Humorous fiction

Book SynopsisDietland will be adapted into AMC's 10-episode straight-to-series starring multiple-Emmy winner Julianna Margulies and Joy Nash. Plum Kettle does her best not to be noticed, because when you're fat, to be noticed is to be judged. Or mocked. Or worse. But when a mysterious woman starts following her, Plum finds herself involved with an underground community of women who live life on their own terms. At the same time, a dangerous guerrilla group called "Jennifer" begins to terrorize a world that mistreats women. As Plum grapples with her personal struggles, she becomes entangled in a sinister plot, the consequences of which are explosive.Trade ReviewDevastatingly funny * The Pool *Spiky, funny... Wonderfully unapologetic, off-beat and a lot of fun * Elle *As funny as it is fierce * Glamour *An amazing, different and transformative novel * Daily Mail *A call to arms. Devious, subversive, delightful * Alice Sebold, author of The Lovely Bones *What looks like feel-good fluff becomes an angry, surreal feminist Fight Club * Independent Magazine *Ferocious and hilarious * Margaret Atwood *As funny as it is thought-provoking... a joy to read * Heat Magazine *What opens as a beach read evolved into a tart, electrifying revenge tale * Mail on Sunday *Disturbing, surprising, and refreshingly angry * New York Magazine *Finally, the feminist murder mystery/makeover story we've been waiting for * O, The Oprah Magazine *This modern makeover story is super-smart, forward-thinking and honest. * Essentials *Witty and wise * People *Captures the misery of failing to fit in, to fit into the right clothes, to fit in with the right people and their expectations * The Economist *It's vanishingly rare to see a novel that looks like the much-maligned 'chick lit' - and sometimes reads like it - so gleefully censorious of rape culture * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisPsychic cat Irene Peggledrip is being visited by a band of malevolent spirits who all claim to be murderers. Not only is their message disturbing, but they cause chaos with indoor snowstorms, flying books and the untimely demise of a delicious Victoria sponge. Irene calls in Hettie and Tilly of the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency to help, but they’re not sure how far their skills reach into the spirit realm. Meanwhile, Lavender Stamp, the town’s bad-tempered postmistress cat, has some good news to deliver to Tilly: she has won a competition to take afternoon tea with renowned mystery writer Agatha Crispy at her Devon home, Furaway House. Will Hettie and Tilly finally lay the ghosts to rest? Can Molly Bloom’s new café survive the seance? And will the moving claw give up its secrets before the gravy congeals? Find out in this latest adventure of our favourite feline sleuths.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE NO. 2 FELINE DETECTIVE AGENCY 'Original and intriguing… a world without people which cat lovers will enter and enjoy’ P. D. James'I loved it. The whole concept is just so “real”!’ Barbara Erskine'Mandy Morton’s Feline Detective Agency instigates a new genre, both wonderful and surreal’ Maddy Prior‘The world that Morton has created is irresistible’ Publishers Weekly‘Witty and smart. Prepare to be besotted’ M. K. Graff‘Mandy Morton’s series is both charming and whimsical’ Barry Forshaw‘Hettie Bagshot might be a new face at the scene of a crime, but already she could teach most fictional detectives a thing or two’ The Hunts Post

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Book SynopsisClassical music can be a dangerous pastime… What with love affairs, their conductor dropping dead, a stolen cello and no money, Stockwell Park Orchestra is having a fraught season. After Mrs Ford-Hughes is squashed and injured by a dying guest conductor mid-concert, she and her husband withdraw their generous financial backing, leaving the orchestra broke and unsure of its future. Cellist Erin suggests a recovery plan, but since it involves their unreliable leader, Fenella, playing a priceless Stradivari cello which then goes missing, it’s not a fool-proof one. Joshua, the regular conductor, can’t decide which affair to commit to, while manager David’s nervous tic returns at every doom-laden report from the orchestra’s treasurer. There is one way to survive, but is letting a tone-deaf diva sing Strauss too high a price to pay? And will Stockwell Park Orchestra live to play another season?Trade Review'I was charmed... a very enjoyable read' Marian Keyes'Life, Death and Cellos is a witty and irreverent musical romp, full of characters I’d love to go for a pint with. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Stockwell Park Orchestra and can't wait for the next book in the series' Claire King, author of The Night Rainbow'Life, Death and Cellos is that rare thing – a funny music book. Rogers knows the world intimately, and portrays it with warmth, accuracy and a poetic turn of phrase. Sharp, witty and richly entertaining' Lev Parikian, author of Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?'With its retro humour bordering on farce, this novel offers an escape into the turbulent (and bonkers) world of the orchestra' Isabel Costello, author of Paris Mon Amour'Dodgy post-rehearsal curries, friendly insults between musicians, sacrosanct coffee-and-biscuit breaks, tedious committee meetings: welcome to the world of the amateur orchestra. Throw in a stolen Stradivarius, an unexpected fatality and the odd illicit affair and you have Life, Death and Cellos, the first in a new series by Isabel Rogers' Rebecca Franks, BBC Music Magazine'A very funny tale of musical shenanigans set in the febrile atmosphere of the Stockwell Park Orchestra' Ian Critchley

