Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book SynopsisResolutions are madeMarriages are brokenA gripping domestic thriller set in The Cotswolds and perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Adele Parks!It started with the partyFrankie, Verity and Alice live in the idyllic Cotswolds community of White Fir Lake, but behind closed doors everyone has a secret they're desperately trying to keepAnd ended with a bang!Now, as midnight on New Year's Eve approaches, the three women will face the consequences of a long-ago holiday, one which changed their lives forever and threatens to shatter their perfect worlds into perfect pieces.Readers can't get enough of The New Year's Eve Party:????? I absolutely couldn't wait to finish it and I was amazed by the ending. One of the best thrillers I've read all year' Lyn????? A wholly engaging and entertaining one sit read' Ruth

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Roanoke Girls.A blistering page-turner. . .deeply chilling and beautifully written' Chris WhitakerFans of Gillian Flynn will love this' Good Housekeeping* * *A murdered girl. A convicted killer. Justice served Or is it?It's been fourteen years since Greer's older sister Eliza was murdered. Her family has never been the same. Nor has the small town of Ludlow.The killer was convicted and executed but another body has been found.A copycat, according to the authorities, but Greer is convinced there is more to the story.And she is returning to Ludlow in search of the truth.Praise for Amy Engel:Darkly sexy and compelling' HEATYou'll be gripped' RICHARD MADELEY''This is fierce and brilliant'' OBSERVERA must-have' SUNDAY EXPRESSTrade Review‘A deeply chilling, beautifully written mystery. I Did It For You is a blistering page-turner, and a complex study of grief and the power of guilt. Amy Engel is a huge talent’ CHRIS WHITAKER ‘A heart-breaking crime story about the need to make sense of the senseless acts of violence that rip your life apart and how you can’t choose who you love. . .Amy Engel is the queen of the small-time mystery’ LAURE VAN RENSBURG ‘If you’re looking for an engrossing thriller, this one ticks all the boxes: sleek writing, insight into the complexity of terrible crimes, and a plot that will keep you guessing and turning “just one more page” late into the night’ JULIA HEABERLIN ‘I Did It For You kept me glued from page one to the end and has stuck with me since. It’s my first Amy Engel novel and I’m off to read the others. . .’ LESLEY THOMSON ‘Fans of Gillian Flynn’s gritty novels will love this dark thriller’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ‘A riveting mystery. . .In this devastating thriller, Amy Engel explores guilt, grief and the secrets buried in one small community’ WOMAN’S OWN ‘In this stellar standalone. . .Engel elevates the already tantalizing mystery with an uncommonly raw portrayal of Greer’s grief – her palpable inner struggles form the backbone of the novel. Mysteries don’t come much better than this’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred) ‘Multilayered and engrossing…A tense and immersive novel that considers the delight and darkness of living in a close-knit small town’ BOOKPAGE

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Book Synopsis[A] masterfully written story . . . An absorbing tale of a woman who wants more for her daughters and for herself, it's a five-star read' Woman's WeeklyA powerful novel about motherhood, belonging and culture' PrimaA complicated mother-daughter drama that looks at the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma and what it takes to break the cycle of abuse' Time magazine, The Most Anticipated Books of the Year'* * *The powerful and poignant new novel from the author of the much-loved A Woman is No Man.Raised in a conservative Palestinian family in Brooklyn, Yara thought she would finally feel free when she married a charming entrepreneur. Now, she has a good job at the local college, and balances that with raising her two daughters and taking care of their home. Yara knows that her life is more rewarding than her mother's so why doesn't it feel like enough?After Yara responds to a colleague's racist provocation, she is put on probation at work and must attend mandatory counselling. HeTrade Review Praise for Etaf Rum: ‘Rum accomplishes the high-wire act of telling a story that feels both contemporary and timeless, intimate and epic . . . lingers in your heart and mind long after the last page’ Tara Conklin, author of The Last Romantics ‘This mesmerizing novel will take all your attention from the very beginning’ Washington Book Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Millennial wedding culture gets a much-needed skewering in this alternately light and biting novel." — Vogue "If you’re looking for a page-turner with some bite, this one’s for you." — theSkimm "If your summer 2023 calendar is booked with weddings, bridal showers, and bachelorettes, you'll appreciate this novel that cleverly explores the darker side of the wedding industrial complex and all the ways it manifests online." — Harper’s Bazaar "This is a story about a wedding gone wrong, a bride with regrets, and the role of social media in creating false narratives about relationships. ... Poignant. ... A perfect gift for someone planning a wedding." — Zibby Owens, Katie Couric Media “Social Engagement, Forrey’s debut novel and a uniquely 21st-century mystery, runs with a pretty clever conceit, a detective story using the detritus of social media as the clues they are.” — Buzzfeed “I picked up SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT to read one chapter and didn’t put it down until I finished it later that night. This novel is a masterful and sharp exploration of friendship, family, class, and social media. Forrey’s debut is twisty and absorbing, full of family secrets and millennial weddings, and you won’t want to miss it!” — Jennifer Close, bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses and Marrying the Ketchups “Social Engagement is a witty and addictive behind-the-scenes account of today’s highly curated and hashtagged wedding world. Clear your weekend and prepare to fall in love with this delicious debut.” — Lauren Weisberger, bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty "Like a candy-colored wedding favor with a daringly dark center, Avery Carpenter Forrey’s Social Engagement is as mordant and incisive as it is utterly delectable. And its growing emotional heft makes it linger long after its bittersweet final pages." — Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The Turnout “I can’t remember the last time I read a book that so perfectly captures the humor, absurdity, and anguish of how we live now. Avery Carpenter Forrey’s prose will cut you to the bone—it’s wickedly funny, and keenly observant about matters ranging from real estate to Instagram to the perils of the wedding industrial complex. This is an astounding debut.” — Grant Ginder, author of The People We Hate at the Wedding and Let's Not Do That Again “Unputdownable and razor-sharp, Social Engagement is an addictive ride through the ultra-relatable highs and lows of a woman navigating millennial wedding culture and her own path to love and meaning in a screen-filled world. Forrey's is a fresh new voice in fiction that effuses wit and heart in equal measure; I joyfully devoured her stunning debut.” — Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies and Too Good to Be True “Avery Carpenter Forrey’s Social Engagement is a bitingly funny, acutely self-aware coming-of-age story about growing up on the edge of the inside, close enough to feel the allure of money and power but not enough to be stupefied or protected by it. A wedding novel that begins after the glass is broken and the wedding dress is stained, I raced through it to find out how the champagne-drenched pieces would come together.” — Isabel Kaplan, author of NSFW "In clever, taut prose exploring our obsession with the tiny screens that shape our stories, Social Engagement somehow feels both modern and timeless—in exposing the ugly (yet universal) parts of ourselves we prefer to hide, Forrey reveals the ways in which we try, and try again, to love ourselves—and other people—properly. A thought-provoking debut with an unsettlingly relatable protagonist you’ll wish you could include in your group chat." — Caitlin Barasch, author of A Novel Obsession “A smart and appealing chronicle of a woman reexamining her life on her wedding night. … [Carpenter Forrey] portrays the book’s multifaceted characters with honesty and tenderness, especially as events build toward a climactic wedding-night confrontation. Readers will enjoy this heartfelt story.” — Publishers Weekly “Forrey’s gift for making the everyday feel compelling shines throughout. … An absorbing novel about the trials of navigating adulthood.” — Kirkus Reviews "A fun and fast read that reveals what can happen if we remove all the filters in our lives and strip the world down to our authentic selves." — Lee Woodruff

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Book Synopsis''An exquisitely observed story of passion and friendship'' Observer Cate is a stage designer in Chicago, caught up in an unconventional web of friends and lovers, when her life is suddenly overturned. Walking into her best friend''s kitchen one day, she witnesses an act of violence that forces her to do something she never thought she could do. Nothing will ever be the same again.Wry, compassionate and startlingly beautiful, Right After the Weather explores the mess of trauma and love, and the reverberations of our actions. ''Smart and often funny, perceptive and brilliantly observed. I loved being submerged in Cate''s chaotic life'' Claire Fuller ''I loved it so much. Thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent and beautifully written'' Daily Mail''An exquisitely written, psychologically sophisticated novel, rich in insight and sensitivity to human vulnerability'' NY Journal of BooksTrade ReviewAn exquisitely observed story of passion and friendship * Observer *I loved this so much. Thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent and beautifully written * Daily Mail *Carol Anshaw has written a wonderful character in Cate, who is juggling a series of events and relationships, none of which quite connect or overlap with each other. The writing is smart and often funny, and the detail, perceptive and brilliantly observed. I loved being submerged in Cate's chaotic life, and even as I closed the last page, I was completely sure that she and all the other characters were alive and well, and continuing to muddle through, somewhere in Chicago * Claire Fuller *Anshaw crafts an engaging narrative with her customary precision and tart humor. Another treat from the great Anshaw: sharply observed, unsentimentally compassionate, always cognizant of life's complexities * Kirkus starred review *Anshaw brings a fresh, keen voice to this story of modern lesbian life...[it] will captivate readers * Publishers Weekly starred review *Here's passion and addiction, guilt and damage, all the beautiful mess of family life, Carry the One will lift readers off their feet and bear them along on its eloquent tide * Emma Donoghue, on Carry the One *Superb . . . Anshaw sees her characters with startling clarity, an acute alertness to nuance, and no small helping of warmth and humour. A marvellous novel, grown-up, smart and emotionally intelligent * Patrick Ness, Guardian, on Carry the One *Her deftly episodic novel of love, time and off-beat family life is warm, generous and wise. Enormously engaging * Daily Mail on Carry the One *Beautifully observed . . . intimately dissects how one event or choice can alter the trajectory of a life, how a fork in the road can lead to wholly unexpected and divergent outcomes * The New York Times on Carry the One *

