Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book SynopsisHonore de Balzac wrote a book titled Father Goriot. The story, which takes place in Paris in the early 19th century, explores the concepts of love, wealth, and social status. The protagonist Father Goriot, an old widower who has used his fortune to support his two daughters, and other people are followed throughout the novel. But, the daughters have left him and are now leading lavish lifestyles while disregarding the needs of their father. Eugene de Rastignac, a young law student who is lured into Parisian high society, is another key figure. One of Father Goriot's daughters, Delphine, is the object of Rastignac's affection. Delphine, meanwhile, is already married to a rich, ruthless man who is using her to maintain his social status. The novel shows the dramatic difference between middle-class hardship and the lifestyles of the rich elite. Balzac depicts the greed and corruption that often go hand in hand with the chase of money and social prestige. Father Goriot dies in poverty and is left by his daughters at the novel's terrible conclusion, and Rastignac realises the full price of his ambitions. Father Goriot is a potent examination of 19th-century French society as well as a timeless look at human nature and the quest for happiness.

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Book SynopsisFinalist for the Romantic Novelist Association's 'The Romantic Saga Award 2023' for A Mother's WarNorth Yorkshire, 1941.It's been two years since war broke out and the dangers of war are becoming ever more real for the Calvert-Lazenby family. With Raven Hall requisitioned as a maternity hospital, Rosina is rushed off her feet helping to care for the new young mothers and barely has the time to worry about young sergeant Harry who has been posted abroad. Until foreboding news arrives . . .Meanwhile, against Rosina's wishes, eighteen-year-old Connie decides to leave school and move to Scarborough to train as a carpenter's apprentice, sharing a flat with her friend Stella and the mysterious Valentine. Valentine is enigmatic and Connie would love to get to know her better, but little does she know how things will get much worse for them both . . .Nowhere is safe in wartime.Praise for Mollie Walton:'Mollie Walton captures your attention from the very first page and doesn't let go!' Diney Costeloe'A Journey. Compelling. Addictive' Val Wood'Feisty female characters, an atmospheric setting ... A phenomenal read' Cathy Bramley'Evocative, dramatic and hugely compelling. I loved it' Miranda Dickinson

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Book SynopsisPre-order BOLEYN TRAITOR now Philippa Gregory's landmark return to the Tudor court, coming Autumn 2025 The second novel in the bestselling Wideacre Trilogy, a compulsive drama set in the eighteenth century. By Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover.The Wideacre estate is bankrupt, the villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin.But in the Dower House two children are being raised in protected innocence. Equal claimants to the inheritance of Wideacre, rivals for the love of the village, they are tied by a secret childhood betrothal but forbidden to marry. Only one can be the favoured child. Only one can inherit the magical understanding between the land and the Lacey family that can make the Sussex village grow green again. Only one can be Beatrice Lacey's true heir.Sweeping, passionate, unique: ''The Favoured Child'' is the second novel in Philippa Gregory''s bestselling trilogy which began with ''Wideacre'' and concluded with ''Meridon''.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘The Favoured Child’: ‘For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating.’Sunday Times Praise for ‘Wideacre’: ‘This is a story of violent love and unsettling passions. It will never let you rest for a page as you wait for the climax that must come for the people and the land.’Maeve Binchy ‘Amid all the social upheaval strides Beatrice Lacey, who, for singlemindedness, tempestuousness, passion, amorality, sensuality and plain old-fashioned evil, knocks Scarlet O’Hara into short cotton socks.’Evening Standard

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Book Synopsis'A romantic book-filled treat' Heidi Swain, author of The Secret Seaside EscapeThe Borrow-a-Bookshop Bookshop Café invites literature lovers to run their very own bookshop … for a fortnight.Spend your days talking books with customers in your own charming bookshop and serving up delicious cream teas in the cosy café.Bookworms, what are you waiting for? Your holiday is going to be LIT(erary).Apply to: The Borrow-a-Bookshop Bookshop Café, Down-a-long, Clove Lore, Devon.Jude Crawley should be on top of the world. She’s just graduated as a mature student, so can finally go public about her relationship with Philosophy professor, Mack.Until she sees Mack kissing another girl, and her dreams crumble. And worse, their dream holiday – running a tiny bookshop in the harbour village of Clove Lore for two weeks – is non-refundable.Throwing caution to the winds, Jude heads down to Devon, eager to immerse herself in literature and heal her broken heart.But there’s one problem – six foot tall, brooding (but gorgeous) Elliot, who’s also reserved the bookshop holiday for two weeks…As Jude and Elliot put their differences aside to run the bookshop, it seems that Jude might be falling in love with more than just words. Until she discovers what Elliot is running from – and why he’s hiding out in Clove Lore.Can Jude find her own happy ending in a tiny, tumbledown bookshop? Or is she about to find out that her bookish holiday might have an unexpected twist in the tale…The perfect cosy, romantic read for any bookworm! Fans of Jenny Colgan, Cressida McLaughlin and Philippa Ashley will love this feelgood romcom.Readers are loving their stay at The Borrow-A-Bookshop!‘Every bookworm should read this book. It’s just delightful and my heart feels so happy!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Pure escapism…I highly recommend this book to totally get lost in’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I really loved this story and was thoroughly charmed…the characters were interesting and fabulous’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Emotional, fun, charming and delightful… I absolutely loved this book’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Such a heartwarming and humorous read…I thoroughly recommend this book if you need a pick me up!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘An enchanting and endearing story… Perfect romantic read!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I absolutely loved this book…This was the perfect escapism’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘This book is total holiday goals! ...A heartwarming, cosy, feel good romcom.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘The perfect summer read that leaves you wanting to feel the sand beneath your toes’ Reader Review‘I loved this fun, uplifting feelgood book. It really made me smile’ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisThe hand of friendship can span a thousand milesPakistanAmong the almond orchards of the Swat Valley, Zamir tends goats with his son, Raza. He must make a heartbreaking decision if he is to protect his youngest child from the Taliban.AfghanistanOn a military base in Lashkar Gah, Ben lives on edge, wondering if his family will be the next to receive life-changing news from the front line.CornwallAnd in a ramshackle house on the Cornish coast, Ben's mother Delphi, an artist, offers a refuge to her grandson Finn, as he retreats from the changes he senses in his family.When Raza and Finn, two boys from impossibly different worlds, meet, they are united by their loneliness. But will their unexpected bond be enough to save not just each other, but also their families, just as all their lives are about to change forever?'At once heartbreaking and uplifting, and its focus on the themes of war and loss, love and friendship across cultures is both topical and timeless: a powerful story from a wrTrade Review Praise for Sara MacDonald: ‘A beautifully crafted novel of family ties and wartime secrets with delicate layers of emotion’ Inside Cornwall ‘Vividly drawn characters . . . Thoughtful and compelling storytelling’ Choice 'Intriguing themes are cleverly woven together . . . I found myself swept along by the sheer interest of every page . . . it grips to the end' Country Life ‘A great read, a moving story of family history, love, deception, passion and heartbreak’ Cornwall Today ‘A compelling story from a talented writer’ Belfast Telegraph

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Book SynopsisI gobbled it up in two sittings, quickly turning pages to see what would happen next. The windswept, desolate setting, cold, gloomy manor house and dark characters created the perfect stormy day read And did I mention the twists? Oh my goodness!' NetGalley reviewer, ?????When a young widow's little girl vanishes, could a dark family secret hold the answer?On the death of her aunt Gwyn, Lowri returns once more to Gwyn's home on the remote island of Anglesey, Wales, with her young daughter Ruby in tow. Lowri hadn't seen her aunt in years, but this beautiful island offers a fresh start.Yet right away, strange things begin to happen. Ruby insists an old woman is visiting her when no one else is watching, and a tattered old doll keeps being left for Ruby to find.Then Ruby goes missing. Desperately seeking answers no one seems to have, Lowri looks to her dark family past for clues. But the secrets she uncovers suggest that Ruby is not the only one in danger, and time is running out for both of themA terrifically dark and twisty tale that asks: can you ever really trust those closest to you? Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Cass Green and C.J. Tudor.Readers are gripped by The Last House on the Cliff: I absolutely loved [this], I loved the chills it gave me, especially reading it in the dark!' @Rubiereads, ?????Wonderful and captivatingI loved how the story unfolded with so many twists and turns and family secrets you could never imagine. Heart wrenching and heart breaking at times. It was utterly compelling and a real page turner.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????I loved this! Super suspenseful had me turning pages late through the night because I could not put it down until I had worked out all the twists Five stars.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Such a tense and atmospheric read This was gripping right from the first page and I could not put it down, twisty and unpredictable.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????Gave me goosebumps the entire time the twists in the novel made it one of my fastest reads of the year. The family dynamics were so complicated, I had no idea who to trust.'NetGalley reviewer, ?????Trade ReviewReaders love Anne Wyn Clark ‘Creepy, claustrophobic and compelling! A beautifully written thriller that kept me glued to my Kindle’ Miranda Rijks, author of The Visitors ‘Haunting psychological suspense… Will send shivers down your spine’ Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer’s Wife “Whisper Cottage was a dark and atmospheric thriller that pulled me in from the very first page.” Stephanie DeCarolis, author of The Guilty Husband 'Chilling and wonderfully atmospheric, with an ending that took me surprise – I couldn’t put it down' Amanda Brittany, author of Her Last Lie

