Narrative theme: coming of age

Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR FILM'... with air in its lungs and love in its heart' Guardian *****An epic journey of friendship and self-discovery set in the breathtaking Italian Alps, about two boys who meet in the same village every summer, and the men they grow up to become.Pietro, an impressionable city boy, spends his summers in a secluded valley in the Alps. There, surrounded by meadows and peaks, he begins to learn of his father's dreams and passions. There, too, he meets Bruno, the son of a local stonemason. As the pair run wild, they form a once-in-a-lifetime friendship.Then one year, the summer visits stop. Pietro is drawn to cities around the world. But the memory of the mountains never leaves him and, after his father dies, he returns in search of the freedom and camaraderie that he once knew.'Exquisite... A rich, achingly painful story'ANNIE PROULX, author of The Shipping News'ENCHANTING' Guardian'BRILLIANT' New York Times'ABSORBING' Irish TimesWinner of the 2017 Strega Prize, the Prix Médicis étranger, and the Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.Trade ReviewA fine book, a rich, achingly painful story that is made for all of us who have ever felt a hunger for the mountains. Few books have so accurately described the way stony heights can define one’s sense of joy and rightness. And it is an exquisite unfolding of the deep way humans may love one another. -- Annie ProulxCould Cognetti be the new Elena Ferrante? * The Bookseller *A great story about friendship and about what it means to become a man * Vanity Fair Italia *There are no more universal themes than those of the landscape, friendship, and becoming adults, and Cognetti’s writing becomes classical (and elegant) to best tell this story…a true novel by a great writer * Rolling Stone Italia *A beautifully crafted piece of writing... Absorbing... The power of nature to transform the individual, for good and for bad, is seen through each of the characters -- Sarah Gilmartin * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*THE THEAKSTON'S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2021**WINNER OF THE CWA GOLD DAGGER FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR**WINNER OF THE NED KELLY INTERNATIONAL AWARD*A GUARDIAN BEST THRILLER OF THE YEARAn EXPRESS BEST THRILLER OF THE YEARAn i BEST THRILLER OF THE YEARA MIRROR BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARA WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTHREAD THE BOOK EVERYONE IS CALLING A MASTERPIECE! 'A beautifully written mystery, packed with unforgettable characters' JANE HARPER'Contender for thriller of the year' SUNDAY EXPRESS'An accomplished and moving story of crime, punishment, love and redemption' GUARDIANFor fans of Jane Harper's The Dry comes a powerful novel about the lengths we will go to keep our family safe. This is a story about good and evil and how life is lived somewhere in between.Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer. Now, he's been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.Duchess Radley, Star's thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin - and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town. Murder, revenge, retribution.How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself? WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WE BEGIN AT THE END: 'Magnificent . . . an instant classic, a West Coast Where the Crawdads Sing . . . a special, vital novel. I'm grateful to have read it' A J FINN'Surely destined to conquer the world' RUTH JONES'A magnificent crime novel. It deserves to win a hatful of awards. A BIG hat. Consider me a major fan' MARK BILLINGHAM'So beautifully written' LYNDA LA PLANTE'Incredible writing, characters so brilliantly drawn they jump off the page. Outstanding' BA PARIS'I LOVED this book . . . This is a book to be read and re-read and an author to be celebrated' LOUISE PENNY'A stunning and heartbreaking book - will keep you gripped until the last moving page' CLAIRE MCGOWAN 'An exceptionally beautiful and accomplished crime novel' ALI LAND'One of the best books I've ever read' FIONA CUMMINS'An absolute masterclass in crime writing and story-telling' JO SPAIN'One of the year's best crime reads' VASEEM KHAN'One of my favourite books of all time' M. W. CRAVEN, winner of the CWA's Gold Dagger Award'Breathtakingly beautiful. Another stunning story from the genius of Chris Whitaker' COMPULSIVE READERS 'A spellbinding masterclass in storytelling . . . one of the best books I have ever had the joy to read' ALEX J BOOKS BLOG'A masterpiece . . . a contender for my top book of 2020' FOR WINTER NIGHTS BLOG'I was totally seduced by this absolute masterpiece . . . took my breath away' SUIDI'S BOOK REVIEWS'This book is bound to become a classic . . . Reader, Chris Whitaker's book made me cry . . . such is the power of this writing' LIVE AND DEADLY BLOG'Utterly brilliant . . . This isn't just crime fiction, this is a masterclass' MELANIE READS BLOG'A masterpiece of storytelling with clever twists and an ending to knock you sideways' CANDIS MAGAZINE 'This heart-rending story . . . is among the most powerful and moving I have read in years' DAILY MAIL 'Cements Whitaker's status as one of the most talented authors writing today' HEAT MAGAZINE'Masterly novel' SUNDAY EXPRESS'A dark yet painfully human tale that is impossible to forget' CRIME MONTHLY'Beautifully written and deeply moving' SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB'A gorgeous, crystalline novel' JEANINE CUMMINS, author of AMERICAN DIRT'Heartbreaking and profound, this is my thriller of the year' MIRRORTrade ReviewA beautifully written mystery, packed with unforgettable characters. An intricately woven portrait of small town intrigue where old and new sins collide * Jane Harper *I LOVED it. I mean, jeez, what a story. And so intricately, delicately written, with such care and affection for all the characters. I adored all the relationships and ALL the characters without exception - I mean Duchess!! I could seriously rave about every single character that people the world of this book . . . his descriptions are so vivid, so visual, so beautifully drawn.We Begin at the End is surely destined to conquer the world. This intensely captivating story and its uniquely intriguing characters holds you in its jaws till the very last word. Astonishingly good * Ruth Jones *A magnificent crime novel. It deserves to win a hatful of awards. A BIG hat. Consider me a major fan * Mark Billingham *The character of Duchess Day Radley is so beautifully written, she will remain with you for a long time * Lynda La Plante *I love Duchess Day Radley so much I want to adopt her. She is every thirteen-year-old girl at risk, an outlaw both pure of heart and ill of intent, a fierce and melancholy girl, so memorable she will make camp in your brain and never leave. In We Begin at the End, Chris Whitaker has written a gorgeous, crystalline novel, a cautionary tale about the long shadows cast by our past selves, and one defiant girl with the bravery to hope for something better. I love this beautiful book * Jeanine Cummins, author of American Dirt *An accomplished and moving story of crime, punishment, love and redemption * Guardian, Books of the Month *Chris Whitaker's third novel, We Begin at the End, is the kind of breakout book that publishers dream about. Rich with character and story, conflict and tension, humor, tragedy and raw, unadulterated guts, this one has it all. Throw in the most compelling young protagonist I've read in at least a decade, and you have a deep and meaningful story that is an absolute delight from first page to last. Nicely done, Mr. Whitaker! * John Hart *Let's begin at the end. After you've turned the final page of Chris Whitaker's magnificent new novel, you'll struggle - I struggled, certainly - to describe the experience . . . it's an instant classic, a West Coast Where the Crawdads Sing; its prose shimmers like a mirage; in intensity and lyricism, it recalls the very best of Tana French and Dennis Lehane; for pace and whiplash plot twists, it rivals C. J. Box and Peter May . . . This is a murder mystery, yes, and an extraordinarily gripping one - but like the murder mysteries of Louise Penny, Jane Harper, and Kate Atkinson, it's humanity that most enriches Whitaker's