Contemporary lifestyle fiction

Book Synopsis'Gloriously romantic' The Sun'I couldn't put it down' Jill Mansell'A charmingly escapist read ... a tonic for trying times' Daily MailYour big secret is out. What next?For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.Eliza needs answers - and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store... Anything Could Happen is a warm, wise, funny and uplifting novel about love, second chances and the unexpected and extraordinary paths life can take us down.'The book we all need - full of escapism, romance, hope and kindness' Milly Johnson'Captivating' Woman & Home'Tender, bittersweet and funny' Veronica Henry'Perfect' Prima'A star-crossed lovers story with so much heart and humour' Fiona Palmer'Full of extraordinary surprises' Woman's Own'A feel-good, uplifting book' Sheila O'Flanagan'Lovely!' Hello!'Romantic, uplifting and a total joy' Heidi Swain'A perfect rainy day read' Bella'Brimming with humour and hope - this book is a joy to escape into' Cathy Bramley'[A] warm hug of a novel' Irish News'A wonderful book about the What Ifs of love and loss' Laura Kemp'A captivating, humorous and warm-hearted story elevated to must-read status' HeatTrade ReviewStar-crossed lovers, long-held secrets and second chances make for a charmingly escapist read . . . Taking in family life, reinvention and the allure of lost love, it's a tonic for trying times * Daily Mail *Funny and heart-warming storytelling. It's a touching, feelgood story to escape into, full of love, hope and joy * Sunday Express *Warm, tender, but also funny, this is brilliant * The Sun *A captivating, humorous and warm-hearted story elevated to must-read status * Heat *This had a perfect ending * Prima *This warm, wise novel is packed full of extraordinary surprises * Woman's Own *Gloriously romantic * The Sun *Anything Could Happen is a wonderful read - the twists and turns of the story meant I couldn't put it down * Jill Mansell *A feel-good, uplifting book * Sheila O'Flanagan *The book we all need - full of escapism and beautiful places, fabulous characters, romance, hope and kindness * Milly Johnson *Lucy brings us another novel full of hope * My Weekly *Tender, bittersweet and funny, Lucy Diamond is brilliant about love in all its guises and the mistakes we make. A truly touching love story for our times * Veronica Henry *A star-crossed lovers story with so much heart and humour. Lucy has a way of dropping you into the heart and minds of her characters. I couldn't put it down * Fiona Palmer *A wonderful book about the What Ifs of love and loss, so real and of course so blooming romantic * Laura Kemp *This was hard to put down * Yours *Romantic, uplifting and a total joy * Heidi Swain *A beautiful story of what might have been and living in the moment * Penny Parkes *Lucy Diamond's captivating story explores missed opportunities and uplifting possibilities through one mother and daughter's life-changing journey * Woman & Home *A warm, wise, funny and uplifting novel about love, second chances and the unexpected and extraordinary paths life can take us down * Mummy Pages *Lovely! * Hello! *A perfect rainy day read * Bella *[A] warm hug of a novel . . . what Diamond does so well in Anything Could Happen is make you really root for the characters - and perhaps even examine your own life choices. [An] engaging and colourful read * Press Association *Expertly written, an entire cast of characters to love, and brimming with humour and hope - this book is a joy to escape into * Cathy Bramley *[A] warm hug of a novel . . . an engaging and colourful read * Irish News *Funny and heartwarming * Daily Record *Told across two timelines, the characters are well drawn in this uplifting story of quirks, fate and second chances * Choice *Rom coms are being reinvented with an uplifting twist in this mother-daughter adventure that's all about taking chances and the connections we make in life . . . warm, wise and funny, this book about second chances is the perfect wholesome read for this spring! * SHEmazing! *A sweet and tender tale about second chances and love * Best *A lovely uplifting love story * Platinum magazine *Funny, heart-warming * Choice *

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Book Synopsis* Entertainment Weekly: The 27 best new books to take on your 2023 summer vacation* USA Today: 10 swoon-worthy romance books coming out for summer 2023* BookRiot: 40 of the Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023* Buzzfeed: 25 New and Upcoming LGBTQ Romance Novels You've Got To Read* Goodreads: The Hottest New Romances for Summer* SheReads: Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Romances of Summer 2023* LGBTQ Reads: Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Romance of 2023 Quito Cruz might be a genius piano player and composer in New York City now but it doesn't mean that he's any closer to his Broadway dream. Although Quito knows what the problem is. Or rather who. Because ever since that night in college-with pretty-boy jock Emmett Aoki-his inspiration has been completely MIA . . .Now Quito's dad wants him to put on a charity performance in his hometown. And there's one hella big string attached: convince Emmett-now one of Hollywood's hottest celebrities-to perform.It's all shaping up to be the biggest musical fiasco of Quito's life. Especially when Emmett agrees to attend, and Quito realizes that undeniable vibe between them is stronger than ever. Because there's nothing simple about falling for a movie star . . . even when he's pitch-perfect.

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Book SynopsisFrom Katherine St. John, author of The Lion's Den, comes a "reading experience that's as layered and decadent as a slice of tiramisu" about a Hollywood heartthrob, his co-star ex-wife, and a film set on an isolated island that will unearth long-buried secrets-and unravel years of lies (Emily Henry, NYT bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation, New York Times Book Review).?In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood's most notorious faces are assembled on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its sultry storyline and intimately connected cast.Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella, an infamously unstable actress, is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor, a fledgling producer, is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella's mysterious new assistant, harbors designs of her own that threaten to upend everyone's plans.With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. But as deceptions come to light, misplaced trust may prove more perilous than the storm itself.

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Book SynopsisWe switch. I bait.Let me help you snag a date.All through college, Blanche Carter was known as the matchmaker. Her friends came to her for the perfect pick-up line for that cute guy in chemistry class--or the best zinger for that annoying frat boy. Now out of college and living in Washington DC, she's parlayed her talent into a unique consulting business: she runs the online dating profiles of the Capitol's most eligible women.Armed with a battalion of dating rules, Blanche is an expert at helping her clients meet the right man--and put their best foot forward on that first date. But although she'll happily spend her days messaging handsome strangers (and fending off dick pics) on behalf of her clients, Blanche's most important rule is the one she has for herself: no relationships. Blanche has seen too much heartbreak to believe in love anymore. When one of the most annoying men she knows--Henry, a friend of a friend with whom she always ends up getting into heated political arguments--shows up as one of her favorite clients' possible matches, Blanche gamely messages him. But sparks fly in more ways than one, and Blanche quickly finds herself faced with an ethical dilemma--and possibly breaking her own rule about love...

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Book SynopsisI've been watched all my life. I'm used to being stared at. Observed. Followed.Fame and obsession collide in this darkly twisted novel from an incredible new voice in suspense.SOMEONE IS WATCHINGWashed up teen star Liv Hendricks quit acting after her beloved younger sister inexplicably disappeared following a Hollywood party gone wrong. Liv barely escaped with her life, and her sister was never heard from again. But all this time, someone's been waiting patiently to finish what was started...FOUR MISSING GIRLSNow fifteen years later, broke and desperate, Liv is forced to return to the spotlight. She crowdfunds a webseries in which she'll pose as a real-life private detective--a nod to the show she starred on as a teen. When a mysterious donor challenges her to investigate a series of disappearances outside a town made famous by the horror movies filmed there, Liv has no choice but to accept.FOLLOW THE WHITE WOLFLiv is given a cryptic first clue: Follow the white wolf. And now a darker game is about to begin. Through social media, someone is leaving breadcrumbs to follow. As Liv makes increasingly disturbing discoveries, her show explodes in popularity. A rapt internet audience is eager to watch it all--perhaps even at the cost of Liv's own life...Filled with provocative twists and turns as the line between plot and reality blurs in this inventive tour-de-force from breakout writer Jennifer Wolfe.

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Book SynopsisA headstrong woman discovers it’s never too late for change in New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s spirited novel about lost hope and second chances. Substitute counselor for wayward teens isn’t how public-school teacher Jayden Bennett planned to spend her summer vacation. However reluctant, she’s hiking up her jeans and heading for remote Piney Wood Academy in north Texas. Two months. Seven days a week. Few amenities. And three troubled girls daring Jayden to make a difference. She understands what she’s up against. She has her own burdens to bear. Jayden’s not in it alone. The devoted elderly couple who run Piney Wood trusts in Jayden’s tough-love approach to get the job done. So does drill instructor Elijah Thomas, whose hardened boot-camp hide conceals a heart broken one too many times. Jayden is making it beat again. For both of them, falling in love is a risk. Because all summers must come to an end. But with each new sunrise on these rustic acres, Jayden discovers that Piney Wood is a last chance for her, too. And with so many lives in turnaround, a new beginning for everyone could be a dream come true.

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Book SynopsisBitter, joyful, worn down, filled with wonder, acutely self-aware, and often deeply in need of perspectivesuch are the women at the center of Mary Jane Myers'' compelling debut short story collection. Lonely and stuck in lives that have begun to feel stale, these ordinary womenadministrative assistants, typists, accountantsawake unto themselves after brushes with the surreal. While light and playful in tone, the stories reflect the hollowness and toxicity that can come from ascribing too strictly to the popularly held values of our contemporary society and the confusion caused by wobbly religious beliefs in a secular world. Louise, an unassuming tourist, is accosted in a museum in Florence by the voice of Galileos finger bone promising to grant her greatest wish in return for a simple favor. Diane narrowly escapes a toxic relationship and sinks into a depression when she becomes convinced the gods are speaking to her through a stone from the lava fields of Maui. Helen, who has always wanted someone with whom to appreciate classical music, ends up playing host to Franz Schubert, when she meets the young composer wandering in the woods near her home in the Santa Monica Mountains. Witty, revelatory―and at times chilling―Curious Affairs allows us to see the strangeness in the ordinary.

