Contemporary lifestyle fiction

Book SynopsisSet over the course of one life-changing year, The Best Days of Our Lives is a warm, big-hearted and poignant story, full of hope, heartache and love - the perfect gift this Christmas.The McKenzies are your average complicated family: knotted together by in-jokes, arguments and a few closely-guarded secrets. Thirty-something sisters Leni and Alice became inseparable following the divorce of their parents, Belinda and Tony, with younger brother Will always trying to keep up. They're not perfect, but they love each other - most of the time, anyway.But then one ordinary summer day, an accident changes the family forever. Questions arise, guilt surfaces and secrets begin to emerge. Scattered by grief and seeking comfort in the unlikeliest of places, can the McKenzies find their way back to each other?'Deeply moving' Katie Fforde'Wise and wonderful' Veronica Henry'Compelling and beautifully written' Sarah MorganSEE WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES'So real and so romantic' Laura Kemp'Deeply moving' 5* Reader Review'This book touched my heart' Sarah Morgan'So uplifting and comforting' 5* Reader Review'Poignant, yet uplifting and comforting' My WeeklyTrade ReviewThe Best Days of Our Lives is one of those books that makes you reassess how you live your own life. Deeply moving but ultimately uplifting, you won't regret reading this * Katie Fforde *Wise, moving and heart-warming - this is Lucy Diamond at her very best * Rosie Walsh *Lucy is at the top of her game with this wise and wonderful book. It's deeply moving and truly uplifting. No-one does real life better than Lucy Diamond * Veronica Henry *A compelling and beautifully written tale of love, grief and family. This book touched my heart * Sarah Morgan *So real and so romantic * Laura Kemp *No one writes about family like Lucy does. This is a masterpiece in how broken people negotiate and ultimately survive the worst that life can throw at them. It's an absolutely beautiful book * Milly Johnson *A bittersweet ode to the highs, the lows, and all the shades of living in between, The Best Days of Our Lives is Lucy Diamond at her absolute best. Prepare to be charmed! * Laura Jane Williams *Despite the heavy subject matter which is sure to stir up your emotions, Lucy Diamond's lively and frequently humorous writing ensures you'll laugh as often as you cry * Sunday Express *A heavy subject matter is handled with a deft touch * The Times *Have the tissues at the ready for this poignant, yet uplifting and comforting read * My Weekly *A brilliantly observed slice of family life full of joy, sorrow, happiness and hope, I loved it * Alex Brown *Fabulous, uplifting and life affirming * My Weekly *A bittersweet delight * Heat *Emotional, gentle and, in spite of its serious subject matter, uplifting * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisA heart-wrenching story about love, loss, sex, the friendship between women, and the universal struggle to come to terms with death. Just before the outbreak of the July 2006 war in Lebanon, a middle-aged woman named Nahla has gone missing. Distraught, besieged, and without any leads, Nahla’s dearest friends—Suad, Azizeh, Hoda, Nadine, and the narrator Alawiya—band together to console one another. They reminisce about the better days of their youth, lifetimes of romantic turmoil, the trouble with love, and their inescapable confrontation with death. Unsure whether Nahla has been killed in the fighting, fled the country, or disappeared into the oblivion of Alzheimer’s, Alawiya pieces together Nahla’s intimate past, simultaneously illuminating the jagged history of modern Lebanon. Through searching discussions with Nahla’s closest confidante Suad, tenacious investigation, and an imaginative effort to reconstruct the life of another, Alawiya might just find a way to bring Nahla back. In This Thing Called Love, celebrated Lebanese novelist Alawiya Sobh takes the war between Israel and Hizballah as the backdrop for a heart-wrenching story about love, loss, sex, the friendship between women, and the universal struggle to come to terms with mortality.

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Book SynopsisVenice was where it all began…Libby and Will spent a glorious honeymoon in this magical city. They didn’t have much money, but they had a whole lot of love and a bright future ahead of them.And Venice was where it all went wrong…Two kids and twenty-five years later, they are struggling with money problems but somehow Will manages to fulfil his promise to Libby to take her back to Venice for their anniversary. This time, they are doing it in style and a masked ball awaits. But among the beautiful buildings and romantic canals, Libby learns that her husband has a secret that breaks her heart.The trust is broken and the marriage is over. But there are decades of love and two grown sons between them.Can they ever find their way back to each other or have they missed their chance forever?A funny and heartwarming second-chance romance, perfect for fans of Milly Johnson and Julie Caplin.Readers are falling in love with My Heart is in Venice:'A believable story with laugh-out-loud moments...so relatable and true to life! Loved it!' Harriet J. Kent'Funny, heartwarming and addictive.' Susan Buchanan'I would highly recommend this fabulous book which is full of the trials and tribulations of family life, love, drama and intrigue together with lovable characters that you don't want to leave behind when the book ends.' Rosy Gee‘I did not want it to end, I fell in love with the characters and this is my favourite rom com of the year!...I am absolutely in love with this book... This story reached into my heart, broke it and put it back together.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘I loved the characters...A really sweet book with some twists and turns, and a perfect ending. Highly recommend for curling up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘Love how this author writes about real people and relatable issues and targets those in their 40s and 50s in their stories. This was so much more than just a romantic read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader ReviewPraise for Helga Jensen:‘I simply couldn’t put this down. I laughed out loud several times before I’d even finished the first chapter.’ Jules Wake‘A joyous tale of rediscovering your dreams, love and sense of self. Sheer fun and absolute UpLit!’ Pernille Hughes‘I love this book so much! All I wanted was for it not to end! It’s right there on my top romcoms list now.’ Natalie Normann‘A charming, funny story… Ideal sunshine reading.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘I loved every page and still think about the characters… lots of laugh-out-loud moments to be enjoyed’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘A beautiful story … well worth 5 stars and I recommend this great summer read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘Wow, just wow … It’s funny, cute and romantic and that twist… What more can you ask for?’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review

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Book SynopsisThe perfect cosy and uplifting romance to curl up with this winter!In Mistletoe Gardens a legend exists: anyone who kisses underneath the mistletoe will be guaranteed another year of love…When local baker Essie Browne discovers that Mistletoe Gardens is to be demolished in January, she’s determined to save the place she loves so much. So Essie proposes building a life size gingerbread house to bring in the crowds…just how hard can it be?Well, quite hard actually. Essie can bake gingerbread blindfolded, but she hasn’t got a clue how to build an actual house with it! She needs help - and fast!Enter local builder, Joss Hallissey. Essie is convinced that with Joss’s help they can pull this off. There’s just one tiny problem: Joss hates Christmas, gingerbread, and… well, just about everything else too.Joss the Grinch makes it clear that her idea is ludicrous and pointless, but he reluctantly agrees to help with her plan.Will the gingerbread house be enough to save Mistletoe Gardens? Or will Essie's chance for a magical kiss under the mistletoe be lost forever?Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Kat French and Caroline Roberts!Readers LOVE Jaimie Admans!‘This book really captured my heart and filled it with so much joy, I just couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to get stuck in to more of Jaimie's books.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Highly recommend this as a perfect escapist read, once I had started I couldn’t stop and read it in almost one sitting.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Thank you Jaimie for another amazing book.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Oh wow Jaimie Admans has done it again. I laughed, I cried whilst trying to work out the mysteries within the story.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I loved this book! Clear your diary for an afternoon or two in the garden and get reading…’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Jaimie Admans books always manage to grab you from the first page, and this wonderful book is no exception. I was drawn in by the magical, otherworldly atmosphere of the story.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their estranged mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show. While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.  Trade Review“The tenderness, vulnerability and heat I am always guaranteed with a Tessa Bailey book are the reasons she is one of my all-time favorite authors.” — Sally Thorne “Tessa Bailey writes pure magic.” — Alexis Daria “One of the genre’s very best.” — Kate Clayborn “Tessa Bailey’s writing stands out in all the right sexy ways.” — Buzzfeed “Bailey writes banter and rom-com scenarios with aplomb, but for those who like their romance on the spicier side, she’s also the Michelangelo of dirty talk. She wields filth like Da Vinci does a paintbrush, and there’s a lot to be said for an author who can fill such exchanges with all the requisite heat, enthusiastic consent, and yes, even humor, of such a scenario without veering into corny territory.” — Entertainment Weekly “Tessa Bailey is the queen of rom-coms. Long may she reign!" — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Merry Little Meet Cute “Nothing makes my heart catch fire like a Tessa Bailey book. She is all things magic and dirty talk.” — Elena Armas, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Spanish Love Deception

