Humorous fiction

Book Synopsis'One of my favourite books of 2023. A totally gorgeous read' BETH O'LEARY, author of THE FLATSHARE 'Perfectly observed and brilliantly funny, I adored it' EMMA HUGHESTWO BEST FRIENDS. ONE HUGE CRUSH. A YEAR THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. . .El Evans is stuck in a dead-end job, hopelessly in unrequited love with her best friend, Ray, and in need of a major life change. After a New Year's resolution to 'Be More Wild', El is soon in possession of one (small) tattoo, one (bad) hangover and memories of one (very disappointing) threesome. . . but she's trying and surely it can only get better?So when a plan is hatched for El, Ray and their two closest friends - newly heartbroken Will and Instagram darling Jamie - to ditch the big city and move out to a ramshackle house in the middle of the English countryside, El can hardly say no. This is her big chance for a fresh start, the perfect wild thing.But living in close proximity to the love of your life without letting on isn't as easy as El might think. . .WILL A YEAR OF WILD THINGS TURN THESE FRIENDS INTO LOVERS?A must-read romance for fans of Emily Henry, Bolu Babalola and Beth O'Leary'Joyous, funny, sexy and romantic. . . real Emily Henry vibes - a triumph!' Kate Sawyer'Heady, giddy, and outrageously flirty' Lily Lindon'A joyfully messy story of contemporary queer life' Bethany RutterTrade ReviewOne of my favourite books of 2023. It captures the pleasure/pain of a huge, heartfelt crush, and it also beautifully evokes the warmth of a loving community. I would love to stop by 'the commune' for a cup of tea with them all. A totally gorgeous read * Beth O'Leary, author of THE NO-SHOW *I completely and utterly adored Wild Things. It's perfectly observed, brilliantly funny, full of queer joy and such a timely exploration of what adult life could and should look like now * Emma Hughes, author of NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT *Wild Things feels fresh and exciting - a touching and realistic read with wonderful characters. I love Laura's writing * KATIE FFORDE, author of ONE ENCHANTED EVENING *A gorgeous queer rom-com that will have you laughing out loud * Glamour *Three novels in and Kay has established herself as one of the bright lights of queer romcom * Marie Claire *A sparkling, witty read filled with the most down-to-earth, loveable characters. The comedic timing was pitch-perfect too -- Lizzie Damilola BlackburnLaura Kay has taken it to the next level - real Emily Henry vibes but gay. Joyous, funny, sexy and romantic - a triumph! * Kate Sawyer, award-winning author of THE STRANDING *Funny and heartwarming and SO brilliantly evocative of the agony/ecstasy of having an enormous crush. . . Makes you want to move to a house in the country with your best friends * KATE DAVIES, author of IN AT THE DEEP END *Wild Things filled my heart all the way up. A hilarious story of queer friendship, queer longing, and queer triumph * TJ Alexander, author of CHEF'S KISS *Fresh, fun, thoughtful and hopeful, a joyfully messy story of contemporary queer life * Bethany Rutter, author of WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE *Heady, giddy, and outrageously flirty, Wild Things is the perfect escapist queer romcom for anyone longing to move to the country with their best friends * Lily Lindon, author of DOUBLE BOOKED *A spirited whirl through the agony and the ecstasy of a queer crush, and the vital friendships that keep us sane * Justin Myers, author of THE FAKE-UP *Brimming with both hilarity and heartfelt relationships, Wild Things is a delightful romance, complete with DIY home repair, a beautiful queer found family, and backyard hens. I adored El's journey to realizing that only by taking risks can she really get what she wants, in both life... and love * Ashley Herring Blake, USA TODAY bestselling author of ASTRID PARKER DOESN'T FAIL *Wild Things really has everything I love in contemporary fiction. A beautiful story of yearning, bravery, different kinds of family . . . my heart was with El the whole time * Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of MAKE YOU MINE THIS CHRISTMAS *Deeply felt and wonderfully whimsical, Laura Kay's ode to getting wild is full of will-they-won't-they spark and the resonance of life-changing questions. El and Ray's is the perfect story of leaving everything you know and finding your meant-to-be * Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of DO I KNOW YOU? *Joyful, uplifting, heartfelt and properly laugh-out loud funny. A big-hearted story about the messiness of queer friendships and love. Laura Kay always writes the characters I want to be friends with! * Harry Nicholas, author of A TRANS MAN WALKS INTO A GAY BAR *Laura Kay will have you crying with both tears of laughter and happiness * VIP Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Brogan comes a sweet, funny Trillium Bay romance about moving on, creating your best self, and discovering the true meaning of love.After her scandalous May-December romance comes to an end, baby of the family Lilly Callaghan returns home to Trillium Bay braced for the torrent of ?I told you sos? from her sisters and the rest of the tiny island community. Floundering both personally and professionally, she?s at an emotional crossroads but determined to figure out her next best steps.When a surprise job offer from her house-flipping sister reacquaints Lilly with handsome, free-spirited Wenniway Island transplant Matt Eastman, Lilly wonders if she?s ready for a new romance. Then she meets Hollywood heartthrob Jayden Pierce, who is filming a movie on the island, and she?s certain of it?but with whom? She?s caught the attention of both men, and both men have caught hers. So what?s a girl to do?Earnest Matt shares her love of the close-knit island community, while surprisingly down-to-earth Jayden encourages her to live life outside her comfort zone. As the flirtatious triangle sets the town talking, Lilly must choose: Does she want to plant forever roots in Trillium Bay with Matt? Or follow a man who makes love stories for a living? Two very different men. Two very different futures. But deep down, Lilly knows that only one holds the promise of her kind of perfect.

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Book Synopsis"A playful story with heart and teasing goodwill."-Publishers Weekly for The Unplanned Life of Josie HaleReaders of Sally Thorne and Beth O'Leary will love Ellie Reed's wild adventure:A peaceful vacation turns into a roller coaster ride of family dramaTwo handsome men with competing agendas cause mix-ups and betrayalSometimes you have to put your foot down to get what you really want in lifeEllie Reed's self-esteem can't take any more of her family's constant criticism and attempts to control her life. But when she rents an Airbnb on a gorgeous farm in Montana, she encounters a whole new set of family drama and finds herself the caretaker of a barn full of farm animals, caught between two handsome men competing for control of the farm, and the sudden best friend of a spunky elderly widow whose outrageous ideas just might change her destiny...

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Book SynopsisHe's always been the token gay best friend. Now, stuck between a warring bride and groom hurtling toward their one perfect day, he's finally ready to focus on something new: himself.Domenic Marino has become an expert at code-switching between the hypermasculine and ultrafeminine worlds of his two soon-to-be-wed best friends. But this summer-reeling from his own failed engagement and tasked with attending their bachelor and bachelorette parties-he's anxious over having to play both sides.The pressure is on. The bride wants Dom to keep things clean. The groom wants Dom to "let loose" with the guys. And Dom just wants to get out of this whole mess with his friendships intact.But once the rowdy groomsmen show up at the beach house-including a surprise visit from the groom's old frat brother, handsome and charming PGA star Bucky Graham-chaos (and unexpected romance) quickly ensues. By the time Dom returns for the bachelorette party, he's accumulated a laundry list of secrets that threaten to destroy everything-from the wedding, to Bucky's career, to the one thing Dom hasn't been paying nearly enough attention to lately: his own life.

