Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book SynopsisA disturbing portrait of a modern American family'Imagine Richard Yates becoming fascinated by Donald Antrim before writing Revolutionary Road and you'll have some idea of Love Orange. One of the most satisfying novels you will read this year. This book rules' Christian Kiefer, author of Phantoms'I enjoyed every minute of it' Chris Power, author of Mothers'A stunningly accurate portrayal . . . shining with vivid dialogue and observation' Chloe Aridjis, author of Sea Monsters'[A]n exuberant, comic, irresistibly dark examination of contemporary anxieties' Vanity Fair'An exquisite balance of humour and pathos' LunateAn extraordinary debut novel by Natasha Randall, exposing the seam of secrets within an American family, from beneath the plastic surfaces of their new 'smart' home. Love Orange charts the gentle absurdities of their lives, and the devastating consequences of casual choices. While Hank struggles with his lack of professional success, his wife Jenny, feeling stuck and beset by an urge to do good, becomes ensnared in a dangerous correspondence with a prison inmate called John. Letter by letter, John pinches Jenny awake from the "marshmallow numbness" of her life. The children, meanwhile, unwittingly disturb the foundations of their home life with forays into the dark net and strange geological experiments. Jenny's bid for freedom takes a sour turn when she becomes the go-between for John and his wife, and develops an unnatural obsession for the orange glue that seals his letters...Love Orange throws open the blinds of American life, showing a family facing up to the modern age, from the ascendancy of technology, the predicaments of masculinity, the pathologising of children, the epidemic of opioid addiction and the tyranny of the WhatsApp Gods. The first novel by the acclaimed translator is a comic cocktail, an exuberant skewering of contemporary anxieties and prejudices.Trade ReviewImagine Richard Yates becoming fascinated by Donald Antrim before writing Revolutionary Road and you'll have some idea of Love Orange. At turns funny, discomfiting, and darkly harrowing, Randall's debut is real life inscribed upon the page. The classic American family of countless TV dramas and comedies is here fractured against the hard fulcrum of the current age. One of the most satisfying novels you will read this year. This book rules. -- Christian Kiefer, author of PHANTOMS'In Love Orange we see the American nuclear family in meltdown, a phenomenon Natasha Randall describes with wisdom, wit, and a lot of heart. I enjoyed every minute of it' Chris Power, author of MothersAs an acclaimed translator of Russian novels, Natasha Randall has a fine-tuned sense of the absurd, and a wonderfully original way of seeing the world. A stunningly accurate portrayal of American society, shining with vivid dialogue and observation -- Chloe Aridjis, author of Sea Monsters[T]he first novel by this acclaimed translator is an exuberant, comic, irresistibly dark examination of contemporary anxieties * Vanity Fair *An exquisite balance of humour and pathos...The setting and plot ofLove Orange is extremely well crafted * Lunate *Randall throws satirical light on everything from opioid addictions to the domination of modern technology in this exuberant and contemporary novel. * Independent *The translator Natasha Randall's debut novel is a keenly observed account of the travails of an apparently normal American family . . . Hugely ambitious * Observer *Translator Randall makes her fiction debut with this assured and funny story of an American family in crisis trying to hide behind their new "smart" home. * The i *I was . . . hooked by this comedic take on the modern American family * Saga *I loved the rich emotional mayhem of Natasha Randall's Love Orange. * White Review (BOTY) *Love Orange is narrated in a close third-person from multiple points of view, artfully moving between the characters to build an absorbing story. Randall depicts the very contemporary struggles of the Tinkley family with empathy. And her wry humour leavens the serious topics she tackles: the prison system, gender roles, the perils of intrusive technology and the slippery slope of addiction - whether one reaches for drugs or devices for relief from the "marshmallow numbness" of daily life. * TLS *

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Book Synopsis'A charming and heart-warming read that will warm your cockles this winter' HeatThirty-nine-year-old Romane is a doctor and hypochondriac. Her usually uneventful life changes when one of her patients insists that she saw Romane coming out of a hospital in Marseille, looking very ill. But Romane is perfectly healthy and has never stepped foot in Marseille. So who did her patient see?Romane sets off for the south of France, determined to uncover the mystery of her lookalike. Her investigation leads her to Juliette, a bookseller in Avignon. When the two women meet it soon becomes clear they are twins. But how is it possible that neither of them knew of each other's existence? What secrets have their families been keeping? On their search for the truth the two sisters embark on an astonishing journey filled with both pain and joy...Sandrel's first novel, The Book of Wonders, was a global bestseller. It has been translated into 26 languages and will be adapted for the big screen. His second novel is a deeply moving and inspiring story about the quest for happiness and a second chance at life.PRAISE FOR THE BOOK OF WONDERS'A sweet and heartfelt read' Heat'Will make you rethink your priorities in life' Sunday Post'Heart-warming and tear-jerking' Irish ExaminerTrade ReviewA charming and heart-warming read that will warm your cockles this winter * Heat *An astonishing journey filled with both pain and joy. Uplifting * Bella *This book will make you rethink your priorities in life * Sunday Post *A sweet and heartfelt read * Heat *A hope-against-hope, madcap race against time * Saga *Heartwarming and tearjerking * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisThe sparkling Christmas romance to pick you up this year...'A hilarious and heartwarming festive treat' Heidi Swain'So funny, sweet, warm and fuzzy' Clodagh MurphyWhat if the love of your life was your best friend's girl?When Nick loses his job and is dumped by his glamorous but demanding girlfriend, he is forced to grudgingly accept work as a Santa at a local Christmas grotto. As his friends are getting married or promoted, Nick spends his days being terrorised by unfriendly elves and cried on by snotty, spoiled children.Then he meets 4-year-old Alfie. All Alfie wants for Christmas is for his mum, Sarah, to be happy again. Moved by the boy's selfless wish, Nick arranges a date between Sarah and his best friend, Matt. But as Sarah and Alfie become part of all their lives, Nick realises that happiness for Sarah and Matt might mean heartbreak for himself.'A hilarious and touching festive read' Heat'A festive romance in all its technicolour fairy-light glory' My WeeklyREADERS ARE LOVING ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS'Will have you laughing out loud' *****'I'd have given it 10 stars if I could!' *****'Impossible to put down' *****'A funny, fuzzy, festive feast of a book!' *****'Absolutely perfect escapism' *****Trade ReviewA hilarious and touching festive read * Heat *A hilarious and heartwarming festive treat * Heidi Swain *So funny, sweet, warm and fuzzy * Clodagh Murphy, author of FOR LOVE OR MONEY *A festive romance in all its technicolour fairy-light glory * My Weekly *So tenderly written in parts, and laugh out loud funny in others. I devoured it * Woman's Way *The perfect Christmas read! Highly recommended! * Hot Brands, Cool Places *

