Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.''Wouldn''t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?''A heart-warming tale of love, sisterhood and hardship during the New England Civil War, Little Women tells the story of the lovable March family. Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy try to support their mother at home while their father is away at war and enter into various scrapes and adventures as they do so. Alcott beautifully interweaves bad times and good as her characters struggle with the trials and tribulations of growing up and their relationships with one another.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Pultizer Prize-winning author of The Hours', comes the story of a marriage thrown off course by a moment of mistaken identity.Peter Harris is forty-four, prosperous, the owner of a big New York apartment and a player in the contemporary art scene. He has been married to Rebecca for close to twenty years. Their marriage is sound, in the way marriages are. Peter might even describe himself as happy. But then Rebecca's much younger brother Mizzy shows up for a visit. Beautiful, twenty-three years old, with a history of drug problems, Mizzy is looking for direction. And in his presence, Peter finds himself questioning his marriage, his desires, his career the entire world he has so carefully constructed for himself.Making us think deeply about the uses of beauty and the place of love in our lives, By Nightfall is heartbreaking look at the way we live now.Trade Review‘Cunningham encourages his reader to wrestle with things that interest him by sketching his plots delicately over classic lines. In this case, the arrival of the guest who will change everything is reworked into a discussion about art and decay by a writer who can write a page-turning novel that lingers eloquently in the mind’ The Times ‘This is a book about art, love, marriage and mortality… One of the intriguing and peculiar qualities of ‘By Nightfall’ is that it makes you live with a character who seems never quite at ease with his own identity… One of Cunningham's gifts is to be able to shift gears when he wants, out of banal everydayness into an intense rhapsodic meditation on the meaning and purpose of life.’ Guardian ‘Michael Cunningham is embarked on one of the more satisfying career trajectories of contemporary American novelists…’By Nightfall’ offers the reader an abundance of exquisite, enriching thumbnail sketches’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Constantly surprising … a love letter to New York, a hymn to youth and a meditation on the way art and literature alter our perception of the world’ Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisThe new No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller from the master storyteller, Josephine Cox.Family secrets can weigh the heaviestAlthough she's surrounded by a loving family, Marie is lonely. The secret she has been carrying for many years is a burden it's telling could ruin the lives of those she loves most.Marie's granddaughter, Cathy, is a cheerful young woman and in the first flush of love. Her grandmother's secret will not only change Cathy's future but rewrite her past.Sister-in-law Beth seems to have a happy life and a goodmarriage but behind closed doors she's heartbreakingly sad. Will she be brave enough to speak out and run away?These three women are at the beginning of a journey one that will change their lives forever.Trade Review‘Family secrets threaten to ruin everything in this beautiful tale of love and sadness’ Woman’s Own ‘This latest novel from Josephine Cox gets straight to the heart of family life . . . Cox pulls at the heartstrings’ Lovereading

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Book SynopsisWhat would you do if faced with an impossible choice? The emotional family drama for fans of Amanda Prowse and Jodi Picoult Your best friend has suffered a devastating brain injury – she’s a shadow of her former self. Alone and grieving, you turn to the only other person who understands your pain. Her husband. What started out as comfort between friends has become something more… One illicit night of desperate, engulfing passion. When Joelle discovers she’s carrying Liam’s child she’s torn between grief and unexpected joy. But how can she share her secret? The perfect memory of Mara stands on a pedestal between them, casting a shadow over the new life in their grasp… Tell him and face a lifetime of guilt. Lie and deny your unborn baby a father. Joelle has a choice – but can she live with it?

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Book SynopsisPre-order your copy of Sarah Morgan’s new novel Summer Wedding now – coming May 2023! Praise for Sarah Morgan: 'Wonderfully romantic and sumptuously atmospheric’ Alex Brown ‘A master storyteller’ Laura Jane Williams * * * * She’s moved on . . .Felicity Knight loves New York. But when she spots her ex-husband in the city, Fliss is desperate to escape. He’s moved back . . .Vet Seth Carlyle is back from California to establish his own practice and settle down. When he learns that his ex, Fliss, still lives close by, that future is looking a whole lot brighter . . . Will a perfect escape bring them together again?With the help of his adorable dog Lulu, and a sprinkling of beachside magic, Seth is determined to make Fliss see he’s never stopped loving her. But is it too late? * * * Readers have fallen in love with HOLIDAY IN THE HAMPTONS ‘I started this book at 2 a.m. and read right through the night. A captivating romantic story’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely love Sarah Morgan. She never fails to make me smile, laugh and occasionally shed a tear. Her books genuinely brighten up my day’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I just could not put this book down! I snatched every minute possible to sit and read Holiday in the Hamptons . . . Yet again Sarah has outdone herself, if you read one book this summer make it this one’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I have totally loved reading this book . . . [and] cannot wait to read more stories from this brilliantly talented author. An amazing 5 Stars!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Trade ReviewPraise for Sarah Morgan'Wonderfully romantic and sumptuously atmospheric.’-Alex Brown, author of The Secret Orchard Cottage ‘Smart and funny and a little bit naughty – but also warm and wise. If you’re feeling out of sorts it will restore your faith in the power of love and friendship – and owning a dog! It’s everything a romantic novel should be – an absolute delight.’ – Veronica Henry ‘Sarah’s a master at creating the moments when the reader seriously doubts the hero and heroine are really going to get together… until phew, they do. Bliss!’ – Sue Moorcraft ‘The perfect book to curl up with’ – Heat ‘Lovers of romance will relish this tale of friendship, fun and flirting set in beautiful New York.’ – My Weekly ‘Morgan excels in balancing the sweet and sexy to create the perfect blend.’ – Booklist 'A gorgeously sparkly romance about letting go and learning to love again.’ – Julia Williams, bestselling author of Coming Home for Christmas 'Morgan is a magician with words' – RT Book Reviews ‘Morgan’s novel delivers the classic sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience.’ – Publisher’s Weekly ‘Perfect chick-lit’ – BEST magazine

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Book SynopsisMeet the Drapers – they're as tough as they come … The gritty drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Nobody's Girl. Set on the mean streets of 1960s South London. MENACING… The Drapers rule the streets of South London. Everyone's afraid of them – and that's just how they like it. But when tempers flare and a family feud spirals out of control, tragedy strikes, leaving eldest son Danny in charge. MANIPULATED… But he has shocking plans for the family business and Petula, the baby of the family, becomes the scapegoat for the Draper’s dirty dealings. MISSING… Years later, and the once united family has now split up. Petula returns to the place she once called home to face her family as well as her demons, unleashing a terrible secret that could destroy them once and for all…Trade ReviewPraise for Nobody’s Girl and Sins of the Father: ‘This pageturner is a gritty tale of survival.’ Tesco magazine. 'Heartbreakingly poignant and joltingly realistic. From the first page the characters and their lives drew me in. It combines wonderfully accurate historical detail with true gritty realism in a book that fans of misery lit won't want to miss.' Annie Groves, author of Some Sunny Day. ‘Full of drama and heartache.’Closer Magazine ‘I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. In fact, I couldn’t put it down!’Closer ‘This book kept me in total suspense until the end.’Closer

