Family life fiction / Stories about family

Book Synopsis'BETH O'LEARY CRAFTS NOVELS WITH SUCH WIT, HEART AND TRUTH' SOPHIE KINSELLA'SO CHARMING, SO SWEET AND SO LOVELY' MARIAN KEYES 'BETH O'LEARY IS THAT RARE, ONE-IN-A-MILLION TALENT' EMILY HENRYLeena is too young to feel stuck.Eileen is too old to start over.It's time for The Switch...After blowing a big presentation at work, Leena takes a two-month sabbatical and escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen . . . A life swap seems the perfect solution.But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the distractingly handsome local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn't straightforward. In London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, and with the online dating scene. But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought?'Blissful escapism' Daily Mail'The feel-good read we all need right now' Stylist 'Heart-warming' Bella'This delicious slice of feelgood fiction is a real tonic' Sunday Mirror'Everything you want to lift your spirits' Good HousekeepingTrade ReviewAn utterly gorgeous, beautiful book, full of feeling ... a heart-warming reminder about the importance of always keeping our hearts (and minds) open. * Lindsey Kelk *O'Leary does it again! The Switch is a warm, funny and feisty tale of generational location swapping that will have you laughing and tearing up in equal measure. Populated by a cast of characters you'll wish you knew in real life. It's an absolute joy from beginning to end * MIKE GAYLE, author of Half a World Away *Utterly charming and uplifting, The Switch is bursting with love and warmth and humour. Another wonderful book from Beth O'Leary * LOUISE O'NEILL, author of AFTER THE SILENCE *This delicious slice of feelgood fiction is a real tonic * Sunday Mirror *This sparky, upbeat romcom balances riffs on the generation gap with heavier topics including grief and infidelity * Mail on Sunday *You'll find yourself rooting for the main characters, especially Eileen, the real star of this cheerful novel. A perfect tonic for anxious times * The People *A sparkling romantic read with characters that leap off the page. It's another triumph for this talented writer * Woman & Home *ingenious plot * Prima *O'Leary's funny, heartwarming novel about finding your true self in unexpected places will bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face * Daily Mail *a lovely comedy with a special message * Sunday Post Dundee *We laughed, we cried and we loved it! * Fabulous Magazine *Utterly charming, this uplifting book is guaranteed to be another outstanding success * Hot Brands, Cool Places *The heart-warming story we all need right now * Bella *blissful escapism from our current isolated reality * Daily Mail *Fun, heart-warming and brimming with hope. Eileen and her zest for life will inspire you long after the last page * heat *A charming, uplifting read * Daily Mirror *Emotionally absorbing, witty and bursting with warmth - a treat for fans of Marian Keyes and Jill Mansell * Daily Express *This story has everything you want to lift your spirits: laughs, romance and lovely characters you connect with emotionally * Good Housekeeping *A lovely, heart-warming read * Best *I'm not going to beat around the bush here, I adored The Switch * Daily Record *Author of The Flatshare, O'Leary brings us another read that feels like a warm hug. Another triumph of a novel * Woman's Weekly *A warm, witty, weepy read * Female First *Each novel is like if Richard Curtis and Nora Ephron made a story baby * Zoella Book Club *A cosy, witty novel that will make you laugh, cry and ultimately feel inspired to live in the now * Living North *An uplifting read filled with warming laugh-out-loud moments and charming characters * The Luxe *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE NO. 1 BESTSELLERS THE WOMEN WHO RAN AWAY AND THE MISSING WIFE''A glamorous, empowering read with a glorious spin on the wedding scene'' Veronica Henry''Reading a Sheila O''Flanagan novel always feels like sitting down for a cup of tea with a friend - she writes with such warmth and empathy'' Beth O''LearyAt the first wedding, there''s a shockThe second wedding is unexpected By the third, Delphie thinks nothing could surprise her. But she''s wrong . . . Delphie is enjoying her brother''s wedding. Her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family - and it''s also stopped any of them asking again why she''s still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can''t be good news. And she''s right. Delphie has been living her best life, loviTrade ReviewA glamorous, blockbusting, empowering read with a glorious spin on the wedding scene. Sheila writes with such verve and positivity and emotional intelligence - she knows just what it is to be a woman * Veronica Henry *I really enjoyed Three Weddings and a Proposal . . . Reading a Sheila O'Flanagan novel always feels like sitting down for a cup of tea with a friend - she writes with such warmth and empathy * Beth O’Leary *One of my favourite authors * Marian Keyes *A novel which celebrates strong women who can carve out their own happy endings * Linda Green *Great characters and many twists and turns make this page-turner thoroughly enjoyable. A great read! * Katie Fforde *Sheila's books always make you feel as if you've spent time with a good friend * Carole Matthews *This book had me jumping this way and that, trying to decide which characters could be trusted . . . and then changing my mind. A highly enjoyable read * Imogen Clark *Insightful, pacy and authentic, this is a terrific read * Patrica Scanlan *Believable, warmly drawn characters, a perfectly paced story and a satisfying ending; just what I've come to expect from this accomplished writer. Do I rejoice when a new Sheila O'Flanagan book hits the shelves? I do. * Roisin Meaney *As a lover of all things Irish, how is it possible that I hadn't discovered Sheila O'Flanagan's books before Three Weddings and a Proposal? Thanks to this wonderful story of a woman's journey of self-discovery, I can't wait to read more by this very talented author * Sherryl Woods *The perfect summer escape . . . Engrossing, entertaining, and emotional - and featuring a protagonist you can't help but root for - this one will keep you turning the pages * Farrah Rochon *A fascinating story, full of twists and turns... Full of tension, honesty and compassion, Sheila's wonderful novel kept me guessing right until the end' * Gill Thompson *An involving, thought-provoking novel and a masterclass in storytelling. I was drawn in from page 1 * Sue Moorcroft *

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Book SynopsisBook 1 in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall SmithAlexander McCall Smith''s delightful Scotland Street occupies a busy, bohemian corner of Edinburgh''s New Town, where the old bourgeoisie rubs shoulders with students, poets and eccentrics. When Pat is accepted as a new tenant at number 44 Scotland Street, she isn''t sure how long she''ll last. Her flatmate Bruce, a rugby-playing chartered surveyor, is impossibly narcissistic, carelessly philandering and infuriatingly handsome. Downstairs lives pretentious Irene Pollock, whose five-year-old son is in therapy after setting fire to his father''s copy of the Guardian. And watching over them all is shrewd, intellectual Domenica Macdonald, anthropologist and sharp-eyed observer of the household''s activities...PRAISE FOR THE 44 SCOTLAND STREET SERIES:''Perfect escapist fiction'' The Times''SimplTrade ReviewAs charming as the bohemian street in which it's set. * SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD *It is hard to think of a contemporary writer more genuinely engaging...[his] novels are also extremely funny: I find it impossible to think about them without smiling * Craig Brown, MAIL ON SUNDAY *A treasure of a writer whose books deserve immediate devouring * Marcel Berlins, GUARDIAN *a hilarious yet sharply insightful tale of middle-class Edinburgh ... a joyous, charming portrait of city life and human foibles * SUNDAY EXPRESS *

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Book Synopsis ***WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY***''Sophie Hannah, who can twist a conventional plot until it screams for mercy, puts an existential spin on the domestic-suspense novel'' New York Times''Fiendishly clever'' Daily Mail ''Complex and sinister'' Observer ''A literary high-wire artist'' Sunday Express ''Prepare for sleep deprivation!'' RedAll Beth has to do is drive her son to his Under-14s away match, watch him play, and bring him home.Just because she knows that her former best friend lives near the football ground, that doesn''t mean she has to drive past her house and try to catch a glimpse of her. Why would Beth do that, and risk dredging up painful memories? She hasn''t seen Flora Braid for twelve years.But she can''t resist. She parks outside Flora''s house and watches from across the road Trade ReviewPraise for HAVEN'T THEY GROWN * : *From the impossible premise to its chilling conclusion, Haven't They Grown is a masterpiece in plotting. Hannah's writing is darkly funny and brilliantly observed - I adore her books. * Clare Mackintosh *SO clever, so gripping: Hannah asks her readers an impossible question and answers it with style. I tore through Haven't They Grown. Brilliant characters and a corker of an ending. Bravo! * Gillian McAllister *Ingenious... delivers twists and turns at every corner * Heat *The twists and turns in this weird psychological thriller are entertaining and a bit creepy at times. You'll finish this book wondering what the hell just happened!...an entertaining read that I would highly recommend * My Weekly *Hannah is in a league of her own... this twist-packed, always surprising thriller will keep you gripped to the satisfying conclusion * Peterborough Telegraph *Hannah is one of our most courageous crime writers, a literary high-wire artist who sets herself the toughest of challenges in inventing inexplicable mysteries that she must create plausible solutions for... she pulls it off beautifully * Sunday Express S Magazine *Hannah has always excelled at the knotty, impossible twist and Haven't They Grown is as complex and sinister as ever * The Observer, Thrillers of the Month review *If you like your mysteries extremely twisty, this could be for you * Women's Weekly *With it's jaw-dropping hook, twisting plot and ingenious conclusion, Haven't They Grown, is a galloping read that will have you rattling through the pages, desperate to solve the mysterious puzzle at its heart * The Herald *Engaging and dynamic...an interesting story that leads to a dramatic face off * Daily Record *Hannah is becoming something of a national treasure... rich and nuanced * The Financial Times *fiendishly clever * Daily Mail *Prepare for sleep deprivation! * Red *Sophie Hannah, who can twist a conventional plot until it screams for mercy, puts an existential spin on the domestic-suspense novel * New York Times *Hannah is becoming something of a national treasure in the UK . . . The plotting here is more outrageous than usual for Hannah, and might even stretch the reader's ability to suspend disbelief. But few will complain, given her customary rich and nuanced characterisation. -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisPreviously adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Sofia Coppola starring Kirsten Dunst, this is the story of the five Lisbon sisters beautiful, eccentric, and obsessively watched by the entire neighbourhood.The boys that once loved them from afar are now grown men, determined to understand a tragedy that has always defied explanation. For still, the question remains why did all five of the Lisbon girls take their own lives?This hypnotic and unforgettable novel treats adolescent love and death with haunting sensitivity and dark humour, and creates a coming-of-age story unlike any of our time.Trade Review'A Catcher in the Rye for our time' Observer 'Entire and unstoppable … a sparkling work' The Times 'Wonderfully original' Independent ‘Eugenides is blessed with the storyteller's most magical gift, the ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary’ New York Times

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Book SynopsisMightier than the Sword is the fifth gripping novel in the epic Clifton Chronicles series from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer.Trade ReviewA rip-roaring read * Mail on Sunday *If there was a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe Lady in the Van meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in this uplifting, funny and moving debut novel about a 79-year-old hoarder who is convinced the world is against her.79-year-old Gloria Frensham is a hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, cardboard boxes and endless knick-knacks that are stacked into every room of her home, and teeter in piles along the landing and up the stairs.She hasn't left the house in years, but when a sudden smell of burning signifies real danger, she is forced to make a sudden departure and leave behind her beloved possessions.Determined she's not ready for a care home, Gloria sets out to discover what life still has to offer her. It's time to navigate the outside world on her own, one step at a time, with just one very small suitcase in towHeart-warming and poignant in equal measure, this is a story about the loneliness of life, the struggles of growing old, the power of kindness, and the bravery it takes to leave our comfort zones.** PrTrade Review ** Praise from NetGalley reviewers ** ‘It is a feel good hug of a book with wonderful relatable characters and a storyline that will make you smile from ear to ear. Absolutely delightful.’ ‘I loved this book. It’s an easy read, and the characters are relatable, but the message – essentially carpe diem – is deep. Highly recommended.’ ‘Such a beautifully written novel’ ‘If you enjoyed reading A Man Called Ove and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you will definitely like this book. It touches on a huge spectrum of topics, not just focusing on what you would imagine by its title.’ ‘An endearing "coming out of hibernation" story – as opposed to a coming-of-age story!’ ‘I grew to love the characters like they were real people and I’ll miss reading about them.’