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians, now a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan, comes a deliciously fun story of family, fortune, and fame in Mainland China. It's the eve of Rachel Chu's wedding, and she should be over the moon. She has a flawless oval-cut diamond, a wedding dress she loves, and a fiancé willing to give up one of the biggest fortunes in Asia in order to marry her. Still, Rachel mourns the fact that her birth father, a man she never knew, won't be there to walk her down the aisle.Then a chance accident reveals his identity. Suddenly, Rachel is drawn into a dizzying world of Shanghai splendor, a world where people attend church in a penthouse, where exotic cars race down the boulevard, and where people aren't just crazy rich... they're China rich.Trade ReviewJust as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice gave us insight into the English class system of the Regency era, Kevin Kwan uses biting social commentary to illuminate the lives of Asia's modern-day wealthy elite. Except he's 10 times funnier than Austen. * Herald Sun *His novels are the equivalent of a Bubble Tea concoction laced with Henry James extracts and Jackie Collins sprinkles - tracking a level of wealth that makes even Downton Abbey look more like Downton Arriviste. * The Daily Beast *To be let loose into the decadent playground of the filthy rich offers the reader a heady taste of vicarious escapism. Yet to dismiss this book as merely a soulless lark would be a disservice to Kwan and his impeccable writing. * Sunday Age *Deliciously fun... Comic satire at its best. * Who Weekly *His novels are comedies of bad manners; a Far-Eastern mash-up of Trollope, Austen and Gossip Girl. * Financial Review *High jinks, high living and hilarity * Sydney Morning Herald *

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Book SynopsisTen years on from Trainspotting Sick Boy is back in Edinburgh after a long spell in London. Having failed spectacularly as a hustler, pimp, husband, father and businessman, Sick Boy taps into an opportunity which to him represents one last throw of the dice. However, to realise his dream of directing and producing a pornographic movie, Sick Boy must team up with old pal and fellow exile Mark Renton. In the world of Porno, though, nothing is straightforward, as Sick Boy and Renton find out that they have unresolved issues to address concerning the increasingly unhinged Frank Begbie, the troubled, drug-addled Spud, but, most of all, with each other.Trade ReviewFunny, appalling, frightening * Mail on Sunday *A brilliant satirical study of the ugly dynamic which draws together predators and prey * Sunday Telegraph *Not for the fainthearted... Highly entertaining * Sunday Times *Funny and eloquently obscene * Daily Telegraph *A worthy sequel... A touching love song to the possibilities and limits of friendship. Charming, funny and sly, Porno is a good poke at all kinds of pretence and moral tidiness * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisA deluxe volume of 16 Celtic folk tales sure to impress any fan of cultural and mythological literature with impactful and stunning illustrations by contemporary artist Kate Forrester.Perilous quests, true love, and animals that talk. The traditional stories of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales collected in this extraordinary volume conjure forgotten realms and rare magical creatures in vivid prose, transporting us to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore.These timeless tales brim with wit and magic, and each one is brought to life with elegant silhouette art in this special illustrated edition. "It''s an absorbing introduction to the lore of Albion, but readers will also enjoy teasing out similarities between these tales and more familiar ones."—Publishers Weekly ENCHANTING COLLECTION: Translated and transcribed by folklorists in the late 19th and 20th centuries, the 16 stories collected in Celtic Tales are grouped into four themes: Tricksters, The Sea, Quests, and Romance. Discover delightfully entertaining tales such as Master and Man, The Soul Cages, The Red-Etin, and The Witch of Lok Island.BEAUTIFUL GIFT: With its bold hardcover design, a satin ribbon page marker, and a striking full-page illustration for each story,Celtic Tales makes an impressive gift. Perfect for fans of fairy tales, ghost stories, Greek mythology, Roman mythology, Chinese mythology, Celtic mythology, and folklore and cultural studies from around the globe. READERS LOVE IT: With hundreds of 5-star ratings, reviewers rave that this "absolutely beautiful" book is one that "will stand out on your shelf." Perfect for: Fans of other titles in the popular Tales series, including Ghostly Tales,Nordic Tales, Tales of Japan, Tales of India, and Tales of East Africa Anyone who enjoys timeless stories, from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm to Egyptian mythology to Greek classics Collectors of illustrated classics or artfully designed books Adding to the shelf alongside Stephen Fry’s Greek Mythology trilogy (Mythos, Heroes, Troy), Neil Gaiman''s Norse Mythology, or Madeline Miller''s Circe and Song of Achilles

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Book SynopsisFun, festive and fabulous. A story that sparkles like Christmas snow.' MILLY JOHNSONA page-turner' Woman's WeeklyWhen Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves, she anticipates a quiet Christmas getting used to her new life. However, the annual street decoration competition is coming up and this year, the residents of Winter Street are determined to win.As she is pulled into the preparations, Sky quickly grows to love the quirky, tight-knit community she is now part of. Including the extremely handsome Daz, who soon becomes more than just a friendly neighbour.But when Daz's ex turns up determined to win him back and it seems he might not be the man Sky thought he was, she remembers how much allowing people into her life and heart can hurt. As the snow falls, will she and Daz find a way through and help win a Christmas victory for Winter Street?A gorgeously festive novel about love, family and the power of forgiveness from Sunday Times bestseller Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR SUE MOORCROFT: ‘Fun, festive and fabulous. A story that sparkles like Christmas snow.’ Milly Johnson ‘Evocative, engaging and gloriously romantic.’ Cathy Bramley ‘A glorious adventure… perfect escapism to brighten the greyest of days.’ Fiona Gibson ‘Full of sunshine and secrets.’ Heidi Swain ‘It whisked me off to sun-drenched Italy…I could feel the heat on my face and taste the wine!' Phillipa Ashley ‘Sue’s novels are the perfect escape. You’re guaranteed a warm and cosy read whatever the weather.’ Bella Osborne ‘A magical escape with all the ingredients of a perfect romance.’ Helen Rolfe ’An absolute gem – I just couldn’t put it down!’ Christina Courtenay

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Book SynopsisThe inclusive LGBTQ+ fairytalecollection that has grabbed headlines across the world!Powerful princesses that slay giants,and beautiful princes that find true love.Heroes come in all shapes and sizes in these tales of old and new.Celebrating a multitude of ethnicities, genders and sexualities, this sparkling collection of 17 short stories takes new and familiar fairy tales and reimagines them in contemporary and inclusive light.The collection was originally published in Hungary,where the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters sparked political controversy. It quickly became an important symbol in the fight for equality and against discrimination in Hungary and enjoyed a vast wave of support both within and outside the country.I wish I could have read this book when I was a child. Sir Ian McKellenA Fairytale For Everyone is the winner of an English PEN Translates Award.

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Book SynopsisA classic collection of tales for young readers of about five, featuring beloved characters and lively stories by Michael Bond, Jill Barklem, Elizabeth Laird and others, chosen by children's book expert, Julia Eccleshare.Paddington Bear tries to buy a birthday present, the animals of Brambly Hedge set off to the seaside; A greedy queen insists on having the biggest tree in the world, but will Cinderella get to go to the ball?These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

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Book SynopsisSara is an award-winning children's book illustrator living and working in Reggio Emilia, Italy. She illustrators children's books, board games and puzzles. Sara loves art, nature and animals, especially dogs.

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Book SynopsisIntroduced by Naomi Mitchison. Set over two thousand years ago on the calm and fertile shores of the Black Sea, Naomi Mitchison''s The Corn King and the Spring Queen tells of ancient civilisations where tenderness, beauty and love vie with brutality and dark magic. Erif Der, a young witch, is compelled by her father to marry his powerful rival, Tarrik the Corn King, so becoming the Spring Queen. Forced by her father, she uses her magic spells to try and break Tarrik''s power. But one night Tarrik rescues Sphaeros, an Hellenic philosopher, from a shipwreck. Sphaeros in turn rescues Tarrik from near death and so breaks the enchantment that has bound him. And so begins for Tarrik a Quest - a fabulous voyage of discovery which will bring him new knowledge and which will reunite him with his beautiful Spring Queen.Trade ReviewThe breathtaking recreation of life in the ancient world welds the power of myth and magic to a stirring plot. -- Ian Rankin

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Book Synopsis A classic collection of stories by P.L Travers, Penelope Lively, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen, Alexander McCall Smith and others, specially chosen for young readers of around seven by children’s book expert, Julia Eccleshare.