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Book Synopsis'Prepare for your heart rate to rise reading this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller!' The Sun'If you're looking for a page-turner, this is it!' Hello!'The perfect choice for fans of C.L. Taylor and Louise Candlish' Woman's Weekly'A superbly pacy thriller that will keep you looking over your shoulder' Sunday MirrorYOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.THEY HAVEN'T FORGIVEN. Leah Wallace has just achieved her dream of becoming editor at a regional paper. On her first day a 15-year-old girl, Hope Hooper-Smith, is reported missing. The police fear that she has been abducted. Hours later, another teenage girl goes missing. But this girl, Tilly Bowers, is from a troubled background and is a habitual runaway. Leah decides to run the Hope's abduction on the front page, while Tilly only gets a small mention on page eighteen. The next day, Hope is found unharmed at a train station. But Tilly is never seen or heard from again.Sixteen years later, a TV documentary questions Leah's decision not to give Tilly's case immediate coverage, implying that she could have cost Tilly her life, and Leah starts receiving death threats online. Then mysterious paper dolls begin appearing, cut from the newspapers Leah used to edit, and she suspects that an intruder has been in the house. Leah becomes convinced that someone wants to punish her for the part she played in Tilly's disappearance. But just how far will they go to make her pay? A gripping and chilling psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and C.L. Taylor. Trade ReviewThe perfect choice for fans of CL Taylor and Louise Candlish, the psychology that drives this dark mystery forward shows the human mind at its most calculating. * Woman's Weekly *If you're looking for a page-turner, this is it! * Hello! *Prepare for your heart rate to rise reading this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller! * The Sun *This dark mystery shows the human mind at its most twisted and calculating * Woman *A superbly pacy thriller that will keep you looking over your shoulder * Sunday Mirror *Stylish and creepy - a gripping read * Best *

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Book Synopsis'Compulsively readable and with an ending you will not see coming' WOMAN & HOME'Masterful . . . a great twist' HARRIET TYCETHE PERFECT HUSBAND . . .After a difficult pregnancy, Esther is grateful that her husband Robin offers to put his career on hold so that she can return to the job she loves.But Esther finds leaving her daughter Riley behind more challenging than she'd thought. And soon the new imbalance in her relationship with Robin brings old tensions to the surface.OR A PERFECT LIE?Then one day Esther arrives home from work to find Robin and Riley are missing. As the police investigate their disappearance, it becomes clear that nothing about this modern-day family is what it seems...Is Robin the perfect father everyone thinks he is? Or was it all a perfect lie?READERS LOVE THE PERFECT FATHER'Deceit, ambition, suspense and betrayal: this book has it all' 5* Reader Review'Gripping and nuanced' 5* Reader Review'Totally twisty, dramatic and addictive' 5* Reader Review'The best thriller I have read this year' 5* Reader Review********'A real thrill ride' HEAT'The perfect read. Surprising and original' LESLEY KARA'Doctor Foster meets Gone Girl' BP WALTER'A real thriller of a ride with a twist I did NOT see coming' NIKKI SMITH'An emotional and intelligently written thriller' ELISABETH CARPENTER'Had me hooked from the first page' RUTH HEALD'Realistic, gripping, emotional and distinctive' NICOLA MOSTYN'Unpredictable, tense and engrossing' REBECCA FLEET'I love Charlotte's dark, messy takes on modern relationships' CLAIRE MCGOWAN'Fresh, thrilling and packed with unstoppable tension' LAUREN NORTH**********Trade ReviewSmart, compulsively readable and with an ending you will not see coming, there's nothing about this gripping story that fails to satisfy * Woman & Home *A real thrill ride * Heat *The Perfect Father is the perfect read. Such a clever book. Surprising and original * Lesley Kara *I sped through it. Masterful handling of timelines and a great twist - very much enjoyed * Harriet Tyce *I absolutely loved The Perfect Father! A real thriller of a ride with a twist I did NOT see coming * Nikki Smith *Unpredictable, tense and engrossing, The Perfect Father will challenge your perceptions of parenthood and keep you hooked from the first page to the last * Rebecca Fleet *Modern, smart and fast-paced, this thriller had me hooked from the first page * Ruth Heald *I love Charlotte's dark, messy takes on modern relationships, and this is no exception * Claire McGowan *I loved this book. The Perfect Father is an emotional and intelligently written thriller. The twists are so expertly woven in, that at times I had to pause to let them sink in. Highly recommended * Elisabeth Carpenter *Doctor Foster meets Gone Girl. Tense, twisty and deeply unsettling * BP Walter *I absolutely LOVED The Perfect Father! Such realistic, well drawn characters, gripping emotional plot twists (that also feel rooted in reality) and a really distinctive story style * Nicola Mostyn *Abandoned my responsibilities to finish The Perfect Father today. Such a cleverly woven, timely thriller that covers a number of complex themes without ever dropping the pace * Amy Heydenrych *An unputdownable thriller! The Perfect Father is fresh, thrilling and packed with unstoppable tension. I will be raving about this book for ages * Lauren North *

