Humorous fiction

Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud read from the Sunday Times bestselling author of If I Never Met YouTrade ReviewPraise for Here’s Looking At You: ‘An absolute blinder of a read’ Sun ‘A romantic and charming read guaranteed to deliver plenty of laugh-out-loud moments’ OK! ‘Mhairi McFarlane’s characters shine with wit and insight’ Irish Times ‘Sparkly writing, laugh out loud funny and a story that'll keep you enthralled. What's not to love?’ Jane Fallon Praise for You Had Me at Hello: ‘Very very witty and funny. Left me in awe … a total gem’ Marian Keyes ‘The funniest, most romantic book I've read since One Day’ Lisa Jewell ‘I loved this book. It made me laugh and reminded me that anything's possible in love – and in everything else for that matter’ Minnie Driver ‘Mhairi is darkly funny and quite, quite rude … You Had Me at Hello is a breath of tart, Northern air’ Sarra Manning

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Tim O'Brien is one American author whose works I look forward to the most. His new novel’s ironic depiction of a post-Iraq War, mid-COVID, and mid-Trump world is piercing and razor-sharp." — Haruki Murakami “O’Brien’s first novel in two decades was well worth the wait. . . . In the age of ‘mythomania,’ O’Brien takes aim at the lies that power this country, and how and why they sustain us. America Fantastica peers straight into the dark heart of the American psyche, and it's unafraid of the comedy and tragedy staring back.” — Esquire, Best Books of the Fall “[A] compulsively readable, cackle-worthy social satire about our truth-challenged times. ... Without letting anyone off the hook, America Fantastica holds a cracked mirror up to a poisoned zeitgeist and dares you not to laugh. Resistance is futile.” — Boston Globe “Tim O’Brien’s first novel in 21 years is an antic, caustic and funny condemnation of the way we live now in the United States." — Wall Street Journal "This is the first novel in 20 years from O’Brien, a National Book Award winner, who is best known for The Things They Carried. The story is a madcap heist/road-trip starring a bank robber (who used to be a journalist) and his spitfire hostage, Angie. In hot pursuit are a bumbling private eye, a drug-fueled billionaire and a wannabe Charles Manson." — New York Times, "34 Works of Fiction to Read This Fall" “[A] timely odyssey. ... O'Brien paints a new, unflinching portrait of Americana that reads like a road map to our modern age.” — Entertainment Weekly, “Must List” “A satirical romp through a country plagued by deceit. ... There are echoes of his famous Vietnam War novel, Going After Cacciato, a book built on a darkly absurd pursuit amid individual and national uncertainty. ... It’s one of those books where you can sense the author enjoying himself and it’s fun to be along for the ride. A broadly engaging and entertaining work.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Tim O’Brien is one of our greatest storytellers, and his latest—America Fantastica—is a beauty. Steeped in acute wisdom and hilarious wisecracks, this satirical romp through the ‘mythomania’ and ‘lying contagion’ that plagues our society is also a study in one man’s broken heart and the truths that have shaped it.” — Jill McCorkle “Hunter S. Thompson meets Sacha Baron Cohen in this amusing and alarming road trip to the center of America’s mendacious heart. ... O’Brien keeps everything afloat on a cloud of pure gonzo bliss. If this is indeed the author’s valedictory novel, he’s bowing out with a star-spangled bang." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “O’Brien’s farcical satire blends fierce social commentary and a searing indictment of our post-fact culture into a nonstop joyride.” — Booklist "A desperate bank robbery morphs into a cross-country chase featuring hit men, a billionaire tycoon, jealous lovers, and several ex-cons. O’Brien hands America a mirror once more." — Goodreads, Most Anticipated Books of the Fall "His searing accounts of the Vietnam War brought him fame and the National Book Award. Now, after a 20-year hiatus from writing fiction, a long-awaited new novel takes aim at contemporary America." — GQ “A simultaneously raucous and surprisingly empathetic novel. ... If Elmore Leonard had collaborated with the Coen brothers to produce a screenplay, the result might loosely resemble America Fantastica.” — Bookreporter.com