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Book SynopsisThe captivating new novel from the author of the explosive Sunday Times bestseller, THE PUSH''Spellbinding, a shimmering, visceral ride through the dark side of family'' LISA JEWELL''I absolutely loved this book'' MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER''A beautifully observed exploration of what it means to be a woman'' SARAH PEARSE''Deeply thrilling and provocative . . a truly masterful novel'' NITA PROSE''Thought-provoking and gripping, this is worthy of all the praise coming its way'' HEAT, Book of the Week___________The whispers started long before the accident on Harlow Street . . .Was it at the party, when Whitney screamed blue murder at her son?Or after neighbour Blair started prowling Whitney''s house, uninvited?Or once Rebecca and Ben''s childlessness finally puts a crack in their marriage?But on the terrible night of the accident, the whispers grow louder, more insistent.Neighbours gather round. Questions are asked. Secrets are spilled. And the gloss on everything begins to rub off. Everyone is drawn into the darkness.Because there''s no smoke without fire.No friendship without envy.And no lie that does not conceal a devastating truth . . .___________The Whispers is a darkly psychological portrait of couples in crisis and families in free fall.''A chilling psychodrama about motherhood and community'' i PAPER''You will devour this. A brilliant, honest read about families in crisis'' Woman & Home''Riveting... a fearless deep dive into the real internal lives of women. The Whispers is a brilliant, deeply affecting novel you won''t soon forget'' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door''A masterwork: a page-turner, a searing emotional rollercoaster and a beautifully-written hymn to the pain, the love, the fury of motherhood . . . sensational'' Rosie Walsh, bestselling author of The Man Who Didn''t CallPraise for THE PUSH:''Set my nerves jangling in both horror and recognition'' LISA JEWELL''Gripping'' GUARDIAN''Sustains the suspense expertly'' SUNDAY TIMES''Keeps the reader hooked'' GRAZIA''Jet-black'' ABIGAIL DEAN''Provocative, compulsive'' VOGUE''Riveting, thought-provoking'' DAILY MAIL''Bold'' HEATTrade ReviewThought-provoking and gripping, this is worthy of all the praise coming its way * HEAT, Book of the Week *The Whispers is spellbinding, a shimmering, visceral ride through the dark side of family, of community, of womanhood and mothering. Nobody delves as deep into the guts of motherhood as Ashley Audrain, she really is in a league of her own -- Lisa Jewell, Sunday Times #1 Bestselling AuthorI absolutely loved this book -- Miranda Cowley Heller, bestselling author of The Paper PalaceEnticing, nuanced, and unflinching, The Whispers opens a secret portal into the private lives of women in suburbia. A narrative portrait of motherhood and marriage, of loneliness and longing, of loss and desire, this is a novel where the characters are so recognizable, it's nearly impossible to feel they are strangers. Rather, through the course of the deeply thrilling and provocative pages, one comes to feel they're as real as neighbours, colleagues and friends. A truly masterful novel -- Nita Prose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The MaidRiveting ... a fearless deep dive into the real internal lives of women. The Whispers is a brilliant, deeply affecting novel you won't soon forget -- Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next DoorRage unites these women - rage that is expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered by Audrain . . . and, after Audrain has lulled you into a sense of resignation over her characters' fates, she delivers a sucker-punch ending you'll have to read twice to believe * New York Times *A chilling story and a beautifully observed exploration of what it means to be a woman, highlighting the sacrifices involved and the often frightening choices that have to be made. The knowledge that something awful is looming lends the narrative a compelling sense of unease that builds to a thickening dread as Audrain ratchets up the tension. A quietly revelatory and unnerving novel that works on so many levels - I couldn't put it down -- Sarah Pearse, Sunday Times bestselling author of The SanatoriumA dark, unflinching family drama. A pageturner * Grazia *A beautifully written, twisty and thought-provoking novel about the demands of modern women, motherhood and how our own past shapes us. The Whispers is packed with suspense, tension and unforgettable characters and I couldn't read it fast enough. I adored it! -- Claire Douglas, number one bestselling author of The Couple at No.9Ashley Audrain is the master of simmering resentment and paranoia, mental load and motherhood. This slow-burn thriller is gripping and horrifying and with a perfectly shocking ending. It's going to be huge, absolutely unmissable. -- Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The CruiseThe novel's breathless pace and devastatingly poignant observations about the realities of motherhood and womanhood today make every page a gut punch, and the mystery woven in will leave you guessing until the very last page * Glamour US *No one understands the secret lives of women like Ashley Audrain. In her electrifying new novel, The Whispers, the unspoken fears, desires, and shame of four neighbours threaten the lives they've so carefully constructed. It's a razor-sharp page-turner. Masterful! -- Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer AfterIf you couldn't get enough of Audrain's debut novel, The Push, you will devour this highly anticipated follow-up. A brilliant, honest read about families in crisis * Woman & Home *A masterwork: a page-turner, a searing emotional rollercoaster and a beautifully-written hymn to the pain, the love, the fury of motherhood. I could think about nothing but Ashley Audrain's perfectly-drawn characters in the three days it took me to tear through this novel, and I suspect they will live on in my mind for a long time to come. Sensational -- Rosie Walsh, bestselling author of The Man Who Didn't CallDriven by desire, jealousy and revenge, everyone is under suspicion and guilty of something in this powerful, edgy and addictive novel by the queen of psychological drama, Ashley Audrain. An honest, uncensored look at women and motherhood in the wake of a mysterious tragedy, The Whispers is a must-read -- Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Just the Nicest CoupleI couldn't put The Whispers down. It held me by my throat the entire way and left me in awe of Audrain's talent and her ability to put the female experience so ruthlessly, so painfully and so beautifully into words. She is exceptional at her craft, one of the best, and her work should be read religiously and consistently by all. I can't recommend this book enough -- Salma El-Wardany, BBC Radio LondonA punchy page-turner about motherhood, sacrifice and the huge expectations we force on to women * Good Housekeeping *Ashley Audrain writes about motherhood and how it feels to be a woman today with a fearlessness few can muster. Every time I turned a page, I thought: yes! This is why I read--to connect, to feel seen, to be confronted with my deepest fears, and, of course, to go on a breathtakingly suspenseful ride while doing it -- Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of The HusbandsAshley Audrain has a profound understanding of how thin the line between good and evil can be. THE WHISPERS leads readers past the carefully composed facade of Harlow Street to dig, unflinchingly, into themes of motherhood, fidelity, privilege and complicity, resulting in a novel that not only delivers on the promise of its taut, explosive and page-turning plot-but redefines the very idea of what a thriller is and can be. Daring, incisive, and exquisitely written, Audrain has proven herself a force like no other -- Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of SadieA cracking psychological thriller that keeps you guessing to the final pages. Thought-provoking, gripping, worthy of all the praise * Heat *A chilling psychodrama about motherhood and community * i *The Whispers held me in its grip from the first page until the final, gasp-worthy line - a raw, provocative, mesmerising thriller, charting the darkest psychological contours of motherhood with devastating precision. Audrain writes with such unsettling honesty and I found it impossible to tear myself away from her characters. Fans of The Push will not be disappointed! -- Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich ParkA tense tale about motherhood, friendship and betrayal * Sun *I was blown away by The Push, and found myself equally enthralled by The Whispers * Prima *A brilliant beach read of a thriller that you're likely to chomp through in a single sitting * Cambridge Edition *Her books are quickly becoming a must read * Woman's Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''A triumph... tender and gut-wrenching, honest and riveting. A book of astonishing accomplishment and bravery'' Guardian A searing, sunlit debut about the powerful bonds that make and break one Iranian-American familyThree young brothers leave Los Angeles in the dead of night for Iran, taken by their father from their mother to a country and an ancestral home they barely recognize. They return to the Valley months later, spit back into American life and changed in inexorable ways.Under the dazzling light of the California sun, our protagonist, the youngest brother, begins to piece together a childhood shattered by his father''s violence, a queer adolescence marked by a shy, secret love affair with a boy he meets on the basketball court, and his ever-changing status as a Muslim in America at the turn of the new millennium.Lyrical and open-hearted, I WILL GREET THE SUN AGAIN is an unforgettable portrait of a family beTrade ReviewA triumph... tender and gut-wrenching... a book of astonishing accomplishment and bravery * Guardian *Exquisite, heart-breaking, incredibly beautiful * Caleb Azumah Nelson *Life-affirming... Khabushani is a talented writer * Sunday Times *A heartbreaking debut * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisAll She Wants is a laugh out loud story about a Liverpool girl who becomes a famous soap star, by Coronation Street scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey.'A mad-cap, laugh-out-loud roller coaster of a ride . . . with an unexpectedly tender sting in the tail.' - Marian Keyes, author of The BreakThere are some things in life you can always rely on. Living in the shadow of your ‘perfect’ brother Joey, getting the flu over Christmas, and your Mother showing you up in the supermarket.Then there are some things you really don’t count on happening: a good dose of fame, getting completely trashed at an awards ceremony, and catching your fella doing something unmentionable on your wedding day.This is my story, it’s dead tragic. You have been warned . . .'Utterly original, sharply written and very funny. I laughed, and then I laughed. And then I had to go back and re-read the bits that I'd miTrade ReviewA mad-cap, laugh-out-loud roller coaster of a ride through the life of an actress/soapstar, with an unexpectedly tender sting in the tail. * Marian Keyes *All She Wants is utterly original, sharply written and very funny. I laughed, and then I laughed. And then I had to go back and re-read the bits that I'd missed and laugh some more. * Jojo Moyes *Such a sustained tour de force. Jodie is a brilliant character - so much comedy and heart, moving seamlessly from farce to drama. * Graham Norton *If Harvey is the Scouse Proust, then this is his remembrance of things p****d. * Caitlin Moran *Brilliantly observed, gloriously funny, and brimming with warmth . . . Everything I love about Jonathan's writing is in this book! * Katherine Kelly *Laugh out loud funny, exciting and outrageous in equal measure. All She Wants is #amazeballs! * Antony Cotton *A hugely enjoyable debut novel featuring a heroine full of faults that you love her all the more for. * Kathy Burke *Gimme Gimme Gimme Jonathan Harvey on holiday, on the train, on the sofa, but mainly in bed. I laughed and laughed, had shocked face, then laughed again until I fell out. * Frances Barber *Charming, Cheeky and Clever. Exactly what I expected from my friend Jonathan. Read it! * Jennie McAlpine *A novel of dizzy highs, emotive lows and comic interludes. * Daily Express *A hilarious gem of a debut novel . . . you'll be rooting for Jodie's unique charms within the first few sentences and be rooting for her from thereon in. * Heat *He's the guy who writes for Coronation Street. It's a comedy about a girl from Liverpool who becomes a soap star. She lives in London and the story follows her meltdowns. It all rings true to me and has had me laughing out loud. He's such a good writer and I highly recommend it. -- Melanie Sykes * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly witty, funny, poignant novel for fans of Maria Semple and Katherine Heiny.Trade ReviewA brilliant observation on relationships and friendships, this funny, poignant book by Kate Tough follows Rhona, whose life hasn't turned out how she'd hoped. Having spent years moving from one so-so job to another, her relationship has just ended and she receives unwelcome news. Along with tears and anger, there's laughter and hope * Hello magazine *This beautifully written, gritty and funny satire female friendships, sadness and illness should appeal to fans of TV series Fleabag...its taut and unflinchingly candid narrative holds the reader's attention...Pack it for your next holiday * The Lady magazine *One of my favourite novels of recent years. Incredibly insightful, funny and poignant * Helen Sedgwick, author of The Comet Seekers and The Growing Season *Rhona Beech- sharp-eyed, laconic-tongued, tender-hearted - is your eccentric new best friend. She makes a terrific debut in this witty, chatty, lyrical novel * Kevin MacNeil *What a wonderful book this is. A wry, sardonic slice of life novel about female friendship and the hard choices we all face when our plans for the future don't quite work out like the fairy tale we planned. Stuffed with wit, joy and laugh-out-loud set pieces, it embraces life in all its awkward glory, unafraid to expose the vulnerable, chaotic side of being human, alongside the funny and the warm. I turned the last page and thought, I love Rhona Beech. She made me laugh and she made me cry. She can be my best friend any day * Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs Walker *Kate Tough's dry wit and keen observations make this eye-catching debut about a defining moment in the life of thirty-something Rhona Beech both laugh-out-loud funny as well as poignant * Lesley Macdowell *A warm and ferociously witty story of the s*** life throws at us and how we survive it. Truth rings from every page of this assured and engrossing debut * Zoe Strachan *Tough is a unique writer and not easily pigeonholed. Her work has a distinct, curious tone which elevates the stuff of everyday life (love, relationships, sex) and makes it very interesting * Laura Waddell, writer, reviewer & publisher *