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Book SynopsisMr Edgar Finchley, unmarried clerk, aged 45, is told to take a holiday for the first time in his life. He decides to go to the seaside. But Fate has other plans in store… From his abduction by a cheerful crook, to his smuggling escapade off the south coast, the timid but plucky Mr Finchley is plunged into a series of the most astonishing and extraordinary adventures. His rural adventure takes him gradually westward through the English countryside and back, via a smuggling yacht, to London. This gentle comedy trilogy was a runaway bestseller on first publication in the 1930s and retains a timeless appeal today. It has been dramatized twice for BBC Radio, with the 1990 series regularly repeated.Trade ReviewPraise for the Classic Canning Series ‘Quite delightful, with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm … The longer we travel with Mr Finchley, the better we come to love him. He makes us share his bread and cheese, and beer and pipe. His delight at the beauties of the countryside and his mild astonishment at the strange ways of men are infectious’ Daily Telegraph‘His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. Rarely does one come on so satisfying an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing’ Punch‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the English character… [Mr Finchley] runs into one astonishing situation after another, sticking gamely to his resolve that he must take things as they come and accept them’ New York Times‘What counts for most in the story, as it did for Mr Finchley, is his mounting pleasure in vagabondage and the English scene’ The Times‘There is such a gentle humour in the book … Mr Finchley is the ideal Englishman’ Daily Sketch

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Book SynopsisFour boys. One band. No Chance. Chris and George are best friends, and they want to be rockstars. Unfortunately, a childhood spent playing in the school orchestra and listening to Jimmy Nail has left them a little fluffy around the edges, and at the age of 23, their acoustic duo Satellite doesn’t resemble Bon Jovi nearly as much as they’d planned. So how do two ordinary boys from a sleepy village go about taking on the cut-throat world of rock ’n’ roll? They'll have to fake it until they make it. True to life, funny and uplifting, Mockstars is a coming-of-age story about friendship and chasing the rock ’n’ roll dream. Inspired by the real-life tour diaries of the author’s band The Lightyears, Mockstars is a refreshingly different musical odyssey.

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Book SynopsisIf Ruth had stayed on leave, none of it might have happened. An astronomer working at the Maurice Frazer Observatory, Ruth Russell is enjoying her time in Rome. That is until Charles Digham, top fashion photographer and Ruth’s lover, has his camera stolen and the thief ends up a headless corpse in the zoo park toletta. The enigmatic Johnson Johnson, in Rome to paint a portrait of the Pope, is on hand to unravel the mystery. But as Johnson and Ruth begin the search for clues it soon becomes clear that more is at stake than the secrets of a couture house… something far more deadly.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE DOLLY MYSTERY SERIES ‘The Dolly novels are… delicious, funny, ingenious, glamorous, clever’ Listener‘Dunnett tempts her fans with buried clues and red herrings that keep them reading and rereading the books’ New York Times‘[Dunnett’s] women are among her strongest characters' Guardian

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Book Synopsis''Hilarious, warm, witty and oh so real'' Jo Elvin, Editor of You Magazine, Mail on SundayElle Campbell is a glossy, lycra-clad mum with washboard abs, a ten-year plan and a secret past. Abi Black has quit sugar, moved to the country and is homeschooling her kids. Leisel Adams slogs away at her office job each day before rushing home, steeped in guilt, to spend precious moments with her kids before bedtime.All three share a label that they simultaneously relish and loathe: mummy blogger. And when they are nominated for an award with a hefty cash prize, the scene is set for a brutal and often hilarious battle for hearts, minds-and clicks. As the awards night gets closer, their lies get bigger, their stunts get crazier - and some mistakes from the past become harder and harder to hide.REVIEWSWildly entertaining' Jodi Gibson''Fun, witty, and beautifully expletive-ridden'' Read the Write Act''The freshest, funniest new voice in fiction since Liane Moriarty'' Mia FreedmanIf you're looking for a fast paced read that will have you awkwardly smiling in public,GET THIS BOOK' Summer LaneFunny, perceptive and a must-read'' Better ReadingLOVED it, I mean laughed out loud in public places while reading it loved it' Ink and Paper Soul

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Book SynopsisHer new colleague is about to shake things up...When her love life crashed down around her, Edie found solace in work. But her job rapidly goes from uplifting to unbearable, with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival in the office of new guy, Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser, and the very opposite of a team player. And just as things start to go downhill at work, Edie’s personal life takes a downturn too, when her ex, Jason, decides that right now would be the perfect moment to get back in touch and deliver some devastating news. Edie's increasingly miserable work life and her complicated personal life are suddenly on a collision course. The big question is, will she be able to salvage anything from the wreckage? A tender uplit novel of one woman’s accidental rediscovery of the perfect work-life balance. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Kinsella and Jenny Colgan.