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Book SynopsisTold by four women whose stories nest together, She Never Told Me about the Ocean is an epic about a rite of passage that all humans undergo and none remember: birth. Eighteen-year-old Sage has been mothering her mother for as long as she can remember, and as she arrives on the shores of adulthood, she learns a secret: before she was born, she had an older brother who drowned. In her search to discover who he was and why nobody told her, Sage moves to tiny Dragon Island where her mother grew up. There, she embarks on a quest to learn the superstitions of the island, especially its myths involving her mother. Gathering stories from Ilya, a legendary midwife who hires Sage as her apprentice; Marella, Sage's grieving mother who was named for the ocean yet has always been afraid of it; and Charon, the Underworld ferrywoman who delivers souls to the land of the dead, Sage learns to stop rescuing her mother and simply let go. But when her skill as Ilya's apprentice enables her to rescue her mother one final time, in a way that means life or death, Sage must shed her inherited fears and become her own woman.

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Book SynopsisA courageous woman journeys from nineteenth-century Ireland to the American West in a powerful novel about the indomitable will to survive—and to flourish—against nearly impossible odds. It’s 1849 on the west coast of Ireland. Resilient Honora O’Donoghue is accustomed to fending for herself and to reading the language of the natural world. It was always said she’d been marked for something different, but it’s not until she suffers devastating losses in a country gripped by the Famine that Honora begins to understand how that difference will save her. With the hope of a better life in America calling, Honora keeps moving toward her freedom. Across the Atlantic, she’s unfamiliar with the customs, jobs are scarce, and she has no money. She finds only one new friend, and Honora’s desperation is a state to be taken advantage of. Even the prospect of marriage is not without its conditions—and far from the dream she imagines. With so much disappointment and heartbreak in her past, Honora must decide what kind of life she wants, and what she’s prepared to do to get it.Trade Review“Jacqueline O’Mahony’s work is fiction, though she describes historical events with the unswerving eye of a journalist… [She] conveniently, yet thoughtfully, adds characters and spiritual elements as needed…. Sing, Wild Bird, Sing is a novel about the will to persevere in the face of unspeakable grief.” —Booklist “The story is breathtaking in its scope. Life in Doolough is horrifying, but Honora’s will to survive is magnificent…I would read more from Jacqueline O’Mahony any time.” —Historical Novels Review “Almost painful in its authenticity, this breathtaking and poignant novel is an immersion in the harsh realities of nineteenth-century Ireland and America. Jacqueline O’Mahony is a formidable writer, whose voice is fearless, evocative, and uplifting. Skillfully laced with imagery, Honora’s mesmerizing story of courage, survival, and striving to be free will stay in your heart long after you close the book. Brilliant and haunting.” —Elena Gorokhova, author of A Train to Moscow “I absolutely love Sing, Wild Bird, Sing. I can entirely relate to it. I’ve had lots of Irish people tell me how the Irish and Indigenous people of America have so much in common. And we really do, but unfortunately, I never heard their stories. Sing, Wild Bird, Sing links our worlds together so beautifully. Like Honora, I have always moved through what seems like a never-ending series of disappointments, existed between two worlds, and never stopped moving toward a more fitting world. This book really moved me. It’s been a privilege to read.” —Anthony Two Moons “Unforgettable. The wonderful Honora and the struggles of her people in Ireland and America will carve a special place in your heart.” —Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris “A work of page-turning intensity, O'Mahony's prose blazes with life and insight.” —Julie Myerson, author of Nonfiction: A Novel

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Book SynopsisIn the stories in Winning Chance, Katherine Koller explores second chances, how we find them, and how we find the courage to take them. Whether they are contractors running into an ex while on the job, a busy mother pursuing community theatre, or a family building an illegal ice rink after an environmental collapse, Katherine Koller has created empathetic portraits of characters searching to connect.

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Book SynopsisRose Addams is hitting her sixties, but these days it feels like they''re starting to hit back. Her daughter, Morgan, has ditched her thesis program and moved back home to Vancouver, while her son Jason''s partner has never seen eye to eye with his mother. Her husband Charles has decided to take early retirement from the university to work on his long-gestating book, and his rakish best friend Garnet has a new mistress who is way too young for their social circle. When Rose encounters a young man panhandling outside of her library office though, a chain of events is set in motion whereby Rose will have to confront all the facets of her rapidly-complicating life.Recalling the work of Caroline Adderson, Krista Foss, and Marie-Renée Lavoie, Margie Taylor''s Rose Addams is an insight into the life of a woman who is in the process of beginning her third act, an empathetic and incisive look at the problems of those just exiting middle age while attempting to keep up with a rapidly-changing world.

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Book SynopsisCan you ever have a second chance at first love? When Ronnie Percy's gorgeous on-off lover Blair is forced to deep-freeze their affair for the sake of his sick wife, she's delighted to be distracted by charismatic neighbour, Kit Donne, and – more surprisingly – finds herself drawn into a fight for the future of the village. But then the return of someone from her distant past threatens to expose long-buried secrets. Meanwhile daughter Pax – already besieged by her controlling estranged husband – has started to suspect that new beau 'the horsemaker' Luca still loves somebody else. The last shoulder on earth she should cry on is Bay Austen's, but his marriage is crumbling and he's lost none of his dangerous charm. Moreover, Bay knows the way to her heart is through her horses... Old friendships, new loves, jealousies, gossip and beautiful horses – these are the classic ingredients for Fiona Walker's latest gripping, sexy novel, set in the Cotswold village of Compton Magna and laced with her trademark humour.Trade ReviewFiona Walker always delivers a joyful, rip-roaring romp of a novel, full of positivity and humour... This novel has everything to entertain... a gripping, spicy novel, set in the Cotswold village. You will be transported to a lovely place -- Adele Parks, Platinum'There's no reining-in Walker in this raunchy and rural tale... Brimming with jealousy, gossip, horses and humour. What a ride!' -- The Sunday Post‘If you’re a fan of Jilly Cooper and Veronica Henry, you’ll love this gripping, sexy novel from Fiona Walker.’ -- Pick Me Up!Really funny moments... dark twisty dangerous moments. It was a really really good fun read... I found it really captivating -- Love Your Library PodcastPRAISE FOR COUNTRY LOVERS: 'With feisty characters, sexy menfolk, long-buried secrets and a healthy dollop of sauce, this book is a total riot from start to end' Heat. 'Filled with intrigue, romance and drama... This is a must-read for cold winter nights by the Aga' Cotswold Life. 'A feel-good romp complete with dashing heroes and engaging heroines. Perfect for some serious but light-hearted escapism' Horse and Countryside. 'Fans of the sex-and-horses rural romp will feel right at home with this pleasing doorstep of a novel' * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe second in Catherine Jones's wonderful series about the goings-on behind the facade of the market town of Little Woodford. The market town of Little Woodford seems peaceful and beautiful, with its thriving high street, ancient church and immaculate allotments. But behind this facade, troubles are brewing. Olivia Laithwaite has come down in the world, thanks to her gambling husband. she hates the modern showbox they've moved into and knows she must now humble herself to apply for a local job. Miranda Osborne has arrived with a flourish in Little Woodford and bought Olivia's beloved Grange. Now she starts to throw her weight around – objecting to everything, from the church bells to the local market stalls. It isn't long before the town is in turmoil. 'Delicious... A cracking story. I absolutely loved it' Emma Lee-Potter.Trade ReviewLittle Woodford may be fiction but, through this author's creative skill, it is believable. And entertaining, too * Vale Life (Aylesbury) *

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Book SynopsisSet in rural Wales, Happy Families shines a tender, funny and heartwarming light on the lives of three generations of a Chinese immigrant family. Refreshing and original, this is perfect for fans of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, The Rosie Project and Gavin & Stacey.When was the last time you paid much attention to the person behind the counter of your local Chinese takeaway? Amy is thirty-four and has just given up her glittering career in the big (Welsh) city to move back in with her grandfather, returning to work in the small-town Chinese takeaway where she spent her bookish and boring childhood. Why? That's a secret she won't tell.Just like the secret of why her grandfather, Ah Goong, and her faith, TC Li, haven't spoken to each other in thirty years. Weirder still, they've lived in the same small flat above the takeaway for the majority of those years, with Amy's mother Joan acting as their unfortunate go-between and buffer.Now Amy's parents have moved, leaving her in charge of looking after the old man. But then Ah Goong collapses in the street and time is running out if Amy wants to play happy families before it's too late.Trade Review'Fabulously, witty and warm – what a talent!' -- Millie Johnson'A rare find' -- Richard Madeley'Delightful ... You'll want to devour this in seconds' * Heat, 'Read of the Week' *'A take-away success of a novel. Family antics, affectionately drawn characters – this is a spit-your-noodles-out-laughing kind of read' * My Weekly *'Heartening and down-to-earth, Ma's debut is one of February's must-read books' * CultureFly *'Funny, sparky and heart-warming' * Fabulous Magazine - The Sun on Sunday *'A delightfully charming story filled with lovable characters ... An absolute joy to read' -- Swirl and Thread'This is a feel-good book that will leave you feeling a bit warm and fuzzy' -- Always Got Time For Books'Wonderful, witty characters, and a story to keep you smiling – what more could you ask for? An absolutely cracking debut!' -- Tilly Loves Books'Very memorable ... A real comfort read' -- Bookworm1346'I rarely find a book which makes me chuckle out loud but this on certainly has' -- Book Club Mumma'The perfect blend of humour and poignancy' -- Mary Queen of Books