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Book Synopsis'Smart, strange, coping with death through Light' Margaret Atwood'Extraordinary, wise, funny, adventurous' A. L. Kennedy'So utterly startling and inventive, it's almost an act of resistance' Miriam Toews'I couldn't put it down. A cult following seems certain' Literary Review'Refreshing as well as disconcerting to read a novel that sets aside convention so resolutely' Guardian'Opts to push the boundaries of what the novel is' Telegraph'A comic metaphysical thriller' Scotland on Sunday In this darkly ironic novel - a quest for truth, a satire, an elegy - Joanna Kavenna displays fearless originality and wit in confronting the strangeness of reality and how we contend with the death of those we love. Beautiful, ethereal drawings by Oly Ralfe illustrate this haunting journey through time, space and human understanding.Trade ReviewA Field Guide to Reality is an extraordinary, wise, funny, adventurous and hallucinogenic book that combines fiction with gleefully warped fact. Kavenna explores the complex nature of reality and perception with vast imaginative energy and a generous spirit. * A. L. Kennedy *A novel so utterly startling and inventive, it's almost an act of resistance. Joanna Kavenna is a true literary insurgent: bravely unconventional and ruthless in her quest to demonstrate the possibility of deep, distinctive experience. * Miriam Toews *A gripping mystery story, a sprightly tour through Western philosophy, and a thoughtful investigation of the meaning of life, death and the universe. A beautifully written novel * Apostolos Doxiadis, author of Logicomix *A Field Guide To Reality is not only weird but rather wonderful; extremely ambitious, inventive and written with a sure lightness of touch. -- Harry Ritchie * Daily Mail *A sophisticated [...] roman des idées, part Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, part Gulliver's Travels . . . Fascinating . . . An engagingly artless off-the-cuff freshness . . . I couldn't put it down. A cult following seems certain. -- David Collard * Literary Review *If Lewis Carroll was parodying intellectual fashions with his curious characters, Kavenna is here leading the reader playfully through the paradoxes of the quantum universe . . . It is refreshing as well as disconcerting to read a novel that sets aside convention so resolutely, and to encounter a heroine who is so quirky, curious and clever on her quest through the quantum Wonderland -- Suzi Feay * Guardian *A bizarre and delightful journey into the sheer strangeness of what is . . . It opts to push the boundaries of what the novel is, playfully borrowing from other forms and genres. The whole thing is visually and formally offbeat . . . peppered with odd, dark and charming illustrations by Oly Ralfe . . . A fascinating novel. Kavenna's writing tends toward the gravely lyrical . . . One of the great charms of her prose is the humour with which she leavens it. Sly remarks fall like leering winks from a widow . . . Incredibly beautiful -- Sofia Laing * Telegraph *The 'novel of ideas' here has tended to work best by wit, by wryness and by irony . . . There is a very English kind of surrealism at play in this novel . . . This novel of Roger Bacon and baked beans, a comic metaphysical thriller, is a nebulous and sharp delight -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *Defying genres and expectations, Joanna Kavenna opens a Pandora's Box of abstruse ideas while sending up life in ivory towers. Relentless in terms of genre - one minute campus comedy, the next elegaic wistfulness, bemused one minute and enthrallingly enlightened the next - perfectly mirrors the novel's major theme -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *A work of cunning misdirection and trickery - a mystery in thrall to mystery's beauty . . . That it proves so entertaining is testament not only to Kavenna's skill, but also her enthusiasm. This is a novel charged with a vital and distinctly unfashionable faith in the wonder and plurality of knowledge itself . . . For all its lightness of touch, its energy and humour, this is a work concerned with darkness of a very different kind: grief. . . [for which] like the investigations into light that weave their way through this strange and charming novel, there are no easy formulae. -- Sam Byers * Spectator *I will happily read anything by Joanna Kavenna - she's brilliant, funny, and wildly original . . . It's a brilliant intellectual firework display * Saga Magazine *Ralfe's work fills pages and muscles in on the text - it pushes words to one side, or streaks behind them, but it is never intrusive, nor gratuitous. Kavenna's book would be much less affecting, much less beautiful, without them -- Samuel Graydon * Times Literary Supplement *Oxford inspires dark supernatural novels with Dust . . . A Field Guide to Reality: smart, strange, coping with death through Light * Margaret Atwood *

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Book Synopsis'Wodehouse is a tonic' - New Yorker. A Wodehouse pick-me-up that'll lift your spirits, whatever your mood.Cheaper and more effective than Valium’.*Offers ‘relief from anxiety, raginess or an afternoon-long tendency towards the sour’.*‘Read when you’re well and when you’re poorly; when you’re travelling, and when you’re not; when you’re feeling clever, and when you’re feeling utterly dim.’*Whatever your mood, P. G. Wodehouse, widely acknowledged to be ‘the best English comic novelist of the century’*, is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Why? Because ‘Mr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in.’*How? ‘You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.’**Olivia Williams *Caitlin Moran *Lynne Truss *Sebastian Faulks *Evelyn Waugh *Stephen FryEver on the lookout for a quick buck, a solid gold fortune, or at least a plausible little scrounge, the irrepressible Ukridge gives con men a bad name. Looking like an animated blob of mustard in his bright yellow raincoat, he invests time, passion and energy (but seldom actual cash) in a series of increasingly bizarre money-making schemes. Shares in an accident syndicate? Easily arranged. Finance for a dog college? It's yours. And if you throw in some cats, flying unexpectedly from windows, and a young man trying ever-more-desperately to impress the family of his latest love, you get a medley of Wodehouse delights in which lunacy and comic exuberance reign supreme.Contents:- Goodbye to All Cats- Ukridge's Dog College- Ukridge's Accident Syndicate

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Book SynopsisAn ebullient Mr Finchley is about to propose marriage to a lady he had rescued from mishap, when he is sent to Paris by his firm. There he manages to upset a boat, adopt a stray orphan and get himself kidnapped. The fine tangle he gets into takes some unravelling! Only when eventually back in London does he complete the proposal of marriage that was interrupted at the start. 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 SynopsisChloe Marr is young, beautiful and so irresistible that countless people fall in love with her, and friends are hypnotized by her charm and warmth. Her origins are a mystery and, in London society, such mystique carries both allure and suspicion. But when an untimely exodus pulls Chloe from the people around her, they soon realise nobody really knows the truth about anybody else… A. A. Milne’s ability to portray interwar society is second to none, and this classic novel of an elusive Mayfair delivers his signature humour and lightness of touch.Trade Review'He is sensitive. He can write charmingly… and his prose is at once facile and precise' * New York Post *'There is an astringent realism about Milne’s mind and work… and an unassuming sureness of balance lightened with so serene and deft a wit' * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen a cosy country cottage goes up for sale in Combe Tollbridge, a small fishing village tucked away on a quiet corner of the Exmoor coast, young couple Jane and Jasper decide to make the move. But whilst Jane is returning to the place of happy childhood memories by the sea, another recent newcomer to the village, Angela, has sadder reasons for her move. Receiving a warm welcome from the colourful residents who call the village home, all three soon become embroiled in rural life, and find it not as sedate as they might have once imagined...Trade Review'A fun and entertaining book that was a joy to read. Combe Tollbridge is full of quirky and loveable characters that I'll look forward to meeting again' Rachel Burton, author of The Tearoom on the Bay 'Moving to Combe Tollbridge is an entertaining, richly textured novel of village life that lifts the spirits and makes you smile. I loved the characters, learned a lot from their experiences and believed in them as people. I'm moving in as soon as the next cottage is on the market' Peter Lovesey, author of Showstopper

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Book SynopsisDear Aline, You asked me to write to you and tell you things about life in England, so here I am again… Alasdair Took, resident of Knaresbridge (based on Knaresborough, North Yorkshire), keeps up a regular correspondence with a woman in Vermont he met only once; the escapades of his daily life seem utterly fantastical and too odd to be true, but is that really the oddest part of all of this? Alasdair’s letters certainly raise more questions than can possibly be answered, including (but not limited to): Why is it always Tuesday in Knaresbridge, and why hasn’t anyone noticed? Why does his daily, Mrs Daley, blame everything on the Bossa Nova? Why has her husband Ted been hiding in the woods for three years? (Or has he?) Why does Alasdair collect clock ticks? What about the tocks? Told in the style of a light, slightly surreal epistolary novel, Alasdair Took’s Letters to America boasts a cast of lovably eccentric characters doing silly things that are sure to bring a smile to your face.