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Book Synopsis'What a charming book. Charlie Lyndhurst observes society with a keen eye.' Sue Moorcroft, author of A Home in the SunEven wedding planners struggle to get it right…Jason is the best wedding planner around, known as the Fairy Godfather to the couples whose special days he plans. But coming up against workplace prejudice is taking a toll on his love for his job.His mother-in-law, Mel, has just discovered her husband has been cheating on her with a younger woman. Nearing fifty, jobless and struggling, she needs to work out who she is aside from a mum and a wife, and get her life back on track.Meanwhile, up-tight wedding planner Harriet is struggling to find her own true love – if such a thing exists. Between liars, married men, and disaster dates, she thinks she may never find the one. And her outdated attitude toward LGBT marriages make her even more bitter.When Jason starts Extra Weddings – helping people marry whoever they like, in whatever way they want – he, Mel and Harriet find themselves coming together to help couples make memories to last a lifetime. But can they bridge their gaps, and be a unit when others need them most?Fans of Casey McQuiston, Lindsey Kelk and Justin Myers are invited to the most heartwarming and extravagant wedding event of 2022.Readers are loving The Grooms Wore White:'A super cute read - you'll be laughing and crying.' Mandy Baggott, author of Staying Out for the Summer‘Perfect meet cutes, great characters, a few laughs, and of course that HEA that checks all the feelgood boxes’ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reader Review‘I adored every character… I truly loved it.’ Reader Review‘I loved jumping between these three stories. I really fell in love with all of these characters.’ Reader Review‘The story was fantastic. An almost Love, Actually kind of vibe.’ Reader Review‘Had me laughing out loud. The writing is good, the storyline is adorable and the characters are lovable.’ Reader Review‘Didn't let me go until I read the final page…I became fully invested in their lives.’ Reader Review‘A heartwarming story of staying true to yourself charming and heartfelt.’ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisTWO PEOPLE. ONE SUMMER. A LOVE STORY THEY DIDN'T SEE COMING...Readers LOVE Summer Reading!'Wow! What a book!''I could not put it down!''Would definitely recommend to others!''What a lovely book - perfect summer reading''A sweet, light-hearted read that would be perfect for a relaxing beach holiday''Perfection - I can't say enough good things!'______________________Sam set out to spend the summer resurrecting her career as a chef but instead, has to chaperone her half-brother to a robotics competition at the local library.And naturally, because the universe hates her, the library's interim director, Ben, turns out to be the Hot Reader Guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry to the island.Sam doesn't do reading. Ben doesn't do romantic relationships.But when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she's always dreamed about, they discover there might be more than just a creative spark between them.Will this summer be a recipe for disaster... Or love?______________________Praise for Jenn McKinlay'This flawless romcom is sure to delight' Publishers Weekly'A whisk-you-away romcom ... It's the perfect summer vacation' Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script'A playful breezy read that I couldn't put down!' Abby Jimenez, USA Today bestselling author'I devoured this clever novel in one sitting!' Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author'A thoroughly satisfying read that tugged at my heart and made me happy-sigh when I reached the end!' Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man

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Book Synopsis'Electrifyingly good...sharply comic and perfectly poignant' Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable-------------------Everyone is moving on... and then, there's HannaBy thirty, Hanna expected to have it all (or at least some of it)· A fulfilling and successful career· A healthy, long-term relationship, maybe even an engagement ring· A house (or at least a flat) of her ownBut in reality, she's back at square one...· Single after breaking up with someone she's not sure ever loved her· Flooded with wedding invitations and pregnancy scan pictures from friends· Unable to afford to live on her own and forced to move in with her father who is also single and datingEveryone moves at different paces, but Hanna's life is in reverse. With the pressure to keep up and her dad's insufferable musings on Tinder, will she be able to figure out what she really wants?Trade ReviewElectrifyingly good...sharply comic and perfectly poignant * Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable *Keenly observed and hecking funny, this is a book for our times * Red *A fresh, funny novel filled with truths about relationships and perfect details. I tore though it * Amy Liptrot *The #HOTMESS manifesto... a relatable story about a slow-mo car crash of early 30s. * Evening Standard *Witty and heart-warming, we couldn't put this book down * Closer *