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Book SynopsisONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS' TOP BOOKS OF 2017ONE OF VULTURE'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY FINALIST FOR THE L.A. TIMES BOOK PRIZE IN FICTION“A modern classic.” —The New York Times Book Review   A young man's close-knit family is nearly destitute when his uncle founds a successful spice company, changing their fortunes overnight. As they move from a cramped, ant-infested shack to a larger house on the other side of Bangalore, and try to adjust to a new way of life, the family dynamic begins to shift. Allegiances realign; marriages are arranged and begin to falter; and conflict brews ominously in the background. Things become “ghachar ghochar”—a nonsense phrase uttered by one meaning something tangled beyond repair, a knot that can't be untied. Elegantly written and punctuated by moments of unexpected warmth and humor, GTrade Review“A great Indian novel...Folded into the compressed, densely psychological portrait of this family is a whole universe.” —Parul Sehgal, The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)"[Shanbhag] is a master of inference and omission...What’s most impressive about Ghachar Ghochar...is how much intricacy and turmoil gets distilled into its few pages...[A] wise and skillful book." —Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal"A classic tale of wealth and moral ruin and a parable about capitalism and Indian society." —The New Yorker"Within the tight confines of a hundred pages or so, Shanbhag presents as densely layered a social vision of Bangalore as Edith Wharton did of New York in The House of Mirth…He's one of those special writers who can bring a fully realized world to life in a few pages...The tense fun of reading this vivid, fretful story lies in watching the main characters grab hold of what they think will be rescue ropes, but instead turn out to be slip knots.”—Maureen Corrigan, NPR“Great Indian novels…tend towards large tomes, written in English. Now, however, the arrival of a new work has shaken up the status quo: Vivek Shanbhag’s gripping Ghachar Ghochar. This slim volume…packs a powerful punch, both in terms of the precision of its portrait of one Bangalore-based family, and, by extension, what this tells us about modern India....Shanbhag is the real deal, this gem of a novel resounding with chilling truths.” –The Independent (UK)“A simple story, well told...Its gently comic tone belies a stunning satire, the full power of which is only apparent as the horror of the ending becomes clear.” —Louise Doughty, The Guardian, “Best Books of 2017” “Masterful…This stunning Bangalore-set family drama underlines the necessity of reading beyond our borders….Ghachar Ghochar is both fascinatingly different from much Indian writing in English, and provides a masterclass in crafting, particularly on the power of leaving things unsaid.”–Deborah Smith, The Guardian“The level of effortless glancing detail with which [Shanbhag] draws minor characters...is extraordinary. That it is one of the few novels translated (beautifully) from Kannada, a language spoken by millions and with its own literary tradition, to be published in the United States says a lot about our literary world’s myopia when it comes to the Indian novel.”—Vulture, “A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Literary Canon”"Ghachar Ghochar introduces us to a master." —Lorin Stein, The Paris Review“One of the finest literary works you will ever encounter…a nuanced wonder.”–Irish Times"A feat of taut, economical storytelling...[with] moments of wonderfully dark, often unexpected, cynicism." —Financial Times "One of the best novels to have come out of India in recent decades." —Pankaj Mishra, author of Age of Anger“Vivek Shanbhag is an Indian Chekhov.” —Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City"In this exquisitely observed, wry and moving novel, the smallest detail can conjure entire worlds of feeling. Vivek Shanbhag is a writer of rare and wonderful gifts." —Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You"One of my favorite contemporary writers in English translates one of the leading figures of Kannada literature. The result is mesmerizing, distressing—and altogether brilliant." —Karan Mahajan, author of The Association of Small Bombs “Vivek Shanbhag is one of those writers whose voice takes your breath away at the first encounter.” —Yiyun Li, author of Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life“Ghachar Ghochar is one of the most striking novels you’ll read this decade. . . . In Shanbhag’s hands, the Indian family is revealed in layers; as one layer peels away, what lies beneath is left raw and exposed.” —Nilanjana Roy, Business Standard (India)"[Shanbhag is] an extraordinary storyteller — one astutely alive to the competing forces of self-interest and empathy."—Jonathan Lee, Electric Literature“Suketu Mehta deems Vivek Shanbhag ‘an Indian Chekhov’….Shanbhag has earned this lofty comparison.” –The Globe and Mail (Canada)"A firecracker of a novel...concise and mesmerizing." —Publishers Weekly, starred review"A Tolstoyan portrait of family conflict and shifting priorities in modern-day India....Captivating."—Shelf Awareness, starred review"A compact novel that crackles with tension." —Kirkus Reviews“A delight…You will read Ghachar Ghochar…in part of an evening, about the length of time you’d need to watch one of Chekhov’s masterpieces. You’ll experience the same pleasure.” –CounterPunch“Very rarely a book comes along that you want to thrust in the hands of everyone—readers and non-readers. Ghachar Ghochar is one such book.” —Prajwal Parajuly, The Hindustan Times (India)“Altogether a delight to read . . . Shanbhag gives us an insider’s feel for the concerns that have shaped the middle class in the last half a century.” —Girish Karnad, The Indian Express (India)“An ingenious tale of how material wealth robs a family of its moral fortitude . . . [Shanbhag] is obviously a master of the form.” —Mint (India)“Ghachar Ghochar reveals a consummate fiction writer at the height of his powers. . . . a literary sensation across India.” —Scroll.in (India)“Ghachar Ghochar is a book of distilled simplicity, its surface of seeming artlessness hiding that most complex and complicated of things—truthfully rendered human life. Beautiful, tense, surprising, utterly convincing and wise, and translated with real inspiration by Srinath Perur.” —Neel Mukherjee, author of The Lives of Others“A remarkable novel about the fragile civilities of bourgeois life. The reader becomes absorbed in the unforgiving self-knowledge and expansive humanity contained in every page.” —Amit Chaudhuri, author of Freedom Song and Odysseus Abroad

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Book SynopsisLavinia Brandon is quite the loveliest widow in Barsetshire, blessed with beauty and grace, as well as two handsome grown-up children, Delia and Francis. So thinks their cousin Hilary Grant when he comes to stay and - like many before him - promptly falls for his fragrant hostess. Meanwhile, the Brandons' ill-tempered dowager aunt is stirring up controversy over her legacy, and Lavinia's attention is further occupied by the challenges of making a match between the vicar and gifted village helpmeet Miss Morris, and elegantly deterring her love-struck suitors. Angela Thirkell's 1930s comedy is bright, witty and winning.Trade ReviewWhat sings out is the ebullience and charm of her characters, deliciously sparkling dialogue, a romping plot, her wit and gentle satire, and the escapist satisfaction of neatly tied-up happy endings * bookoxygen.com *Angela Thirkell is perhaps the most Pym-like of any twentieth-century author, after Pym herself -- Alexander McCall SmithAngela Thirkell is perhaps the most Pym-like of any twentieth-century author, after Pym herself -- Alexander McCall Smith

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Book SynopsisFollowing the fortunes of some of the much-loved characters from her bestseller The Journey', Josephine Cox's powerful novel spans continents, decades and generations of one family.Like a ghost from the past, she walked along the platform towards themIt has been over twenty years since Vicky Maitland set foot on English soil. Twenty years since she left Liverpool with her three children, bound for a new life in America, leaving her beloved husband Barney behind.But this long journey home is the hardest of all. She is here in search of the truth, afraid of what she may find. Why did Barney turn against his family so suddenly, so cruelly? Only her old friend Lucy Baker knows what happened. And Lucy promised Barney she would never tell his secret. Is it time she broke her silence and explained the events of so long ago?Trade Review‘This latest novel from the nation's biggest-selling saga writer is…one for true romantics.’ You 'Cox's talent as a storyteller never lets you escape the spell.' Daily Mail 'Impossible to resist.' Woman's Realm