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Book Synopsis'A loveable heroine and a swoonworthy hero - yes please! The perfect mix of humour, heart and romance.' Sandy Barker Mercy Alexander doesn’t believe in love, let alone love at first sight.There’s one sure fire way of steering clear of heartbreak, and that’s not to get your heart involved in the first place. So what is that irritating flutter she feels every time she sees Brooks Hudson, and why is she finding him so hard to ignore?Brooks Hudson can’t understand where he’s going wrong.Doting single father to six-year-old Ali, supportive co-parent with his ex, much-loved friend and respected colleague, not to mention he’s smoking hot. So why is he constantly being dumped, told in no uncertain terms he’s ‘too nice’? Since when was being nice a crime?Mercy is in serious need of someone to restore her faith in men, and Brooks needs a girl he likes to stick around long enough for him to believe in love again. But when Mercy’s past threatens to remind her of everything she’s scared of, will love be enough to save the day?You won’t be able to put Aimee Brown’s new sexy, swoony, sultry romance down. Perfect for all fans of Sariah Wilson, Lindsey Kelk and Abby Jiminez.What readers say about Aimee Brown:‘Loved, loved, loved this book. After reading The Lucky Dressthis was next in line to see if one of the characters gets a happy ending. Well all I’m going to say is please read it, an amazing book.’‘I really enjoyed this fun, whirlwind romance, which I can really imagine on the big screen. I give this 5 out of 5.’‘I just loved this novel, the characters are authentic, the story is gorgeous and it won't fail to bring a smile to your face.’‘This is a book that any romantic lover will enjoy and the ones that are not fans of romance will not be disappointed, the story has a happy ending, of course, but the characters will have their path till the ending, because sometimes you have to be happy with yourself before starting a new relationship, don’t you think?’

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Book SynopsisThe lives of a bereaved young woman and her neighbour who is consumed by her affair with a married man entwine in this dark, compelling and compassionate coming-of age novel.'A poignant, deft portrayal of love, obsession and grief' STYLIST'Susannah Dickey is a phenomenal talent and I loved this novel.' ELIZABETH DAY'I loved Common Decency . . . such a propulsive joy to read too.' MEGAN NOLAN FROM THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF TENNIS LESSONSIn an apartment building in Belfast, two women wrestle with the sorrows and spectres of love and loss.Since her mother's death, Lily has withdrawn from the world, trapped between grief and anger. She has to break out of this damaging cycle - but how?Upstairs, Siobhán is consumed by her affair with a married man. Her days revolve around his sporadic texts and rare visits. She barely notices the strange girl who lives below and dawdles in the foyer.But Lily is keeping a close eye on her neighbour, whose life seems so much better and more fulfilling than her own. When resentment evolves into something darker and more urgent, she decides to teach Siobhán a lesson...'Sharp as tacks, extremely funny and deeply moving. This novel is very good company.' JAN CARSONTrade ReviewElizabeth Day's Book of the Year * Daily Mail, Best Books of 2022 *[A] treat . . . vividly compelling . . . a rare talent, and certainly one to watch * Sunday Times *A vivid and beautifully written novel that confirms [Dickey] as one of literature's major new talents ... its quiet despair is genuinely affecting * Observer *Common Decency is a study of alienation and connection, of love and grief, written by an author who truly cares about language and understands its power from within. Susannah Dickey is a phenomenal talent and I loved this novel. * Elizabeth Day *I loved Common Decency, a perfectly judged glimpse at two variations of loneliness and how they inform and relate to one another. Such a surprising, clever, sad and strange book which I am still thinking about long after finishing - and yet such a propulsive joy to read too. * Megan Nolan *Susannah Dickey has an uncanny ability to get right to the dark heart of her characters, blending acidic observation with a generous side of kindness. Common Decency is sharp as tacks, extremely funny and deeply moving. This novel is very good company.' * Jan Carson *With hints of Fleabag, Ottessa Moshfegh and Sally Rooney, it's strong, compelling and occasionally very funny stuff...seriously readable * Daily Mail *Quite simply, one of the funniest and most insightful novelists writing today. Her turn of phrase, ear for dialogue, wry humour and power of observation is masterful. * Nell Frizzell *A poignant, deft portrayal of love, obsession and grief * Stylist *Rich and absorbing . . . a writer coming into her own, assured in what it is she is trying to do. . . thrilling and engaging. We are carried along by the prose; we trust it knows where it's going. * Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis'An electric, utterly unique workplace romance that burrowed deep into my heart' Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk'A wonderfully layered, completely unique romance novel that is sure to stick with you' Culturefly----Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that's always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it's ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it's a fun place to work, even if 'fun' isn't exactly Lauren's middle name.Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World - whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren.When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day...----Real readers are LOVING With Love, From Cold World:'One of those wonderful, dreamy romances that I just couldn't put down' 5 star reader review'Alicia Thompson is back at it with the perfect read... This is a must-read for any romance reader!' 5 star reader review'This romance was original, witty, touching, and so, so swoony' 5 star reader review'This book seriously rocked me; please be prepared to have every piece of your heart deconstructed, cleaned, tuned, lovingly polished, and reassembled' 5 star reader review'Very tender while dealing with tough issues - funny and lighthearted at times too' 5 star reader reviewTrade ReviewAn electric, utterly unique workplace romance that burrowed deep into my heart... With Love, From Cold World is a steamy delight sure to keep you warm all through the winter. I need everything Alicia Thompson writes beamed directly into my brain * Rachel Lynn Solomon *A wonderfully layered, completely unique romance novel that is sure to stick with you * Culturefly *Alicia Thompson writes stories that are so uniquely real to me, with characters who are flawed and lovable and achingly relatable... I was invested in Lauren, Asa, and the quirky world of Cold World from the jump, and I loved their story every step of the way. A new forever favourite * Anita Kelly *I fell hard for the characters in this world - Asa and Lauren are complicated and flawed and so easy to root for, and I loved watching them become tentative friends, passionate lovers, and, finally, committed, confident partners to each other. Imaginative and sexy and thoughtful, With Love, From Cold World will warm you from the inside out * Kate Clayborn *Unique, sexy, hilarious, charming... the perfect beach read for anyone who loves witty banter, intelligent plotting, and compelling characters... The true crime is NOT reading this novel! * Ali Hazelwood on Love in the Time of Serial Killers *A criminally addictive romance... this book is sheer perfection from beginning to end * Rachel Lynn Solomon on Love in the Time of Serial Killers *A heartwarming rom-com brimming with smart, snappy dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and lovable side characters. Fans of Christina Lauren and Rachel Lynn Solomon will adore this ode to true crime and its poignant message of opening your heart to love, even when that's the scariest thing of all * Amy Lea on Love in the Time of Serial Killers *Love in the Time of Serial Killers is funny, sharp, and thoughtful * Sarah Hogle on Love in the Time of Serial Killers *Smart, clever, and slow-burn steamy, Love in the Time of Serial Killers is a fresh, lovable rom-com that tackles facing our fear of not only the worst life can bring but the very best and being brave enough to take a chance on love * Chloe Liese on Love in the Time of Serial Killers *