novel (and Whitaker's readers) . . . think of We Begin at the End as a novel at the same time distinctly American and profoundly universal: a book that explores both this particular community, these particular lives, even as it maps emotional territory rarely charted in contemporary fiction. What a special, vital novel. I'm grateful to have read it * A. J. Finn *I LOVED this book. From the riveting plot, to the beautiful writing. But mostly what kept me longing to get back to it each day were the characters, especially young Duchess. Fierce, brave, vulnerable she leaps off the page fully formed. As does Walk. How aptly named. A chief of police on his own inexorable journey. This is a book to be read and re-read and an author to be celebrated * Louise Penny *Beautifully written, We Begin at the End really reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird. And the spirit of Scout is very much alive in Duchess. A crime novel, or maybe a novel about a crime, and yet so much more * Sarah Pinborough *Stunning, intoxicating, heart-breaking - without a doubt one of my favourite books of the year. A compelling story, beautifully-drawn characters and writing that leaps off the page: We Begin at the Endis in a class of its own * T M Logan *An intense, evocative, and quite brilliant crime novel that stays with you long after you've finished the last page * Simon Kernick *An exceptionally beautiful and accomplished crime novel. I fell head over heels into its big black heart and will carry the characters with me for a long time to come yet. Duchess and Thomas Noble forever * Ali Land *A stunning and heartbreaking book - will keep you gripped until the last moving page * Claire McGowan, #1 bestselling author of What You Did *Chris Whitaker takes crime writing to new levels in this evocative and lyrical novel, which is not only beautifully written but cleverly plotted, with a climax you'll never guess * Mark Edwards *If ever there is a book that deserves all the prizes, this is it. So layered and nuanced, and brimming with characters so full of depth they breathe on the page. So heartbreakingly evocative of small town life and the secrets buried under the weight of old friendships and tangled loyalties. Stunning writing, both poetic and compelling. A damn near perfect crime novel. Do yourself a favour and put this on your most wanted list * Fiona Cummins *Chris Whitaker is leading the pack of hungry young crime writers by a long mile. He writes like a dark angel, conjuring characters and places so memorable you'll ache when it's over. A very real, very rare talent * SARAH HILARY *We Begin at the End is the most beautifully written book I have read this year . . . with characters that will tug at your heartstrings, an incredible sense of place and a cleverly plotted mystery, Chris Whitaker is proving himself to be one of the most talented writers around * Lisa Hall *What a novel! Such a remarkable achievement. So wonderful in so many ways, with writing that is Booker Prize good. I kept having to stop and go back and re-read bits because I wanted to experience them again.I enjoyed it so much and the characters now have a place in my heart, I'm sad not to be able to spend any more time with them (Duchess especially). Wow. There is no f**king justice if this book is not a smash hit * Deborah O'Connor *We Begin At The End is as perfect a novel as you'll read all year. Devastating and hopeful in equal measure, with pitch-perfect characters you'll root for at each jaw-dropping turn - Duchess, in particular, deserves a fast-track pass to the literary hall of fame. A sophisticated, utterly absorbing read * Caz Frear *A triumph. I couldn't read it fast enough, while still appreciating the absolute beauty and depth to it. I don't know where to begin - the total satisfaction of the plot, the absorbing story, the cast of unbelievably incredible characters, the sheer taste of America on the page. So, I'll begin at the end, and the fact I cried straight through those last few chapters. Duchess, Robin, they killed me. It's an absolute masterclass in crime writing and story-telling * Jo Spain *Wow . . . One of the most spellbinding crime novels I've read in a long time - and, best of all, it felt like nothing I'd read before. Masterful * Catherine Ryan Howard *Chris Whitaker excels in muscular small town American Noir. In We Begin at the End, we see that fascination with the gnarly American heartland reach new heights. Whitaker displays his mastery over style; his unique flair and eye for telling detail is comparable to a form of literary method acting. The story unwinds to a peak of tension and ends with a series of revelations that hit like a flurry of punches to the gut. It is a fabulous read. A sparse, muscular novel with a unique sense of style. A cross between crime and literary fiction in the Cormac McCarthy tradition. A sense of tragedy infuses the story and this, more than anything, makes it one of the year's best crime reads * Vaseem Khan *Breathtaking, heart-wrenching, heart-warming and laugh-out-loud funny, We Begin At The End is simply astonishing. Easily the best book I've read this year * M.W. Craven, CWA Gold Dagger winner *A sensational book. Addictive, beautifully-written and immersive. So many layers. So many fascinating characters. Chris Whitaker is an immensely talented writer * Will Dean *An absolute belter of a book. Superb, heart-breaking, astounding and gripping. Chris Whitaker has totally nailed it * Gytha Lodge *Sometimes a book finds its way to you when you need it most, and teaches you a lesson you didn't even know needed teaching. We Begin at the End is one of those books, and it truly is a masterpiece * Isabelle Broom *Astoundingly beautiful. No other writer can pull you in quite so well as Chris Whitaker. The writing is pure and sharp, the characters perfectly drawn, the story unforgettable * Rebecca Tinnelly *We Begin At The End is stunning - thrilling, moving, beautifully written * Paul Burston *Hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. In my life. There's a bit at the end which is so overwhelmingly sad I can barely breathe just thinking about it. An absolutely astonishing novel and the writing is breathtaking * Rebecca Thornton *A heart-rending, gut-punching, nail-biting masterpiece. I'm sure I could hear echoes of Harper Lee coming through in the skilfully crafted prose. It's surely rare that a British author should pen an American classic, but I think Chris has * Marnie Riches *Chris Whitaker has written a rare gem of a novel - by turns thrilling, moving and heartbreaking, it takes the reader on a gut-wrenching journey from hope to despair and back again. Chris's previous novels demonstrated his gift for creating complex, fragile and all-too-believable characters, but somehow he has topped himself here, introducing us to a cast of heroes and villains so intimately-drawn, they could be your family and friends. The kind of book that makes you fall in love with reading again * Rod Reynolds *Crime may feature at the heart of We Begin at the End but it is the heart itself that dominates this stunning crime novel. Beautiful, evocative & heartbreaking from beginning to end * Off-the-Shelf blog *Beautiful writing, characters that live on in your memory long after you've turned the last page. Excellent * Mason Cross *A sublimely beautiful book that lingers long in the memory, from a writer with a rare gift * Kevin Wignall *This is an epic drama and a profound masterpiece. I'll be amazed if I read a better novel this year * Mirror *So beautifully written you'll want to savour every word; a book that stays with you long after the final page * Victoria Selman *Two damaged children - one timid and sweet, the other foul-mouthed and furious - will break readers' hearts in this well-plotted and perfectly-paced novel. If, like me, you love stories that kidnap your intended schedule because you can't not keep turning the pages, then I wholeheartedly recommend Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End * Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much is True *I've just finished We Begin at the End and I have all the feelings for this beautiful book . . . A brilliantly plotted crime novel with such tender characterisation * N. J. Mackay *I loved We Begin at the End. Complicated, loveable characters, gripping plot, sparse, beautiful writing, and such great senses of place. I also cried. A lot * Abigail Dean, author of Girl A *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of Great Expectations by Charles DickensWhat do you think that is?'' she asked me, again pointing with her stick; ''that, where those cobwebs are?I can''t guess what it is, ma''am.It''s a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!Great Expectations, Dickens''s funny, frightening and tender portrayal of the orphan Pip''s journey of self-discovery, is one of his best-loved works. Showing how a young man''s life is transformed by a mysterious series of events - an encounter with an escaped prisoner; a visit to a black-hearted old woman and a beautiful girl; a fortune from a secret donor - Dickens''s late novel is a masterpiece of psychological and moral truth, and Pip among his greatest creations.