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Book Synopsis''A wonderful book; rich, evocative, original. I loved it'' Joanne HarrisOne in ten trees comes up sweetIn the inhospitable Black Swamp of Ohio, the Goodenough family are barely scratching out a living. Life there is harsh, tempered only by the apples they grow for eating and for the cider that dulls their pain. Hot-headed Sadie and buttoned-up James are a poor match, and Robert and his sister Martha can only watch helplessly as their parents tear each other apart. One particularly vicious fight sends Robert out alone across America, far from his sister, to seek his fortune among the mighty redwoods and sequoias of Gold Rush California. But even across a continent, he can feel the pull of family loyaltiesTrade ReviewPraise for At the Edge of the Orchard: ‘Chevalier’s prose is by turns muscular, raw and sumptuous… a delight’ INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ‘Chevalier has carved out a middle-point between writing literary fiction and its page-turning, commercial counterpart and this book will serve both those audiences’ INDEPENDENT ‘A rollicking yarn of 19-century America’ THE TIMES ‘A densely packed tale of fruit, roots, family and hardship’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘A wonderful book; rich, evocative, original. I loved it’ Joanne Harris ‘A stunning read’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ‘A kind of arboreal love song … an absorbing depiction of the harshness of pioneer life and the impossibility of escaping familial ties’ MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Dark, brutal, moving, powerful’ Jane Harris ‘Powerfully realised … [A] fine novel’ DAILY MAIL ‘It’s her best since Girl with a Pearl Earring, telling the story both of America and a pioneer family with acuity, freshness and zest. I was captivated by it’ Amanda Craig ‘Tracy Chevalier serves up a rollicking yarn of 19th-century America. What Deborah Moggach did for tulips, Chevalier may well do for apples’ THE TIMES ‘This novel of raw beauty touches themes Chevalier explored in her novel, The Last Runaway. It’s a richly rewarding read’ EXPRESS ‘With Chevalier’s excellent storytelling ability and gift for creating memorable characters, this novel paints a vivid picture of the hard and rough-hewn life of American pioneers on their Westward journey’ STARRED LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW ‘Wonderful descriptions of apple grafting and plant-hunting in a 19th century New World America. Chevalier weaves an enthralling, feverish narrative through a backdrop of exploratory horticulture’ TOAST

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Book SynopsisRichard Russo's slyly funny and moving novel follows the unexpected workings of grace in a deadbeat town in upstate New York - and in the life of one of its unluckiest citizens, Sully, who has been doing the wrong thing triumphantly for fifty years.Divorced from his own wife and carrying on halfheartedly with another man's, saddled with a bum knee and friends who make enemies redundant, Sully now has one new problem to cope with: a long-estranged son who is in imminent danger of following in his father's footsteps. With its sly and uproarious humour and a heart that embraces humanity's follies as well as its triumphs, Nobody's Fool is storytelling at its most generous.Trade ReviewNobody's Fool is big, funny and richly human, a garrulous book that buttonholes you in the first few pages and does not let you go... In Sully, Russo has created a character you cannot resist. * Financial Times *Like Anne Tyler, Russo is interested in how people rub along; in kindness and responsibility; in cutting slack without being asked...Russo makes an enormous job of story-telling look effortless. He is, in all the best senses of the word, a natural. * Sunday Times *A rude, comic, harsh, galloping story of four generations of small-town losers, the best literary portrait of the backwater burg since Main Street. -- Annie ProulxRusso lifts a generous slice of middle America in all its flavours... Nobody's Fool is a great-hearted, unforgettable comedy in the best tradition of John Irving and Anne Tyler. * Vogue *This is a novel of charm and wit, akin to the works of Alice Hoffman, Anne Tyler and Garrison Keillor. * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect heartwarming romance for Christmas, rich in historical detail. She turned the picture of the Christmas card over with her frozen hands, a pretty picture of a family gathering at Yuletide. How different from her own life; stiff with cold on the icy cobbles, aching for shelter . . .When her father dies leaving Alice and her ailing mother with only his debts, the two grieving women are forced to rely on the begrudging charity of cruel Aunt Jane. Determined to rid herself of an expensive responsibility, Jane tries forcing Alice into a monstrous marriage. And when Alice refuses, she is sent to work in a grand house to earn her keep.Finding herself in sole charge of the untameable and spoilt young miss of the house, Alice's only ally is handsome Uncle Rory, who discovers that Alice has talents beyond those of a mere servant. But when someone sets out to destroy her reputation, Alice can only pray for a little of that Christmas spirit to save her from ruin . . .Trade ReviewPraise for Dilly Court: ‘A fast-paced, riveting read’ Sunday Express ‘A heart-warming, fast-paced story that will keep you gripped till the end’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Atmospheric, vivid and compelling’ My Weekly ‘An excellent, well-researched read’ People’s Friend ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph

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Book Synopsis'Sparkling... funny, it is also cutting, a nearly forensic study of family conflict... both compulsively readable and thought-provoking.' New York TimesThe Oppenheimer triplets have been reared with every advantage: wealth, education, and the determined attention of at least one of their parents. But they have been desperate to escape each other ever since they were born.Now, on the verge of their departure for college and so close to their long-coveted freedom, the triplets are forced to contend with an unexpected complication: a fourth Oppenheimer sibling has just been born. What has possessed their parents to make such an unfathomable decision? The triplets can't begin to imagine the the power this little latecomer is about to exert - nor just how destructive she'll be to their plans . . .'Korelitz draws us in again, this time with her ease, grace and wit, in a satisfying novel that spans generations, lives, and fates.' Meg WTrade Review'Remarkable.' - Stephen King, on The Plot'It keeps you guessing and wondering, and also keeps you thinking. ' - TheNew York Times Book Review, on The Plot

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Book Synopsis 'My favourite book of all time' Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie A finalist for the New York Public Library Fiction Award A Grand Prix Littéraire of the Association of Caribbean Writers Selection Named a Best Book of 2016 by: New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed, San Francisco Chronicle, The Root, Book Riot, Kirkus, Amazon, WBUR's 'On Point' and Barnes & Noble In this radiant, highly anticipated debut, a cast of unforgettable women battle for independence while a maelstrom of change threatens their Jamaican village. Capturing the distinct rhythms of Jamaican life and dialect, Nicole Dennis-Benn pens a tender hymn to a world hidden among pristine beaches and the wide expanse of turquoise seas. At an opulent resort in Montego Bay, Margot hustles to send her younger sister, Thandi, to school. Taught as a girl to trade her sexuality for survival, Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi from the same fate. When plans for a new hotel threaten the destruction of their community, each woman – fighting to balance the burdens she shoulders with the freedom she craves – must confront long-hidden scars. From a much-heralded new writer, Here Comes the Sun offers a dramatic glimpse into a vibrant, passionate world most outsiders see simply as paradise.Trade Review‘Stuns at every turn... It's about women pushed to the edge, Jamaica in all its beauty and fury and more than anything else, a story that was just waiting to be told.’ * Marlon James, author of A Brief History of Seven Killings *‘An expertly timed examination of race, class, gender and sexuality, weaved seamlessly into an engaging narrative…brilliantly written.’ * Guardian *‘A vibrant debut.’ * Good Housekeeping *'I think Nicole Dennis-Benn has found the pressure points that nobody talks about, and is exploring those through the most gorgeous fulsome writing. It’s my favourite book of all time.' -- Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie‘Capturing the distinctive rhythms of Jamaican life, Here Comes the Sun sees a band of women battling for independence... As well as being a page-turner, the book left me with food for thought – there’s never been a more apt time to learn about women living realities so different from your own.’ * Grazia *‘A dazzling debut.’ * Guardian *‘Superb, insightful debut.’ * Sunday Herald *‘Vividly captures the fraught dynamics of familial and romantic relationships.’ * The New Yorker *‘Here Comes the Sun was the first Jamaica-set book I read. As a Jamaican woman, that was really exciting. It follows three women: two sisters and their mum. The older sister is navigating sexuality and being a queer woman, the younger is battling identity, being a darker-skinned girl, bleaching. It’s really addictive.’ * Liv Little, Observer *‘This buzzy novel dives under the shimmering surface of paradise to expose its dark secrets.’ * Elle *‘An indelible portrait of a woman in motion. Nicole Dennis-Benn has created in Margot a fierce and fearless striver. A fantastic debut.’ * Laila Lalami, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Moor's Account *‘Margot is one of the reasons to read this book. She is a startling, deeply memorable character. All of Ms. Dennis-Benn’s women are.’ * New York Times *‘Brave, clever and ambitious… Readers of this important debut will no doubt see Jamaica in a new and different light.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘I read it the way I read a thriller, holding my breath, waiting for the next new revelation. It’s Shakespearean-level drama and compulsively readable.’ * Bookriot *[An] engrossing tale... Here Comes The Sun explores the sinister side of tourism through the eyes of three brilliant local women, and Dennis-Benn captures the rhythm and beat of Jamaica with extraordinary skill.' * Red magazine *‘Her prose is lyrical and vibrant, but Dennis-Benn has a deeper purpose, and she takes the reader on a trip that is impossible to forget.’ * Brooklyn Magazine *‘Here Comes the Sun sheds much-needed light on the island’s disenfranchised, particularly on the hardships suffered by its L.G.B.T. community. [An] important debut.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘Haunting and superbly crafted, this is a magical book from a writer of immense talent and intelligence.’ * Kirkus *‘[A] striking portrayal of a vibrant community.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Dennis-Benn's writing is so assured, so gorgeous, that it's hard to believe Here Comes the Sun is a debut novel. There are no wasted words; every sentence is constructed with care and a clear eye […] Here Comes the Sun is tough, beautiful and necessary, and it feels like a miracle.’ * NPR *‘Here Comes the Sun is a powerful reflection on femininity and sexuality in Jamaican culture […] Dennis-Benn's stunning, multi-layered novel explores the implications of race, reputation, class and money – and how they can push people to trade on today for the promise of a better tomorrow.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘Intense, unapologetic and remarkably powerful, Here Comes the Sun is a startling and melodic experience.’ * Bookreporter *‘A compelling exploration of exploitation, sacrifice, tourism, poverty and the drive for freedom, Here Comes the Sun will transport your mind – and heart – this summer.’ * Buzzfeed *‘An essential read for anyone who has ever found themselves mulling over questions of the relationship between tourism and poverty.’ * HelloGiggles *‘Dennis-Benn reveals a sure hand, creating a world she knows well, while offering intimate portraits of characters readers will care deeply about […] An impressive debut.’ * Booklist *‘This beautiful cover belies the darker story it holds. Debut novelist Dennis-Benn captures the beautiful Jamaican setting in a novel of sacrifice and forbidden love that offers commentary on race, class, gender and sexuality without distracting from a gripping plot, eloquent and moving writing, and vivid characters.’ * Bookriot *‘A superbly realized tale of gender, class, race and sexuality in Jamaica. Nicole Dennis-Benn is a powerful and brave new voice in American literature.’ * The Root *‘Nicole Dennis-Benn has delivered a really special read with this one.’ * Bustle *‘[Nicole Dennis-Benn] conjures vivid and passionate characters […] The novel buzzes with eroticism.’ * Bookpage *‘Here Comes the Sun arrives in the season of the beach read, but with eloquent prose and unsentimental clarity, Dennis-Benn offers an excellent reason to look beyond the surface beauty of paradise. This novel is as bracing as a cold shower on a hot day, a reminder that sometimes we need to see things as they are, not as we wish they would be.’ * Miami Herald *‘There is a richness to the way the [Nicole Dennis-Benn] writes about Jamaican culture and identity, along with the New World colonialism that has cropped up along the nation's shores […] This book treads into brave territory. The struggle is not a beautiful one. But it is deeply powerful.’ * Refinery29 *‘[Nicole Dennis-Benn] deploys an art of an altogether different kind [in] language of cumulative, almost radiant beauty.’ * Bay Area Reporter *‘Nicole Dennis-Benn’s scorching debut is both desperately sad and impossible to forget.’ * Boston Globe *‘With Here Comes the Sun, Dennis-Benn announces her literary presence with a novel that conjures something transcendent from the darker corners of human nature.’ * Dallas Morning News *‘A talent to watch.’ * Newsday *‘In saturated paragraphs and rich patois, Here Comes The Sun lays out the stark realities of an island whose entire economy relies on natural beauty, cheap labor, and limited resources – and explores what it means to live in a place where, as one character says, ‘nobody love a black girl. Not even herself.’ * Entertainment Weekly * ‘[A] dazzling and gutting novel.’ * Lambda Literary *‘Here Comes the Sun is a vivid and intimate portrayal of lives woven together by adversity.’ * Politics & Prose *‘Here Comes the Sun is every bit as dazzling as its title suggests. Nicole Dennis-Benn draws us so deeply into the fates of her unforgettable characters that we can’t help but dream, suffer, celebrate, and grieve alongside them. Each page of this terrific debut vibrates with power, heart, and unflinching honesty – I couldn’t put it down, yet didn’t want it to end.’ * Mia Alvar, author of In The Country *‘Here Comes the Sun is a moving portrait of a Jamaican family and community wrestling with the great questions in life – how to live and love freely in a world filled with obstacles to both. Nicole Dennis-Benn's exploration of Caribbean women's desires for themselves and each other, is an important contribution to our literature.’ * Naomi Jackson, author of The Star Side of Bird Hill *‘In Here Comes the Sun, Nicole Dennis-Benn boldly takes on the emotional and psychosocial effects of colorism and classism, among other topics. Here is a story of love and betrayal within the parameters of friendships and families in one Jamaican community. Dennis-Benn has written a book that is full of culture and crackling with life.’ * Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Trees *‘Remember this title: It'll likely be the buzzword in all upcoming literary awards competitions.’ * Marie Claire *