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Book Synopsis'Feel good stories to curl up with over Christmas . . . Escapist romance at its best' – Heat Magazine Set in a snow-covered Cotswolds village, The Christmas Postcards is a cosy, escapist festive delight about distant connections from Sunday Times bestselling author of The Stolen Hours, Karen Swan.'A romance you won’t be able to put down' – MetroThe right words can change everything . . .It had been a make-or-break winter holiday for their marriage, but Natasha and Rob’s rekindled romance is short-lived when their daughter’s beloved soft toy disappears on the journey home. As Natasha comforts her distraught child, she turns to social media for help. Miraculously, the toy is found, but it has become the lucky mascot of a man named Duffy, who is thousands of miles away trekking in Nepal.When Duffy promises to keep Natasha updated with pictures, a correspondence begins that soon becomes more meaningful. Sometimes, Natasha feels this stranger half way across the world understands her more than the man lying next to her.But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains, Natasha notices a change in him. Then, one day, the messages stop. Too late, Natasha wonders why he had ever needed a lucky mascot at all . . .'The queen of destination fiction' – Woman & HomeReaders are falling in love with The Christmas Postcards . . .'I was enthralled from the first pages' – 5* reader review'Definitely my favourite Karen Swan book so far' – 5* reader review'The story gripped me right from the start and still hasn't let me go' – 5* reader review'I read this in two sittings, I literally didn't want to put the book down' – 5* reader review'Addictive reading' – 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewA well-crafted journey, this read details the intricacies of complicated romance and allows you to fall into its pages with delicious escapism -- Northern LifeIt’s a romance you won’t be able to put down, which blossoms by happenstance. * Metro *Escapist romance at its best * Heat Magazine *From first page to last, this is a captivating and sometimes heartbreaking wintertime odyssey filled with tears, laughter, a dazzling array of superbly portrayed characters, page-turning suspense, and unexpected twists and turns. Sprinkled throughout with Swan’s trademark insight, natural warmth and eye for comedy, this is the perfect reading warm-up for the Christmas season. * Lancaster Post *The queen of destination fiction * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD'Thrillingly original' Naoise Dolan'Exquisite' Daily TelegraphTwenty years ago, Oona left the island of Inis for the very first time. A wind-blasted rock of fishing boats and turf fires, where girls stayed in their homes until they became mothers themselves, the island was a gift for some, a prison for others.The Island Child tells two stories: of the girl who grew up watching births and betrayals, storms and secrets, and of the adult Oona, desperate to find a second chance, only to discover she can never completely escape. As the strands of Oona's life come together, in blood and marriage and motherhood, she must accept the price we pay when we love what is never truly ours . . .Trade ReviewAn exquisite debut from an exciting new voice in Irish fiction * * Daily Telegraph * *Like the casts of fairy stories, Aitken's characters can stand for as much as you want them to - but they're also fully realised individuals who come to you through peeks and glances, so that without being able to pinpoint how it happened, you know them, and feel you always have. This is a thrillingly original debut, and I can't wait to see what Aitken does next -- NAOISE DOLAN, author of EXCITING TIMESA haunting tale about the power and danger in a mother's love * * Irish Times * *It's a rare pleasure to come across quite such an accomplished novel as The Island Child. This is a work positively brimming with pathos and emotion, articulated in truly exquisite prose. Oona is a captivating narrator. She's alive on the page -- NATHAN FILER, author of THE SHOCK OF THE FALLAn intriguing debut about motherhood, the trauma we inherit and the inescapability of fate . . . The joy of this book is in Aitken's prose, which is exquisite . . . Aitken is an exciting new voice in Irish literature * * Irish Independent * *The Island Child is the story of a mother's relationship with a misbegotten daughter, sensitively and subtly told -- FAY WELDON, author of PRAXISAitken brings a gut-pummelling mix of folklore, feminism and psychological trauma to her wild debut tale of mothers impelled to take out on their daughters the sins committed against them * * Daily Mail * *A magical, elemental tale. Exploring loss and love, motherhood and freedom and the transformative power of stories, The Island Child is a wonderful debut -- JESS KIDD, author of THINGS IN JARSAitken stitches together many themes - folk legend, family saga, love story, coming of age tale. The result is the sort of book you want to sink into a hot bath with and not emerge until it's finished -- ROWAN HISAYO BUCHANAN, author of STARLING DAYSA confident tale of generational conflict and continuity * * i * *

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Book Synopsis'A gorgeous festive treat of a story, glowing with warmth and Christmas spirit.' Phillipa Ashley 'A fabulous slice of village life!' Heidi Swain A feel-good, festive read to keep you cosy this winter. For fans of Heidi Swain, Sarah Morgan and The Archers. Recently divorced, the family home sold and her son all grown-up, Clare is at a crossroads. She's dedicated her whole adult life to her family, and now it's time she did something for herself. In the lead up to Christmas, Clare decides that a bit of time in the countryside might be just what she needs, so she moves back to Little Bramble, the village she grew up in. But living with her mum for the first time in years - and not to mention Goliath the Great Dane - can be challenging. When Clare finds herself running the village Christmas show, it feels like she has purpose in her life again. Bringing together people from all sides of the community, and all walks of life, will Clare manage to pull off a festive feat like no other? And will she find the new start in life - and possibly love - that she's been looking for? The Country Village Christmas Show is the perfect romantic read to get cosy with this winter. Return to Little Bramble in The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding, available now. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Authors and readers are already loving The Country Village Christmas Show: 'A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it.' Holly Martin, author of Christmas at Mistletoe Cove'A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas.' Bella Osborne, author of Escape to Willow Cottage'As warm as a hot chocolate on a winter night.' Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness'A joyous read celebrating love, community and Christmas spirit.' Julie Caplin, author of The Little Cafe in Copenhagen'Everything you need for entertainment of the best possible kind . . . I loved it.' Raven McCallen'A heartfelt and uplifting read - the perfect book to get into the festive spirit!' Andrea Michael, author of The Book of Us 'A fun and festive read and has to be one of my favourite reads of 2020.' gingerbookgeek blog'I love Christmas stories and this didn't disappoint!' Netgalley reviewer'I loved everything about this book.' Netgalley reviewer'Everything I hoped it would be - and so much more!' Netgalley reviewer'The PERFECT Christmas read!' Netgalley reviewer'Wonderfully festive to get you in the Christmas mood!' Netgalley reviewerTrade ReviewA joyous read celebrating love, community and Christmas spirit. * Julie Caplin, author of The Little Cafe in Copenhagen *Everything you need for entertainment of the best possible kind . . . I just loved it. * Raven McCallen *A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it. * Holly Martin, author of Christmas at Mistletoe Cover *A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas. * Bella Osborne, author of Escape to Willow Cottage *A heartfelt and uplifting read - the perfect book to get into the festive spirit! * Andrea Michael, author of The Book of Us *As warm as a hot chocolate on a winter night. * Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness *A fabulous slice of village life! * Heidi Swain *A gorgeous festive treat of a story, glowing with warmth and Christmas spirit. * Phillipa Ashley *

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Book SynopsisA powerful domestic drama, Shelter reveals the secrets and troubles of two generations of a Korean-American family.You never know what goes on behind closed doors. Kyung Cho owns a house that he can't afford. Despite his promising career as a tenure-track professor, he and his wife, Gillian, have always lived beyond their means. Now their bad decisions are catching up with them, and Kyung is anxious for his family's future.A few miles away, his parents, Jin and Mae, live in the town's most exclusive neighbourhood. Growing up, they gave Kyung every possible advantage – expensive hobbies, private tutors – but they never showed him kindness. Kyung can hardly bear to see them now, much less ask for their help. Yet when an act of violence leaves Jin and Mae unable to live on their own, the dynamic suddenly changes, and he decides to take them in. For the first time in years, the Chos find themselves under the same roof where tensions quickly mount and old resentments rise to the surface.As Shelter veers swiftly towards its startling conclusion, Jung Yun leads us through dark and violent territory, where, unexpectedly, the Chos discover hope. In the tradition of House of Sand and Fog and The Ice Storm, Shelter is a masterfully crafted first novel that asks what it means to provide for one's family and, in answer, delivers a story as riveting as it is profound.Trade ReviewGripping . . . Yun shows how, although shelter doesn't guarantee safety and blood doesn't guarantee love, there's something inextricable about the relationship between a child and a parent . . . We may each respond in our own way, but I'll go ahead and assume that a good amount of folks, regardless of the pain they may have experienced from bad mothers and fathers, and regardless of cultural traditions, will feel the pull to help save their parents. "Shelter" is captivating in chronicling this story. * New York Times *Yun's debut may be a family drama, but it has all the tension of a thriller. It's a sharp knife of a novel - powerful and damaging, and so structurally elegant that it slides right in . . . Yun has written the rare novel that starts with a strong premise and gets better and richer with every page, each scene perfectly selected, building on the last. The language, at first blush plain and functional, reveals itself as the right medium for a story of unusual urgency - not simple but bony, spare and precise . . . Shelter is a marvel of skill and execution, tautly constructed and played without mercy. * Los Angeles Times *A fluidly written debut novel that explores violence and its effects on one immigrant family . . . [A] layered, sometimes surprising debut . . . A diverse and nuanced cast of characters seeks shelter from pain and loneliness in this valiant portrayal of contemporary American life. * Kirkus Reviews *The combination of grisly James Patterson thriller and melancholic suburban drama shouldn't work at all. Yet Ms. Yun pulls it off. Kyung is petulant and unlikeable, but he's also psychologically unstable. The proximity of his parents and the atmosphere of grief and panic launch him on a spiral of self-destruction that's impossible to turn away from. The novel grows darker and darker, until all its internal contradictions are eclipsed by an ending as disturbing and bereft as anything you'll read this year. * Wall Street Journal *This work should find itself on best-of lists, among major award nominations, and in eager readers' hands everywhere. * Library Journal, Starred Review *In her intense debut, Yun explores the powerful legacy of familial violence and the difficulty of finding the strength and grace to forgive . . . This family drama [is] rife with tension and unexpected ironies. * Publishers Weekly *Jung Yun keeps it together through pitch-perfect but flawed narrator Kyung and a high-tension storyline. Such a thoughtful, emotional literary work is an unexpected page-turner. * Globe and Mail *A powerful debut, full of thrills, secrets waiting to be discovered, and lies unwrapped * Los Angeles Review of Books *It seems as though every year a novel - and its author - appears out of nowhere and gets readers everywhere talking. This year that book is Shelter, by Korean American writer Jung Yun. * South China Morning Post *A history of violence lurks behind the walls of the Korean-American family in Jung Yun's Shelter. Kyung Cho is a biology professor who lives in the suburbs with his wife Gillian and young child. Haunted by spiralling debt, the family risks losing their house. Meanwhile his ageing parents are rich beyond anything their son could hope for, but they cared more about money than love, and Kyung grew up desperately unhappy. When Kyung's mother turns up naked and battered in the backyard, and his parents are no longer able to live on their own, he reluctantly takes them in. The reversal of fortune leads to dramatic and surprising revelations, dissecting questions of familial duty, betrayal and forgiveness. Jung Yun's Shelter weaves an intricately plotted intergenerational drama, delivered in cool spare prose. * Sydney Morning Herald *This stunning literary novel is a page turner about family, belonging and making commitments you can live by * Reader's Digest *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘There are books we like well enough to recommend, but there are a very few – To Kill a Mockingbird, Catch-22, The Things They Carried – that we remember forever. To my own shortlist I can now add My Absolute Darling, by Gabriel Tallent … The word “masterpiece” has been cheapened by too many blurbs, but My Absolute Darling absolutely is one’ Stephen King ‘If you liked Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, you’ll love this’ Daily Mail ‘A powerful tale with a howitzer of a heroine and a plethora of extraordinary scenes’ TLS ‘A heartrending debut that will shock, then shake, then inspire you’ Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You ‘An outstanding book that could be this year’s A Little Life’ Guardian ‘My Absolute Darling is an absolute triumph’ National ‘The writing is beautiful and vivid, while the story is brilliantly urgent, brutal and uncompromising’ Claire Fuller, author of Our Endless Numbered Days ‘Tallent’s breathtaking debut is a harrowing and at times psychologically difficult journey on the scale of A Little Life or The Goldfinch, but it’s worth it . . . a true inspiration’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Once a year – certainly no more – along comes a special novel that turns its readers into literary holy rollers. A couple of years ago it was Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life. Before that Ferrante fever. This year, I suspect it will be My Absolute Darling’ The Times ‘This is a compelling and unsettling novel that sucks you into its darkly warped world and doesn’t let go until the last page … powerful, violent, savage and quite brilliant’ Daily Express ‘A gut wrenching, terrifying novel written so beautifully it sings off the page’ Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat ‘This is a bloody, brutal tale, but also an incredibly beautiful one’ Emerald Street