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Book Synopsis[A] definitive work of millennial literature . . . wretchedly riveting. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker “Girls + Office Space + My Year of Rest and Relaxation + anxious sweating = The New Me.” —Entertainment Weekly I'm still trying to make the dream possible: still might finish my cleaning project, still might sign up for that yoga class, still might, still might. I step into the shower and almost faint, an image of taking the day by the throat and bashing its head against the wall floating in my mind. Thirty-year-old Millie just can't pull it together. She spends her days working a thankless temp job and her nights alone in her apartment, fixating on all the ways she might change her situation--her job, her attitude, her appearance, her life. Then she watches TV until she falls asleep, and the cycle begins again. When th

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Book SynopsisAn anthropologist and his daughter travel to Kermunkachunk, the capital of Chalazia, to conduct research for an ethnography on the Chalazian Mafia Faction (a splinter group of the Chalazian Children''s Theater). The book takes place over the course of a night at the Bar Pulpo, Kermunkachunk''s #1 spoken-word karaoke bar. Moreover, it''s Thursday, Father/Daughter Nite, when the bar is frequented by actual fathers and daughters as well as couples cosplaying fathers and daughters.Somehow emanating from the letters on an optometrist''s eye chart, from karaoke screens in the bar, and from posters on a piazza that''s the scene of phantasmagorical and unending mob wars, Last Orgy of the Divine Hermit relentlessly pulls the rug out from under itself, leaving you suspended in a state of perpetual exhilaration.Leyner, one of the most blazingly imaginative and influential writers of the last thirty years, has not only written his funniest novel, he''s broken through to s

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Book SynopsisAn anthropologist and his daughter travel to Kermunkachunk, the capitol of Chalazia, to conduct research for an ethnography on the Chalazian Mafia Faction (a splinter group of the Chalazian Children''s Theater). The book takes place over the course of a night at the Bar Pulpo, Kermunkachunk''s #1 spoken-word karaoke bar, where conversations are actually being read from multiple karaoke screens arrayed around the barroom. Moreover, it''s Thursday, Father/Daughter Nite, when the bar is frequented by actual fathers and daughters as well as couples cosplaying fathers and daughters. Last Orgy of the Divine Hermit is a book about the deep pleasures of reading and drinking, the tumultuous reign of a cabal of mystic mobsters, and, of course, the transcendent love of a father for his daughter.

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Book SynopsisV. S. Naipaul was born in Trinidad in 1932. He came to England on a scholarship in 1950. He spent four years at University College, Oxford, and began to write, in London, in 1954. He pursued no other profession.His novels include A House for Mr Biswas, The Mimic Men, Guerrillas, A Bend in the River, and The Enigma of Arrival. In 1971 he was awarded the Booker Prize for In a Free State. His works of nonfiction, equally acclaimed, include Among the Believers, Beyond Belief, The Masque of Africa, and a trio of books about India: An Area of Darkness, India: A Wounded Civilization and India: A Million Mutinies Now.In 1990, V. S. Naipaul received a knighthood for services to literature; in 1993, he was the first recipient of the David Cohen British Literature Prize. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001. He lived with his wife Nadira and cat Augustus in Wiltshire, and died in 20Trade ReviewAs delightful as anything Naipaul has written. * New York Review of Books *V. S. Naipaul has a substantial claim as a comic writer . . . This humour, conducted throughout with the utmost stylistic quietude, is completely original. -- Kingsley Amis * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis#1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels are: “irresistible” (Houston Chronicle), “stunning” (Booklist), “outrageous” (Publishers Weekly), “brilliantly evocative” (The Denver Post), and “making trouble and winning hearts” (USA Today).   New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.   After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie

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Book SynopsisUsing the cover artwork of our much-loved Virago Modern Classics hardback range, these elegant porcelain mugs celebrate three of our most popular titles: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Excellent Women by Barbara Pym and Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann. They are a must-have for all Virago fans, and are surely the most stylish way to enjoy your morning coffee! Each mug is presented in a beautiful gift-box with corresponding artwork. The mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe. Rebecca and Excellent Women feature artwork by award-winning textile designer Neisha Crosland: www.neishacrosland.com Valley of the Dolls features artwork by textile designer and founder of Biba, Barbara Hulanicki: www.barbarahulanickidesign.comTrade ReviewI'm a huge fan of Barbara Pym -- Richard Osman * Guardian *Why shouldn't the lives of cardigan-wearing spinsters and fussy confirmed bachelors be the engines of some of the finest comic writing in English? Not only was Pym a comic genius but she was ever so wise * The Times *Barbara Pym is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life -- Anne TylerOne of the most endearingly amusing English novels of the twentieth century -- Alexander McCall Smith