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Book SynopsisShe’s twenty-three and in love with love. He’s older, and the most beautiful man she’s ever seen. The affair is quickly consuming.But this relationship is unpredictable, and behind his perfect looks is a mean streak. She's intent on winning him over, but neither is living up to the other’s ideals. He keeps emailing his thin, glamorous ex, and she's starting to give in to secret, shameful cravings of her own. The search for a fix is frantic, and taking a dangerous turn…We’re all looking to get what we want – but do we know what we need?Trade ReviewPlease believe the hype . . . Nolan's book describes a very particular experience and it does so with rare intelligence and courage . . . [Her] headlong, fearless prose feels like salt wind on cracked lips. You wince and you thrill. * Sunday Times *Deeply felt and seriously, spikily intelligent . . . The millennial author everyone should be watching right now. * Daily Telegraph *Tapping into the zeitgeist comes one of the books of 2021: Megan Nolan's Acts of Desperation . . . a heartbreaking-but-resonating portrait of one woman's savage mistreatment of herself in the name of love. * Stylist *There is so much to admire in this extremely impressive first novel, which captures an intense experience with clarity and style. It is fully itself, and flawless in its way. * Guardian *Nigh-on impossible not to devour. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBrinkley's sentences are daggers' RAVEN LEILANIExtraordinary moving, compelling and virtuosic'OBSERVERA triumph' COLIN BARRETTAn electric collection of stories set in contemporary New York, from the award-winning author of A Lucky Man and National Book Award finalist, Jamel Brinkley.What does it mean to take action? To bear witness? What does it cost?These stories take us into the heart of contemporary New York City and its residents' lives. We meet children, grandmothers and even ghosts as they strive to connect, to stand up for, and to really see each other. Their relationships shape not only their own futures but those of their families and their city.In its portraits of families and friendships, Witness enacts its own testimony. Here is a world where fortunes can be made and stolen in a generation, where strangers sometimes show kindness while those we trustdoctors, employers, siblingstoo often turn away, where joy comes in snatches.With prose as upendingly beautiful as it is artfTrade Review‘Extraordinary … Confirms Brinkley’s place among the most moving, compelling and virtuosic practitioners of the short form’ Observer ‘Exhilarating … Each story is a gift’ New York Times ‘An important new voice … Taut and convincing’ Guardian ‘Brinkley’s sentences are daggers. He writes about the shifting intimacies of community and love with wit and warmth’ Raven Leilani, author of Luster ‘Virtuosic, fine-tuned and thrillingly assured’ Colin Barrett, author of Homesickness ‘Each story in Witness brings a novel's worth of richness and complexity … Dazzling’ Yiyun Li, author of The Book of Goose ‘Jamel Brinkley is brilliant, the real thing, a revelation’ Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You ‘Stories of rare beauty and insight, that glitter with humour and hurt’ David Hayden, author of Darker With the Lights On ‘Beautiful, original … I will revisit this collection again and again’ Rachel Connolly, author of The Lazy City ‘One of the best story writers we have … A book of psychological acuity, of graceful sentences, of devastation and heart’ Justin Torres, author of We the Animals 'Read Witness and allow yourself the pleasure of seeing the world as Brinkley sees it' Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House ‘There is all the involvedness and complexity of a novel in each story … Brilliant’ Caoilinn Hughes, author of The Wild Laughter ‘Brinkley’s voice is unflinching, his eye panoramic’ Saba Sams, author of Send Nudes ‘One of the finest young writers working today’ Vulture ‘One of the year’s most anticipated works’ NPR ‘Brinkley’s stories carry a rich veneer worthy of such exemplars of the form as Chekhov, Eudora Welty, Alice Munro … A grand master of the short story’ Kirkus

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Book SynopsisA blisteringly sharp novel of self-acceptance, friendship and making connections in the most unexpected of places . . . **** ''Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling'' DAILY MAIL ''A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong'' RED ''Best Books of January 2024''''Sharp, sublime and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it'' CHRIS WHITAKER, New York Times bestselling author ''This book blew me away, I''m still reeling from it . . . This is a powerful novel that will bring out a world of emotions in you . . . Just brilliant'' ***** Reader Review****Nicki - 30ish, care worker, living in Brighton - is scrolling for her next hook-up. A difficult home life, a job that''s going nowhere, she seeks solace in random encounters. Amber - 17, college student, lost - desperately needs someone to notice her. She creates ''Kevin'', a fake dating profile for a man in his thirties.Neither Nicki nor ''Kevin'' has any idea what they''re about to get into. They quickly match, and an unlikely friendship develops, giving each other the validation they both sorely need. But can you ever truly connect when one of you is a liar?***''A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we''ll go to create connections'' HEATHER DARWENT, Sunday Times bestselling author ''Emotive . . . a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive'' AMY BEASHEL''WHAT. A. BOOK. I was utterly gripped from the first page. One that people will be talking about long after they finish reading'' LISA HALLTrade ReviewAlways emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling * Daily Mail *A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong * Red, 'Best Books of January 2024' *Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. Nothing Serious takes an honest and heartfelt look at loneliness and longing, friendship and survival. I loved it -- Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the EndA searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections -- Heather Darwent, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Things We Do To Our FriendsAn emotive insight into the consequences of bruising loneliness, Nothing Serious is a powerful tale of a skewed but hopeful friendship through which two very different women find the courage to survive -- Amy Beashel, author of Spilt MilkWHAT. A. BOOK. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it before, I was utterly gripped from the first page. I loved Emma's characters, they felt real and balanced, flawed and relatable. Such a perfectly relevant read, and one that I think people will be talking about/thinking over for a long time after they finish reading -- Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and MeMagnetic, raw and powerful, this is a compulsive novel about loneliness and connection that will stay with me a long time -- Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

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Book Synopsis‘I absolutely loved this book! Charming, funny – I laughed out loud several times' SARAH TURNER (The Unmumsy Mum), author of Stepping Up Have you ever wondered how normal you are?  What if you were perfectly average?  More than anyone else.  For Emily – it's true. When she watches a documentary on the average human she sees her life. Her job, her hair, her favourite food. All of her – plainly, horrifically average. Even her blood group. Right there and then, she decides she wants more. She'll travel the world (i.e. venture out of her hometown)She'll become a vegan (it's interesting to hate cheese, right?) She'll do something daring (As long as it's safety tested)  Nothing will stand in the waTrade Review‘Funny, heartfelt, and tackling the complexity of grief in an original way, this debut is far from average’ – Heat ‘Funny and heartwarming’ – Closer ‘Funny and emotional – this is a top read’ – Fabulous Magazine ‘A sparkling novel with a relatable protagonist’ – Woman’s Own ‘Bradford-based Ryan…goes to the top of the class with this debut about a fresh start that will take you from all-out laughter to tears’ – The Sunday Post'PURE JOY' 'This book just spoke to me' 'Had me chortling out loud while at some points shedding a tear' 'I couldn’t put it down' 'A story that can make you laugh out loud and well-up' 'Vivid, sparkling and entertaining - what a great debut' 'I LOVED everything about this book' 'Such a gorgeous story'

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Book SynopsisEdited by James Shepherd, this collection includes tales selected from a number of anthologies brought together by writers such as Sarah Powers Bradish, Abbie Farewell Brown and Mary Litchfield.

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Book Synopsis From Sunday Times and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Things We Never Got Over Dominic: I got her fired. Okay, so I''d had a bad day, but there''s nothing innocent about Ally Morales. Maybe her colourful, annoying, inexplicably alluring personality brightens up the magazine''s offices that have felt like a prison for the past year. Maybe I like that she argues with me in front of the editorial staff. And maybe my after-hours fantasies are haunted by her brown eyes and sharp tongue.She''s working herself to death at half a dozen dead-end jobs for some secret reason. And I''m going to fix it all. Don''t accuse me of caring. She''s nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. If I can get her to quit, I can finally peel away all those layers. Then I can go back to salvaging the family name and forget all about the dancing, beer-slinging brunette.Ally:Ha. Hold my beer, Grumpy Grump Face.