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Book Synopsis'A small masterpiece' Colm Toibin, Daily Telegraph'I don't know how many times I have reread the book, including several times in Catalan, with such effort that speaks volumes to my devotion to the novel' Gabriel Garcia Marquez'The fierce beauty of Rodoreda's writing makes it one of the masterpieces of modern European literature' IndependentFirst published in 1962 as 'La Placa del Diamant', this is considered the most important Catalan novel of all time. This is a new English translation. It has previously been published in English as The Time of the Doves.Barcelona, early 1930s: Natalia, a pretty shop-girl from the working-class quarter of Gracia, is hesitant when a stranger asks her to dance at the fiesta in Diamond Square. But Joe is charming and forceful, and she takes his hand.They marry and soon have two children; for Natalia it is an awakening, both good and bad. When Joe decides to breed pigeons, the birds delight his son and daughter - and infuriate his wife. Then the Spanish Civil War erupts, and lays waste to the city and to their simple existence. Natalia remains in Barcelona, struggling to feed her family, while Joe goes to fight the fascists, and one by one his beloved birds fly away.A highly acclaimed classic that has been translated into more twenty-eight languages, In Diamond Square is the moving, vivid and powerful story of a woman caught up in a convulsive period of history.'An extremely moving love story translated from the Catalan, which reveals much about the Spanish civil war as ordinary, non-political people had to live it' Diana Athill'Go along with Natalia on her night out and you'll soon find you'd follow her anywhere. Rodoreda's writing pays such fierce and tender attention to the experience of being alive, and the tempest that ordinary life can be' Helen OyeyemiTrade ReviewI don't know how many times I have reread the book, including several times in Catalan, with such effort that speaks volumes to my devotion to the novel * Gabriel Garcia Marquez *An extremely moving love story translated from the Catalan, which reveals much about the Spanish civil war as ordinary, non-political people had to live it * Diana Athill *

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Book Synopsis'Comyns's world is weird and wonderful . . . a neglected genius' LUCY SCHOLES, OBSERVER'A curious hybrid: a mixture of domestic disaster, social commentary, comedy, and romance . . . ' KATHERINE A. POWERS, BARNES & NOBLE REVIEW 'I defy anyone to read the opening pages and not to be drawn in, as I was . . . Quite simply, Comyns writes like no one else' MAGGIE O'FARRELL Pretty, unworldly Sophia is twenty-one years old and hastily married to a young painter called Charles. An artist's model with an eccentric collection of pets, she is ill-equipped to cope with the bohemian London of the 1930s where poverty, babies (however much loved) and husband conspire to torment her. Hoping to add some spice to her life, Sophia takes up with Peregrine, a dismal, ageing critic and comes to regret her marriage and her affair. But in this case virtue is more than its own reward, for repentance brings an abrupt end to the cycle of unsold pictures, unpaid bills and unwashed dishes . . .Trade ReviewFor anyone who is interested in stories of everyday concerns, poverty, marriage, love, happiness, fulfilment, peace or joy, this is the book for you -- Snowswick * Guardian *A curious hybrid: a mixture of domestic disaster, social commentary, comedy, and romance . . . What I find so really excellent in this novel, in addition to Comyns's powers of description and the slow fuse of her comedy, is her ability to show the cold world and its indecencies without spelling everything out . . . -- Katherine A. Powers * Barnes & Noble Review *Comyns's world is weird and wonderful . . . there's also something uniquely original about her voice. Tragic, comic and completely bonkers all in one, I'd go as far as to call her something of a neglected genius -- Lucy Scholes * Observer *I defy anyone to read the opening pages and not to be drawn in, as I was . . . Quite simply, Comyns writes like no one else -- Maggie O'Farrell

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Book Synopsis''ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANTLY INVENTIVE WRITERS OF THIS, OR ANY, COUNTRY'' INDEPENDENTShortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and longlisted for the Booker Prize''Gorgeous''DAILY MAIL''Uproariously funny''EVENING STANDARD''Spellbinding''TATLER''Brilliant''NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW''Luminously beautiful''THE TIMESThe Sunday Times bestselling fourth novel from the critically acclaimed author of Ghostwritten and Cloud AtlasJanuary, 1982. Thirteen-year-old Jason Taylor - covert stammerer and reluctant poet - anticipates a stultifying year in his backwater English village. But he hasn''t reckoned with bullies, simmering family discord, the Falklands War, a threatened gypsy invasion and those mysterious entities known as girls. Charting thirteen months in the black hole between childhood and adolescence, this is a captivating novel, wry, painful and vibrant with the stuff of life.PRAISE FOR DAVID MITCHELL''A thrilling and gifted writer''FINANCIAL TIMES''Dizzyingly, dazzlingly good''DAILY MAIL''Mitchell is, clearly, a genius''NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW''An author of extraordinary ambition and skill''INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY''A superb storyteller''THE NEW YORKERTrade ReviewBlack Swan Green's 'I love 1982' nostalgia is a glassy, pitch-perfect, mock-innocent surface through which something rotten might appear -- Ali Smith * Sunday Telegraph *The everyday details of Jason's life are lyrically transformed by the power of Mitchell's prose, which is beguiling, funny, beautifully poetic and always keenly observed. Black Swan Green is just gorgeous * Daily Mail *Mitchell has written another complex novel, in which multiple themes run like streams of extra data beneath every incident, and understanding comes by the process of reading into a satisfying tangle of metaphor and reference. It is the best kind of contemporary fiction -- M. John Harrison * Times Literary Supplement *Hugely touching and enjoyable * Observer *A delight to read from beginning to end * Sunday Express *Luminously beautiful . . . It celebrates the liberating power of language while reviewing without bitterness or resentment the role that inarticulacy, shyness, even bullying, might play in shaping the future career of a writer -- Ruth Scurr * The Times *Spry, disconcerting and moving. It is also extremely funny even - or especially - at the blackest of moments * Observer *A pitch-perfect study of a time and a place * Sunday Telegraph *David Mitchell's beautiful novel of growing up and learning to accept the fragility of the world shows he can do subtle, slow and moving every bit as well as he did dazzling and mind-boggling in the past works -- Kazuo Ishiguro * Guardian *What is so impressive about Black Swan Green . . . is how entirely the formal artifice accommodates a naturalistic, and a thoroughly felt, story about human beings. Black Swan Green is, as its protagonist would put it, ace -- Sam Leith * Literary Review *All the drama and inadvertent comedy of the onset of adolescence are brilliantly laid bare . . . a deceptively easy read, at times uproariously funny * Evening Standard *Playful and inventive, Mitchell stretches language and ideas with exuberant abandon . . . he inhabits the mind of his troubled teenager with spellbinding conviction * Tatler *A very fine and tightly structured novel . . . Mitchell pulls off a beautifully ironic piece of ventriloquism; the narrator's voice is pitched perfectly and entirely credibly, the dialogue never falters -- William Wall * Irish Times *Intricate and beautiful * Time Out *Alternately nostalgic, funny and heartbreaking . . . Mitchell has a perfect ear for that most calamitous year, the first of the teens, when we come face-to-face with the volatile nature of life * Washington Post *Brilliant . . . In Jason, Mitchell creates an evocative yet authentically adolescent voice, an achievement even more impressive than the ventriloquism of his earlier books * New York Times Book Review *In Black Swan Green the most prodigiously daring and imaginative writer in Britain brings his formidable gifts very close to home . . . he makes the well-worn coming-of-age novel feel vivid and uncomfortable and new . . . he's as vital - as shouting and original and central - a voice as the contemporary novel has to offer. He's shown us dazzling power before; here he wins us with vulnerability -- Pico Iyer * Time *A terrific evocation of a particular time and place and the traumas of a particular age group . . . an oddly beautiful slice of complex life * Herald *Touching and funny . . . a book that brilliantly captures the awkward intensity of adolescence * Sunday Times *The family life of the Taylors is achingly plausible, the characters fully drawn, and Mitchell is adept at revealing appalling pettiness as a signifier of larger issues. This is a book about finding strength in unknown places * Sydney Morning Herald *One of the most endearing, smart, and funny young narrators ever to rise up from the pages of a novel . . . The always fresh and brilliant writing will carry readers back to their own childhoods . . . enchanting * Boston Globe *This book is so entertainingly strange, so packed with activity, adventures, and diverting banter, that you only realize as the extraordinary novel concludes that the timid boy has grown before your eyes into a capable young man * Entertainment Weekly *