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Book SynopsisESCAPE TO BALI WITH THIS YEAR'S MOST FEEL-GOOD ROMANTIC COMEDY'Complete sunshine in book form... a delicious slow burn love story' Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Staycation'The perfect slice of summer escapism... I read it in one sitting!' Catherine Walsh, author of Holiday Romance'A delight. Ideally would have read it on a beach; still bloody good served on the sofa' Lauren Bravo, author of PrelovedFor fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Tessa Bailey--One bookshop in paradise. Two bitter rivals. A whole summer to get through...Clare thought that by now she would have her life figured out. Instead, she's living with her parents, working a job she hates and has absolutely no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life.When she sees a viral job advert for a three-month bookseller position on a Bali beach, she jumps at the chance. But it's not until she arrives in Bali that Clare realises she won't be working in the bookshop alone.Instead she's sharing the bookshop - and a flat - with a handsome but infuriating American man. Jack is Clare's opposite in almost every way, and it's not long before they're driving each other crazy. But fighting with Jack is also the most fun Clare's had in years, and it's only a matter of time before their relationship turns less than professional...Beach Rivals is an escapist, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers rom com - the ideal summer read!Readers are loving Beach Rivals:'The perfect read for wet and rainy British spring! I loved everything about this' *****'Such a cute fast paced read. Great writing... Do yourself a favor and pick up Beach Rivals!' *****'I read this book in one day and have been daydreaming about moving to Bali to do up a bookshop!' ****'This was such a fun, cute and easy read. Had me laughing out loud and swooning over the characters' ****Trade ReviewComplete sunshine in book form... Fun and swoonworthy, a delicious slow burn love story as well as a love letter to books, Beach Rivals is as bright and engaging as its glorious cover' * Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Staycation *Beach Rivals is the perfect slice of summer escapism! Sizzling chemistry paired with swoony romance, and two characters I completely fell in love with. I read it in one sitting! * Catherine Walsh, author of Holiday Romance *An ideal summer read * That's Life! summer book club *A delight. Ideally would have read it on a beach; still bloody good served on the sofa * Lauren Bravo, author of Preloved *The definitive summer novel - one that transports readers to sunny climes and a consoling world of books you won't want to leave * Culturefly *

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Book Synopsis'A warm, witty novel about love and friendship with a fun time-travel twist' HELLO Magazine Number one bestselling author Louise Pentland is back with her brand new novel that will make you laugh, make you cry and thoroughly charm you!Sometimes you have to go back, to move forwards.Tabby is stuck. She still lives in the small town she grew up in . . . the town she's barely ever left.So, when her dad drops a bombshell over their weekly Sunday dinner, Tabby takes a look at her own life. She lives firmly in her comfort zone and doesn't know how to break out. Sometimes she wishes she could go back and start all over again.When she meets Bea, a free spirit like no one else she's ever known with an 'interesting' sense of style, Tabby quickly befriends her, recognising in Bea the change she's been craving. But soon it becomes clear that more has changed than her new friend. Somehow Tabby has been transported back to the 1980s.With the chance to reinvent herself in another time, will Tabby finally manage to move forward?'Full of hope and courage and sisterhood' Emma B, Magic FM

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Book SynopsisYou can’t change your past. You can only use the experiences you live through to make your future better, wiser. Anna and her best friend George meet every week to remember, to sigh, to laugh, to reminisce about their moments of glory, guilt and mischief and share their sorrows over a glass or three of wine. The things they’ve done still make them blush. Anna wanted to be a poet – a famous poet. George left home in a childish rage and years later returned with her baby. When Anna is asked to look after the boy across the road for a few hours each week, she isn’t sure. She doesn’t really do children. But she takes the job on and, gradually, a child’s view of her world shows her a different place. George remembers a flat she stayed in when she ran away from home. It had the kitchen of all kitchens and, oh, how she’d love to see it again. Anna sets out to see if it still exists and discovers a cookbook full of recipes, intimates notes and drawings from George’s life. Does all this mark an ending or the beginning of something new and marvellous for Anna and George?Trade Review'It rings so true, Dewar evoking the preoccupations of age with a quiet authority… grounded in an awareness that experience and wisdom are qualities that are always hard-won' * Herald *'Under the surface there is a deep well of triumphs, romance, tragedy and loss ...[Anna’s verse is] sometimes profound and beautiful, sometimes comic' * The Scotsman *'Advancing age may have rendered Anna and George invisible to the world, but so well drawn are they that readers across the generations will be attracted to these golden pals ... Lines lightly laced with pathos combine to pack a punch so powerful they often leave readers reeling' * Sunday Post *'Funny and sweet but not overly sentimental, fans of Gail Honeyman will love this warm exploration of love and life' * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisThe Mudfog Papers, a collection of sketches by Dickens published in Bentley’s Miscellany between 1837 and 1838, describes the local politics of the fictional town of Mudfog – such as the delusions of grandeur of its mayor Nicholas Tulrumble and his disastrous attempts at putting on a public show – and the meetings of its Society for the Advancement of Everything, during which the town is overrun by illustrious scientists and professors conducting ostensibly pointless research. Written at the same time as Oliver Twist – indeed the serialized version of the novel referred to Mudfog as the protagonist’s home town – The Mudfog Papers lampoons all manner of journalistic and scientific writing of the time and showcases the young Dickens at his satirical best.Trade ReviewThe power of [Dickens] is so amazing that the reader at once becomes his captive. -- William Makepeace Thackeray