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Book SynopsisOn the day that her youngest child leaves home, Alice Hatton discovers two disturbing truths in a matter of hours.The Empty Nest cliche is true.And she does not love her husband Peter at all. Now in her fifties, Alice is appalled to realise that she is no longer considered her own person, but is instead defined by her relationships – mother to her adult children, wife to her husband. Horrified by the thought of spending another thirty years with Peter in their North London suburb, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands.What follows is a triumphant and liberating breaking of all the rules. But when Alice must cope with loss for the second time in as many years, she discovers what even the most apparently ‘respectable ‘woman is capable of.Join Amanda Brookfield as she revisits her first novel, Alice Alone, and rediscover how she got her well-deserved reputation for writing about women’s lives with humour and honesty. Includes a brand new foreword from the author.Praise for Amanda Brookfield:'An engaging, emotionally-charged and intriguing story' Michelle Gorman'No one gets to the heart of human relationships quite so perceptively as Brookfield.' The Mirror'Unputdownable. Perceptive. Poignant. I loved it.' bestselling author Patricia Scanlan on Before I Knew You'If Joanna Trollope is the queen of the Aga Saga, then Amanda Brookfield must be a strong contender for princess.' Oxford TimesWhat readers are saying about Amanda Brookfield:‘I felt so involved in this story that I found myself thinking about it a lot during the day. A fantastic read. Gripping, moving, characters you care about, highly recommend.’‘Packed with suspense, (I actually held my breath during some of the scenes) and full of relatable characters, this book will draw you in from the first page. Highly recommend.’ ‘The tension builds on every page, the characters, as always with this author’s books, are drawn beautifully. I couldn’t put it down and am looking forward greatly to Amanda Brookfield’s next offering hopefully before too long!’‘Brookfield is undoubtedly one of Britain's foremost chroniclers of human relationships. It goes without saying that this novel is another page turner – guaranteed to make you read the last 50 pages before sleep, even though you know you have an early start in the morning – but it is much, much more.’

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Book Synopsis'If you've ever felt like the only person in the world who isn't perfect . . . this is what you need to read' Daisy BuchananMeet Robin Wilde: mum, newly-appointed official girlfriend, make-up artist extraordinaire and general plate-spinning, life-juggling, balance-seeking badass. Or so she likes to think.Everything seems to be slotting into place, not just for Robin but for her close-knit little world of friends and family too. Yet despite all that, she still feels like she's blagging it.Although things seem pretty great on paper, cracks are beginning to show. Robin's best friend Lacey is struggling to bond with her baby, her Auntie Kath suddenly seems distant and her daughter Lyla is finding it hard to adapt to having a man in their lives. For once everybody is depending on Robin, but the pressure is mounting and she's starting to feel overwhelmed.So, when Robin's asked to go to the States for work, it seems like the getaway they all need. Look out New York, Robin and her girls are on their way! But will the city that never sleeps make or break them? *** This is what you've been saying about the Robin Wilde books:'Amazing''Had me gripped from start to end''I just loved it so much''So real, so relatable, so inspiring''Uplifting, touching and very true to life''Witty and heart-warming'Praise for the Robin Wilde books:'Warm, engaging . . . [Robin Wilde] is a chatty winning yet poignant heroine'SOPHIE KINSELLA'I fell in love with Robin and her family before the end of the first page . . . A fabulous mix of escapism and relatability, this is a hug of a book'DAISY BUCHANAN'Wonderfully written and full of humour. Funny, heartfelt, tender and empowering'GIOVANNA FLETCHER'Hilarious, moving and extremely well written'SUNDAY TIMES STYLE 'If it's great big belly laughs you're after, then meet Robin Wilde'FABULOUS MAGAZINECan't wait to read more from Louise Pentland? Look out for her new non-fiction book, MumLife: What Nobody Ever Tells You About Being A Mum. Search 9781788702928. Trade ReviewHilarious * My Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'I laughed. I cried. I laughed again' Sinéad Moriarty'An enthralling read with . . . so many laughs along the way' Liz Nugent'A funny, poignant and moving read' My WeeklyFrom bestselling Irish writer Anna McPartlin, Waiting for the Miracle is an uplifting novel about how good friends can help you see the funny side of life, even in the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Sheila O'Flanagan and Marian Keyes.2010Caroline can't get pregnant, Janet can't hold a pregnancy, Natalie's sperm donor is a stoner with a bad attitude and Ronnie is, well, no one knows Ronnie's story. When the women meet in an infertility group, they quicklyform a firm - if slightly odd - friendship and their lives begin to change.1976When 16-year-old Catherine's pregnancy is revealed, she's sent to a convent to give birth. Her baby is taken from her, and she re-emerges into the world, down but not out, determined to fight back. She finds work, a home and acceptance with gay hairdresser and fellow outsider and her life begins again.Waiting for the Miracle is story about finding your tribe, at any age. It's about love, loss, friendship andlaughing at yourself. It's about life.'Takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions...you'll be laughing through your tears at the sharp and funny dialogue' NFOP magazinePraise for Anna McPartlin: 'Anna McPartlin's novel is brilliant, funny and immensely moving' Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything'It's such a gorgeous examination of grief while also being honest, hilarious and totally relatable. I LOVED this book!' Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love'When I wasn't reaching for the Kleenex to wipe away a little tear, I was guffawing with laughter - Anna has the gift of being able to make you laugh and sob, and all on a single page.' Claudia Carroll, author of The Women of Primrose Square Readers love Waiting for the Miracle:'Who will have the happy ever after dream and who will settle for the dream never happening? I raced though it in 2 days to find out. I particularly loved the flitting between current day and the character Catherine's story from the past and was eager to see how the 2 would come together. Wrap yourself up in a duvet and start reading. You won't be disappointed.''You will be gripped by both stories and wonder where the book is going ... but it gets better and better.''Loved loved loved it! As always an amazing story with real life issues, read it in 3 days couldn't put it down going to work was a bit of inconvenience lol can't wait for the next one, thanks Anna''Another emotional rollercoaster read about loss, hope, courage & friendship, I was hooked right from the very start, I loved how the story changed between current day and the past with Catherine's story, have your tissues ready.''Didn't want it to end.''McPartlin excels in the one-liner, and finding something to laugh about in the darkest of times.''I do not hesitate to recommend this magnificent book to everyone. Sure to be in my top books of this year.''A story of hope over heartbreak told with Irish humour and charm.''Anna McPartlin has done it again! Another stunning read that ends with me in tears yet also smiling.'Trade Review'Takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions...you'll be laughing through your tears at the sharp and funny dialogue' NFOP magazine'Beautiful. A joy' Sinead Moriarty author of the Devlin Sisters novelsPraise for Anna McPartlin:'Anna McPartlin's novel is brilliant, funny and immensely moving' - Catherine Isaac, author of You, Me, Everything'It's such a gorgeous examination of grief while also being honest, hilarious and totally relatable. I LOVED this book!' - Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love'When I wasn't reaching for the Kleenex to wipe away a little tear, I was guffawing with laughter - Anna has the gift of being able to make you laugh and sob, and all on a single page.' - Claudia Carroll, author of The Women of Primrose Square

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Book SynopsisOne man in need of an overhaul. Two women determined to drag him there. Neville Watkin's life is so rubbish surely things can't get any worse. Yes they can, because his wife leaves him, he loses his job, has a car crash and ends up in hospital. Feisty Laura, the other party in the car crash, befriends him and sets out to turn his life upside down. For reasons he struggles to understand, Caroline, her equally feisty mother, seems to like him. Rather a lot. All in all things are looking up, but is Neville courageous enough to seize these new opportunities?