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

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Book Synopsis''An achingly funny anti-hero'' Daily Mail''My comfort read. The best diaries ever written - with apologies to Samuel Pepys, Bridget Jones and me'' ADAM KAYIn the SIXTH book in Sue Townsend''s hilarious and iconic series, Adrian, Leicester''s most unlikely ex-con, faces the nit-infested reality of being a single parent . . . __________ Monday January 3, 2000 So how do I greet the New Millennium? In despair. I''m a single parent, I live with my mother . . . I have a bald spot the size of a jaffa cake on the back of my head . . . I can''t go on like this, drifting into early middle-age. I need a Life Plan . . . The ''same age as Jesus when he died'', Adrian Mole has become a martyr: a single-father bringing up two young boys in an uncaring world. With the ever-unattainable Pandora pursuing her ambition to become Labour''s first female PM; his over-achieving half-brother Brett sTrade ReviewCelebrate Adrian Mole's 50th Birthday with this new edition of the sixth book in his diaries where Adrian, Leicester's most unlikely ex-con, faces the nit-infested reality of being a single parent * from the publisher's description *Told with Townsend's trademark deadpan humour and cringe-worthy mishaps. To people of a certain age, Adrian Mole was their Harry Potter * News of the World *Very funny indeed. A satire of our times * Sunday Times *An achingly funny anti-hero * Daily Mail *Adrian Mole is one of the great comic creations of our time * Scotsman *To people of a certain age, Adrian Mole was their Harry Potter. Loveable in its celebration of mediocrity, it's told with Townsend's trademark deadpan humour * News of the World *The diaries are a satire of our times...very funny indeed * The Sunday Times *Adrian Mole is one of the great comic creations of our time * Scotsman *To people of a certain age, Adrian Mole was their Harry Potter. Loveable in its celebration of mediocrity, it's told with Townsend's trademark deadpan humour * News of the World *The diaries are a satire of our times...very funny indeed * The Sunday Times *The funniest person in the world * Caitlin Moran *

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Book SynopsisWinner of The Women’s Prize for Fiction. In the ordered riotousness of Hampton Court’s maze, Larry Weller discovers the passion of his life. Larry’s Party presents an ironic odyssey through the life of a modern man.Trade Review‘A brilliant fictional reflection on what it may be like to be a man in the late twentieth century’ Penelope Lively, Independent ‘Exhilarating’ Sunday Times ‘Like all of Shields’ work, filled with warmth and understanding’ The Times ‘Shields demonstrates once again her extreme mastery of emotional geometry’ Sunday Telegraph ‘

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

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Book SynopsisIt is a risky (and risque) business becoming ''Woman Triumphant'' - exercising total power over men like Rusty Godowski. Rusty just wants to be a Hollywood star like everyone else at Buck Loner''s academy, but now that Buck''s niece, Myra Breckinridge, has arrived, the curriculum is taking a wildly strange turn. Willing to risk all to be superb and unique, Myra means to prove to her old friend Dr Montag that it is possible to work out in life all one''s fantasies - and survive.''From Myra''s fist appearnce on the page she was a megastar'', explains her creator, Gore Vidal. Myra caused a second furore when she returned in Myron to battle it out with her eponymous alter ego, a drab little man fallen into marriage and a job in Chinese catering. Theirs is a contest of hormonal roulette, with glorious Myra off on time-travelling missions of mercy back to 1948 to try to change cinema history and to introduce her own radical theories of popuation control. Meanwhile Myron tries desTrade ReviewFalling somewhere between the realms of Henry Adams and all of Monty Python, Gore Vidal has for many years served as America's own Tiesias - a seer and scourge, as well as an entertainer of the highest order. * Jay McInerney *

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Book SynopsisScandal, affairs and betrayal abound in ALMOST A CRIME by Penny Vincenzi - perfect for any fan of Kate Morton''s The Lake House, or Harriet Evans'' The Butterfly Summer.''Deliciously readable'' Mail on SundayTom and Octavia Fleming have the perfect power marriage: he is a spin-doctor and she runs a consultancy to the charity industry. They are attractive, rich and successful. Then Octavia discovers Tom is having an affair, and both the discovery and the affair itself have consequences that are potentially fatal. For this is no ordinary affair, but one that leads to terror and danger, and threatens to damage people''s lives for ever.Trade ReviewI defy any reader, once they've taken the smallest nibble, not to gobble it all down * Sunday Express *Like an illicit lover, I have been sloping off all week to snatch another hour's pleasure with ALMOST A CRIME * Jilly Cooper *Deliciously readable * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of THE PIRATE''S DAUGHTER comes a story of three women born into the divided, troubled paradise of Jamaica.Easter, 1981. With Jamaica in a state of emergency, the Landing family gathers to bury one of its own. For Monica Landing, who had not spoken to her daughter for fifteen years, the death of Lana is the cruellest kind of loss. For Lana''s youngest sister, Jean, it is an imcomprehensible tragedy. All she knows is that her beloved homeland holds no future for her. But flight means crossing a landscape where soldiers turned executioners and armed gangs rule. It means making her way through the memories that engulf her, with perhaps the only man she has ever loved by her side. THE TRUE HISTORY OF PARADISE captures the grace, beauty and brutality that are indelible parts of the Jamaican experience.Trade Review'Skilfully crafted... marvellously evocative... conveys a vivid sense of many worlds folded into one' * Washington Post *'Authentic... convincing... Cezair-Thompson writes with talent, grace and confidence' * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis''Very dark and very funny'' Jo Brand''Utterly compelling'' Jojo Moyes''Totally compulsive reading'' Jenny ColganJean Collins had two daughters. But she only loved one of them.She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn''t help herself. Jess was a little sweetheart, everyone said so. Anne was awkward and serious and not much fun, to be frank. But now the years have passed. Jess is missing - run off long ago, no one knows where or why. So when Jean is left in a coma after a road accident, it''s Anne who travels back up north to sit at her mother''s bedside. And she wonders - why did Jean dash out into the road without looking? What distracted her? And why was she carrying a box of vanilla slices, the cream cakes she only ever bought for extra special occasions? Meanwhile there are secrets waiting for Anne and Jean, back at the old family home. Secrets that were buried a long time ago . . .Trade ReviewOf course it's funny, but it's also dark, honest and totally compulsive reading * Jenny Colgan *Very dark and very funny. I had it glued to my face until I'd finished it * Jo Brand *Utterly compelling, brave, angry and melancholy all at once . . . I want to read her others now * Jojo Moyes *