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Book SynopsisGuardian's Best Fiction of 2022'One of the most original and exciting writers working in English today' - Jhumpa LahiriOnce home to the country's most illustrious families, Waitsfield, Massachusetts, is now an unforgiving place awash with secrets. Forged in this frigid landscape, Ruthie learns how the town's prim facade conceals a deeper, darker history and how silence often masks a legacy of harm - from the violence that runs down the family line to the horrors endured by her high school friends.In Very Cold People Sarah Manguso reveals the suffocating constraints of growing up in a very old, and very cold, small town. Here lies a vital confrontation with an all-American whiteness where the ice of emotional restraint meets the embers of smouldering rage . . .'Chilling . . . deeply impressive' - Guardian'A masterclass in unease' - The ObserverLonglisted for the Wingate Prize 2023Trade ReviewA masterclass in unease * Observer *Manguso puts her own indelible stamp on the literary terrain of John Cheever and Susan Minot, daring to brush against the third rail of class. * Oprah Daily *Magnificent . . . I hope all my fellow reader friends can find their way to this title either through their local library or independent bookseller. It is indeed special. -- Sarah Jessica Parker via InstagramAn uncomfortable, deeply impressive account of how silence, snobbery and repression in a New England town allow the poison of abuse to trickle down the decades. -- 'Best Fiction of 2022', The GuardianSarah Manguso is one of the most original and exciting writers working in English today. Every word feels necessary, and she’s redefining genre as she goes -- Jhumpa Lahiri, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Interpreter of MaladiesWith its adult narrator trying to recover the intuitions of her younger self, Very Cold People reminded me of My Brilliant Friend, the first novel in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet. -- Katy Waldon * New Yorker *Manguso is consistent in her approach and the cumulative effect is satisfying -- Damon Galgut * TLS *Very Cold People knocked me to my knees. So precise, so austere, so elegant, this story is devastatingly familiar to those of us who know the loneliness of growing up in a place of extreme emotional restraint. Manguso is one of my favourite writers, and this book is a revelation -- Lauren Groff, author of FloridaMidwesterners, New Englanders and anyone from small town America will recognize the contours in this quietly beautiful novel about what it feels like to grow up an outsider. It's a starkly lyrical exploration of the darkness that lies underneath a lily white community with an emotional resonance that sneaks up on you and won't let go. * Good Housekeeping *I loved every sentence, thought, and gesture in this perfect novel. Sarah Manguso has painted a deeply moving portrait of the stark unreality of childhood -- Catherine Lacey, author of PewI loved it and am still trying to accommodate its cold quality - like swallowing an ice-cube by accident. Manguso’ steady gaze and clarity of expression is reminiscent of Louise Gluck. I hope it will do as brilliantly as it deserves. -- Laura Beatty, author of PollardThe book is strong enough as a compendium of the insults of a deprived childhood: a thousand cuts exquisitely observed and survived. The effect is cumulative, and this novel bordering on a novella punches above its weight -- Alexandra Jacobs * New York Times *A haunted masterpiece, written with the precision of a miniaturist and the vulnerability of true heartache. I wept more than once; I recognized myself more than once. Very Cold People proves yet again that Manguso is one of the greats -- Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of LessVery Cold People is an important stitch in a tapestry being urgently reworked by women writers. Manguso's is a bold stitch, a beautiful and a vital one. -- Joanna Walsh, author of Break.upA poignant and unnerving masterwork about growing up in a dominator society, told with the concision, carefulness, and sense of mystery that we’ve come to expect from Sarah Manguso -- Tao Lin, author of Leave SocietyManguso’s attention to the chilliness and reservation of certain New Englanders crackles like a room-temperature beverage poured over ice . . . Manguso portrays the fears surrounding girlhood with a blistering clarity. -- Michele Filgate * Washington Post *Chilling . . . Set in the 1980s in a small, frigid New England town, this coming-of-age story offers a stark take on what it is to feel poor, poorly nurtured, and inadequately loved in a class-conscious, lily-white town whose antique houses were built and occupied by generations of Cabots and Emersons . . . absorbs our attention and stirs empathy and reflection. * NPR *Very Cold People wields a kind of detached, anthropological power, portraying the world through the accumulation of telling details. * Wall Street Journal *Unafraid to engage with tricky topics like race and class in America, Very Cold People may not warm your heart, necessarily. But it will pick you up after it knocks you down, and leave you stronger for it. * Chicago Review of Books *Manguso is a lovely writer about unlovely things . . . here she depicts her protagonist’s quiet agony with a poet’s eye . . . A taut, blisteringly smart novel, both measured and rageful. * Kirkus, (starred review) *Manguso is an exquisitely astute writer, and there is something admirable about her refusal to bow to predictable plot tropes that might rescue Ruthie more definitively — or condemn her. * Boston Globe *Her rendering of violence, abuse and secrecy within families and communities is clear-eyed and almost uncomfortably lyrical — the beauty of her writing makes the tragedies she describes feel all the more wrenching. * Los Angeles Times *Manguso excels at capturing the perspective of a child desperate for the love of people who don’t know how to give it. * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisStep into the world of Dilly Court and uncover her utterly heartwarming and emotional historical romance!Clinging tightly to the penny in her palm, Flora's fortune was about to changeFlora is forever grateful for the day the Stewart family rescued her from her life of poverty on London's streets. Adopted as one of their own, she shed her rags and was finally given a place to call home.When a twist of fate calls her back to the cobbles, Flora's new life is torn apart.Flora must make her own way if she is ever to find where she truly belongsFrom the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rockwood Chronicles comes an emotional and captivating fireside read about finding home in the most unlikely places.Don''t miss Dilly Court''s next captivating novel, coming October 2024 available to pre-order now!Readers LOVE Dilly Court!''Another truly special book from Dilly. Warm and touching, with friendship and romance in the mix'' ?????''There is a great selection of characters, so vividly dTrade Review Praise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph

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Book Synopsis'I implore you to read (or listen to) it' - Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel'One of the best books I’ve ever read' – Ruth Jones, author of Love UntoldAn all-consuming story of loneliness, obsession and how far we go for the ones we love, If I Can't Have You is the debut novel by Charlotte Levin.After fleeing Manchester for London, Constance Little attempts to put past tragedies behind her and make a fresh start. When she embarks on a relationship with the new doctor at the medical practice where she works, she’s convinced she’s finally found the love and security she craves.Then he ends it.But if life has taught her anything, it’s that if you love someone, you should never let them go.That's why for Constance Little, her obsession is only just beginning . . .'Exceptionally raw and visceral and painfully funny' – Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths'Darkly comic and beautifully written’ – Woman‘Blackly comic, heartrendingly sad’ – Best'Compulsively readable and darkly funny’ – Laura Marshall, author of Friend RequestTrade ReviewI IMPLORE you to read (or listen to) it. It's SO many things - dark, sweet, odd, moving, credible, tender, BEAUTIFULLY written & at times funny -- Marian Keyes, author of Again, RachelSo beautifully written, such a devastatingly compelling story. I can honestly say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read - it is without shadow of a doubt, EASILY up there with The Girl on the Train and Eleanor Oliphant -- Ruth JonesThis is superb. The main character Constance is brilliantly flawed and so compassionately drawn - it’s raw and compulsive and disturbing and very well done indeed -- Harriet Tyce, author of Richard & Judy Book Club pick Blood OrangeAn exceptionally raw and visceral and painfully funny novel. Charlotte Levin writes so well and so powerfully about loneliness, longing, love and loss that Constance will stay with me for a long time -- Emma Flint, Women's Prize longlisted author of Little DeathsA blackly comic but heartfelt story of love and loneliness, with an endearing and damaged heroine * Sunday Mirror *A darkly comic and beautifully written debut novel * Woman *Blackly comic, heartrendingly sad . . . a brilliant debut novel * Best *Compulsively readable and darkly funny with pin-sharp characterization. Love love loved it -- Laura Marshall, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Friend RequestBrilliant. A perfect and completely terrifying depiction of heartbreak and obsession -- Sarah Powell, presenter, founder of ‘Celebrate Yourself’ and Red Magazine columnist