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Book SynopsisRobert wants nothing more than to become a serious art historian. But his hopes for an academic life are put on hold when he's driven from London to Venice to escape one lover and seek out another: the enigmatic Bulgarian refugee Lina Pancev. In Venice, Robert encounters a grand carnival of lust, lies, blackmail, cocktail parties and regicide. As he chases Lina, his heart's desire, the city itself provides a priceless education in love, art and beauty.Trade ReviewBeautifully put together and effortlessly entertaining . . . a hilarious account of political and romantic intrigue in Venice -- Edmund White * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA gang of Hells Angels rips through the village bringing mayhem and a generational shift to traditional enmities between Don Camillo and Peppone. The year is 1966, a time ripe for rebellion, for overturning conventions - a time, above all, to be young. Meanwhile, beset by the third young progressive leftwing priest with a mandate to steer him into the modern world, Don Camillo digs in and finds a surprise ally in Peppone as he fights to save the three-metre high figure of il Cristo through which he conducts his famous conversations with God. ; 'Guareschi's was one of the most prescient and perceptive voices of the twentieth century.' Tobias Jones, author of The Dark Heart of Italy. ; 'Guareschi's tales are absolutely delightful in their satirical swipes at human weakness.' Paul MertonTrade Review'Giovanni Guareschi's tales of Don Camillo, the Italian priest with a hefty left hook, are absolutely delightful in their satirical swipes at human weakness.' Paul Merton 'Inimitable, delicious, full of pure fun' The Observer 'Instinctive humanity and compassion' The Guardian 'Charming and enchanting . . . Witty and wise' Edinburgh Evening News 'Written with such warmth and simplicity, so concerned with the trivialities of everyday life and giving us so shrewd a glimpse into the minds of the people . . .' Evening News 'You'll find Don Camillo not just enchanting and lovable, and at times hilariously funny, but also strangely moving in his simply but certain faith.' BBC Radio - 'Books by the Fire' 'These haunting stories about this haunting place... Somehow Guareschi made people laugh at their own predicament at a time when humour was sorely needed.' BBC Radio Four

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Book SynopsisRyouran High School is a private arts academy full of geniuses in every field-music, dance, fashion. But in reality, it's looks, not talent, that decide its students' success. My sister, Shika Ikebukuro, is a shut-in who can't do anything without her older brother, and I was sure that devastating lack of charisma would doom her. But I know a secret. Behind her mask, the internet sensation VSINGER is none other than my sister Shika! Her voice is one-of-a-kind, but will it be enough to overcome Ryouran High's entire social order?

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Book SynopsisPsmith, Journalist is a delightful comedic novel written by the renowned British Author P. G. Wodehouse. Set in the early 20th century, this story follows the adventures of the charming and also eccentric character, Rupert Psmith. With an amusing blend of wit and other one satire, Wodehouse takes readers on a lighthearted journey into the world of journalism. The plot unfolds as Psmith, bored with his current employment, decides to seek excitement and a fresh start by joining the editorial staff of the Cosy Moments magazine. His clever and other one unconventional approach to reporting quickly sets him apart, and he soon finds himself embroiled in a series of humorous escapades. From interviewing a cricket-playing bishop to investigating a scandalous slum landlord, Psmith's unorthodox methods lead to hilariously unpredictable situations. Wodehouse's trademark wit shines throughout the novel, and his keen observations of human nature create a colorful and also memorable cast of characters. Psmith's suave demeanor, combined with his uncanny ability to find himself at the center of peculiar circumstances, makes him a captivating protagonist.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Batch Magna, a place where anything might happen. And often does... Sir Humphrey has offered to play Father Christmas at the local hospital, but disaster strikes when he realises he won’t be able to buy the sack of toys he’d promised the children. Rupert, a gentleman of the road, is found asleep in an old car in the Hall’s coach house. He is scrubbed up and given a room at the Hall, where two guests are already staying: a businessman and his rather young female companion. When money goes missing from their bedroom, Rupert is accused, and Miss Wyndham, the village’s amateur sleuth, decides to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, local author Phineas Cook has come up with the idea of a resident ghost at the Hall to attract paying guests. All goes smoothly until the ghostly actors spend too long in the pub one evening and their performance descends into sword-wielding chaos. As always in Batch Magna, events somehow manage to turn out all right in the end – but in the most unexpected manner…

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Book SynopsisThe steamy and addictive workplace-enemies-to-lovers, When-Harry-Met-Sally-inspired romance from bestselling author Meghan Quinn''JP IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE'' 5***** Reader Review''OBSESSED'' 5***** Reader Review''A HOT, SWEET AND HILARIOUS ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE'' 5***** Reader Review_______Am I in love with JP Cane?Ha! He certainly thinks so . . .He''s annoyingly loud, obnoxiously handsome, and having watched When Harry Met Sally is convinced that men and women can''t just be friends.So when we have to fly to San Francisco for work and stay in the same penthouse, I''m happy to prove him wrong.Yet with his continuous flirting and his polished good looks, I''m soon finding it hard to sleep at night.But guess who can control herself? This girl.Because if there is one thing I know for certain, it''s that JP Cane is wrong.Men and women CAN just be friTrade ReviewIn true Meghan Quinn style, this story was an easy read with steamy scenes. Steamy is not even a strong enough word. These scenes were panty-melting hot and I love each one of them...So Not Meant to Be made me blush, smile, laugh, and lose myself in the story -- A Soccer Mom's Book BlogOnce again, I was laughing out loud through this entire book! Meghan is an absolute QUEEN when it comes to writing stories that are not only funny but have a lot of heart in them too -- Elle's Book BlogSo Not Meant To Be can be read as a standalone, but if you haven't read A Not So Meet Cute I highly recommend binging the two books. You won't regret it -- A Novel Glimpse

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Book SynopsisPreorder Mhairi''s new novel YOU BELONG WITH ME coming soon!Two strangers.One big coincidence.Driving each other crazy is just the beginningHarriet Hatley is running away from everything.Getting married.Her boyfriend's family.Her past.A dream house-share seems like the perfect place to hide, but her unlikely housemate Cal is no stranger to running away himself. And he''s also hiding secrets of his own . . .Can these two take a crazy risk, face the past and finally find a reason to stay?____________________I love, love, love Mhairi . . . I read this with delight and envy' MARIAN KEYESGorgeous, funny, life-affirming' JENNY COLGANFunny, poignant, full of insight . . . a triumph' KATIE FFORDE'Mhairi's writing is always just super witty with layered, emotional depth . . . Loved. Adored. All-star.' LIZZY DENTA compelling, clever story, while still being so ridiculously funny and heartwarming' LUCY VINEA plot that gets under your skin, and one scene in particular that will have women everywhTrade Review'My heart always soars at a new Mhairi novel, I love love love her. She's so great at treading the narrow line between humour and loss. I read this with delight and envy' Marian Keyes, Again, Rachel ‘I ADORED IT! So funny, so sad in parts, and just so sharp and heartwarming. Mhairi at her absolute finest with an exquisite balance of light and shade’ Lia Louis, Eight Perfect Hours ‘It's so funny, so moving, so perfectly paced, so everything. She is absolutely brilliant, the kind of writer you feel lucky to be around … I'm in awe of her talent’ Emma Hughes, No Such Thing As Perfect ‘Mhairi McFarlane just gets better and better. Mad About You was such a joy to read – it’s laugh out loud funny, devastatingly moving, and delightfully swoony, all at once. McFarlane is in a league of her own’ Louise O’Neill, Idol ‘I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. A hero and heroine to root for, a plot that races along with the pace of a thriller and the heart of a romance, and an ending I will never forget’ Gillian McAllister, That Night ‘What a gorgeous, funny, life-affirming writer Mhairi is. She just makes me laugh’ Jenny Colgan, The Christmas Bookshop Praise for Mhairi McFarlane 'Brilliant on relationships, friendships and emotions… I loved, loved, loved this book’ Marian Keyes, #1 bestselling author of Grown-Ups ‘Gorgeously romantic, as well as a story about friendship and grief and loss; I never wanted it to end’ Beth O’Leary, #1 bestselling author of The Flatshare ‘A luminous, heart-achingly beautiful love letter to friendship’ Josie Silver, #1 bestselling author of One Day in December ‘An effortlessly brilliant read – will have you laughing when you shouldn’t and sobbing when you least expect it’ Giovanna Fletcher