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Book SynopsisRoddy Doyle's Booker Prize-winning novel describes the world of ten-year-old Paddy Clarke, growing up in Barrytown, north Dublin. From fun and adventure on the streets, boredom in the classroom to increasing isolation at home, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha is the story of a boy who sees everything but understands less and less.Trade ReviewFunny, warm and enriching. -- Alan Davies * Daily Express *Gloriously triumphant...confirms Doyle as the best novelist of his generation -- Nick Hornby * Literary Review *Truthful, hilarious, painfully sad -- Tom Shone * Spectator *A superb recreation of childhood -- Dermot BolgerThis is one of the most compelling novels I've read in ages, a triumph of style and perception -- Joseph O' Connor * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisIt's Always the Husband unless it's the best friend.The Top 10 Sunday Times bestsellerA page-turning whodunnit that will speak to anyone who''s ever had a frenemy'Ruth WareA gripping, tangled web of a novel it pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I loved it!'Shari LapenaKate, Aubrey and Jenny are inseparable at college friends who promised they'd always be there for each other.But twenty years later, their friendship is about to take a deadly turn.Kate married the gorgeous party boy, Aubrey married up, and Jenny married the boy next door, but when one of the friends dies in shocking circumstances, will everyone assume that it's always the husband? Or could it be the best friend?It's Always The Husband is the gripping debut which will keep you guessing until the very last page.Praise for It's Always the Husband:A gripping page-tunerwill suit fans of Liane Moriarty' HelloA page-turning whodunnit that will speak to anyone who''s ever had a frenemy'Ruth Ware, bestselling author of The WoTrade Review Praise for Michele Campbell: ‘An exceptionally suspenseful thriller’ A J Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window ‘Darkly intriguing’ Woman’s Own ‘After all the twists and turns, you’ll want to start this book all over again, it’s that good!’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Gripping … a genuinely suspenseful thrill ride. It’s a whole lot of fun’ Heat ‘Taut, unpredictable and sensual, Campbell's writing provides the perfect escape’ Newsweek ‘Nonstop action… Fans of The Firm will devour this contemporary high-stakes combination of family pressures, legal machinations, and jaw-dropping twists. I could not turn the pages fast enough!’ Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of The House Guest

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the next utterly romantic historical saga from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court!She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box fate in her handsLiving hand to mouth ever since her mother's tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London's streets.Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia's future hangs by a thread can she keep her hopes alive?Readers LOVE A Thimble for Christmas!Love the author loved the book. Family saga at its best' ?????I loved it from cover to cover, and I didn''t want it to end' ?????A wonderful book by my favourite author Dilly Court, I absolutely adore her style of writing and the rich and warm characters that are interwoven into the story' ?????I''m a huge Dilly Court fan, and I''ve yet to read a book of hers that disappoints' ?????Really enjoyed it and read it right through on this windy and wet Sunday' ?????Heart-warming historical drama, full of ups and downs and full of lively and interesting characters' ?????Another great read from Dilly Court, I was unable to put it down' ?????Dilly's novel Sunday's Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022Trade Review Praise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph

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Book SynopsisHeavy is the head that wears the crown.'Immersive and visceral, I loved every word' Christian Cameron'Another excellent historical adventure from Steven McKay. A captivating thrill ride' Tim HodkinsonNorthumbria, AD 864. Viking warlord Ragnar Lothbrok is captured and killed in brutal fashion, an event that will shape the future of the nation for decades to come.Mercia, AD 868. Alfred, son of Wessex and heir to the throne, draws his first blood on the battlefield. It will not be his last.A devastating scourge from the north is coming to Britain, one that will bring armies and entire kingdoms to their knees. Travelling along the whale road in their feared longships, the Great Heathen Army move fast, striking with a savagery unmatched, in a seemingly unstoppable tide of blood and iron.One inexperienced warrior will prove the difference, a young man who will lead from the front and, in time, aspire to become the saviour of the Saxons… Alfred the Great.A totally enrapturing historical adventure following the life of one of Britain’s most important ever kings, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow.Praise for The Heathen Horde 'Dark Age fiction has a new master' Gordon Doherty'Packed with high drama and pulse-quickening battle scenes, The Heathen Horde is a superbly researched tale of a kingdom at bay and a young man thrust unexpectedly to the epicentre of power. A brilliant start to the series' Douglas Jackson'Highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of Viking fiction, historical fiction, or just loves a rip-roaring read' Peter Gibbons'The Heathen Horde brings Alfred vividly to life and left me anxiously anticipating its sequel' Damion Hunter'An enthralling tale of one of England's greatest kings!' Donovan Cook

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Book SynopsisFrom Jennifer Ryan, the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, comes an unforgettable story inspired by the true events of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition.‘The Great British Bake Off set in World War Two . . . an enchanting hug of a novel’ – Cathy Kelly, author of Other Women‘A gorgeous novel about making the best of things during difficult times, whilst celebrating the importance of sisterhood and friendship’ – Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You?Some wars will be fought at home . . .Two years into the Second World War, and German U-boats are frequently disrupting Britain’s supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio programme called The Kitchen Front launches a new cooking contest – and the grand prize is a job as the programme’s first-ever female co-host.For young widow Audrey, winning the competition could be a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. However, her estranged sister, Gwendoline, is equally set on success even if her own kitchen maid, Nell, is competing against her. And then there is Zelda, a London-trained chef desperate to succeed in a male-dominated profession – and harbouring a secret that will change everything . . .Trade ReviewJennifer Ryan’s wonderful ability to weave an atmospheric, wise and warm story makes The Kitchen Front entirely comforting and unputdownable. Like The Great British Bake Off set in World War Two, with redoubtable heroines you’ll cheer for, The Kitchen Front is an enchanting hug of a novel written with Jennifer Ryan’s usual skill -- Cathy KellyWhat a dream of a book! Absolute perfection! Nostalgia, rivalry, friendship and fun – a real treat. Beautifully detailed – you will be right there with a cast of vivid characters, cooking their way to a new life. You will LOVE it -- Veronica Henry on The Kitchen FrontA gorgeous novel about making the best of things during difficult times, whilst celebrating the importance of sisterhood and friendship -- Jill Mansell on The Kitchen FrontRich in historical detail, The Kitchen Front, is a heart-warming account of the power of friendship. An uplifting tribute to female solidarity in challenging times. -- Fiona ValpyA delight! Jennifer Ryan cooks up a fresh take on the popularity of World War Two fiction and brings the battle into the heart of the wartime home. A charming blend of intriguing characters and a high-stakes cookery competition, served with the perfect amount of pathos and humour. Deserving of a historical Hollywood handshake! -- Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of The Bird in the Bamboo Cage, on The Kitchen FrontEvocative, nostalgic and comforting with a wonderful story of female friendship. A delight -- Alex Brown, author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage, on The Kitchen FrontCertain to delight lovers of historical fiction and TV cooking competitions * Kirkus Reviews *Delightful -- People magazineDelightful . . . it manages to be sad and funny, exciting and heartwarming, all at the same time. Quite an achievement -- Barbara Erskine on The Chilbury Ladies’ ChoirWonderful . . . a master of plotting and working in different registers . . . Readers with an appetite for homefront World War Two novels will find this deeply satisfying * Publishers Weekly *The writing glows with emotional intelligence. This atmospheric debut, based on the author’s own family history, had me sniffing copiously -- Daily Mail on The Chilbury Ladies’ ChoirIntrigue, romance and an unforgettable cast of characters who aren’t always as they appear . . . a charming slice of English wartime life that warms the soul like a hot toddy -- Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls, on The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