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Book SynopsisThis is the book we all need right now: a story of kindness and hope. I absolutely loved it'Anstey Harris, bestselling author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Truths and Triumphs of Grace AthertonShe's not lost. She's just waiting to be foundDawn Elisabeth Brightside has been running from her past for twenty-two years and two months, precisely.So when she is offered a bed in St Jude's Hostel for the Homeless, it means so much more than just a roof over her head.But with St Jude's threatened with closure, Dawn worries that everything is about to crumble around her all over again.Perhaps, with a little help from her new friends, she can find a way to save this light in the darkness?And maybe, just maybe, Dawn will finally have a place to call home.The utterly charming feel-good debut novel of summer 2021 about friendship, community and kindness to curl up with.Trade Review‘This is the book we all need right now: a story of kindness and hope. I absolutely loved it’Anstey Harris,The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton ‘Dealing with heartbreaking issues with humour, this will uplift your soul’ Heat ‘Completely beguiling – a messy, loveable cast of characters with Dawn at the centre bringing the light’ Beth Morrey, Saving Missy ‘Beautifully written, and oozing warmth and compassion. It will make your heart melt’ Closer ‘Charming, moving and joyous’Alice Peterson,If You Were Here ‘Jessica Ryn writes with such warmth and sensitivity, I felt my heart crack more than once. Dawn Brightside is the heroine we never knew we needed’Roxie Cooper,The Day We Met ‘I fell instantly in love with Dawn Brightside. She made my heart soar and ache all at once. Clever, funny and full of heart’Lia Louis,Somewhere Close to Happy ‘The book equivalent of a glass half-full. It is love and light and brimming with a compassion that will inspire you to see the bright side. Not just within its pages, but within life’Amy Beashal, The Sky is Mine ‘Beguiling and captivating. The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside tackles homelessness, drug addiction, mental illness and the vulnerability that goes with it with warmth, humour and most of all, courage’ Sunday Post ‘A warm-hearted and utterly gorgeous read. The irrespressible Dawn heads up a wonderful cast of characters and the life-affirming story is one of kindness and hope. I loved it!’ Nicola Gill, The Neighbours ‘A joy of a book: funny, sad, enlightening and feelgood’ Frances Quinn, The Smallest Man ‘Spending time with Dawn Brightside has been a joy from start to finish! An uplifting story that will break your heart, then mend it again’ Louise Mumford, Sleepless

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Book SynopsisErnest Miller Hemingway was born in Chicago in 1899, the son of a doctor and the second of six children. After a stint as an ambulance driver at the Italian front, Hemingway came home to America in 1919, only to return to the battlefield this time as a reporter on the Greco-Turkish war in 1922. Resigning from journalism to focus on his writing instead, he moved to Paris where he renewed his earlier friendship with fellow American expatriates such as Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. Through the years, Hemingway travelled widely and wrote avidly, becoming an internationally recognized literary master of his craft. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, following the publication of The Old Man and the Sea. He died in 1961.Trade ReviewHemingway's most deeply autobiographical piece of work * Irish Times *Hemingway’s style is a superb vehicle for revealing tenderness of feeling beneath descriptions of brutality * Guardian *Many of the episodes contain the most exciting and effective writing Hemingway has ever done * Saturday Review *This book contains some of the best of Hemingway's descriptions of nature: the waves breaking white and green on the reef off the coast of Cuba; the beauty of the morning on the deep water; the hermit crabs and land crabs and ghost crabs; a big barracuda stalking mullet; a heron flying with his white wings over the green water; the ibis and flamingoes and spoonbills, the last of these beautiful with the sharp rose of their color; the mosquitoes in clouds from the marshes; the water that curled and blew under the lash of the wind; the sculpture that the wind and sand had made of a piece of driftwood, gray and sanded and embedded in white, floury sand -- Edmund Wilson * Saturday Review *Thomas Hudson, the painter in the book Islands in the Streamis Hemingway himself, attempting to come to terms with everything he loves - the clarity of a brushstroke, his three children, his ex-wives, his lovers, his whores, his friends, his cats, his rifle, his Booth's gin * Newsweek *

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Book SynopsisMake a loved one smile with this classic Christmas read - a perfect stocking filler!''Christmas Day was organized by Lady Bobbin with the thoroughness and attention to detail of a general leading his army into battle . . .''The formidable fox-hunter Lady Bobbin is holding a Christmas house party. Attendees include her rebellious daughter Philadelphia, a pompous suitor, a couple of children poring over newspaper death notices, and a dejected writer whose first serious novel has been declared the funniest book of the year. Add to the mix beautiful ex-courtesan Amabelle Fortescue and her guests staying in a neighbouring cottage and you have a ribald tale of true love and false fidelity, hijinks and low morals, not to mention the consumption of a considerable quantity of Christmas spirit.''Utter, utter bliss'' Daily Mail''A dazzling comic delight'' The Times''Very funny, irresistible'' Spectator

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2020LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021WINNER OF THE SUSHILA DEVI AWARD 2021NEW YORK TIMES 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2021A searing debut novel about mothers and daughters, obsession and betrayal - for fans of Jenny Offill, Deborah Levy, Rachel Cusk and Diana Evans''Beautifully written, emotionally wrenching and poignant in equal measure'' The Booker Prize Judges 2020''An unsettling, sinewy debut, startling in its venom and disarming in its humour from the very first sentence'' Guardian''I would be lying if I said my mother''s misery has never given me pleasure.''This is a tale of obsession and betrayal. This is a poisoned love story. But not between lovers - between mother and daughter. Tara and Antara, a woman and her angry shadow. But which one is which?Sharp as a blade and compulsively readable, Burnt Sugar slowly untangles the knot of memory and rumour that binds two women together, revealing the truth that lies beneath.''A work of extraordinary insight, courage and sophistication'' Washington Post''Arresting and fiercely intelligent, disarmingly witty and frank'' Sunday Times ''A sly, slippery, often heartbreaking novel about the role memory plays within families'' Stylist''Extraordinary... Come for the effortlessly stylish writing, stay for the boiling wrath'' ObserverTrade ReviewAn unsettling, sinewy debut, startling in its venom and disarming in its humour from the very first sentenceExtraordinary. Exquisitely written, painfully exhilarating, impossible to put down... An elegant family story that sizzles with hatred... Come for the effortlessly stylish writing, stay for the boiling wrath * Observer *Arresting and fiercely intelligent, disarmingly witty and frank... Horror stories from the past seep into the present, as Doshi builds her portrait of a fractured mother-daughter relationship * Sunday Times *A masterclass. Crisp, engaging, perfectly tragic in the way that families often tend to be... Doshi writes sharply, in no-nonsense prose, not a single sentence in the book can be omitted... Avni Doshi is a force to watch out for in the literary world * Scroll *A corrosive, compulsive debut * Sunday Telegraph (five stars) *Subtle, intelligent, thrilling, visceralThis caustic tale of a destructive mother-daughter bond is as potent as its title might suggest... It bristles with sharp, chilly aphorisms... Doshi's visceral debut is a no-holds-barred excavation of how hate can both poison and sustain * Daily Mail *Scouringly brilliant, a blazing debut that sticks in the mind like caramel blackened to the bottom of a pan... Doshi draws our relationships, both with the truth and with other people, with words that glitter sharp as shards of broken mirror * Buro. *When does self-determination become selfishness? What can you learn from a bad mother? ...Sorrowful, sceptical and electrifyingly truthful about mothers and daughters -- Shahidha Bari * Guardian *A sly, slippery, often heartbreaking novel about the role memory plays within families * Stylist *A raw, vividly described exploration of the toxic relationship between two women who are forever bound together * Good Housekeeping *Burnt Sugar straddles the line between pain and beauty. It makes the stomach churn. And, like all great literature, it prompts the question of the reader: is this you? * Bad Form *Acerbic, full of wit and cool intelligence - every sentence is a coiled spring and each psychological portrait burns itself into the mind. I couldn't put it downDaring and deliciously dark, Burnt Sugar will keep you gripped until the very last sentenceRaw, wise and cuttingly funny on love and cruelty, marriage and motherhood, art and illness, and one woman's fight for her sense of selfAvni Doshi quietly, cleanly, slices through the heart... Impeccably insightful, carved from love, rage, and grief, here all embellishment is discarded, all artifice shorn - motherhood, family, memory, language - to reveal something devastating about our relationships, with ourselves and with those closest to us * Janice Pariat, author of 'The Nine-Chambered Heart' *A brilliant debut, about mothers and daughters, that manages be acerbic and brittle all at the same timeA courageous novel written in spare, gleaming sentences. It made me hold my breath and gather it up again * Tishani Doshi, author of 'Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods' *Beautifully grotesque, vivid, unexpected. Doshi knows her characters so intimately I felt I could reach out and touch the skin they're in * Diksha Basu, author of 'The Windfall' *Crystalline, surgical, compulsively readable. An examination of toxic relationships and the ties that bind usA disturbing tale of memory and forgetfulness, questioning the relevance and the authenticity of both * Indian Express *Taut, unsettling, ferociousAvni Doshi writes fearlessly, with a cruel, almost terrifying intelligence. I was discomfited and exhilarated