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Book SynopsisReaders have fallen in love with The Wedding Dress Repair Shop:***** 'A brilliant escape read to indulge in over the summer holidays'***** 'Amazing and warm, I couldn't put the book down'***** 'A wonderful tale of reconnection and the triumph of the human spirit. More please!'Can her heart be mended too? After losing her fiancé and her dream job in the same week, Garland Fairford's life is turned upside down.Having recently met a long-lost relative - Honey Fairford - through her work as a historical costumier, Garland is intrigued when Honey reveals she is opening a Wedding Dress museum in Lancashire. With nothing to lose, Garland accepts the offer of a job there.What she doesn't expect is to come face-to-face with a ghost from her past - her old friend, Thom, who mysteriously disappeared years ago.As Garland begins reading the stories behind each of the beautiful wedding dresses, and sets about repairing both them and her relationship with Thom, could this finally be the chance for her own happy-ever-after?'Trademark Trisha, at her absolute finest!' Heidi Swain'The perfect summer escape' Candis'The perfect escape from real life' Debbie Johnson'Feel-good fiction filled with friendship, community spirit and a dash of romance' CultureFly'Vintage Trisha Ashley. An absorbing treat' Sue MoorcroftTrade ReviewRomantic, touching and absolutely delightful * Milly Johnson *Trademark Trisha, at her absolute finest! * Heidi Swain *The perfect escape from real life - family secrets, hidden histories, romance, friendship, and beautiful gowns! What more could you want in a book? * Debbie Johnson *Vintage Trisha Ashley ... An absorbing treat * Sue Moorcroft *A wonderfully intriguing read * Jo Thomas *A pleasantly hopeful read * Woman & Home *A perfect light, romantic read * Yours Magazine *A slice of feel-good fiction filled with friendship, community spirit and a dash of romance * Culturefly *This heart-warming romance offers you the perfect summer escape * Candis *

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Book Synopsis'A perfect holiday read, compulsively readable but also intriguing, thought-provoking and so good on female friendship' Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request. Three best friends. A weekend away. And a whole lot of baggage. Alice, Nina and Jules have been best friends for twenty years. They met in Paris and return there once a year, to relive their youth, leave the troubles of home behind, and indulge in each other's friendship and warmth. But this year, aged thirty-nine, the cracks in their relationships are starting to show... After their weekend together in Paris, the three women never speak again. Each claims the other two ghosted them. But is there more to the story? Praise for After Paris: 'A gripping yet tender story about friendship and motherhood... I think every reader will find a version of themselves somewhere in this book.' Holly Miller, author of What Might Have Been 'A refreshing and authentic take on female friendship. Complex, flawed and so real, I loved spending time with these three women.' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City 'Nicole Kennedy writes beautifully about female friendship, family dramas, relationships, parenting, and the city of Paris. Moving, funny, and hugely relatable.' Andrea Mara, author of All Her Fault 'Touching, evocative and impossible to put down.' Lorraine Brown 'Gossip Girl meets Emily in Paris meets One Day. Complex, clever and – as with all of Kennedy's writing – relatable.' Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female 'A gorgeous, big hearted book.' Suzanne Ewart 'Brilliant, engaging and completely compelling, After Paris is a triumph.' Hannah Doyle 'I was enthralled by the story – from the setting to the heartache; the trials of motherhood and such a razor sharp look at the bonds of friendship.' Caroline Khoury Readers love After Paris: 'I loved the writing, the three main characters and the scene setting, all just perfect.' Reader 5* Review 'It is rare to find a book that is purely about female friendships. I absolutely adored this book.' Reader 5* Review 'An ideal summer read that will make you appreciate your friends and what you have.' Reader 5* Review 'I raced through the book, desperate to see what happened... I loved this immersive read.' Reader 5* Review 'A beautiful story of adult friendships that really resonated... I absolutely loved the setting and characters.' Reader 5* Review 'I love all things Paris, and I also love female friendships. This book had all of that and more!' Reader 5* ReviewTrade ReviewGripping yet tender... An insightful, keenly observed story about friendship and motherhood. I think every reader will find a version of themselves somewhere in this book -- Holly Miller, author of What Might Have BeenNicole Kennedy writes beautifully about female friendship, family dramas, relationships, parenting, and the city of Paris. Moving, funny, and hugely relatable -- Andrea Mara, author of All Her FaultA refreshing and authentic take on female friendship. Complex, flawed and so real, I loved spending time with these three women -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely CityGossip Girl meets Emily in Paris meets One Day... I loved it! -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleA perfect holiday read, compulsively readable but also intriguing, thought-provoking and so good on female friendship -- Laura Marshall, author of Friend RequestA great summer read that unpicks the threads of love, lies and betrayal connecting the three women * Woman & Home *A brilliant look at friendship and what happens when you grow apart * Bella *This is the perfect chick flick for your holiday * Pick Me Up! *A thought-provoking tale about holding on to friendships when you start to grow apart * My Weekly *

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Is true love just a few dates away...or even closer than you think?Tom has always been a hopeless romantic: but now he's just hopeless. After lockdown in particular made the millennial a reclusive introvert, it was finally time to get back 'out there' – at least according to his best friends Adam, Allison and sister Sarah.As the group sets up 10 dates to rejuvenate Tom's love life, he soon realises how difficult the dating scene has become, along with juggling his Shakespearean-themed cafe and a hobby of romantic mixtape making.As some of the dates turn into disasters, an old flame keeps reappearing in Tom's sight – along with bitter-sweet memories. Fearing it may be too little too late, Tom must decide whether he can date his way to happiness, or find his true match was under his nose the whole time...A warm, uplifting read about finding love while also finding yourself, for fans of Mike Gayle and Hazel Prior.Readers are swiping right for Blind Dates:'Fun, funny, fabulous and has a few more twists than the normal meet-cute book.’ Reader Review‘Touching and heartbreaking…surprisingly poignant…a wonderful read.’ Reader Review ‘There are so many laugh out loud moments and many omg what? moments in this book.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘This book was such a delight to read! I know others will see its charm as well!’ Reader Review‘This book was cute…a unique, easy read with a couple of twists that were unexpected!’ Reader ReviewPraise for Gordon MacMillan:‘Delightful. Pulled at my heart strings…I would totally recommend this as a feelgood book.’ Reader Review‘What a beautifully emotive read… The perfect feelgood read that will make you laugh and cry.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘A heart-wrenching, heart-warming story of a young man forced by circumstance to become an instant dad… a lovely read about growing into responsibility and love.’ Reader Review‘This book is amazing!…If you love a story about parenthood, romance, and friendship I would recommend this book to you!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘What a beautiful and heartbreaking story! I fell in love with this book!’ Reader Review‘My heart is just so full from this book… Watching Johnny navigate his unexpected new fatherhood was so gentle and raw.’ Reader Review‘I really enjoyed this book…It's heart-breaking and feel-good all at the same time’ Reader Review‘This was a heart-warming, emotional story… The final chapter had me in tears.’ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisA retreat doesn't always mean safety...Following the death of her husband, Emily is happy to find herself surrounded by friends and fellow Oxford peers at the rustic Chalet des Anglais in the French Alps. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, surely this trip will offer her the time and space she needs to heal.But before she makes it to the airport, Emily interrupts a break-in at her home, and on the first night at the chalet, she discovers an inappropriate sexual liaison between an undergrad and a colleague. When the student suddenly disappears, and Emily sees her deceased husband's number in her call history, she realizes she had better figure out who she can trust - or the next disappearance may be her own...Trade ReviewCompelling and ingeniously plotted, Bright and Deadly Things is a stunning tale of intrigue and betrayal -- Liv ContstantineA chilling, nuanced thriller that ably explores the heights and depths of grief, friendship and greed * The News Courier *Twists, turns, mind games - you'll be suspecting everyone * Women's Weekly on How to Kill Your Best Friend *Atmospheric, sinister and totally captivating * Alex Lake on How to Kill Your Best Friend *Uncannily creepy and grounded in the true horror of human evil. * The Observer on The Missing Years *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect getaway - to get away with murder...Georgie, Lissa and Bronwyn have been best friends since they met on their college swimming team. Now Lissa is dead - drowned off the coast of the remote island where her second husband owns a luxury resort. But could a star open-water swimmer really have drowned? Or is something more sinister going on? Brought together for Lissa's memorial, Georgie, Bron, Lissa's grieving husband and their friends find themselves questioning the circumstances around Lissa's death - and each other. As the weather turns ominous, trapping the guests on the island, it slowly dawns on them that Lissa's death was only the beginning. Nobody knows who they can trust. Or if they'll make it off the island alive...Trade ReviewTwists, turns, mind games - you'll be suspecting everyone * Women's Weekly *You can hear the surf breaking on every page of this dark tale of intense and complex relationships that twists from gripping secret to secret to an utterly breathtaking ending. You will not be able to put this down. * Sam Blake *A standout thriller - atmospheric, sinister and totally captivating * Alex Lake, bestselling author of After Anna *An intricate, twisting story... a suspicious death is only one of the secrets among a group of old friends on an isolated island. * Shelf Awareness *Elliott ... outdoes herself here... Revelation follows revelation, with the pace increasing as the mysteries pile up, leaving us genuinely shocked at the end. A rousing success * Booklist *Utterly unnerving and completely engrossing * PopSugar *Twisty... Elliott makes her characters feel like real people. Fans of Lucy Foley's The Guest List will be compulsively turning pages. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Slyly escalating head games that will make you think twice about booking that next getaway * Kirkus Reviews *Elliott's latest is a great thriller with lots of red herrings and a blindsider of a twist ending. * Library Journal *[A] whip-smart tale packed with serpentine twists, simmering resentments, and terrifying surprises. Not only will you want to skip the midnight swim, you may never look at your BFF the same way again. -- Erica Ferencik, author of 'The River at Night'