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Book SynopsisWhen shop-owner Julia Segovia decides that she’s going to marry the handsome if exceedingly young and naive soldier Valentin Brû, he willingly goes along with her scheme. Little does he know that he will have to contend with disgruntled in-laws, eccentric locals, a cunning wife, a shifty career in fortune-telling, the approaching threat of war with Germany and the mysteries of Parisian public transport. With a cast of eccentric characters, amusing incidents and an uplifting tone, The Sunday of Life – its title playfully alluding to Hegel’s theory of history – is a scintillating novel which showcases Queneau’s trademark punning, sly wit and delight in the absurdity of people and situations.Trade ReviewA very funny book with great charm. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisPublished originally as the purported French translation of a novel by fictional Irish writer Sally Mara, We Always Treat Women Too Well is set in Dublin during the 1916 Easter Rising and tells the story of the siege of a small post office by a group of rebels, who discover to their embarrassment that a female postal clerk, Gertie Girdle, is still in the lavatory some time after they have shot or expelled the rest of the staff. The events that follow are not for prudish readers, forming a scintillating, linguistically delightful and hilarious narrative. By far Queneau’s bawdiest work, We Always Treat Women Too Well contains all of its author’s hallmarks: wit, stylistic innovation and formal playfulness – expertly rendered into English by Barbara Wright’s classic translation.Trade ReviewEndowed with Queneau’s cerebral prankishness, electric pace and cut-on-the-bias poetry. -- John Updike

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Book SynopsisIn rich and abundant illustrations, Annie West tells a rowdy story of artistic struggle, ego and unexpected kindness. You will never look at the Irish Literary Canon in the same way again.

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Book SynopsisIn this collection, actor and seanchaí (traditional storyteller) Éamon Kelly's finest stories are collected for the first time: stories of the real Kerry and the magical past of the Gobán Saor, the heartbreak of emigration, the stations, the priests, the courting and dancing, the war between the sexes. Kelly mines a rich seam of humour and sadness out of resilience of a people rich in hospitality and generosity, imagination, culture and tradition.Table of ContentsIntroduction Beyond the Horizon Going to America The Gobán Saor Going to the Train Pegg the Damsel Shrovetime Mick the Fiddler Comes Home Killing the Pig After Hours Tobacco Love and Marriage The Hereafter The First Church Father MacGillacuddy Eoghan Rua and the Priest The Priest and the People Connor the Carman The Parish Clerk The Mission Civil and Strange A Quiet Drink The Poor Souls The Severe Penance Eoghan’s School The Golden Ball The Station House Con and Bridgie The Holy Well Doing the Rounds Nell Casey The Effigy Abbey’s Bowl A Ruminating Animal The Mermaid Minding the House The Season of Light The Barefooted Gander The Dear Departed Washing the Cock’s Feet The Cock and the Coop The Blacksmith’s Wife It Snowed That Night May Morning Daniel O’Connell and the Colonel from Battersea The Biddy Boys Mary O’Shea’s Story The Archdeacon, His Clerk and His Curate The King of the Lies The Jennet Spiorad an Tobac Clever Dogs The Woman That Went to Hell Tóg Bog É! The Golauns Dean Swift and His Serving Man I am a Young Fellow Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin Finds an English-speaking Son-in-law for a Wealthy Farmer The Man That Never Slept The Hiring Fairs The Young Woman’s Denial Two Fierce Lies Small Michael and the Major The Bicycle The Singapore Policeman Padden The Cat and the Splinter The Tay-Man The Connachtman’s Story Filling the Firkins The Apprenticed Doctor Glossary of Irish (and Hiberno-English) Words and Phrases Glossary of Irish Sentences About the Author About the Publisher