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize''tender, vicious, hilarious, exhilarating, devastating and HOPEFUL''Daisy Buchanan''my favourite kind of debut novel''Caroline O''Donoghue''a riotous rollercoaster of hilarity, tenderness and beautiful craziness that kept me hooked from the start''Sara Lawrence, Daily MailFrances was not looking for a relationship when she met Elaine in a bar. She was, in fact, looking to drown her sorrows and nurse a broken heart. But somehow, Elaine ended up in Frances''s bed and never left.Now, faced with mounting pressure from her drug dealer to access some cash, Frances comes up with a terrible idea - she asks Elaine to move in with her. Unfortunately, this makes Elaine even more sex-crazed and maniacal with love. Frances fears she may never escape the relationship, so, given no choice, she makes the obvious decision: she will sedate Elaine.Trade ReviewSedating Elaine is a brilliantly quirky, surreally funny story of a woman who comes up with the craziest idea ever for clearing her debts. In Frances, Dawn Winter has created an intriguingly headstrong yet vulnerable character with an astonishing talent for making the worst possible life-decisions. I laughed, cringed and held on to the edge of my seat as Frances' hare-brained scheme hurtled along like a runaway train heading for a precipice. A thoroughly entertaining read! -- Sarah HaywoodAs soon as I read the synopsis for Sedating Elaine I was hooked - it's tender, vicious, hilarious, exhilarating, devastating and HOPEFUL. The vibe is Amy Sedaris x Eleanor Oliphant. I LOVED it. -- Daisy BuchananIn Dawn Winter's knockout debut, Sedating Elaine, Frances owes money to a drug dealer and, with no way of getting it, contrives to have her obnoxiously upbeat, generationally wealthy girlfriend, Elaine, move in with her so she can shake her down for money... The prose, like Frances, is sprightly and dry. Crisp. Delivered with a shrug... Frances is funny and winning... You find yourself rooting for the drugging to go off without a hitch * New York Times *It's not often I root for a depressive villain hellbent on doping up their girlfriend, but there's so much in Dawn's book that's painfully relatable to a lot of people - building up exes into demigods, irrational hatred for perfectly sweet-natured rebounds, general frustration with life and not really understanding how unresolved trauma can still manipulate you. Although it's a bonkers premise, Sedating Elaine is an emotionally charged story that's beautifully told - I was very impressed by the writing: lovely and thoughtful but also deliciously catty, as well as engrossing, compelling, and darkly funny with well-drawn characters whose complexities come as naturally as breathing in and out . . . an enjoyable riot of a novel -- Justin MyersThe story of a savage anti-heroine that feels part Hitchcock fantasy, part Patrick Bateman. Brutal, funny, and genuinely shocking in places, Sedating Elaine is my favourite kind of debut novel: in that you can tell it was written by someone with an acid drive to write something they have never read anywhere before -- Caroline O’DonoghueSedating Elaine is a delightfully unhinged romp through romantic debacle, jaw-dropping decisions, and an emotional quagmire of guilt and longing. In this deft debut, Dawn Winters has created a modern, madcap comedy of errors that ultimately offers a touching lesson in forgiveness. Utterly bonkers and as darkly comic as it gets, Sedating Elaine is a brilliant, bingeable read -- Rachel Yoder, author of NIGHTBITCHSedating Elaine is a tasty caffeinated jolt that grabs you from page one and races you to a surprisingly moving conclusion - I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Dawn Winter's dazzling wit is beautifully coupled with a natural ability to explore difficult themes like loss and forgiveness. A winning debut -- Steven Rowley, bestselling author of LILY AND THE OCTOPUS'Brash and engaging' * Kirkus *Winter's sharp debut blends humor and emotional reflections with an exploration of trauma, substance abuse, and dysfunctional relationships . . . Written in moving and candid prose, this takes an unflinching look at what troubled people are capable of, and what they might need to be healed. The result is amusing and touching in equal parts' * Publisher's Weekly *Sedating Elaine has everything I crave in a novel: a delightfully subversive premise; a narrator with her life in shambles; and a voice that crackles with heart and wit. What really kept me turning the pages, though, was Winter's unexpected and poignant look at loss and grief. I loved this book -- Grant Ginder, author of THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDINGElectric prose paired with a sharp-edged wit, on its surface SEDATING ELAINE is an off-kilter bop that will make you sweat and flip pages. However, the true victory of Winter's debut is its unblinking desire to capture humanity in all its crooked beauty. Frances is a narrator who reminds us to look past people's rough exteriors and consider their vulnerable insides -- Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of PIZZA GIRLSharply observed, morally chaotic, in moments both madcap and elegiac, Sedating Elaine does the surprising work of putting human emotional damage on display first for laughs, and then for love, if the reader's heart can bear it -- Rufi Thorpe, author of THE KNOCKOUT QUEENI loved this clever, funny and slightly mad debut about love, sex, grief and guilt . . . It's a riotous rollercoaster of hilarity, tenderness and beautiful craziness that kept me hooked from the start. -- Sara Lawrence * Daily Mail *Hilarious, tender, crazy and beautiful -- Wendy Holden * Irish Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA stoner, an Instagram model, a Czech oligarch, and a missing unicorn. Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare have their work cut out for them in their weirdest, wildest adventure yet in this New York Times bestseller by Janet and Peter Evanovich.Straight arrow FBI Agent Kate O'Hare always plays by the rules.  Charming Con Man Nicholas Fox makes them up as he goes along.  She thinks he's nothing but a scoundrel.  He thinks she just needs to lighten up.  They're working together to tackle the out-of-bounds cases ordinary FBI agents can't touch.  And, their relationship?  Well, there hasn't been so much explosive chemistry since Nitro was introduced to Glycerin.Next on the docket: The mysterious disappearance of the Silicon Valley billionaire, known as the Big Kahuna.  Kate's been assigned to find him but no one seems particularly keen on helping.  His twenty-six year old adult actress wife-turned Instagram model wife and his s