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Book SynopsisHot chemistry, fantastic writing, realistic character flaws, triumphs, and family dramaXio Axelrod never misses a beat! REBECCA YARROS, #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorREADY OR NOT, SOON THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING TO KNOW HER NAMEOnce upon a time, the pressure to be the perfect daughter nearly broke Kayla Whitman. Desperate to find an outlet away from her controlling mother, she picked up a pair of drumsticks, forever altering the rhythm of her life. Since then, she''s been determined to make her own way, finding her home with her bandmates even as she fights to keep her past and her present firmly separate.Things were simple enough when the Lillys were playing local gigs at dive bars, but now they''re on their first official tourand all Kayla can see are warning signs. Desperate to escape the worry churning inside her, Kayla finds solace in quiet tour bus driver Ty Baldwinand discovers in him a kindred spirit like no one she''s ever met before.<Trade ReviewHot chemistry, fantastic writing, realistic character flaws, triumphs, and family drama—Xio Axelrod never misses a beat! Girls With Bad Reputations is one you don't want to miss! * Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Fourth Wing *

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Book Synopsis''Brimming with tenderness, hope, humor, and healing, this romance is truly something wild and wonderful'' Ashley Herring Blake''A tender, achingly beautiful journey of love and healing'' Chloe Liese''Kelly never fails to bring the perfect combination of humor, swoons, and grounded emotion'' Timothy Janovsky''I can''t get enough of Anita Kelly''s writing'' Ava WilderFrom the author of Love & Other Disasters, named a ''must-read'' by USA Today, PopSugar, SheReads, and Harper Bazaar, comes a sparkling grumpy-meets-sunshine rom-com featuring two men''s sweeping journey across the Northwestern wilderness..............................This trail could take them anywhere . . . Alexei Lebedev''s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail begins with saving a hot stranger from a snake. Alexei was prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he wasn''t prepared for was outgoing and cha

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Book Synopsis**FROM ONE OF THE STARS OF BBC'S HIT SERIES MOTHERLAND**'Jackie Clune's writing always make me roar with laughter' NIGELLA LAWSON'A proper twisty turny plot' GRAHAM NORTON'Joyful... Charts lockdown beautifully' LOOSE ENDS'Humorous and hopeful' WOMAN'S WEEKLYLondon, March 2020. Angela is reeling from the sudden death of her husband Robert. As the world hunkers down against the pandemic, she and her two children - home from university - lock down in their grief and remembrance. Except Angela has this gnawing sensation, a tightness in her chest every time she thinks of Robert. He could be harsh, critical, often belittling in front of others. But he did his best - didn't he? He looked after them, even if he did make the decisions and laugh at her small ambitions. Even if he controlled most things in Angela's so-called life.As lockdown drags on with its do-gooder neighbours and their cake-baking and competitive Clapping for Carers, Angela makes a disturbing discovery on Robert's old phone: messages from a woman who clearly had a close relationship with her late husband. Enraged but liberated by the betrayal, Angela starts to reclaim her life.Until she runs into Zana. Zana, who appears to be watching her house. Zana, with her small child in tow. Zana, and her inexplicable connection to Robert...When Angela decides to help Zana she is forced to reframe her outlook, check her privilege and confront how exactly she plans to live the rest of her life. Slowly they build a relationship based on their mutual recognition, and when Zana introduces Angela to her friends at the local homeless mother and child hostel, she discovers a different, more hopeful, kind of family bubble.Wickedly dark but full of heart, this is a story of pulling together and finding love and connection in the most surprising of places.

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Book SynopsisSometimes, you have to go far from home to find your way back. Nora is about to turn twenty-seven and things couldn't be better. She's just told her boss exactly what she thinks of him after being offered her dream job and is looking forward to a summer of old friends and new adventures. But when Nora discovers that there's been a mistake and they've given her dream job to someone else, her future - and summer - suddenly isn't looking so bright. So, when she's given the opportunity to escape to idyllic Cornwall, she doesn't hesitate. It was just supposed to be a distraction while she looks for something else, but could this be the summer that she finds everything she's looking for right there in Cornwall?________________________________________________________________________________________________PRAISE FOR SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS: 'A GORGEOUS, COSY READ, RICH IN DELICIOUS WINTERY DETAIL' KATE YOUNG'THE PERFECT FESTIVE STORY. SWEET, BLISSFULLY ROMANTIC AND BURSTING WITH HEART . . . OH MYGOD I LOVED IT' MIRANDA DICKINSON'ADORABLE' ELLA RISBRIDGER'THE LITERARY EQUIVALENT OF A MINCE PIE WARM OUT OF THE OVEN, WITH A DOLLOP OF BRANDY CUSTARD ON THE SIDE' SARRA MANNING, RED MAGAZINE'YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH SHELL SMITH' PRIMATrade ReviewPRAISE FOR SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS:-You will fall in love * Prima *Adorable * Ella Risbridger *The literary equivalent of a mince pie warm out of the oven * Red Magazine *I fell in love * Nina Pottell *Oh my heart, I loved it! * Miranda Dickinson *

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Book SynopsisEmily Parker is set to have the worst Christmas ever! Her flatmate's moved out, she's closed her heart to love and she's been put in charge of the school original Christmas show – with zero musical ability. Disgraced superstar Ray Stone is in desperate need of a quick PR turnaround. Waking up from a drunken stupor to a class of ten-year-olds snapping pics and Emily looking at him was not what he had in mind. Ray needs Emily's help to delete the photos, and she needs his with the show. As they learn to work together they may just open their hearts to more than a second chance...

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Book SynopsisNew mother Dani has a lot going on. She's just moved back to her hometown, where her father was once known as the Garbage King; she's fed up of not being a manicure-sporting, perfectly coiffed Normal Woman; and most of all, she's worried that her seemingly healthy husband, Clark, will drop dead, leaving her and her new baby Lotte destitute. And then Dani discovers The Temple. Ostensibly a yoga center, The Temple and its guardian, Renata, are committed to helping people reach their full potential. And if that sometimes requires sex work, so be it. Finally, Dani has found something she could be good at, even great at - meaningful work that will protect her and Lotte from poverty, and provide true economic independence from Clark. But just as she's preparing to embrace this opportunity, Renata disappears, leaving Dani to step into another role entirely - detective. Darkly comic, sharply witty and fiercely smart, Normal Women asks how our societies truly value female labour - and what independence really means.Trade ReviewA darkly satirical novel about 21st-century motherhood and women's labour, full of waspish observations and the kind of caustic epithets that had me underlining chunks. Hogarth is very funny on motherhood's modern mores... She is especially hilarious on the balance of domestic - and sexual - labour within Dani and husband Clark's marriage * Guardian *A sardonic, high-speed novel about motherhood.... There is so much to enjoy and admire here... Acutely observed, hilarious * Irish Times *A delicious dark comedy * Stylist *New motherhood in all its mesh-implanting, incontinence-inducing horror and glory is both skewered and celebrated * Daily Mail *A dark take on suburban motherhood * Big Issue *Energetic... sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and always fully engaging. Unforgettable work by Hogarth - don't miss it * Buzz Mag *This spiky second novel veers off into mystery territory... provocative takes on capitalism's intersection with domestic labour and "momfluencer" culture. * Observer *Like Dani, the women who fall for such schemes have too much time on their hands, an unsatisfied hunger for "more" - vaguely defined - and such a burning need to be special that they'll take as a guru anyone who pets their heads. Normal Women is particularly good at teasing out this manipulative strand. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the murderously good Sunday Times bestseller, My Sister, the Serial KillerWhen his girlfriend throws him out after suspecting an affair, Bambi has nowhere to go but to his Uncle's house. He arrives during a blackout, and is surprised to find his Aunty Bidemi sitting in a candlelit room with another woman. They both claim to be the mother of the baby boy, fast asleep in his crib.At night Bambi is kept awake by the baby's cries, and during the days he is disturbed by a cockerel that stalks the garden. There is sand in the rice. A blood stain appears on the wall. Someone scores tribal markings into the baby's cheeks. Who is lying and who is telling the truth?'Braithwaite excels at narrative voice, morally compromised characters and original, subversive plots... Part drama, part thriller, it is a gripping distillation of Braithwaite's distinctive brand of comic domestic noir.' Evening StandardTrade ReviewA literary sensation * Guardian, on MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER *Braithwaite is fiendishly talented * The Times, on MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER *A pure joy to read * Stylist, on MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER *'Braithwaite excels at narrative voice, morally compromised characters and original, subversive plots... Part drama, part thriller, it is a gripping distillation of Braithwaite's distinctive brand of comic domestic noir.' * Evening Standard *[A] blackly funny and original drama * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisKai has trained all her life in her father's martial arts school. Though she is looked down upon for being a girl, she proves her courage when assassins launch a ruthless attack on her family. Yet Kai is the inheritor of a dark secret: each month she is transformed into a fox demon, and must hunt and kill a man so she can return to her life as a young woman. As the deaths mount and the townspeople start to voice their suspicions, Kai desperately searches for a way out. Meanwhile, there is a mysterious girl who shares a secret bond with Kai, and whose love may be the key to breaking her curse... Inspired by the ancient nine-tailed fox legends of Korea, The Fox Maidens is a searing, thrilling fantasy romance told in beautiful, striking graphic art.