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Book Synopsis"The fact of the matter is Joseph Kirkland was afraid. Afraid of not being Saved. Afraid of being Saved. Afraid of the transformation that would occur the moment he uttered those words, Jesus! God! I want you to come into my heart!" Blessed Assurance is a coming-of-age novel. It is set against the backdrop of a small close-knit evangelical community in the fictional Scottish village of Kilhaugh during a fog-bound December in the late nineteen-sixties when the Cold War was on the brink of turning hot. The story takes place over six soul-searching days in the life of Godfearing dog-thief and pyromaniac, eleven-year-old Joseph Kirkland, and his godless, devil-may-care best friend, Archie Truman, as the perpetually guilt-ridden Joseph attempts to put right what he believes to be the most terrible of lies. It is peopled with colourful characters, peppered with moments of tenderness, tragedy and occasional surreal humour. At its heart though, Blessed Assurance is an exploration of family, friendship, faith, loneliness and grief, and the compromises that sometimes have to be made to remain part of our community.Trade ReviewStewart Ennis's debut novel hovers constantly between comedy and tragedy. Small-town Scotland is seen in perceptive detail through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy. Characters, like his fundamentalist Gran, like the unforgettable itinerant preacher, Benjamin Mutch, leap into our heads and take us over. Steeped in matters of faith and rejection the book offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into a past world which makes you turn the pages in a quest for answers. - Bernard MacLaverty; This, in a nuanced and theological sense, is a sectarian novel that manages to make life within a scripture-centred household appealing rather than appalling as stereotype would so often have it. We meet characters Mark Twain or Flannery O'Connor would have been proud to have begotten. ... Blessed Assurance's antecedents include The House with the Green Shutters, Gillespie and Docherty. More recent sources for comparison would be the work of Jeanette Winterson, James Robertson and the poet Iain Bamforth. The earnest, scab-scouring schoolboy dreamer and precocious would-be missionary, Joseph Kirkland, takes his well earned place amongst the many youthful savants and seers populating the coming-of-age stories that predominate in Caledonian letters. - Donny O'Rourke

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Book SynopsisLinguistically dexterous, scintillating with intelligence and wit, and balancing incisive observation with deep compassion, the short fictions in Y Knots draw us into the lives of characters we feel completely involved with. Here we have a hall of mirrors in which the writer mines his soul for images that reflect the story. But in interrogating the self, what Omar Sabbagh produces is an engaging array of unique perspectives on all our souls.Trade ReviewIf, as Sabbagh writes, writing is always a performance and projection of a self, then Y Knots is the performance of a self breath-takingly prodigious and heterodox. That Sabbagh is able to weave this self into characters whose tussles leap off the page so compellingly shows a master at work. — Peter Salmon, author of An Event, Perhaps: A Biography of Jacques Derrida;Y Knots hold the Hanging Gardens of Babylon teleported into the tired aridity of a postmodern mind. The lushness of Sabbagh’s characters and settings is nurtured with such loving drip-irrigation precision that you'll find yourself enamored with both his beauties and his beasts. — Svetlana Lavochkina, novelist, poet, translator;Intelligent and passionate, these stories are singularities that make all the difference. Sabbagh seems to be, as he describes one of his characters, ‘an inexorably-thinking man’, but there is a certain rawness and playfulness to the stories which makes the philosophical grounding often quite hilarious. Sabbagh is also a unique chronicler of the Middle East and globalization. — Adnan Mahmutovic, author of At the Feet of Mothers

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Book SynopsisJust before her twenty-seventh birthday, Jazzy hatches a plan. Before the year is out, she and her best girlfriends will all have spectacular weddings to rich ang moh - Western expat - husbands, with Chanel babies to follow. As Jazzy - razor-sharp and vulgar, yet vulnerable - fervently pursues her quest to find a white husband, the contentious gender politics and class tensions thrumming beneath the shiny exterior of Singapore's glamorous nightclubs are revealed. Desperate to move up in Asia's financial and international capital, will Jazzy and her friends succeed?Vividly told in Singlish - colourful Singaporean English with its distinctive cadence and slang - Sarong Party Girls brilliantly captures the unique voice of a young, striving woman caught between worlds. With remarkable vibrancy and empathy, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan brings not only Jazzy, but her city of Singapore, to dazzling, dizzying life.Trade Review[A] powerful, occasionally astonishing story about materialism, status and manipulation...fascinating. * Daily Mail *Delectably vulgar, it perfectly captures Jazzy's world and is joyous to read . . . The book's brilliance lies in its reflection of the racism, sexism and classism in Jazzy's society, and her growing awareness and ability to handle it...Lu-Lien Tan has done a fantastic job of bringing Jazzy to life and of balancing the juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary values in Singapore. An absolute summer must-read. * The Skinny *a subversive critique of Singapore's gender and racial hierarchy * gal-dem *[A] very funny, irreverent, sharp-eyed debut . . . Jazzy's voice is the heart and soul of the book: tart, spirited, brazen, naïve, knowing. * Slate *Utterly irresistible....I fell in love with Jazzy's fresh, exuberant voice and trenchant wit. In her debut novel, Tan is saying something profound and insightful about the place of women in our globalized, capitalized, interconnected world. -- Ruth OzekiIn Singapore, this satirical novel of predatory beauties would be regarded as deeply subversive - for the rest of us, and anyone familiar with life in that little island city-state, it is hilarious and original. -- Paul TherouxScarlett O'Hara would have met her match in Jazeline Lim, the brazen, striving, yet ultimately vulnerable heroine of this bold debut novel. -- Julia Glass, National Book Award-winning author of THREE JUNESDarkly funny, Sarong Party Girls is one very determined woman's journey through modern Singapore, an intoxicating crossroads of culture, money and ambition. Her voice is utterly new and engaging, bringing her world to vivid life from the first sentence. -- Ayelet Waldman