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Book Synopsis'Brings twist after delicious twist. I love this book.' Jo Spain______________________________Their school is about to be taught a lesson...Beverley Franklin will do whatever it takes to protect her local school's reputation.So when a scandal involving her own daughter threatens to derail the annual school musical's appearance on national television, Beverley goes into overdrive.But in her efforts to protect her daughter and keep the musical on track, she misses what's really going, both in her own house and in the insular Glass Lake community - with dramatic consequences.Glass Lake primary school's reputation is about to be shattered...'Eithne Shortall mixes humour and tragedy with a deftness reminiscent of Marian Keyes' Irish TimesTrade ReviewThe queen of the character-driven plot returns with a slow-burn Irish mystery that brings twist after delicious twist. I love this book. * Jo Spain *Sharp, funny and brilliantly observed - I absolutely loved it! * Andrea Mara *A wonderfully gossipy read, layered with dark moments, dry humour and a mystery at its heart to keep you guessing right to the end * Carmel Harrington *As cleverly plotted as an Agatha Christie whodunnit ... thought-provoking, with well-drawn characters ... tempered by empathy and witty humour * Irish Independent *Insightful ... an engrossing page turner that'll leave you shocked and amused in equal measure * Belfast Telegraph *This novel knocked me for six ... carefully and beautifully written ... I couldn't have liked it more. * Daily Mail on Three Little Truths *Funny... relatable, contemporary and exceptionally witty * Irish Times on Three Little Truths *Funny, endearing, mysterious and outrageous, this book is wildly entertaining and hugely enjoyable. -- Liz Nugent on Three Little TruthsA smart, humorous and gripping whodunnit, clear your schedule: this is a book for devouring in one sitting * Sunday Business Post *'A witty take on school-gate politics ... a multi-layered story' * Sunday Independent *Many secrets are hidden and shared in this page-turner whose scandal-evolving plot is meticulously constructed * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR POPULAR FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023'I defy anyone to read this without turning the final page with a great big smile on their face!' - Ruth HoganOne house. Three strangers. A second chance at happiness.Tessa's life as an activist and volunteer worker takes a hit after a fall. At the ripe young age of 69, she's no longer able to live alone and decides to take in two lodgers for free.After the recent death of his brother, Conn is riddled with grief and determined to make amends. A free room seems too good to be true - until he meets the other lodger.Chloe arrives at Tessa's house to deliver a package and leaves with a room. But she takes an instant dislike to Conn, who refuses to say where he disappears to at night. With everyone so busy keeping their own secrets, the mysterious package is forgotten. It's addressed to Tessa's daughter who's been missing for 10 years - and only the contents have the answer to what happened...'This moving, funny and charming novel is reminiscent of Marian Keyes' Louise O'NeillTrade ReviewHeartwarming * Daily Mail *Such a joyful read, written with wit, compassion and humour - and the characters are all so relatable. Throughout the chaos, sadness and uncertainty, hope, community and friendship shine through. I defy anyone to read this without turning the final page with a great big smile on their face! -- Ruth HoganThis moving, funny, and charming novel is reminiscent of Maeve Binchy; what an absolute joy it was to read -- Louise O'NeillRomantic, witty and very engaging. A heartwarming read. -- Patricia ScanlanBoth laugh aloud and emotional ... epitomises true family, friendship and home. It's fabulous. * My Weekly *A sumptuous holiday read ... an endearingly oddball cast of characters, a lovely romance, and several intriguing mysteries, all in one gorgeous package -- Beth MorreyImmersive, captivating, and full of heart, I fell in love with The Lodgers. A story that's deeply moving but also laugh out loud funny, this is Eithne Shortall at the absolute top of her game. -- Andrea MaraIdeal summer read ... Expertly balances the joys and absurdities of everyday life with its tragedies ... by turns hilarious and heartbreaking ... Shortall excels in witty, character-driven plots ... you will find it hard to put down * Irish Independent *I just adored The Lodgers. An evocative setting, page-turning plot and characters that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Utterly wonderful. -- Becky HunterPacked with plot and character ... uplifting ... full of faith in collective action and the power of the many * Sunday Business Post *With its rich cast of delightful characters, and a plot that swoops effortlessly from humour to tragedy and back again, The Lodgers is a warm embrace of a novel. A wonderfully life-affirming read. -- Emma RousShortall achieves that Marian Keyes feat of deftly weaving serious topics into her books, with a lightness of touch that never feels preachy * Irish Times *A brilliantly observed, life-affirming story of friendship, community and hope. Prepare to be touched and tickled in equal measure * Sunday Independent *I adored this. I love how effortlessly Shortall writes different people and makes them so very real. -- Maia Dunphy

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Book Synopsis'Poetic, atmospheric' Daily Mail ___________________________Foresight is not always a gift...The summer Natasha Rothwell turns fifteen, strange dancing lights appear in the sky above her small town, lights that she interprets as portents of doom.Natasha leads a sheltered life with her beautiful, bohemian mother in a crumbling house by the sea. As news of the lights spreads, more and more visitors arrive in the town, creating a feverish atmosphere of anticipation and dread. And the arrival of a new lodger, the handsome Mr Bowen, threatens to upset the delicate equilibrium between mother and daughter.Then Natasha's fears seem to be realized when a local teenager goes missing, and she is called on to help. But her actions over that long, hot summer will have unforeseen and ultimately tragic consequences that will cast a shadow for many years to come...Trade ReviewA brooding, gothic-tinged coming-of-age tale... There is a gentle lyricism to Donohue's prose that brushes everything with a dreamy heat haze - but the emotions roiling beneath are sharp and cutting * The Times *Poetic, atmospheric * Daily Mail *An elegant, coming-of-age novel that has touches of Françoise Sagan's Bonjour Tristesse as well as LP Hartley's The Go-Between ... the atmosphere and characters Donohue creates linger long after finishing. * Sunday Independent *Haunting and compelling * Emma Rous *Brims with atmospheric, eerie tension * Irish Independent *Donohue looks to be the latest name to join the ranks of Ireland's proud female thriller-writing tradition. * Irish Independent on Rachel Donhue *Donohue's language is sharp, mature and occasionally quite beautiful. There is a poetic lilt to the prose... * Sunday Business Post *Donohue is a master of clean, sharp prose * Irish Times on Rachel Donohue *Eloquent, lyrical prose ... fascinating and thought-provoking * NB Magazine *Donohue's writing is crisp and frequently elegant ... the novel's moving ending feels earned and real. * Irish Times *Donohue writes with an apparently effortless grace * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisA death in the family rarely brings out the best in people - even the deceased Jonathan Coulter planned for his death meticulously, leaving nothing to chance. His will states that his three adult children must decide between them how to dispose of his estate. If they cannot come together over their inheritance, then they risk losing it. But Liv, Noah and Chloe never agree on anything. And now, with only one weekend to overcome their rivalry, tensions begin to rise. Why has Jonathan left the decision to them? And why has he made no mention of his new partner, Megan, or the children's mother, Eloise? If he wanted to teach them a lesson from beyond the grave, what is it? And can the siblings put their differences aside for long enough to learn it? A powerful novel about love and loss, and what we truly pass on to our children.Trade ReviewThere is a raw realism to all of Caroline Bond's novels. This latest, The Legacy, reminds us that sometimes it's the loss of a loved one that gives us newfound appreciation for family, and for choices we previously couldn't understand. Redemptive and satisfying. * Carol Mason *What an astute and thoughtful writer Caroline Bond is. Exposing the dynamics of a family struggling to regroup after bereavement rings blisteringly true. * Elizabeth Buchan *A beautifully crafted exploration of family resentments and vulnerability. Caroline Bond writes with a keen eye for human frailty, bringing her characters vividly to life, flaws and all. * Charity Norman *A powerful, character-led story, ideal for book groups * Woman's Own *Caroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions and The Forgotten Sister is no exception. A beautifully written story that will stay with me for quite some time. Would I have made the same choices? -- Amanda Brooke on 'The Forgotten Sister'A deftly written novel [and] a moving exploration of love between sisters and the tangled, often complex emotions that exist in families. -- Madeleine Reiss on 'The Forgotten Sister'Caroline Bond takes a complex situation and has written a thoughtful, wrenching and, at times, tear-jerking novel. -- Elizabeth Buchan on 'The Second Child'