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Book Synopsis'Warm, funny, and bursting with heart' Rebecca Serle'Beautiful, moving, hopeful' Emily StoneGreta James is adrift. Literally.Just after the sudden death of her mother - her most devoted fan - and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes second album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing. Greta's career is suddenly in jeopardy - the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always warned her about.Months later, Greta - still heartbroken and very much adrift - reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life.In this unlikeliest of places - at sea and far from the packed venues where she usually plays - Greta must finally confront the heartbreak she's suffered, the family hurts that run deep, and how to find her voice again.'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo'A total delight!' Christine Pride'Full of hope . . . vibrant' Linda HolmesTrade ReviewThis wry, closely observed romance slowly investigates family, love and fame * Daily Mail *Charming, funny, diverting and a cracking good story * Sunday Independent *A warm-hearted story * Irish Independent *Warm, funny, and bursting with heart. A pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest of places. The Unsinkable Greta James is exactly the book you want to read * Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years *Beautiful, moving, hopeful. I loved this book from beginning to end, and will be thinking about it for a long time. A total triumph * Emily Stone, author of Always, In December *Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds, The Unsinkable Greta James is an unforgettable exploration of family and the choices we make that shape our lives. A fast-paced, emotional novel * Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost *I burst into tears at the end of Jennifer E. Smith's gorgeous, heartfelt The Unsinkable Greta James-tears of surprised happiness. I loved traveling to Alaska with the wild and tender Greta, her escape from her life as a literal rock star an addictive journey. Each evening, I looked forward to opening the novel and re-joining Greta's adventure, and will miss her - and her music - now that I've turned the final, beautiful page * Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters *Thoughtful and tender and true, The Unsinkable Greta James perfectly captures the messiness of loving and being loved. Smith has written a gripping relationship story that's also a perceptive exploration of what it means to dream. I devoured it * Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things *This novel is unabashedly sentimental, in the best possible way. It's about how family can misunderstand us, grief can undo us and our dreams can save us. The Unsinkable Greta James is as transporting and diverting as the Alaskan cruise Greta herself is on in these pages. In short: it's a total delight! * Christine Pride, co-author of We Are Not Like Them *There's a generosity in the drawing of these characters . . . a vibrant sense of its unusual setting * Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over *A tender story * Candis *Tears are likely . . . * Sainsbury's *Poignant and inspiring * Culturefly *

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Book Synopsis'Warm, funny, and bursting with heart' Rebecca Serle'Beautiful, moving, hopeful' Emily StoneGreta James is adrift. Literally.Just after the sudden death of her mother - her most devoted fan - and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes second album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing. Greta's career is suddenly in jeopardy - the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always warned her about.Months later, Greta - still heartbroken and very much adrift - reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life.In this unlikeliest of places - at sea and far from the packed venues where she usually plays - Greta must finally confront the heartbreak she's suffered, the family hurts that run deep, and how to find her voice again.'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward'Moving and beautiful' 5* reader review'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown'Full of warmth, heart and music' 5* reader review'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo'Wonderful, inspiring and delightful' 5* reader review'A total delight!' Christine Pride'A heartwarming story reminding you to really live' 5* reader review'Full of hope . . . vibrant' Linda HolmesTrade ReviewThis wry, closely observed romance slowly investigates family, love and fame * Daily Mail *Charming, funny, diverting and a cracking good story * Sunday Independent *A warm-hearted story * Irish Independent *Warm, funny, and bursting with heart. A pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest of places. The Unsinkable Greta James is exactly the book you want to read * Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years *Beautiful, moving, hopeful. I loved this book from beginning to end, and will be thinking about it for a long time. A total triumph * Emily Stone, author of Always, In December *Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds, The Unsinkable Greta James is an unforgettable exploration of family and the choices we make that shape our lives. A fast-paced, emotional novel * Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost *I burst into tears at the end of Jennifer E. Smith's gorgeous, heartfelt The Unsinkable Greta James-tears of surprised happiness. I loved traveling to Alaska with the wild and tender Greta, her escape from her life as a literal rock star an addictive journey. Each evening, I looked forward to opening the novel and re-joining Greta's adventure, and will miss her - and her music - now that I've turned the final, beautiful page * Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters *Thoughtful and tender and true, The Unsinkable Greta James perfectly captures the messiness of loving and being loved. Smith has written a gripping relationship story that's also a perceptive exploration of what it means to dream. I devoured it * Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things *This novel is unabashedly sentimental, in the best possible way. It's about how family can misunderstand us, grief can undo us and our dreams can save us. The Unsinkable Greta James is as transporting and diverting as the Alaskan cruise Greta herself is on in these pages. In short: it's a total delight! * Christine Pride, co-author of We Are Not Like Them *There's a generosity in the drawing of these characters . . . a vibrant sense of its unusual setting * Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over *A tender story * Candis *Tears are likely . . . * Sainsbury's *Poignant and inspiring * Culturefly *