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Book Synopsis***THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER***From the New York Times bestselling author of Always and The Violets of March comes an emotional story of a dreadful storm, a missing child cold case, and a determined reporter who just may have a stronger connection with the past than she realizes.Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son goodnight and departs to work the night shift at a local hotel. She emerges to discover that a May Day snow has blanketed the city, and that her son has vanished. Outside, she finds his beloved teddy bear lying facedown on an icy street, the snow covering up any trace of his tracks—or the perpetrator’s.Seattle, 2010. Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge, assigned to cover the May 1 “blackberry winter” storm and its twin, learns of the unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth. In the process, she finds that she and Vera may be linked i

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Book Synopsis'An extraordinary debut' (ANN PATCHETT) to fall for - a coming-of-age story and an immersive love story.

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Book SynopsisOne woman fights to hold on to her friends, her family, and all that she holds dear as a brewing conflict divides her small-town Georgia community in this powerful novel from the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.“This book is a treasure. Pamela Terry writes with a poet’s ear and a wicked sense of comic timing.”—Nationally bestselling author Barbara O’NealOn the morning after Harry Cline’s funeral, a rare ice storm hits the town of Wesleyan, Georgia. The community wakes up to find its controversial statue of Confederate general Henry Benning destroyed—and not by the weather. Half the town had wanted to remove the statue; the other half had wanted to preserve it. Now that the matter has been taken out of their hands, the town’s long-simmering tensions are laid bare.  Without Harry beside her, Marietta is left to question many of her preconceived ideas about her friends and family. Her childh

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Book SynopsisMarjorie Hemming, marriage guidance counsellor, craves concord and harmony the way other people need cigarettes. But cracks are starting to show in the world she''s so carefully remade after her early widowhood. Some of her couples refuse to kiss and make up: even Nurse Rose, the TV heroine who looks so like Marjorie, seems about to make a foolhardy blunder. When her adored teenage daughter unexpectedly moves out, this professional expert on human affairs is forced to look at matters a little closer to home.Trade Review'Addictive... In this energising read, Boyt brilliantly captures the linguistic gymnastics of the therapy room. In Marjorie, she has created an Anne Tyler character in the English mould.' Independent 18/03/2005 * Independent *'Quirky, poignant and often painfully funny' Sunday Express, 5/6/05 * Sunday Express *'There is more than a hint of the sharply humorous style of Muriel Spark in this pleasantly quirky novel... Boyt paints the unravelling of her heroine's tenuous grip on reality with economical but expressive brush strokes - and delivers more than a few deliciously comic moments along the way' The Sunday Times 8/5/05 * The Sunday Times 8/5/05 *'Elegantly simple and consistently unpretentious...Only Human is a delicate and moving portrait of someone full of faith, trying, heroically, to do her best.' Daily Telegraph 19/03/2005 * Daily Telegraph (Isobel Shirlaw) *'Anyone suspicious of counselling will delight in Susie Boyt's portrayal of the emotional collapse of a marriage guidance councellor.' Guardian 19/03/2005 * Guardian (Isabel Montgomery) *

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Book SynopsisThe sixth book in the epic Morland Dynasty series

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Book SynopsisA gripping, gritty novel set during the run-up to the launch of Titanic - published in time for its 100th anniversary year

