Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book SynopsisFollowing the success of We Need to Talk About Kevin this is a stunning examination of inheritance, literal and psychological: what we take from our parents, what we discard, and what we are stuck with, like it or not.After having escaped for years to London, Corlis McCrea returns to the grand Reconstruction mansion where she grew up in North Carolina, now willed to the three grown children following the death of their parents. All three want the house.Fiscal necessity dictates that two must buy a third out. Just as she was torn as a girl, the sister must choose between her decent younger brother and the renegade eldestthe black sheep who covets his legacy in order to destroy it. The adult siblings re-enact the deep enmities and loyalties of childhood, as each bids for a bigger slice of the pie.Trade ReviewPraise for Lionel Shriver: ‘One of the most magnetically compelling writers working today. Witty, caustic and worldly’ WALL STREET JOURNAL ‘A brilliant writer. She has a strong, clear and strangely seductive voice. The characters are strong . . . so moving it will make you want to gasp or cry’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Shriver is an incisive social satirist with a clear grip on the ironies of our contemporary age’LA Times

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Book SynopsisWitty, funny, warm and wise' Marian KeyesIs it a break? Or is it a blip?You've just had a holiday,' I pointed out, trying not to yawn. Wasn't that enough of a break?'I don't mean that kind of break.'There's nothing worse than the last day of holiday. Oh wait, there is. When what should have been a proposal turns into a break, Liv and Adam find themselves on opposite sides of the life they had mapped out.Friends and family all think they're crazy; Liv throws herself into work animals are so much simpler than humans and Adam tries to get himself out of the hole he's dug.But as the short break becomes a chasm, can they find a way back to each other? Most importantly, do they want to?Trade Review‘Witty, funny, warm and wise’ Marian Keyes ‘I defy anyone not to enjoy this slice of superior romantic comedy’ RED ‘Even better, funnier and more emosh than [Lindsey’s] previous books’ FABULOUS ‘Clever, funny and poignant’ THE SUN ‘Fun, feisty and fabulous… a brilliant wit that makes it genuinely and effortlessly comic’ PRESS ASSOCIATION ‘Lindsey is the queen of cracking one-liners … hilarious and energetic’ Alex Brown ‘Fantastic, funny – I’m smitten!’ Stella Newman ‘Hilarious… it had me hooked from beginning to end’ Joanna Rees Praise for Lindsey Kelk: ‘This fresh, romantic comedy has a smart and truthful voice and some entertainingly outrageous moments’ SUNDAY MIRROR ‘Witty, hilarious, sexy, pacy… a smart, laugh-out-loud triumph. Just brilliant!’ HEAT ‘When it comes to hilarious romcoms, nobody does it better – I heart Lindsey Kelk!’ SUN ‘Kelk’s best yet. You won’t be able to put it down’ BELLA ‘Funny, dramatic and wonderfully relatable… Uplifting!’ THE CHRONICLE ‘A bouncy, sexy and LOL-littered gem of a novel’ Heat ‘Funny, cringe-worthy and fast paced… A perfect summer read’ Closer ‘Properly funny’ Fabulous ‘Outrageous, witty, exciting and romantic, we simply adored this sparkling read’ Closer ‘Leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside' Company ‘Kelk has a hilarious turn of phrase and a sparkling writing style’ Daily Express

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Book SynopsisCall the Midwife meets Dr Barnardo's in this gritty drama that will appeal to fans of Nadine Dorries and Kitty Neale.When there is nowhere else to turn, St Saviour's will give them hopeIt's 1947 and London's East End is still a bombed-out landscape. Sister Beatrice, who runs the St Saviour's Children's Home, knows that life is still a precarious existence for many children and it seems that there is no end to the constant stream of waifs and strays who appear at their door looking for a safe haven.One such arrival is Mary Ellen whose mother is gravely ill. The one silver lining is her best friend, the tearaway Billy Baggins, also a resident of the home, but Billy seems intent on falling foul of Sister Beatrice's strict regime.New arrival on the staff, Angela, admires Sister Beatrice, but can see that the children need love and kindness as well as a strong hand. When an unwelcome face from Billy's past arrives on the scene, things are brought to a head. Can the two women work together tTrade Review.

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Book SynopsisWarm, wise and full of heart I absolutely loved this book.' Lucy DiamondMum always knows best Hilarious and poignant perfect for fans of Judy Leigh and and Dawn French.Meet the daughters of Iris Parker. Dee; sensitive and big-hearted; Rose uptight and controlled and Fleur the reckless free spirit.At the reading of their mother's will, the three estranged women are aghast to discover that their inheritance comes with strings attached. If they are to inherit her wealth, they must spend a series of weekends together over the course of a year and carry out their mother's bucket list'.But one year doesn't seem like nearly enough time for them to move past the decades-old layers of squabbles and misunderstandings. Can they grow up for once and see that Iris' bucket list was about so much more than moneyTrade Review‘Warm, wise and full of heart… I absolutely loved this book.’ Lucy Diamond, author of Summer at Shell Cottage ‘Funny and feelgood’ Good Housekeeping ‘Warm, funny and uplifting’ Reader’s Digest ‘The ending was a quiet joy. I loved it.’ Julia Williams ‘Funny, touching and very wise. I loved it.’ Alex Brown ‘An engaging and heart felt story about love and loss.’ Madeleine Reiss author of Someone to Watch Over Me ‘Warm and amusing’ Express & Star

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the brand-new book from the Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Lewis!I can't forgive myself. Not after what I did. Could you? This is Claudia Winters's last chance for a fresh start. Changing her name and leaving her old life behind, she has fled to the small town of Kesterly with her mother and daughter. Here, she hopes they can be safe for the first time in years.But the past can't stay hidden forever. And even as Claudia makes new friends and builds a new life, she can't help feeling it's all about to catch up with her Until one disastrous night changes everything forever.Tense, emotional and gripping, Susan Lewis's latest novel is a spellbinding story of love, family, and the price of forgiveness.Trade ReviewAcclaim for Susan Lewis: ‘This powerful story of forgiveness and redemption will keep you gripped.’The People’s Friend on Forgive Me ‘A compelling, timely mystery’ Lisa Ballantyne ‘My Lies, Your Lies has gone straight to the top of my favourite Susan reads. Full of drama, intrigue with so many twists and turns, I promise you'll be surprised and captivated right to the end’ Carmel Harrington ‘Rich, seamless and masterful storytelling with so many ‘oh my god’ twisty moments… Absolute genius. I was totally gripped’ Rebecca Thornton ‘Susan Lewis has a gift for telling warm family stories that also take you by surprise.’ Jane Corry ‘A master storyteller’ Diane Chamberlain ‘Utterly compelling’ Sun

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Book SynopsisThe perfect summer holiday read for fans of Cathy Bramley and Phillipa AshleyReturn to Love Heart Lane for friendship, romance and a community who will be be there for you no matter whatIsla and Drew Allaway appear to have the perfect life a strong marriage, two beautiful children and their picture-perfect home, Foxglove Farm.But, new mum Isla is struggling. She loves her little family but with Drew working all hours on the farm, Isla's lonely.When she discovers that Drew has been keeping secrets from her, Isla has to face losing the home they all love.Can the Love Heart Lane community pull together once more to help save Foxglove Farm? And can Isla save her homeand her marriage?Trade Review‘Christie Barlow is one of the best writers in this genre’ Lorraine Rugman – The Book Review Café ‘Christie is an immensely talented author with the ability to spin words into heart-warming comedy gold’ Caroline Mitchell #1 bestselling author ‘Well-observed, highly-relatable and wickedly-funny’ Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley ‘There’s always love, laughter and a happy-ever-after with Christie Barlow’s books!’ Mandy Baggot ‘What I absolutely love about the authors books is her attention to her characters, they are a joy to read about. they are so well developed by the end of the book you really do feel you are saying “goodbye” to old friends’ Lorraine Rugman – The Book Review Café