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line, and Sinker returns with a unique, sexy rom-com about a young married couple whose rocky relationship needs a serious renovation... Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp. Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret... and it could demolish everything.“Her voice feels as fresh and contemporary as a Netflix rom-com.” —Entertainment Weekly*Named one of the Best Romances of 2020 by Insider and Oprah Magazine + Marie Claire''s Best New Books of 2020*Trade Review“Books by Tessa Bailey are an insta-buy for me.” — Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine “Bailey writes banter and rom-com scenarios with aplomb, but for those who like their romance on the spicier side, she’s also the Michelangelo of dirty talk. She wields filth like Da Vinci does a paintbrush, and there’s a lot to be said for an author who can fill such exchanges with all the requisite heat, enthusiastic consent, and yes, even humor, of such a scenario without veering into corny territory...” — Entertainment Weekly on Fix Her Up "Bailey loads the story with humor and chemistry while still tackling heavy emotions. Sensual sex scenes and irresistible characters will draw readers in to this sweet romance." — Publishers Weekly "Bailey once again hits it out of the park in this companion novel to Fix Her Up... From no sex to phone sex to a striptease to an orgy in the woods, Bailey is an expert in those lusty, sexually powered scenes. Perfect for fans looking for a sexy romp with a side of heart." — Booklist "a juicy rom-com" — Marie Claire (The Most Anticipated Books of 2020) "Bailey crafts an emotionally wrenching and compelling story of a marriage and how the spouses' different love languages cause them to miss each other’s signals... a powerful story of a marriage in trouble." — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisFor seven-year-old Bertie Pollock, life in Edinburgh''s most celebrated fictional street has just got immeasurably better. The enforced absence of his endlessly pushy mother Irene - currently consciousness-raising in a Bedouin harem (don''t ask) - has manifold and immediate blessings: no psychotherapy, no Italian lessons and no yoga classes. Bliss.For Scotland Street''s grown-ups, life throws up some new dilemmas. Matthew makes a discovery that could make him even richer but also leaves him worried. Pat makes one that could make her poorer and her father miserable - unless that uber-narcissist, Bruce, can help her out. And the Duke of Johannesburg, we discover, isn''t exactly who he says he is.From what happens behind Edinburgh Airport''s luggage carousel to Machiavellian manoeuvrings at the Association of Scottish Nudists, Alexander McCall Smith guides us through the brighter, lighter and frankly unexpected side of Edinburgh life. As ever with his 44 Scotland Str

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Book SynopsisA delightful new series set in a quaint old bookshop, for fans of Julia Quinn and Jenny Colgan. Where happy ever after is only a page awayOnce upon a time in a crumbling London bookshop, Posy Morland spent her life lost in the pages of her favourite romantic novels.So when Bookend's eccentric owner, Lavinia, dies and leaves the shop to Posy, she must put down her books and join the real world. Because Posy hasn't just inherited an ailing business, but also the unwelcome attentions of Lavinia's grandson, Sebastian, AKA The Rudest Man In London.Posy has a cunning plan and six months to transform Bookends into the bookshop of her dreams if only Sebastian would leave her alone to get on with it. As Posy and her friends fight to save their beloved bookshop, Posy's drawn into a battle of wills with Sebastian, about whom she's started to have some rather feverish fantasiesLike her favourite romantic heroines, will she get her happy ever after too?Trade Review‘Completely hilarious and breathtakingly romantic’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘Sophisticated, romantic, compelling and absolutely charming. A brilliant new addition to the romantic comedy genre, I loved it’ Alex Brown ‘Get ready to fall in love … an instant heart-warmer’ RED ‘A delightful romcom’ PRIMA

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Book SynopsisMeet Yinka. And Yinka''s mum. And Yinka''s aunties. Who are all asking . . . YINKA, WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND? --------''Your bookself needs this . . . full of heart'' Jendella Benson, Hope and Glory''Love story? Nah, more of a self-love story!'' Reader *****Yinka wants to find love. Her problem? Her mum wants to find it for her.She also has too many aunties who frequently pray for her delivery from singledom. Plus there''s her preference for chicken and chips over traditional Nigerian food, and a bum she''s sure is far too small as a result. Oh, and the fact that she''s thirty-one and doesn''t believe in sex before marriage might be a bit of an obstacle too . . .So when her cousin gets engaged, Yinka commences ''Operation Find A Date for Rachel''s Wedding''. Armed with a totally flawless, incredibly specific plan, will Yinka find herself a huzband?What if the thing she really needs to find is herselfTrade ReviewWarm and fun and sweet, great on female friendships and extended families -- Marian KeyesSuch a warm, funny and relatable book -- Jendella BensonYou'll fall in love with Yinka in this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy * Red *

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Book SynopsisIn Espresso Tales, Alexander McCall Smith returns home to Edinburgh and the glorious cast of his own tales of the city, the residents of 44 Scotland Street, with a new set of challenges for each one of them. Bruce, the intolerably vain and perpetually deluded ex-surveyor, is about to embark on a new career as a wine merchant, while his long-suffering flatmate Pat MacGregor, set up by matchmaking Domenica Macdonald, finds herself invited to a nudist picnic in Moray Place in the pursuit of true love. Prodigious six-year-old Bertie Pollock wants a boy''s life of fishing and rugby, not yoga and pink dungarees, and he plots rebellion against his bossy, crusading mother Irene and his psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn. But when Bertie''s longed-for trip to Glasgow with his ineffectual father Stuart ends with Bertie taking money off legendary Glasgow hard man Lard O''Connor at cards, it looks as though Bertie should have been more careful what he wished for. And all the time it appears that Trade ReviewIt 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 *As warm as cocoa, as cosy as thermal underwear, and just what the doctor ordered for the cold winter evenings * THE TIMES *

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Book SynopsisTHE SEVENTH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES'' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIESThe one with the witch who flew away . . .Mma Ramotswe is happily married to Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, but her work seems more hectic than ever. Among the raft of cases coming the way of the No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency are blackmail, witchcraft and theft, all calling for the wisdom of a traditionally built detective.It''s enough to make her wonder what the secret of happiness is, and whether she is right to find it in small things such as a pair of blue shoes, a slice of cake, or a red sunset over Kalahari.Trade ReviewNothing spoils [McCall Smith's] vision of Botswana as a place where decent people triumph over mischief-makers * Telegraph *Nothing will dim the charm of McCall Smith's series, with its portraits of goodness, its sorrow over greed and its profound love of Africa. They are among the greatest comfort-reads of all time, written in plain, elegant prose * Sunday Times *[BLUE SHOES AND HAPPINESS has] the quiet sophistication of the previous novels and its simplicity is deceptive . . . these novels take us through the looking glass into an Africa we rarely hear about, but their main purpose is to hold a mirror to our own society -- Amanda Craig * Independent *

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Book SynopsisCassie Wright, porn princess, intends to cap her legendary career by breaking the world record for serial fornication. On camera. With six hundred men. Snuff unfolds from the perspectives of Mr 72, Mr 137 and Mr 600, who await their turn on camera in a very crowded green room...Trade ReviewIt's glorious, gloriously depraved. Gloriously funny, gloriously heartbreaking and gloriously outrageous, just what you might expect from a writer continually pushing at the boundaries of literature...confirms Palahniuk once again as a compelling, daring and vital writer * Herald *Every bit as dangerous as it sounds... Snuff is a deliciously disturbing, superbly paced and graphically obnoxious read * Maxim *Snuff is a Chernobyl of taboos...Palahniuk investigates his novels for months before he begins to write, so they always have a journalistic reek of authenticity and immediacy: he is like Tom Wolfe on acid... Think of it as The Bonfire of the Inanities. Once you have come down and mopped up the vomit, you will be glad you snorted this particular Snuff * Independent *You'll bite your pillow laughing * Arena *Palahniuk is a deeply talented and original satirist...a class act of characterisation and situation comedy, wrapped up in something much more important * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisIf you love Julia Quinn''s Bridgerton, you won''t want to miss Martha Waters'' ingenious, laugh-out-loud and sweepingly romantic historical rom-com, To Marry and to Meddle!''Sweet, sexy, and utterly fun'' Emily Henry''Awash with light, witty banter, unadulterated confessions of love, and plenty of steamy, corset-unravelling sex scenes'' Kirkus Reviews''Meshing the classic Regency theme of defying societal expectations with all the wit and humour of a rom-com . . . a fun romp full of smiles'' Publishers Weekly''Waters'' prose harkens back to Georgette Heyer, but Emily and Julian''s individual journeys of learning to like their authentic selves are timeless'' BookPage..............................Marriage isn''t always smooth sailing . . . Lady Emily Turner should really be married by now, but