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Book SynopsisPalm Royale on Apple TV+ starring Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, and Carol Burnett."A gorgeously messy and misguided heroine. I love this story." —Laura Dern"The perfect blend of salty and sweet." —Booklist (starred review)"Hilarious." —Refinery29The year is 1969. Dick Nixon was just sworn in as the thirty-seventh President of the United States. Neil Armstrong just took one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind. And notable Palm Springs socialite Maxine Simmons just found out that her husband is leaving her for his twenty-two-year-old secretary.After a public meltdown at Thanksgiving, Maxine finds herself not only divorced but exiled to Scottsdale, Arizona. However, these desert boondocks will not be her end—only her Elba. The former beauty queen sets her eyes on a new crown: that of the Mrs. American Pie pageant, awarded to the nation’s best wife and mother.Maxine only has one problem: to win the crown she’ll need to find—or build—a family of her own.Trade ReviewNamed a 2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist "McDaniel's debut is the perfect blend of salty and sweet, combining 1970s culinary horrors like ham and bananas hollandaise with a motley crew of fakers learning what family really means." —Booklist (starred review) "A gorgeously messy and misguided heroine. I love this story." —Laura Dern "Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is nonstop fun from start to finish." —HelloGiggles "Juliet McDaniel's debut novel is hilarious." —Refinery29 "A laugh-out-loud story starring a offbeat heroine you won't soon forget, Mr. & Mrs. American Pie is the comic relief you've been waiting for." —Bustle "Juicy and kooky—I loved it." —Cat Marnell, author of How to Murder Your Life "McDaniel has a winner with her wittily titled debut. Mr. & Mrs. American Pie mixes a riotous 1969 California with a story that speaks to today's Time's Up movement." —Andy Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter "Driven by three unforgettable characters, Mr. & Mrs. American Pie isn’t just a fast-paced romp about an American beauty pageant—it's a treatise on class, gender, politics, the power of perseverance, and what it means to be family." —Sarah Nivala, Book Soup "A hilarious and thought-provoking satire with as much heart as bite. For fans of Maria Semple and Helen Ellis with a dash of Carl Hiaasen's humor." —Becky Spratford, Librarian (RA for All) "This is the type of relentlessly entertaining, deeply kind novel that will appeal to fans of Maria Semple and Jami Attenberg." —Magan Szwarek, ‎Librarian (STDL)

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisLife of the Party will leave you with a hangover and a "VIP" stamp on your heart. Hacic crafts a Beat novel for the Instagram generation. This dark comedy dives into the underbelly of Milanese fashion and nightlife, through the eyes of Mia, a young expat. She came to Milan to escape her problems but only found more glamorous ones… Mia indulges in the highs and lows Milanese decadence can offer. Between fashion class and clubbing, her narcissistic boss and abusive boyfriend push her to face bleak reality. Life of the Party asks, can you lose your innocence if you were never innocent? Can you find control in chaos? And do you have a plus one for tonight’s party?Trade Review"Tea Hacic is an MDMA-fueled Oscar Wilde with fake eyelashes and this book is a Fear and Loathing for the late Berlusconi-era; a deep walk of shame that tiptoes between a bewildering Bildungsroman and a fever dream of social climbing and social embarrassment." OLIVER KUPPER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF AUTRE MAGAZINE "A recollection of youth as seen through the dichotomy of control vs desperation, Americana vs. Milanese, luxury vs poverty and uppers vs downers." BJ PANDA BEAR AT FLAUNT MAGAZINE "Tea recounts with brutal honesty the period in which Milan officially became the Italian city that everyone hates and envies." VICE Italy “Life of the Party” is a good goddamn time.” Columbia Journal “Reading Life of the Party is like drinking a coffee with Tea Hacic herself. Her light comes through the pages, her story becomes yours somehow. That’s the power of storytelling.” Vanity Teen“Clever debut novel of fashion and nightlife, readers are introduced to Mia, an expat newly moved to Milan. The drugs, nightclubs, and men blur together into a seemingly nonstop, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-style fever dream as intense as it is dripping with style.”Publishers’ Weekly “Life of the Party is an unstoppable climax, made of strong but honest opinions that will make you question your past, present and your future...Tea gives us an unmatched depiction of some of the most meaningful contradictions that makes us who we are.” French Fries Magazine "The party seduced me, the darkness shocked me, and Mia’s wondrous naïveté uplifted me." FLAUNT Magazine “It’s as intoxicating as the best party you’ve ever been to…Hacic-Vlahovic has written one hell of a ride.” The Big Smoke

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Book SynopsisChihiro’s big secret is finally out, and Itsuki is predictably thrilled at the news. With a girlfriend and a sister and a successful career, his life is complete. And now that Chihiro has been freed from her burden, will this be a turning point for her...?