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Book Synopsis'A tragedy of classical proportions...a magnificent novel' The TimesDiscover the Pulitzer-prize winning novel that confirmed Philip Roth as one of the greatest American writers.'Swede' Levov is living the American dream. He glides through life cocooned by his devoted family, lucrative business, sporting prowess and good looks. He is the embodiment of thriving, post-war America, land of liberty and hope. Until one sunny day in 1968, when Swede's daughter, Merry, commits an outlandishly savage act of political terrorism and the Levov family is plunged into mayhem. Extraordinarily nuanced and poignant, American Pastoral is the first in an eloquent trilogy of post-war American novels that still resonates today._________________PRAISE FOR AMERICAN PASTORAL:'Angry, grieving, witty, acute' Sunday Times'A profound and personal meditation on the changes in the American psyche over the last fifty years' Financial Times'A momentous novel' Observer'Utterly tragic and compelling' TatlerTrade ReviewMarvellous... Raging and elegaic * Guardian *Full of insight, full of sharp ironic twists, full of wisdom about American idealism, and full of terrific fun... A profound and personal meditation on the changes in the American psyche over the last fifty years * Financial Times *A tragedy of classical proportions...a magnificent novel * The Times *Wonderful, rich...entirely gripping * Sunday Telegraph *A momentous novel * Observer *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'A tale of enduring power' Paula McLainFrom the author of the No.1, two million-copy bestseller Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic story of a family separated, their search for answers, and an epic journey to reunite the missing . . .Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest. For heiresses Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question. Could her long-lost family still be out there?Louisiana, 1987: Arriving in Augustine, Louisiana, first-year teacher Benedetta Silva finds herself teaching students whose poverty-stricken lives she can scarcely comprehend. The town is impossibly set in its ways, suspicious of new ideas and new people. But amid the gnarled live oaks and ancient plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.A heart-wrenching novel inspired by little-known historical events, based on actual "Lost Friends" advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones, lost to them when their families were sold off.'Tragic, thought-provoking but ultimately uplifting . . . an enthralling adventure' Lancashire Evening PostTrade ReviewAn epic story that will stir your emotions * Woman's Weekly *It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel * Huffington Post *A tale of enduring power * Paula McLain *An uplifting exploration of what family truly means * Booklist *Tragic, thought-provoking but ultimately uplifting, this is a sobering history lesson wrapped up in an enthralling adventure * Lancashire Evening Post *Moving * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling novelist Rosie Goodwin writes a spell-binding saga of bitter loss, lost love and long buried secrets. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Kitty Neale.With the promise of a new start, will she find the happiness she longs for?Kate Cleary feels no sorrow when her brutal father dies. At last she will be free from him, even though she and Nuala, the sister who depends on her for everything, must now leave his miners cottage. Then Kate discovers they have an aunt in the Midlands whom their father had kept secret, and who now offers them a home. Despite leaving her heart in Durham with Matthew, a young artist, Kate feels loved and safe with Aunt Beth. But her peace is shattered by an astonishing revelation from Nuala, and a series of brutal attacks on the women of Nuneaton. Kate turns to a handsome widower, Martin Denby, but is his kindness too good to be true?Trade ReviewAn absorbing story in the grand tradition of the best saga authors -- Margaret DickinsonA wonderful heroine, plucky, determined and warm-hearted. A believable and compelling read -- Jennie FeltonRosie writes such heart-warming sagas -- Lyn AndrewsA heart-throbber of a story that puts so many other so-called emotional blockbusters in the shade * Northern Echo *Not only is Goodwin's characterisation and dialogue compelling, her descriptive writing is a joy * Nottingham Evening Post *The new Catherine Cookson * Coventry Evening Telegraph *A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer * Bookseller *Goodwin has the enviable knack of putting the past into focus with wonderfully warm and credible characters, lively dialogue and fascinating period detail of everyday life. A Rose Among Thorns is another moving and inspirational story from a writer who knows how to tug at the heart strings * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book Synopsis‘A gorgeous story full of emotion and a very special library.’ – Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop Some stories stay with us forever…Trade Review'A lovely story that celebrates books, family and kindness. Touching and beautiful.' – Hazel Prior, bestselling author of Away with the Penguins 'The Memory Library is so joyful. Kate Storey writes from the heart and the gut about mistakes and how we can learn from them. Great characters and a truly heartwarming story – I loved it!' – Laura Pearson, author of #1 Kindle bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont ‘A gorgeous novel that pairs my (and many people’s) perennial love for books about books with themes of family – and just how complex they can be.' – Platinum 'An utterly gorgeous page turner about the power of books, family and forgiveness.' – Phaedra Patrick, The Library of Lost and Found ‘The Memory Library is a magical story…It’s a magnificent celebration of the wonderful world of books and libraries – one to treasure and re-read over and over again!’ – Celia Anderson, author of USA Today bestseller 59 Memory Lane ‘A beautiful, poignant tale of family, friendship and the power of books. I was completely swept away.’ – Kindle bestseller Annie Lyons

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the Christmas wedding of the year, in Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, by the bestselling author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas, Jenny Bayliss.'A warm-hearted romance to cosy up with this Christmas' – Woman's Own'Jenny Bayliss is the queen of funny, smart romantic comedies' – Freya Sampson, author of The Last LibraryA winter wedding of school friends should be the highlight of Nory Noel’s festive calendar. But that group has long since drifted apart, and Nory is dreading the lavish, week-long affair. Still, she supposes, being the only single person means she gets a king-size bed in the idyllic castle venue all to herself.As the champagne flows, the years roll back and soon the air is alive with old sparks and old tensions. Desperate for a moment of peace, Nory escapes and crashes into Isaac, the castle’s gardener – and her former school rival.Nory and Isaac have more in common these days than they could ever have imagined. But as she steals more time away to spend with him, Isaac reveals an astonishing secret about his past. Nory is in a unique position to help right this wrong – but uncovering the truth might mean pushing Isaac away once more . . .'An uplifting, happily-ever-after gem that epitomises the perfect Christmas read' – Northern LifePraise for Jenny Bayliss:'A gorgeous, cosy winter read' – Sophie Cousens, author of Just Haven't Met You Yet'If you need help getting into the festive spirit, this is the book for you . . . This feelgood read has humour, romance and some gorgeous descriptions of the Christmas traditions of an English village' – Good Housekeeping'Sparkly and romantic' – My WeeklyTrade ReviewA warm-hearted romance to cosy up with this Christmas * Woman's Own *A gorgeous, cosy winter read that will transport you to the coast on a windswept day. Full of quirky characters, this book will restore anyone’s faith that it’s never too late for a second chance at love or, indeed, life -- Sophie Cousens, bestselling author of This Time Next YearIf you need help getting into the festive spirit, this is the book for you . . . This feel-good read has humour, romance and some gorgeous descriptions of the Christmas traditions of an English village * Good Housekeeping *Sparkly and romantic * My Weekly *Jenny Bayliss is the queen of uplifting, funny, smart romantic comedies. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe contains a cast of believable and loveably-flawed characters, including a charming bookish heroine who you’ll root for from page one. Add a dose of Christmas cheer, very funny banter and some sharp social observations, and this is the perfect seasonal read. I loved it! -- Freya Sampson, author of The Last Library and The Girl on the 88 BusThe perfect blend of humour and romance. An uplifting, happily-ever-after gem that epitomises the perfect Christmas read * Northern Life *