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Book SynopsisThe perfect pick me up romcom for fans of Beth O'Leary, Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood!Not an expert, not even close, not in any of this. But nobody will try harder than me to make you happy.Sally is a classic romantic and Harry is a classic cynic, but when a drunken bet leads the new flatmates to (badly) recreate the lift' from Dirty Dancing, and the video goes viral (#EpicRomcomReenactmentFailure), they both realise there's potential financial benefit in blundering their way through the romcom lexicon for their suddenly vast social media following.Now, as Harry and Sally bring major romcom moments to new life including recreating that classic diner scene their faking it turns to makingout and suddenly they're living a real life romcom of their own! But like all the greatest love stories, the road to happily ever after is paved with unexpected challenges for this hero and heroineEveryone LOVES this book!Fuzzies, chills, goosebumps and more1000% the romcom of the year' ?????Gave me ALTrade Review Readers can’t get enough of The New Guy: ‘Seriously love this twist on an office romance’ Christina Parker, Netgalley ‘Their chemistry was off the charts’Mad Mom Life ‘Better than most rom coms I’ve watched and read!’ Jennifer Arnold, Netgalley ‘Reads like the perfect rom-com movie’ Sinead, Librarian ‘Very sexy and very sweet’ Morgan Shulman, Goodreads ‘Warmed my heart and read like a movie…What a beautiful sweet surprise this was’ Kelsey Peterson, Goodreads ‘You have yourself a page turning, don’t want it to end story, in essence an absolutely cracking read!’ Margaret Harris, Netgalley ‘A gorgeously sweet romance!’ From Rachael Claire ‘It's got laugh out loud moments, heart wrenching moments but most important that feel good factor’ Chantiece Bates, Goodreads

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Book Synopsis''Laugh-out-loud funny, filled with joy, as deliciously swoony as it is downright steamy'' CHLOE LIESEThe next sizzling and swoonie rom-com from the author of the TikTok-hit A Brush with Love which readers gave FIVE SHINING STARS!''Oh my TOOTH FAIRY!! This book was so much more than I expected and swept me off my feet'' ''Swoony, steamy, adorable . . . Read. This. Book. You won''t be disappointed. It''s a keeper and Mazey Eddings is on my auto-read list forever''''There was so much to love about this book . . . Thank you to Mazey Eddings for this romance with its messy, true, and painfully real representation of anxiety . . . We need more books like this in the world''...............................Chaotic, messy and madly in love. Lizzie Blake has made endless mistakes. Kitchen fires, pyramid schemes, you name it, she''s done it . . . and made a mess of it too. One mist

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Book SynopsisJoanna and Roger have been married for over forty years. Children of the sixties, they're still free spirits, drawn together by their passion for music - and each other. Conversations from a Long Marriage is exactly that: following conversations that take them from the local café, to their kitchen table, taking in her resentment of new glasses - a symbol of ageing - and fury at being lectured by the dental hygienist. He has a dodgy knee and is on statins, and when they discuss the marriage break-up of their closest friends, Sally and Peter, there's jealousy and talk of affairs. She suggests there are advantages to single beds and separate holidays, and wants to go clubbing in Ibiza for her imminent 'big' birthday. Witty, big-hearted and a whole lot of fun, Conversations from a Long Marriage will resonate with couples of any age - but especially those who are still dancing in the kitchen, singing in the car and trying to keep the passion alive.Trade ReviewSublimely funny, touching ... Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington's two hander? This is a work of supreme craftsmanship * Radio Times *Witty and warm * The Spectator *Jan Etherington is a brilliant writer and these books are sheer joy -- Joanna LumleyConversations is a brilliant vehicle for tackling difficult subjects, like ageing and mortality, with a kind of clever, gentle, sardonic and affectionate humour, laced with human insight that makes you chuckle but can also unexpectedly move you. * Suffolk Magazine *Beautifully written * Observer *Sitcom is what most marriages are really like - repetitive and ridiculous - and Jan's words are some of the best ever written on the subject -- Richard CurtisAstute ... They are unlike anyone I actually know but, truly, I like them * The Times *This book gives me hope ... that life and marriage might permanently include taking the absolute piss while simultaneously dancing in the kitchen -- Emma FreudOne of the best writers for radio ... Her dialogue works because it is so true -- Simon BrettAn endearing portrait of exasperation, laced with hard won tolerance - and something like love * Guardian *Not just comedy but also a compelling, well-rounded drama. Brilliantly crafted, delightfully funny and perceptive ... they sparkle and spring vividly to life * Mature Times *Pin-sharp * The Lady *Exquisitely simple ... it captures the rhymes and language of spousal life [and] in these [Jan Etherington] hands it works perfectly -- Ben Dowell * The Times Pick of the Week *Comedies about likeable people are not common. Treasure this one * Sunday Times *Beautifully captured in Etherington's sparkling dialogue ... the couple whose flirty, combative relationship, ... made famous by Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam ... is now so beloved -- Simon O'Hagan * i Newspaper *This warm, witty portrait of a 40-year marriage is written with a pin-sharp perception. Sublimely funny, touching ... couple Joanna and Roger remain passionate about life, music and each other, as their conversations veer from reading glasses and dodgy knees to clubbing in Ibiza, separate beds and affairs. Lumley and Allam have had illustrious acting careers but can they ever have done anything better than Jan Etherington's two hander? A funny, relatable read ... this is a work of supreme craftsmanship * Radio Times *

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Book SynopsisSEIZE THE CAPITALAccompanied by Princess Shalliceres, Haruka sets out for the capital—and rescues the crown prince from an ambush along the way! Meanwhile, the city falls under the control of the second prince in a coup d’etat backed by the Merchant Kingdom. Haruka is determined to break through the capital’s defenses, but he’ll have to get past the Merchant Kingdom’s trump card: the Seven Swords. Does this loner stand a chance against the world’s mightiest magic swordsman?