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Book Synopsis'A thoroughly modern love story with old-fashioned heart' Vogue___________________Meet Ursula 35-year-old Ursula Byrne is successful, witty, smart, and single. She's tried all the dating apps, and let's just say: she's underwhelmed by her options. Enter The ArcA mysterious, super-sophisticated matchmaking service that relies on a complex series of emotional, psychological and physiological assessments. The price tag is high, the promise ambitious- you get one match, and one match only. Because one is all you need for a partnership that will go the distance.Is this a date with destiny? Or with data?Ursula is paired with 42-year-old lawyer Rafael Banks, and from the start, this feels like the electric, lasting love they've each been seeking their whole adult lives. But as their relationship unfolds in unanticipated ways, the two begin to question The Arc's legitimacy. After all, the arc of a relationship is never predictable ... even when it's fully optimized.Trade ReviewA thoroughly modern love story with old-fashioned heart * Vogue *The satirical (yet also surprisingly deep) take on dating app culture we all need * Cosmopolitan *With giddy hilarity and stabs to the heart, Hoen's heady cocktail of satire and celebration is a delectable addition to the dating-app and matchmaking rom-com list. * Booklist *Hoen raises some fascinating questions about love and relationships and ends on an optimistic note that will please romance fans. The result is as thoughtful as it is thought-provoking. * Publishers Weekly *You don't expect a razor-sharp satire to satisfy so deeply on an emotional level, but The Arc does that and more: Tory Henwood Hoen brings humor, wit and brutal honesty to start-up culture, relationships and human frailty in this riveting debut. * Alexandra Andrews, author of Who is Maud Dixon *Tory Hoen has the rare combination of a satirists eye and a romantics soul. Populated though it may be with biz-whiz types, lifestyle apps, and start-up schemes, The Arc is, at its heart, about the inimitable qualities that make us human. Clear off space on your shelf of contemporary favorites for this timeless love story wrapped in a timely, funny portrait of modern society. * Mary Laura Philpott, author of I Miss You When I Blink *A zeitgeisty and hopeful page-turner that proves neither algorithms nor big data can keep the heart from wanting what it wants. * Courtney Maum, author of Touch and Costalegre *Whether she's skewering mediocre start-up bros or the absurdities of twenty-first century 'self-care,' there's nothing about the way we live now that escapes Hoen's gaze. A hilarious and thoughtful exploration of love in a culture obsessed with optimization, The Arc is a dazzling debut. * Grant Ginder, author of People We Hate at the Wedding *A delightful debut about love and dating and modern womanhood that asks as many questions about self-determination and free will as it answers. * Shelf Awareness *The Arc is an incisive, inventive, probing portrait of a modern relationship featuring remarkably well-drawn characters that readers will champion and adore. Hoen's clever, original debut is as hilarious as it is heartwarming. * Carola Lovering, author of Too Good to be True *Funny and modern ... like a rom-com's cooler big sister * Real Simple *

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Book Synopsis'Oh, you're not crazy, Denise. I think this is probably the sanest you've ever been...'Two women. An open road. The trip of a lifetime.Thea is confident, sorted, determined to have fun, but there are sorrows beneath the surface of her life.Denise is struggling under the weight of her many commitments and in desperate need of some excitement.When these polar opposites meet, and unexpectedly become friends, they realise they're both looking to escape.So begins a road trip that leads them far from home and yet closer to their true selves.But they can't outrun their pasts forever and when things start to become complicated, both women have an important decision to make. Do they give up or keep going? Turn around or drive on?Trade ReviewSharply observed and empathetic, many women will see themselves in this excellent novel * Elizabeth Buchan *There is a raw realism to all of Caroline Bond's novels ... Redemptive and satisfying -- Carol Mason on 'The Legacy'Absolutely captures the challenges of being a certain age - the characters jump off the page! * Sam Blake *A beautifully crafted exploration of family resentments and vulnerability. Caroline Bond writes with a keen eye for human frailty, bringing her characters vividly to life, flaws and all. -- Charity Norman on 'The Legacy'Caroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions and The Forgotten Sister is no exception. A beautifully written story that will stay with me for quite some time. -- Amanda Brooke on 'The Forgotten Sister'A deftly written novel [and] a moving exploration of love between sisters and the tangled, often complex emotions that exist in families. -- Madeleine Reiss on 'The Forgotten Sister'Compassionate, wry and packed with acute observations on human behaviour. Like wrapping yourself in a warm shawl. -- Charity Norman