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Book SynopsisThe hilarious story of love, life and why we keep saying ''I do'' . . . from the Sunday Times and multi-million-copy bestsellerJosie Flynn is in New York for the wedding of her American cousin Martha. Having just been through a messy divorce, she isn''t really in the wedding spirit, especially when she thinks Martha is about to marry the wrong man - and Josie isn''t afraid to tell her so.Which is all very noble until Josie meets Matt Jarvis and appears to be about to fall for the wrong man herself. Add to that the return of her ex-husband, an old flame and a dubious boyband and it looks like it''s going to be quite the wedding . . .Your favourite authors love Carole Matthews:''A gorgeous novel that will delight''KATIE FFORDE''Fun, fantastic and brimming with Matthews magic''MILLY JOHNSON''A life-affirming story full of joy and hope''CATHY BRAMLEY''An irresistibly Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR CAROLE MATTHEWS * - *A feel-good tale . . . fun and thoroughly escapist * Marie Claire *Matthews is one of the few writers who can rival Marian Keyes's gift for telling heart-warming tales with buckets of charm and laughs * Daily Record *They get better every time * Observer *It makes you laugh one minute and cry the next * Prima *

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Book SynopsisSeventeen-year-old Veronica ''Ronnie'' Miller''s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father . . . until her mother decides it would be in everyone''s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie''s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts . . . and heal them.

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Book SynopsisDaisy Corkill has never known who her parents were - or why they left her to be brought up by the couple she calls ''Uncle'' Ern and ''Aunt'' Gladys. Daisy yearns for the love and security that a family of her own would give her, but she finds comfort in her relationship with Brenda, her older ''sister''. One day in 1919 Brenda arrives home flushed with excitement. She has agreed to marry businessman Gil Fox. Daisy is horrified, for she doesn''t trust the handsome Gil. And soon after their wedding, Brenda realises that Gil isn''t the man she thought he was. But Daisy''s dreams are about to come true; a family of her own is finally within her reach. But will it be enough to get her through some stormy times?Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Baker's previous Merseyside sagas: 'A stirring tale of romance and passion, poverty and ambition * Liverpool Echo *A compelling book that you just don't want to put down * Southport Visiter *A gentle tale with all the right ingredients for a heartwarming novel * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *Another nostalgic story oozing with atmosphere and charm * Liverpool Echo *

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Book SynopsisWhen recently-widowed Annie''s god-daughter Pippa is abandoned by her husband, she insists that she comes to live with her. Frances and Stephen Ankerton are desperately worried about their son, Hugh, who wrongly blames himself for a fatal accident that took place nearly a year ago. While Frances turns to Annie for advice, Stephen finds a way to set Hugh''s mind at rest... When Max Driver inherits some land on Dartmoor his dream becomes a reality. And a chance encounter with Frances leads to each and every one of them being touched by his warmth and enthusiasm. Soon he is an integral part of their lives and his determination to fulfil his own goal inspires the others to start over again.Trade ReviewPraise for Marcia Willett's previous novels: 'A fascinating study of character...a cleverly woven story * Publishing News *Poignantly told, with fine characterisation and a lavish sprinkling of humour * Evening Herald *This excellent first novel...is a rounded portrait of modern family life where light-hearted affection and friendship contrasts with the darker strands of human nature * Dartmouth Chronicle *A delight from start to finish * Kingsbridge Gazette *A must for women fiction readers * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisJohnny, an outstanding young swimmer, went missing nearly thirty years ago: drowned, or so everyone except his sister Imogen believes. How could this have happened? Encouraged, pushed even, from a child by his father, Johnny could have made the Olympic team, couldn''t he? As Imogen gradually pieces together bits of her family history, we hear the tragic echoes that connect her with the Great War and Ireland in the nineteen-twenties.Trade ReviewThe quiet, elegiac prose is well sustained * Guardian *Characters damaged by their upbringing are Jennifer Johnston's metier, and echoes are a favourite motif. In what is, despite its title, a very fine novel, the tragedies of her family's past recur as Imogen's words resound off the coastal bay. A taut narrative, pared prose and lyrical imagery add up to a sad affirmation of Philip Larkin's adage * Saturday Telegraph *Characteristically wry [and] intelligent * Eileen Battersby, Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom Edith Pargeter, who also wrote as Ellis Peter, BROTHERS OF GWYNNED is an epic quartet of novels telling the dramatic tale of Llewelyn, the first true Prince of Wales. ''A richly textured tapestry of medieval Wales'' Sunday TelegraphLlewelyn has a burning vision: one Wales, united against the threat of the English. But, before he can realise his dream, Llewelyn must tackle enemies closer to home. Llewelyn''s three brothers all stand in the way of his ambition to create an independent state. The best-loved of the three, David, was brought up at the English court. Restless, charming and torn between loyalties, David is fated to be his brother''s undoing. Despite the support of Llewelyn''s beloved wife, Eleanor, Llewelyn finds himself trapped in a situation where the only solution is his own downfall and a tragic death...Here, in one volume, is the entire saga of the Brothers of Gwynedd, including:SUNRISE IN THE WESTTHE DRAGON ATrade ReviewA richly textured tapestry of medieval Wales * Sunday Telegraph *Strong in atmosphere and plot, grim and yet hopeful...carved in weathered stone rather than in the sands of current fashion * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis_______________''A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream'' - The Times''Fresh and urgent'' - New York Times''There's something of Faulkner to Ward's grand diction'' - Guardian_______________WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDHurricane Katrina is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch''s father is growing concerned. He''s a hard drinker, largely absent, and it isn''t often he worries about the family.Esch and her three brothers are stockpiling food, but there isn''t much to save. Lately, Esch can''t keep down what food she gets; at fifteen, she has just realized that she''s pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pit bull''s new litter, dying one by one. Meanwhile, brothers Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child''s play and shTrade ReviewFresh and urgent * New York Times *Masterful ... A palpable sense of desire and sorrow animates every page ... Salvage the Bones has the aura of a classic about it * Washington Post *A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream. A real dream: uneasy, vivid and deep as the sea * The Times *Beautifully written ... A powerful depiction of grinding poverty, where somehow, amid the deprivation, the flame of filial affection survives and a genuine spirit of community is able to triumph over everything the system and nature can throw at it * Daily Mail *There’s something of Faulkner to Ward’s grand diction * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA missing girl. A buried secret. From the ten-million-copy bestselling author comes a brand new look for this compulsively twisty psychological thriller that will keep you hooked to the very last page.‘A tense, clever page-turner that everyone will be talking about.’ Adele Parks‘Dark and claustrophobic but also heartfelt and moving ... packs a huge emotional punch that will leave you winded. I loved it.’ C. L. Taylor‘Both utterly gripping and startlingly original. Prepare to be hooked.’ Sun_____________Ellie was her mother's golden girl.She had her whole life ahead of her.And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet.But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter.Because his daughter is the image of Ellie.Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide?_____________OVER 180,000 5* RATINGS - this is why readers love this book:'Breathtaking. Compulsive. Suspenseful. Poetic.''One of the top 5 thrillers I’ve ever read.''I wanted the book never to end.''Suspense filled… edge of my seat… I could not put this down!!''This was my first Lisa Jewell book, and it will definitely not be my last.''Dark, winding and haunting, I couldn't put this one down.'Lisa Jewell, Sunday Times bestseller, October 2023Trade ReviewA MISSING GIRL. A BURIED SECRET.From the acclaimed author of I Found You and the Richard & Judy bestseller, The Girls, comes a compulsively twisty psychological thriller that will keep you gripped to the very last page. * from the publisher's description *Both utterly gripping and startlingly original. Prepare to be hooked. * Sun *I defy you to put this addictive book down until you reach the final heart-breaking page * Daily Express *What begins as a story about the mother of a missing girl starting a new relationship as she comes terms with her grief morphs into a gripping, disturbing and utterly fascinating tale about what really happened to young Ellie Mack. I've been a Lisa Jewell fan for a long time and in this book, as in all her others, she deftly weaves a compelling plot with an emotional depth that leaves you gasping. In Then She Was Gone she has created a book that is dark and claustrophobic but also heartfelt and moving. Then She Was Gone packs a huge emotional punch that will leave you winded. I loved it. -- CL Taylor, author of The Escape, The Lie and The MissingA dark, compulsive psychological thriller, yet one which is also uplifting and tender. I absolutely loved Then She Was Gone. -- Rachel Rhys, author of Dangerous Crossing 9733A tense clever page-tuner that everyone will be talking about. -- Adele ParksShe has departed from her usual chick lit and gone full tilt into a psycho thriller, but she’s lost none of her brilliance. Indeed, I think this is my favourite of hers so far… Deeply emotional and incredibly clever. Bravo * Mail Online *Unnerving, and with a juicy reveal, this is rightly a modern classic * Grazia *Jewell builds a gripping novel around a maze of dark secrets, a tautly wound psychological thriller in which the suspense builds slowly. Her storytelling is immaculate, hopping between past and present, and in and out of characters. It’s a tough read at times, but Jewell always keeps everything moving. The intrigue never flags as she pushed towards a redemptive resolution. As astute and emotionally charged read, riddled with creepiness. Fully recommended * Irish News *Smart and engrossing * Sunday Mirror *After last year’s fantastic I Found You, Lisa Jewell is on a roll with another fast paced and cleverly plotted psychological thriller … If this sounds quite run of the mill, it’s not. Lisa Jewell writes with such a keen eye for detail, so much heart and yet deviousness that I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next * Red *If you're looking for something darker and twistier Girl On The Train style, Lisa Jewell's new thriller, Then She Was Gone … is one to buy * Voucher Codes *Smart and engrossing, this deftly plotted thriller will tug at your heartstrings * The People *This compulsive psychological read from one of our favourite authors will leave you breathless * Fabulous Magazine *pleasingly twisted… I gulped this in one long, thirsty session, sitting by the pool on holiday. * The Pool *This book was simply perfect – easy to fall into, hard to escape, and with so much to figure out you barely wanted to leave anyway. * Bookbag *Chilling and heartbreaking * Good Housekeeping *Jewell builds a gripping novel around a maze of dark secrets, a tautly wound psychological thriller in which the suspense builds slowly. Fully recommended * Dorset Echo *Jewell has always been a favourite writer. Seeing her fully embrace her dark side is a massive treat. A dark, sad and deeply disturbing exploration of the aftermath of the loss of a beloved child, Then She Was Gone deserves to be a huge hit.an engrossing read * Mature Times *beautifully told… the reader is taken from heartbreak to hope via a series of twists and turns worthy of the best thrillers * LivingEDGE *highly entertaining * In Style *‘In this dark and captivating novel, the different strands slowly but surely come together, and the result is that rare thing – a thriller that will break your heart’ * Metro *