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Book SynopsisA gripping, beautifully written and taboo-busting debut novel about motherhood and female identity, for readers of Anna Hope's EXPECTATION and Sheila Heti's MOTHERHOOD.Trade ReviewThis beautifully written debut explores what it really means to choose to go it alone as a single mother, as well as the unforeseen consequences of that choice... I loved everything about this emotionally intelligent, compelling, raw and original book. Fabulous * Daily Mail *An unflinching look at both work-as-identity and modern parenting * Grazia, a Hot Debut *Hush dishes out brutal honesty around motherhood and is by turns shocking and tender * Metro *Skilfully written by the fresh new voice, Kate Maxwell, this debut brilliantly explores the societal expectations put on women through the compelling Stevie, and gives us a worthy protagonist for this modern age * Harper's Bazaar *A beautifully written meditation on motherhood * The i Paper *A daring, compelling novel about motherhood * Cosmopolitan *In terms of hype, debuts don't come any hotter than Kate Maxwell's Hush, which features a new riff on motherhood in an increasingly crowded pen... Utterly compelling * Irish Independent *I devoured this book - it was so compelling * Clover Stroud *Hush is layered, rich and captures so much I can relate to. Bravo * Emma Barnett, BBC Broadcaster *A richly textured, exciting and mysterious debut novel showing the push and pull of motherhood, career identity and what it means to be a woman with multiple sides. Relatable and entertaining. I was absolutely glued to it * Emma Gannon, author of OLIVE *A vivid, compelling story about the unspoken truths of motherhood, family and feminine ideals. Tender, unflinching and beautifully evoked * Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of Us *An engaging parable about the ambiguity of modern motherhood, told with warmth and wit * Leah Hazard, bestselling author of Hard Pushed *Maxwell explores uncomfortable but important truths about motherhood brilliantly in her story of a mother falling apart, and piecing herself back together * Julia Bueno, author of THE BRINK OF BEING *Hush is a beautifully-written meditation on motherhood, identity and belonging - at once tender and resilient, incisive and heart-breaking. In this assured debut, Kate Maxwell captures how love grows and morphs and, ultimately, endures * Charlotte Philby, author of Edith and Kim *Kate Maxwell's debut novel explores the complexities and emotional roller-coaster of single motherhood... Well-researched and compelling * The Lady *Hush will break and remake your heart in one sitting. A wry and tender story that considers the potential for all strands of female life - friends, family, career - to become the loves of your life. This poignant tale of the blur of new motherhood will make you check in on your children if you have them - and on the woman you were before they arrived. I loved it * Harriet Walker, author of The New Girl *I ADORED Hush. I have never read anything that so accurately voiced the struggles I experienced as a new mother. It felt totally real to me and I was hooked from start to finish. I also loved all the other relationships that were so nuanced and heartfelt. I finished the book with that wonderful ache you get after reading a book that has moved you and uplifted you in equal measure * Libby Page, bestselling author of The Island Home *With sharp, perceptive, and tender prose that is at times scathing, Maxwell pushes the boundaries of what society tells us is acceptable, and perhaps what the reader feels she can forgive, then brings us back again to not only empathize with but root for her protagonist. Maxwell shows a type of motherly love seldom written about, one that's not instantaneous, but grows slowly, with difficulty, and is no less beautiful as it blossoms into something so incredible it takes your breath away * Charlene Carr, author of Hold My Girl (2023) *Longing to have a child, Stevie changes her Manhattan career-oriented life for single parenthood in her native England in Maxwell's powerful, nuanced meditation on the struggles experienced by new mothers * Waterstones *Beautifully written, with a nuanced understanding of what it means to lose sight of who you are, for whatever reason, and what it means to get yourself back or burn it all down and start again * Sophia Blackwell *

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Book SynopsisJorge said he wasn't coming back until I learned how to be a better wife . . . But before he drove off he gave me a new flashlight with triple C batteries and I'm grateful for it because this is a very dark, pitch-black part of the world . . . The closeted life of nineteen-year-old Irma Voth, recently married and more recently deserted, is turned on its head when a film crew arrives. They have come to make a movie about the strict Mennonite community in which she and her family live. Against her family's wishes, Irma takes a job on set and glimpses the wider world and a path towards something that feels like freedom.

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Book SynopsisPrepare to meet what lurks beneath .'Macabre, fantastic and haunting . In her vision of intimacy and interdependence, you're simply not safe until everybody else is dead . ' Guardian'Idiosyncratic, haunting, masterly .

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Book Synopsis''Beautifully written, with such heart. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way''JOANNA CANNONFind escape with the beautiful, moving literary debut fromSunday Times-bestselling author Alexandra Heminsley, a stunning story of sisterhood and wilderness.Clara Seymour is trying to find her feet in London, living away from home for the first time. Brought up by her domineering mother, treasuring time any time with her adoring father, Clara''s world is brought to a standstill when her dad abruptly dies.Then, a mystery comes to light in a letter from him.I am sure you are aware that before I met your mother I had a previous marriage. But what we never discussed is that we had a daughter.So begins a journey of discovery that takes Clara to remote Norway and a landscape as brutal as it is bewitching, a voyage fraught with personal and emotional danger to reveal who her father really was - and find the sister she''s never met.Trade ReviewA gorgeous, insightful tale about grief, loneliness and sisterhood * Good Housekeeping (15 best books of the summer) *A beautiful hygge read. I devoured it * Harriet Evans *It's beautifully written, with such heart, and yet also with such incredible elegance. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way * Joanna Cannon *An exploration of loneliness, grief and identity which . . . never fails to keep its grip * Daily Mail *An engrossing, inspiring emotional rollercoaster * Keith Stuart *A moving story of hope and adventure * Daisy Buchanan *A charming story about finding your inner strength and learning to understand others. It will have you itching to book a trip to scenic Scandinvia too. * Woman & Home *Elegantly written * Harper's Bazaar *I was gripped from the first page, and crying by the last. Beautiful and bittersweet * Lauren Bravo *Expertly crafted * The i Paper *Heminsley has form in exploring the relationship between women's bodies and the landscape, as well as complicated family dynamic . . . a corker * Metro *Full of love, intrigue, caring and passion, you won't be able to put it down * Yours Magazine *I loved being marooned on the island with Maggie. Her wildness and the stark beauty of her life has left me with a deep yearning to follow in Clara's footsteps. Utterly transportive and enjoyable * Polly Samson *Alexandra writes beautifully, and I loved Clara and Maggie's story and the amazing Arctic setting. An incredibly moving debut novel. It made me cry and want to go and eat cloudberries. * Nikki Smith *

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Book SynopsisBe Careful What You Wish For is the fourth incredible book in the epic Clifton Chronicles series, from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer.Trade ReviewProbably the greatest storyteller of our age * Mail on Sunday *If there was a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''With Teeth is a wonderfully sticky novel about motherhood, partnership, sex and love. Kristen Arnett lets her characters have the run of the place, and it''s delicious fun to watch them do, say, and think things they''ll regret'' Emma Straub, author of All Adults Here''Sublimely weird, fluently paced, brazenly funny and gayer still'' Naoise Dolan, New York Times''A darkly funny, brutally honest story about a woman undone by motherhood . . . With Teeth digs in deep and doesn''t let go. I truly loved it'' Jennifer Weiner, bestselling author of Mrs Everything and That SummerIf she''s being honest, Sammie Lucas is scared of her son. Working from home in the close quarters of their Florida house, she lives with one wary eye peeled on Samson, a sullen, unknowable boy who resists her every attempt to bond with him. Uncertain in her own feelings about motherhood, she tries her best - driving, cleTrade ReviewA gripping read . . . Unabashedly queer, probing and unafraid . . . Exceedingly engaging * USA Today *Sublimely weird, fluently paced, brazenly funny and gayer still, and it richly deserves to find readers -- Naoise Dolan * New York Times *A beautiful, startling demystification of queer family . . . a portrait of a woman who is, at once, wholly ordinary and not quite like any literary mother who came before -- VogueAbsolutely captivating and scathingly frank . . . Arnett is that rare, brave writer willing to articulate the darkest thoughts even the best parents entertain while trudging along through the most challenging job in the world -- Ron Charles * The Washington Post *Come for the wackiness and wonder of queer family dynamics, stay for the poignant portrait of motherhood on the brink * O, The Oprah Magazine *With Teeth is a wonderfully sticky novel about motherhood, partnership, sex and love. Kristen Arnett lets her characters have the run of the place, and it's delicious fun to watch them do, say, and think things they'll regret -- Emma Straub, author of All Adults Here

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Book SynopsisOnce it was a family home. Now they are all at sea...When Anna and David receive a phone call late one evening, their lives are upturned. Within minutes, they are travelling to the west coast of Scotland, preparing to care for two young sisters, tragically and suddenly orphaned.It''s a beautiful place, the heather is in bloom, the birds wheel above the waves, the deer graze peacefully in the distance. But the large granite house is no longer a home for the girls, and Anna knows she can never take the place of their mother. Then David invites his friend to stay, to ''ease them through'' and Anna finds herself increasingly isolated, with everything she - and the girls - once knew of life discarded and overruled by a man of whom she is deeply suspicious.Trade ReviewPraise for The Wilderness:'Almost indecently readable . . . Duguid keeps the tension almost at boiling point' * Daily Mail *'Darkly beautiful and exquisitely written, I loved this haunting story' * Eve Chase *'Pungently atmospheric . . . beautiful descriptions' * Metro *'Evocative, stunning and so beautifully written, the landscape of the wilderness smothers Anna as effectively as her marriage has always done. A powerful book about how the needs of men often consume the women and girls around them. I absolutely loved it' * Araminta Hall *'Insightful, moving, and with a gloriously described location where nature rules' * Peterborough Telegraph *'Beautifully written and well-paced - a real page-turner which I read in two sittings . . . I can still picture every corner of the island as though I was there - a place of unease, mystery and wild beauty' * Goodreads reviewer *A slender, intense book that explores grief and love, but with such a sharp attention to detail that I found it very difficult to put down * Netgalley review *A clever exploration of family and grief. Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds * Netgalley review *A wonderful, intense, evocative experience' * Carole Hailey *Praise for Look at Me:With characters that are sharply observed with a beady eye for detail, this is a haunting study of family, grief, and loss * Daily Mail *This slender novel puts a fragile family under the spotlight with great effect * Cathy Rentzenbrink *Exquisitely written, with a beautiful balance between darkness and humour * Joanna Cannon *A clever exploration of family and grief * Red *'Swept away in the depth and darkness of her storytelling, the beauty of the landscape and these fragile, damaged relationships' * Emma Stonex *

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Book SynopsisThe life-affirming and unforgettable new novel from the author of Lost for Words'A delightful and original concept about how a second hand bookshop can heal a community' Katie Fforde'What a lovely book - so assured and gentle, full of compassion and replete with astute observations of human nature and behaviour' Carys Bray'A really moving read - with great book recommendations included, too!' My Weekly Loveday Cardew's beloved Lost for Words bookshop, along with the rest of York, has fallen quiet. At the very time when people most need books to widen their horizons, or escape from their fears, or enhance their lives, the doors are closed. Then the first letter comes. Rosemary and George have been married for fifty years. Now their time is running out. They have decided to set out on their last journey togethTrade ReviewA delightful and original concept about how a second hand bookshop can heal a community * Katie Fforde *The perfect book to curl up with . . . It's heartwarming, emotional and full of kindness. A lovely and life-affirming novel * Sara Nisha Adams *'What a lovely book - so assured and gentle, full of compassion and replete with astute observations of human nature and behaviour' * Carys Bray *'Absolutely gorgeous . . . compelling, compassionate' * Sarah Franklin *'Beautifully captures all the small kindnesses and frustrations of a community under lockdown . . . cathartic and life-affirming' * Kate Mascarenhas *'What an absolute pleasure . . . a perfect follow-up to Lost for Words' * Shelley Harris *A really moving read - with great book recommendations included, too! * My Weekly *A really moving read - with great book recommendations included, too! * My Weekly *