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Book SynopsisPre-order your copy of Sarah Morgan’s new novel Beach House Summer now – coming May 2022! Praise for Sarah Morgan: ‘I loved every sparkly, big-hearted, warm-hug moment of this gorgeous wintry tale’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Queen of Christmas and award-winning women’s fiction author Morgan has done it again’ Sunday Post * * * She'll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle…. Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog-walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list – dealing with Madi's temporary dog-sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry. Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi – how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple – he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide 24-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel. Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over, and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all – letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas? * * * Readers have fallen in love with MOONLIGHT OVER MANHATTAN ‘One of the best books I’ve read . . . A very funny and romantic book that I would 100% recommend!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you do one thing today it should be buy this book and start your Sarah Morgan addiction. Cannot wait for her next masterpiece’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book was a wonderful read . . . Just reading her books cheers me up’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The perfect book to curl up on the sofa with’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Trade Review‘It’s everything a romantic novel should be – an absolute delight.’Veronica Henry 'Wonderfully romantic and sumptuously atmospheric.’Alex Brown, author of The Secret Orchard Cottage ‘The perfect book to curl up with’Heat ‘Sarah’s a master at creating the moments when the reader seriously doubts the hero and heroine are really going to get together… until phew, they do. Bliss!’Sue Moorcraft ‘Lovers of romance will relish this tale of friendship, fun and flirting set in beautiful New York.’My Weekly ‘Morgan excels in balancing the sweet and sexy to create the perfect blend.’Booklist 'A gorgeously sparkly romance about letting go and learning to love again.Julia Williams, bestselling author of Coming Home for Christmas ‘Morgan’s novel delivers the classic sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience.’Publisher’s Weekly ‘Perfect chick-lit’BEST Magazine

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

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Book SynopsisA classic collection of stories by Michael Rosen, Alexander McCall Smith, Ted Hughes, Michael Morpurgo and others, specially chosen for young readers of around eight by children's book expert, Julia Eccleshare. Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael on a topsy-turvy day; a boy watches over a beautiful swanThese classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZEFEATURED ON BBC'S BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUBPenelope Fitzgerald's Booker Prize-winning novel of loneliness and connecting is set among the houseboat community of the Thames, with an introduction from Alan Hollinghurst.On Battersea Reach, a mixed bag of the temporarily lost and the patently eccentric live on houseboats, rising and falling with the tide of the Thames.There is good-natured Maurice, by occupation a male prostitute, by chance a receiver of stolen goods. And Richard, an ex-navy man whose boat, much like its owner, dominates the Reach. Then there is Nenna, an abandoned wife and mother of two young girls running wild on the muddy foreshore, whose domestic predicament, as it deepens, will draw this disparate community together.Trade ReviewPraise for Penelope Fitzgerald and Offshore: ‘An astonishing book. Hardly more than 50,000 words, it is written with a manic economy that makes it seem even shorter, and with a tamped-down force that continually explodes in a series of exactly controlled detonations. Offshore is a marvellous achievement: strong, supple, humane, ripe, generous and graceful.’ Bernard Levin, Sunday Times ‘She writes the kind of fiction in which perfection is almost to be hoped for, unostentatious as true virtuosity can make it, its texture a pure pleasure.’ Frank Kermode, London Review of Books ‘Perfectly balanced…the novelistic equivalent of a Turner watercolour.’ Washington Post ‘Reading a Penelope Fitzgerald novel is like being taken for a ride in a peculiar kind of car. Everything is of top quality – the engine, the coachwork and the interior all fill you with confidence. Then, after a mile or so, someone throws the steering-wheel out of the window.’ Sebastian Faulks ‘This Booker prize winner is a slightly dark, witty novel … The brilliant Fitzgerald takes a subtle squint at thwarted love, loneliness and the human need to be necessary’ Val Hennessy, Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisDiscover Mike Gayle's fantastic new novel A Song of Me and You , out now!Still reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People.As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heartbreaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home.Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind.****Your favourite authors love Mike Gayle****'Accomplished and moving' Lisa Jewell'Mike Gayle has such a talent for delving into hearts, minds and contemporary issues' Sophie Kinsella'An absolute triumph and a joy to read' Ruth Hogan'Mike is always wise and wonderful' Jenny ColganTrade ReviewThe Museum of Ordinary People is a timely treasure of a read. Spilling over with Mike Gayle's trademark warmth and tenderness, it's so insightful and thought-provoking on loss and grief, as well as the meaning of possessions and how we might take a fresh look at the things we once took for granted. It's the kind of book you'll want to re-read as soon as you've finished it. Just beautiful -- Holly Miller, author of The Sight of YouMike has an uncanny ability to create characters that are immediately familiar and relatable and to draw the reader into their world, ever eager to follow where they lead. The Museum of Ordinary People is a keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds. It is a delightful read -- Ruth HoganOne of my favourite writers, and this is his best yet...a relatable and yet brilliantly original story - this is a novel I could recommend to so many people -- Clare MackintoshMike gets better every year and every book. He's becoming a real chronicler of our times -- Jenny ColganA new Mike Gayle novel is always a treat. The Museum of Ordinary People is filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too - I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel -- Beth O'LearyUplifting and poignant * My Weekly *A joyful celebration of life, it's also a study in grief, second chances, and what can happen when you truly believe in yourself. * Heat *This is a beautifully written read that's full of heart * Fabulous *A powerful read * Bella *This is a tale of loss and friendship by an author who has a way of making the ordinary things in life seem extraordinary * Candis *This will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love * The Sunday Post *A real gem of a book * Yours *A poignant look at grief and the things we leave behind * Huffington Post *This thought-provoking, tender and brilliantly observed story shows Mike Gayle at his very best * Sunday Express, S Magazine *'A poignant novel about memory, loss and new beginnings.' * Woman Magazine *This novel is pure, unadulterated feel-good, and Gayle is a master puller of heartstrings. It radiates an unforced kind of goodwill, which makes up for some of the overly expository dialogue and unabashed sentimentality . . . Fans of uplifting-lit authors like Fredrik Backman will likely be suitably charmed * Kirkus *Moving and heartwarming, this is a story about love and loss and holding onto the memories thatmake us who we are. Fans of character-driven relationship fiction by Clare Pooley, RachelJoyce, and Freya Sampson will want to pick this one up * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisIntroducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience classics which will endure for generations to come.On a street in a town in the North of England, ordinary people are going through the motions of their everyday existence street cricket, barbecues, painting windows A young man is in love with a neighbour who does not even know his name. An old couple make their way up to the nearby bus stop. But then a terrible event shatters the quiet of the early summer evening. That this remarkable and horrific event is only poignant to those who saw it, not even meriting a mention on the local news, means that those who witness it will be altered for ever.Jon McGregor''s first novel brilliantly evokes the histories and lives of the people in the street to build up an unforgettable human panorama. Breathtakingly original, humane and moving, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things is an astonisTrade Review‘My book of the year. A magical, spellbinding, profound novel’ Maggie O’Farrell, Daily Telegraph ‘A sensationally accomplished debut … a convincing and moving vision of contemporary Britain’ Sunday Times ‘This is a novel of wonders’ Observer ‘This novel owes as much to poetry as it does to prose in its hypnotic portrait of industrialised society … An assured debut’ The Times ‘This is an ordinary world, shabby and melancholy, but McGregor describes it with mesmeric power … you won’t read anything much more poignant than this’ Daily Telegraph ‘This is ecstatic writing, suffused with delight both at the things evoked and at the language that can recreate them … McGregor’s conviction will carry them a long way’ TLS ‘A dream of a novel … It is not every novelist who has the gift, as Jon McGregor does, of reminding his readers of that heaven in a wild flower, that infinity in a grain of sand’ The Times ‘McGregor's publishers must be openly rejoicing …If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things is the work of a burning new talent’ Daily Mail ‘McGregor is an exemplary archivist of the humdrum … written by someone who detects so passionately the remarkable in the everyday’ Spectator ‘Extraordinary … McGregor’s triumphant prose-poem of ordinariness has a very contemporary kind of spirituality about it’ Sunday Times ‘Wonderful … Full of gentle wonder and blinding insight … He has annotated the miracle of life’ Glasgow Herald