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Book SynopsisThe latest heartwarming novel from the New York Times best selling author Susan Wiggs.Every town has its secrets Idyllic Alara Cove, a California beach town known for its sunny charm, has taught the offspring of its privileged residents at the elite Thornton Academy. Attending on a scholarship, Nikki Graziola is not like her overindulged peers.Her graduation speech shakes the town to its core when she veers off script and reveals a shocking secret. In light of the revelation, the town must face a reckoning and Nikki is forced into exile.Years later, personal tragedy compels her to return and Nikki finds that while time has changed Alara Cove, it has not forgotten her. Old friendships, rivalries and unexpected romance draw her back into the life of the town she''s never quite left behind.Can she find joy and redemption here after all?Trade Review Praise for Susan Wiggs: ‘This is Susan Wiggs at her best. I devoured the book, turning the pages so fast I got a papercut!’ DEBBIE MACOMBER, New York Times best-selling author ‘Love, loss, passion and everything in between… I love Susan Wiggs' novels so much’ JENNY COLGAN ‘Susan Wiggs will make you believe in life’s sweetness’ LUANNE RICE, bestselling author of The Shadow Box ‘The great Susan Wiggs writes with grace, insight and wisdom about the things that matter’ ADRIANA TRIGIANI, bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife ‘A wonderful read, fun and wise and absolutely delicious!’ NANCY THAYER, New York Times bestselling author of The Island House ‘This story is rich with life and danger, and ultimately, hope. Fans of Colleen Hoover will gobble it up.’ BARBARA O’NEAL, bestselling author of This Place of Wonder ‘A Susan Wiggs novel is a masterclass in storytelling, and Welcome to Beach Town is no exception. Don’t miss this expansive beauty of a summer book!’ KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Summer of Songbirds

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Book SynopsisA swirl of confetti made of joy, romance and just a few tears. Huge fun.'#1 Bestselling author Katie FfordeA modern, feisty heroine Georgia had me rooting for Lily's happy ever after right from the start.'Jo Bartlett, Bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife seriesWhere saying I do is just the beginningLily loves living in Hawke's Cove, and planning her best friend's wedding at the Hawkesbury estate is the icing on the cake. But when the estate's owner dies, and his son cancels the wedding, Lily must face Henry Hawkesbury a man she hasn't seen since that fateful night ten years agoHenry wants nothing more than to return to Hawke's Cove, sell his estranged late father's estate and leave. He certainly does not want to host a wedding, or face Lily, who gets on with everyone except him!But when Henry needs Lily's help, she will only provide it if the wedding can go ahead. Working together means both must face their pasts, and, in doing so embrace their future. But can two people afraid Trade Review Praise for Georgia Toffolo Meet me in Tahiti praise 'A book with a huge heart, a dreamy location and a fabulous heroine, Meet Me in Tahiti is the very definition of romance. Sweet, funny and full of zest for life – I adored it!'Veronica Henry Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Wedding at the Beach Hut ’If a romantic fiction novel could give you an injection of Toff-like empowerment, this is it. These books are far more than your average romantic fiction, with Georgia committed to tackling important issues, ensuring representation and writing strong heroines that are in control of their own narrative and sexuality. In short, a must read.’ Marie Claire ‘Fun, flirty and filled with ex-appeal! I was on tenterhooks throughout this gorgeous book and LOVED Zoe’s strength of character.’Hannah Doyle, author of The A to Z of Us ‘Meet Me in Tahiti arrived and I promptly devoured it! I fell in love with Finn and Zoe. I didn’t want it to end. Each book in this series has gotten better and better.’ Sherryl Woods bestselling author of Sweet Magnolias

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Book SynopsisCute, witty and fun! Relatable and heart-warming. Loved it!' NetGalley Review ?????Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single. Age: Fifty (gulp)Number of children: OneNumber of husbands: Zero (it's complicated)Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplateNumber of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: TwoNumber of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running outA heart-warming and hilarious novel that proves age is just a number and it's never too late for a second chance. Fans of Kristen Bailey, Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell will be totally hooked from the very first page.Readers love The Woman Who Took a Chance:An honest to goodness sublime and funny five-star read Do not miss this great story if you are after funny, but real' NetGalley Review ?????Fabulous, warm and witty Lots of laugh-out-loud moments Fun-filled with a big heart' NetGalley Review ?????I adored this book. Genuinely lTrade Review‘A real “smiler” of a book … You’ll be cheering her on as she explores new endeavours, including an unexpected love interest’ WOMAN & HOME ‘A sharp, witty tale’ NORTHERN ECHO ‘A terrifically entertaining, cheery romance, with an endearing heroine’ SUNDAY MIRROR ‘Warm, funny and poignant’ DAILY MAIL ‘Warm, witty and fun’ MY WEEKLY ‘The voice of modern women’ MARIE CLAIRE ‘More than funny, it’s true’ ELLE ‘Warm, funny and endearing’ BEST

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Book SynopsisThe emotional, heartrending story from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street and An Orphan's DreamCan he find a new family?Schoolboy Luke runs away to London, far from the abusive orphanage where he grew up. Desperate not to end up as a petty criminal, forced to beg for scraps on the street. Luke wanders the East End docks searching for honest employment and a morsel of food.Longing to be a part of the close-knit community, Luke volunteers to work with the local doctor and his wife. Their welcoming home is all he's ever wished for. But not everyone wants the best for Luke and his new friends.A dangerous man is looking for revenge, and Luke risks being pulled into the dark criminal underworld of the docks. Will he be forced to sacrifice the life he's built for himself in order to protect those he's grown to love?Reader's love Cathy SharpA brilliant book!' 5* Amazon reviewerEnjoyed every page' 5* Goodreads reviewerTrade Review Reader’s love Cathy Sharp ‘Loved this book … had me gripped waiting for the next page’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Another brilliant book’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘A must read’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘I could not put it down’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Keeps you captivated start to finish.’ 5* Goodreads reviewer ‘Absolutely brilliant’ 5* Goodreads reviewer

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Book SynopsisThe truth lies just beneath the surfaceKate''s world falls apart when her teenage son drowns in the waters by his school. She's convinced it wasn't just a tragic accident, but no one will listen.Then, six years later,Kate unearths Michael's lost diary and realises she may finally be able uncover what really happened that night.But as she delves deeper, she begins to realise that she didn't really know her son or the people in his life at all. And that, sometimes, secrets are better left submergedAn absorbing, emotionally-charged and addictive page-turner that will keep you gripped into the dark hours, perfect for fans of Linda Green and Teresa Driscoll.Readers love The Lake:Atmospheric, unsettling, and gripping, Louise is clearly a fresh new talent to the genre' Phoebe Morgan, author of The BabysitterOne of the best debut novels I have read compelling, claustrophobic and captivating' Katerina Diamond, author of The Heatwave''An intelligent and thought-provoking story that combines pTrade Review‘Atmospheric, unsettling, and gripping, Louise is clearly a fresh new talent to the genre’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Babysitter ‘One of the best debut novels I have read – compelling, claustrophobic and captivating’ Katerina Diamond, author of The Heatwave 'An intelligent and thought-provoking story that combines psychological thrills with the heartfelt emotions of a grieving mother, with a great cast of characters, this book is highly recommended’ Louise Douglas, author of The House by the Sea ‘This was a great book to read, it had all the twists and turns in it which kept me guessing right until the end.’ Reviewer ‘A compelling emotional journey of a mother determined to get the truth. Absolutely amazing read, highly recommended.’ Reviewer ‘I stayed up all night to read this. I will need a lot of coffee soon. Help me.’ Reviewer ‘I am already eager from a new book from this author. She has been added to my auto buy list.’ Reviewer ‘The ultimate denouement is a breath-taking climax to an original and compelling read.’ Reviewer ‘The Lake easily made it onto my Loved list for 2021.’ Reviewer ‘Believable characters and author shows great insight into the tragic death of the young boy in the book.’ Reviewer ‘This was such a tense suspenseful book! It had me hooked from get go. The characters were raw… Felt what Kate was feeling and I just love that in a book!’ Reviewer ‘The plot develops beautifully, unfolding piece by piece and you really feel you’re on the voyage of discovering, taking the highs and lows with her. Stunning and a book that will stay with me for a long time.’ Reviewer ‘I will be looking out for more of Louise's books as this one was a brilliant psychological thriller.’ Reviewer

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Book SynopsisThe gripping psychological thriller from the author of Am I Guilty, The Perfect Couple and The Happy FamilyWhen Mary receives a blank diary as a present, she thinks nothing of it. Until she opens the diary, and sees it's not blank after all1st January MURDER LISA, OXFORD1st February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF1st April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAMIs this a sick joke? Butit's the end of January now. And a woman called Lisa was murdered in Oxford on 1st January.Could there really be a killer out there, planning to commit a new murder each month? And is the Mary due to be killed on 1st April her?The clock is ticking for Mary to uncover the truth, before she becomes the next victim on the killer's listReaders have been gripped by The Murder List:One of the best thrillers of the year' ?????Suspenseful, full of tension and absolutely gripping' ?????An absolute corker . . . totally engrossing and superbly written' ?????I was totally captivated' ?????An absolutely incrediTrade ReviewPraise for Jackie Kabler ‘Filled with suspense, intrigue and a cast of engaging characters, I devoured The Happy Family in two sittings. Fabulous!’ Lucy Clarke, author of The Castaways 'An intriguing and gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing as you frantically turn the pages’ Sunday Times bestselling author C. L. Taylor ‘This is a psychological thriller that has everything: intrigue, mystery and constant twists and turns. I couldn't put it down!’ Alex Lake, bestselling author of Seven Days ‘There is no let-up in this twisty-turny thriller…Just when you think you've cracked its secrets, your expectations are upended again’ Kate Riordan, author of The Heatwave “This has all the ingredients of a classic psychological suspense – suspicion, secrets and shocking reveals. Another great read from Jackie Kabler!” Sarah Linley, author of The Trip "Couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I don't often stay up all night reading, but Jackie did it to me again. Twisty with a killer finish!" Tess Stimson, author of Stolen ‘It’s impossible not to be drawn into the simmering, sinister uncertainty of this fabulous page-turner’ Sarah Steele, author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon