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Book SynopsisAs heard on BBC Radio 4 Book at BedtimeA Times, Guardian, and Good Housekeeping Book of the Year for 2022Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction'It takes the most ferocious intelligence, skill, and a deep reservoir of sadness to write a novel as funny as this. I adored it' - Meg Mason, bestselling author of Sorrow & BlissMeet the Hanrahan family.Ray, the father. Acclaimed artist and notorious narcissist, who is obsessed with his own reputation.Lucia, his long-suffering wife. A lauded sculptor yet terrified of what recognition could bring. And she has a secret of her own which could tear the family apart.Leah, the eldest daughter, devoted to her father and convinced of his genius.Patrick, Lucia’s sensitive son, who has finally decided to strike out by himself.Jess, the youngest daughter, insecure and facing a daunting decision.As they gather for a momentous weekend – the first exhibition of Ray’s artwork in many decades – each member of the family must finally make a choice. And when they do, once tensions have boiled over and the guests have departed, what will be left of the Hanrahans?Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022, The Exhibitionist is the extraordinary fifth novel from Charlotte Mendelson, a dazzling exploration of art, sacrifice, toxic family politics, queer desire and personal freedom.'A devastating treat of a novel: funny, furious, dark and delicious' - Sarah Waters, bestselling author of FingersmithTrade ReviewIn The Exhibitionist Mendelson brings a forensic eye to family dynamics, laying bare the agonies of rage, frustration and longing that lie just beneath the surface of domestic life. The result is a devastating treat of a novel: funny, furious, dark and delicious -- Sarah Waters, bestselling author of FingersmithIt takes the most ferocious intelligence, skill and a deep reservoir of sadness to write a novel as funny as this. I adored it -- Meg Mason, bestselling author of Sorrow and BlissMendelson is a master at family drama, and plots don’t get much more dramatic than this . . . Exhilarating * The Times *A delicious, heartbreaking family snapshot about thwarted ambition, misplaced loyalty and good and bad love. Secrets abound. Fabulously written and utterly compelling -- Marian Keyes, bestselling author of Grown UpsSoul-scouringly good -- Nigella LawsonSex, desire, deep-seated marital resentment, monstrous artists, determined wives: it’s a delicious, piquant comedy of manners, and Mendelson’s serrated prose will have you wincing at every word * Daily Mail *Like Katherine Heiny and Maria Semple, Mendelson is skilled at rendering the grotesque fascinating . . . It is also funny; so funny . . . Reading The Exhibitionist is like eating a rich, delicious and wildly elaborate cream cake. You know you’ll regret devouring the whole thing at once, but it’s very hard to stop * The i *One of the funniest writers in Britain . . . [The Exhibitionist] is so devoid of second-hand sentences that it’s quite possible [Mendelson] spent all nine years since its predecessor polishing her jokes and turning phrases round until they shine . . . A precision of observation that made me laugh frequently and smile when I wasn’t laughing * The Guardian *Electric . . . The Exhibitionist is both a roiling family drama and a chilling portrait of enmeshment, coercive control and enabled addiction * The Sunday Telegraph *Unutterably brilliant -- Lucy WorsleyA deliciously evocative novel laced with sex and art -- Financial TimesA devastating, blackly comic portrait of middle-class dysfunction . . . A fine and haunting book -- Sarah Moss * The Guardian *A magnificent book, witty and furious and not a word out of place. I am obsessed -- Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll Factory and Circus of WondersExceptional * Woman & Home *A compulsive distillation of artistic ego, midlife passion and family dysfunction . . . Hilarious, sexy and thoughtful * Mail on Sunday *A truly wonderful novel, and a funny and wise one, too; the individual components sparkle, the whole movement beguiles -- Sunjeev Sahota, author of 2021 Man Booker-longlisted The China RoomI don’t think I’ve ever read anything that is simultaneously so elegant and so propulsive – every single sentence Charlotte Mendelson writes is arrestingly powerful. I think this book is beautiful, but it’s also funny, furious, sexy, blissfully hot and cold and wild in its rage -- Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable The unhappy Hanrahans fall apart, their story playing out with devastating, exuberant glee . . . Honest and frenetically paced, this is a painfully funny look at art, ambition and damaging family dynamics -- Sunday Express (S magazine)Mendelson’s great success is to make the endless sacrifices, self-conscious denials and forbidden emotions of the Hanrahans heartbreakingly relatable . . . The Exhibitionist is an undeniable success * Literary Review *Sharp and sad, witty and hopeful, as with all Mendelson’s work, The Exhibitionist is both forensically aware of all the flaws of humanity but also able to be forgiving and compassionate -- Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of Everyone Is Still AliveA welcome return for the chronicler of family secrets, with a tale of art, ego and marriage * The Guardian *A treat . . . Excoriating observation of the art world, crazy toxic family intrigues, wit, wisdom and brilliant writing -- Muriel GrayA superb dark family comedy. We crowned it our novel of 2022 * The Times *

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Book SynopsisSuspenseful and thrilling, Sunday Times bestselling author Jeffrey Archer’s Sons of Fortune is a powerful tale of twins separated by fate and reunited by destiny.In the late 1940s in Hartford, Connecticut, a set of twins is parted at birth.Nat Cartwright goes home with his parents, a schoolteacher and an insurance salesman. His twin brother is adopted and becomes Fletcher Davenport, the only son of an American multi-millionaire and his society wife.Unaware the other exists, the brothers grow up and follow different paths, confronted by challenges and obstacles, tragedy and heartache. Nat goes to Vietnam and returns a hero, whilst Fletcher distinguishes himself as a criminal defence lawyer before embarking on a political career.But when Nat enters politics and both decide to run for governor, the brothers become unwitting rivals, setting off a train of events that will either forge their bond or break it forever . . .Absorbing and powerful, Archer’s tale is as much a chronicle of a nation in transition as the story of the making of these two men - and how they eventually discover the truth-and its tragic consequences. ‘If there was a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win’ - Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewProbably the greatest storyteller of our age * Mail on Sunday *If there was a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win * Daily Telegraph *The plain storytelling is unimprovable. Few literary writers could do his job better * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Desmond Elliott PrizeShortlisted: Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year - Goldsmiths Prize - Betty Trask PrizeLonglisted: Booker Prize - Dylan Thomas PrizeMaps of Our Spectacular Bodies is a story of coming-of-age at the end of a life. Utterly heart-breaking yet darkly funny, Maddie Mortimer’s debut is a symphonic journey through one woman’s body: a celebration of desire, forgiveness, and the darkness within us all.‘Original, memorable, shimmering’ - Sarah Moss, author of Ghost WallLia has only one child, Iris; her magical, awkward, endlessly creative daughter who has just entered the battleground of her teenage years. Lia and Iris have always been close, but there is a war playing out inside Lia’s body, too, and everything is about to change.As she confronts what might be the end, memories of her own childhood and a passionate love affair come rushing into her present, unearthing buried secrets and her family’s deepest fears. But Lia still has hope . . . for more time, for more love, for more Iris.The Sunday Times Book of the Year'Restlessly inventive . . . delicate and persuasive' - The Guardian‘Extraordinary, kaleidoscopic’ - Daisy Johnson, author of Everything, UnderTrade ReviewRemarkable . . . A tearjerker, but it's hopeful too . . . Brave, inventive and mature * Sunday Times *Here is a book to dance and sing about. An extraordinary, kaleidoscopic dive into language -- Daisy Johnson, Man Booker-shortlisted author of Everything, UnderCompelling and uplifting . . . undeniably impressive: Mortimer is clearly a talent to watch * Telegraph *An original and memorable novel written in shimmering prose. The characters stayed with me long after I’d finished reading -- Sarah Moss, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of Ghost Wall and SummerwaterBrave, inventive and mature . . . a remarkable debut * The Times, The best paperbacks of 2023 *Lyrical and beautiful, this is a novel unlike anything else * Stylist *Both expansive and intimate, Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies is an intricate portrait of a life hurtling towards the inevitable. An extraordinary debut. -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sunday Times bestselling author of The MerciesStriking . . . formally inventive . . . Sadness is not allowed to crowd out wit and joy * New Yorker *A beautiful novel about death that feels completely alive, pulsing with tenderness and wit -- Megan Hunter, author of The End We Start From and The HarpyAn extraordinary debut, unlike anything I've read. Wildly inventive, poetic and poignant, this is a rare gem of a novel that took my imagination to new places and touched my heart. -- Emma Stonex, Sunday Times bestselling author of The LamplightersTechnically dazzling . . . Mortimer has the same felicity with language as Jon McGregor, combining an incantatory prose style with imagery so acute it almost burns * Daily Mail *Ambitious, sprawling . . . brings to mind Eimear McBride's A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing . . . restlessly inventive . . . delicate and persuasive . . . sharply funny * Guardian *It may move between different styles and moods, but underpinning it all is the book’s bursting energy and, in the face of death, its verve for life * i newspaper *This is a touching, eye-opening perspective on life and illness like you've never read before * Good Housekeeping *Using word placement, font, and shape to create images on the page, Mortimer deepens the reader’s engagement with the story and characters . . . Through breathtaking attention to detail, Mortimer crafts a stunning novel that touches on the expanses one life can contain * Booklist (starred) *Maddie Mortimer's dazzling debut novel about a woman with breast cancer is a life-affirming read - all the more so because of its proximity to death . . . While there are many books that explore these themes, it is rare to find one that does so in such an immersive and harrowing way * Straits Times *

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Book Synopsis'Taut, beautiful and savage' GuardianA man travels to his son's school to deal with the fallout of a violent attack and to make sure his son will not lose his college place. But what exactly has his son done? And who is to blame? A young woman trying to make it in LA, working in a clothes shop while taking acting classes, turns to a riskier way of making money but will be forced to confront the danger of the game she's playing.And a family coming together for Christmas struggle to skate over the lingering darkness caused by the very ordinary brutality of a troubled husband and father. Subtle, sophisticated and displaying an extraordinary understanding of human behaviour, these stories from the best-selling author of The Girls are unforgettable.______________________PRAISE FOR DADDY:'It is her piercing understanding of modern humiliation that makes these stories vibrate with life...brilliant' Brandon Taylor'Razor-sharp' Evening Standard'Cline's talent at uncovering the seedy and somehow bringing it to beautiful light is brilliant' Daisy Johnson'Something about Cline's intimate tone, her talent for conjuring the feeling of being alive, is entirely and uniquely her own' Rachel Kushner'A stunning collection of stories that plunges deep into the dark corners of the human experience' DazedTrade ReviewCline is an astonishingly gifted stylist, but it is her piercing understanding of modern humiliation that makes these stories vibrate with life...brilliant -- Brandon Taylor * New York Times *Fans of Cline will delight in the author's razor-sharp observations and penchant for storytelling * Evening Standard *Cline is particularly good at locking in the witty detail that speaks volumes... These expertly constructed stories withhold key information... the pleasures here lie in an appreciation of Cline's skilful and absorbing craft * Sunday Times *These stories live in the odd corners of the world, Cline's talent at uncovering the seedy and somehow bringing it to beautiful light is brilliant. These are understated gems -- Daisy JohnsonWhen I read Emma Cline I think of Mary Gaitskill's psychological acuity and of Joy Williams's sardonic gravitas. And yet something about Cline's intimate tone, her talent for conjuring the feeling of being alive, is entirely and uniquely her own -- Rachel Kushner