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Book SynopsisShe walked out, but can she walk back in? Why do readers LOVE Virginia Macgregor? ''I defy you not to fall in love'' Clare Mackintosh ''Will delight you'' Sun''Might restore your faith in human nature'' BellaThis heartwarming bestseller is the perfect read for anyone who enjoyed The Keeper of Lost Things, Joanna Cannon, Jojo Moyes and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. You Found Me by Virginia Macgregor is OUT NOW**********************One ordinary morning, Norah Wells walked out of her house and never looked back. Six years later, she returns to the home she left only to find another woman in her place: Fay. Now that Norah has returned, everyone has questions. Where has she been? Why did she leave? And the most pressing question of all: what happens to The Mother Who Stayed when The Mother Who Left comes back?MORE PRAISE FOR VIRTrade ReviewI couldn't put this insightful, compelling novel down * Woman & Home *Such a deeply satisfying doorstop of a novel * Sarra Manning, Red magazine *One to watch . . . a touching look at the meaning of motherhood * Good Housekeeping *An emotional family story . . . written with plenty of heart * Sunday Mirror *An emotional and powerful family drama **** * Heat *An insightful look at modern family life . . . original . . . layered and lyrical * Irish Independent *Beautifully written and thought-provoking, this is a brilliant read * Sun *Powerful * Fabulous magazine *A novel so engaging and powerful you'll want to read it in one gluttonous sitting . . . a novel that should be cherished and savoured . . . one to watch * Press Association *An astonishingly brilliant novel * Australian Women's Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''Denise writes with great warmth and wisdom'' - Marian Keyes''A really cracking read'' - Martina Cole on If They Could See Me Now''Thought-provoking and moving'' - Susan Lewis on If They Could See Me NowHow far would you go to hide a past that would destroy your future?The new novel from much-loved actress and presenter Denise Welch is heart-breaking, page-turning and moving - perfect for readers who love family dramas by Amanda Prowse, Amanda Brooke, Susan Lewis and Kelly Rimmer.******************************Could a teenage mistake change everything?Kathryn Casey has a secret past. But these days she barely notices the little daily lies she tells to keep it hidden. She has a new identity now. All she wants is an orderly, predictable life that revolves around her beloved husband and children. Kathryn was once Kelly, a girl who lived on one of the roughest estates in the Trade ReviewDenise writes with great warmth and wisdom - Marian Keyes on If They Could See Me NowI loved it. A really cracking read - Martina Cole on If They Could See Me NowAbsolutely loved it. Thought-provoking and moving - Susan Lewis on If They Could See Me NowA strong debut...a mighty enjoyable read - Sun on If They Could See Me Now

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Book Synopsis***Unmissable, hilarious and kind, this is the first novel from Kathryn Wallace, who blogs as I Know, I Need to Stop Talking***SAM! AVA! Get downstairs, NOW. Have you done your TEETH? HAIR? SHOES? Come on, come on, come on, we''re going to be bastarding late again. No, I haven''t seen Lego Optimus Prime, and nor do I give a shit about his whereabouts. Sam, will you stop winding your sister up and take this model of the Shard that I painstakingly sat up and created for you last night so that I wouldn''t be in trouble with your teacher. I mean, so that you wouldn''t be in trouble with your teacher. No, it doesn''t smell of ''dirty wine''. Well, maybe it does a little bit. Look, Sam, I haven''t got time to argue. Just hold your nose and get in the car, okay? AVA! TEETH! HAIR! SHOES! Gemma is only just holding it together - she''s a single parent, she''s turning 40 and her seven-year-old daughter has drawn a cruelly accurate picture which locates GemTrade ReviewVery funny and relatable... I raced through it -- Eva Woods

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Book Synopsis***Unmissable, hilarious and kind, this is the first novel from Kathryn Wallace, who blogs as I Know, I Need to Stop Talking***SAM! AVA! Get downstairs, NOW. Have you done your TEETH? HAIR? SHOES? Come on, come on, come on, we''re going to be bastarding late again. No, I haven''t seen Lego Optimus Prime, and nor do I give a shit about his whereabouts. Sam, will you stop winding your sister up and take this model of the Shard that I painstakingly sat up and created for you last night so that I wouldn''t be in trouble with your teacher. I mean, so that you wouldn''t be in trouble with your teacher. No, it doesn''t smell of ''dirty wine''. Well, maybe it does a little bit. Look, Sam, I haven''t got time to argue. Just hold your nose and get in the car, okay? AVA! TEETH! HAIR! SHOES! Gemma is only just holding it together - she''s a single parent, she''s turning 40 and her seven-year-old daughter has drawn a cruelly accurate picture which locates GemTrade ReviewVery funny and relatable... I raced through it -- Eva Woods

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Book Synopsis***** Utterly hysterical - NetGalley Reader***** Brilliant... Funny, touching and modern... just amazing - NetGalley ReaderRemember when the kids were still at school?!The kids are back at school after a long summer. Gemma and Becky can finally breathe a huge sigh of relief and reach for the gin bottle.Except it seems that Becky is accidentally a little bit pregnant...But that''s not the first shock for the parents in the playground. Over the summer, part of their beloved Redcoats Primary has burned down. The school needs to raise thousands of pounds to stay open - and Gemma and Becky have been forced on to the fundraising committee (just to add to the millions of messages from their online parent groups).In year that will see new babies for Becky, new schools and a whole new business for Gemma, can they keep their heads above water and find that they''Trade ReviewVery funny and relatable... I raced through it -- Eva Woods

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Book SynopsisA novel filled with warmth, wit and sharply observed charactersTrade Review'A delightful, beautifully realised read' Bookseller * Bookseller *'Dewar is an accessible storyteller with a wry sense of the comic... Comfortable and sweet' * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisA heartwarming story set in 1940s Liverpool and Ireland about the hurdles two sisters, Chrissie and Grace, must cross on their journey to finding the happiness they seek.

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Book SynopsisFor West London girls Sal and Ann Storey, 1957 should have been one of the happiest years of their lives. Instead, the sisters'' world is turned upside down when two family tragedies strike in quick succession. Left to run the family''s sweetshop with their grandmother, Sal discovers she has a flair for business - but it doesn''t make up for everything she and Ann have lost. When Sal meets handsome taxi driver Bob Beck and falls deeply in love, it seems that her luck is changing. Bob becomes her one constant as she struggles to keep the business afloat, and as Ann finally uncovers the guilty secret she''s been carrying for so long; a secret which could have explosive consequences for the sisters. The last thing Sal needs is for Bob''s scheming ex-fiancee Kate to reappear in his life - especially as Kate is preparing to make a stunning revelation; one which could destroy their relationship for good...Trade ReviewPraise for Pamela Evans's previous sagas: 'A good traditional romance, and its author has a feeling for the atmosphere of postwar London * Sunday Express *Very readable * Bella *The leading characters are finely drawn...crisp prose...a superb and heartwarming read * Irish Independent *A compelling book * Woman's Realm *Well peopled with warm personalities * Liverpool Post *There's a special kind of warmth that shines through the characters in Evans' novels... An uplifting love story with all the right ingredients * Lancashire Evening Post *This book touched me very, very much. It's lovely * North Wales Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisSet in a holiday camp in the late 1950s, Lynda Page''s saga is full of hilarious anecdotes and heartwarming adventures amongst the holidaymakers and staff. Sure to appeal to fans of the hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats.When Rhonda Fleming runs away from home the last place she expects to end up is at a Jolly''s holiday camp. But a chance encounter with a chalet maid at the train station leads Rhonnie to Mablethorpe on a cold winter''s day and her life changes for ever.Thrown in at the deep end working for the boss''s wife, Rhonnie discovers there''s never a dull moment at Jolly''s - particularly with staff like Dan around. From the beauty contest by the pool to jiving in the Paradise dance hall and from the rollercoaster at the fair to sitting on a moonlit beach, the holidaymakers are guaranteed to have the time of their lives. But when the boss''s son reappears nothing can prepare Rhonnie for what lies ahead...Trade ReviewPraise for Lynda Page: 'You'll be hooked from page one * Woman's Realm *Cookson/Cox aficionados who've missed her should grab this. Romantic and gripping * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Ms Page creates strong characters and is a clever and careful storyteller... A great writer who gives an authentic voice to Leicester... A formidable talent * LE1 *In Lynda Page, we have an author who writes with skill and style... Leicester's Lynda Page is destined to share the limelight - and bestseller lists - with the likes of Catherine Cookson * Hull Daily Mail *If you want an enthralling saga read Lynda Page * Martina Cole *Lynda Page is a leading purveyor of the saga, enlivening her plots with all manner of page-turning twists and turns. Expect the unexpected * Choice magazine *Inspirational and heart-warming * Sun *

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Book SynopsisSet against the Blitz in London, a young woman''s extraordinary journey of self-discovery and an intimate meditation on what it takes to find our place in the world.A March Best Book in Red''NOTE PERFECT'' East Riding Magazine''AN EXTRAORDINARY NEW WRITER'' Nina StibbeI used to believe the world had been created for me; every stone and grain of sand. As I grew older, I began to think of myself as something tacked on to the edge. 1939, London: From McPhail''s Passage to Kensington''s Grand Palace Hotel, Rose Dunbar is evacuated from her humble home on the Rock of Gibraltar and dropped into a chaotic city of falling bombs, perplexing class rules and bad weather. Despite being ''flagrantly foreign'' to the locals, she becomes an efficient go-between for the upper-class ladies helping out with the war effort and her own tribe of noisy displaced families.It is only when she is shifted to the countrysideTrade ReviewA tender, often wry novel, rendered with impressive period authenticity * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Skilful, understated. Comes compellingly to life * HARPER'S BAZAAR *Note-perfect. Like a forgotten classic republished by Persephone Books or Virago * East Riding magazine *A touching story full of love and humanity * YOURS magazine *A beautiful story of love and belonging * WOMAN'S WEEKLY *An absolute delight * SAGA *