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Book SynopsisA twisty-turny thriller that kept me gripped until the fantastic shock ending!' bestselling author Jackie KablerI did this. The most awful thing'Romilly disappeared hours after giving birth, leaving behind her baby. Now, those closest to her rally around to look after the little girl, and to figure out what drove Romilly to do such a thing.Her husband Marc has an explanation that makes total sense. But is the easiest solution always the right one? And does someone in Romilly's tight circle know more than they are letting on?As secrets spill out and old ties are tested to their limits, one thing is clear: the truth will come out. The question is, who will still be alive to hear it?A twist-filled, emotional tale of dark pasts and even darker secrets perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Heidi Perks.Deliciously twisted' Red'A tense thriller The mystery you've been waiting for' StylistReaders are obsessed with Five Days Missing!I highly recommend this book and would love to see the BBC tTrade Review FURTHER PRAISE FOR FIVE DAYS MISSING: ‘A twisty and claustrophobic story with characters you empathise with but can’t quite trust. Trying to work out who was telling the truth in this heart-wrenching story kept me turning the pages – I loved it!’ – MANDY BYATT, author of Just Another Liar ‘Thrilling, gripping and unputdownable’ – RACHEL McLEAN, author of Deadly Wishes ‘Caroline Corcoran is a gifted storyteller. Five Days Missing is a slippery fish of a novel, in which the tension builds and builds – it kept me guessing right to the very end.’ – NICOLA RAYNER ‘Such a pacey, absorbing read – with living, breathing characters and an amazing twist. She makes this stuff look easy! I know so many readers are going to love it.’ - REBECCA LEY ‘Atmospheric’ – Good Housekeeping

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Book SynopsisReminds me of Khaled Hosseini, poignant and heartwarming Simply a beautiful story that had me reading until 3:30 in the morning' Sarah, NetGalleyI am a friend of the bees. Like you.'So, you have been waiting for me?'The forest has been waiting for you.'Pakistan, 1974: The secret-wreathed trees of Harikaya have always called to Hassan. He knows if he doesn't find the last beekeeper and salvage a precious jar of his mythical black honey before the floods come, his mother will lose her sight.But then he wins a scholarship to study with the state governor in Karachi amidst a brewing storm of political turmoil and simmering espionage.His entire world is turned upside down when he meets Maryam, the governor's niece visiting from London.All the while the fate of his mother and his promise to the bees calls him back to the forest, and so he must decide: Maryam or the beekeeper, England or Pakistan, his head or his heart.One of the most exciting debuts of 2021, this is a lyrical historical noveTrade Review‘Reminds me of Khaled Hosseini, poignant and heartwarming… Simply a beautiful story that had me reading it until 3:30 in the morning’ Sarah, NetGalley ‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really appreciate the representation it gives my community’ Resham, NetGalley ‘An absolutely beautifully written novel’ Eszter, NetGalley ‘Magnificent! Perfect for a long summer’s day spent in a hammock’ Literary Redhead, NetGalley ‘A beautiful story of finding hope’ Zoe, NetGalley ‘This is Siya Turabi’s debut novel… I fell in love with her lyrical writing, her vivid descriptions and her tale of family and friendship as well as her love of nature and the expression of its magic’ Norma, NetGalley ‘The story has a lot of magical elements and sort of a fairy tale feeling at times as poetry and the bees envelop Hassan’ Sara, NetGalley

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Book SynopsisA heart-warming and hilarious novel about life, love, and the weight of all we leave unsaid,Duffy & Sonis a quietly moving masterpiece from one of Ireland's most gifted comic writers.Eugene Duffy is turning 70; his son Jim is turning 40.For decades now, they've been running the family hardware shop and living in good-natured bachelor harmony. But time is marching on, and with thoughts of old age weighing heavily on his mind, Eugene is growing increasingly concerned about his son's future.He resolves to help in the best way possible: by finding Jim a wife. And he's not going to let anyone let alone Jim himself stand in his way.Reminiscent of Fredrik Backman's bestselling novel A Man Called Ove, Duffy and Son contains a likeable but curmudgeonly main character, wry humour, tremendous heart, as well as a strong sense of community. It is a funny and heartwarming novel which celebrates the messiness of ordinary lives and would make a perfect reading group choice.Trade Review‘Funny, sweet, charming and just a little bit heart-breaking’ – Dara O’Briain ‘Immensely enjoyable … By turn, hilarious and heartbreaking, we rarely hear the perspective of the ageing working class man worrying about his bachelor son and I think that’s why it was such a refreshing read … It’s such a tender, warmhearted portrait of a man who has always thought he’d done his best and is now suddenly faced with the notion that he might have failed. Skilfully drawn characters jump to life and the storytelling is enormously entertaining … a universal story, told in a uniquely Irish way.’ – Liz Nugent

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Book Synopsis The Sunday Times bestseller returns for a sixth book! Alfie and his mischievous kitten George are back for more adventures – this time with a puppy in tow… Trade Review Praise for Rachel Wells: ‘Must have!’ Daily Express “The first book, ‘Alfie the Doorstep Cat’ was absolutely brilliant – and now this follow up is even better.” Reader review “A must for all cat lovers.” Reader review “I loved this book! Loved the first book 'Alfie the Doorstop Cat' and this one was just as good as the first. I couldn’t put it down. Great for a cat lover to read!” Reader review

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Book SynopsisStunningly brilliant Full of more twists and turns than the best ever rollercoaster, with an epic ending' NetGalley review?????TRICK OR TREAT?When six-year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween it shakes his quiet neighbourhood to the core.Everyone was ready for a night of trick-or-treating. Now the unthinkable has happened.TRUTH OR LIES?As Detective Imogen Grey arrives to question Marcus's parents, they tell her there has been a mistake. Their son is just fine.But if that's true, where is Marcus?INNOCENT OR GUILTY?Imogen becomes locked in a race against time to find the missing child and uncover the truth. Can she discover what's happened to Marcus before it's too late?Detective Imogen Grey returns in a completely addictive page-turner, perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, T.M. Logan and Shari Lapena.Readers are gripped by Trick or Treat:Started and finished in the same day! I was HOOKED!' NetGalley review ?????Brilliant! A gripping race against time' NetGalley review ?????A fabulous rollercoaster Five stars seems hardly enough!' NetGalley review ?????I LOVED this book! I just couldn''t put it down Fast-paced Keeps you always wanting more Amazing' NetGalley review ?????ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF CRIME!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! 5 stars hands down' NetGalley review ?????So ridiculously good Absolutely gripping from page one Didn't let up until the very end' NetGalley review ?????I am completely stunned right now The conclusion is amazing! The last line of the story I actually gasped when I read it' NetGalley review ?????Brilliant Fast-paced, thrilling and full of tension and suspense I loved the twists I didn't want the book to end A cracker of a read' NetGalley review ?????Fantastic One night I'd put the book down to go to sleep but had to pick it up again just to read a little more!' NetGalley review ?????Wow! Incredible! If you love Cara Hunter, Karin Slaughter and TM Logan, then you'll love this' NetGalley review ?????Trade ReviewPraise for Kat Diamond: ‘I loved it – absorbing and wonderfully twisty. It keeps the reader guessing right up to the last pages’ Debbie Howells ‘Absolutely top-notch. So many twists it makes me dizzy thinking about it’ Jo Jakeman ‘Dark and twisted, but with sunshine and nostalgia to transport you’ SJI Holliday ‘Gripping’ OK! ‘Gritty, realistic, and worthy of an open mouth when you reach the ending, this is a taut, tense read’ Woman’s Way ‘A must for crime lovers’ Woman & Home ‘Heartstopping’ Crime Monthly ‘Dark, nail-biting … the hottest thriller out this summer!’ The People’s Friend ‘All hail the new Queen of Crime’ Heat ‘A page-turner with a keep-you-guessing plot’ Sunday Times Crime Club ‘Packed with twists until the last page’ Closer