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Book Synopsis'Striking...brilliantly done' The TimesAn ember storm of a novel, this is Booker Prize-winning novelist Richard Flanagan at his most moving-and astonishing-best. Anna's aged mother is dying - if her three children would just allow it. Forced by their pity to stay alive, she increasingly escapes through her hospital window into visions of horror and delight.When Anna's finger vanishes and a few months later her knee disappears, Anna too feels the pull of the window. She begins to see that all around her others are similarly vanishing, but no one else notices. All Anna can do is keep her mother alive. But the window keeps opening wider, taking Anna and the reader ever deeper into a strangely beautiful novel about hope, love and orange-bellied parrots.'One of our greatest living novelists' Washington PostTrade ReviewPyrotechnic brilliance * Daily Mail *Ambitious, powerful... There is much to enjoy and admire in this novel... Flanagan writes with a startling brilliance * Scotsman *A fiercely well-observed account of the psychological twists and turns, the stress points and the double-binds, of familial love * Daily Telegraph *Richard Flanagan is one of the greatest writers at work in the world today - I admire him and his writing immensely. The Living Sea of Waking Dreams is a haunting, urgent and important book about our broken and confusing age -- James RebanksStriking... brilliantly done... Flanagan is wise enough to place his wider concerns, and the accompanying magic realism within the sturdy framework of a conventional family narrative * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'It is hard to imagine a more timely novel. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue.' Jodi Picoult'A knock-out twist' Gillian McAllister'Will have book clubs across the country in hot debate! Brilliant.' Clare Mackintosh****Two best friendsElizabeth and Bryony are polar opposites but their unexpected friendship has always worked. They're the best of friends, and godmothers to each other's daughters - because they both trust that the safety of their children is their top priority.One little secretLittle do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined.Every parent's worst nightmare . . . ****'Compelling and nuanced. A hugely impressive page-turner' Ashley Audrain'Really beautifully written, compassionately told and incredibly thought provoking. A truly immersive telling of both sides of a story' Susan Lewis'Insightful, compassionate and nuanced. The Herd is so good.' Louise O'Neill'A genuine rollercoaster that asks big moral questions with beautifully drawn characters.' Sharon Horgan, co-creator of CATASTROPHEHere's what readers are saying about The Herd:'A timely and dramatic novel showing both sides of an ongoing debate. Loved this read!' *****'Such a genuine tale with such high stakes emotion and sensitivity' *****'A fantastic, thought-provoking and gripping book which would make a cracking book club read' *****'A complex, layered, wholly character-driven look at a complicated and controversial subject' *****Trade ReviewIt is hard to imagine a more timely novel. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue * Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author of WISH YOU WERE HERE *Controversial, addictive and clever, and the characters are so multi-layered and complex they are wholly believable. * Woman & Home *Wow! What an incredible book, and so timely. I was riveted! Really beautifully written, compassionately told and incredibly thought provoking. A truly immersive telling of both sides of a story. * Susan Lewis *Fans of Liane Moriarty will love it! * Stella *Will have book clubs across the country in hot debate! Brilliant. * Clare Mackintosh *

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestselling author Tif Marcelo comes a timeless tale of motherhood inspired by Little Women about one woman’s grief, hope, and second chance with the daughter she lost. It’s been two years since Celine lost her daughter Libby. Desperate to escape her grief, Celine throws herself into her work, determined to be the strong, capable woman the world believes her to be. But there’s no fooling her family. A shocking intervention brings an impossible choice: confront her grief or risk losing the family she still has. Reeling, Celine wonders what her life would have been like if she’d chosen her first love instead of her husband and avoided this pain altogether. Celine wakes the following day and is shocked to realize that what-if has become reality. She’s with her high school sweetheart, her daughters aren’t quite her daughters, and her home is being rented by the daughter she thought she’d lost forever. As she reconnects with Libby in this parallel world, Celine is forced to face the problems in her real life: her unwillingness to move forward, the tension that’s always rocked her family, and the hard truth that not everything can be fixed by a mother’s love.Trade Review“Marcelo’s (It Takes Heart, 2021) latest, inspired by Little Women, is an emotional story with hints of humor and Filipino baking. Readers will be drawn in by Celine’s conundrum and root for her happy ending.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisTense, subtly disturbing literary horror from a prize-winning Japanese writer A young girl loses her mother, and her father blindly invites his secret lover into the family home to care for her. As she obsessively tries to curate a pristine life, this new interloper remains indifferent to the girl, who seems to record her every move - and she realises only too late all that she has failed to see. With masterful narrative control, Nails and Eyes builds to a conclusion of disturbing power. Paired with two additional stories of unsettled minds and creeping tension, it introduces a daring new voice in Japanese literature.Trade ReviewTaut and entrancing * CrimeReads *

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Book SynopsisA heart-stopping, magical story about human connection, for fans of THE PAPER PALACE and LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE Two families. One night. A constellation of lives changed forever.When retired doctor Ben Wilf comes across ten-year-old Waldo Shenkman in the middle of the night under Division Street's old oak tree, he is treated to an unexpected and magical tour of the stars. But this is not the first time the boy and old man have met. In fact, they go way back, to the night of Waldo's birth, and further still.Secrets preside over the neighbourhood along with the majestic oak. One night in particular has been kept buried. Following it, the Wilfs ­-- parents and children -- change and grow, but each is haunted by what they choose to forget. Then the young Shenkmans move in across the street: a couple with their own secrets and a lonely, brilliant son who is captivated by the night sky. 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.Signal Fires is an exquisite portrait of two families, and a testament to the human capacity to experience love and loss. With wry tenderness it shows how we are all connected through time in ways that are at once beautiful, mysterious, profound and full of hope.* HUNDREDS OF 5-STAR READER RESPONSES * '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 -- Alex Preston * Financial Times *A stunning future classic -- LISA TADDEOTender and philosophical * Observer *Gripping * People Magazine *Lyrically examines the ways a single event can alter many lives for ever . . . wonderful -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping BOOK OF THE MONTH *Shapiro weaves a compulsive, tender narrative that flits between viewpoints and time frames in its quest for connectivity * Mail on Sunday *A wonderful novel, full of insight and compassion -- MARY LAWSONHaunting, moving, and propulsive -- MEG WOLITZERBeautifully written, Dani Shapiro explores time, memory and our human interconnectedness to create a moving portrayal of the ripple effect one event and one person's actions can have on many lives * Woman's Weekly *Beautiful... a family saga, but a book about destiny too, the unavoidable push and pull of choice and chance -- Francesca Steele * i News *Lyrical and propulsive . . . hard to put down * Oprah Daily *Masterful and poignant * Today Show US *Wise, deeply perceptive, suffused with light -- CLAIRE MESSUDSignal Fires is an urgent and compassionate meditation on memory, time, and space. In Shapiro's elegant convergence of narrative threads, she creates a world that's as wrenching as it is wondrous -- RUTH OZEKIA subtle, compelling and expansive book about family, love and the devastating power of secrets. I love the way Shapiro writes relationships, the ambition of having so many concurrent narratives and the deft way she draws her characters. -- NELL FRIZZELL

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Book SynopsisCan an island in the sun provide the second chance Sara needs? A warm and uplifting novel about love, friendship and new beginnings on the beautiful Greek island of Santaniki. Sara Loveday flees home and crisis to the beautiful island of Santaniki. Here, amid olive groves and whitewashed stone villas, where dark cypress trees step down to a cobalt blue sea, Sara vows to change her life. Spotting a gap in the local tourist market, she sets up a wedding plan business, specialising in 'second time around' couples. For her first big wedding, she borrows the olive garden of a local artists' retreat, but almost at once things begin to go wrong. To make matters worse, a stranger from Sara's past arrives on the island, spreading vicious lies. Can her business survive? And what will happen with the gorgeous new man who she's begun to love? This is a gorgeous, warm-hearted and uplifting novel conjuring the local colour, traditions and close bonds of island life.Trade ReviewThis sunshine story about Sarah Loveday, a woman fleeing a life of crisis at home for a second chance on a beautiful Greek island, will provide a warm glow * Sunday Post *An uplifting novel about love, friendship and new beginnings * Eastern Daily Press *PRAISE FOR LEAH FLEMING: 'A born storyteller' Kate Atkinson. 'Whether you're dreaming of your first trip to the Greek islands or, like me, dreaming of returning one day, The Olive Garden Choir is the ideal book to conjure up the unique atmosphere of that lovely part of the world' What Cathy Read Next. 'It's a moving and compelling story about a lifetime's journey in search of the truth' Rachel Hore. 'Fascinating and unputdownable' Trisha Ashley. 'A fabulous story of people, places and pearls from a master storyteller' * Lancashire Post *