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Book SynopsisA modernist tour de force from an exhilarating new talentTrade Review'Mauro Javier Cárdenas has knocked down the novel as we know it, and built a cathedral out of the debris. Aphasia is monumental, funny, potent, and fresh. It marks a new beginning.' * Carlos Fonseca, author of Natural History *'Mauro Javier Cárdenas's Aphasia batters at the limits of guilt, of masculinity, of love and promiscuity, of the American family and English syntax.' * Nicole Krauss, author of Forest Dark *'Brainy and decadent, playful and outrageous, Aphasia marks the comeback of the Self in a spiraling trip into contemporary manhood and the Latin American spirit that will render you speechless.' * Pola Oloixarac, author of Dark Constellations *'Long, breathless sentences dizzying and richly packed with memories, connections, and literary references. Cárdenas undercuts the idea of a single, stable identity and suggests the self as a many-layered work in progress... Fans of the author's inventive, ambitious debut novel will find the same sardonic intelligence, paired here with a deep humanity... Original, richly felt, deftly written.' * Kirkus (starred review) *'In the follow-up to his wildly ambitious debut novel, The Revolutionaries Try Again (2016), Cárdenas again deploys his sense of invention and irreverence, jettisoning conventional paragraph and dialogue breaks and embracing long-running sentences that delight in playful exasperation... [Aphasia] will appeal to fans of Latin American fiction that navigates the bleeding edge of experimentation.' -- Booklist'Buckle up, kids, Cárdenas is taking us on a bumpy ride. A mild-mannered bank clerk, who wishes to be a novelist, meditates on memory, loss, family, and other things both real and imagined. Aphasia is an avalanche of language, perfect for readers of Thomas Bernhard and Lucy Ellmann's Ducks, Newburyport.' -- Book Culture'Excellent... Aphasia's spirit is one of blending and border collapse... [It] dramatizes our ability to occupy multiple narratives at once – and proves that literature itself can do the same.' -- High Country News'A rollercoaster of a run... [A] worthy journey and universal themes emerge... It’s the ‘as it’s happening’ narration style that makes Cárdenas’s new work so innovative and exciting to read.' -- Chicago Review of Books'Thrilling... A writer of originality who makes the English language sound like music.' -- KCRW's Bookworm“What I don’t transcribe I will forget,” Antonio, the protagonist of this roving novel, remarks. A Colombian divorcé living in Los Angeles, he obsessively documents the stories of those he encounters. He spends nights with women he meets on a sugar-daddy Web site and makes notes of their childhood stories the mornings after. He records his mother’s childhood recollections and the ramblings of his sister, who suffers from schizophrenia, and whose experience of abuse at the hands of their father haunts them both. The result is a collage-like meditation on the ephemeral. “I have come to define happiness collectively,” Antonio reflects, “and it’s ridiculous, given that most adult relationships end anyway.” -- New Yorker'Threads are woven together in an often-dazzling performance akin to a DJ's mashup, in which two different songs can be heard separately as well as together... Cárdenas’s deft characterization of Antonio’s confused, troubled masculinity is one of the novel’s most impressive achievements.' -- Southwest Review'As exhilarating as it is dizzying... Postmodern and flamboyant, rich and daring... Cárdenas is a new force to be reckoned with in Latin American fiction.' -- Morning Star'[Antonio] writes down his erratic, erudite thoughts in a rush of breathless, brainy, convoluted sentences… The relentless restlessness of the prose reveals the fragility of [Antonio's] past and the possibilities of a more stable future as a better brother and more involved parent.' -- Daily Mail'Modern, psychological, and very poignant...[Aphasia] has made a strong impression on its readers, myself included.' -- Sounds and Colours'Reading the boldly inventive and fast paced novel Aphasia, is like road tripping through a warm country with your smartest friend; it might be one of the best trips you are likely to take this year.' -- New York Journal of Books'Cárdenas is able to achieve a kind of dramatic momentum while also maintaining clarity and recognition for the reader... Seriously impressive.' -- American Book Review'Pacy, dense and enlivening... Vividly, colourfully assembled, sensitive to the small contradictions and failings of our lives and histories, Aphasia reminds us not so much that we contain multitudes as that multitudes contain us.' -- ABC Arts, Australia

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Book SynopsisFrom theNew York Timesbestselling author ofThe Paris Wife comes a fast-paced thriller and a hauntingly suspenseful deep-dive into traumaTrade Review‘A superior psychological thriller... Paula McLain focuses on the victims rather than the abductors in a gripping serial-killer story that is also a sensitive study of grief.’ -- Times Crime Club‘A powerhouse of a novel that is guaranteed to keep the reader up all night. When the Stars Go Dark is a beautifully written, sharply observed literary thriller with an extraordinary, unforgettable heroine and a twisty plot with a surprise ending... A gripping story drenched in the exquisite allure of the natural world.’ -- Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale‘McLain puts her heroine in mortal peril to deliver the kind of heartpounding conclusion that thriller fans crave. As a bonus, avid readers of the genre will be pleased to find they’ve picked up several kernels of intellectual nourishment along the way. In the end, a book full of darkness lands with a message of hope.’ -- New York Times Book Review‘A lyrical and quietly devastating novel.’ -- Mirror‘With this breathtaking novel, Paula McLain proves she can do anything. Exquisitely written, immersive, and atmospheric, When the Stars Go Dark is a tour de force of literary suspense. It pulled me under and left me gasping.’ -- Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles‘Fuelled by pure high anxiety. . . When the Stars Go Dark is an atmospheric and intricately plotted suspense novel.’ -- Washington Post‘When the Stars Go Dark is a fantastically propulsive and deeply atmospheric novel that grabs you from the very first page. It’s visceral and hauntingly suspenseful. Paula McLain has proven to be a masterful storyteller no matter the genre.’ -- Aimee Molloy, author of The Perfect Mother‘Paula McLain, already established as the master of the historical novel, now explodes into crime fiction with a richly satisfying, tremendously moving mystery – haunting, poignant, lyrical, urgent, unique, unforgettable.’ -- Chris Pavone, author of The Paris Diversion‘I loved Paula McLain’s When the Stars Go Dark, which is the beautifully written and positively profound story of Detective Anna Hart... The twisty plot keeps the pages flying, and McLain’s lyrical and poetic prose reveals insight after insight about the human heart, making this riveting read not only an engrossing psychological thriller, but crime fiction of the highest order.’ -- Lisa Scottoline, author of Someone Knows‘Lyrical and beautiful, When the Stars go Dark is a riveting deep dive into trauma, survival and obsession. With her deeply flawed and utterly compelling heroine, elegant prose and layered, twisting story, Paula McLain has penned an extraordinary novel of literary suspense, as gripping as it is unique and unforgettable.’ -- Lisa Unger, author of Confessions On The 7:45'Stunning... McLain matches poetic prose with deep characterisations as she shines a light on the kindness in her characters’ souls. Fans of literary suspense won’t be able to put this one down.' -- Publishers Weekly‘A total departure for the author of The Paris Wife, McLain’s emotionally intense and exceptionally well-written thriller entwines its fictional crime with real cases – including Polly Klaas’s 1993 kidnapping – and is enriched by her own experiences as a survivor of trauma.’ -- PEOPLE, Book of the Week‘[McLain’s] newest novel weaves together actual missing persons cases and trauma theory to explore the meaning of fate, redemption and human connection. This mystery will keep you guessing, and stay with you long after you finish. Dive in.’ -- TheSKIMM‘Paula McLain . . . focuses her gimlet eye on the not-so-sunny underbelly of California in this gripping new novel about a San Francisco detective who can't seem to outrun her past.’ -- Town & Country‘A psychological thriller that deftly evokes both the entrancing landscape of the Mendocino hills and the rough terrain of shattered lives . . . Most memorable of all are the girls, past and present, who emerge here not as convenient victims but as vulnerable, believable characters. A muted yet thrilling multilayered mystery enriched by keen psychological and emotional insight.’ -- Kirkus Reviews‘[A] stunning and atmospheric crime novel . . . A complex mystery that you will have you glued to the page.’ -- Book Riot‘We're thrilled to sink our teeth into this atmospheric read.’ -- BuzzFeed‘McLain offers readers flashes of insight . . . that will linger after the last, tension-packed pages of this thoughtful work. Recommend to patrons seeking a next read after Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and the TV show Criminal Minds.’ -- Booklist‘This melancholy but gripping tale uses backstory and flashbacks to propel the mystery forward. Part suspense, part self-discovery tale, this first attempt at crime fiction from historical fiction author McLain (The Paris Wife) is hard to resist. Fans of the author’s other works will not be disappointed.’ -- Library Journal‘The author of The Paris Wife harnesses heavy suspense for her fifth novel. A detective seeks refuge from a personal tragedy in Mendocino, the Northern California town where she spent her youth, when she confronts a missing persons case that harkens back to a traumatic disappearance from her past.’ -- EW.com‘In Anna Hart, Paula McLain has created a vulnerable, intelligent, unforgettable protagonist whose interior life is as interesting as the mysteries she has to solve. When the Stars Go Dark is simultaneously suspenseful and moving – my favourite kind of book. I'll recommend it far and wide.’ -- Liz Moore, author of Long Bright River‘Paula McLain's absolutely incredible literary thriller about the human journey on the way to solve a mystery includes parts of her own experience in foster care mixed in with her reflections on abandonment and belonging in this genre-bending novel.’ -- GMA.com‘[An] emotionally intense and exceptionally well-written thriller.’ -- People Magazine‘McLain weaves together actual cases of missing persons, trauma theory, and a touch of the metaphysical in this gripping tale that will keep you up all night, muttering “just one more chapter” to yourself.’ -- E! Online‘When the Stars Go Dark is truly an intimate and illuminating experience. Kudos to McLain for laying her soul bare and penning the most personal book she’s ever written.’ -- BookTrib‘Impressive.’ -- Literary Review‘This is a thought-provoking book that will - quite deservedly - stay with you for a very long time. I think it is a book that almost everybody will gain from reading.’ -- Mystery People