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Book Synopsis'What you are about to read is a call to arms. Best to prepare for a confrontation.' New York Times Book Review'A hard-hitting masterpiece. I devoured it.' Kristen Arnett, author of WITH TEETH 'A madcap story you won't want to put down' Rachel Yoder, author of NIGHTBITCH Damani is tired. Every day she cares for her mum, drives ride shares to pay the bills and is angry at a world that promised her more before spitting her out. The city is alive with protests, fighting for people like her, but Damani can barely afford - literally - to pay attention.That is until the summer she meets Jolene and life opens up. Jolene seems like she could be the perfect girlfriend - attentive, attractive, an ally - and their chemistry is undeniable. Jolene's done the reading, she goes to every protest, she has all the right answers. So maybe Damani can look past the one thing that's holding her back: Jolene is rich. And not only rich, but white, too. But just as their romance intensifies, just as Damani learns to trust, Jolene does something unforgivable, setting off a truly explosive chain of events.Brimming with heart, humour, and rage, Your Driver Is Waiting is a powerful, blackly funny social satire that announces the arrival of a fearless new voice.Trade ReviewThe novel's greatest strength - a ferocity of voice that belongs to Guns alone... What you are about to read is a call to arms. Best to prepare for a confrontation. * New York Times Book Review *Funny, angry, beautifully written and a compulsive page-turner, I devoured it. * Daily Mail *A ferocious new voice. A fierce and immersive debut. A story that made me rock back and forth with awe. Priya Guns's voice blazes on the page with humour, heart, and a fortitude that is inspiring to behold. There's no doubt who's in the driver's seat. I was just grateful to be along for the ride. * Weike Wang, author of JOAN IS OKAY and CHEMISTRY *A compelling character study with an electrifying ending, Your Driver is Waiting offers a potent social critique overflowing with love, despair, passion, and rage. Priya Guns brings to the page a voice infused with both bravado and vulnerability in this madcap story you won't want to put down. * Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch *Your Driver Is Waiting is a perfect gut punch of a novel. This is my favorite kind of writing, full of love and real friendship and frustrations boiled over and the urge to burn everything down. Priya Guns is phenomenal here, her writing is laser-focused and hilarious and full of aching need. This is a hard-hitting masterpiece. I devoured it. * Kristen Arnett, author of WITH TEETH and MOSTLY DEAD THINGS *In powerful and unrelenting prose, Priya Guns's Your Driver is Waiting has accomplished a nearly impossible feat: scathing social commentary about the inequalities of modern day America in a propulsive, funny and tender story about love, community and loss. Damani is an unforgettable heroine that now lives rent-free in my heart. Welcome her into yours. * Cleyvis Natera, author of Neruda on the Park *Your Driver Is Waiting captures something vital about our contemporary moment, about the millions of lives spent on the margins. It's deft enough to navigate questions of class, precarity, race and economic displacement, while managing to be so full of hope, full of fight, full of heart. * Keiran Goddard, author of Hourglass *Your Driver Is Waiting is so real it's scary... Guns expertly exposes the palpable dangers of 'well-meaning' white folks and calls into question who, if anyone, is to be held accountable for the growing ills of modern society. However, she also shows us that a brighter world isn't in our rear-view, but right in front of us, so long as we choose to drive on. You'll want to take this ride. * Mateo Askaripour, New York Times bestselling author of Black Buck *Guns' sharp and bonkers debut reimagines Taxi Driver for the Uber era... plenty of rich commentary on gig work, race, and white privilege. This has plenty of bite. * Publishers Weekly *From page one, this novel had its hands around my neck. A voice that is somehow simultaneously fearless and intensely vulnerable. The only thing slicker than her narrator's driving is Guns's ability to deliver sharp social commentary that will make you unsure of whether you want to laugh or cry. Your Driver Is Waiting is an unhinged joyride - whether you buckle up or not, you're sure to be gripping the edge of your seat. * Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of PIZZA GIRL *A biting and uproarious take on the gig economy, capitalism, and race, this is the kind of book you read in one sitting. * Buzzfeed *It's simply impossible to put this book down. * Barnes & Noble most buzzed about debuts 2023 *Fierce and dynamic... Guns's debut immediately marks her as a writer to watch for years to come. * Chicago Review of Books *A retelling of the movie Taxi Driver featuring a ride-share driver? An incredible premise for a novel that explores work, class, and solidarity (or the lack thereof). * The Millions *A crackling social commentary on the social justice movements of our time, the gig economy, performative wokeness and who gets to speak on behalf of the disadvantaged. It's a fast-paced read that begs to be devoured. * Good Housekeeping *As fresh as fiction comes... brash and brilliantly inventive... Honest, fiery and fearless, Your Driver is Waiting is a whip-smart, wild ride of a novel. * Love Reading *A gripping social satire... A fast-paced pageturner sure to keep you hooked until the very last word. * Diva Magazine *A remarkable piece of writing... A fast-paced narrative with bite and, above all, Damani - smart, funny, brave and feral - a character not soon forgotten. * Toronto Star *A five-star ride, dripping in vivid sensuality: a Taxi Driver for the Uber generation and a heart-rending tale of queer lust across social strata * The Skinny *Travis Bickle, meet Toni Morrison... It's rare for a writer to marry such deep social consciousness with a comic, sultry romance, rarer still to pull that off in a way that satisfies and provokes the reader. * LA Times *A rollicking debut... Priya Guns deserves a big tip for taking us on such an enthralling ride. * Washington Post *A sharp, satisfying read with characters worth noticing and biting commentary on capitalism, community, allyship * Chicago Review of Books *Searing and sexy * Vogue *Houses the radical politics found in the work of Yara Rodrigues Fowler and Meena Kandasamy, yet the brazenness and forthrightness of her prose puts Guns in a space of her own. How far will you go for love, or to survive? What happens when you reach a tipping point? And "how do you know how to live when you've never been given the freedom to?" With a full tank, and rage in her revolutionary heart, Damani drives towards a better world. * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'As funny as it's intellectual, this page-turner about crashing and burning is spot-on about ambition, infatuation, theatre, film, ethics, teens, and everything else.' Emma Donoghue, author of Room 'Witty...Earnest...Laugh-out-loud...Pitch-perfect' New York TimesIn the pursuit of fame, how do you know when you've gone too far?When Cass - a thirty-something, promising, queer playwright - receives a prestigious award, it seems as though her career is finally taking off. That is until she finds herself at the centre of a searing public shaming, which relegates her from rising star in New York to a nobody on her best friend's sofa in L.A. As she comes to terms with the extent of her failure, she is forced to question who she is without the thing that has always defined her: her art. So she fills the days by stalking her playwright nemesis, of whom she is excruciatingly envious, and getting pulled into the orbit of the charismatic but manipulative filmmaker next door. As Cass becomes increasingly involved with her neighbour and the group of pugilistic teenage girls she's documenting, Cass begins to dream of a comeback. But when the film spins dangerously out of control, Cass is once again forced to reckon with her ambition, and her rage.We Play Ourselves is a darkly funny novel about the cost of making art, and the art of making enemies. 'Funny, sharp, modern - this is an excellent debut novel. Its bold, edgy, strange heroine has adventures and misadventures, screws up again and again, but somehow won my love. I couldn't put this book down.' Weike Wang, PEN/Hemingway-award winning author of ChemistryTrade ReviewIn deadpan prose that belies the wackiness of Hollywood and Broadway, Silverman stages a blistering story about the costs of creating art. * Oprah Magazine: 32 LGBTQ Books That Will Change The Literary Landscape in 2021 *As funny as it's intellectual, this page-turner about crashing and burning is spot-on about ambition, infatuation, theatre, film, ethics, teens, and everything else. * Emma Donghue, author of Room *Witty...Earnest...Laugh-out-loud...Pitch-perfect * New York Times *This is a book where the questions are the answers, a story of possibility that challenged and expanded the way I think about redemption. Warm in its humanity and cool in its persistent subversion of narrative expectations, it's a sharp and modern first novel. I loved it. * Maggie Shipstead, New York Times-bestselling author of Seating Arrangements *The multi-talented Jen Silverman knows what she's doing on the page. Funny, sharp, modern - this is an excellent debut novel. Its bold, edgy, strange heroine has adventures and misadventures, screws up again and again, but somehow won my love. I couldn't put this book down. * Weike Wang, PEN/Hemingway-award winning author of Chemistry *A fiercely smart and wildly entertaining exploration of artistic ambition, and what happens when the hunger for fame infects an artist's desire to create something true. A uniquely potent take on female rage and competition that also gorgeously evokes the challenge of developing an authentic self when everything we do can be exploited as content. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. * Julie Buntin, author of Marlena *Silverman employs Cass' wry, deeply felt, often self-deprecating voice to tell this beautifully realized novel about choice, ambition, and revelation, with a nod to feminism in the context of the film and its monstrous director, Caroline. All of Silverman's characters are memorable as they drive the carefully plotted, thought-provoking story. Happily, unlike Cass' failed play, this memorable novel deserves a standing ovation. * Booklist (starred review) *A playwright's public shame and jealousy traps her in self-doubt in this mordant debut novel... Cass's dark humor and acts of self-sabotage keep the reader engaged. Silverman's genuine, stirring novel speaks volumes about the lure and fickleness of fame. * Publisher’s Weekly *The quiet meditations on the precariousness and ever changing nature of success, ambition, and artwork are the novel's greatest strength. A resonant and thoughtful novel. * Kirkus Reviews *A novel about what it might really mean to be an art monster. Or at least a monster who makes art. * LitHub *A thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining yet serious novel * A Life In Books *A penetrating exploration of the skewed values of the theatre industry [...] and the perils of the lust for acclaim * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisFlatmates? Friends? Or something else entirely?Hazel and Alfie have just moved in together as flatmates. They've also just slept together, which was either a catastrophic mistake, or the best decision of their lives. Before they can decide, Hazel's sister Emily and her wife Daria arrive for a visit, setting in motion a chain of events that will turn everything upside down. What follows will bind the four of them together, bringing joy and heartache, hope and anxiety, and reshaping their relationships in ways that none of them quite predicted.Warm, witty, and devastatingly relatable, Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is a painfully true-to-life story about family, friends, and everything in between.Trade ReviewI adored this book - fresh, funny and thought provoking, I fell in love with the characters and did not want it to end.' * Sophie Cousens *Captures the intricacies of modern relationships with undeniable skill, heaps of humour and a style that fans of Sally Rooney will love. Captivating and addictively complex, this novel is full of an unshakable tension that is a delight to get entangled in. * Ashley Hickson-Lovence *A clever and insightful take on what love and family mean in the twenty-first century * Nicola Gill *Brook's enjoyable debut tackles the messiness of love and family... Heartfelt and entertaining * Publishers Weekly *A charming peek inside the messy world of modern dating, blending hard-hitting realities with frivolous fun * Booklist *Brook's ability to balance humor with explorations of heartbreak, anxiety, and betrayal is admirable....an entertaining tale from start to finish, with characters you'll miss right after finishing the epilogue. * Kirkus *