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Book Synopsis'IT'LL EASILY BE ONE OF MY BOOKS OF THE YEAR' Hannah Beckerman'It's a warm book and a touching one. And did I mention it's funny? Just read it. You'll see' The Times'Funny, tender and sad' Sunday Express'If you liked Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss, you'll love this novel' Good Housekeeping'One of the richest explorations of family dysfunction I've read' the i newspaper'Shades of Fleabag in this smart, funny drama' Mail on Sunday'An enjoyably bittersweet novel about a dysfunctional modern family' Independent'Razor-sharp ' Observer'One of the funniest novels you'll read this year' Guardian SHORTLISTED FOR THE NOTA BENE PRIZE 2023THE BOOK THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWNFor Alice and Hanna, saint and sinner, growing up is a trial. There is their mother, who takes a divide-and-conquer approach to child-rearing, and their father, who takes an absent one. There is also their older brother Michael, whose disapproval is a force to be reckoned with. There is the catastrophe that is never spoken of, but which has shaped everything . . .As adults, Alice and Hanna must deal with disappointments in work and in love as well as increasingly complicated family tensions, and lives that look dismayingly dissimilar to what they'd intended. They must look for a way to repair their own fractured relationship, and they must finally choose their own approach to their dominant mother: submit or burn the house down. And they must decide at last whether life is really anything more than (as Hanna would have it) a tragedy with a few hilarious moments.From the author of the Waterstones Book of the Month Our Fathers comes a compelling domestic comedy about complex family dynamics, mental health and the intricacies of sibling relationships.WHAT READERS ARE SAYING5* 'I adored this book'5* 'A brilliant novel about a dysfunctional family'5* 'This book blew me away'5* 'Loved, loved, loved this! Laugh-out-loud funny and beautifully poignant' 5* 'The best book i've read this year'Trade ReviewSO brilliant. A brutally funny and whip-smart novel about dysfunctional families, with some of the best fictional sibling relationships I've ever read. It'll easily be one of my Books of the Year. -- Hannah BeckermanI didn't want it to end. Completely absorbing and brilliant and funny and painful. -- Charlotte DuckworthToxic mothers, absent fathers, angry sisters and enraging brothers - this sharp, wise comedy explores difficult family dynamics, from all-too-relatable emotional patterns to the inexplicable agonies of mental illness; yet it's also one of the funniest novels you'll read this year. * Guardian (50 Hottest New Summer Reads) *Rebecca Wait's highly entertaining fourth novel is a masterclass in familial tensions, told with razor-sharpdialogue, wit and emotional insight. * Observer *You'll struggle to find a better opening sentence in fiction this year . . . I loved the deadpan one-liners . . . The dialogue is excellent and captures the way families try to support one another and end up being accidentally horrible instead . . . But even better than the witty observations are the pure comedy set pieces . . . But it's more than just a farce. Things happen, big dramatic things, and there's love and anguish and good people making terrible mistakes . . . It's a warm book and a touching one. And did I mention it's funny? Just read it. You'll see. * The Times *One of those novels, which is as funny as it's devastating, I'm Sorry You Feel That Way lays bare one family's dysfunction over the decades. * Red Magazine (The 10 best new books out this month) *Wait's deft handling of the intricate web of family connections, as well as her genuinely funny observations of everyday life, land somewhere between the early novels of Maggie O'Farrell and the later work of Barbara Trapido. Like them, she understands that tragedy and comedy go hand in hand * Guardian *Funny, tender and sad... Wait is such a sympathetic writer that her willingness to dive into the emotional nitty gritty of her characters' inner lives makes for riveting reading * Sunday Express *If you liked Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss, you'll love this novel ... as it hits that same sweet spot between poignancy and humour * Good Housekeeping *A deep dive into a dysfunctional family and its intergenerational trauma that somehow manages to be both desperately sad and extremely funny... Its exquisitely detailed examination of interpersonal relationships allows it to become furtively compassionate, generous even to the worst offenders and one of the richest explorations of family dysfunction I've read * i newspaper *An enjoyably bittersweet novel about a dysfunctional modern family * Indepedent *This sharp, wise comedy explores difficult family dynamics, from all-too-relatable emotional patterns to the inexplicable agonies of mental illness; yet it's also one of the funniest novels you'll read this year * Guardian Summer Reading *A rich and witty and sad book about family dysfunction. Twins Alice and Hanna are at the heart of it all, but we also glimpse into the life of their overbearing mother and her sister, and the whole thing is knitted together into a tragicomedy that I loved an inordinate amount * The Well Read newsletter *Wait is unflinching in her heartrending exploration of complex family dynamics, from the traumas that tear us apart to the brave decisions that hold us together. * Woman's Own *smart, witty and affecting... the comparisons to Sorrow and Bliss are justified * Stylist *The novel has earned comparisons to Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss - aka everyone's favourite book of 2020 - so bona fide hit status surely follows * ES Magazine *From the passive aggressive title to the satisfying ending, this is a smart, sometimes hilarious novel in which blood might prove thicker than water. * Saga *Perceptive, compelling and dryly funny, this unmissable story of a dysfunctional family . . . is a masterful novel, Wait's piercing wit and laser-sharp insight showing how easily family dynamics canspiral out of control. * Daily Express *A funny and moving book that will draw you into its tangled web * Psychologies *This novel made me laugh out loud and also broke my heart; it manages to weave together comedy, childhood trauma, mental illness and deft character observations into a wonderfully readable package. I hoovered it up and then went straight to read Rebecca Wait's previous novel, The Followers, which I also loved. * You *This is the funniest and one of the most underrated novels of the year... snarky and mischievous... it's gently serious and very touching * The Times (Best Fiction of 2022) *This family drama, about twin sisters whose dominant mother rules their lives, hits that sweet spot between poignancy and humour. All three characters are flawed and relatable in their own ways and the dynamic between them is so believable. * Good Housekeeping (Best Books of 2022) *A very funny, emotionally wise story of sibling rivalry and difficult mothers. * Guardian (Best Fiction Books of 2022) *Rebecca Wait's witty tragicomedy is a piercing tale of sibling rivalry and family dysfunction . . . Wait has a talent for bringing a crackle to a scene. * Culture Whisper (Favourite Books of 2022) *Perceptive, poignant and often very funny story of a dysfunctional family . . . a masterful novel that tacklestroubled family dynamics with sparkling wit and searing insight. * Daily Express (Fiction Highlights for 2022) *Had I read Rebecca Wait's I'm Sorry You Feel That Way (riverrun) in time for our books of the year feature, I would have included it . . . Wait is a wonderful farceuse and a natural at comic observation, but does dark as well: I'm Sorry You Feel That Way is about the pain of feeling you haven't found your place in the world, about clinging to people who might ease that pain, and about the further pain that comes when they back off. It's about mental illness, and includes a frighteningly vivid account of a crack-up. It's also warm and generous: this family is trapped, but not without hope of release. * BookBrunch *This was one of the most underrated novels of last year. It's snarky and mischievous right from the opening sentence . . . It's the story of a dysfunctional middle-class family: stuffy Michael, the twins - anxious Alice and troublemaking Hanna - and their narcissistic mother, who can't stop meddling. Bythe end it's surprisingly serious and very touching. * The Times *Laughing - actually laughing - aloud at a novel is a rare pleasure, so don't miss the chance. This was one of the funniest books of 2022 * Sunday Times (Book of the Month, March 2023) *This masterful novel tackles troubled family dynamics with sparkling wit and searing insight. * Sunday Express *It's a compelling, empathetic and laugh-out-loud funny tale. * Daily Mirror *The perfect blend of sad and funny . . . it will stay with me for a long time. * Scottish Field Magazine *