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller!FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARDIn the start of an all-new trilogy, the bestselling author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver introduces you to a dangerous school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death - until one girl begins to rewrite its rules.____________Enter a school of magic unlike any you have ever encountered.There are no teachers, no holidays, friendships are purely strategic, and the odds of survival are never equal. Once you're inside, there are only two ways out: you graduate or you die.El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school's many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions - never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school.Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too. So El is trying her hardest not to use it . . . that is, unless she has no other choice.With flawless mastery, Naomi Novik creates a heroine for the ages - a character so sharply realized and so richly nuanced that she will live on in hearts and minds for generations to come.____________'Hilarious and wild! Take any fictional magic school, make it as over-the-top dangerous as possible, and populate it with a bunch of snarky teenagers; the result is pure batshit fun.'N.K. Jemisin, three-time Hugo Award winner and author of The Fifth Season'Novik deliciously undoes expectations about magic schools, destined heroes, and family legacies. A gorgeous book about monsters and monstrousness, chockablock with action, cleverness, and wit.' Holly Black, #1 New York Times bestselling author'The Scholomance is the dark school of magic I've been waiting for, and its wise, witty, and monstrous heroine is one I'd happily follow anywhere-even into a school full of monsters.' Katherine Arden, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale'The wonderful cast of characters will grab a hold of your heart and you'll never want to leave this deadly school ... a fantasy that delights on every level. I loved this brilliant book.'Stephanie Garber, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Caraval series'Eyeball-meltingly brilliant. Novik is, quite simply, a genius.'Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken'Sharp, witty, and darkly effervescent, A Deadly Education is Naomi Novik's fresh take on the concept of the magic school. One of my favorite reads of the year.'Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls'Fresh, smart, and delightfully unique. It's Hogwarts with higher stakes and sharper claws, and I absolutely loved it.'Alix E. Harrow'A nightmare from which I never wished to wake. Savage, inventive, and soulful, Novik grasps the totems of childhood that linger in your mind-schools of magic, curses, cutthroat classmates, monsters-only to twist them into a grand new tale that'll make you believe in magic again.' Pierce Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Dark AgeA Deadly Education, Sunday Times bestseller - October 2020Trade ReviewThe Scholomance is the dark school of magic I’ve been waiting for, and its wise, witty, and monstrous heroine is one I'd happily follow anywhere—even into a school full of monsters. -- KATHERINE ARDENSharp as a fang, funny and ruthless, this still manages to conjure up powerful observations about friendship, exclusion and privilege. * DAILY MAIL *From the author of Spinning Silver comes a story set in an austere school for the magically gifted which houses unfathomable secrets and dark challenges for its students. Weaving together suspicion, danger, sorcery, monsters and humour, A Deadly Education is a magnificent return to form from Naomi Novik. * WATERSTONES *Eyeball-meltingly brilliant. Novik is, quite simply, a genius. -- KIERSTEN WHITEA Deadly Education is a nightmare from which I never wished to wake. Savage, inventive, and soulful, Novik grasps the totems of childhood that linger in your mind-schools of magic, curses, cutthroat classmates, monsters-only to twist them into a grand new tale that'll make you believe in magic again.A dark, smart, delicious tale, set to redefine everything you think you know about schools for magic. A Deadly Education is dangerously addictive. * KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE *At Scholomance, monsters are everywhere and the breakfast might kill you, but the wonderful cast of characters will grab a hold of your heart and you’ll never want to leave this deadly school. Naomi Novik skillfully combines sharp humor with layers of imagination to build a fantasy that delights on every level. I loved this brilliant book. -- STEPHANIE GARBERHilarious and wild! Take any fictional magic school, make it as over-the-top dangerous as possible, and populate it with a bunch of snarky teenagers; the result is pure batshit fun. -- N. K. JEMISINSharp, witty, and darkly effervescent, A Deadly Education is Naomi Novik’s fresh take on the concept of the magic school. One of my favorite reads of the year. -- RORY POWERA Deadly Education plunges into the delightfully brutal world of the Scholomance, a magic school unlike anything you've ever seen before, and introduces El, a practical, ruthless heroine with the guts and wits to survive it. Naomi Novik has crafted a transcendent academic fantasy that pulls no punches. * EMILY SKRUTSKIE *Naomi Novik reinvents the magical school story by working a strange, funny, wild, dark magic all her own. This is not just your next great read - it's your new obsession. * GWENDA BOND *Novik is a master at setting up a plot to unfurl in a series of staggeringly well-thought out bursts of action, weaving together into an imaginative climax.A Deadly Education is a book that lives up to its gob smacker of an opening sentence and follows right through to its shocker of an ending that promises more to come. Naomi Novik is relentlessly innovative and entertaining -- TERRY BROOKSFresh, smart, and delightfully unique. It's Hogwarts with higher stakes and sharper claws, and I absolutely loved it. * ALIX E. HARROW *The author's most entertaining novel to date * SFX *Fun and beautifully written * Metro *A story that never stops moving while always remaining focused on developing the characters of both the people and the school itself * Locus Magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis**SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX FILM** **THE INTERNATIONAL NUMBER ONE-BESTSELLER** ‘A coming-of-age-story to be loved everywhere in the world’ FREDRIK BACKMAN, author of A MAN CALLED OVE ___________________________________________ The international sensation: the story of a young Sámi girl's coming-of-age, and a powerful fable about family, identity and justice Nine-year-old Elsa lives just north of the Arctic Circle. She and her family are Sámi – Scandinavia’s indigenous people – and make their living herding reindeer. One morning when Elsa goes skiing alone, she witnesses a man brutally killing her reindeer calf, Nástegallu. Elsa recognises the man but refuses to tell anyone – least of all the Swedish police force – about what she saw. Instead, she carries her secret as a dark weight on her heart. Elsa comes of age fighting two wars: one within her community, where male elders expect young women to know their place; and against the ever-escalating wave of prejudice and violence against the Sámi. When Elsa finds herself the target of the man who killed her reindeer calf all those years