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Book SynopsisNow a major film, starring Dennis Quaid.From W. Bruce Cameron, the author of A Dog's Purpose, the phenomenal New York Times Number One bestseller about the unbreakable bond between a dog and their human.Buddy is a good dog. He thought he had found and fulfilled his purpose, over the course of several lives, in helping his beloved boy Ethan. On the farm, Buddy watches over Ethan’s granddaughter, curious baby Clarity, trying to keep her out of mischief. He begins to realize that this is a little girl very much in need of a dog of her own.Buddy realizes that he has a new destiny. Reborn once more, he's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs – who will take care of his girl? With her selfish mother determined to keep them apart, and an unpredictable, obsessive boyfriend, Clarity's life threatens to spiral out of control – she needs help more than ever, but can Buddy find his way back to her in time?A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? This is a moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.Trade ReviewReaders will devour this wonderful story and cry from beginning to end. Sweet and heartfelt, Cameron likely has another bestseller on his hands -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Book SynopsisA mother and son inhabit an isolated and increasingly dangerous private world.The third and final installment of Ariana Harwicz's "Involuntary Trilogy" finds us on familiar, disquieting ground. Under the spell of a mother’s madness, the French countryside transforms into a dreamscape of interconnected imagery: animals, desire, the functions of the body. Most troublingly: the comfort of a teenage son. Scorning the bourgeois mores and conventionality of their small town, she withdraws him from school and the two embark on ever more antisocial and dangerous behavior. Harwicz is at her best here, building an interior world so robust, and so grotesque, that it eclipses our shared reality. Savage, and savagely funny, she leaves us singed, if not scorched.Trade Review"As ever, Harwicz both impresses and repels with her blistering descriptions of the extremes of human behavior." —Publishers Weekly"It is hard to match this, or any of the books in this trilogy, for sheer searing memorability." —Irish Times"Disturbingly brilliant – and brilliantly disturbing – Tender is a satiating end to Harwicz’s unconventional collection." —The Wee Review**********Praise for Ariana HarwiczUncomfortable and fascinating, Harwicz drags us on a turbulent voyage of self-discovery via the characters’ analysis of their own past and present. VANITY FAIR (UK)Man Booker International Prize (Longlist)Society of Authors Valle-Inclán Prize (Shortlist)Best Translated Book Award (Finalist)Internationaler Literaturpreis (Shortlist)Republic of Consciousness Prize (Shortlist)"A touch of David Lynch." —The Guardian"Celebrating lust and bolshiness with an intensity worthy of Clarice Lispector." —The Times Literary Supplement"The over-all effect is exacting…. And yet “Die, My Love” isn’t truly beholden to plot. The thrill is in the human as animal, and even as parasite." —The New Yorker"Die, My Love is impressive for the force of the narrator’s insatiable rage, which fragments the boundaries of the self. [Anne Enright]" —New York Review of Books"Unrestrained and unadorned, Harwicz’s writing has a wild beauty.... A portrait of motherhood, passion, and mental illness that cuts to the bone." —Kirkus"We are used to female narrators who occupy one of several familiar niches: blandly ‘likeable’, ‘flawed’, or pathological; murderers or abusers who are profiled with just enough sympathy to make us feel humane as we judge them. Harwicz takes us somewhere more profound and forces us to confront the thought that these easy fictional ‘explanations’ are specious. Lurking inside all of us is the potential for horror."" —Hari Kunzru , author of THE IMPRESSIONIST and GODS WITHOUT MEN"The prose of Ariana Harwicz embarks on a vertiginous linguistic journey that joyfully shreds all vestiges of common sense."" —María Sonia Cristoff , author of FALSE CALM**********"Dangerously addictive." —The Guardian"A precise, intense, ruthless mosaic that demands we read carefully, never quickly." —Literary Hub"Celebrating lust and bolshiness with an intensity worthy of Clarice Lispector." —The Times Literary Supplement"Harwicz succeeds in luring the reader into the darker aspects of the human mind." —Publishers Weekly"Ariana Harwicz is the real deal, the very definition of an artist."" —Adam Biles , author of FEEDING TIME"Ariana Harwicz is wet respite from deathless, sexless, bloodless art. "" —Melissa Broder , author of THE PISCES and SO SAD TODAY"Ariana Harwicz is an intensely passionate and fearless writer whose irresistible prose deserves to be read far and wide."" —Claire-Louise Bennett , author of POND"A kick up the arse to the literary novel. Feebleminded disassembles form, sensibility, everything... at once a riot (a revolution!) and a headtrip."" —Joanna Walsh , author of VERTIGO and BREAK.UP"Harwicz achieves an asphyxiating writing, saturated with images of great beauty despite their disturbing character." —El País"The acoustic quality of her prose, the pulse of her voice, the intensity of her imagery make her subjects so daring, so relentless, so damned and unconventional - very hard to drop or ever to forget."" —Lina Meruane , author of FALSE CALM"Unrelenting and unforgettable, the Argentine author’s latest novel is a breathtaking, hectic ride, as well as a strangely exhilarating story that confirms her as one of the most formidable writers at work today." —Jeremy Garber, Powell's BookshopGlobetrotting: Your sneak preview of books in translation —New York Times"This is a novel whose characters’s conflicts spill out of the page and into the prose used to tell their story, making for a searing read." —Volume 1 Brooklyn"Feebleminded is a nuclear bomb of recent literature from Argentina, a book of exceptional power with febrile characters." —Pagina/12**********

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of Great CircleJoyously good' DAILY MAILA ferociously clever comedy of manners' GUARDIANA wise, sophisticated and funny novel about family, fidelity, class and crisis' MARIE CLAIREA well-observed, hilarious, yet moving novel' WOMAN & HOMENew York Times bestseller and winner of the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize and 2012 L.A. Times First Novel PrizeThe Van Meters have gathered at their family retreat on the New England island of Waskeke to celebrate the marriage of daughter Daphne to an impeccably appropriate young man. The weekend is full of lobster and champagne, salt air and practiced bonhomie, but long-buried discontent and simmering lust seep through the cracks in the revelry.Winn Van Meter, father-of-the-bride, has spent his life following the rules of the east coast upper crust, but now, just shy of his sixtieth birthday, he must finally confront his failings, his desires, and his own humanityMaggie Shipstead is a hugely talented young writer definTrade Review‘Joyously good’ Daily Mail ‘A ferociously clever comedy of manners’ Guardian ‘Shipstead’s sophisticated and summery debut more than lives up to the hype’ Independent ‘Distinctive and dazzling … The world has found a remarkable, humane new voice to explain us to ourselves’ Allison Pearson, Telegraph ‘A wise, sophisticated and funny novel about family, fidelity, class and crisis’ Marie Claire

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Book SynopsisFrom the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, 2012 comes this elegantly crafted novel that explores the strange power that lost children exert on the memories of those they leave behindWhen Faye Travers is sent to appraise a family estate in a small New Hampshire town and comes across a forgotten set of valuable Native American artefacts, she is not surprised by the discovery. However, she is shocked when she finds a rare drum particularly because without even touching the instrument she hears its deep resonant sound.Following the discovery, we trace the drum''s passage both backwards and forwards in time. We hear the voice of Bernard Shaawano, an Ojibwe, who tells of how his grandfather created the drum after years of mourning his younger daughter''s death and how it changes the paths of those who cross it. Through Faye, we experience her anguished relationship with a local sculptor who also mourns the loss of a daughter, and witness the life Faye has made alone with her moTrade Review‘The author knows how to spin a good yarn … Full of poetic writing and a passionate indignation on behalf of the dispossessed, this novel shows the author at her best.’ The Times ‘Erdrich handles the shift in pace beautifully. The world she portrays is harsh, with death from smallpox or starvation giving way to the oppressions of poverty and alcoholism. But such is the unsentimental poetry of Erdrich’s vision that it becomes a place to almost envy, too.’ Observer 'Resonant, poetic and exact … these visions will remain imprinted on the reader's mind.' Los Angeles Times 'Intricate and beautifully written.' Boston Globe 'Spare, perceptive, unsentimental.' New York Times

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Book Synopsis*If you love The Butlers, meet QUEENIE! Kimberley Chambers' new No.1 bestseller and prequel to The Butler series is out now!*With family like this, who needs enemies. . .There are some families that welcome newcomers with open arms, then there are the Butlers. An East End family no good girl wants to marry intoJo fell for Vinny Butler's good looks, but she's stood at one graveside too many and now she's buried her heart as well.Michael Butler was always the nice one, until he started running the family business. Nancy is desperate to leave, and though she would never turn her back on her children, every step they take in their father's footsteps destroys her a little more.As the old saying goes you keep your friends close, and your enemies closerBut you keep your family right where you can see them.Book three in the Butler family saga. Read the whole series in order: 1. The Trap 2. Payback 3. The Wronged 4. Tainted LoveTrade ReviewPraise for Kimberley Chambers: ‘[Kimberley Chambers is] the queen of the gritty, low-life tale . . .a fast-paced, thrill-a-minute ride that takes you on all sorts of twists and turns’ Bella ‘Easily as good as Martina Cole’ News of the World ‘Brilliantly delivers a story of violence, treachery and family ties… Easy to read and hard to put down’ News of the World ‘[a] fast-paced tale with gritty authenticity’ The Guardian

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Book Synopsis''Owls Do Cry remains innovative and relevant'' GUARDIAN ''Janet Frame was a unique and troubled soul whose luminous words are the more precious'' HILARY MANTEL''Her dark, eloquent song captured my heart '' JANE CAMPIONOwls Do Cry is the story of the Withers family: Francie, soon to leave school to start work at the woollen mills; Toby, whose days are marred by the velvet cloak of epilepsy; Chicks, the baby of the family; and Daphne, whose rich, poetic imagination condemns her to a life in institutions.It is one of the classics of New Zealand literature and has remained in print continuously for fifty years. A fiftieth anniversary edition was published in 2007.Owls Do Cry is Janet Frame''s first novel. She describes her idea behind it in the second volume of her autobiography:''Pictures of great treasure in the midst of sadness and waste haunted me and I began to think, in fiction, of a chilTrade ReviewJanet Frame was a unique and troubled soul whose luminous words are the more precious because they were snatched from the jaws of the disaster of her early lifeOwls Do Cry remains innovative and relevant; Frame's idiosyncratic and startlingly visual style means that the book's immense power to unnerve, astonish and impress endures * Guardian *This is the era that saw the emergence of novelists including Doris Lessing, Muriel Spark and Iris Murdoch, and Frame's place alongside them would be assured if she never published anything but this one novel * Independent on Sunday *Owls Do Cry is a devastating reflection on the character of conventional society and the dangers that await those who reject its narrowness - and as such, is profoundly chilling. It is also a vivid social document, capturing the language and texture of the postwar period * Irish Times *Janet Frame's first novel, Owls Do Cry, created a sensation in New Zealand when it was published in 1957 . . . Her dark, eloquent song captured my heart . . . Frame gave Daphne this inner world of gorgeously imagined riches, but also affirmed it in me, and in countless other sensitive teenage girls: we had been given a voice - poetic, powerful and fated.Frame's tormented personal story was reflected in much of her fiction, which centered on the inadequacy of language to convey emotions * Los Angeles Times *An unforgettable and startlingly original work, a true and timeless classic of enduring power -- Margaret DrabbleJanet Frame is the greatest New Zealand writer. She is utterly herself. Any one of her books could be published today and it would be ground-breaking -- Eleanor Catton