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Book SynopsisWow!! WTAF?!? JUST WOW!!!! OMG did the hairs on the end of my arms raise!! My heart was absolutely pounding throughout and I was on the edge of my seat Do not even attempt to start this until you have cleared your schedule!!!' ????? Bookworm86When Sarah Larsen answers the Bird family's advertisement, her life changes overnight.The job seems like a dream come true: nannying in a glamorous penthouse apartment with a salary that adds several zeroes to her income.Sarah signs the contract binding her to complete secrecy without a second thought. These are important people, after all they can''t be too careful about who they let into their home.All is well until events in Sarah's life begin to take a sinister turn and the trail leads back to the Birds. She soon realises there''s something very strange about the family.But by then, is it too late for her?A completely gripping psychological thriller from the author of the number one bestseller The Stepdaughter. Perfect for fans of The Nanny, Trade Review‘Twisty, eerie, and completely bingeworthy, this book makes you feel claustrophobic and tense … But you can’t look away until you reach the truly surprising ending.’ — Hannah Mary McKinnon ‘Wild, unpredictable, and utterly absorbing, Nanny Needed is a gasp-out-loud thriller that will make your head spin.’ — Samantha M. Bailey ‘Nanny Needed is a sly exploration of madness as it escalates to consume an entire family—and the nanny who must keep their secrets from the world. With intensely gothic vibes, this story is creepy, sinister, and unmissable.” — J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author ‘This creepy and suspenseful tale takes hold of you from the first page and doesn’t let go … I loved every twisty, haunting moment. This is a fast, fun read.’ — Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author ‘Clever and cunning, Georgina Cross has created a dark, twisty world that I stepped from shaken and out of breath . . . [Nanny Needed] grabbed me by the throat and still hasn’t let go.’ — Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author ‘Deliciously creepy and absolutely riveting, Nanny Needed is a gripping thriller about what happens when one woman's dream job turns into her waking nightmare. Watch out . . . this one will take you for a massively entertaining ride!” — Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author ‘Gripping and suspenseful, with a delicious dose of Manhattan glamor and a shocker of an ending, Nanny Needed will keep you up way past your bedtime’ — Michele Campbell, internationally bestselling author ‘A deliciously twisted read . . . As the secrets and horrors of this wealthy family unfold, readers will question everyone and never guess the final, harrowing twist. The next Riley Sager of suspense.’ — Rea Frey

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Book SynopsisA TOP TEN NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAN OPRAH BOOK CLUB PICKONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVOURITE BOOKS OF THE YEARAstonishing A great work infused with love and honesty' Alice Walker, author of The Color PurpleDeeply moving it is magnificent' Sarah Winman, author of Still LifeA remarkable work' Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)Epic It just consumed me'' Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Book ClubThe kind of book that comes around only once a decade'' Washington PostA breath-taking debut novel that chronicles the journey of generations of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade to our own tumultuous eraThe great scholar, W.E.B. Du Bois, once wrote about the Problem of race in America, and what he called Double Consciousness,' a sensitivity that every African American possesses in order to survive. Since childhood, Ailey Pearl Garfield has understood Du Bois''s words all too well.From an early age, Ailey fights a battle to feel like she belongs, made all the more difficult by a hoTrade Review‘Astonishing… I lived in this novel for three weeks. It is long. It is a journey. It is something so remarkable I’m not sure we collectively ever even dreamed it.’ Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple ’A major, almost 800-page novel that beautifully, and traumatically, weaves a spell of a story about more than ten generations of an American family—indigenous, African and European. It’s going to be a long time before I stop thinking about Ailey and Uncle Root. A remarkable work’ Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish) ‘Once in a while a book comes along whose scope in storytelling is breath-taking. Whose characters are so vivid they embody a sense of rich familiarity. A book I urge everyone to read. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is that book’ Sarah Winman, author of Still Life ‘The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is the kind of book that comes around only once a decade … With the depth of its intelligence and the breadth of its vision, Love Songs is simply magnificent’ Washington Post ‘Quite simply the best book that I have read in a very, very long time… Just as Toni Morrison did in Beloved, Jeffers uses fiction to fill in the gaping blanks of those who have been rendered nameless and therefore storyless… A sweeping, masterly debut’ New York Times ‘Just as brilliant as it is necessary, just as intimate as it is expansive. An outstanding portrait of an American family and in turn, an outstanding portrait of America’ Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give ‘It’s awe-inspiring. Massive, unflagging, gripping, gorgeous. A sweeping family saga that is also history at its most intimate and vital. I will be recommending it everyone I know. Unforgettable’ Stef Penney, author of The Tenderness of Wolves

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Book SynopsisInventive, excellent a pure pleasure to read' THE TIMESIn this compelling debut, an unknowable legacy passes through generations of one family living on the beautiful island of Barbados.In this compelling debut, an unknowable legacy passes through generations of one family living on the beautiful island of Barbados.There is Iapetus, a lonely soul haunted by the memory of his father; his son Atlas, dreaming of a life far removed from his reality; Atlas's daughter Calypso, struggling to find her place in an unforgiving society; and her son Nautilus, grappling with various parts of a complex identity.Each longs to escape their circumstances but find themselves trapped by a history found only in whispers and half-remembered fragments. And with every passing decade, another generation must contend with the same question: how can the things we don't know define our futures?Spanning fifty years, The Island of Forgetting is a powerful saga of family and hope that marks the arrival of a stunniTrade Review‘The Island of Forgetting works on many levels: as a family saga, as Greek myth retold and as a portrait of Barbados through the 20th century. This excellent debut is also a pure pleasure to read’ The Times Book of the Month ‘A brilliant richly absorbing tale on the repercussions of hidden familial legacies. A deeply evocative, stirring work’ IRENOSEN OKOJIE, Caine Prize-Winning author of Nudibranch ‘Clever and absorbing, this debut is a treat’Times’s 100 Best Books of the Summer ‘Jasmine Sealy’s The Island of Forgetting is an epic novel of great elegance and empathy. Her nuanced portrait of love, loss and identity on a small Caribbean island is well-poised to become a classic of the Caribbean literary canon’ CHERIE JONES, Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlisted author of How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House ‘The Island of Forgetting is an engrossing saga of love, family and the undying past – gorgeous at the sentence level and sweeping in both depth and scope. Jasmine Sealy is one of the most exciting and powerful new voices in fiction, and with this stunning debut she has crafted a moving world of a book, polyphonic and sprinkled throughout with fire’ OMAR EL AKKAD, author of What Strange Paradise ‘A stunning debut.The Island of Forgetting is a bold, passionate, and razor-sharp novel, exquisitely written and deeply moving. With great empathy and nuance, Jasmine Sealy explores family bonds and secret legacies and the scarifies we make in their name. I couldn’t put this book down. Jasmine Sealy is an astonishing, fierce new talent in Canadian fiction’ AYELET TSABARI

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Book SynopsisThe brand new book in the bestselling Liverpool-set gangland crime series is OUT NOWIf you like Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers you will LOVE [Caz Finlay]' Reader ReviewTogether they stand When Grace Carter's granddaughter goes missing, the family pulls out all the stops to find her. But with no ransom demand and no contact from the kidnappers, no one knows where to turn.Together they fall Then a sinister message directed at Grace informs the family that this isn't business. This abduction is personal.Together they will exact revenge As the Carters try to work out who's done the dirty on them, their list of rivals grows longer. But which of their enemies would go to such extreme lengths to tear the family apart? And Jake Conlon will stop at nothing to bring his daughter home safely, even if it means putting his own life at risk.Have you discovered Caz Finlay? See what readers are saying about A Score to SettleCaz Finlay has smashed it again. Another epic read' ?????Fast paced highl

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Book SynopsisJulie Shackman knows how to bring the feel-good factor to fiction' Woman's Weekly?A true page-turner' Chat MonthlyA wonderfully warm tale' The SunThe brand new Scottish spring escape from bestselling author, Julie ShackmanLexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it's going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.Lexie's plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever af