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rhys Bowen comes a haunting novel about a woman who braves her father’s hidden past to discover his secrets… “Pass the bread, the olives, and the wine. Oh, and a copy of The Tuscan Child to savor with them.” —NPR In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal. Nearly thirty years later, Hugo’s estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father’s funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation. Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father’s history—and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father’s secrets now…

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Book Synopsis'Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy' Jenny Colgan'Deeply moving' Sophie KinsellaSometimes the cracks in your heart can be mended in unexpected ways . . .If Lorna's learned one thing, it's that courage is something you paint on like red lipstick, even when you're panicking inside. And right now, with the keys to the town's gallery in her hand, Lorna feels about as courageous as the anxious little dachshund trembling beside her.Sick of life in the big city, Lorna's come home to fulfil her dream of running a successful art gallery. Desperate for change, Lorna just wants a fresh start but can she find it in Longhampton? This is where her tight-knit family shattered into pieces. It's where her doubts about herself took root and where she first fell in love and had her heart broken. It's everything she was running away from.But life and love can surprise you and all Lorna has to do to let the light in is open her heart . . .An uplifting and inspiring novel about second chances and soon to be realised dreams. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond.____________________AUTHORS AND READERS LOVE THIS BOOK:'Full of love, truth, art and dogs. I absolutely loved it.' Katie Fforde'Heart-gripping narrative''A beautiful, insightful and tender story. I felt bereft for having finished it' Milly Johnson'Could not put it down'____________________Lucy Dillon's latest heartwarming novel After the Rain is out now in paperback and ebook.Trade ReviewWhere the Light Gets In is full of love, truth, art and dogs. I absolutely loved it. * Katie Fforde *Life-affirming, funny and authentic, Lucy Dillon’s plot builds to a perfectly pitched emotional climax which will have you reaching for the tissues. * Sunday Express *Dillon has delivered another blinder . . . A bittersweet, moving examination of letting go and trusting one's own instincts in the face of self-doubt. * Sara Lawrence, Daily Mail *Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy. * Jenny Colgan *A beautiful insightful and tender story. I feel bereft for having finished it. * Milly Johnson *

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Book SynopsisHELLO!'s Pick of the Week'A whirlwind mystery and unravelling love story set in a little bookshop in the heart of Paris.Heartbreaking, moving and completely riveting.'Quirky and unusual.'Atmospheric and with a lot of charm.'An engaging book perfect for reading with a coffee.'A literary lover's delight.'Some stories are still waiting to be found.In a city of millions, it's easy to lose someoneTwelve weeks before Leah Eady arrived in France, her husband disappeared. Early one morning, he walked out the door and never came back. All he left behind was a scrumpled note in a cereal box, leading her to the bustling streets of Paris.Once she arrives, she discovers a mysterious unfinished manuscript written by her husband, and set in the very same city. Hoping to uncover more clues, Leah takes over a crumbling bookshop with her two young daughters, only to realise that he might just be closer than any of them ever imaginedbut what if he doesn't want to be found?Don't miss the breathtaking debuTrade Review‘Lovely’ FROST Magazine ‘Sublime… A beautifully-drawn portrait of a woman interrupted set among the exquisite magic of Paris’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Callanan’s sweet and compulsively readable tale invites readers to fall in love with Paris, Leah, and her family.’ BOOKLIST WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PARIS BY THE BOOK: ‘Heartbreaking, moving and completely riveting.’ ‘Quirky and unusual.’ ‘Atmospheric and with a lot of charm.’ ‘An engaging book perfect for reading with a coffee.’ ‘A contemporary tale of love, loss and books…a literary lover’s delight.’