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Book Synopsis'A cyclone of a novel' GuardianAn absolute marvel' Max Porter, bestselling author of Lanny'Dancing and dodging, surprising and poignant' Lisa McInerney, bestselling author of The Rules of RevelationFIRST VOICE: Why are we listening? SECOND VOICE: I dunno, I mean, what else is there to do? Tony Cooney, a local-radio DJ, spends his days on air, talking to the listeners of Cork. They call in to tell him about overturned sewage trucks and nuisance graffiti artists, each story a small testimony to the bustle of life that goes on in the county. Off air, however, Tony is beginning to feel unsettled. His long marriage is strained, his teenage daughter is struggling with her mental health, and then out of the blue an old girlfriend gets in touch and suggests he come to visit. Lou Fitzpatrick, Tony's young radio-show producer, is having her own off-air problems. She wants children, but her girlfriend has other ideas; they've lost their beloved cat and her father's drinking is way past problematic. Which is why both Tony and Lou are relieved to leave Cork and drive across Ireland as part of a radio publicity stunt organized by a local car dealership. Their aim is to give away the Mazda 2 that they're driving, the catch being that it must go to one of the many emigrants who have recently returned home to escape a wave of escalating terror attacks in London. But as they navigate dual-carriageways and Travelodges, giving airtime and narrative to the great cacophony of voices calling into the show, the car competition transforms into a surreal quest: Tony to find his first love, Lou to find answers to impossible questions, and all the while two mysterious voices listen in, making their own estimations... A mighty tale of radios, road trips and of the noisy static of life, All Along the Echo asks us whether our lives ever add up to more than the stories we tell ourselves. Funny, warm and in the wilding spirit of George Saunders or Samuel Beckett, Danny Denton's novel is a bravura capturing of modern Ireland, one that shows us the possibilities of fiction, the nature of love and death, and what it is for each of us to be only the briefest signal in life's splendid broadcastttzchidhcmxc [static].Trade ReviewOne of the best novels of 2022 so far... Brilliant... A beautiful cacophony * The Telegraph *A cyclone of a novel... Best of all, amid the imaginative pyrotechnics, there are moments of real tenderness * Guardian *Denton has done something magical here, maybe even a little metaphysical... Wonderful * Irish Times *One of my favourite contemporary writers. One of my favourite writers full stop. Danny Denton's work always blasts my mind and heart wide open, he's an absolute marvel * Max Porter, author of Lanny *A boisterous chorus, brimming with humanity. All Along the Echo feels like a living thing, dancing and dodging, surprising and poignant. * Lisa McInerney, author of The Rules of Revelation *An unruly, provocative and stunning novel. Lovers of literature and radio: this is for you * Cillian Murphy *Wild, full-hearted, high-concept with real emotional heft * Nicole Flattery, author of Show Them a Good Time *All Along the Echo has the energy of a rebounding pinball. Danny Denton takes you on a voice-switching, shape-shifting adventure * Rebecca Watson, author of little scratch *Grabs the reader by both shoulders and spins... Intensely exhilarating, moving, and often hilarious, this book is a wonder * Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat *Glowing with warmth yet resolute of focus across its fascinatingly fractured form, All Along the Echo is a declaration of love and frailty in a glitchy age of crossed wires and cross purposes * Gavin Corbett, author of Green Glowing Skull *Danny Denon has written a beast of a novel, stretching both hands around the absurd, strange, awful beauty of modern Irish life and hugging it close to him, all of it * Cathy Sweeney, author of Modern Times *All Along the Echo is a very funny book with a sincerely bleak underbelly; a gritty, socially-engaged book with an antic exuberance that is so rare in contemporary writing. It's gorgeous and life-affirming. * Niamh Campbell, author of We Were Young *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick 2023'Not since Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger has the rotten core of modern India been exposed in quite such blackly antic fashion as Parini Shroff manages here in this intermittently absurd, feminist revenge caper about a group of snarky, much-abused, predominantly Hindu wives...sheer gutsy verve.' The Times'A darkly funny revenge drama rooted in the reality of rural India . . . [A] vivid, unsentimental story that succeeds in being both satirical and moving.' Guardian'A radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women' - New York Times'Mordantly humoured, pacey feminist revenge thriller' - The Sunday Times__________________________________For Geeta, life as a widow is more peaceful than life as a wife...Until the other women in her village decide they want to be widows, too.Geeta is believed to have killed her vanished husband - a rumour she hasn't bothered trying to correct, because a reputation like that can keep a single woman safe in rural India. But when she's approached for help in ridding another wife of her abusive drunk of a husband, her reluctant agreement sets in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of all the women in the village....A darkly irreverent and fresh take on a feminist revenge thriller, perfect for readers of My Sister the Serial Killer, How To Kidnap The Rich and the Sharon Horgan series Bad Sisters.'Tender, unpredictable, brimming with laugh-out-loud moments' Téa Obreht, author of THE TIGER'S WIFE'Original, memorable, and endearing' Charmaine Wilkerson, author of BLACK CAKE'A rollicking mash-up of adventure story, thriller, dark revenge, and comedy' Cristina García, author of DREAMING IN CUBANTrade ReviewNot since Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger has the rotten core of modern India been exposed in quite such blackly antic fashion as Parini Shroff manages here in this intermittently absurd, feminist revenge caper about a group of snarky, much-abused, predominantly Hindu wives...sheer gutsy verve. -- Claire Allfree * The Times *Shroff's debut is a darkly funny revenge drama rooted in the reality of rural India . . . Shroff doesn't pull any punches in this vivid, unsentimental story that succeeds in being both satirical and moving. -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *A radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women -- Chandler Baker * New York Times *This funny, feel-good read is a rollicking ride rife with memorable characters involved in ill-fated hijinks. It also serves up commentary on class, power dynamics and the role of women in society, with a feminist history lesson to boot. -- Good Housekeeping * Good Housekeeping *Shroff cleverly considers how women might achieve autonomy within rural India's patriarchal society through shrewd, if complicated, female friendships. -- Washington Post * Washington Post *The Bandit Queens is an original, memorable, and endearing story. At times deeply serious, at times laugh-out-loud funny...a sobering but hopeful exploration of womanhood, social injustices, and second chances. -- Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of BLACK CAKEParini Shroff captures the complexity of female friendship with acuity, wit, and a certain kind of magic irreverence, turning on a dime from humor to horror, horror to heart, and then back again, exhilarating her reader until the very last line. Tender, unpredictable, brimming with laugh-out-loud moments, The Bandit Queens heralds a prodigious and sophisticated literary talent. -- Téa Obreht * Téa Obreht, Orange Prize-winning author of THE TIGER'S WIFE *Parini Shroff's splendid The Bandit Queens is a hilarious romp about serious things - as serious as a novel gets, and as funny, too, with characters who are dear and maddening and indelible and gorgeously drawn. Twisty, compulsive, bold, surprising, moving: it's a wonderful book. -- Elizabeth McCracken * Elizabeth McCracken *Parini Schroff's debut novel, The Bandit Queens, is a rollicking mash-up of adventure story, thriller, dark revenge, and comedy. Rooted in a rural village in India-and led by the pariah widow Geeta, who everyone believes to have killed her husband-a handful of women band together to take back their lives, and take down the patriarchy. An immensely enjoyable read! -- Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban and The Lady Matador’s HotelAn extraordinary caper of a novel. I've never met a character like Geeta...it is dark - but also it's utterly compelling and funny. -- Louise Minchin * Louise Minchin, Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 Judge *This is the best book I've read in a while. THE BANDIT QUEENS is an original, memorable, and endearing story. At times deeply serious, at times laugh-out-loud funny, THE BANDIT QUEENS is a sobering but hopeful exploration of womanhood, social injustices, and second chances in an Indian village. -- Charmaine Wilkerson * Charmaine Wilkerson, author of BLACK CAKE *One of the most talked-about debut novels of the year lives up to the hype and then some. The story of Geetha, a tough-but-wounded young woman in a remote Indian village who, after her abusive husband disappears, gains a reputation as a black widow. These rumors prove somewhat beneficial to Geetha in her desire to be left alone...until other women start approaching her for help in disposing their own shitty husbands. Uproarious, tender, and at times quite harrowing, with razor-sharp dialogue and a truly magnificent cast of characters, The Bandit Queens is a darkly hilarious delight of a novel. -- Dan Sheehan, Book Marks Editor-in-Chief * LitHub *a dark yet uplifting story of village women who fight domestic violence and caste discrimination -- Susan Blumberg-Kason * Asian Review of Books *an audacious high-wire act of a novel that mingles the deadly serious with the highly comic, yet never loses its profound empathy for the women at its heart * Apple Books *Parini Shroff's colourful debut novel, The Bandit Queens, [is] an irreverent and unusual tale of struggle and sisterhood in rural India. -- Radio Times * Radio Times *This mordantly humoured, pacey revenge comedy succeeds in being both feelgood and gleefully nasty, tender and violent. -- Patricia Nicol * The Sunday Times *...a fast-paced, dark comedy of female friendship, revenge, murder and survival. * Mirror *

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Book Synopsis***'A refreshing perspective on mourning, as well as a moving tale of a social outcast' - i-D Magazine******'Subtle and understated [...] ultimately very moving' - The Big Issue******A fascinating glimpse into how [rural women's] lives are still led' - Dorset Magazine***Is it ever too late to change your life?Elegant, wry and moving, The Funeral Cryer tells the tale of one woman's mid-life re-awakening in contemporary rural China and proves that it's never too late to alter your fate.The Funeral Cryer long ago accepted the mundane realities of her life: avoided by fellow villagers because of the stigma attached to her job as a professional mourner and under-appreciated by The Husband, whose fecklessness has pushed the couple close to the brink of break-up. But just when things couldn't be bleaker, The Funeral Cryer takes a leap of faith - and in so doing things start to take a surprising turn for the better . . . Dark, moving and wry, The Funeral Cryer is both an illuminating depiction of a 'left behind' society - and proof that it's never too late to change your life.What readers have been saying about The Funeral Cryer:'A beautiful, thought-provoking book [...] incredibly humorous' - J. Wells, Five-star Reader Review'A stunning debut' - Stacey, Five-star Reader Review'A first person narrative that shows how the life of a middle-aged woman working as a funeral cryer in China is deeply linked to the people who touch her life and the way they treat her.' - Kate Poels, Five-star Reader Review'A remarkable novel that explores themes of marriage, family relationships, elderly care, and gender equality [...] this book offers a unique reading experience and an opportunity for deep contemplation.' - Rui, Five-star Reader Review'Excellent literary fiction. [...] Simultaneously the story speaks to the rural economic desperation, the separation of town and country, they way the young move to the cities and are often left with no other option to finance themselves than selling themselves. The huge discrepancy between the haves and have-nots is very evident.' - Cheryl M-M, Five-star Reader ReviewTrade ReviewA more wry exploration of grief is Wenyan Lu's The Funeral Cryer, about a professional mourner in rural China. Oscillating between tragedy and comedy, Wenyan's novel is a refreshing perspective on mourning, as well as a moving tale of a social outcast. -- Katie Goh * i-D Magazine *a fascinating glimpse into how [rural women's] lives are still led. * Dorset Magazine *I adored The Funeral Cryer about a professional mourner. The prose is elegant and restrained, yet still manages to convey the protagonist's anger that simmers between the pages like a dormant volcano. Highly recommend this stunning debut. -- Stacey Thomas * Stacey Thomas, author of THE REVELS *Wonderful. A deft, humorous exploration of female desire and a forgotten society with a protagonist to love and root for. -- Irenosen Okojie, award-winning author of BUTTERFLY FISH * Irenosen Okojie *This thought-provoking story will stay with me a long time [...] spectacular. -- Diane Billas, author of DOES LOVE ALWAYS WIN? * GoodReads *In haunting, elegiac prose, Wenyan Lu paints a world and profession that few of us are aware of in contemporary, rural China. How a professional mourner, a manipulator of emotions, wrestles with her own midlife crisis is at turns both tragic and comic, and has wide resonance beyond its rural setting. -- Yvonne Singh, Journalist, Editor, Judge SI Leeds 2020It is an exquisite, wholesome and insightful read about a China which many of us might never otherwise have a chance to visit. A jolly good book. -- Chikodili Emelumadu * Chikodili Emelumadu, author of DAZZLING *A wonderful story; so moving. A beautifully written, memorable novel. -- Kadija George * Kadija George *A fascinating exploration of another culture. The eponymous character shows us about life in rural China with a unique voice that can be both wry and heartbreaking. Through her interactions with the other villagers we get a glimpse of what life is like away from the big city. -- M. J. Hollows * M. J. Hollows *...a captivating tale [...] China-born Lu adeptly weaves the age-old themes of filial piety and loyalty into the fabric of the story, highlighting the clash between tradition and modernity in her remote village setting. -- Gabrielle Chan * Strait Times (Singapore) *A fascinating insight into domestic rural life in China today. Lu's choice of heroine is perfect: the funeral cryer is shunned and scorned by the very people who require her services, her resultant marginal and ambiguous social position giving her a unique window on the world around her. Her questions about her own life echo wider concerns about the persistence of traditional culture in modern China, as she negotiates being a good mother, a good daughter and a good wife in a bad marriage. -- Sarah Burton, author of THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HEnlightening [...] a moving story, which sheds light on what life is like in modern rural China, the mixing of modern and traditional customs, and the bonds of love, responsibility and loyalty that underpin everyday lives. * NZ Booklovers *The title character's wry, sad, and insightful inner voice is the star here. Her meditations on grief, death, love, and duty are full of poetry and longing. Perfect for literary-fiction fans, especially those who enjoyed other extraordinary novels about ordinary people, such as Lydia Millet's Dinosaurs and Zorrie by Laird Hunt. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *

