I have tears. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????I picked up this book this morning thinking I would read for half an hour before I dealt with life for the day. Next thing I know, it''s seven hours later, I''ve got tears streaming down my face, the book is finished and I am wondering how I have gone thirty years without knowing who the incredible Alma Rosé was and the astonishing impact she left on the world. Apageofwordsandwishes, ?????Wow! What a read! Goodreads Reviewer, ?????I was in tears. The tears never left and I read this in one sitting, not from the ease of the read, but from the sheer inability to put it down... Oh my, I could go on and on... Bravo, Ellie, Bravo! The Hist Fic Chic, ?????I loved this book so much!! I thought the story was both beautiful and heartbreaking... I was hooked. Goodreads Reviewer, ?????Oh my goodness. Definitely have tissues at hand! Goodreads Reviewer, ?????
£8.49
Troubador Publishing Wings of a Butterfly
Book SynopsisA love story which tackles the complexities of adolescent infatuation, and shows the intricate lives of three women searching for independence. It is set in the London art scene inspired by the author's early career as a painter.
£999.99
Troubador Publishing Ltd Fractured Healer
Book SynopsisA heartwarming romance about overcoming adversity combined with a coming-of-age love story. The book provides a message of hope for all those who have been through difficult times and thought that life has lost its verve.
£11.69
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers The Holiday
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Starry Starry Night
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Utopia
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Happenstance
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers If Not...
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Lucretia
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Everyman The Old Curiosity Shop
Book SynopsisThe humour of the shop and the pilgrimage counterbalance the tragic and sentimental story of Little Nell. The story is rich in Dickensian characters, including Mrs Jarley, Quilp, Dick Swiveller, and the Marchioness. A Disney production of THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP has recently finished shotting in Ireland, starring James Fox, Peter Ustinov, and Tom Courtenay.
£999.99
Pushkin Press Like Happiness
Book SynopsisA searing and sharp debut novel about the complexities of gender, power, race and fame, told through a young woman's destructive relationship with a legendary writer
£10.44
2QT Publishing Services Blue Skies Over Berlin
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Scribe Publications The Knowing
Book SynopsisFrom the author of A Room Called Earth, a brilliant new novel about the mess that comes before salvation. Camille lives in the country. She's forgotten her phone. She's taking the train to work. She's got period pain. She can't escape herself or her toxic boss, Holly. And it's Valentine's Day. The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
£13.49
The Conrad Press Jump Off
Book SynopsisA novel about showjumping
£12.34
The Conrad Press Requiem for a Goddess
Book SynopsisA contemporary novel with thriller elements
£10.44
BOA Editions, Limited Are We Ever Our Own
Book SynopsisMoving between Cuba and the U.S., the stories in Are We Ever Our Own trace the paths of the women of the far-flung Armando Castell family. Related but unknown to each other, these women are exiles, immigrants, artists, outsiders, all in search of a sense of self and belonging. The owner of a professional mourning service investigates the disappearance of her employees. On the eve of the Cuban revolution, a young woman breaks into the mansion where she was once a servant to help the rebels and free herself. A musician in a traveling troupe recounts the last day she saw her father. Linked by theme and complex familial bonds, these stories shift across genres and forms to excavate the violence wreaked on women’s bodies and document the attempt to create something meaningful in the face of loss. They ask: who do we belong to? What, if anything, belongs to us? Trade Review“Are We Ever Our Own is a cabinet of wonders filled with uncanny intersections between the mythic and the daily, the spectral and the earthed…. Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes writes with marvelous insight into how the untold stories of the past can continue to haunt the present, and crafts structures that delight and devastate in equal measure—that feel as immense as time itself.” —Laura van den Berg, author of I Hold a Wolf by the Ears and The Third Hotel"Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes writes with the poetic fierceness of Lorca, exploring multiple subjectivities in this lyrical story collection on love and art, loss and violence. Fuentes is a poignant and powerful voice in Latinx literature—and beyond.” —Patricia Park, author of Re Jane“Are We Ever Our Own reads like an arpeggio: the individual stories strike clear, distinctive notes that, when abutted, come together into a rich, resonant chord. From contemporary Marfa, Texas to revolutionary Cuba, from literal ghosts to implicit ones, the characters are entirely singular and individually rewarding, yet somehow—as the title suggests—somehow feel quietly present in each subsequent narrative. Though spirits and spells indeed appear in these pages, Fuentes doesn't simply write about magic in this collection; she's created it.” —Xhenet Aliu, author of Brass and Domesticated Wild Things, and Other Stories"The stories in Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes’ Are We Ever Our Own will haunt readers long after they’ve finished. And perhaps that’s the point. Inventive, hallucinatory, chilling, and globe-spanning, this collection commands attention." —Chantel Acevedo, author of The Distant Marvels
£11.04
Three Rooms Press People Are Talking
Book SynopsisDesperate to find a plot for her second novel, author Mallory Shepard attends her estranged best friend’s wedding in Austin, where she and six friends try to settle old scores—with unexpected deadly consequences—in this debut for fans of Veronica Mars, Tara Isabella Burton, and Tana French. Desperate to find a plot for her second novel, author Mallory Shepard attends her estranged best friend’s wedding in Austin, where she and six friends try to settle old scores—with unexpected deadly consequences—in this debut for fans of Veronica Mars, Tara Isabella Burton, and Tana French. In PEOPLE ARE TALKING, the debut novel by Amanda Eisenberg, Mallory Shepard has her back against the wall. Her girlfriend dumped her, her landlord wants to evict her and her literary agent is about to drop her—unless she can come up with a compelling follow-up to her debut novel. A book deal would solve her problems, which is why she agrees to attend an estranged college friend’s wedding in Texas. It’ll be the first time she’s seen that friend group since an incident tore them apart nine years earlier, and Mal intends to secretly squeeze her ex-friends for information. The plan is nearly foolproof, except that her still-raw hurt and righteous anger threatens to expose her agenda, as does her weakness for her college nemesis: Andrew Rosen. Danit Leibowitz is—was Mal’s best friend. Together they transformed the Newts, a secret society, into a group that tracks alleged rapists long after they graduated from the prestigious halls of Weston College. Now a rising lefty political star, Dani is asked to come up with another plan to reinvent the Newts, which Gen Z deems out of touch amid ever-changing gender and sex politics. When she learns Mal will be there, Dani hatches a plan to appease the Newts and win back her friend, all in 72 hours. Crammed into an Austin rental for the weekend, the six friends seek to settle old scores and win back ex-friends and lovers. But when the Newts infiltrate the wedding, with deadly consequences, Mal and Dani are forced to consider whether they’re willing to separate the personal from the political—even at the expense of protecting the people they love.
£14.40
Zibby Books Wedding Issues
Book SynopsisCompetition for a Southern bridal magazine cover unleashes mayhem, forcing a mastermind maid of honor to stop being a people pleaser and start figuring out what she wants out of life. A hilarious, smart coming-of-age story.Olivia Liv Fitzgerald's life is on ambition autopilot. The soon-to-be-lawyer has her life plan set and can talk anyone into anything. Well, almost anything. When her scheming aunt throws her cousin, Kali, into a competition for Southern Charm's cover alongside Liv's best friend, Leighton, all hell breaks loose. To save the day, Liv only has to:a) Secure the Southern Charm cover for Leightonb) Keep Aunt Charlotte happyand keep Kali's Atlanta wedding running smoothlyc) Finish her final year of law school in Nashville and nab a coveted NYC big law jobd) Win over the guy of her dreamsEasy, right? From engagement parties to rehearsal dinners, readers will root for Liv as she balances her schemes, dreams, and double maid of honor duties.
£12.34