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Book SynopsisIn her perceptive and affecting new novel, Daniela Krien explores a marriage where everything hangs in the balance. "Quietly devastating" HANNAH BECKERMANN, Observer"A stylish, subtle read" Woman & Home BOOK OF THE MONTH"Perfectly paced, nuanced" Saga Magazine PICK OF THE MONTH"Powerful . . . subtle and psychologically astute" Times Literary Supplement"Beautifully written" IndependentHow can two lovers find a way back to each other, when the pain of the past stands between them?With plans adrift after a fire burns down their rented holiday cabin, Rahel and Peter find themselves unexpectedly on an isolated farm where Rahel spent many a happy childhood summer. Suddenly, after years of navigating careers, demanding children and the monotony of the daily routine, they find themselves unable to escape each other's company. With three weeks stretching ahead, they must come to an understanding on whether they have a future together.What happens when love grows older and passion has faded? When what divides us is greater than what brought us together? And how easy is it to ask the fundamental questions about our relationships? Praise for LOVE IN FIVE ACTS:"Highly recommended" The Times "Exquisite . . . Utterly captivating" Woman and Home"Unfailingly impressive" Irish Times "Beautifully direct and lucid prose" Sydney Morning Herald"A beautiful novel" New European "Sympathetic and clear-eyed" Financial Times"An intelligent study of female ambition and frailty" ObserverTranslated from the German by Jamie BullochTrade ReviewA quietly devastating portrayal of a marriage . . . Krien beautifully conveys Rahel's sense of impotent frustration, familial tensions and the thwarted desires of middle age -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *[A] slim yet powerful novel about families and relationships . . . subtle and psychologically astute . . . acutely observed -- P.D. Smith * Times Literary Supplement *With her trademark hypnotic prose, Krien looks at the nuances of a relationship with honesty and clarity. A stylish, subtle read that digs deeps into the human psyche. -- Zoe West * Woman & Home "Book of the Month" *The intersecting of a troubled past, uneasy present and increasingly uncertain future makes for a quiet, reflective read -- Catherine Taylor * Irish Times *Deeply engaging . . . Beautifully written, subtle and shines a light on the feelings and desires of middle-aged women -- Prudence Wade * Independent *Impactful * Irish Times (Gloss Magazine) *The Fire examines the endurance of long-time love through a couple finding themselves cocooned in an isolated farmhouse for three weeks. -- Charlie Connelly * New European *[A] perfectly paced, nuanced, forgiving story of good, flawed people with a family secret at its heart * Saga Magazine "Pick of the Month" *The plot develops with summery lightness, and the intellectual depth of this book is gradually revealed. * Spiegel *Daniela Krien's The Fire achieves the masterstroke of touching upon the existential without flaunting it. -- Rainer Moritz * Neue Zuercher Zeitung *She writes clearly and without frills. Her language is never banal, but always artfully literary. -- Anke Jahns * NDR Kultur *