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Book SynopsisIn Zara Raheem’s newest novel we meet Nadia Abbasi—whose attempts to save her marriage create unexpected complications—and follow her as she navigates the twists and turns of love.Trade Review"A brilliantly etched portrayal of a young woman navigating the ties that bind and finding herself in the process. You will want to devour it in one sitting." — Yaffa S. Santos, author of A Taste of Sage and A Touch of Moonlight “Deeply poignant and delightfully entertaining, The Retreat is the perfect novel about love, longing and forgiveness.” — Lauren Gershell, author of That's What Frenemies Are For “The Retreat comes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion when Zeba’s Jetta motors into view with a wild-eyed Aman in the passenger seat. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, unpredictable and skillfully written novel certain to attract new readers for the mega-talented Zara Raheem, who juggles her own fiction writing with teaching English and creative writing at a Southern California university. The Retreat would be a terrific, upbeat movie. Fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella, Elin Hilderbrand and Sonali Dev, among other clever romantic comedy writers, should embrace this treat.” — BookTrib "A gentle yet heart-wrenching exploration of how endings can also be seen as beginnings—depending on your point of view." — Kirkus Reviews "Raheem’s second novel (after The Marriage Clock) is heartfelt, well-paced, and engrossing. The book explores themes of infertility, gender roles, sisterhood, the South Asian diaspora, and the experience of children of immigrants. Raheem’s story is lively and funny, and readers will feel like cheering on lovable Nadia as she takes desperate measures to save her marriage and find peace." — Library Journal “An intimate and entertaining glimpse into the life of a young Muslim American woman whose family wants her married. Now! You’ll want to read this in one sitting.” — Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author, on The Marriage Clock “Please cancel your weekend plans, because once you dive into The Marriage Clock, it’ll be impossible to tear yourself away. This romantic and insightful book introduces us to Leila Abid, who’s torn between her traditional parents trying to arrange her marriage and her own desire for agency.” — Cosmopolitan “The Marriage Clock is a warm, funny debut novel about love, how we find it, and how we can keep it.” — Popsugar “Zara Raheem’s The Marriage Clock, however, takes a unique and charming look at the beliefs we hold in regard to love and marriage. And that’s precisely why readers should be adding this novel to their August TBR piles.” — Culturess “Raheem’s debut uses chick-lit tropes to smartly skewer modern ways of dating and to bring humor to more traditional South Asian ones.” — Booklist on The Marriage Clock

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Gripping courtroom drama and social commentary…the story flows well…[the author is] masterful in building suspense." — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisWhen teenager Keith Rosen runs away from his Florida home - inexplicably taking along a motherless baby - his divorced mother is perplexed and terrified. she takes off on her own journey to find him. Turtle Moon follows their path in a suspenseful, beautifully written story that confirms once again the exquisite talent of Alice Hoffman.Trade ReviewHoffman writes wonderfully about the magic in our lives and in the battered, indifferent world... Magnificent * New York Times Book Review *A spectacular novel -- Susan Isaacs * Washington Post Book World *A captivating and truly original novel * Cosmopolitan *Alice Hoffman is at the top of her form in her latest novel... The triumphs of Turtle Moon lie in its humane insights and compassionate epiphanies; its lustrous prose and its seductive landscape * Boston Globe *Hard to put down-full of characters who take hold of your heart * San Francisco Examiner *

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Book Synopsis''THRILLING...a terrific book, accomplished in its poised, imaginative storytelling and its vivid, sensual rendering of landscape and character, emotion and memory'' The TimesIn a silent valley in southern France stands an isolated stone farmhouse, the Mas Lunel. Its owner is Aramon Lunel, an alcoholic haunted by his violent past. His sister, Audrun, alone in her bungalow within sight of the Mas Lunel, dreams of exacting retribution for the unspoken betrayals that have blighted her life. Into this closed world comes Anthony Verey, a wealthy but disillusioned antiques dealer from London seeking to remake his life in France. From the moment he arrives at the Mas Lunel, a frightening and unstoppable series of consequences is set in motion...Trade ReviewTaut ...full of suspense...bewitching -- Ruth Scurr * Observer *THRILLING...a terrific book, accomplished in its poised, imaginative storytelling and its vivid, sensual rendering of landscape and character, emotion and memory * The Times *An intelligent and terrifyingly plausible meditation * Sunday Telegraph *A sumptuously shaded portrait of a private, lonely place and its stranded people * Independent *Tremain is a writer of particular elegance and control, and her story unfolds from its arresting first scene to its luminous final image as gracefully as a ballet * The Telegraph, Review Magazine *

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Book SynopsisSamantha Harvey is the author of the novels Orbital, The Wilderness, All is Song, Dear Thief and The Western Wind and a work of non-fiction, The Shapeless Unease: A Year of Not Sleeping. Orbital was the winner of the Booker Prize 2024, and her other work has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award, the Women's Prize, the Guardian First Book Award and the Walter Scott Prize. The Wilderness was awarded the Betty Trask Prize. She is a tutor on the MA course in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.Trade ReviewIntense, rewarding and bracingly serious -- Adrian Turpin * Financial Times *Profoundly beautiful, cathartic writing. -- Catherine Taylor * Daily Telegraph *A fine study of the nature and strength of family ties and the morality, or otherwise, of conforming where it matters -- Kate Saunders * The Times *This beautifully written composition does that rare thing, of provoking free thought, while scrutinising the far-reaching repercussions of such rebellious activity -- Freya McClelland * Independent *Harvey's slow, intense thoughtfulness feels positively Woolfean at times. She thinks deeply, and writes beautifully about these thoughts. -- Lucy Atkins * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children's Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her inspiring contribution to life writing' and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.Trade ReviewComplex and thoughtful * Times Literary Supplement *One of our finest living novelists, who manages to tease and to satisfy both the intellect and the imagination * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWhen Simeon Simcox, a socialist clergyman, leaves his entire fortune not to his family but to the ruthless, social-climbing Tory MP Leslie Titmuss, the Rector''s two sons react in very different ways. Henry, novelist and former ''angry young man'' turned grumpy old reactionary, decides to fight the will and prove their father was insane. Younger brother Fred, a mild-mannered country doctor, takes a different approach, quietly digging in Simeon''s past, only to uncover an entirely unexpected explanation for the legacy.An exquisitely drawn saga of ancient rivalries and class struggles, featuring a glorious cast of characters, Paradise Postponed is a delicious portrait of English country life by a master satirist.Trade ReviewHats off to John Mortimer. He's done it again! * Spectator *He reveals on every page . . . a sense of the absurd, a shrewd eye for human foibles and an infallible sense of comic timing * New York Times *Paradise Postponed is an hilarious novel and thoroughly recommended * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''The funniest person in the world'' Caitlin Moran''My comfort read. The best diaries ever written - with apologies to Samuel Pepys, Bridget Jones and me'' ADAM KAYThe hilarious SEVENTH BOOK in Sue Townsend''s bestselling series, sees Adrian fall in love, be inconvenienced by the war and face his new nemesis: a swan from the local canal . . . _____________ Wednesday April 2nd My birthday. I am thirty-five today. I am officially middle-aged. It is all downhill from now. A pathetic slide towards gum disease, wheelchair ramps and death. Adrian Mole is middle-aged but still scribbling. Working as a bookseller and living in Leicester''s Rat Wharf; finding time to write letters of advice to Tim Henman and Tony Blair; locked in mortal combat with a vicious swan called Gielgud; measuring his expanding bald spot; and trying to win-over the voluptuous Daisy . . . Adrian yearns Trade ReviewCelebrate Adrian Mole's 50th Birthday with this new edition of the seventh book in his diaries where Adrian falls in love, is inconvenienced by the war and faces his new nemesis: a swan from the local canal * from the publisher's description *As funny as anything Townsend has written, in which the loft-dwelling Mole wrestles with credit-card debt, WMD and where to find a dentist * Sunday Times *The funniest book of the year. I can think of no more comical read -- Jeremy Paxman * Sunday Telegraph *He will be remembered some day as one of England's great diarists * Evening Standard *The funniest person in the world * Caitlin Moran *

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Book Synopsis''There''s a trick to time. You can make it expand or you can make it contract. Make it shorter or make it longer . . .''Some moments you want to last forever. Some moments shape a life. For Mona, it''s the joy of playing on a Wexford beach as a young girl, next to her family''s cottage overlooking the Irish sea. The thrill of moving to Birmingham with a new job and a room of her own in a busy boarding-house. Meeting the love of her life; a whirlwind marriage; a sudden, tragic loss. But now, decades later, Mona is determined to find happiness before it''s too late. She knows that every moment is precious. But can we ever let go of the past that shaped us?''Devastatingly emotional. De Waal''s storytelling gives us the poetry and sorrow of life itself'' Financial Times ''Weaving tragedy and joy, big themes and the minutiae of life, this is a love story to take on the classics'' Emerald Street''An emotionally sure-handed novel exploring harrowing terrain with deft sensitivity'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewTender with a fierce undercurrent of tension and heartbreak -- Jane Shemilt, bestselling author of 'Daughter'The "trick to time" is that it can expand or contract at will, and in creating a mature heroine with decades of history, De Waal has herself performed a feat of skilful comprehension * Guardian Review *[An] emotionally sure-handed novel exploring harrowing terrain with deft sensitivity * Sunday Times *Moving and enlightening * Independent *A beautifully written, exquisitely crafted story of love, grief and the quiet courage it takes to survive great loss * S Magazine *A beautiful book -- Andrew MarrAn aching tale of love and loss * Stylist *Excellent. The novel's ending will leave you reeling * Daily Mail *An unforgettable tale of grief and life-long love * Woman's Own *The Trick to Time starts gently and ratchets up the emotional intensity until you're ugly crying into your pillow * Sunday Times *Weaving tragedy and joy, big themes and the minutiae of life, this is a love story to take on the classics * Emerald Street *It's slight but engaging. The style is simple yet artful * Evening Standard *A story that's full of care; even in its saddest moments it is tender and kind. It feels like a book about all the best parts of being human, about family and friendship, and the way that loss only hurts the way it does because it's grounded in love. -- S K PerryThese distillations of everyday life have all the beauty of a finely crafted life drawing * Financial Times *A warm and endearing book about learning to live again * Good Housekeeping *The Trick to Time proves that Kit de Waal is a writer destined for even greater things * Red *