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Book SynopsisBy land and water shall it go home, and lie hidden in the floating stone until by fire it shall be raised again.Arthur has raised the sword and claimed his birthright as High King of Briton, determined to unite the many tiny kingdoms that make up his country. Now he sits upon his throne at Camelot with Merlin by his side, his most trusted adviser.But Merlin is growing old, and his sight is dimming. He knows that Mordred, child of Arthur''s unknowing union with his half-sister Morgause, will be Arthur''s downfall. But he cannot see the future clearly enough to know why, or how - or when.And he''s distracted: his gifted young apprentice, Niniane, is more than meets the eye. As Merlin teaches her to control her powers, he seems to lose his own.Merlin has secured Arthur''s place in history. Now he must take his own.The Arthurian Saga, begun in The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment continues in The Trade ReviewAn absorbing and haunting novel * Daily Mail *A fascinating novel, a richly woven tapestry presented with a vividness that brings the characters from myth to real life * Evening Standard *Mary Stewart, enchantress . . . an ability to evoke a situation, a mood or a season with a few phrases of prose that are almost verse * Daily Telegraph *A perfect trip out of the present. * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis'A heartwarming, emotional read... Perfect to curl up with on a winter's day' Liz Fenwick. Sometimes the end is only the beginning... After ten years together, Dubliner Carrie Nolan is devastated when she's dumped by Kevin Mulvey without even a backwards glance. But on reflection, she had been sacrificing her own long-term happiness by pandering to his excessive ego – well, not anymore! While Kevin is 'living the dream' with his beautiful new Brazilian girlfriend, Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched strangers who need her as much as she needs them. Then suddenly a catastrophic sequence of events leaves Carrie unsure if there's anyone she can trust. How far do you need to fall before you realise it's never too late to start again? Perfect for fans of Cecilia Ahern, Jodi Picoult and Sheila O'Flannagan. Praise for What Happened to Us?: 'A heartwarming, emotional read... Perfect to curl up with on a winter's day' Liz Fenwick 'This delightful story will satisfy any reader longing for a happy ending to make things right' Judith Keim, bestselling author of The Beach House Hotel Series 'A story that stays with you long after you finish the last page' Rosie Hendry, bestselling author of the East End Angels series 'A thoroughly enjoyable story!' Love Books Actually 'I devoured this fabulous read' Sandra 'Another brilliant 5-star read for me from this author' Donna Maguire 'This is a wonderful uplifting character-driven story' Amazon Customer 'One of the best books I have read for ages' Suzanne 'I absolutely loved reading What Happened To Us?' Ginger Book GeekTrade ReviewA heartwarming, emotional read... Perfect to curl up with on a winter's day' -- Liz FenwickA story that stays with you long after you finish the last page -- Rosie Hendry, bestselling author of the East End Angels seriesThis delightful story will satisfy any reader longing for a happy ending to make things right -- Judith Keim, bestselling author of The Beach House Hotel seriesA thoroughly enjoyable story! * Love Books Actually *A catastrophic sequence of events leads to the unthinkable. A real page turner * Bella Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''A beautiful book so filled with sharp longing and perfectly phrased vulnerability that I read it in a reverent hush'' Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby''Exceptional . . . has flashes of Sally Rooney''s CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, or Halle Butler''s THE NEW ME. Sometimes it''s erotic, sometimes it''s devastating'' New York TimesMallory sees the woman for the first time at her college gym and is immediately transfixed. As a naturally reserved person who is now reeling from the loss of her mother, Mallory finds herself compelled by the woman''s assurance, and longs to know her better. Despite the discovery that she is a professor at the college, Mallory finds herself falling into a complicated love affair with the woman, the stakes of which she never quite understands.In the years that follow, Mallory must come to terms with how the relationship shaped her, for better or worse, and learn to become a part of the world that Trade ReviewMichelle Hart's first novel is a haunting study of solitude and connection, moving and memorable -- Meg Wolitzer, author of THE FEMALE PERSUASIONA gorgeous storyteller, Hart is gifted with a poet's precision, blending image and idea. Sensual and wise, this novel channels the melancholic exhilaration of dangerous love -- Tayari Jones, author of AN AMERICAN MARRIAGEA beautiful book so filled with sharp longing and perfectly phrased vulnerability that I read it in a reverent hush -- Torrey Peters, author of DETRANSITION, BABYIn Michelle Hart's debut novel, she tackles vulnerability, attachment, and the purpose relationships serve in our increasingly isolated lives * Buzzfeed *Seductive and lyrical with poetic detail, this is an unforgettable account of a forbidden romance made extraordinary by Hart's precision and lyrical touch. A compulsive read that satisfies and haunts -- Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of PATSYAt the heart of this sensual debut novel is the story of yearning between young Mallory and a married college professor. Theirs is a transactional desire on the surface, but Hart delves into the motivations of both Mallory and the professor, referred to in the text only as The Woman, to reveal important truths about what our closest relationships say about us, and what they help us conceal * Oprah Daily *Transfixing . . . Mallory's intense interiority and self-consciousness will remind readers of Sally Rooney's work, and Hart's prose is delicate and piercing. This is auspicious and breathtaking * Publishers Weekly *Does something exceptional . . . Has flashes of Sally Rooney's CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, or Halle Butler's THE NEW ME. Sometimes it's erotic, sometimes it's devastating. . . But the writing always crackles, written by someone who clearly knows what it's like to desire another woman in ways you just barely understand * New York Times *Michelle Hart's coming-of-age novel skillfully depicts forbidden romance and the shame it can foster * Time Magazine *An electric debut * Marie Claire *