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Book SynopsisIt's hard to plan your future when the ghosts of your childhood won't leave you alone...Trade Review'A triumphant ode to resilience, friendship and love. Marie-Claire's writing sparkles, reminiscent of Adichie's Purple Hibiscus.' -- Bisi Adjapon, author of The Teller of Secrets'A vivid, deeply felt exploration of intergenerational trauma... Stella is an utterly unique heroine who you'll find yourself rooting for from page one.' -- Angela Chadwick, author of XX'A bittersweet rites-of-passage novel… [Amuah's] interrogation of trauma is powerful… A heartfelt debut.' -- Observer'In One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Marie-Claire Amuah accomplishes an extraordinary rendering of the horror of domestic violence from the perspective of a nine-year-old child. Amuah's haunting story of the tragedy of violence is authentic, poignant and alive. This is an accomplished debut and I look forward to reading more from Marie-Claire.' -- Cherie Jones, author of How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House'Wow! One for Sorrow, Two for Joy is an evocative and gorgeously narrated story that broke my heart and stitched it back together again even stronger by the end. I laughed and cried and hurt and healed in the course of reading Stella's deeply-felt story. I loved this book so much. Intense and beautiful and heartbreaking!' -- Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder'Brilliant. I loved it! One for Sorrow, Two for Joy is a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. I loved how the writing grew as Stella did. From the jump I felt invested and protective of Stella and all the Stellas out there! I got lost in it and couldn't put it down. Here’s to resilience and friendship!' -- Jamz Supernova, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ'A dazzling debut...brimming with compassion.' -- Damian Barr's Literary Salon, Book of the Week'A beautiful, brave and deeply moving debut that explores the complexities of intergenerational trauma, belonging and love through a tender yet powerful voice. In One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Amuah has crafted an important and sweeping story with skill and compassion. Stella, as well as her friends and family, will stay with me for a long time.' -- Sussie Anie, author of To Fill a Yellow House'This is a beautifully written account of domestic violence and intergenerational trauma, and the resilience and hope that can break its power.' -- Debut Digest, Editor's Pick'There are so many words to describe this beautiful book, and on reflection, one of them is 'generous'. It's such a generous, sometimes painful portrayal of a beautiful soul. I really enjoyed it and Stella is definitely still with me.' -- Jeffrey Boakye, author of I Heard What You Said‘Stella is caught between an abusive home life and a cold-hearted world. The story chronicles her struggle, growth, and fight for survival.’ -- Brittle Paper, '100 Notable African Books of 2022'

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Book SynopsisFrom the 2014 Caine Prize winner comes anastonishing new novel, riven through with mystery and magic, about a daughter's quest to save her motherTrade Review'Dazzling... In giddily exuberant prose, Oduor gradually reveals a terrifying story of generations of maternal abuse and dysfunction.' -- Financial Times'Oduor's magical, beguiling debut novel carries echoes of Toni Morrison's Beloved… Beautifully written, compelling, ominous and mysterious, with a strong, young, female Kenyan voice at the centre.' -- Guardian'An extraordinary tale about love, longing, and the bond between mothers and daughters.' -- Vogue, 25 Books by Black Authors We Can’t Wait to Read in 2022'A tale steeped in the acrid surrealism of childhood, populated by wicked wraiths and held together by the vicious spell mothers can cast on their daughters.' * Leila Aboulela, author of Bird Summons *'The supernatural runs amok, for good and ill, in this boisterous and bittersweet saga tracking four generations of women from a cursed family in a fictional East African town... Oduor's freewheeling invention [is] an undeniable strength.' -- Daily Mail'Things They Lost, written by Caine Prize-winning Kenyan author Oduor, defies categorisation... The writing is mesmeric, at times as warm and rhythmic as a lullaby, and filled with gentle, keen observations of the natural world. A book with a big heart that feels like a hug.' -- New Internationalist'An original and dazzling debut novel … A haunting, magical union of Kenyan folklore and the sometimes fragile union between mother and daughter.’ * New African *'[A] story that injects the fantastic into the mystery of Kenya's disappearing girls... [Things They Lost] will appeal to any reader who has survived or wants to understand girlhood as a time of complexity, laced with unparalleled creativity and expansion.' -- Vogue'A soaring debut. Things They Lost is an exhilarating read. I could not put it down.' -- Peace Adzo Medie, author of His Only Wife'From the start, Oduor — a winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, among other honors — broadcasts her tremendous talents ... Come for the beguiling narrative, and stay for the rich, evocative language.' -- Vulture, Most Anticipated of 2022'Oduor has produced page after page of gorgeous, elegiac prose. Dense and rich as a black Christmas cake and alternately whimsical, sweet and dark, Things They Lost is a complex work, brimming with uncompromisingly African magical realism, about the ambiguity of toxic mother-daughter relationships.' -- New York Times'What a singular and palpable world, teeming with life and wonder. In exuberant prose, at once witty and poetic, Okwiri Oduor threads a wondrous tale of girlhood, longing, and community with the ghosts that both love and hurt us. I read this book with gratefulness and awe! We will be reading Ms. Oduor for years to come.' -- Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, author of House of Stone

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Book SynopsisDancing to the rhythm of Jazz Era San Francisco, On the Rooftop is a stunning story of ambition, success, and three sisters who long to pursue their own dreamsTrade Review'Beautiful, moving, and truly unforgettable!' Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies'It will get inside your heart, break it wide open and stay there for a long time.' Good Housekeeping'In On the Rooftop, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s mellifluous third novel, readers have a front-row seat to a timeless drama about a mother with dreams that don’t quite line up with her daughters’ realities... Riveting.' New York Times'An utterly original and brilliant story about learning how to mother children who have very different dreams and how to encourage them to reach for the stars.' Reese Witherspoon'The kind of expansive, lush novel that envelops with charm while provoking with its fierce intelligence.' Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of Libertie'The exceptional storytelling hooks you in and before you know it, you're rooting for every single one of the characters. Their dreams become yours.' Melody Razak, author of Moth'In this stellar novel, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton takes us deeply into the dynamics of mothers and daughters, their individual—and collective—dreams and struggles.' Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The House of Broken Angels'Richly observed and beautifully written, On the Rooftop weaves the lives of its characters together into a story bursting with music and feeling.' Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown'A creative exploration of family, community and resilience... On the Rooftop is a quiet page turner that can serve as a beacon of hope in any trying time.' BookPage (starred review)'Narrating duties rotate among Vivian and each of her daughters, illuminating the stressors and conflicting values that the women must navigate as they try to find themselves within their singing family, their Black community, and their unjust country. Once again, Sexton delivers.' Booklist'A powerful drama set during a pivotal moment in US history.' Real Simple'A showstopper of a third novel… On the Rooftop is a powerhouse novel that reflects both how high we can fly and how quickly we can be knocked down.' San Francisco Chronicle'This novel about The Salvations, a trio of singing sisters, hits the right note… A great exploration of ambition and success.' Sunday Post (Dundee)