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Book SynopsisSometimes the family you choose is the place you belongWhen Marc and Jim move to the small village of Cloverley Green, they are excited about their new start. Happily married, they make up a cosy little family with Vanessa, Marc’s spirited 18-year-old daughter. But even now, it isn’t always easy being gay in a small community, and Marc and Jim wonder if they’ll ever really be welcome…As if this isn’t hard enough, their family is knocked off balance when Jim’s 23-year-old son, Alfie, has to move in. Thrown together, Vanessa and Alfie find they don’t get on. At all. They can barely stand to be in the same room, let alone forge a lifelong sibling bond. As their feuding builds, cracks show in the household and Jim and Marc must face the toughest challenges of their marriage.They all know family bonds can be the strongest of all, but can they find a way to make their new blended family work?And can they ever find acceptance in their new community?An uplifting read all about found family, friendship and community that will warm your heart. Perfect for fans of Matt Cain, Mike Gayle and Clare Pooley.Readers are loving Finding Our Family:‘Absolutely loved this book! The author’s writing style is amazing… I look forward to reading more from them!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘This heartwarming novel serves as a reminder that family can be found not only in blood but in the shared experiences that bind us all." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved the story of Jim, Marc, Vanessa and Alfie...Congratulations to Charlie Lyndhurst for writing such a heartwarming and uplifting story.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved this story!... The family dynamics were wonderful, and it was nice to read a story about grown up queer characters and how they formed their family.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I really enjoyed this book because the characters were so real and so engaging… such a heartwarming and uplifting story.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Delightful and life affirming… Lyndhurst is good at writing characters you wished you could know in real life with pages that make you smile. Highly recommended.’ Reader Review‘This contemporary novel is a great read for readers of the LGBTQ community and allies alike’ Reader ReviewPraise for Charlie Lyndhurst’s delightfully inclusive, contemporary novels:‘An absolutely brilliant read with well crafted characters, a fabulous plot and the most wonderful happily every after!’ Katie Ginger‘Perfect meet cutes, great characters, a few laughs, and of course that HEA that checks all the feelgood boxes’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I thoroughly enjoyed reading this enchanting novel…It is a fun, heartwarming novel and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Loved it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘The writing is beautiful, the characters rich, and the storyline keeps you wanting to turn the pages long into the night.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘This was a delightful book - it warmed my heart, and I kept smiling as I was reading…This is definitely the type of book that I would choose on a day when I need cheering up.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Well written with layered and likable characters. So glad I found this gem. My favorite read of the year, I am recommending to everyone I know.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisFROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA'Daphne du Maurier has no rival' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'du Maurier is a magician, a virtuouso' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'A storyteller of cunning and genius' SALLY BEAUMAN 'I tell you your mine will be in ruins and your home destroyed and your children forgotten . . . but this hill will be standing still to confound you.' So curses Morty Donovan when 'Cooper John' Brodrick builds his mine at Hungry Hill. The Brodricks of Clonmere gain great wealth by harnessing the power of Hungry Hill and extracting the treasure it holds. The Donovans, the original owners of Clonmere Castle, resent the Brodricks' success and consider the great house and its surrounding land theirs by rights. For generations the feud between the families has simmered, always threatening to break into violence . . .Trade ReviewDaphne du Maurier has no rival * Sunday Telegraph *du Maurier is a magician, a virtuouso. She can conjure up tragedy, horror, tension, suspense the ridiculous, the vain, the romantic * Good Housekeeping *A storyteller of cunning and geniusAs poignant and powerful as du Maurier's better-known romantic fiction * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisSoldier, son, lover, husband, breadwinner, churchgoer, Henry Maxwell has spent his whole life trying to live with honour. A native Pittsburgher and engineer, he's always believed in logic, sacrifice and hard work. Now, seventy-five and retired, he feels the world has passed him by. It's 1998, the American century is ending, and nothing is simple any more. His children are distant, their unhappiness a mystery. Only his wife, Emily, and dog, Rufus, stand by him.Once so confident, as Henry's strength and memory desert him, he weighs his dreams against his regrets and is left with questions he can't answer: Is he a good man? Has he done right by the people he loves? And with time running out, what, realistically, can he hope for?Henry, Himself is a wry, warmhearted portrait of an American original - a man who believes he's reached a dead end only to discover life is full of surprises.Trade ReviewBeautifully spare and poignant . . . a novel that charms not through its plot, but through its subtle revelations of character and the human condition. * New York Times Book Review *O'Nan has returned to the mode that marks his best work, capturing America's shaky middle class with dignity . . . Tracking Henry's subtle interplay with [his wife] Emily, and the unspoken mysteries that concern him, O'Nan reveals a rich inner life. * Minneapolis Star Tribune *As usual, this profoundly unpretentious writer employs lucid, no-frills prose to cogently convey complicated emotions and fraught family interactions...Astute and tender, rich in lovely images and revealing details - another wonderful piece of work from the immensely gifted O'Nan. * Kirkus (starred review) *Charming, meditative, gently funny, and stealthily poignant...Like Richard Russo and Anne Tyler, O'Nan discerningly celebrates the glory of the ordinary in this pitch-perfect tale of the hidden everyday valor of a humble and good man. * Booklist *Engaging and immersive . . . One of O'Nan's gifts is his ability to craft his characters with such uncanny attention to detail that the reader comes to care for them as the author does . . . [A] poignant, everyman story. * Book Page *O'Nan, with some of his most gorgeous writing, [provides] Henry instances of unexpected grace . . . This novel is a lovely tribute to the enduring mystery of an ordinary life. * Pittsburgh Post-Gazette *

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Book Synopsis''Beautifully written, with such heart. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way''JOANNA CANNONFind escape with the beautiful, moving literary debut from Sunday Times-bestselling author Alexandra Heminsley, a stunning story of sisterhood and wilderness.Clara Seymour is trying to find her feet in London, living away from home for the first time. Brought up by her domineering mother, treasuring time any time with her adoring father, Clara''s world is brought to a standstill when her dad abruptly dies.Then, a mystery comes to light in a letter from him.I am sure you are aware that before I met your mother I had a previous marriage. But what we never discussed is that we had a daughter.So begins a journey of discovery that takes Clara to remote Norway and a landscape as brutal as it is bewitching, a voyage fraught with personal and emotional danger to reveal who her father realTrade ReviewA gorgeous, insightful tale about grief, loneliness and sisterhood * Good Housekeeping (15 best books of the summer) *A beautiful hygge read. I devoured it * Harriet Evans *It's beautifully written, with such heart, and yet also with such incredible elegance. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way * Joanna Cannon *An exploration of loneliness, grief and identity which . . . never fails to keep its grip * Daily Mail *An engrossing, inspiring emotional rollercoaster * Keith Stuart *A moving story of hope and adventure * Daisy Buchanan *A charming story about finding your inner strength and learning to understand others. It will have you itching to book a trip to scenic Scandinvia too. * Woman & Home *Elegantly written * Harper's Bazaar *I was gripped from the first page, and crying by the last. Beautiful and bittersweet * Lauren Bravo *Expertly crafted * The i Paper *Heminsley has form in exploring the relationship between women's bodies and the landscape, as well as complicated family dynamic . . . a corker * Metro *Full of love, intrigue, caring and passion, you won't be able to put it down * Yours Magazine *I loved being marooned on the island with Maggie. Her wildness and the stark beauty of her life has left me with a deep yearning to follow in Clara's footsteps. Utterly transportive and enjoyable * Polly Samson *Alexandra writes beautifully, and I loved Clara and Maggie's story and the amazing Arctic setting. An incredibly moving debut novel. It made me cry and want to go and eat cloudberries. * Nikki Smith *

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Book SynopsisSarah creates such a sizzling dynamic on the page . . . I can''t recommend this book and author enough. You won''t regret it!' Reader review ?????A fabulously delightful book . . . Highly recommended! A brilliant read' Reader review ?????Full of wonderful emotion, true love, children and the compulsory canine friend' Reader review ?????Loved every word! Sarah Morgan knows how to build a world that totally captivates you' Reader review ?????It has it all, loveable characters, a gripping storyline and the gorgeous setting of Puffin Island . . . First time in forever is a definite must read!' Reader review ?????* * *Happily-Ever-After isn't on Emily Donovan's agendaEmily's been too swept up in a challenging year of firsts, from becoming a stand-in mum to her niece Lizzy to moving to remote but beautiful Puffin Island, to think about love.But that's before charismatic local yacht club owner Ryan Cooper kisses herRyan knows Emily has a complicated past that she's struggling to face. So he makes it his mission to help her unwind and enjoy the chemistry they share.Can the welcoming community of Puffin Island work their magic on Emily and get her to take her biggest leap of trust yet putting her heart in someone else's hands?Fall in love with the Puffin Island series from the number one Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan. Perfect if you love: ??Small town romance??Single parent romance??Found family* * *Praise for Sarah MorganI love Sarah's novels because they are a burst of pure happiness' Cathy KellySarah Morgan has the ultimate golden touch for me no other author makes me lose myself in a world like she does' Laura Jane WilliamsSarah's writing speaks straight to my heart' Cathy Bramley

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Book SynopsisWith his characteristic warmth, inventiveness and brilliant wit, Alexander McCall Smith gives us more of the gloriously entertaining comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street, the Edinburgh townhouse. Six-year-old prodigy Bertie perseveres in his heroic struggle for truth and balanced good sense against his insufferable mother and her crony, the psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn, going as far as to make a short-lived bid for freedom on a trip to Paris with the Edinburgh youth orchestra. Domenica sets off on an anthropological odyssey with pirates in the Malacca Straits, while Pat attracts several handsome admirers, including a toothsome suitor named Wolf. And Big Lou, eternal source of coffee and good advice to her friends, has love, heartbreak and erstwhile boyfriend Eddie''s misdemeanours on her own mind.Trade ReviewIt is McCall Smith's particular genius to be able to look on the brighter side of life, and he's seldom done so more enjoyably * THE SCOTSMAN *A master storyteller . . . as warm and enjoyable as a very good soap opera * SUNDAY TIMES *A master storyteller . . . as warm and enjoyable as a very good soap opera * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisFrom the international bestselling novelist Penny Vincenzi comes SOMETHING DANGEROUS, the second novel in her highly acclaimed SPOILS OF TIME trilogy. ''Reading her is an addictive experience'' Elizabeth BuchanThe dazzling Lytton twins, Adele and Venetia, are born into the great Lytton publishing empire. In 1928, on their eighteenth birthday, they are rich and admired, with a confidence verging on arrogance. But the spectre of Nazi Germany is growing...Gradually their privileged world darkens in unimaginable ways - but it is not just the twins whose lives have been irrevocably changed. Barty Miller, rescued from the London slums in babyhood by Celia Lytton, is clever, ambitious, and a complete contrast to the twins - and she faces temptation of the most unexpected kind...Trade ReviewPenny Vincenzi dazzlingly combines the old-fashioned virtues of gripping storytelling with the up-to-the-minute contemporary feel for emotional depth and insight into the lives of the characters. She is a supreme stylist and clever writer. -- Elizabeth BuchanHighly addictive * Daily Telegraph *Every Penny Vincenzi is a guaranteed bestseller * Grazia *Seductively readable * The Times *

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Book Synopsis**Pre-order Graham Norton''s new novel Frankie now**''Atmospheric, creepy and impossible to put down'' THE TIMES''A compelling and moving story, expertly told'' DAILY EXPRESS''Magnificent ... his writing is evocative and perfect'' MARIAN KEYESFrom the bestselling author of Holding comes a masterly tale of secrets and ill-fated loves set on the coast of Ireland.Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland after her mother''s death, intent only on wrapping up that dismal part of her life. There is nothing here for her; she wonders if there ever was. The house of her childhood is stuffed full of useless things, her mother''s presence already fading. And perhaps, had she not found the small stash of letters, the truth would never have come to light. 40 years earlier, a young woman stumbles from a remote stone house, the night quiet but for the tireless Trade ReviewA compelling and moving story, expertly told, that will draw you in and keep you in its grip until the last page. - DAILY EXPRESSMagnificent ... his writing is evocative and perfect. His grasp of human loneliness and longing is beautiful and comforting.Atmospheric, creepy and impossible to put down. - THE TIMESI raved about Holding two years ago ... A Keeper is even better. A powerful, very sad story, beautiful writing, two time frames that are perfectly balanced. Outstanding. Will easily be one of my books of 2018.A gripping, thoughtful tale about the search for identity, belonging and self-possession. - OBSERVERMoving and darkly funny. - GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGSmart, well-written and thoroughly entertaining. - IRISH INDEPENDENTIt's a sad and lovely book, brimful of tenderness and compassion, where the revelations of the past upturn the perceptions of the present. - SUNDAY EXPRESS

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Book Synopsis The Sunday Business Post Fiction Book of the Year | Shortlisted for Popular Fiction Book of the Year – An Post Irish Book Awards A heart-warming and hilarious novel about life, love, and the weight of all we leave unsaid, Duffy & Son is a quietly moving masterpiece from one of Ireland’s most gifted comic writers.Trade Review‘Funny, sweet, charming and just a little bit heart-breaking’ – Dara O’Briain “Enormously entertaining … a universal story told in a uniquely Irish way” ’ – Liz Nugent

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