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of In an Instant comes the moving story of a family grappling with grief and a woman with the power to help them through it—or stand in their way. After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children, Marie Egide is desperate to carve out a fresh start for her family. With her husband and their three surviving children, Marie travels to New Hampshire, where she plans to sell a family estate and then, just maybe, they’ll be able to heal from their grief. Marie’s plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the property, which she claims was a gift from Marie’s grandfather. If Davina refuses to move on, Marie won’t be able to either. The two women clash, and battle lines are drawn within Marie’s family and the town as each side fights for what they believe is right, the tension rising until it reaches its breaking point. And the choice is no longer theirs when a force bigger than them all—fate—takes control.Trade Review“A poignant tale of blame, forgiveness, and the slender threads that weave into the tapestry of life. Redfearn takes her readers from heartbreak to hope, all the way making us see our ties to what’s been lost, and that even the most unlikely people can set us free.” —Gian Sardar, author of When the World Goes Quiet “A captivating and thoughtful novel about resilience and grace in the face of tragedy. Nestled among memorable characters who will stay with you long after the last page, Suzanne Redfearn explores the lengths we will go to and the secrets we will keep to protect those we love.” —Mansi Shah, author of The Direction of the Wind “Where Butterflies Wander is a heart-wrenching story about a grieving family and the different ways people cope with grief. Suzanne Redfearn is a master at placing her characters in challenging circumstances where they are forced to make impossible decisions. I stayed up much too late furiously turning pages to find out what would happen. I was so invested in all the characters that I didn’t know whom to root for, wanting everyone to get what they wanted. Davina and the Egide family will stay with me for a long time to come.” —Diane Barnes, author of All We Could Still Have and More Than

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Book SynopsisFrom the lauded, bestselling author of the Cazalet Chronicles, in Odd Girl Out, Elizabeth Jane Howard reveals with devastating accuracy a marriage put in a most destructive situation.Anna and Edmund Cornhill have a happy marriage and a lovely home. They are content, complete, absorbed in their private idyll.Arabella, who comes to stay one lazy summer, is rich, rootless and amoral – and, as they find out, beautiful and loving.In her elegant prose, Howard traces the web of love and desire that entangles these three and will, ultimately, leave one of them behind.'Her talent seemed so effervescent, so unstoppable, that there was no predicting where it might take her' – Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf HallTrade ReviewHer talent seemed so effervescent, so unstoppable, that there was no predicting where it might take her -- Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall

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Book SynopsisBeautifully written and compelling, About Grace is the brilliant debut novel from Anthony Doerr.Growing up in Alaska, young David Winkler is crippled by his dreams. At nine, he dreams a man is decapitated by a passing truck on the path outside his family's home. The next day, unable to prevent it, he witnesses an exact replay of his dream in real life. The premonitions keep coming, unstoppably. He sleepwalks during them, bringing catastrophe into his reach.Then, as unstoppable as a vision, he falls in love, at the supermarket (exactly as he already dreamed) with Sandy. They flee south, landing in Ohio, where their daughter Grace is born. And then the visions of Grace's death begin for Winkler, as their waterside home is inundated. Plagued by the same horrific images of Grace drowning, when the floods come, he cannot face his destiny and flees.He beaches on a remote Caribbean island, where he works as a handyman, chipping away at his doubts and hopes, never knowing whether Grace survived the flood or met the doom he foretold. After two decades, he musters the strength to find outTrade Review‘'I loved this wonderful book – its strangeness, its obsessiveness, its beautiful sentences.' Monica Ali ’Doerr's sublime renditions of Winkler's attunement to the world around him turn his story into a prolonged epiphany, a blissful parable about grace. This is a formidable literary achievement that, link Winkler's snow crystals, integrates facets and dimensions into near-perfect whole.' Independent ‘Doerr's gifts as a stylist are powerfully in evidence: his writing is crystalline, his attention to detail intense and evocative. That Doerr is a writer of exceptional gifts is not in question,and there is much to admire in this novel.' Daily Telegraph 'Doerr writes wonderfully, lyrically, of the natural world, and his observations of water, snowflakes and clouds illuminate this impressive debut.' Guardian ‘Exceptional first novel. I hesitate to say this book will take your breath away because it's such a cliché; but, really, I promise you, it will… I can't remember when a novel so entranced me. The only criticism I can really muster – and it is rather a limp one – is that About Grace is almost inhumanely faultless; almost, but, even then, not quite.' Evening Standard ’In careful, measured prose conjures a sense of awe both humbling and salutary. It has the bleak, lucid beauty of a day of midwinter light. At its best when describing the minute, disregarded miracles of the natural world, it lingers in the mind like one of the protagonist's eerie dreams.' Daily Mail ‘About Grace is an intriguing exploration of fate and chance’ The Times

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Book Synopsis''Home looks nice. Allus does though, don''t it? Perfick''And so the Larkins - Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery - return from an outing for fish and chips and ice cream one May evening. There, amid the rustic charms of home, they discover a visitor: one Cedric Charlton, Her Majesty''s inspector of taxes.Mr Charlton is visiting to find out why junk-dealer Pop hasn''t paid his tax - but nothing''s that simple at the Larkins. Mariette takes a shine to ''Charley'' - as Pop calls him - and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living: the lusty scents of wild flowers, the pleasures of a bottle of Dragon''s Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and hot, hot summer nights.In fact, soon Charley can''t see any reason to return to the office at all . . .Trade ReviewA pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfick. * Time *A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream * The Times *A perfick piece of entertainment * New York Times *A wistful daydream about innocence and happiness * Spectator *Pop Larkin, Ma and their progeny . . . are essentially English of the rich and ribald England of Chaucer and Shakespeare. A superb and timeless comedy * Scotsman *As funny as Evelyn Waugh and as enchanting as Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie. Don't miss it * Herald *They are absolute comfort books * The Lady *Pop is as sexy, genial, generous, and boozy as ever. Ma is a worthy match for him in all these qualities -- - * The Times *As funny as Evelyn Waugh and as enchanting as Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie. Don't miss it -- - * Herald *Pop Larkin, Ma and their progeny . . . are essentially English of the rich and ribald England of Chaucer and Shakespeare. A superb and timeless comedy -- - * Scotsman *A perfick piece of entertainment -- - * New York Times *A wistful daydream about innocence and happiness -- - * Spectator *A pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfick -- - * Time *A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream -- - * The Times *The Larkins live - these novels please us by escaping definition -- - * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWarm and wonderfulbursting with characters you'll adore' Miranda DickinsonA complete novel, first published as a four-part series.Summer Freeman returns to the waterside village of Willowbeck to rescue the Canal Boat Café, her late mother's picturesque narrowboat, which has run into choppy waters. A family friend, Valerie, has been trying to keep things afloat, but the coffee machine is jammed, the cake offerings are paltry, and not all of the locals want to see the café succeed.Help comes from the boat next door, in the shape of handsome wildlife photographer, Mason and his naughty Border Terrier, who are showing more than a passing interest in Summer and her adorable Bichon Frise, Latte. But is Mason being honest about himself? Or does he have something to hide?As her life and the community of Willowbeck begin to entwine, Summer finds herself setting sail on a new adventure. Will the anchor of a steady life on land be too strong, or can Summer learn to cut loose and embrace life afloTrade ReviewPraise for Cressida McLaughlin: 'A lovely, warm gem of a series that stays with you…I loved it’ Alexandra Brown ‘Like a lovely warm hug in a book.’ Kirsty Greenwood ‘Warm and wonderful…bursting with characters you’ll adore’ Miranda Dickinson ‘This is, without a doubt, my book of the year’BRMAYCOCK’S BOOK BLOG

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Book SynopsisGritty, heartrending and unputdownable – the story of two sisters sent first to an English, then an Australian orphanage in the aftermath of World War II. Rita and Rosie Stevens are only nine and five years old when their widowed mother marries a violent bully called Jimmy Randall and has a baby boy by him. Under pressure from her new husband, she is persuaded to send the girls to an orphanage – not knowing that the papers she has signed will entitle them to do what they like with the children. And it is not long before the powers that be decide to send a consignment of orphans to their sister institution in Australia. Among them – without their family's consent or knowledge – are Rita and Rosie, the throwaway children. What readers are saying about THE THROWAWAY CHILDREN: 'I haven't felt so immersed in a book in a very long time and have recommended to just about everyone' 'Heart wrenching' 'A truly powerful book'Trade ReviewThe story is a compelling one and as a consequence, the book is very hard to put down... many a reader will inevitably find themselves heckling the characters from the sidelines, encouraging the good guys and booing the baddies' * The Bookbag *Enlightening, compelling and emotional * Living North *

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Book SynopsisThe next instalment of Angela Thirkell's brilliantly satirical English comedies set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, which began with High Rising. Perfect for fans of Stella Gibbons, PG Wodehouse or EF Benson.Trade ReviewYou read her, laughing, and want to do your best to protect her characters from any reality but their own * New York Times *The novels are a delight, with touches of E. F. Benson, E. M. Delafield and P. G. Wodehouse -- Christopher Fowler * Independent on Sunday *Charming, very funny indeed. Angela Thirkell is perhaps the most Pym-like of any twentieth-century author, after Pym herself -- Alexander McCall Smith

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Book SynopsisBeautifully written and had me hooked from page one' Reader ReviewA gorgeous springtime read from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.Will love bloom on the little Cornish Isles?Jess has lived at the idyllic flower farm on the Isles of Scilly her whole life, but when her boyfriend Adam leaves without explanation, Jess discovers that even her little slice of Cornish heaven can be lonely.For the first time in Will's life, he's met someone he can't stop thinking about. But nothing is simple when the woman of your dreams is working for you.Gaby is running away from painful memories, and where could be more perfect than a remote island off the Cornish coast? But to put the past behind her, she must keep moving however much she might want to stay.A gorgeous spring-time romance from Sunday Times bestselling author Phillipa Ashley. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Karen Swan and Heidi Swain.Authors and readers can't get enough of Phillipa AshlTrade ReviewPraise for Phillipa Ashley: ‘Sheer joy!’ Katie Ffforde ‘A lovely read full of secrets and hope.’ Jo Thomas ‘Will make you laugh and cry.’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Gloriously uplifting and unashamedly warm hearted!’ Faith Hogan ‘A blissful story, full of sunshine, secrets and Phillipa’s trademark romance.’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘Escapism at its very best, what a book!’ Milly Johnson ‘Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!’ Jill Mansell ‘An utterly glorious, escapist read from a one of the freshest voices in women's fiction today. I loved every gorgeous page.’ Claudia Carroll ‘Serious escapism … like a big warm hug.’ Popsugar ‘Romantic and life-affirming.’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Full of genuine warmth and quirky characters.’ Woman’s Own