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Book SynopsisAn Instant New York Times BestsellerA #1 LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick!From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesisâ??with explosive results.Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee KÃnigswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering projectâ??a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academiaâ??Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward. Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. And sure, he caught her in his powerfully corded arms like a romance novel hero when she accidentally damseled in distress on her first day in the lab. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee

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Book SynopsisCan they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love? A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again—until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.“Fresh, witty, and utterly romantic.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love HypothesisWhen Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .With sharp observations and sizzling chemistry, You, Again explores the dynamics of co-ed friendship in this sparkling romantic comedy of modern love in all its forms.

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Book SynopsisBeta Male is a riotously funny and painfully honest chronicle about friendship, masculinity, marriage and the beginning of adulthood.Trade Review'Sharp. Exceptionally observant and consistently amusing' Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisWhen Megs became a cleaner, she didn''t realise that if people looked at her a cleaner would be all they saw. Megs has as full a life as the people she does for, Mrs Terribly-Clean-Pearson or Ms Oh-Just-Keep-It-Above-The-Dysentery-Line McGhee. She''s the mother of three children and still mourning the death of a son; she enjoys a constant sparring match with her mother; she drinks away her troubles with Lorraine, her friend since Primary One; and she sings the blues in a local club.Megs has been getting by. But somehow that''s not enough any more. It''s time Megs gave up on being ordinary...

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Book SynopsisA cantankerous, elegant old woman sits in her beautiful Somerset house while her family secretly plots to evict her. In the garden is Lady Pamela''s last loyal retainer, out at grass is her one remaining racehorse, and in London is the man she should have married - still her dearest friend.Maeve Delaney, streetwise and outrageous, and sole applicant for the job of companion to Lady Pamela, bursts into the old house like a firework. As open warfare settles into an wary truce between the two women, Maeve sets her heart on bringing the great racehorse, Irish Dancer, out of retirement, and everything changes.Trade ReviewExcellently-written, with a gripping ending * WILTSHIRE TIMES *Turning for Home is not a conventional romance, and it certainly isn't an Aga saga. It's touching, funny and exciting * Blackmore Vale Magazine *