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Book SynopsisA READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK'A riveting mother-daughter tale' Elle'Beautifully gripping' Heat'A joy to read' Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles Ann Tran is already at a crossroads when she gets the call that her beloved grandmother, Minh, has died. Ann has built a seemingly perfect life. She lives in a beautiful lake house and has a charming professor boyfriend, but it all crumbles away with one positive pregnancy test. With both her relationship and carefully planned future now in question, Ann returns home to Florida to face her estranged mother, Hu'o'ng. Under the same roof for the first time in years, mother and daughter must face the simmering questions of their past, while trying to rebuild their relationship without the one person who's always held them together. Running parallel to this is Minh's story, as she goes from a lovestruck teenager living in the shadow of the Vietnam War to a determined young mother immigrating to America in search of a better life. And when Ann makes a shocking discovery in the Banyan House's attic, long-buried secrets come to light as it becomes clear how decisions Minh made in her youth affected the rest of her life and her family. Spanning decades and continents, from 1960s Vietnam to the wild swamplands of the Florida coast, Banyan Moon is a stunning and deeply moving story of mothers and daughters, the things we inherit, and the lives we choose to make out of that inheritance.'Heart-shatteringly beautiful' Nguyen Phan Que Mai, author of The Mountains SingTrade ReviewA riveting mother-daughter tale spanning two different timelines, and anchored by the magnetic pull of a Gothic home known as the Banyan House, Banyan Moon is author Thao Thai's beautiful debut * Elle, Best Books of 2023 *A beautifully gripping tale about motherhood * Heat *A beautifully written, page-turning novel . . . Banyan Moon is a celebration of life in all its forms and a joy to read * Christina Baker Kline, author of THE EXILES *Heart-shatteringly beautiful . . . a love letter to keepers of secrets, to motherhood, family and survival. Thao Thai is a major talent * Nguyen Phan Que Mai, author of THE MOUNTAINS SING *Pleasurably atmospheric . . . Banyan Moon is strongest when exploring the unique blend of contempt and fury that can exist between mothers and daughters . . . Thai renders these feelings with nuance and a familiarity that is sometimes difficult to bear * New York Times *Tender, gripping and heartbreaking. A haunting page turner that reexamines lineage, motherhood, and what it means to be a survivor . . . A welcome debut from a stunning voice who will forever impact the Vietnamese American canon * Carolyn Huynh, author of THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN *An honest and aching exploration of the gulf between generations . . . A novel of hope, a story of forgiveness, a reminder that even though we can never fully know the people closest to us, it is worth the try * Tracey Lien, author of ALL THAT'S LEFT UNSAID *An intricately woven story of three generations of women, surviving and living each in their own way. This novel has everything you want: desire, betrayal, grit, tenderness, pride, love, and . . . the sacred secrets we make and keep to protect what we hold dear * Meng Jin, author of SELF-PORTRAIT WITH GHOST *Thao Thai captures the complexities of familial love with an unflinching, yet gorgeously lyric, eye. Banyan Moon is an ambitious and masterful debut! * Stacey Swann, author of OLYMPUS, TEXAS *A spellbinding and intricately layered story, Banyan Moon celebrates Vietnamese women * E. M. Tran, author of DAUGHTERS OF THE NEW YEAR *Haunting, a little spooky and occasionally heartbreaking, this sweeping debut novel follows three generations of Vietnamese women as they try to find their way in the world * Good Housekeeping, Best Books of 2023 *Powerful * Reader's Digest *Well worth reading * Vogue *

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Book Synopsis'I enjoyed it SO much!' MARIAN KEYES'With glorious characters and a dreamy setting, I couldn't have loved this book more' THE SUN, ***** 5 STARSJess Bright, single mum and journalist, feels her life has stalled. So when she's offered a writing job in Paris for the summer, she leaps at the chance to go. Hasn't she always felt that she left a piece of her heart in the city years before?Her subject is the iconic artist Adelaide Fox, whose personal life has been steeped in scandal and intrigue. Now approaching eighty, she's ready to tell her side of the story - and serve up some scalding-hot revenge in the process.Amidst a stormy working relationship, Jess and Adelaide must face up to their pasts. As passionate affairs, terrible betrayals and life-changing secrets surface, there may be more surprises in store than either of them dared imagine . . .Set in the city of love, with two unforgettable protagonists, I REMEMBER PARIS is a glorious, life-affirming novel about second chances, unlikely friendships and finding your way back to yourself.'Escapist, romantic and a little bit scandalous, this is Lucy Diamond at her page-turning best' VERONICA HENRY'As multi-layered, rich and enjoyable as a giant mille-feuille. You will adore it' MILLY JOHNSON'Heartfelt and escapist' WOMAN & HOME'Lucy's best book yet' 5* READER REVIEW'I loved it!' KATIE FFORDE'Escapist, romantic and scandalous' SUNDAY POST'Such a treat' 5* READER REVIEW'Escapist, thoughtful' MY WEEKLYREADERS LOVE LUCY DIAMOND'I love all of Lucy's books' 5* reader review'Lucy writes with such warmth and sympathy' 5* reader review'Pure escapism' 5* reader review'So uplifting' 5* reader review'I can't put Lucy's books down' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewA warm, extremely likeable, romantic book with plenty of substance and a lovely dog. I enjoyed it SO much * Marian Keyes *With glorious characters and a dreamy setting, I couldn't have loved this book more * The Sun *What a joy! Escapist, romantic and a little bit scandalous, this is Lucy Diamond at her page-turning best. A glorious Parisian adventure * Veronica Henry *This book shows how the past can impact on the present. It is intriguing and its setting is a joy in itself. I loved it! * Katie Fforde *As multi-layered, rich and enjoyable as a giant mille-feuille. You will adore it * Milly Johnson *There are few things more enjoyable than sitting down with a Lucy Diamond novel. Her stories of family, friendship and life are heartfelt and escapist * Woman & Home *Just the antidote for bleak February days, with its uplifting story about second chances and friendship, all set in the magical city of Paris * The Gloss *This heartwarming novel is a romantic read with a delightful ending * Candis *[A] gem of a novel. At once escapist, romantic and scandalous * The Sunday Post *Escapist, thoughtful * My Weekly *A heartfelt and escapist read * Woman's Weekly *

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1940When tragedy strikes, Libby Gilbert is left homeless and destitute, fending for herself on the capital's most dangerous streets.Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Libby is on the cusp of making a decision that could jeopardise her future when a local boy saves her from ruin.The kindness of this stranger sets her on a different path, and Libby heads to Liverpool with a determined mind and hope in her heart.There, she reconnects with long lost family - but will she be able to uncover the truth that tore them apart all those years ago?WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN:'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy''Hard to put down''Her characters are like old friends''Heartwarming romance'