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Book Synopsis'It's like a big hug in a book' - Janice Hallett, author of The AppealSometimes the end is only the beginning . . . Annie is single, unemployed and just a bit stuck when her beloved father dies unexpectedly. Furious at his partner’s plans to scatter his ashes somewhere of no emotional significance, Annie seizes the urn and, on a whim, decides to take it on a tour of the thirty-one sea areas that make up the shipping forecast, which her father loved listening to, despite living in landlocked St Albans. Travelling around the coastline of Britain searching for the perfect place to say goodbye, she starts to wonder if it might be time to rethink some of the relationships in her life – but is it too late for second chances?A novel about love, loss and the importance of living life to the full, Annie Stanley, All at Sea by Sue Teddern is proof that it’s often the most difficult moments in life that show us what really matters.'Witty, wise with wonderful characters. I absolutely loved this book' - Katie Fforde, author of A Springtime AffairTrade ReviewA funny, warm, wry writer -- David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day and Sweet SorrowThis charming, well-judged debut novel balances seaside kitsch and mordant humour. Deckchair optional -- ObserverWitty, wise with wonderful characters. I absolutely loved this book -- Katie Fforde, author of A Springtime Affair and Highland FlingThis bittersweet story about grief has just the right balance of poignancy and humour * Good Housekeeping *This is a brilliantly funny, heartwarming celebration of life, love, grief and the Shipping Forecast -- Georgia Pritchett, author of My Mess Is a Bit of a LifeI loved Annie Stanley: she's a gloriously imperfect heroine who takes you on a stormy journey of grief, love and Britain's brilliant coastline. I was swept away -- Eva Carter, author of How To Save a LifeA journey to rediscover that life really is worth living * OK Magazine *Poignant, funny and full of emotional resonance. You cannot help but root for Annie Stanley as she embarks on a journey that is both stormy and strangely reassuring -- Elizabeth Enfield, author of Ivy and AbeFunny and moving and the perfect read for grey days -- Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest ManDevoured this funny, tender book and fell in love with chaotic bumbler Annie Stanley along the way. Can’t wait to see her again -- Jenny Landreth, author of Swell and Break A LegThis book is packed with heart and wit. I was moved and laughed out loud so many times. I truly love Annie. Her journey and the people in her world are completely real to me -- Jo Clegg, author of The Summer HolidayIt's like a big hug in a book -- Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal

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Book SynopsisMaria knew about guilt. It was a stubborn, pervasive and toxic emotion, and incredibly difficult to shake. Especially if really, deep down, you didn't think you deserved to let it go.Maria spends her days tending to the bees of Honeybee Haven and creating wonderful honey products to fund children in need. A former nun, Maria's life has long been shaped by a shadowy secret and her own self-imposed penance for events in her past. The arrival of two letters, one pink, from nearby Noosa Heads, and one marked with a government crest, herald the shattering of Maria's peaceful existence.Before they were married, Tansy made a very serious deal with her husband, Dougall. With their elegant apartment and beachside lifestyle in Noosa, they have everything they agreed they wanted in life, so Tansy is going to ignore the feelings that might suggest she has changed her mind. On top of those not-really-there feelings, Dougall wants to move to Canada!Surprising and intriguing, The Beekeeper's Secret is an exploration of family in all its facets, and the astounding secrets we keep from those we love.Trade ReviewI loved it - a perfect blend of sweet and spice. * Jenny Colgan on The Tea Chest *You will want to move into the wonderful world of Josephine Moon's The Tea Chest - it is so self-assured, so beautifully written, so evocative with its sense of place and smell. Really glorious on every level. And what a cracking story. * Cathy Kelly on The Tea Chest *

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Book SynopsisThere are some things which even the closest friendship cannot survive . . . Welcome Home is an enthralling and moving drama from bestselling author Margaret Dickinson, set during the Second World War.Neighbours Edie Kelsey and Lil Horton have been friends for over twenty years, sharing the joys and sorrows of a tough life as the wives of fishermen in Grimsby. So it was no surprise that their children were close and that Edie's son, Frank, and Lil's daughter, Irene, would fall in love and marry at a young age.But the declaration of war in 1939 changed everything. Frank went off to fight, and Irene and baby, Tommy, along with Edie's youngest son are sent to the countryside for safety. With Edie's husband, Archie, fishing the dangerous waters in the North Sea and daughter Beth in London doing 'important war work', Edie's family is torn apart.Friendship sustains Edie and Lil, but tragedy follows and there&Trade ReviewThe Queen of Saga * Daily Express *A gripping saga full of heart-rendering drama * Yours *Her novels bring to life her love of the Lincolnshire landscape * Lincolnshire Echo *An outstanding story of love, courage, and family life during World War Two told by an author who knows how to touch your heart - another Margaret Dickinson triumph -- Mary Wood, author of Time Passes TimeMargaret Dickinson's, Welcome Home is an outstanding story of love and war set in the bleakness of WW2. It will tug at your heart-strings, make you cry, smile and leave you wanting to read more by this wonderful author -- Diane Allen, author of For The Sake of Her FamilyI cannot thank Margaret Dickinson enough for the hours of pleasure she's given me with this book. Welcome Home has everything you would expect from the Queen of saga; family life, friendship, heartaches, love and betrayal and much, much more. I not only came to appreciate the privations for those left behind on the home front but the heart stopping moments when one of the family is behind enemy lines, will live on in my memory for a long time to come. A thoroughly enjoyable read -- Pam Weaver

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Book SynopsisA deeply poetic account of love and resistance through a young girl’s eyes by acclaimed writer, Sahar Khalifeh, called "the Virginia Woolf of Palestinian literature” (Börsenblatt)Nidal, after many decades of restless exile, returns to her family home in Nablus, where she had lived with her grandmother before the 1948 Nakba that scattered her family across the globe. She was a young girl when the popular resistance began and, through the bloodshed and bitter struggle, Nidal fell in love with freedom fighter Rabie. He was her first and only real love—him and all that he represented: Palestine in its youth, the resistance fighters in the hills, the nation as embodied in her family home and in the land.Many years later, Nidal and Rabie meet, and he encourages her to read her uncle Amin’s memoirs. She immerses herself in the details of her family and national past and discovers the secret history of her absent mother.Filled with emotional urgency and political immediacy, Sahar Khalifeh spins an epic tale reaching from the final days of the British Mandate to today with clear-eyed realism and great imagination.Trade ReviewNAMED ONE OF THE 20 BEST BOOKS WRITTEN BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORS BY HAPPY MEDIA”My First and Only Love is a great read for upper middle school and high school students who want to understand Palestinian history and culture." —PBS Newshour Student Voices “About falling in love across borders. . . . recommend[ed].”—Electric Literature"[A] novel that removes the reader from a world dominated by ideology and partisan stances, into a lauding of heroism and human bravery; it sings the praises of the championship of ordinary citizens, especially during times of prevailing frustration. The story remains optimistic, in its content and its national and humanitarian mission . . . Khalifeh’s narrative style is sensitive, thrifty, and transparent . . . Well done!”—Asymptote"Khalifeh transcends the local struggles of the Palestinian protagonists to the more universal . . . If there is an Arabic novelist who deserves the Nobel Prize, after Naguib Mahfouz, it is Sahar Khalifeh...I highly recommend."—World Literature Today"Khalifeh is a first-class story-teller and, whatever your views on the political situation, she tells a first-class, albeit poignant story on love and loss in a period of war and oppression."—The Modern Novel"[The] writing is political and artistic. Political in the sense that it deals with national politics and sexual politics. At the same time, it is full of humane characters and enjoys a high amount of humor . . . meaningful and beautiful"—Middle East Monitor"Written with an emotive urgency and prescience that the Palestinian struggle demands, Sahar Khalifeh's latest novel is a stunning, if earnest, reflection on the Palestinian sense of steadfastness, from love to resistance."—The New Arab"Epic . . . It is the bonds of respect, love, pride and dignity that connect the characters, however flawed their relationships, and however bleak their political landscape, that Sahar Khalifeh demonstrates so well in her writing."—The Electronic Intifada"My First and Only Love is a poetic account of Palestinian resistance through the perspective of a young woman, Nadal. Returning to occupied Palestine, for the first time since the Nakba displaced her entire family, Nadal’s journey in learning about her past is a moving, urgent exploration into history, political urgency, humanity, and home."—Happy Media"Well worth the 10-year wait . . . [a] page-turner."—The Washington Report"Al-Khamis shows us the sounds and sights of a diverse Arab culture . . . and an occasional touch of Arabian magic reminiscent of A Thousand and One Nights."—Historical Novels ReviewPRAISE FOR SAHAR KHALIFEH“The best Arab woman novelist in the twentieth century.”—Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban“Sahar Khalifeh is the Virginia Woolf of Palestinian literature.”—Börsenblatt"Khalifeh is simply the greatest Palestinian novelist and one of the world’s greatest historical novelists, ranking with Naguib Mahfouz, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and Pramoedya Ananta Toer.”—James Holstun, University at Buffalo“Khalifeh effectively paints a crazy world where individuals seek to lead normal lives under nightmarish conditions . . . .Highly recommended.” —Library Journal“In Khalifeh’s book, Palestinian Christians and Muslims, Jewish immigrants, and British colonial leaders are all treated with equal sympathy”—Women’s Review of Books"Incisively explores individual lives—particularly women’s lives—in the years just before 1948.”—Marcia Lynx Qualey, Arabic Literature“The author invokes a sacred heritage that remains at once vital and powerful.”—Dr. Abdel Moneim Tallima