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Book Synopsis ''A brilliantly funny new voice'' Jenny ColganImagine the worst day of your life... Now imagine living it on repeat... This Friday the 13th has been particularly unlucky. Jess has been fired, she''s gone from dating two guys to none and she''s been kicked out of her flat. As she falls asleep, she is filled with relief that this terrible day is over. Tomorrow she will try to fix things, tomorrow cannot be any worse than this. Except it is. Maybe not worse... but exactly the same. When Jess wakes up the next morning, it is Friday the 13th again. And again. And again. And again. Jess knows how this goes, she''s seen the films: this is her wake up call. But she had no idea she needed a wake up call. How is Jess supposed to work out where she''s gone wrong when, as far as she''s concerned, she''s been having the time of her life?Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, this modern-day Groundhog Day is the uTrade ReviewA brilliantly funny new voice -- Jenny ColganWhat a wonderful debut! Such fun, and so deftly written, with a fabulous premise and perfect ending -- Jill MansellThe Time of My Life is a gem - funny, warm, and surprising -- Adam KayThe modern twist on Groundhog Day is hilarious and utterly unputdownable * Woman's Own *A brilliant and very funny read * Closer *Incredibly funny * That's Life *A cut above the others: funny, witty, hilarious, sad, emotional, funny, hilarious, clever, romantic, observant, funny, powerful, moving, funny, intelligent, clever, deft, smart, funny, heartfelt, human, funny... -- David QuantickA poignant and original debut all in one * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisA delicious recipe for domestic disaster!Take one small town where everyone thinks they know everyone else''s business. Add three households: MP Mike Andrews, his wife Gill and two young children; Church of Scotland minister Tom Graham, his wife Ali, two teenage daughters and an afterthought; Sixty-something local businessman Jack Caldwell, and his childless wife Phyllis.Mix in several large dollops of scandal, some secrets and a tragedy.Turn up the heat and bring to the boil.Season with one eccentric old lady - Minty Oliver - and serve with the tabloid press and a big helping of local gossip.Trade Review'Wallace gleefully exposes the gossipy thought bubbles of the self-righteous and genteel...consistently wry and often joyously funny' * Herald *'A rollicking read...with a good eye for what lies beneath the surface' * Australian Women's Weekly *'Neatly observed...enjoyably witty' * Scotsman *'An easily inhaled, colourful tale...with moments of poignancy and humour' * Courier Mail *'Hugely entertaining' * Sunday Post *'Hilarious...a tale of quaint country folk peppered with smatterings of bigotry, raunchiness and intrigue' * Orkney Today *'Her observations about women's lives are sharply pointed and pertinent' * Sydney Morning Herald *'Rosie Wallace captures the small town perfectly...a very funny and authentic novel' * forargyll.com *

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Book SynopsisA delicious and unputdownable read from the irresistible Isla DewarTrade Review'Beautifully told and a thoroughly enjoyable read' * Sun *

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Book SynopsisLaugh out loud, speed-date and be totally charmed by Step on it, Cupid, a delightful romantic comedy by Lorelei Mathias, perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Sophie Kinsella, Nicola Doherty and Mhari McFarlane. Amelie''s life is arranged just how she likes it. Well, most of the time.She has a brilliant job she adores, a great social life and a love life she can take or leave. So it''s a shock when she realises that everyone she knows seem to be happily coupled up. Is it time she thought about settling down? Assigned a nightmarish project in work - writing the ad campaign for Britain''s biggest speed-dating company - Amelie is forced into doing market research, against her will. But with her best mate Duncan, her annoying boss Joshua and her ex-boyfriend Jack all causing havoc in her life, maybe a speed-dating romance could be her salvation?Charming, engrossing and romantic, Step on it, Cupid is a modern spin on the oldest sTrade ReviewI thoroughly enjoyed this book ...It's a great, fun story, which twists and turns, and makes you laugh out loud, and importantly keeps you guessing right up to the end. Superbly written * Chloe's Chick Lit Reviews *A clever, humorous foray into intelligent chick lit for first time author Lorelei Mathias -- Emma Murray, authorCute, romantic and definitely a joy to read ... a fun, light read that'll keep you guessing * Trashionista *Sparky dialogue and a lovely depiction of friendship. I loved this! -- Katie FfordeYou'd be DAFT to miss out on this fab book - it's blimmin' marvellous! I LOVED IT -- Miranda DickinsonRequired reading for anyone who's ever had their heartbroken -- Lucy RobinsonA wonderful, original concept, hilariously well-told and with characters that practically leap off the page at you -- Claudia CarrollSassy and contemporary. Highly recommended -- Phillipa AshleyFearlessly funny, this book was such a pleasure to read I have to give a rare 5 stars. A perfect balance between exaggeration for humour and "I've been there" real-life believability -- Erin LawlessA fun-filled read, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with flashes of real empathy. Love and friendship shone through the laugh-out-loud moments. Loved the twists and turns and that it kept me guessing all the way to the end -- Jules WakeMathias is that rare breed of writer with a gift for making slyly humourous comments that seem to roll off her keyboard. Funny, warm and heartfelt. Loved it! * Brighton & Hove Independent *Witty, knowing and heartfelt * The Book Doctor *