ago, something inside of her finally breaks. The guilt, fear, and anger she’s been carrying since childhood come crashing over her like an avalanche, and will lead Elsa to a final catastrophic confrontation.Trade ReviewStolen is an extraordinary novel. A coming-of-age-story you'll get lost in, about youth and heritage and the never-ending struggle to be allowed to exist. Although set in the coldest and most northern part of Scandinavia, I'm convinced it’s a universal story to be loved everywhere in the world -- FREDRIK BACKMAN, author of A MAN CALLED OVEBeautiful and devastating, Stolen shines a powerful and important light on the Sámi community and the growing challenges they face in a changing world -- CAROLE JOHNSTONE, author of MIRRORLANDViscerally clear fiction of both the fractured, violent nature of the Sámi’s relationship with their Nordic occupiers and the coming of age of an innocent girl. Written with such cool clarity, Stolen is a perfect metaphor of our slippery grip on humanity and our tenuous relationship with the Earth -- TANYA TALAGA, bestselling author of SEVEN FALLEN FEATHERSSámi author Ann-Helén Laestadius has written a fresh, devastating, and insightful novel about Sámi life and the struggle for justice in a rapidly changing world. A love for the imperiled landscape reverberates throughout this engaging read -- MEGAN MAYHEW BERGMAN, author of HOW STRANGE A SEASONStolen is in equal measure a gripping and thrilling mystery as it is a testament to the continued beating heart of Sámi life. Ann-Helén Laestadius takes her place as an important voice in world Indigenous literature -- MICHELLE GOOD, author of FIVE LITTLE INDIANSLaestadius’s nuanced English-language debut is a story of a family torn apart by cultural tensions ... The sense of place and character development make for an affecting portrait of the Sámi’s disenfranchisement * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A revelatory account of not-well-known assaults on the rights of an Indigenous group … The legacies of long-held social prejudices against the Indigenous group - racism, economic insecurity, and the traumas borne by the community’s elders who had been removed from the group in childhood and sent to “nomad schools” - continue to haunt Sámi life with devastating effects … Looming over the tale is the spectre of climate change and its impacts on the traditional Sámi herding methods * KIRKUS *A sharp and socially critical novel with an intensity that makes it powerful and strong ... Whatever you do, don’t miss out on this novel * Dagens Nyheter (SE) *Laestadius writes with burning intensity about a community around the Arctic Circle that is rarely portrayed. Her commitment shines through and constantly urges the reader to continue reading. It may be foolhardy to name this year’s most powerful book as early as February. But that Stolen is one of the most important Swedish books of the year is indisputable * Demokraatti (FI) *Stolen is not only a fierce cry for justice, but also an empathic and beautiful story about the love of and nature * Norra Skåne (SE) *One of the most talked about books this spring ... Stolen is a moving, multifaceted, and important contemporary novel that highlights many serious themes and portrays a society and a situation that needs to be discussed many times over. A well-written story that leaves a lasting impression * P4 Västernorrland (SE) *A deeply gripping and atmospheric novel that will take hold of your heart. Filled with compelling characters and a formidable landscape - this debut is a triumph! -- DANIELLE DANIEL, award-winning author of DAUGHTERS OF THE DEERIn a careful and at times poetic prose [Laestadius] portrays milieus, conflicts, and magic from an area that has long been underrepresented in literary fiction in Sweden * Expressen (SE) *Ann-Helén Laestadius’s writing flows seamlessly, with a piercing psychological and keen eye for societal issues. I am especially happy about the elegant ending, that beautifully ties the circle together and brings hope of a brighter future * Hufvudstadsbladet (FI) *Intimately and vividly portrayed. The novel gives beautiful insights into the life of the Sámi and their struggle for justice. An accessible and at the same time deep, beautiful, and suspenseful tale of a part of the world many of us know very little about. It deserves a large audience * BTJ (SE) *The best trick of fiction is how it can make us feel part of something, and Laestadius does just that ... Incredibly thrilling * Jönköpings-Posten (SE) *Both a thrilling page-turner and a story to remember for a long time to come * Sundsvalls Tidning (SE) *Stolen is an important novel that provides insight into modern Sámi life. This is the first step in a new direction for an author with a crucial message: I will be sure to follow her going forward * Svenska Dagbladet (SE) *A stunningly suspenseful, glowing story, in which a perceptive narrator brings a whole new world to the reader * Helsingin Sanomat *A splendid novel. [...] The characters are lovingly and skillfully portrayed, in such a way that makes it hard to let go of them afterwards * Suomen Kuvalehti *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe uplifting Japanese bestsellerTHE PERFECT GIFT FOR CAT LOVERS'Compassionate and touching' DAILY MAIL'Totally beguiling' OBSERVERPerfect fans of The Travelling Cat Chronicles and Convenience Store Woman____________On the outskirts of Tokyo, local cats weave their way through the lives and homes of their owners as they navigate difficult times.- A cat named Chobi sends silent messages of courage to a young woman, willing her to end a faltering relationship- A gifted artist fatally misunderstands her boss's enthusiasm for her paintings- A manga fan shuts herself away after the death of her friend, while her cat Cookie hatches a plan to persuade her outside- A woman who has dedicated her life to a distant husband learns a lesson in independence from her catAgainst the urban backdrop of humming trains and private woes, SHE AND HER CAT explores the gentle magic of the everyday.Populated by both the friendly and the feral, it reveals - with heartstopping clarity and warmth - how even in our darkest moments, community and connection may lead us to a happier place.***Includes four fabulous illustrations***____________'A beautiful, uplifting novel. As mesmerizing as it is strange' SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE'Goes to show how cats will save us all' Nick Bradley, author of The Cat and the City'A gem, written with deep insight and finely attuned to the ways of cats and their humans. An absolute delight' HAZEL PRIOR author of Call of the PenguinsTrade ReviewA beautiful, uplifting novel. As mesmerising as it is strange * SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING TIK TOK SENSATION AND START OF THE JACKSONVILLE RAYS SERIES!I can''t fall for a player, let alone three...My name is Rachel Price, and two months ago, I walked away from the perfect man. We shared one magical night. No names. No strings. I never thought I''d see him again. I was wrong.It turns out my perfect man is actually the playboy grinder for the Jacksonville Rays, the NHL''s hottest new hockey team...and I''m his new physical therapist.This fellowship is going to be the longest ten months of my life. Mr. Perfect will do anything to get back on my good side. Meanwhile, his best friend, the surly new equipment manager, is always riding my case. Worst of all, I''ve got an uncooperative goalie who thinks I can''t tell he''s hiding an injury!These man are ready to test my limits, but this is my chance to prove myself, and I''m not risking it for anything. I can''t fall for a player, let alone three. But if love is a game, these guys are playing to win.PUCKING AROUND is a spicy ''why choose'' hockey romance. PRAISE FOR PUCKING AROUND: ''On my list for best book of the year!'' Amazon Reviewer''This was such a fun read with plenty of spice'' Amazon Reviewer''The spice was absolutely next level'' Amazon Reviewer''This is unlike anything I have read before. Highly recommend!'' Amazon Reviewer ''This was SO MUCH FUN'' Amazon Reviewer

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of the nineteenth century; infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straight out of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmask a villain.