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Book Synopsis''A beautiful, lyric hymn to the power of social unrest in American history...funny and harrowing, sweet and violent, innocent and experienced; it walks a dozen tightropes'' Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See_____________________________________________1909. Spokane, Washington. The Dolan brothers are living by their wits, jumping freight trains and lining up for work at crooked job agencies. While sixteen-year-old Rye yearns for a steady job and a home, his dashing older brother Gig dreams of a better world, fighting alongside other union men for fair pay and decent treatment. But then Rye finds himself drawn to suffragette Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and her passion sweeps him into the world of protest and dirty business. As a storm starts brewing, questions of love, sacrifice, brotherhood and betrayal emerge, threatening to overwhelm them all. . .The Cold Millions is at once an intimate story and a stuTrade ReviewA riotous, propulsive adventure story, packed with captivating characters * Daily Mail *A brilliantly multifaceted panorama of early 20th-century America . . . Walter is a writer whose work deserves a wide readership * Sunday Times *A beautiful, lyric hymn to the power of social unrest in American history. It's funny and harrowing, sweet and violent, innocent and experienced * Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See *A work of irresistible characters, harrowing adventures and rip-roaring fun ... bursting with a dazzling range of outrageous characters. One of the most captivating novels of the year * Washington Post * Reminiscent of the stylistic tricks of F Scott Fitzgerald...With its rebellion against inequality and debates about capitalism, there are clear echoes from 1909 to the US today. Incitement to riot, dreadfully topical since the assault on the Capitol last month, also gets a look in. But The Cold Millions offers more: a study of individuals living, willingly or unwillingly, through tumult. * FT *Colourful and punchy * The Times *Walter is a class act...the fierce struggle for free speech and workers' rights is genuinely stirring. -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *A timely and poetic read that vividly depicts the American melting pot at its most unequal and volatile . . . a compelling portrait of America at the dawn of the 20th Century * Sunday Express *Expansive, beguiling . . . A thrilling yarn that simultaneously underscores the cost of progress and celebrates the American spirit * O Magazine *It's a tremendous work, a vivid, propulsive, historical novel with a politically explosive backdrop that reverberates through our own * USA Today *Jess Walter is a superb storyteller. As polished and hard as a diamond, The Cold Millions reminds us of America's tempestuous past and suggests that all this is anything but past * Boston Globe *Walter marshals a motley, fascinating cast of characters so finely drawn that they lift from the page. I haven't encountered a more satisfying and moving novel about the struggle for workers' rights in America * San Francisco Chronicle *A layered, multi-character panorama * Vogue *It's often said that a novel contains the world; Walter brings new meaning to this phrase, peopling The Cold Millions with vaudeville stars, hobos, suffragists, tycoons, union agitators, policemen, and dozens of other vibrant characters. Warm and deeply humane, this transporting novel is a staggering achievement from a landmark writer * Esquire *The fact that the same author has written books as wildly different and all as transporting as The Zero, The Financial Lives of the Poets, Beautiful Ruins, and now this latest tour de force is testimony to Walter's protean storytelling power and astounding ability to set a scene, any scene . . . We have heard that Jess Walter writes nonstop: Seven days a week, 365 days a year. Please, never stop. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *Superb.... a splendid postmodern rendition of the social realist novels of the 1930s by Henry Roth, John Steinbeck, and John Dos Passos, updated with strong female characters and executed with pristine prose. This could well be Walter's best work yet. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *A great tapestry of busy-ness . . . Walter's descriptive passage are marvellous -- Francesca Carington * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Vivid as fireworks ... Both terrifying and exhilarating'' Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat''Funny and sharp ... A hungry book, looking everywhere and seeing everything'' ObserverIn a time more turbulent than any of us could have ever imagined, a woman is attempting to write a book about prophecy in the ancient world.Navigating the tightening grip of lockdown, a marriage in crisis, and a ten-year-old son who seems increasingly unreachable, she becomes fixated on our many forms of divination and prediction: on oracles, tarot cards and tea leaves and the questions we have always asked as we scroll and click and rage against our fates.But in doing so she fails to notice the future creeping into the heart of her own home. For despite our best intentions - our sacrifices and our bargains with the gods - time, certainty and, sometimes, those we love, can still slip away ...Heartbreakingly relatable anTrade ReviewInviting, stylish and candid ... Pollard's future, as a novelist, is very bright indeed * The i *For anyone looking for ways of thinking creatively and with love about art in an emergency and what just happened to us all I would recommend it, because despite the bleakness - you can't have realism without bleakness now - this is clever, warm and funny writing -- Sarah Moss * Guardian *Funny and sharp ... Ripe with references and allusions ... Delphi is not just a novel about Covid; it's also about how a given historical moment such as the pandemic can connect us to the past and to the universal -- John Self * Observer *This isn't the first - and most certainly won't be the last - pandemic novel, but it might be the most brilliant ... As a scribe of the present, Pollard, who is a successful poet and playwright, often recalls Ali Smith. But whereas Smith's formula has lately seemed rather stale, Pollard's novel is consistently inspired, and will keep you gripped all the way through to the heart-stopping finale * Daily Mail *If you're a fan of Greek mythology, you'll enjoy Delphi ... What I loved most about this quick read is the straight-talking, frustrated narrative voice, which feels so real and relatable ... There's something strangely comforting about seeing the messiness of lockdown life through fictional eyes * Stylist *Set in the dark days of the 2020 lockdowns, this moodily relatable narrative introduces a protagonist who, faced with a global pandemic and a marriage in crisis, looks to the ancient art of prophecy for consolation ... This is a powerful fable about life in an ever-more unpredictable world * Harper’s Bazaar, 15 brilliant debut novels to discover now *Delphi distils something elusive and upsetting about all the things we can't quite see or understand about the present moment, even as all we ever do is look. This feels impressive, part of what good fiction is meant to do * New York Times *Darkly funny ... This book does a superb job of providing perspective by connecting our present moment to ancient history in a way that's clever and surprising. For fans of Jenny Offill, Ottessa Moshfegh and Sally Rooney, here's another hot sad girl book to add to your list * Buzzfeed *There's a refreshing acerbity to the central character in Delphi ... Delphi is an angry, witty, at times despairing account of one woman's lockdown * Financial Times *Finally, a brilliantly funny and sad look into the heart of the pandemic lockdown... Pollard's debut novel, Delphi, is a greatest hits of COVID-era angst that manages to avoid cliches and tired complaints while being reassuringly familiar at the same time... This is the COVID novel I've been wanting to read - the COVID novel that feels brilliantly true to real life while elevating the monotonous drag of lockdown into something funny, sad and universal... [in] compact, concise language... Characters, settings and even whole scenes are drawn in quick, exquisite precision full of wit and pathos. Its intimacy reminded me of Sally Rooney and its subtle, sly humor of Miriam Toews' All My Puny Sorrows... a reassuring reflection in the darkness * San Francisco Chronicle *An ingenious response to Covid, combining ancient Greek prophecy with the daily frustrations of lockdown to face up to our fears for the future * Guardian, Best Fiction of 2022 *Lyrical and ambitious, humorous and disturbing at points, Delphi is a relatable tale ... Delphi gets to the heart of what we might not see coming when the future isn't on our radar * The Skinny *Delphi [...] deftly utilises the occult world to shine an unflinching light on domestic mundanity, midlife anxiety and our changed relationship with the future ... Pollard takes care to demonstrate that amidst overwhelming, life-altering experiences, we can find comfort in small miracles and moments - a smile from a loved one, or recovery from illness. An important reminder that there is a sense of hope and contentment to be found in the present * Buzz Magazine *Delphi is a triumph of sly observation, wit and tragedy... dark and dangerous, disturbed and disturbing in equal measure - I loved it. * Anna Hope, author of Expectation *Consoling, harrowing, hilarious. I feel like it's healed me ...Pollard's narrator is so funny and so radically honest it leaves you reeling * Luke Kennard, author of Notes on the Sonnets *Delphi is a compact miracle of a book * Evie Wyld, author of The Bass Rock *Bold, brave and uncompromising, Pollard has found a way to write about the last couple of years which is both truthful and enjoyable to read, which I didn't think was possible. Exhilarating, exciting, rare and beautiful * Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Write It All Down *Vivid as fireworks, Delphi explodes with the ambivalence, rage and dread of middle years lived within a world of pandemic and climate collapse. Both terrifying and exhilarating * Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat *Using language that charms and beguiles, Clare Pollard cleverly creates moments of the darkest déjà vu, so that I was swept up into a story which I was both unnerved and reassured to recognise * Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground *Delphi delivers an urgency unlike any I've experienced. I loved this book so much; the language, the humour, the style, which reminded me of both Patricia Lockwood and Sheila Heti. A brilliant novel born of searing eloquence and sinister wit * Jackie Polzin, author of Brood *