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Book SynopsisA warm and uplifting story of how a woman falls in love with a place and its people: a landscape, a community and a fragile way of life. A rural idyll: that''s what Catherine is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and her dream is to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you''re no longer just here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather, and the reserve of her neighbours, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol. And that''s before the arrival of Catherine''s sister, Bryony...Trade ReviewPraise for Rosy Thornton's previous novels: 'A refreshing twist on the romantic novel * She *Something of an achievement * Daily Telegraph *A love story with a difference * Woman's Weekly *She is skilled at drawing out the poignancy of ordinary life * Guardian *A sparkling, intelligent story - I loved it * Adele Geras *Thornton's debut is charming and funny * Glasgow Evening Times *A warm, witty and sharp-eyed look at what happens to real people * Emma Darwin *A charming well-written book, full of sweet anecdotes and humorous stories * Belfast Sunday Life *

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Book SynopsisLife is too short to play a supporting role. Take control and dive into Jamie Varon''s uplifting, escapist rom-com! Early readers are loving it:''I knew within the first page that this was going to be a book I would love. . . [S]uch an enjoyable read'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review''It''s so refreshing to read a romance where plus sized women are not only represented, but are supported. . . Would absolutely recommend!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review''This book is everything I wanted it to be and more. . . The friendship and feminist rage felt raw and real and important. The romance with Oliver was the icing on the cake. This story is one that you shouldn''t miss'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewIt''s your story, but are you the main character? Poppy Banks would rather be writing mysteries than listicles for he

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Book SynopsisLook Out for the Little Guy is the in-movie memoir by Scott Lang, also known as Ant-Man, that he’s written and shared with the world, as seen onscreen in the new Marvel Studios film Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Hyperion Avenue is proud to bring this book to real life.This is the incredible story of an ex-con turned world-saving Super Hero.In Look Out for the Little Guy, Scott Lang shares with the world a bracingly honest account of his struggles and triumphs, from serving time to being a divorced dad to becoming Ant-Man and joining The Avengers. These are stories of epic battles won and lost, as this everyman turned Super Hero finally tells all—from the official account of what really happened between The Avengers and Thanos to how shrinking down to ant-size really feels to the challenges of balancing the roles of hero and dad.Across his many adventures big and small, Scott has gathered the wisdom of countless amazing experi