Read more less

Book SynopsisReturning to the magical Amsterdam of her million-copy bestseller The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton's The House of Fortune is a story of love, fate, and two women determined to make their own way.A Richard & Judy Book Club pickThe No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller'I absolutely loved it' – Marian Keyes'Awe-inspiring. Burton is a master storyteller' – Elizabeth Day1705, Amsterdam. Thea Brandt is about to turn eighteen, and at the theatre in the heart of the city she has met the love of her life. At home, however, her family faces ruin. Desperate to change their fortunes, Thea’s aunt Nella is convinced that she must find Thea a wealthy husband, to get her away from the theatre and solidify her place in the society in which she truly belongs.As Thea and Nella clash over the demands of duty and the heart, past secrets begin to overwhelm their present. And then there is the elusive miniaturist – when mysterious figurines begin to arrive on the family doorstep, it seems someone may have unexpected plans for Thea's family . . .Will each woman be able to rescue her destiny from the whims of fortune?Five Star Reader Reviews:'I didn't want this rich immersive book to end . . . magical''Every bit as beautiful as the first book''Fantastic!! We are going to need a third book, please!'Trade ReviewClever and satisfying . . . Burton is an acute observer . . . A worthy sequel, mature and thoughtful * Guardian *Satisfying . . . a moving celebration of the possibilities for change and regeneration in life * Sunday Times *A joyous read: compassionate, wise and fabulously immersive . . . a beguiling, tender sequel . . . Brilliant * i *A more than worthy sequel to The Miniaturist. Elegant, atmospheric, compelling. I absolutely loved it -- Marian KeyesA book of beauty and insight . . . awe-inspiring. Burton is a master storyteller . . . I felt I could see, smell, live and breathe every page . . . a delight for anyone who is about to read it -- Elizabeth Day, bestselling author of The Party and MagpieSumptuous, elegant and atmospheric * Prima *The most beautiful book you'll read this year. A spectacular achievement . . . [it] will break your heart and put it back together again . . . Shining, sinuous, truly a marvel -- Kate WilliamsElegant historical suspense * Grazia *Returning to the world of her bestselling The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton’s tale of a curious young woman in 18th-century Amsterdam finds her at the top of her game * Observer *A satisfying, page-turning romp with a heroine to root for * Sunday Express *Beautifully crafted and brimming with historical detail * Sunday Post *Fans of The Miniaturist are in for a treat with this sequel * Red *The mysterious writing draws in any curious reader * The Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis anniversary hardcover includes more than 50 pages of extra content!- Beautiful, iconic cover by artist Sam Weber and designer Paul Buckley- Gorgeous, never-before-seen illustrations by artist Dan Dos Santos- Detailed and updated world map by artist Nate Taylor- Brand-new author''s note- Appendix detailing calendar system and currencies- Pronunciation guide of names and places''I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. My name is Kvothe.You may have heard of me''So begins the tale of Kvothe - currently known as Kote, the unassuming innkeepter - from his cTrade ReviewThe best epic fantasy I read last year...He's bloody good, this Rothfuss guy -- George R R MartinPatrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing. * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *Patrick Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous -- Terry BrooksThis is a magnificent book -- Anne McCaffreyThe Name of the Wind has everything: magic and mysteries and ancient evil, but it's also humorous and terrifying and completely believable -- Tad WilliamsAs absorbing on a second reading as it is on the first, this is the type of assured, rich first novel most writers can only dream of producing * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing ... with true music in the words -- Ursula K Le GuinThe characters are real and the magic is true -- robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Assassin’s ApprenticeMasterful ... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description -- Brandon Sanderson, New York Times-bestselling author of Mistborn[Makes] you think he's inventing the genre, instead of reinventing it -- Lev Grossman, New York Times-bestselling author of The MagiciansHail Patrick Rothfuss! A new giant is striding the land -- Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning author of WakeI was reminded of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkein, but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone * THE TIMES *This fast-moving, vivid, and unpretentious debut roots its coming-of-age fantasy in convincing mythology * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY *This breathtakingly epic story is heartrending in its intimacy and masterful in its narrative essence * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *Reminiscent in scope of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series ... this masterpiece of storytelling will appeal to lovers of fantasy on a grand scale * LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred) *Shelve The Name of the Wind beside The Lord of the Rings...and look forward to the day when it's mentioned in the same breath, perhaps as first among equals * The A.V. Club *"Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing." * WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR Both inventive and shocking, Trust Exercise became a sensation on publication in the USA for its timely insights into sex, power and the nature of abuse. Sarah and David are in love - the obsessive, uncertain love of teenagers on the edge of adulthood. At their performing arts school, the rules are made by their magnetic drama instructor Mr Kingsley, who initiates them into a dangerous game. Two decades on we learn that the real story of these teenagers' lives is even larger and darker than we imagined, and the consequences have lasted a lifetime. Trust Exercise is a brilliant, unforgettable novel about what we lose, gain and never get over as we're initiated into the mysteries of adulthood.Trade ReviewA Russian doll of a novel * Daily Telegraph *Will leave you shaken to your very core * Cosmopolitan *A devastatingly apt analysis of what men have gotten away with * The New York Times *Remarkable ... a phosphorescent examination of sexual consent -- Top Books of 2019 * The New York Times *Tense and lovely -- Best Books of 2019 * New Yorker *Tricksy and beguiling -- Books of the Year * Economist *Unputdownable -- Must-Read Books of 2019 * Time Magazine *Spellbinding -- Best Books of 2019 * Elle Magazine *Trust Exercise is Choi's fifth novel, and without a doubt her most ingenious yet. Sure, submitting to it is a "trust exercise" all of its own, but the razzmatazz that awaits is well worth it. -- Lucy Scholes * FT *Powerful, addictive, smart * Elle Magazine *Taut, distinctive and deeply unsettling * Daily Mail *A masterly study of power and its abuses ... Choi shows how much we need our female novelists within the sea change of our current moment * Guardian *A captivating, dark and unforgettable read * You *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDISCOVER THE DEEPLY ROMANTIC AND UNFORGETTABLE TIKTOK SENSATION THAT WILL GRIP YOU UNTIL THE VERY LAST PAGE''Wren and Crew stole my heart and neither of them will give it back. I cannot explain how much I adore this story . . . Full of angst, drama and steam'' 5* READER REVIEW''Addictive, angsty and unforgettable . . . their chemistry was explosive'' 5* READER REVIEW''Wren and Crew are perfection and the chemistry they have is sizzling! I was sweating it out with nerves at Chapter 4 and the rollercoaster never ended'' 5* READER REVIEW_________Wren Beaumont is a model student. Kind, clever and beautiful, she is loved by everyone at Lancaster Prep.Everyone but brooding campus bad boy Crew Lancaster.Son of the family who own the school, Crew''s life seems easy - but with an overbearing father and high expectations, it''s anything but.Which is why he has no time for people like Wren.But when their lives unexpectedly collide, Wren discovers there''s more to life than good grades - and Crew finally understands what it''s like to care about someone other than himself . . .Could they - should they - become the school''s most unlikely couple?