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Book SynopsisCute, witty and fun! Relatable and heart-warming. Loved it!' NetGalley Review ?????Meet Jen. Flight attendant. Mum to a grown-up daughter. Permanently single. Age: Fifty (gulp)Number of children: OneNumber of husbands: Zero (it's complicated)Number of failed first dates in the last month: Too depressing to contemplateNumber of tickets for a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime trip: TwoNumber of days left to find her Mr Right to take on holiday: Quickly running outA heart-warming and hilarious novel that proves age is just a number and it's never too late for a second chance. Fans of Kristen Bailey, Sophie Kinsella and Jill Mansell will be totally hooked from the very first page.Readers love The Woman Who Took a Chance:An honest to goodness sublime and funny five-star read Do not miss this great story if you are after funny, but real' NetGalley Review ?????Fabulous, warm and witty Lots of laugh-out-loud moments Fun-filled with a big heart' NetGalley Review ?????I adored this book. Genuinely lTrade Review‘A real “smiler” of a book … You’ll be cheering her on as she explores new endeavours, including an unexpected love interest’ WOMAN & HOME ‘A sharp, witty tale’ NORTHERN ECHO ‘A terrifically entertaining, cheery romance, with an endearing heroine’ SUNDAY MIRROR ‘Warm, funny and poignant’ DAILY MAIL ‘Warm, witty and fun’ MY WEEKLY ‘The voice of modern women’ MARIE CLAIRE ‘More than funny, it’s true’ ELLE ‘Warm, funny and endearing’ BEST

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Book SynopsisThe perfect pick me up romcom for fans of Beth O'Leary, Sophie Kinsella and Sophie Ranald!Mia Abbott's move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she's made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much starts leaving notes in his windowfor her.Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sights of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she's had a taste she knows it will never be enough!Readers are falling for Mr Right Across the Street:This 5-star romcom had all the feelsFor those looking for a great feel-good romance with a side of giggles, this is the book you need' NormaPerfect for those who loveTrade Review Readers can’t get enough of The New Guy: ‘Seriously love this twist on an office romance’ Christina Parker, Netgalley ‘Their chemistry was off the charts’Mad Mom Life ‘Better than most rom coms I’ve watched and read!’ Jennifer Arnold, Netgalley ‘Reads like the perfect rom-com movie’ Sinead, Librarian ‘Very sexy and very sweet’ Morgan Shulman, Goodreads ‘Warmed my heart and read like a movie…What a beautiful sweet surprise this was’ Kelsey Peterson, Goodreads ‘You have yourself a page turning, don’t want it to end story, in essence an absolutely cracking read!’ Margaret Harris, Netgalley ‘A gorgeously sweet romance!’ From Rachael Claire ‘It's got laugh out loud moments, heart wrenching moments but most important that feel good factor’ Chantiece Bates, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisHUSTLERS meets BIG LITTLE LIES in the heist of the summerA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERPropulsive and captivating' VogueDarkly comedic' Daily MailMeet Ava: rule-abiding lawyer who has ticked all of life's boxes. She's married to a successful surgeon and has just taken an indefinite career break to raise her adorable toddler. A picture-perfect life.Meet Winnie: Ava's old college roommate. Once awkward, quiet and apparently academically challenged, she left Stanford in a shroud of scandal. But now, she is charismatic, wealthy and has returned to town dripping in designer accessories. An actual perfect life.When the two women bump into one another at a local coffee shop, it seems like fate has intervened: Winnie's new-found success is courtesy of a shady business and she needs a favour; Ava is realising she is not built for the stay-at-home life. But what starts as one favour turns into two, then three, and soon Ava is in far deeper than she ever imagined.Now Ava has to make the ultimate decTrade Review PRAISE for Counterfeit: ‘Darkly comedic with serious undertones, Chen shines a light on secrets, shame and the many ways in which women can be sidelined’ Daily Mail ‘Counterfeit is an entertaining, luxurious read — but beneath its glitz and flash, it is also a shrewd deconstruction of the American dream and the myth of the model minority … innovative and subversive’ New York Times ‘A smart take on complicated friendships and murky tales in the world of counterfeit handbags’ Financial Times ‘Clever, sharp, and slyly funny … A delightfully different caper novel with a Gone Girl–style plot twist’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Riveting and energetic … Chen deftly guides readers through the exploits of old friends Ava and Winnie while also exploring the intricacies of friendship, class, culture, and survival’ Balli Kaur Jaswal, acclaimed author of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows ‘Sly and thoroughly compelling … Chen's ingenious plot will keep you breathless to the last page’ Claire Messud, New York Times bestselling author of The Burning Girl ‘Sly and subversive, an examination of motherhood and an incisive look at culture and class’ Booklist starred review ‘Counterfeit is decadent and delicious … A true delight for mind and heart from beginning to end’ Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee ‘A clever, multi-layered story about friendship and fakery that will keep you gripped’ Best

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Book SynopsisI loved this book so much I actually read the whole thing in a day, did not want to put it down! A delightfully well written, funny, romantic and intriguing book.' Reader review ?????It's funny, like I just laughed out loud on the tube funny!!!!' Reader review ?????Helen Pines is far from where she thought she would be. Whilst her ex-boyfriend is now engaged, Helen's ordering Deliveroo for one, dreaming of her last first date.Determined to give online dating a go, she matches with drop-dead gorgeous Brody One date later, Helen's heart is still singing. Brody's sexy, charismatic, and the perfect gentleman. But then she receives an error message on the app all her contacts have been deleted.With nothing but Brody's name and job title to go on, Helen is determined to track him down.But despite the initial chemistry, Helen knows surprisingly little about her mystery man Was it really love-at-first like, or will she find a new love along the way?From international dating expert Hayley Quinn

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Book SynopsisThe Christmas Wish meets Groundhog Day in this hilarious Christmas rom com readers are calling festive', feel good' and so funny'! ??Absolutely joyous everything you want in a Christmas book and more! Five sparkly festive stars'Reader review ??????????Zoey Beake is having a bad December. She might be an elf in the local toy shop's Christmas department, but it's hard to stay festive when you've just been dumped, you've had an extremely unfortunate haircut, and your boss volunteers you to walk on stilts in the toy shop's Christmas parade.But then something incredible happens. ?Zoey is sent back to the start of December, with the chance to live the whole month again. The catch? She has to match six true-love couples by Christmas Eve. Now it's not just her own love life she needs to fix Grab the mistletoe, the Christmas Cupid is ready to matchmake!Tropes?? Finding the magic of Christmas?? Matchmaking? Time travel?? True love?? Festive fun!Readers LOVE The Christmas Cupid!A lovely, feel good, festive read Well written and will leave you with all the festive feels'Reader review ??????????There is Christmas all around in this book. And I loved it, so festive, and fun, and has a wonderful cast of characters to get to know'Reader review ??????????It''s laugh-out-loud funny to the point where you shouldn''t read it late at night in case you wake the household up by laughing too loud (Oops!) Absolutely joyous everything you want in a Christmas book and more! Five sparkly festive stars'Reader review ??????????Once I started this book, I honestly couldn''t put it down. I loved watching the characters fall in love, friendships blossom, the aspect of Christmas alongside this. It was just a beautiful read'Reader review ??????????This needs to be a movie! I absolutely loved this book. It fits right in with my cheesy Christmas romcoms I''m always watching this time of year. The storyline is great, and I love the characters. And nothing beats a good ending!'Reader review ??????????Trade Review ‘Laugh-out-loud funny… Everything you want in a Christmas book and more!’ Jaimie Admans ‘A warm, cozy story that will have you curling up and reading the entire book in one sitting! I really enjoyed this book!’ NetGalley reviewer, ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ ‘Wow, really enjoyable read. Totally recommend.’ NetGalley reviewer, ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ ‘A really cute lighthearted holiday romance.’ NetGalley reviewer, ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ ‘I loved it, so festive, and fun.’ NetGalley reviewer, ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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Book SynopsisIn the whole delightful world of Wodehouse, the English clergy offers some of the richest sources of good-natured good humour. Confronted by burglars or belted earls, they plough serenely on with the Advent sermon or the opening of the village fete - until that is, they are swept uncontrollably into fiendish plots which only a well-disposed devil or member of the Drones Club could have contrived.No bishop is more endearingly plump and pompous than a P.G. Wodehouse bishop, no vicar more a pillar of his community (provided his sermons aren''t too long), and in this collection of short stories we watch as they are plunged into one hilarious scenario after another.Trade ReviewYou don't analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour -- Stephen FryThe greatest comic writer ever * Douglas Adams *The funniest writer ever to put words to paper -- Hugh LaurieP.G. Wodehouse wrote the best English comic novels of the century -- Sebastian FaulksSublime comic genius -- Ben Elton

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