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestseller!From the bestselling author of The Leftovers and Little Children comes a penetrating and hilarious new novel about sex, love, and identity on the frontlines of America''s culture wars.Eve Fletcher is trying to figure out what comes next. A forty-six-year-old divorcee whose beloved only child has just left for college, Eve is struggling to adjust to her empty nest when one night her phone lights up with a text message. Sent from an anonymous number, the mysterious sender tells Eve, U R my MILF! Over the months that follow, that message comes to obsess Eve. While leading her all-too-placid life-serving as Executive Director of the local senior center by day and taking a community college course on Gender and Society at night-Eve can''t curtail her own interest in a porn website called MILFateria.com, which features the erotic exploits of ordinary, middle-aged women like herself. Before long, Eve''s online fixTrade ReviewA provocative comedy of sexual politics, with heart and bite * Sunday Mirror *A wry, spiky examination of how the internet is reshaping sexuality * Mail on Sunday *[Perrotta is] the American Nick Hornby * Independent *[A] comical but compassionate exploration of the contemporary sexual landscape . . . As a man writing about a woman's sexuality, Perrotta has been careful to avoid lapses that might seem prurient or salacious . . . He seems motivated by a genuine curiosity about shifting social attitudes and the impact of technology on people's lives. * The Herald *"Mrs. Fletcher," Perrotta's seventh novel and first since 2011's "The Leftovers," operates and succeeds in ways that will be pleasingly familiar to his admirers. It uses a fecund premise, a large cast of recognizable characters, a rotating point of view, a propulsive plot, a humane vision and clean, non-ostentatious ... prose to explore a fraught cultural topic. There be dragons, yes, but decency mitigates the danger. "Mrs. Fletcher" is the sweetest and most charming novel about pornography addiction and the harrowing issues of sexual consent that you will probably ever read. * — The New York Times Book Review *[Perrotta] explores the redefining of American sex lives by technology. . . . Mrs. Fletcher is a wry, compassionate novel about the ramifications of porn filtering so effortlessly into mainstream culture, without hysteria or accusations. Perrotta [is] well-versed in capturing the manifold follies and fetishes of human behavior. . . . One of the sharpest elements of Mrs. Fletcher is how Perrotta presents two opposing forces colliding on campus: porn culture and PC culture. * —The Atlantic *At times morbidly funny and, at others, grim, "Mrs. Fletcher" signals a return to familiar territory for Mr. Perrotta - sex, school and suburbia ... While "Mrs. Fletcher" may sound, from a plot summary, like an R-rated comedy or the outline for a raunchy Judd Apatow movie, it is more melancholy than many of his earlier books. Sex and pornography often serve as shorthand for characters' loneliness and their search for self-worth. * —The New York Times *Light, zingy, and laugh-out-loud funny. * —People *The sinews of Perrotta's fiction, rather, are the tensions within and between characters, tensions that he steadily and artfully amplifies until the reader becomes possessed by curiosity about how they'll be resolved ... "Mrs. Fletcher" is lit up by flashes of acute observation. * —The New Yorker *[A] fantastic tease ... [Perrotta] knows how to capture the hilarious contradictions of teenagers. * —The Washington Post *From the thrill of learning of its existence, to the feverish turning of pages, to the contemplative afterglow that comes from having finished: there's nothing like a new Tom Perrotta novel. Mrs. Fletcher is all you dream it will be: hilarious, provocative (a little too), relatable, and every moment a joy ride. * —Maria Semple, bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Today Will Be Different *Tom Perrotta has to be considered one of our true genius satirists. * —Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River *He's the Steinbeck of suburbia. * —Time *Tom Perrotta writes with a satirist's ear and the heart of a romantic. * —Jennifer Egan *

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Book SynopsisMeet the Girls on Tour - Poppy, Lily, Maggie and Rachel. Four ordinary girls who have the most fun in faraway places. You''ll laugh, you''ll cry, you''ll lose your heart. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Debbie Johnson and Fiona Collins. ''I really enjoyed this book, it felt like pure escapism and made me feel sunny and happy'' Kate, Me, My Books and I on The Out of Office GirlFour girls. One year. Five fabulous destinations...Poppy is bound for Paris, the City of Love. Could this be her chance to end her epic dry spell?Lily is en route to her cousin''s wedding in LA, where she''s willing to break a few rules to land her dream role.Maggie can''t wait for her romantic ski holiday in Meribel - until it goes seriously off-piste.Rachel packs for a glamorous Roman holiday, but a blast from the past is about to sabotage la dolce vita.The girls get together and fly to ManhattanTrade ReviewFabulously enjoyable * Bookseller *Hugely enjoyable... a very funny story * Daily Mail *A great beach read * Star *Escapism at its very best * Books Ireland *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the 100,000+ copy-selling rom-com, Love to Hate You! No one makes you laugh like Jo Watson!''If you want a book that is TRULY laugh out loud start here'' Goodreads reviewerIf you love Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Paige Toon, you''ll LOVE Jo Watson!''A hilarious, laugh-out-loud romance that is a breath of fresh air'' 5* reader review''A masterclass in character development... This is truly a novel for the times we live in. I would highly recommend'' 5* reader review''Another absolutely gorgeous read by one of my favourite authors...completely impossible to put down'' 5* reader review''I loved this book. It was so funny and I really wish a movie could be made of it'' 5* reader review.................................................................................On the scale ofTrade ReviewThe descriptions of Thailand were beautiful ... well written and lovable ... a bundle of laughs' - Monash TimesI absolutely loved this book. It has humour, romance, heart-wrenching grief and the excitement to live life to the fullest. Jo has the talent for writing and she beautifully brings to life the story of Lilly and Damien ... a talented new author on the block - Njkinny s World of Books & StuffA woman abandoned at the altar who goes on her honeymoon to Thailand alone - just like we would! Hijinks ensue - Romantic Times