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Book SynopsisThe stunning second novel from the author of Reese's Book Club pick His Only WifeTrade Review'Peace Adzo Medie is the doyenne of the emotional plot twist.' Chibundu Onuzo, author of Sankofa'Medie's remarkable skills are on display here. She explores weighty themes with a deftness of touch.' Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters' Street'Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie...tells the story of Ghanaian cousins, Selasi and Akorfa, bosom childhood companions in Africa but bitterly estranged by adulthood... Medie offers an unflinching indictment of patriarchal power structures and corrupting complacency.' The Sunday Times, 'The summer's best popular fiction books''Nightbloom, Peace Adzo Medie’s sophomore novel, masterfully explores the complicated relationship between two childhood friends. I love the way it combines geographic range with deep intimacy. I highly recommend it.' Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of Zainab Takes New York'A riveting story of friendship and belonging, from a remarkable Ghanaian talent, Nightbloom is a must-read book of the summer.' Bristol Magazine'Nightbloom is a thought-provoking and illuminating read, masterfully intertwining personal struggles with a powerful reflection on societal dynamics and the impact of patriarchal systems.' Voice Magazine'A formidable exploration of friendship and the intricacies of the relationships that shape us... Touching, bold and thought-provoking, this story is one everyone should read.' Onyi Nwabineli, author of Someday, Maybe'[Medie] has produced a fine piece of fiction that utilises two strong female voices to great effect, telling a captivating story that resonates with the reader beyond the final page.' New Internationalist'I was hooked on Peace's writing! A blistering story, written with razor sharp precision and characters who feel so real, it's like they're watching you all the while you're reading.' Huma Qureshi, author of Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love

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Book SynopsisONE OF THE BBC''S 100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLD WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE AND THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDIn rural Georgia, sisters Celie and Nettie share the pain and struggle of growing up as African American women. Forced into an abusive marriage, at least Celie can offer Nettie refuge from their violent father in her new home - until Nettie catches the attention of Celie''s husband and is forced to leave and forge her own journey.Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, the sisters sustain their hope in each other across time, distance and silence, in a triumph of resilience, bravery and ultimately, love.''Indelibly affecting'' New York Times''A lush celebration of all that it means to be a Black female'' Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieTrade ReviewA genuinely mind-expanding book. -- Patrick Ness * GUARDIAN *She is one of the most gifted writers in her country -- Isabel AllendeThe Color Purple is a work to stand beside literature for any time and any place. It needs no category other than the fact that it is superb -- Rita Mae BrownThe Color Purple is a lush celebration of all that it means to be female, to be a black female and like the best of celebrations, it is an honest one. Alice Walker's honesty in this book is combative, relentless and redemptive. It is from this honesty that bitterness emerges, and yet the bitterness never blights the encompassing humanity of Walker's vision.I love that The Color Purple doesn't try to soften its blows but is also courageous enough to hold on to a wonderfully affirming faith in possibility, in forgiveness and kindness and hope. -- Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieThe great irony about The Color Purple is that it transcends colour. To do that you have to be a magician or a genius. This book works on all levels, the political, the historical, the personal, the emotional, the spiritual . . . Not a word is wasted, every breath accounted for. We all know that this is one of the greatest books of all time. -- Benjamin ZephaniahA unique blend of serenity and immediacy that makes your senses ache -- Helen DunmoreAlice Walker is a lavishly gifted writer * New York Times *A fable for the modern world * Washington Post *A stunning, brilliantly conceived book . . . a saga filled with joy and pain, humor and bitterness, and an array of characters who live, breathe and illuminate the world of black women * Publishers Weekly *One of the most haunting books you could ever wish to read ... it is stunning - moving, exciting, and wonderful * Lenny Henry *This made Alice Walker the first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. It's a fascinating but tough read because it deals with the abuse of women and children. Despite the brutality, it's filled with hope and optimism * DAILY EXPRESS *A story about Black women living in the intersections of racialized and gendered violence, who find liberation through community with each other. A brutal and beautiful novel * Brit Bennett, bestselling author of The Vanishing Half *Add this great book to your collection now. * PRIDE MAGAZINE (1 September 2004) *

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Book Synopsis''Powerful'' New Statesman ''Enchanting'' Sunday Times ''Haunting'' Mail on Sunday''A magical, magnificent novel, that amounts to a secret history of an America we think we know, but never really knew'' Marlon JamesThe people of Salt Point are afraid of the world beyond their rural town. Most of them are born, live and die never having gone more than twenty or thirty miles from houses that are crammed with generations of their families. But something shifts at the end of summer 1957. Change makes its way to Salt Point. The Kindred sisters - Ezra and Cinthy - grew up with an abundance of love. Love from their parents, who let them believe that the stories they tell on stars can come true. Love from their neighbours, the Junketts, the only other Black family in town, whose home is filled with spice-rubbed ribs and ground-shaking hugs. And love for their adopted hometown of Salt Point, a beautiful NewTrade ReviewPromise is forged in a crucible of irrational violence and darkness that paradoxically gives birth to luminous, resilient love. This is a novel so potent, written in such transcendent prose, one wonders if it's secretly a magic spell. It's a stunning achievement -- Kiran Desai, author of THE INHERITANCE OF LOSSThis is a magical, magnificent novel that amounts to a secret history of an America we think we know but never really knew, where girls reckon with the beauty and terror of girlhood, mortal black bodies reckon with immortal black souls, while America reckons with the terror of its beastly, bloody self. The trajectories collide - how could they not - and the result bowls us over with shock and grief, but eventually fills our hearts with awe and wonder -- Marlon James, author of * Moon Witch, Spider King *A beautifully rendered narrative and a startlingly fresh voice. I fell in love with the people between these pages. This is truly the first book in a long time where I had to force myself to stop reading -- Jacqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author of RED AT THE BONEAt its core, Promise concerns the illusion of security that we, Black Americans, harbor in our souls; that generational ache to believe that we can finally lay down the fear of what potential tragedy awaits us around the next corner, and the one after that. Poetic and powerful, this book slices through self-delusion with its many faces of heroism, loss, and the grace it takes to find a sense of equality in our hearts -- Walter Mosley, New York Times-bestselling author of EVERY MAN A KINGPromise is a stunning exploration of the weight and triumph of legacy, of what it has cost Black Americans to make homes in a country where violence and terror pursue them, and of all of the things it can mean to be called home. A graceful and urgent novel. -- Danielle Evans, author of THE HOUSE OF HISTORICAL CORRECTIONS

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Book Synopsis''The fact that this novel is so witty is incidental to how good it is - it has characters you care about deeply and a heart as big as a cathedral'' Miles Jupp''The finest love story I have read in years. Perfect I''d say.'' Phyllida Shrimpton, author of Sunflowers in FebruaryMr Baxter is ninety-four years old when he falls down his staircase and finds himself resident at Melrose Gardens Retirement Home.Baxter is many things - raconteur, retired music teacher, rabble-rouser, bon viveur; but ''good patient'' he is not. Indeed, Melrose Gardens is his worst nightmare. Then he meets Gregory.Greg is just nineteen years old, but he has already suffered a loss so heavy that he is in danger of giving up on life before he even gets going. Seeing the boy''s pain, Baxter decides to take him under his wing.Together they embark on a spirited journey to the war graves of Northern France, for Baxter to pay tribute to the love of hTrade ReviewBaxter's Requiem is a feelgood tale for the modern age . . . There is a touching tenderness between the two men as their friendship develops and despite the up-to-date touches, there is something refreshingly old-fashioned about this book . . . Crow's prose is natural and the story moves along swiftly . . . It is an easy read with an edifying tale of men dealing with their difficulties at different points in their lives. * Irish Examiner *A lovely, feel-good, life-affirming story * My Weekly *

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Book Synopsis''The fact that this novel is so witty is incidental to how good it is - it has characters you care about deeply and a heart as big as a cathedral'' Miles JuppLet me tell you a story, about a man I knew, and a man I know...Mr Baxter is ninety-four years old when he falls down his staircase and grudgingly finds himself resident at Melrose Gardens Retirement Home. Baxter is many things - raconteur, retired music teacher, rabble-rouser, bon viveur - but ''good patient'' he is not. He had every intention of living his twilight years with wine, music and revelry; not tea, telly and Tramadol. Indeed, Melrose Gardens is his worst nightmare - until he meets Gregory. At only nineteen years of age, Greg has suffered a loss so heavy that he is in danger of giving up on life before he even gets going. Determined to save the boy, Baxter decides to enlist his help on a mission to pay tribute to his long-lost love, Thomas: the manTrade ReviewBaxter's Requiem is a feelgood tale for the modern age . . . There is a touching tenderness between the two men as their friendship develops and despite the up-to-date touches, there is something refreshingly old-fashioned about this book . . . Crow's prose is natural and the story moves along swiftly . . . It is an easy read with an edifying tale of men dealing with their difficulties at different points in their lives. * Irish Examiner *The finest love story I have read in years. Perfect I'd say. -- Phyllida Shrimpton, author of Sunflowers in February * . *The fact that this novel is so witty is incidental to how good it is - it has characters you care about deeply and a heart as big as a cathedral -- Miles Jupp

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Book SynopsisLyn Andrew''s warm-hearted novel of Liverpool during the Blitz is not to be missed by readers of Dilly Court and Kate Thompson. Molly and Bernie have been friends forever. As young girls they left Ireland seeking new beginnings in Liverpool. Now they are marrying their sweethearts and looking forward to enjoying the lives they''ve worked so hard to build. But as the Liverpool Blitz begins, it seems as if their dreams are about to be destroyed. Night after night, horrific bombing tears the city apart. As wives and mothers, both women know that they could face great tragedy. But they also know that their friendship, and their love for their husbands and sons, will give them the strength to find the happiness they deserve...