_________Steamy, romantic and totally addictive, this is a story that proves that true love really does happen when you least expect it . . .''Crew . . . really had me wrapped around his finger by the end of the book'' 5* READER REVIEW ''I fell madly in love with Wren and Crew. A delightful balance of slow burn and enemies to friends to lovers, and will capture every romance reader''s heart'' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewThe premise is edgy and dramatic; the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are animated and intense. * The Reading Cafe *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of thenineteenth century; infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straightout of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmaska villain.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA coming-of-age story that 'manages to bottle up that chaotic and messy feeling of girlhood' (Stylist), from a fresh and radical new talent

Read more less

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the 2023-2024 Gordon Burn Prize Longlisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize Winner of the 2019 Indigenous Voices Award for Published Prose in English Fact can be as strange as fiction. It can also be as dark, as violent, as rapturous. In the end, there may be no difference between them. An Inuk girl grows up in Nunavut, Canada, in the 1970s. She knows joy, and friendship, and parents' love. She knows boredom, and listlessness, and bullying. She knows the tedium of the everyday world, and the raw, amoral power of the ice and sky, the seductive energy of the animal world. She knows the ravages of alcohol, and violence at the hands of those she should be able to trust. She sees the spirits that surround her, and the immense power that dwarfs all of us. When she becomes pregnant, she must navigate all this. In this acclaimed debut novel - haunting, brooding, exhilarating, and tender all at once - Tanya Tagaq explores the grittiest features of a small Arctic town and the electrifying proximity of the worlds of animals and of myth.Trade Review'Tagaq's surreal meld of poetry and prose transmutes the Arctic's boundless beauty, intensity, and desolation into a wrenching contemporary mythology.' The New Yorker ---- 'Though the protagonist's coming-of-age story, generously and lovingly documented by Tagaq, is the anchor, Split Tooth is not a book that can be fully absorbed in one sitting. It's possible to sink deeper and deeper into the narrative with each successive reading. Like a smirking teenager, Split Tooth blithely gives typical literary expectations the finger, daring us to see and experience narrative as chaotic, emotional, and deeply instinctive. And it succeeds.' Quill and Quire ---- 'A raw, powerful voice breathes fresh air into traditional Inuit folklore to create a modern tale of mythological proportions.' Kirkus ---- '[Split Tooth] straddles the line between memoir and fiction, prose and poetry, magic and harsh reality. . . [and] is infused with Tagaq's intimate knowledge of life in the Arctic.' Oprah Magazine ---- '[A] forceful coming-of-age tale.' Toronto Life magazine ---- 'In [Tanya Tagaq]'s forthcoming novel, Split Tooth, there's a chapter called "Ritual" that is such a distillation of childhood magic and refuge that it made me feel like I was reading Tove Jansson or Roald Dahl for the first time.' Sean Michaels ---- 'Tanya Tagaq has written a book that should re-arrange the reader's mind and very being in her astounding Split Tooth. She uses the narrative arc of a coming of age story to tell of coming of age in a northern, indigenous community that includes close experience of abuse, village violence, colonial exploitation, and also close kin ties, birth, death, a knowing of how we are really fed, an awareness of how small life can be, and how large ... I look forward to putting this book in people's hands.' Rick Simonson, owner of Elliott Bay Book Company ---- 'In simplest terms, Split Tooth is a punch to the throat...a stellar first novel; an incredible work of Canadian, indigenous, and world literatures.' PopMatters ---- 'Tagaq has broken a new trail for all future Inuit writers to tread upon, describing the lived world of an Inuk child with writing that is breathtaking and singular...With this work Tagaq has reshaped what Inuit literature is... it is impossible to stop reading. It is delicious. And offers a new way forward for Inuit authors.' Inuit Art Quarterly

Read more less

Book SynopsisRuprecht Van Doren is an overweight genius whose hobbies include very difficult maths and the Search of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Daniel 'Skippy' Juster is his roommate. In the grand old Dublin institution that is Seabrook College for Boys, nobody pays either of them much attention.Trade ReviewSavagely funny, brimful of wit, energy, poetry and vision, unflaggingly entertaining. A triumph * Sunday Times *One of the most enjoyable, funny and moving reads of this year. A rare tragicomedy that's both genuinely tragic and genuinely comic * Guardian *Darkly comic, dazzles, every line drips ideas for fun. Unputdownably funny, captivating. A masterpiece * Metro *Ambitious, wise, funny, fiercely intelligent. The beauty of this cynical, hopeful, beautifully written book is that it builds a detailed world to explore life, the universe and everything * Sunday Express *Hilarious, heartbreaking, totally engrossing. A triumph * Daily Mail *Novels rarely come as funny and as moving as this utterly brilliant exploration of teenhood and the anticlimax of becoming an adult . . . Skippy Dies is intuitive, truthful and one of the finest comic novels written anywhere. Dies? Never! Skippy lives -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *I loved Skippy Dies . . . three novels fused into one ignited tragicomic tour de force -- Ali Smith * Times Literary Supplement *Skippy Dies is one great high-octane fizz bang of a book -- Patrick McCabe * Irish Times *Extravagantly entertaining * New York Times Book Review *A comic epic. Murray is a brilliant comic writer, but also humane and touching, and he captures the misery and elation, joy and anxiety of teenage life. A brilliant depiction of the heaven and hell of male adolescence -- David Nicholls * Guardian *Murray's writing has earned a place in the contemporary international canon . . . Murray's characters are so three-dimensionally drawn and brought to such vivid life that they may haunt your dreams * Irish Independent *