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Book SynopsisAre the parents always to blame? Rachel Jensen has it all: a husband she adores, fulfilling work in art restoration, a terrific teenage daughter and finally a new baby on the way. So when she worries about mysterious changes in her daughter Kate's behaviour, friends reassure her it's just normal teen angst.But then a terrifying accident involving Kate and her infant brother sets off a series of events that threaten to destroy everything Rachel has worked so hard to build.From the beloved author of SIGNAL FIRES and BLACK & WHITE, FAMILY HISTORY is a visceral, ferociously paced novel about one mothers nightmarish realisation that she cannot protect her own child.‘Riveting’ Harper's Bazaar ‘Graceful’ Glamour‘A poised, absorbing book’ New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewElegantly written, wry and unsettling. * NPR *Shapiro has both a best-selling writer's instinct for plot and pacing and a fine literary sensibility... A powerful, penetrating illumination of the hidden agendas and consequences of family relationships * Elle *FAMILY HISTORY is virtually impossible to put down -- Jennifer EganShapiro is an abundantly emotional writer with a deep understanding of life's banal blessings * Los Angles Times *Shapiro's suspenseful novel movingly explores the fragility of family life... the overall effect is to create a web that lures readers in, curious to find out who is guilty of what and whether the ending will be happy * People *

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Book SynopsisClara’s mother is famous for the nude portraits she took of Clara throughout her childhood.Clara has spent her entire adult life pulling away from her mother. At age eighteen, sick of her notoriety as 'the girl in the pictures', Clara fled New York City, settling and making her own family in small-town Maine. But years later, when her mother reaches out from her deathbed, Clara suddenly finds herself drawn back to the past she thought she had escaped.From the beloved author of SIGNAL FIRES and FAMILY HISTORY, BLACK & WHITE is a moving love letter to those familial bonds that both bruise and make you in equal measure.‘Spellbinding...provocative, hypnotic’ USA Today ‘Uncompromising storytelling’ Los Angeles Times‘Ambitious…thrilling’ TimeOut New YorkTrade ReviewShapiro does something rather thrilling with her story: she gets it just right. * Washington Post *Universal dilemmas face us all, and it is the novelist's job to breathe life into them one way or another, and this is something Shapiro does very well indeed * New York Times Book Review *Trenchant and enduring * Los Angeles Times Book Review *Shapiro's central characters are expertly rendered * Elle Magazine *Spellbinding...provocative, hypnotic...spot-on authentic. A cool depiction of a mother and daughter's fraught and fiery relationship * USA Today *

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Book Synopsis‘A sublime gift’ MEG MASONA taut, ground-breaking new novel about a writer's relationship with her larger-than-life mother - and about the very nature of writing.Ten months after her mother’s death, the narrator of The Hero of This Book walks across London on a quiet Sunday. The city was a favourite of her mother’s, and as the narrator wanders the streets, she finds herself recalling all that made her complicated mother extraordinary. Even though the woman, a writer, wants to respect her mother’s nearly pathological sense of privacy, she must decide whether making a chronicle of this remarkable life constitutes an act of love or betrayal.* A New Yorker, Time, Washington Post, Oprah Daily and NPR Book of the Year *‘I absolutely loved it. A moving portrayal of daughterhood…suffused with warmth and love’ MEGAN HUNTER, author of The Harpy‘Confirms McCracken as among the finest contemporary chroniclers of everyday life… wonderful’ GUARDIAN‘Tender, funny, heartbreaking… a writer who always delights’ RUMAAN ALAM, author of Leave the World BehindTrade ReviewInto a single, most singular novel, McCracken fits everything we adult daughters know and feel and love and fear about our beautiful, complicated mothers, and could never say. A sublime gift. -- Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and BlissWhat could be better value than a book set over one day that you can read in one day, but that will stay in your heart and refuse to go... One of the greatest memoirs of a parent. * The Times *Confirms McCracken as among the finest contemporary chroniclers of everyday life. Like Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett, she combines a blistering intelligence with deep humanity. * Guardian *Easily one of the best novels (or is it actually a memoir?) that will be published this year... It is touching and funny, and full of sharp-eyed observations about family life and parents and how your childhood forms you. * The Times *A more loving and moving tribute to its subject is hard to imagine. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisDivision Street is full of secrets. And one night in particular has been kept buried.'Lyrically examines the ways a single event can alter many lives for ever . . . wonderful' Good HousekeepingAn impulsive lie – told with the best intentions – consumes the Wilf family. Even as they change and grow, each is haunted by what they choose to forget. Then the Shenkmans move in across the street: a couple with their own secrets and a lonely, brilliant son.As their stories collide in ways they never could have imagined, the past comes hurtling back to Division Street, setting in motion a spellbinding chain of events that will transform both families forever.A heart-stopping story about human connection, for fans of THE PAPER PALACE and LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE‘A fantastic writer’ Dolly Alderton‘Stunning’ Lisa Taddeo‘Tender and philosophical’ Hannah Beckerman, Observer* READERS LOVE SIGNAL FIRES * 'Was both devastated and wowed at the end''The best novel that I've read all year! I couldn't put it down''Profoundly moving, deeply relatable and so beautifully written''Gorgeous, deeply moving and captivating''Beautiful, full of emotion and magic'Trade ReviewSignal Fires is a great novel, but it's also something rarer: a good novel, one that shines with deep truths about what it is to love someone, lose them, and live on * Financial Times *A stunning future classicTender and philosophical * Observer *Gripping * People Magazine *Lyrically examines the ways a single event can alter many lives for ever . . . wonderful * Good Housekeeping BOOK OF THE MONTH *

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Book Synopsis Perfect for fans of the NYT bestseller Sold on a Monday, this Southern historical novel based on the true story of a boy''s mysterious disappearance examines despair, loyalty, and the nature of truth. In 1913, on a summer''s day at Half Moon Lake, Louisiana, four-year-old Sonny Davenport walks into the woods and never returns. The boy''s mysterious disappearance from the family''s lake house makes front-page news in their home town of Opelousas. John Henry and Mary Davenport are wealthy and influential, and will do anything to find their son. For two years, the Davenports search across the South, offer increasingly large rewards and struggle not to give in to despair. Then, at the moment when all hope seems lost, the boy is found in the company of a tramp. But is he truly Sonny Davenport? The circumstances of his discovery raise more questions than answers. And when Grace Mill, an unwed farm worker, travels from Alabama to lay claim to the child, newspapers, townsfolk, even the Davenports'' own friends, take sides. As the tramp''s kidnapping trial begins, and two desperate mothers fight for ownership of the boy, the people of Opelousas discover that truth is more complicated than they''d ever dreamed.