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Book Synopsis''One of the nation''s favourite saga writers'' Lancashire PostA powerful new saga from Jennie Felton in the grand tradition of Josephine Cox, Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Rosie Goodwin of love, loss, tragedy, drama, secrets and twists and turns.Readers are hooked by The Stolen Child!''Like the twists and turns...a great read'' 5* reader review''Keeps you on the edge...could not put it down'' 5* reader review''A heartbreaking read. 5 stars'' 5* reader review''A must read'' 5* reader reviewWill anyone believe her baby is gone?When Stella Swift is discovered holding a shard of broken glass near her newborn baby boy, fears that she might harm William result in her being taken to Catcombe - the local asylum. Although the regime is not as harsh as it once was, it''s not somewhere that Tom wants to senTrade ReviewBelievable characters, a vivid sense of time and place, thoroughly enjoyable -- Rosie GoodwinFans of Katie Flynn will love this * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Enthralling . . . Jennie Felton . . . writes her stories straight from the heart . . . evokes time and place with compelling authenticity, and conjures up a feisty heroine and a cast of engaging characters * Lancashire Evening Post *Has everything a family saga should have - happiness, extreme sadness, love, death, births, etc. but above all it was a real page turner... Thank you, Jennie, for writing such a wonderful book * Boon’s Bookcase *If you like the style of Catherine Cookson, Josephine Cox or Katie Flynn then you'll enjoy this * Books With Wine And Chocolate *A great read with a cast of believable characters * People’s Friend *

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Book Synopsis''An entertaining and delightful story about breaking tradition, creating your own path, and standing your ground'' Jane Igharo, author of Ties That TetherZoya must choose between tradition and the opportunity of a lifetime. . .______________________________________Zoya is not a perfect Indian daughter. She''s overweight, independent and unmarried in a society that values slim, obedient women.And at twenty-six, she is hurtling towards her expiration date in Mumbai''s arranged marriage super-mart. But when her family''s matchmaking finally works, everything seems to be on the up - all until she is offered a dream job in New York City.Zoya must now make the choice of a lifetime, but not without a few cultural casualties and, of course, an accidental love story along the way . . .In this hilarious comedy of manners set in Mumbai, where modTrade ReviewWith writing that is witty and accessible, Bhatia tells an entertaining and delightful story about breaking tradition, creating your own path, and standing your ground. * Jane Igharo, author of Ties That Tether *

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Book Synopsis''Entertaining, in the best sense of the word, and a true page-turner'' Ann Napolitano''I read it in a single gulp'' Karen Joy Fowler''A smart and lively novel'' Jess Walter_________________________________________________''How differently the Geller sisters'' lives would have turned out had C.J. Reynolds not been released from prison that February. . .''Marti Geller is going to die soon, and she''s hoping to take her secrets with her.To do this, Marti has stipulated in her will that the family''s summer home on Mount Desert Island, Maine, must be sold as soon as possible. This request comes as a shock to her three daughters, a trio of strong-minded women who are each hiding a secret of their own.For the eldest daughter, Beck, the Maine cottage is essential to her secret wish to write a novel, and selling is the last thing she wants to do. But recently divorced ClTrade ReviewIt All Comes Down to This answered a need I didn't even know I had-to read a big-hearted novel about middle-aged women reckoning with their own heavy secrets, and each other. This novel is entertaining, in the best sense of the word, and a true page-turner. * Ann Napolitano *A compulsively readable, thoroughly enjoyable tale of three sisters, their histories, their problems, and their unravelling secrets. Contemporary, but with a delightfully Austenish tone. I read it in a single gulp. * Karen Joy Fowler *A smart and lively novel, one that had me turning its faster and faster, wondering if this indelible family could really untangle the deep lies that reveal an even deeper truth * Jess Walter *Fowler writes like a contemporary Edith Wharton, peeling back layers of class and custom to reveal the mysteries of love, longing, and fate. A stunning tale * Wiley Cash *

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Book Synopsis''A wonderfully atmospheric and deeply unsettling novel, full of images so vivid they seem to leap off the page. Worsley''s fiction is something to savour'' Sarah Waters''A rich, wonderfully uneasy pleasure. Exquisitely written and deeply original, with secrets that are tightly layered, always surprising and teased out with impressive control'' Bethan Roberts, author of My PolicemanWorn out by poverty, Lettie Radley and her miner husband Tommy grasp at the offer of their very own smallholding - part of a Government scheme to put the unemployed back to work on the land. When she comes down to Essex to join him, it''s not Tommy who greets her, but their new neighbours. Overbearing and unkempt, Jean and Adam Dell are everything that the smart, spirited, aspirational Lettie can''t abide.As Lettie settles in, she finds an unexpected joy in the rhythms of life on the smallholding. She''s hopeful that her past, and the terrible secret Tommy has Trade ReviewA wonderfully atmospheric and deeply unsettling novel, full of images so vivid they seem to leap off the page. Worsley's fiction is something to savour -- Sarah WatersA rich, wonderfully uneasy pleasure. Exquisitely written and deeply original, with secrets that are tightly layered, always surprising and teased out with impressive control -- Bethan RobertsWith slow, quiet intent Kate Worsley builds a tense atmosphere of looming horror. This book demands to be savoured, even as it clamours to be devoured * The Times *Kate Worsley has a wonderfully fertile imagination. She writes for the senses: the touch of soil; the taste of a home remedy; the whiff of decay. Her wily prose curls around the story she is telling, like a creeper -- Katie WardBeguiling, and written with a piercing eye for style. It burrows under the surface of the rural idyll, exposing a shadowy hinterland -- Eva DolanA spellbinding evocation of the rural uncanny. In deceptively sensual prose Kate Worsley eviscerates the idyll of the smallholding and lays bare the vicious desperation of characters pitted against the elements and themselves * Sarah Bower *I loved the brooding suspense of Foxash - both the unspoken and the fear of speaking dominate its claustrophobic setting. Worsley takes us into a revelatory and revisionist corner of the Twentieth Century. * Jonathan Myerson *Foxash almost pulses with the force of its telling; the prose is lush, with a feverish, seething, darkly erotic edge. All that ripens, soon rots, and what rots must be hidden. What a story Worsley has conjured * Guinevere Glasfurd-Brown *

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Book SynopsisRocked by her husband's affair, a woman decides to welcome a refugee to live with her familyTrade ReviewSusan Beale's writing is alive with subtlety and flair. Her stories unspool with a confident voice, a relish for detail and deft shifts in perspective * Tessa Hadley *How skilfully Beale negotiates a minefield in this lucid account of colliding realities * Saga Magazine *Timely but has great warmth and readability, too * Good Housekeeping *Thought provoking and powerful . . . Superbly written, this is a significant and poignant story that will resonate with many people at different stages of their lives * Buzz Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWHAT IF THE FAMILY YOU WANT......ISN''T THE FAMILY YOU NEED?''It was up to her now; everything was up to her;she needed only to make a choice and step towards it, out from the shadows and into the light.'' At forty-three, Christina Lennox thought her future was settled: marriage to Ed, children, a house of their own. But this is not that future: her marriage has ended, fractured by the stress of five rounds of IVF and two miscarriages. Overwhelmed by grief and disappointment, Ed has relocated to San Francisco and Christina''s dream of becoming a mother rests on persuading him to let her go ahead with one final round of IVF, using the last frozen embryo they have stored at the clinic.But when Ed drops a bombshell that threatens to undo everything Christina has strived for, she is forced, once again, to realign her plans.Is this the end of her dream, or an opportunity to consider a different - perhaps happier -Trade ReviewBarnett's well-crafted backlist is big on emotional acuity and this novel is no different, forging from Christina's grief an insistence that we think more creatively when it comes to happiness, and especially to the shapes that our families might take. -- Hephzibah Anderson * THE OBSERVER *A warm, emotional story with brilliant characters. -- Deirdre O'Brien * BEST MAGAZINE *An uplifting tale about new beginnings. -- Maureen Stapleton * HEAT MAGAZINE *I found this beautifully told tale of disappointed motherhood moving, but the best bit for me was the lively South London scene Barnett conjures up. -- Wendy Holden * DAILY MAIL *Barnett writes beautifully about relationships and the possibility of finding a very different happy ever after from the one you were expecting. -- Mernie Gilmore * SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *Laura Barnett weaves an inspiring story about shifting perspective and finding light in the darkness. -- Zoe West * WOMAN'S OWN *A compelling read. * CLOSER *What makes Barnett's novel soappealing is the realistic steps taken by Christina so that she may improve her ownlife - it's not easy but, as Barnett suggests, nothing worth doing ever is. * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *

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