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Book Synopsis Can she keep her son safe? Previously published as A Father’s Revenge. When Pearl’s ex-husband Kevin was sent to prison, she left her old life in Battersea behind, determined to protect her son from the truth about his father. But when her dear friend Bessie dies, she is forced to return to the one place she’d rather forget. While Pearl makes plans to take over Bessie’s shop, Kevin is released from jail and begins to swindle his parents for money. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll soon be after his child. Pearl will do whatever it takes to keep her boy out of his father’s reach – but will it be enough? A gripping and emotional family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Katie Flynn. Readers love A Mother’s Struggle: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant book, couldn't put it down as usual, the characters seem so real. Looking forward to reading the next one.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I am a bedtime reader and Kitty Neale certainly kept me up until the wee small hours; just keep reading one more chapter.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kept me gripped from the first page to the last one. I could not put it down. Brilliant.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There were loads of twists to this one and I couldn't put it down. Absolutely fantastic read.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What an amazing book, I can't put in down. The story is brilliant, I'm obsessed with Neale’s Books.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastic… I read it in a few days, could not put it down. Kept me on the edge if my seat all the way through.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kitty Neale never ever lets you down, from the first page to the last. You feel you are right there in the story with them. Great.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wonderful… Loved every moment of this, hard to put down! A very heartfelt tale and lovely story.’ Reader reviewTrade ReviewPraise for Kitty Neale: 'Heartbreakingly poignant and joltingly realistic.’ Annie Groves ‘A moving tale of love, hope and family…full of drama and heartache.’ Closer

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Book SynopsisShe''s planned the perfect Christmas. But fate might have other ideas... Krystle didn''t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had,bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible. With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway. But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas. Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won''t take no for an answer. Can she melt Max''s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn''t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical--

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Book SynopsisA gripping story of forbidden love, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn--------------- Life on the Fifteen Streets is tough - a continual struggle for survival. Born into an ever-expanding family, John O'Brien grew up with nothing to call his own. Now, he works on the city's docks while trying to keep his loved ones safe from the drunken wrath of his father and brother.But everything changes when John meets Mary Llewellyn, a beautiful young woman who belongs to a world of wealth and privilege. What starts off as casual friendship soon blossoms into a rare love, but when John is embroiled in scandal Mary's parents forbid them from seeing each other.It seems the Fifteen Streets has succeeded in keeping them apart, but can their love conquer all? --------------- Praise for Catherine Cookson: 'Catherine Cookson soars above her rivals' Mail on Sunday'Her characters have the grit of real life' Sunday Times 'Queen of raw family romances' TelelgraphTrade ReviewHer character have the grit of real life * Sunday Times *Catherine Cookson soars above her rivals * Mail on Sunday *Queen of raw family romances * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSong of the Sun God spans three continents and three generations of a family that remains dedicated to its homeland, whilst learning to embrace its new home. Nala and Rajan, a young couple, begin their married life in 1946, on the eve of Ceylon’s independence from Britain. Arranged in marriage, they learn to love each other and protect their growing family, against the backdrop of increasing ethnic tension. Funny, warm and tender, we see Nala and Rajan’s family navigate war, migration, old loyalties and new beginnings, relying on the philosophy of their religion, their ancestors and each other. As the country descends into a bloody civil war, Nala and Rajan must decide which path is best for their family; and live with the consequences of their mistakes. Over time, Nala and Rajan teach their family why some parts of their history and heritage are worth holding onto; and why some parts and people have to be left behind. Song of the Sun God is about the wisdom, mistakes and sacrifices of our past that enable us to live more freely in the future. PRAISE FOR SONG OF THE SUN GOD ‘an emotive and insightful read.’ – The Saturday Paper ‘a book that doesn’t look away from the brutality of the Sri Lankan conflict – torture, forced displacements and disappearances, cultural destruction and worse – but it also balances horror with humour, and indeed love.’ – Sydney Morning Herald ‘[Chandran] does not shy from the horror of war yet holds hope for mankind.’ – The Weekend Australian ‘a rich heritage tapestry to embrace’ The Australian Women's Weekly ‘a sweeping tale of love, duty and migration’ – The West WeekendTrade Review‘moving’ * The Age & The Sun Herald *‘mighty’ * The Weekend Australian *‘a book that doesn’t look away from the brutality of the Sri Lankan conflict – torture, forced displacements and disappearances, cultural destruction and worse – but it also balances horror with humour, and indeed love.’ * Sydney Morning Herald *‘an emotive and insightful read.’ * The Saturday Paper *

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Book SynopsisA moving novella about a misunderstood young girl, from the author of The Woman in the Purple Skirt - part of Pushkin's second Japanese Novella series Meet young Amiko. She's one of a kind-full of life and good intentions, but with no filter or boundaries. She happily inhabits a world of her own making, oblivious to offences given or taken. But when it comes to expressions of love, where conflicting signals are hard to grasp and a heart is easily broken, there can be unintended consequences. An aching, tender depiction of belonging and loss, This is Amiko, Do You Copy? is a portrait of childhood through the eyes of an irrepressible young girl.Trade ReviewImamura definitely has a rare talent for depicting people who are a little out of the ordinary -- Yoko Ogawa, author of 'The Memory Police'

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Book Synopsis''A warm, smart, sexy, and absolutely charming debut'' COLLEEN HOOVER, It Ends With Us-----Think of it like Tinder. Except your parents are the algorithmMeghna has tried everything to find her jaan: blind dates, the dreaded apps, even attempting conversations with strangers. Everything except arranged marriage.Then Seth, her best friend and the-one-who-got-away, asks her to be his best man and suddenly her parent''s taste doesn''t seem so bad. Which is how she meets the cranky but handsome Karthik, who knows marriage is not for him.They're the perfect match if not the one their parents think they are making and a deal is struck. They'll announce their engagement: Karthik will be excused from his mother's set-ups and Meghna will have a date for the wedding from her nightmares.But how can you fake it and get away with it, when you're not faking it at all?For fans of WEDDING SEASON, SAY YOU''LL BE MY JAAN is brimming with characters you can''t help but fall for, off-the-charts chemistry and all the joy of a 90s romcom as it takes a fresh look on that age old search for your other half.-----Everyone's falling hard for Say You'll Be My Jaan''The type of South Asian diaspora romance I've always wished for. Naina Kumar's debut is spectacular'' Nisha Sharma, Dating Dr. Dil''A fresh and charming story about finding love without losing yourself'' Linda Holmes, Evvie Drake Starts Over''This debut about love, culture, family, and friendship is absolutely irresistible?I didn't want to put it down'' Sarah Adler, Mrs. Nash's Ashes''An instant romance classic!'' Farah Heron, Accidentally Engaged''Stuffed to the brim with emotion, chemistry, and all the best microtropes'' Ava Wilder, Will They or Won't TheyTrade ReviewI couldn't put down this page-turner. A warm, smart, sexy, and absolutely charming debut with the most important lesson at its center: real love is built on courage. Meghna and Karthik happily ever after is the new When Harry met Sally. Naina Kumar's Just Pretend You will be my Jaan has it all -- Colleen Hoover, #1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of It Ends With Us

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Book SynopsisThe addictive, savvy and steamy new romcom inspired by My Best Friend''s Wedding from bestselling author Meghan Quinn''Meghan Quinn is the QUEEN of romcoms'' 5***** Reader Review''Oh my . . . Meghan Quinn NEVER disappoints!'' 5***** Reader Review''Meghan Quinn knocks Rom Coms out of the park!'' 5***** Reader Review_________Ophelia thought wedding planning would be fun.But with her nightmare of a mother-in-law, she''s struggling to adjust to life with a ring on her finger.Thankfully her best friend of over ten years, Breaker, agrees to be her faithful ''man in waiting''.While nervous to play the part, Breaker takes his title very seriously.That is until he starts to realise that it''s not nerves he feels at all.But a weird, butterfly sensation directed at his soon-to-be-married best friend . . ._________Praise for Meghan Quinn:''I can''t gTrade ReviewI can't get enough of her writing. Her books are my romantic comedy happy place -- A Novel GlimpseMeghan is an absolute QUEEN when it comes to writing stories that are not only funny but have a lot of heart in them too -- Elle's Book Blog

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Book SynopsisCharlotte Mendelson's novels include Daughters of Jerusalem, When We Were Bad, Almost English, and The Exhibitionist. She has won both the Somerset Maugham Award and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and has been longlisted and shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. She is also the author of one work of non-fiction, Rhapsody in Green, and is the gardening correspondent for The New Yorker. She lives in London.Trade ReviewThis deliciously waspish — actually, hilarious — story of a destructive Oxford academic family has stayed with me longer than many did. Pure, very wicked joy -- Andrew Holgate * The Sunday Times *A superb, hilarious farce of dysfunctional academic family life . . . Funny, exciting, lyrical, poignant, redemptive * The Guardian *Brilliant and witty . . . Mendelson’s second bewitchingly erotic and darkly dramatic novel confirms her as a stylish, perceptive chronicler of the heart’s hidden desires * Daily Mail *Brilliant . . . exhilarating . . . Exciting and memorably written, this is one of those rare reads that has you galloping to the end, but feeling bereft at having to say goodbye so soon * Independent *An engaging combination of campus satire and domestic drama . . . In Daughters of Jerusalem Mendelson has created a blue-stocking thriller * The Daily Telegraph *Miss Marple meets Rosamond Lehmann . . . luscious prose and droll comedy . . . suffused with longing, studded with recherché words and clotted with gastronomic metaphors that make you feel that you should be reading on a chaise longe, stuffing yourself with violet creams * The Observer *Savagely funny and hilariously cruel, it . . . convinces through the sheer power of the writing * The Sunday Times *A delicious tale of intrigue and betrayal * The Big Issue *Bold . . . engaging . . . an undoubted talent for comic observation * The Times *A witty and absorbing work of fiction . . . wonderful . . . surprising and satisfying * The Times Literary Supplement *Written with great sharpness and has thrilling detail -- Julia Darling

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