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Book SynopsisAs she waits for the arrival of her new baby, a mother-to-be gathers gifts to create a sacred bundle. A white feather, cedar and sage, a stone from the river...Each addition to the bundle will offer the new baby strength and connection to tradition, family, and community. As they grow together, mother and baby will each have gifts to offer each other. Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade, two Indigenous creators, bring beautiful words and luminous art together in a resonant celebration of the bond between mother and child.

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Book SynopsisAs the war continues it brings its own set of trials to the the village of Northbridge. Eight officers of the Barsetshire Regiment have been billeted at the rectory, and Mrs Villars, the Rector''s wife, is finding the attentions of Lieutenant Holden (who doesn''t seem to mind that she is married to his host) quite exhausting. The middle-aged ladies and gentlemen who undertake roof-spotting from the church tower are more concerned with their own lives than with any possible parachutist raids. There is the love triangle of Mr Downing, his redoubtable hostess Miss Pemberton and the hospitable Mrs Turner at the Hollies. And, to add to Mrs Villar''s woes, egocentric, imperious Mrs Spender, the Major''s wife, is foisted on the rectory when she is bombed out of her London home. First published in 1941, Northbridge Rectory is a captivating comedy of an English village in the War years.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 SynopsisA BBC RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICKSHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTRE FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE, THE GOTHAM BOOK PRIZE AND THE LAMBDA AWARD*''Absolutely incredible. Beautiful, powerful writing. These pages will stay with me forever'' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, author of QUEENIE*''A gift as big, beautiful and complicated as living itself'' Jacqueline Woodson, author of RED AT THE BONE*''Hilariously funny and quietly devastating'' Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of PATSY and HERE COMES THE SUN*''There are three books on earth that I would give anything to be able to write and reread until the suns burns us up. Big Girl is one of those books'' Kiese Laymon, author of HEAVYA THING IS MIGHTY BIG WHEN TIME AND DISTANCE CANNOT SHRINK ITIt was a quote by Zora Neale Hurston. Malaya liked the words. The message was a mouthful of meaning, and it changed each time she read it. At first it had seemed ominous, Trade ReviewMecca Jamilah Sullivan has given us a gift as big, beautiful and complicated as living itself, filled with everyday people who in her gifted hands, show us the love and struggle of what it means to be inside bodies that don't always fit with the outside world. I found myself cheering for Percy, Nyela, the Harlem streets and of course, for Malaya -- Jacqueline Woodson, author of RED AT THE BONEWhat is a child's body worth when it is big, Black and female - when it is under constant demand to be something other than what it naturally is? In Mecca Jamilah Sullivan's achingly beautiful coming-of-age debut novel, Big Girl, this body carries the weight of an entire neighborhood ... Big Girl triumphs as a love letter to the Black girls who are forced to enter womanhood too early - and to a version of Harlem that no longer exists * New York Times *There are three books on earth that I would give anything to be able to write and reread until the suns burns us up. Big Girl is one of those books. The sound, the expansiveness of the whispers, the critical, brilliant, sometimes bruising, beautiful Black girlness explored in this novel is literally second to none... I know I have just read and reread a new American classic that we as a culture and country desperately need. Believe that -- Kiese Laymon, author of HEAVYI ate this up in one greedy, joyous gulp. I fell in love with Malaya Clondon from the very first page. This book is hilariously funny and quietly devastating - a compelling narrative about what it means to define ourselves and make space for our bodies as women -- Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of PATSY and HERE COMES THE SUNMecca Jamilah Sullivan has delivered a singular coming of age story. A book about the vulnerabilities of living in the body of a young Black girl, Sullivan has created a portrait of young adulthood as quietly revolutionary as Gwendolyn Brooks' Maud Martha or Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John. Resetting the conversation about girlhood, desire, bodies and appetites, this book is a revelation for those who care about the rich, varied lives of Black youth -- Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of LIBERTIEAlive with delicious prose and the cacophony of '90s Harlem, Big Girl gifts us a heroine carrying the weight of worn-out ideas, who dares to defy the compulsion to shrink, and in turn teaches us to pursue our fullest, most desirous selves without shame -- Janet MockAbsolutely incredible. Beautiful, powerful writing. These pages will stay with me forever' -- Candice Carty-Williams, author of PEOPLE PERSON and QUEENIESullivan's talent shines most through her ability to embody character where most writers would simply observe them. The result is a thrilling, big-hearted novel by a writer of endless and remarkable promise -- Chigozie Obioma, Booker-shortlisted author of AN ORCHESTRA OF MINORITIES and THE FISHERMEN

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Book Synopsis'New Zealand's Queen of Royal Romance' Women's Day*Loosely based on one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries - the Princes in the Tower - and the royal enigma that was Richard III* __________EVERYONE WANTS TO BE FAMOUSEveryone has heard of the Snows. Belle, world-famous singer of Woodville fame. Her husband Teddy, acclaimed actor by day, notorious party animal by night. Their children: Emma, Pearl, Crystal, Elfred and River. EVERYONE EXCEPT EMMA SNOW Emma Snow wants three things in the world: to become a writer, own a cat, and never think about Rowan Bosworth again. Darkly handsome with a tragic past, Emma should know better than to be in love with him. She's never sure whether he actually likes her, or if she's just a pawn in one of the twisted games he likes to play. EMMA SNOW WANTS TO BE EXCEPTIONALOne Valentine's Day, a terrible event occurs which rips the Snow family apart. Determined to uncover the truth, Emma is forced to delve into the dark underbelly of her celebrity fTrade ReviewA rattling good contemporary love/detective story which people will enjoy on many different levels -- Dame Fiona Reynolds, Master, Emanuel College, Cambridge; former Director-General, The National Trust

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Book SynopsisRebecca is the author of the novels Perfect Liars, Truth Hurts and Two Wrongs, and the nonfiction book The Power of Rude. She is a freelance journalist and columnist for the Telegraph's women's section and a regular contributor to Telegraph culture. She is the former digital editor of Grazia magazine and has previously written for Stylist, the Independent, the Guardian, The Times, Marie Claire, the New Statesman and Glamour Magazine. She regularly contributes to Good Morning Britain, Sky News and various BBC radio programmes. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway.Trade Review'If you're a fan of the TV series Succession, you'll love this gripping story.' * Closer *'I loved this twisty, stylish study of contemporary posh types.' * Daily Mail *'There are plenty of twists in this entertaining thriller and the tension builds brilliantly as the reading of the will draws closer.' * Good Housekeeping *'It's been dubbed Knives Out meets Gossip Girl, and that's a fair summation of this nifty little read.' * Belfast Telegraph *'This is such a good read! If you love a book about family secrets, bitter rivalry, hurt feelings and the damage families can do to each other, this is for you.' * Emma Curtis *

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Book Synopsis''Full of love and warmth, tears and laughter, another gorgeous book from Jo Thomas'' Katie Fforde---A dream homeBeca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?A big mistake?Returning home isn''t as easy as she thought, however. Her family''s beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn''t straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she''s made a terrible mistake.A recipe for changeBut an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-uTrade ReviewFull of love and warmth, tears and laughter, another gorgeous book from Jo Thomas * Katie Fforde *Another winner from Jo Thomas, gorgeously evocative, happy-making and full of love! * Jill Mansell *This story of friendship, family and community is guaranteed to lift your spirits. * Good Housekeeping *Delicious and delightful - Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book, which are always filled with warmth, love and a big spoonful of happiness * Veronica Henry *The ultimate seaside escape story * Woman and Home *A delicious and touching summery read in a beautiful setting that Jo's fans will simply adore * Phillipa Ashley *We love the way Jo's glorious novels always transport you to somewhere beautiful, and [Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe] is no exception . . . This touching novel, full of love and hope, is an uplifting summer read. * My Weekly *A warm-hearted treat * Best magazine *Picking up a Jo Thomas book is a treat for the senses. With sumptuous food and a romantic outcome, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe is another winner to satisfy your appetite this summer. * People's Friend *An uplifting, summery comfort read that will tug on your heartstrings and leave you with a big smile * Rebecca Raisin *

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Book SynopsisIt is 1985, and Greta Wells wishes she lived in any time but this one: she has lost her brother to AIDS, her lover Nathan to another woman, and can not seem to go on alone. To ease her sadness, her doctor suggest an unusual procedure, one that opens doors of insight into the relationships in her life, her conflicting affections, and the limitations put on a woman''s life. Throughout, Greta glimpses versions of war, history, herself, and the people she loves, and as the procedures come to an end, she realizes she must make a choice: one which will close every door but one, forever.