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Book SynopsisOwen Nicholls'' Love, Unscripted follows film projectionist Nick as he tries to understand why love isn''t always like the movies. Perfect for fans of romcoms, David Nicholls and Nick Hornby.''Sometimes a book comes along and it feels dusted with magic - Love, Unscripted is one of those books.'' Josie Silver, author of One Day in December IT ISN''T ALWAYS LIKE THE MOVIES . . .For the last four years, Nick''s life has been picture-perfect.He''s been working his dream job as a film projectionist and he''s been dating Ellie, the love of his life and the coolest woman he''s ever met. It took a while, but this hopeless romantic finally found a love story to rival the big screen.Until, one day, Ellie moves out. Stunned by the end of their cinematic romance, Nick rewinds to the first night they met. Maybe if he can freeze-frame their happiest moments, he can work out why ElTrade ReviewA complete delight for film lovers (and lovers of love) * Holly Bourne *High Fidelity with celluloid replacing vinyl - an astutely observed romantic comedy that had me shaking with laughter and sniffing away tears. Pure pleasure. * Nev Pierce, Contributing Editor EMPIRE Magazine *Sometimes a book comes along and it feels dusted with magic - Love, Unscripted is one of those books. Nostalgic, tender and achingly cool, it has the same understated beauty as a John Cusack movie. A love letter to the silver screen and to all of the iconic romantic comedies - it's book treasure, my new favourite. * Josie Silver, author of One Day in December *A refreshing take on the typical boy-meets-girl romance . . . an unmissable read * Woman's Weekly *Smartly observed romcom . . . bursting with some very cute cultural references' * Sunday Mirror *A fun, entertaining story with bags of heart - the book equivalent of a classic rom-com * CultureFly *This will tug at your heart strings * Best Magazine *A nostalgic read for fans of Nick Hornby and David Nicholls . . . Expect plenty of film references as Nick tries to work out where it all went wrong - and if it can ever go right . . . [a] smart, funny novel * Heat magazine *An unmissable, multi-layered read * Woman & Home *A gorgeous romcom filled with movie references and Obama-era nostalgia * Kate Davies, author of In At The Deep End *The perfect read for film enthusiasts * Woman magazine *Charming read * Woman's Way *Nicholls shows a lovely lightness of touch in this enjoyable debut * iPaper *This is one of the best books I have ever read. If When Harry Met Sally and High Fidelity had a book baby, this would be it * Emma Cooper, author of The Songs of Us *A properly funny, clever, bittersweet romcom * Richard Roper, author of Something To Live For *High Fidelity for the multiplex generation. Owen Nicholls makes it look easy but it's a smart and funny book, laced with wisdom. A lovely, warm, engaging read. * Richard Lumsden, author of The Six Loves of Billy Binns *One of the most realistic love stories I have read * Michelle Elman, author of Am I Ugly? *Cute romcom full of cinematic references * The Sun, Fabulous Magazine *A delightfully sweet, funny, and heartbreaking ode to love stories, both onscreen and off. * Kirkus, starred review *Couldn't put it down! * Take A Break *

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Book Synopsis''A fun beach read! Valerie Tejeda writes relatable characters full of heart!'' JO WATSON''GOOD ON PAPER was the absolute perfect beach read! With a relatable main character struggling to find her path . . . this story was completely captivating and I enjoyed every minute of reading. A perfect tale of finding yourself and finding love!'' FALON BALLARD, author of LEASE ON LOVE''A warm-hearted look at the importance of family, love, and being true to yourself. Equal parts touching and funny, once I started reading it I couldn''t put it down!'' ELIZABETH DAVIS, author of I LOVE YOU, I HATE YOUA fabulously escapist beach read with heart and soul about living the life you really want, Good on Paper is the rom-com you have to read this summer! Perfect for fans of Jo Watson, Emily Henry, Mhairi McFarlane and Angie Hockman.''The perfect summer beach read for any fans of friends-to-lovers romance! The book is

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