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Book SynopsisA moving and entrancing novel set in Paris during World War II about an American woman, a dashing pilot, and a young Jewish girl whose fates unexpectedly entwine—perfect for the fans of Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls, this is “an emotional, heart-breaking, inspiring tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love” (Mariah Stewart, New York Times bestselling author).When Ruby first marries the dashing Frenchman she meets in a coffee shop, she pictures a life strolling arm in arm along French boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But it’s 1938, and war is looming on the horizon. Unfortunately, her marriage soon grows cold and bitter, her husband Marcel, distant and secretive—all while the Germans flood into Paris, their sinister swastika flags waving in the breeze. When Marcel is killed, Ruby discovers the secret h

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

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Book SynopsisFans of Beartown and A Man Called Ove will love this festive novella, from the 13 million copy internationally bestselling author. ________It is Christmas Eve and a father and son are meeting for the first time in years.The father has a story he needs to share before it''s too late. As he tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away, he reveals even more about himself; his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future. Now, on this night before Christmas, the father has been given the unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal the answer.With humour and compassion, Fredrik Backman''s novella The Deal of a Lifetime reminds usTrade ReviewThe Deal of a Lifetime strikes straight at the heart and hits you -- Deccan Chronicle * India *This (dimensionally) tiny book comes packed with huge emotion. Readers will speed through it in under two hours, then spend the rest of the day - at least - pondering the astonishing ideas it unleashes. The Deal of a Lifetime quite literally will grab you from the start and set you off in a host of incredible directions. Fredrik Backman has a wonderful ability to reach deep inside his readers, pull out feelings they didn't know they had, and set their minds spinning. What a blockbuster! -- The Book Reporter, US[This] book is short but every word counts and that'll hit you square in the heart. . . . You may shed tears over this book. You may need to savor it a second time, to feel its words again. However you read it, The Deal of a Lifetime is an experience you'll never trade. -- Rushville Republican, USPraise for Beartown -- -Surrounded by impenetrable forests, it recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. This is a mature, compassionate novel. * Sunday Times *A story about families, about friendship and loyalty, inequality, female vulnerability, male back-slapping, and parenthood ... No person's story is too little to be told, Backman includes them all. A novel with a big heart * Jönköpings-Posten, Sweden *A kind of problem play that moves extremely skilfully near the melodramatic without derailing. Its originality is substantial and the book credibly conveys the dual faces of everyday life. An impressive novel, like no other * BTJ, Sweden *Friday Night Lights for Swedes * O Magazine *As popular Swedish exports go, Backman is up there with ABBA and Stieg Larsson. * The New York Times Book Review *Backman is a masterful writer, his characters familiar yet distinct, flawed yet heroic. . . There are scenes that bring tears, scenes of gut-wrenching despair, and moments of sly humor. . .Like Friday Night Lights, this is about more than youth sports; it's part coming-of-age novel, part study of moral failure, and finally a chronicle of groupthink in which an unlikely hero steps forward to save more than one person from self-destruction. A thoroughly empathetic examination of the fragile human spirit, Backman's latest will resonate a long time. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisI was captivated What a stunning story of sisterhood, sacrifice and forgiveness!' Lana Kortchik, USA Today bestselling author of Sisters of WarThree sisters. Three ships. One heartbreaking story.1911. As Emma packs her trunk to join the ocean liner Olympic as a stewardess, she dreams of earning enough to provide a better life for both her sisters. With their photograph tucked away in her luggage, she promises to be back soon hoping that sickly Lily will keep healthy, and wild Ruby will behave. But neither life at sea nor on land is predictable, and soon the three sisters' lives are all changed irrevocablyNow. When Harriet finds her late grandmother's travelling trunk in the attic, she's shocked to discover a photo of three sisters inside her grandmother only ever mentioned one sister, who died tragically young. Who is the other sister, and what happened to her? Harriet's questions lead her to the story of three sister ships, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, and a shattering revelation about three sisters torn apartDon't miss the latest novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Secret of the Chateau. Perfect for fans of The Beekeeper's Promise andThe Forgotten Village!Readers LOVE The Lost Sister!'An emotional roller coaster. A story that will live with me for a very long time.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 starsMcGurl has managed to create a masterpiece a must-read for historical fiction lovers.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 starsI just could not put it down It was heartbreaking, touching and yet uplifting.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 starsThis was a fascinating book utterly readable' and hard to put down as it was so masterfully crafted.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 starsThis story had me engrossed from start to end I highly recommend this book.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 starsI loved this book so much.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWow! Loved it. The pace is breakneck. A book where no one is who you think they are. And just when you think you have it all figured out you are thrown another curveball. Highly recommended. I flew through it. All Her Fault will be a huge bestseller. * Patricia Gibney, author of THE LOST CHILD *Immediately compelling, All Her Fault explores every mother's worst nightmare and delivers deftly original twists. * Phoebe Morgan, author of THE BABYSITTER *Andrea Mara's tight plotting and convincing characterisation make her books both compelling and intriguing. * Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT *A heart-stopping tale . . . Mara's stunningly original plot has its roots in the powerful emotions aroused by motherhood, leading to heartbreak and murder. * Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month *With a genuinely terrifying opening, fans of Big Little Lies will enjoy this slice of twisty domestic noir with a distinct south Dublin flavour. * Sinead Crowley, author of ONE BAD TURN *

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Book Synopsis''Nobody does cosy, get-away-from-it-all romance like Jenny Colgan'' Sunday Express___________________________________In the Scottish Highlands, a tiny bookshop perches on the edge of a loch . . . Curl up and escape with Jenny Colgan ''A total joy'' Sophie Kinsella''An evocative, sweet treat'' Jojo Moyes''Gorgeous, glorious, uplifting'' Marian Keyes''Irresistible'' Jill Mansell''Just lovely'' Katie Fforde''Naturally funny, warm-hearted'' Lisa Jewell''A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book'' Mike GayleZoe is a single mother, sinking beneath the waves trying to cope by herself in London. Hari, her gorgeous little boy is perfect in every way - except for the fact that he just doesn''t speak, at all. When her landlord raises the rent on her flat, Zoe doesn''t know where to turn. Then Hari''s aunt suggesTrade ReviewA wonderful story with a hint of magic about it. Just lovely. -- Katie FfordeGorgeous location, dancing dialogue and characters you'll fall in love with. Irresistible! -- Jill MansellA funny, warm book with fantastic characters... and books! -- Sophie KinsellaColgan does it again! The Bookshop on The Shore is a charming, heartwarming, gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book, a tale of new beginnings with characters you'll love and root for from the very first page. Colgan writes like a dream, using all of her skill as a consummate storyteller to build a world you'll relish getting to know and won't want to leave. -- Mike GayleJenny Colgan is a masterful storyteller. Such a sweet tale and beneath the surface she deals honestly and movingly with poverty, anxiety and loss. You read it quickly, but you won't forget it. -- Keith StuartAn absolute cracker of a romcom * Woman & Home *A witty, romantic read to lift your spirits * Best *Another charming read from Colgan - it's the perfect holiday companion * Heat *Summer wouldn't be summer without a new Jenny Colgan * Reader's Digest *Rippling through the pages - like the gently lapping waves of the loch itself - is the peace, calm and wholesomeness of the Highlands * The Sunday Post *The novel has the best of everything, be it quirky characters, glorious settings or the blossoming romance that dances through the pages. * Magic Radio Bookclub *A lovely, easy read * Closer *Another charmer from an author who never fails to lift the spirits * Best *