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Book SynopsisWinter ends, spring arrives, and our protagonists take a new step forward. Harutoannounces a new series. Miyako joins Branch Hill Publishing to finally become aprofessional editor. Chihiro becomes the life of her university’s TRPG club. Finally, a100,000-character love letter inspires Itsuki to pour more energy into his novel andbecome a genuine protagonist. A new everyday life dawns as the series enters the firsthalf of its final chapter!

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Book SynopsisAfter the Valentine's Day event and trip to the aquarium, Hachiman, Yukino, and Yuidecide their next step to take. But suddenly the Service Club receives a huge request!Yukino must answer the call, even if she regrets her choice... Everyone has to grow upsomeday, and not every person you meet along the way will stay with you. But untilthat day comes, there is only the present. What is the answer that these three holdclose to their hearts?

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Book SynopsisThe calendar reads March, but the buds of new hope are far from blooming. Yukino,Yui, and Hachiman are finally trying to put their feelings into words and act onthemï¿9;but doing that means ending their relationship as it is now. As much as theywish things could stay like this forever, a new day cannot dawn until the beautifulsunset gives way to night. If they want to move forward, they must put an end to thischapter of their lives. And before they even have time to worry, the credits start toroll...

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Book SynopsisAs far as normies go, it's hard to beat Saku Chitose. The most popular kid in his highschool? Check. An ironclad reputation that can weather even vicious online attacks?Check. A friend group that's as attractive on the outside as they are on the inside?Check. But when a teacher asks Saku to help reacclimate a student who been shutaway in his room for months to school life, his perfect world will never be the same.What is this, some kinda normie harem story?

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Book SynopsisEach person's experience with youth is unique, and two girls in particular have a verydifferent view: the most powerful junior and cutest troublemaker Iroha Isshiki, andeveryone's little sister Komachi Hikigaya. Will the two eccentric younger heroinesprovide a breath of fresh air to the Service Club, or is the club's future in peril? Getready for a changing of the guard! This volume contains short stories not included in the collected volumes, as well as atotally new story!!

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Book SynopsisAfter a long unrequited love, Mahiru and Amane finally begin dating, and the inexperienced two stumble through their new relationship while steadily growing closer to each other. Although initially annoyed by the commotion surrounding Mahiru and him at school, Amane slowly changes and becomes more upfront and confident. Seeing this, Mahiru can’t help but feel slightly uneasy…but it’s time for a vacation and an unforgettable summer awaits them!

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Book SynopsisItsuki Hashima's spirits are high after learning one of his many little-sister-filled series is getting both an anime and a manga adaptation! However, the manga artist he'll be working with has a shocking secret...

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Miyako has gotten a part-time job working in editorial, thanks to the recommendation of Itsuki's editor Toki, but she had no idea how much work it would entail. Wrangling manuscripts from troublemaking authors, modeling for manga (in the nude), providing inspiration for Nayuta (in the nude), drinking parties, ridiculous demands from authors and editors... How will she hold up?!

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Book SynopsisThe gang gathers at Itsuki's to celebrate the premiere of his new anime! Naturally, tensions are high since it could be a flop, but they can't help feeling excited anyway. Between tentacles, maid outfits, and a confession of love, it's business as usual for our favorite light novelists!

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Book SynopsisThe school trip has finally ended, albeit with some lingering awkwardness, and life has returned to normal (more or less) for the Service Club. Their next big request has to do with student council elections, but the three members of the club can't agree how to handle it...and the results of their efforts may prove disastrous.

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Book SynopsisHachiman's winter break may have been short, but between Komachi's entrance exam worries, Iroha's selfish antics, and a request from the boys, he's still had plenty to do!

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Book SynopsisTomozaki never expected he would be mentoring Tama-chan in the ways of the normie-especially not when she turns out to have an A-tier character to begin with. How can he help her? CAN he help her...?

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen (or Baron Münchhausen's Story of his Marvellous Travels) by Rudolf Erich Raspe - is an assortment of stories published in 1785, in view of the German adventure Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen. The stories were adapted and re-published in German by Gottfried August Bürger in 1786.The tales were made into films in 1911 (Les Aventures du Baron de Münchhausen), 1943 (Münchhausen, script by Erich Kästner), and 1961 (Aristocrat Prášil by director Karel Zeman). His most popular adventures feature in the 1979 movie The Very Same Munchhausen by Russian director Mark Zakharov, which portrays Münchhausen as a grievous person, battling against the conformity and hypocrisy of the world around him.An eighteenth-century German respectable ventured abroad for military services and got back with a series of amusingly outrageous stories. Baron Munchausen's astounding feats included riding cannonballs, going to the Moon, and hauling himself out of a lowland by his own hair. The audience was delighted to know about these unlikely adventures, and in 1785, the tales were gathered and published as Baron Munchausen's Narrative of his Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia. By the nineteenth century, the stories had been transformed by several notable authors and had been translated into many languages.

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