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Book Synopsis'Prepare to ugly cry and snort laugh with abandon' - Heat'An emotional read with an OMG ending' - Jill MansellOne moment in time can change everything...The day Scarlett dies should have been one of the most important of her life. It doesn't feel fair that she'll never have the chance to fulfil her dreams - all because she stopped to help a stranger. And now, she's still ... here - wherever here is - watching the ripple effect of her death on those she loved the most.Evie cannot contemplate her life without Scarlett, and she certainly cannot forgive Nate, the man she blames for her best friend's death. But Nate keeps popping up when she least expects him to, catapulting Evie's life in directions she'd never let herself imagine possible. If you could go back, knowing everything that happens after, everything that happens because of one choice you made, would you change the course of history or would you do it all again?'A gorgeous love story with a twist' Veronica Henry'An unexpected ending that leaves you reeling' - Good HousekeepingTrade ReviewA thought-provoking and moving novel about loss, love, and the unique and life-affirming power of friendship. Poignant yet unwaveringly hopeful, One Moment is a fresh look at how grief can not only break us, but put us back together again. An unmissable debut. * Holly Miller *'Completely involving. An emotional read about love and trust, with an OMG ending -- Jill MansellA beautiful, bittersweet examination of friendship, love and grief, prepare to ugly cry and snort laugh with abandon * Heat *Wonderful * Marie Claire *This heart-wrenching tale is beautifully written * Sun *A beautifully written novel that captures the joy of a lifelong friendship and the horror of grief. Fans of JoJo Moyes will devour Becky Hunter's stunning tale * Sunday Express *A joy from start to finish -- Sheila O'Flanagan. No. 1 bestselling authorThis emotional read about friendship, love and loss is touching and relatable with an unexpected ending that leaves you reeling * Good Housekeeping *Full of heart and humour and the characters are all so well written * Prima *One Moment is so many things. A gorgeous love story with a twist, a tender portrait of the kind of friendship that transcends everything, and an exploration of the important things in life. It will make you question who you are, and what you want, and how to make the most of every opportunity and every relationship you have. Intimate, thoughtful, beautiful and deeply moving. Becky Hunter will steal your heart! -- Veronica HenryI adored this emotional debut from Becky Hunter. It's such a gorgeous tale of love and friendship, beautifully written and with characters you really believe in. * Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls *An exquisitely written novel about grief, hope and the power of love. I loved every word. -- Cathy Bramley, Sunday Times bestselling authorBeautiful, hopeful, deeply emotional, incredibly wise and wonderfully romantic. One of those books I feel stronger for reading -- Cressida McLaughlinFantastic. Incredibly moving and very thoughtfully written -- Harriet TyceThis stunning debut explores grief, love and friendship in a beautiful and original way - a powerful read full of both moving and joyful moments * My Weekly *A story of friendship, loss and how one moment can change your whole life. A gorgeous debut. * Woman *Sharp, funny, tear-jerking, so assured and well observed. What a debut! -- Elizabeth BuchanA compelling read * Bella *A beautiful story about love and loss * Best *A warm and thoughtful novel that skewers friendship, loss and negotiating grief in a touching and relatable way. I was completely caught up in Evie and Scarlet's stories. -- Fanny BlakeA page-turner to grip you * Chat *Deeply moving ... truly packs an emotional punch. Heatwarming, witty and brilliantly written. * Press and Journal *A poignant, uplifting and life-affirming tale of friendship, love, grief and learning to let go. It'll have you welling up one moment and smiling the next. And by the end, your heart will feel a little fuller. * CultureFly *A hugely accomplished debut about dying, grief and loss, but also learning to live again. It's about love in all its forms, and, despite its subject matter, it manages to be uplifting and life-affirming. It's a story that will stay with me for a long time. -- Claire FrostSo moving and uplifting - I have no doubt that readers will fall in love -- Emylia HallAn engaging story about love, true friendship and sacrifice * Candis *A touching tale focusing on friendship, grief, and hope * That's Life *

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Book Synopsis Can the festive magic heal her broken heart? There is more than one surprise in store… When Nessa Hunt arrives in Rose Bend she is looking for answers, and her absent father. Not a picture perfect town teeming with Christmas cheer, or the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison. Instantly the heat between her and Wolf is undeniable and the festive merriment of the town is almost enough to make Nessa believe in the Christmas spirit. But with lingering questions about her birth father, is there room in Nessa’s life for happy holidays and happily-ever-after? Readers LOVE Christmas in Rose Bend ‘If you only read one festive themed read this year, make it Christmas in Rose Bend’ 5 Stars ‘I can’t adequately convey how much I loved this book.'Goodreads review 5 Stars ‘A lovely Christmas read.’NetGalley Reviewer 4 Stars ‘An adorable, quick and easy read that i really enjoyed. a cute plot, endearing characters and a great setting, I loved it’NetGalley Reviewer 4 Stars Fall in love with Rose BendSlow Dance at Rose BendThe Road to Rose BendA Kiss to RememberChristmas in Rose BendThe Love ListWith Love from Rose BendTrade Review‘I can’t adequately convey how much I loved this book.'Goodreads review 5 Stars ‘A lovely Christmas read.’NetGalley Reviewer 4 Stars ‘An adorable, quick and easy read that i really enjoyed. a cute plot, endearing characters and a great setting, I loved it’NetGalley Reviewer 4 Stars

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Book SynopsisA story of one girl 's struggle with herself, her life and her family. And the story of a family's struggle with a daughter/sister they can never hope to understand. She lies in the bed and she is sick. Sicker than she's ever been before. But with the sickness comes a pain and in that pain she finds a glory. And it's the glory that gets her through. When her body heals and she is out of the hospital and home with her family, she finds she needs to seek out a new glory, a stronger glory. She finds it in starvation. But her family, her friends, and her teachers intrude, and she decides she needs a different life, one where her glory is truly safe. A story of one girl's struggle with herself, her life and her family. And the story of a family's struggle with a daughter/sister they can never hope to understand. An impressive new voice in youth literature, Sarah Brill's novel Glory tells the powerful story of a fifteen-year-old girl, who has just woken up in a hospital after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Sarah Brill began writing for the theatre at the age of 15. She attended four National Young Playwrights Workshops before graduating to the National Playwrights Conference.Since then she has had several plays produced and broadcast on the ABC. Glory is her first novel.

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Book SynopsisBy recounting one woman's real-time witnessing of a couple's experience of stillbirth, Born Sleeping explores the ambivalence that lies at the heart of human relationships, the difficulty of comprehending others' realities, the voyeurism of being on the outside of trauma and the disturbingly cool, detached eye of the writer.

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Book SynopsisCarol Lefevre is an Adelaide-based writer whose book, The Happiness Glass, explores the imaginative terrain between essays and short fiction. The narrative takes us from remote NSW to New Zealand and England through a series of deeply affecting experiences of poverty, domestic violence, loneliness, infertility, adoption and grief. Her writing is sharp, moving, insightful and beautifully poetic. “Burning With Madame Bovary” records the tentative emergence of a writer, while the remaining essays explore the complex griefs of homesickness, inter-country adoption, and family estrangement. The fictional character Lily Brennan appears at points from childhood to old age, allowing the writer to navigate some of the problems of autobiographical writing, while adding layers of meaning to the unfolding lifeTrade ReviewA mellifluous but uncompromising and utterly convincing window onto the journeys thatwomen sometimes have to take. This is a superb collection. I read with relish and grief.Brian Castro

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Book SynopsisCheryl Adam's Lillian's Eden takes the reader on a journey through rural post-war life in the midst of a family attempting to survive on a pittance. Lillian is confronted by her impecunious, philandering and violent husband but agrees to move from the farm that she has built up from scratch to the coastal town of Eden to look after Aunt Maggie. Aunt Maggie is a wonderfully drawn eccentric character but Lillian has to work out just how to make this relationship work. Cheryl Adam's novel reminds us of Ruth Park and Kylie Tennant with its raw richness.Trade ReviewLillian’s Eden opens a magic door into 1950s rural Australia. It is an elegantly-paced, colourful excursion down memory lane, complete with money worries, murky family secrets, an eccentric old aunt, an abusive, adulterous husband, and a feisty, courageous wife. Tragedy, comedy, farce, tenderness, triumph – and grit. — Carmel Bird

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