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Book SynopsisHow do you learn to trust again?Denise Hilton, a young single mother, is driving through Edenton, North Carolina, when her car skids off the road during a storm.With her is her four-year-old son, Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities for whom she has sacrificed everything. When volunteer fireman Taylor McAden finds her she is unconscious and bleeding, but when she wakes an even more chilling truth becomes clear: Kyle is gone.When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, Taylor feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives, and the search for Kyle is no exception. But there is one leap of faith Taylor cannot bring himself to make - to commit to a relationship. Will this chance meeting with Denise prove any different?Trade ReviewThe storyline is extremely powerful * BORDERS.COM *Nicholas Sparks knows how to tug at a reader's heartstrings * CHICAGO SUN-TIMES *A romantic page-turner . . . Sparks's fans won't be disappointed * GLAMOUR *Denise Holton's life is a fragile mix of luck and hard work in Nicholas Sparks * The Rescue. A single mum of a speech-delayed son, Denise makes ends meet by moving to the small town of Edenton, North Carolina and working the late shift as a waitress. When Denise crashes her car and her son Kyle flees the accident and disappears into t *

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Book SynopsisHow far can you run from your past?Jeremy Marsh once vowed he would never do three things: leave New York City, give his heart away again after barely surviving one failed marriage, and, most of all, become a parent. Now Jeremy is living in the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to Lexie, the woman he loves, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. Life seems to be settling down - until a disturbing and mysterious message appears from the past. Wounds he thought had healed are re-opened, and Jeremy realises his old life is closer to him than he thinks.Trade Review'Sparks's sentimental romance is sure to please his many fans' DAILY MAIL 'Sparks's writing is superb- the raw feeling with which he describes Jeremy's every emotion is fantastic. If you want a great love story- and from a man's point of view- go for this.' WOMAN 'A story about love and human relationships and the whole kaleidoscope of the joy and pain that they entail' CAMBRIAN NEWS

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Book SynopsisIn April, when blackthorn blossom clothes the hedgerows like a wedding veil, there sometimes comes a frost so severe that it seems as if the summer will never come. Country people call this a blackthorn winter.For Claudia Barron, arriving in the Dorset village of Court Barton that April, blackthorn winter seems like a metaphor for everything that has happened to her. Hiding from her previous life, she adopts an assumed name and applies for a job in the local school. But villages don''t much like mysteries and secrets and soon the inhabitants of Court Barton set out to find out what it is that Claudia Barron is hiding from and why.Trade ReviewPraise for Sarah Challis's writing: 'I really enjoyed TURNING FOR HOME...I thought it so perceptive... I particularly enjoyed the very touching romance * Rosamunde Pilcher *Excellently-written, with a gripping ending * Wiltshire Times *Touching, funny and exciting * Blackmore Vale magazine *Sarah Challis is becoming a novelist to be reckoned with * Dorset Life *Her evocation of the English countryside is elegiac...a pleasure to read * Oxford Times *

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Book SynopsisThe classic bestseller adored by thousands of readers from the author of THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING. Hailed as a ''modern vintage classic'', The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets was a Richard and Judy Book Club Choice and is in development as a major new TV series.Set in the 1950s, in an England still recovering from the Second World War, this is the enchanting story of Penelope Wallace and her eccentric family at the start of the rock''n''roll era.Penelope longs to be grown-up and to fall in love, but various rather inconvenient things keep getting in her way. Like her mother, a stunning but petulant beauty widowed at a tragically early age, her younger brother Inigo, currently incapable of concentrating on anything that isn''t Elvis Presley, a vast but crumbling ancestral home, a severe shortage of cash, and her best friend Charlotte''s sardonic cousin Harry...*** PRAISE FOR EVA RICE ***''Exquisite. Enchanting. Quite possibly perfecTrade ReviewSo good we could hardly speak * Observer *A delight of Nancy Mitford-esque trials and tribulations * Vogue *This tenth anniversary edition of Rice's modern classic is a treat for fans of Nancy Mitford and Elizabeth Jane Howard. Stylishly written with a touch of whimsical charm * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisRosie Goodwin''s heartwarming addition to Catherine Cookson''s series.Tilly Trotter seems to have finally found lasting happiness in her engagement to Steve McGrath. But just as everything falls into place for Tilly it seems to be falling apart for her loved ones . . .Whilst her son, Willy, is refusing to acknowledge the existence of his newborn illegitimate child, her adopted daughter Josefina has slipped into a deep depression after tracking down her real family in America. Tilly is determined that with Steve by her side she can find a way to get her children through their troubles. But she hasn''t counted on the malicious ways of her oldest enemy - Steve''s mother, Mrs McGrath. A bitter and twisted old woman, she will stop at nothing to destroy Tilly''s happiness. And Tilly knows that finding a way for her family to be free to live their lives in peace is going to take all her strength and courage . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Rosie's first novel, THE BAD APPLE: 'Rosie Goodwin is a born storyteller - she'll make you cry, she'll make you laugh, but most of all you'll care for her characters and lose yourself in her story. An author destined for the top * Jeannie Johnson, author of THE REST OF OUR DAYS *Rosie deserves all her success. She is a talented storyteller and will go all the way to the top * Dee Williams *The tearjerker of the season...[a] heart-rending tale * Western Mail *A promising and well-drawn debut * Lancashire Evening Post *A good tearjerker...compelling * Reading Evening Post *A gifted writer... Not only is Goodwin's characterisation and dialogue compelling, but her descriptive writing is a joy * Nottingham Evening Post *A heart-throbber of a story from Goodwin that puts many other so-called emotional blockbusters in the shade * Northern Echo *Goodwin is a fabulous writer...she reels the reader in surprisingly quickly and her style involves lots of twists and turns that are in no way predictable * Worcester Evening News *A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisRosie Goodwin''s engaging addition to Catherine Cookson''s series.Despite her success as a writer, Maisie''s life has never been easy. But with the help of Hamilton, the imaginary horse she conjures up to escape harsh reality, her humour and courage pull her through. Now married to Tommy, Maisie''s hopes of happiness are shattered when he becomes jealous and controlling - threatening even her relationship with her beloved adopted son, Harold. After a tragic accident, Maisie reluctantly agrees to move back to her home town of Fellburn, Tyneside, for a fresh start. But her husband''s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and one of his new employees, a strange man nicknamed the Sand Dancer, strikes fear into her heart every time she meets him. Maisie begins to avoid his place of work, little realises that Tommy is concealing something so terrible it could destroy everything she holds dear...Trade Review'A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer' * Bookseller *

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Book Synopsis''Dad, it''s the happiest day of my life,'' Kate said. ''I wish time would stand still and it could be today forever.'' It''s June 1897, and Kate is celebrating her eleventh birthday on the day of Queen Victoria''s Diamond Jubilee. Kate''s joy is short-lived, as tragedy strikes, threatening her family with the loss of all they hold dear. Before long they are evicted from their home in Ancoats, Manchester, and with no wages coming in and a mother unable to cope, Kate has to grow up fast. Her deepest desire is to keep her brothers and sisters together. A journey of hope and heartache takes Kate from the hardships of the workhouse to the dubious comforts of a position in service to the rich; from the joys of marriage to a good man, to the sorrows and losses suffered during the Great War.Trade ReviewA truly heartwarming read * Lancashire Life *A fascinating author * Manchester Evening News *

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Book SynopsisGlasgow, 1971. The old way of life is under threat for the tight-knit community in Dalbeattie Street, Maryhill. The shadow of the wrecker''s ball looms large over their homes, and they must face the choice of moving to a new estate or dispersing throughout the city.But powerful friendships refuse to be broken. These characters have gone through too much together to be destroyed by some measly planning scheme. They''ll face this with the same inimitable Scottish humour and strength of spirit that have carried them through other tough times.Douglas'' vivid portrait of Seventies Glasgow recreates, in glorious detail, a particular time and place, but at its heart are the universal themes of love, friendship and community.

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