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Book SynopsisAn Irish Times Book of the Year An electrifying descent from loneliness and grief into obsessive, all-consuming love, by an Italian literary star. ‘When Xu bites me, when she has me in her teeth, naked and bad on top of me, everything is good.’ In a skyscraper apartment overlooking Shanghai’s blue-tinged, pulsating nightlife and filled with rotting food, two women swallow little yellow pills that will make all things dangerous feel safe. They’re both running from a turbulent past. In abandoned factories and dilapidated slaughterhouses, Xu pushes Ruben to extremes of pleasure and pain that she has never experienced before, to a place where language breaks down and passion becomes consumption. Blue Hunger asks how we create our identities and how we escape them; it is a fever-dream of a novel, visionary and uncanny, that demolishes all taboos and wisely explores, in a wildly imaginative language, the twisted peaks of loss and desire.Trade Review‘I thoroughly recommend Blue Hunger by Italian novelist Viola Di Grado, translated by Jamie Richards. Di Grado’s prose is clean, efficient, and devastating as she explores queer love, displacement, and grief against the backdrop of Shanghai.’ -- Martin Doyle * The Irish Times *‘To read Blue Hunger is to enter a dreamlike state, guided by irresistible, evocative writing, immaculate details, and vivid emotions dripping with desire. Viola Di Grado offers us a brilliant, highly immersive story about the need to consume and be consumed, love, messiness, and the power of language. Blue Hunger is a wholly compelling piece of art, and Viola Di Grado is a genius.’ -- Jami Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins‘Viola Di Grado is, most importantly, a powerful and original writer; the fact that she also writes, movingly and with complexity, about members of the LGBT population, renders her work all the more singular.’ -- Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours‘Blue Hunger is a devastating study of the ways in which grief renders everything, even the self, foreign. A gorgeous grotesquerie of lust and despair backdropped by the writhing rhythms of Shanghai.’ -- Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch‘Di Grado is a real writer, so everything under the spell of her words is vibrant and evocative. Blue Hunger, a prose poem and a fearless descent into language and the realm of meanings, is about our experience in the acidic lights of the contemporary world.’ -- FIlippo La Porta * La Repubblica *‘Sticky, neon, and electric, Blue Hunger drips with desire, danger, and hunger in myriad forms.’ -- Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater‘Blue Hunger’s is a disorientating world made strange by grief — a world where words have lost their meaning, and identity fragments. In luminous and startling prose, Viola Di Grado lays bare the risk inherent in human relationships, the capacity we have to inflict and enjoy pain as well as pleasure, and the disassembling power of grief. Bold and addictive, this is a carnal, sensual, drug-and-sex-infused trip of a novel. -- Imogen Crimp, author of A Very Nice Girl‘Blue Hunger is a most vibrant novel about lust: beautifully written and full of sensuous images, Viola Di Grado’s book is a powerful literary journey into food and sex and the city. In depicting the constant foreignness of falling in love, Di Grado reveals herself as a true master of style.’ -- Claudia Durastanti, author of Strangers I Know and Cleopatra Goes to Prison’Haunting … An erotic and disturbing depiction of the effects of grief.’ * Kirkus Reviews *’Readers will be fascinated by the novel’s scenery, psychological acuity … Queerness, grief, isolation, dependence, and love merge in this novel of geographically-based healing and descent.’ * Booklist *‘Blue Hunger is a breezy yet dizzying fever-dream of a read. The narrator’s voice is deceptively quiet. The book feels like it has a flame lighting it from underneath. It moves with a steady, compact agility, like a ship gesturing towards a mid-sea battle … The final scene is a spectacular feat, managing to be both unexpected, and exquisitely tender.’ -- Jessie Tu * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘The language of Blue Hunger has a tour de force energy … Di Grado’s prose is exhilaratingly dynamic, made up of fragmented paragraphs that look and sound like prose poetry and that use poetic language in surprising and edgy ways. The translator, Jamie Richards, has done an excellent job in keeping up … Although Blue Hunger reads as an exercise in style, there is also substance here, particularly when it comes to the self-destructiveness so often bound up with what we call love.’ -- Maria Takolander * The Saturday Paper *‘A sensuous and biting account … It’s worth indulging in this visceral story.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Italian author Viola Di Grado simulates the fever dreamlike state of an all-consuming love.’ * RUSSH *‘It’s lush, dreamlike, and once started, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it.’ -- Terri Schlichenmeyer * Los Angeles Blade *‘[T]his short but electrifying book captures the life of a young Italian woman in Shanghai as she finds herself captivated by a beautiful, enigmatic woman named Xu … Blue Hunger goes on to explore identity in a writhing blend of lust and pain … Her strength as a writer lies in the layers of metaphors that weave into a narrative fabric thick with intertwined meaning … [A] dizzying, intricate study of grief, displacement, obsession and desire under the glittering veneer of Shanghai.’ -- Fruzsina Gál * Aniko Press *‘Translated by Jamie Richards, the writing is simply gorgeous, luring the reader in even as the plot takes some decidedly visceral turns … It’s a fever-dream of a novel, a breathless, erotic, and often uncomfortable examination of what grief, loneliness, and a desperate search for answers can do … its combination of rich, evocative writing, and oft unsettling content makes it near impossible to look away from the page.’ -- Jodie Sloan * The AU Review *Praise for Hollow Heart: ‘A danse macabre for the millenials … In Hollow Heart, Di Grado elegantly and playfully thematises the emptiness of unquestioned vessels of meaning (which is to say, words) with the story of a girl who has taken her own life before she has even really lived it.’ * LA Review of Books *Praise for Hollow Heart: ‘The writing is pristine. Each sentence lures us further into the flies and blood-filled spirals of Di Grado’s dreamworld and, most importantly, we are willing to follow her.’ * The Independent *Praise for 70% Acrylic 30% Wool: ‘Viola Di Grado’s charming prose romps through chthonic worlds of nibbling insects, ammoniac seepage, and shattering depression, using language that is both glib and scrumptious.’ * Music & Literature *Praise for 70% Acrylic 30% Wool: ‘[Di Grado’s] black comedy, pungent metaphors, and controlled ambiguity announce the arrival of a considerable talent.’ * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023The darkly comic new novel from the bestselling author of The Portable Veblen?''Incredibly funny and very moving' BELLA MACKIE''A blissful novel that I want to give to everyone I love' NINA STIBBEEven funnier, even more romantic than McKenzie's wonderful last' KAREN JOY FOWLERPenny Rush has problems. Her marriage is over, she's quit her job, her parents have been missing in the Australian outback for five years and now she's back home in Santa Barbara, dealing with mounting family crises and living out of a borrowed van named The Dog of the North.The Dog is replete with gingham curtains, wood panelling, a piñata, clunky brakes and difficult steering. It's also Penny's getaway car from the curveballs life's throwing at her. With an uncertain future ahead of her, could the road she's on lead her back to herself?Trade Review‘Incredibly funny and very moving’ Bella Mackie, author of How to Kill Your Family ‘Penny must surely remind readers of Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette, Lisa Simpson, and – brilliantly – themselves. The mix of oddness, mystery, pain and joy is perfectly blended. All in all, this is a blissful novel that I want to give to everyone I love’ Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful ‘Even funnier, even more romantic than McKenzie's wonderful last, The Portable Veblen. You will be surprised, delighted, and grateful to be aboard The Dog of the North with the admirable Penny Rush as she faces every challenge her wild and crazy family can throw at her. A book that lifts the spirits’ Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves ‘Darkly absurd and slyly insightful. A genuinely comic novel and a potent, poignant investigation into grief and the myriad ways we flailingly, failingly attempt to avoid the pains of loss' Miranda Popkey, author of Topics of Conversation ‘Gloriously entertaining, intelligent, presented with great insight and skill. An exuberant comedy of human behaviour at its nuttiest’ The Times 'Elizabeth McKenzie is clearly some sort of genius' Paul Murray, author of The Bee Sting Praise for The Portable Veblen… ‘Seriously funny and extraordinarily well written’ Jonathan Franzen ‘I can’t remember a book I enjoyed more’ Nina Stibbe ‘McKenzie has a wonderful eye for the craziness that is everywhere in ordinary life’ Tessa Hadley

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Book SynopsisAn uplifting novel on friendship, the menopause and the healing power of nature!She was the only human being down at the lake. Elbows, in need of a slather of moisturiser, pointed at the clouds; breasts, lifted to pre-children perkiness; baby belly stretched and flattened. She stretched her arms out wide as she started to walk barefoot into the lake. Peering down into the clear water, she pulled down her goggles. It was time to plunge forwards, succumbing to the embrace of the water. It was as if she were flying.For friends Stevie, Holly and Angela, the last few years haven''t been kind. With marriage breakdowns and sacrifices, their only moments of peace come when they are outside in the wild waters of the Lake District.Now it''s time for these three women to love themselves, just as they love the cold, and take charge of their own happiness in this uplifting and meditative novel of friendship and the healing power of nature.Readers are loving The Winter of Our Lives:A beautiful story

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Book SynopsisBeatrice has been lied to her whole life.Beatrice Barbary has been raised to believe that while education will set her mind free, there are some questions better left unanswered.Her life is in disarray.But when her father, one of the most powerful men in Bern, is brutally murdered in their own home, she is left reeling, unprotected and vulnerable.Her future uncertain.Plunging head first into the mysteries surrounding her father and her own upbringing, Beatrice discovers The Order of St. Eve and the violent secrets they have been hiding her entire life. It''s time for her to take control.Will she be able to right the wrongs of her father, or will the Order silence her first?Set in a city at breaking point, Beatrice''s story tows the dangerously thin line between retribution and revenge, and the choice we must make when confronted by evil.