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Book SynopsisGorgeous. Very, very funny in a knowing wry way but so tender, so beautiful. I loved all the characters.' Marian KeyesWarm, witty, touching and frequently hilarious' David Nicholls, author of Sweet SorrowYou put the book down and feel glad to be alive' India Knight, Sunday Times Duncan is charming, handsome and Jane falls in love with him easily.But he has also slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City. Jane sees Duncan''s old girlfriends everywhere at restaurants, at the grocery store and his ex-wife, Aggie, still has him mow her lawn.But everything changes with one tragic accident. Now her life is permanently intertwined with them all and she knows she will never have Duncan to herself.But is it possible that a deeper kind of happiness is right in front of her eyes?Trade Review‘Gorgeous. Very, very funny, but so tender, so beautiful. I loved all the characters, I cared deeply’ Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups ‘Glorious. I love how it evokes the rhythm of life in all its joy and ordinariness and chaos. I loved the dialogue, the relationships. I love the one-liners, the humour, the gorgeous detail, the food, the innermost thoughts, and the love.’ Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to Be Cheerful ‘Charming and tender, an offbeat and original gem that cracks your heart wide open’ Pandora Sykes, author of How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? 'Wise, sad and barkingly funny. Katherine Heiny writes brilliantly about what we mean by the word 'family' and her novel is loving without being soppy and warm without being cosy – I didn't want it to end’ Lissa Evans, author of V for Victory ‘Katherine Heiny’s books feel like spending time with a smart, funny and beloved friend who always has a million interesting things to talk about but always wants to know about you, too. She is a charming and insightful and unique writer and Early Morning Riser is every bit as good as Standard Deviation, if not better’ Lisa Jewell, author of Invisible Girl ‘Warm, witty, touching – and frequently hilarious’ David Nicholls, author of Sweet Sorrow ‘Heaven. Everything I have ever craved in a novel’ Daisy Buchannan, author of Insatiable ‘Heiny has smart and serious things to say about care and responsibility, even as she keeps things bubbly with a steady stream of comedy provided by the novel's gossipy close-knit community’ DAILY MAIL ‘Early Morning Riser is tender, funny and affecting, a charming friend of a book to ease the Covid blues’ THE BIG ISSUE ‘It’s a heart-warming tale of flawed, fragile, funny characters who battle unruly emotions and disappointments to seize the chance of happiness when it comes their way’ DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisDon't miss Stacey Halls' captivating new novel THE HOUSEHOLD - available to pre-order now!*WINNER of the WOMEN'S PRIZE FUTURES AWARD*A Waterstones Best Book of the YearLonglisted for the Walter Scott PrizeLonglisted for the Portico Prize'Highly atmospheric and tense' Richard Osman From the bestselling author of The Familiars and The Foundling comes Stacey Halls' most compelling and ambitious novel to date.'Something's not right here. In the house. With the family.'West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly-graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple form a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there's something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England. Ostracised by the other servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, soon a series of strange events will force Ruby to question everything she thought she knew . . .Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, weaving an enthralling story of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception. Set against the atmospheric West Yorkshire landscape, Stacey Halls' third novel proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our times.Praise for MRS ENGLAND:'Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again' Kate Mosse'As treacherous and invigorating as the moors. I didn't want it to end' Laura Purcell 'Enticing and beautifully written' Sunday Express'The new Hilary Mantel' Cosmopolitan'Utterly compelling. Menacing and marvellously written, this is a hugely accomplished Edwardian chiller' Daily Mail'Outstanding. Haunting, compelling, atmospheric' Emma Stonex, bestselling author of The Lamplighters'Mesmerising, entrancing, a spellbinding novel of emotion and mystery, a heroine caught in an impossible world of twists, turns and lies. Gripping to the very last page' Kate Williams'Full of gothic menace, this Edwardian mystery is convincing and absolutely enthralling' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City'A captivating, sensuous novel' Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon'I was gripped from start to finish' Joanna Glen, Costa shortlisted author of The Other Half of Augusta Hope'Jaw-droppingly brilliant. Exquisitely written, incredibly atmospheric, a masterclass in rising tension. The deliciously addictive love-child of Daphne Du Maurier and Henry James' Liz Hyder'Brilliant. An utterly gripping exploration of female fortitude in adversity, with a propulsive, atmospheric plot. Ruby is a wonderful protagonist' Caroline Lea**THE HOUSEHOLD, the brand new novel from Stacey Halls, is available to pre-order now***Sunday Times bestseller June 2021 and January 2022**Winner of Women's Prize for Fiction x Good Housekeeping Futures award - Good Housekeeping 14 Oct 2022*Trade ReviewUtterly compelling. Menacing and marvellously written, this is a hugely accomplished Edwardian chiller. * Daily Mail *Outstanding. Haunting, compelling, atmospheric. * Emma Stonex, bestselling author of The Lamplighters *Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again. * Kate Mosse *With a desolate setting that shimmers with menace, Stacey Halls' tense novel masterfully tackles issues such as the abuse of power. This enticing and beautifully written story should delight those fans of historical fiction. * Sunday Express *Hugely readable with a palpable sense of dread, this is a truly brilliant book. * The Sun *The Familiars author has fast become the queen of historical lit and this new offering, set in 1904, might be her best yet... Evocative and captivating. * Heat Magazine *Halls hits the sweet spot between commercial and literary historical fiction and this feminist gothic thriller is a lovely stealth read, simmering with tension. * Metro *Mesmerising, entrancing, a spellbinding novel of emotion and mystery, a heroine caught in an impossible world of twists, turns and lies. Gripping to the very last page. * Kate Williams *Halls shows genuine skill in building the sense of menace within the England household and in the unfolding of its secrets. * Sunday Times *This enthralling read is a powerful examination of an Edwardian marriage, and the underlying currents of control, courage and power. * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisStoner author John Williams's first novel is a searing look at a man's relationship with his absent father, and how early trauma manifests throughout one's lifeJohn Williams’s first novel is a brooding psychological noir. Arthur Maxley is a young man at the end of his emotional rope. Having dropped out of college, he’s holed up in a big-city hotel, living off an allowance from his family, feeling nothing but alone and doing nothing but drinking to forget it. What’s brought him to this point? Something is troubling him, something is haunting him, something he cannot bring himself either to face or to turn away from. And now his father has come to town, a hail-fellow-well-met kind of guy. They’ve been estranged for years, and yet Arthur wants to meet—and so he does, reeling away from the encounter for a night of drinking and dancing and a final reckoning with the traumatizing past that readers will not soon forget.This edition of Nothing but the Night includes an interview with Nancy Gardner Williams, the author’s widow.

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

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Book Synopsis

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