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Book SynopsisDava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, and Dava decides to take her death-like all matters of her life-into her own hands.Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.And now the whole world knows, including her children.In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment-and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late. Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys-and frustrations-of family.Includes a Reading Group Guide.A Good Morning America and Lilly Singh's Lilly Library Book Club pickMost anticipated in fall 2021 by TIME, The Washington Post, Bustle, Goodreads, and Debutiful An Indie Next Pick A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Book for Fall/Winter 2021 Longlisted for the 2021 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

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Book SynopsisIn this thought-provoking and entertaining debut novel about of a multicultural family, a dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy-a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping: "Full of music, magnetism, and familial obligation" (Emma Straub, author of All Adults Here).Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, and Dava decides to take her death-like all matters of her life-into her own hands.Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.And now the whole world knows, including her children.In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment-and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late.Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys-and frustrations-of family.

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Book SynopsisA marriage of convenience leads to true love in this sparkling Regency debut.When Benedict Asterly rescues a woman who's freezing to death, he thinks he thinks it's just another good deed done. Until they're caught alone post-rescue and forced to marry. Lady Amelia is judgmental, abrasive, and the opposite of the type of women Benedict had hoped to wed. But since propriety has forced them into marriage, he's determined to make the best of it by convincing Lady Amelia to give up the trappings of London and get used to being a business owner's wife.Lady Amelia was raised to be the perfect duchess. So when she's forced to marry an untitled gentleman, she's furious. She was trained to run a household efficiently, not to do the cleaning herself. When Benedict's business interests are threatened, Amelia realizes that she has the perfect opportunity to prove to her husband that London manners aren't all bad. She'll impress the visiting Americans looking to invest in his factory and show Benedict that she's just the kind of wife he needs.

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Book SynopsisMorgan Flowers just wants to hide. Raised by their neurodivergent father, Morgan has grown up haunted by the absence of their mysterious mother Zoe, especially now, as they navigate their gender identity and the turmoil of first love. Their father Julian has raised Morgan with care, but he can't quite fill the gap left by the dazzling and destructive Zoe, who fled to Europe on Morgan's first birthday. And when Zoe is dumped by her girlfriend Brigid, she suddenly comes crashing back into Morgan and Julian's lives, poised to disrupt the fragile peace they have so carefully cultivated.Through it all, Julian and Brigid have become unlikely pen-pals and friends, united by the knowledge of what it's like to love and lose Zoe; they both know that she hasn't changed. Despite the red flags, Morgan is swiftly drawn into Zoe's glittering orbit and into a series of harmful missteps, and Brigid may be the only link that can pull them back from the edge. A story of betrayal and trauma alongside queer love and resilience, ALL THE THINGS WE DON'T TALK ABOUT is a celebration of and a reckoning with the power and unintentional pain of a thoroughly modern family.

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Book SynopsisA "big-hearted, lively, and expansive portrait of a family" that follows a neurodivergent father, his nonbinary teenager, and the sudden, catastrophic reappearance of the woman who abandoned them (Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author).Morgan Flowers just wants to hide. Raised by their neurodivergent father, Morgan has grown up haunted by the absence of their mysterious mother Zoe, especially now, as they navigate their gender identity and the turmoil of first love. Their father Julian has raised Morgan with care, but he can't quite fill the gap left by the dazzling and destructive Zoe, who fled to Europe on Morgan's first birthday. And when Zoe is dumped by her girlfriend Brigid, she suddenly comes crashing back into Morgan and Julian's lives, poised to disrupt the fragile peace they have so carefully cultivated.Through it all, Julian and Brigid have become unlikely pen-pals and friends, united by the knowledge of what it's like to love and lose Zoe; they both know that she hasn't changed. Despite the red flags, Morgan is swiftly drawn into Zoe's glittering orbit and into a series of harmful missteps, and Brigid may be the only link that can pull them back from the edge. A story of betrayal and trauma alongside queer love and resilience, ALL THE THINGS WE DON'T TALK ABOUT is a celebration of and a reckoning with the power and unintentional pain of a thoroughly modern family.

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Book SynopsisBAREFOOT IN THE SUNEver since her great-aunt Pasha rescued her from a troubled childhood, Zoe Tamarin doesn't dare stay still for fear of exposing her precarious past. But when her aunt's health is at risk, there's only one person who can help-Zoe's childhood sweetheart, Dr. Oliver Bradbury. Oliver came to Barefoot Bay to start over after his divorce, never expecting to reunite with the girl he once loved. But one look is all it takes to rekindle their passion. Can Oliver help Zoe heal lifelong wounds. . . and keep her from running away with his heart?BAREFOOT BY THE SEAProfessional gardener Tessa Galloway can grow anything-except what she wants most in the world. She's finally ready to take a chance on single motherhood when a handsome new coworker enters her life . . . and her heart. Forced into the witness protection program, John Brown is desperate to reunite with his children. But first he has to prove he's married and stable. Landing a job as a chef in Barefoot Bay is easy enough. And falling for Tessa is even easier. But will his secret be the thing that uproots their happy ending?

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