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Three women. Three dates. One missing man...'Ingenious, heartwarming and romantic' SOPHIE KINSELLA'Surprising and deeply satisfying' EMILY HENRY8.52 a.m. Siobhan's looking forward to her date with Joseph. Breakfast on Valentine's Day surely means something ... so where is he?2.43 p.m. Miranda's hoping that a Valentine's Day lunch with Carter will be the perfect way to celebrate her new job. But why hasn't he shown up?6.30 p.m. Joseph Carter agreed to be Jane's fake boyfriend at a dreaded engagement party tonight. But he's not here...Meet Joseph Carter. That is, if you can find him.An unexpected love story, The No-Show is an utterly extraordinary tear-jearker of a book, a heart-breaking and joyful novel about dating, and waiting, and the ways love can find us.'Such a clever, finely woven, sweet and heart-rending story' BOLU BABALOLA'A brilliant, multilayered, romantic stunner' LAUREN HO'It will break your heart in a million different ways' LOUISE O'NEILL'Beth O'Leary at her very best' LINDSEY KELK

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Book SynopsisHave you ever played two truths and a lie?It was Emma's first summer away from home. She made friends. She played games. And she learned how to lie.Then three of her new friends went into the woods and never returned. . . Now, years later, Emma has been asked to go back to the newly re-opened Camp Nightingale. She thinks she’s laying old ghosts to rest but really she’s returning to the scene of a crime.The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of Finale Girls - perfect for fans of A. J. Finn's The Woman in the Widow*Don't miss Riley Sager's new thriller, LOCK EVERY DOOR. Available to pre-order*Because Emma’s innocence might be the biggest lie of all. . .Trade ReviewBreathtaking - brightly written, scalpel-sharp, and altogether inspired. This swift, red-blooded thriller set my pulse thrumming. * A. J. Finn, Sunday Times bestseller of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *A haunted summer camp. A lake darker than midnight. This chilling tale will keep you awake long after you've turned the last page -- Liv Constantine, bestselling author of THE LAST MRS PARISHAn edge-of-your-seat thriller full of twists and intrigue, THE LAST TIME I LIED had me riveted from the first page to the stunning conclusion. A fantastic read - eerie, sharp, and all-around captivating -- Megan Miranda, bestselling author of THE PERFECT STRANGERIf you like unreliable narrators and being scared witless, then this is the book for you * Red Magazine *A deliciously unnerving and unpredictable novel * CULTUREFLY *

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Book SynopsisA feel-good novel from MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER Jessica Redland, guaranteed to leave a smile on your face.Welcome to Bumblebee Barn, home to wonderful animals, stunning views and spectacular sunsets - and resident young farmer, Barney.While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn - a farm that has been in his family for generations - he's struggling to find someone to share it with. The early mornings quad biking through muddy fields and the long hours looking after the crops and animals are proving to be a deterrent to finding love.So when his sister, Fizz - desperate for Barney to find his soulmate - sees an advert for Love on the Farm, a new reality TV show to help farmers find love, he has nothing to lose by applying. After all, he isn't meeting anyone suitable down the traditional route and surely he won't be picked anyway...?Thrown into the chaos of reality TV, Barney could never have expected that his whole life would be turned upside down, with buried secrets to be uncovered and his heart on the line. With his family and friends rooting for him, could the magic of Bumblebee Barn heal his broken heart and help him find love on the farm?Join top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for a story of love, family and second chances.'Redland takes you on a heart-warming ride that navigates broken hearts and painful secrets, but ultimately restores your faith in the power of love. I absolutely adored it.' Jenni KeerPraise for Jessica Redland:'Jessica Redland writes from the heart, with heart, about heart' Nicola May'I loved my trip to Hedgehog Hollow. An emotional read, full of twists and turns' Heidi Swain'The Hedgehog Hollow series is a tonic I'd recommend for everyone. There is so much to make you smile in Jessica's stories and they are always uplifting reads, which will make you really glad you decided to pick up a copy.' Jo Bartlett‘An emotional, romantic and ultimately uplifting read. Jessica always touches my heart with her sensitive handling of difficult subjects. The gorgeous community she has built around Hedgehog Hollow is one I hope to visit again and again.’ Sarah Bennett'A beautifully written series that offers the ultimate in heartwarming escapism.' Samantha Tonge on the Hedgehog Hollow series'Hedgehog Hollow is a wonderful series that has found a special place all of its own deep in the hearts of readers, including mine.' Jennifer Bohnet'I fell in love with this story from page one.' Helen Rolfe on Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café'A tender love story, full of sweet touches and beautiful characters.' Beth Moran on Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café'A warm-hearted and beautiful book. Jessica Redland doesn’t shy away from the fact that life can be very difficult, but she reminds us that we all can find love, hope and joy again.' Sian O'Gorman on Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café'Achingly poignant, yet full of hope.' Sandy Barker on Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café'A heartwarming story of true friendship, love and romance set in the gorgeous backdrop of the Lakes. A cosy hug of a read that left me feeling warm inside.’ Julie Caplin on The Start of Something Wonderful'A heartwarming story set in a beautiful location... Love, friendship and the power of letting go are all covered in this gorgeous, beautifully written story.' Katie Ginger on The Start of Something Wonderful'An emotional but uplifting page turner. The Secret to Happiness is a beautiful story of friendship and love' Fay Keenan

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Sarah Morgan, Jessica Redland and Kate Forster.Christmas is the perfect time to fall in love…When Amelia arrives in Manhattan to help Cleo at her knitting stall, she’s expecting a peaceful holiday. But soon she’s busy trying to get her surly nephew Kyle and his mum to work through their problems. Amelia is used to putting others first, but is this one challenge too far?Single dad Nathan wants to give his daughter, Scarlett, the world after he failed so dismally before. But in trying to give her everything, will he push her too far and lose her forever?Meanwhile, Cleo’s fiancé Dylan is pressuring her to set a date for the wedding, but with her stepdaughter Ruby against the idea and creating mayhem wherever she can, Cleo doubts she'll ever manage to start planning what should be the best day of their lives.The snow is beginning to fall, the chestnuts are roasting and the mulled cider is ready to serve, but will anyone be able to find their happy ever after this Christmas?*Please note this is a re-release of Christmas Promises at the Garland Street Markets, previously published by Helen J Rolfe*Praise for Helen Rolfe’s heartwarming stories:'Beautiful, magical and incredibly moving’ The Writing Garnet‘It's a book version of a Hallmark movie’ Amazon Reviewer‘A warm romantic feel-good read’ Goodreads Reviewer‘The perfect festive romance’ Jessica's Book Biz‘What a wonderful festive read!’ Goodreads Reviewer

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Book Synopsis‘The Devil wears Prada meets Emily in Paris ... a fabulously original romcom, full of humour’ Julie CaplinFashion designer Elle Bliss is unlucky in love.She's still hung up on her first love, Leo, who ended things abruptly, then mysteriously disappeared – and a decade on, no one else can measure up.But Elle's all-time dream of showing in Paris Fashion Week is about to become a reality, and she has no time to dwell on her dismal love life. That is until Leo – now going by Lorenzo – comes back into her life.An up-and-coming shoe designer, ‘Lorenzo’ is nothing like the man she fell in love with. Rude, brash and with an ego the size of Paris, he’s too caught up in his own celebrity.But as they constantly cross paths in the city of love, Elle begins to question how much of 'Lorenzo' is an act – a persona for the cameras. Because deep down, she can see glimpses of the man he was, and feelings from all those years ago become impossible to ignore…Join Elle in the most romantic city in the world in this laugh out loud enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Emily Henry.'...another brilliant romcom - a series set in a matchmaking agency is a match made in heaven and I am fully signed up!' Pernille Hughes'Sandy Barker’s books are the bookish equivalent of a perfect serve: two parts romance, one part humour with a generous dash of escapism. I can never wait to dive in!' Nina Kaye'Full of fun - a fast-paced, exciting new series with love, heart, friendship and joy.' Kim Nash'You can’t really go wrong with a Sandy Barker romcom - charm, romance and humour.' Julie Houston'I love Sandy's writing and end up falling in love with all of her heroes!' Katie Ginger'...warm, witty and wonderfully romantic. Knowing there are more to come definitely makes me happy ever after.' Kathleen Whyman'This series is witty, fun and, of course, wonderfully romantic.' Anita Faulkner

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