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘The Namesake’ is the story of a boy brought up Indian in America.Trade Review‘Extraordinary…a book that spins gold out of the straw of ordinary lives. The calm, pellucid grace of her prose, the sustained stretch of crystal clear writing, its elegant pianissimo tone, pulls the reader from beginning to end in one neat arc. Every detail, every observation, every sentence rings with the clarity of truth. The Namesake is a novel that makes its reader feel privileged to be allowed access to its immensely empathetic world.' The Times ‘The kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person and say "Read this!"' Amy Tan 'Impeccably written' Daily Mail 'Gracious….in refined, empathetic prose…each of Lahiri's characters patches together their own identity, making this resonant fable neither uniquely Asian nor uniquely American, but tenderly, wryly human.' Hephzibah Anderson, The Observer ‘This is certainly a novel that explores the concepts of cultural identity, of rootlessness, of tradition and familial expectation…but …it never succumbs to the cliches those themes so often entail. Instead, Lahiri turns it into something both larger and simpler: the story of a man and his family, of his life and hopes, loves and sorrows. She has a talent – magical, sly, cumulative – that most writers would kill for.’ Julie Myerson, The Guardian ‘Jhumpa Lahiri’s excellent first novel… is the work of a fine writer, discriminating, compassionate and surprising. It is, too, a story for our times.’ Rachel Cusk, Evening Standard ‘A joy to read.’ Sunday Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautiful clothbound edition of Evelyn Waugh''s classic novel of duty and desire set against the backdrop of the faded glory of the English aristocracy in the run-up to the Second World War.The most nostalgic and reflective of Evelyn Waugh''s novels, Brideshead Revisited looks back to the golden age before the Second World War. It tells the story of Charles Ryder''s infatuation with the Marchmains and the rapidly disappearing world of privilege they inhabit. Enchanted first by Sebastian Flyte at Oxford, then by his doomed Catholic family, in particular his remote sister, Julia, Charles comes finally to recognise his spiritual and social distance from them.''Lush and evocative ... Expresses at once the profundity of change and the indomitable endurance of the human spirit''The TimesTrade Review“Waugh’s most deeply felt novel . . . Brideshead Revisited tells an absorbing story in imaginative terms . . . Mr. Waugh is very definitely an artist, with something like a genius for precision and clarity not surpassed by any novelist writing in English in his time.” –New York Times “A many-faceted book . . . Beautifully [written] by one of the most exhilarating stylists of our time.” –Newsweek “First and last an enchanting story . . . Brideshead Revisited has a magic that is rare in current literature. It is a world in itself, and the reader lives in it and is loath to leave it when the last page is turned.” –Saturday Review “Evelyn Waugh’s most successful novel . . . A memorable work of art.” –from the Introduction by Frank Kermode

Read more less

Book SynopsisA devastating story of love, loss and one woman''s terrible choice between duty and personal freedom. Fall in love with Brooklyn ahead of its bestselling follow-up, Long Island.It is Ireland in the early 1950s and for Eilis Lacey, as for so many young Irish girls, opportunities are scarce. So when her sister arranges for her to emigrate to New York, Eilis knows she must go, leaving behind her family and her home for the first time.Arriving in a crowded lodging house in Brooklyn, Eilis can only be reminded of what she has sacrificed. She is far from home - and homesick. And just as she takes tentative steps towards friendship, and perhaps something more, Eilis receives news which sends her back to Ireland. There she will be confronted by a terrible dilemma - a devastating choice between duty and one great love.***''With this elating and humane novel, Colm Tóibín has produced a masterwork'' Sunday Times''UnforgettaTrade ReviewWith this elating and humane novel, Colm Tóibín has produced a masterwork * Sunday Times *The most compelling and moving portrait of a young woman I have read in a long time -- Zoë Heller * Guardian, Books of the Year *A work of such skill, understatement and sly jewelled merriment could haunt your life -- Ali Smith * TLS, Books of the Year *Suffused with humane depth, funny, affecting, deftly plotted ... a novel of magnificent accomplishment -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times, Novel of the Year *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD ''BOOK OF THE YEAR''AN ACCLAIMED WEST END THEATRE PRODUCTION *****''Neil Gaiman''s entire body of work is a feat of elegant sorcery. He writes with such assurance and originality that the reader has no choice but to surrender to a waking dream'' ARMISTEAD MAUPIN''Some books just swallow you up, heart and soul'' JOANNE HARRIS''Summons both the powerlessness and wonder of childhood, and the complicated landscape of memory and forgetting'' GUARDIAN---''My favourite response to this book is when people say, ''My childhood was nothing like that - and it was as if I was reading about me'' NEIL GAIMAN---This is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:A dead man on the back seat of the car, and warm milk at the farmhouse.An ancient little girl, and an old woman who saw the moon being made.A beautiful housekeTrade ReviewA very fine and imaginative writer * The Times *'Gaiman has a rich imagination...and an ability to tackle large themes' * Philip Pullman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA special Christmas edition of the Sunday Times bestseller.WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2013 BOOK OF THE YEARThe Ocean at the End of the Lane is the bestselling magical novel from Neil Gaiman, one of the most brilliant storytellers of our generation and author of the epic novel American Gods, and the much-loved Sandman series. ''Possibly Gaiman''s most lyrical, scary and beautiful work yet. It''s a tale of childhood for grown-ups, a fantasy rooted in the darkest corners of reality'' (Independent on Sunday). If you loved the mesmerising world of Erin Morgenstern''s The Night Circus or were drawn into J.K. Rowling''s magical universe, this book is for you. It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take eTrade ReviewGaiman's achievement is to make the fantasy world seem true * The Times *A book that reads like a half-remembered fairy tale from childhood... and slots perfectly into the canon of British magical fiction * New Statesman *The writer who comes closest to the being the Dahl of his generation... The Ocean at the End of the Lane has, like all good myths, a power that defies explanation * Sunday Express *Within a few pages you know you're reading a future classic * Stylist *told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. * Mid-West Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSingle-mother Fran returns to her sleepy hometown to care for her dying father when a devastating bush fire breaks out. A heartbreaking, nail-biting disaster-noir thriller from the bestselling author of The Cry and Worst Case Scenario. ‘Urgent, angry, absolutely terrifying, yet suffused with the humanity and humour you expect from a Helen Fitzgerald novel’ Erin Kelly ‘Tantalisingly powerful’ The Times ‘Ash Mountain is the author at her masterly best … I loved it!’ Louise Candlish ________________ Fran hates her hometown, and she thought she’d escaped. But her father is ill, and needs care. Her relationship is over, and she hates her dead-end job in the city, anyway. She returns home to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer. As past friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants… Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget… ________________ ‘A new novel from Helen Fitzgerald is always a major event, and Ash Mountain is magnificent’ Mark Billingham ‘There is plenty of human depravity in the plot but none of that is as terrifyingly overmastering as the fire’ Literary Review ‘Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this – but that only makes you hungry for more’ The Sun ‘Dark, atmospheric and terrifying’ Ambrose Parry ‘Compelling’ Independent ‘A hugely entertaining writer, with lovingly constructed landscapes and so-real-you-can-actually-hear-it dialogue but the thing she does best of all is create a little warm and cosy microcosm of life, then throw in a bloody great firecracker of a detail that sends the whole thing off into a completely different direction’ Crime Fiction Lover Praise for Helen FitzGerald ***Worst Case Scenario was Shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020*** ‘The plotting is intricate and beautifully handled, and the narrative pace is absolutely breakneck … a wonderful, energetic, hard-hitting and deeply funny novel’ The Big Issue ‘The main character is one of the most extraordinary you’ll meet between the pages of a book’ Ian Rankin ‘A dark, comic masterpiece which manages to be both excruciatingly tense and laugh out loud funny at the same time’ Mark Edwards ‘The classic thriller gets a hell of a twist’ Heat ‘FitzGerald writes like a more focused Irvine Welsh or a less misogynist Philip Roth’ Daily Telegraph ‘Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this – but that only makes you hungry for more’ The SunTrade Review'The plotting is intricate and beautifully handled, and the narrative pace is absolutely breakneck ... a wonderful, energetic, hard-hitting and deeply funny novel' The Big Issue;'Shocking, gripping and laugh-out-loud hilarious' Erin Kelly;'The main character is one of the most extraordinary you'll meet between the pages of a book' Ian Rankin;'A dark, comic masterpiece which manages to be both excruciatingly tense and laugh out loud funny at the same time' Mark Edwards;'Outrageous, extremely funny and ultimately devastating' Ambrose Parry;'Fabulously transgressive and completely unique' Mark Billingham;'The classic thriller gets a hell of a twist' Heat;'FitzGerald writes like a more focused Irvine Welsh or a less misogynist Philip Roth' Daily Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of our finest living authors propulsively entertaining' New York Times''Sly, profound Electrifying'' ObserverWonderfully strange and alive' Jon McGregorA propulsive, seductive new novel about friendship, exploitation and intimacy from the prize-winning author of Where Reasons EndFabienne is dead. Her childhood best friend, Agnès, receives the news in America, far from the French countryside where the two girls were raised the place that Fabienne helped Agnès escape ten years ago. Now, Agnès is free to tell her story.As children in a backwater town, they'd built a private world, invisible to everyone but themselves until Fabienne hatched the plan that would change everything, launching Agnès on an epic trajectory through fame, fortune, and terrible loss.Beguiling A shimmering, unsettling tale of exploitation and manipulation' Daily MailHaunting and strange Li has made her style her own' Tessa Hadley, GuardianA dazzling, subtle, skilful knockout' Charlotte Mendelson, author of Trade Review‘Fans of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan trilogy won’t be disappointed, but the comparison undermines the skill with which Li tells her story, peeling back the layers to reveal the dark truths at the heart of Agnes and Fabienne’s friendship’ Marie Claire ‘[Li] has become … one of our finest living authors: Her elegant metaphysics never elide the blood and maggots … The most propulsively entertaining of Li’s novels… an existential fable that illuminates the tangle of motives behind our writing of stories’ New York Times ‘Beguiling … A shimmering, unsettling tale of exploitation and manipulation’ Daily Mail ‘These two perverse, dangerous, glorious girls are their own creation and their own destiny, captured in the high noon of their lives’ Observer New Review ‘Resonant with echoes of… My Brilliant Friend, as well as authors including Elizabeth Strout and William Trevor … For all its surface lushness, this is a novel of meticulous philosophical inquiry’ Observer ‘Brilliant … A novel of deceptions and cruelty’ Spectator 'Dazzling, subtle, skilful … I loved it' Charlotte Mendelson, author of The Exhibitionist ‘In a story about love and creation, Yiyun Li slips in a satire of the business of marketing authors… deft and delicious’ Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Starling Days ‘Yiyun Li has, again, done something new and gone somewhere wonderfully strange and alive. Beautiful, sad, funny and claustrophobic’ Jon McGregor, author of Lean Fall Stand ‘A haunting novel about loss, friendship and storytelling … Few writers match Yiyun Li’s ability to explore human desire and ambition’ Tash Aw, author of Strangers on a Pier ‘Meet Agnès and Fabienne…Come for the writerly scheming, stay for the exquisitely calibrated examination of how our most tender and important bonds involve the manipulation of power and devotion’ LA Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis''I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. My name is Kvothe.You may have heard of me''So begins the tale of Kvothe - currently known as Kote, the unassuming innkeepter - from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, through his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages you will come to know Kvothe the notorious magician, the accomplished thief, the masterful musician, the dragon-slayer, the legend-hunter, the lover, the thief and the infamous assassin.The Name ofTrade ReviewThe best epic fantasy I read last year...He's bloody good, this Rothfuss guy -- George R R MartinPatrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing. * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *Patrick Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous -- Terry BrooksThis is a magnificent book -- Anne McCaffreyThe Name of the Wind has everything: magic and mysteries and ancient evil, but it's also humorous and terrifying and completely believable -- Tad WilliamsAs absorbing on a second reading as it is on the first, this is the type of assured, rich first novel most writers can only dream of producing * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing ... with true music in the words -- Ursula K Le GuinThe characters are real and the magic is true -- robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Assassin’s ApprenticeMasterful ... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description -- Brandon Sanderson, New York Times-bestselling author of Mistborn[Makes] you think he's inventing the genre, instead of reinventing it -- Lev Grossman, New York Times-bestselling author of The MagiciansHail Patrick Rothfuss! A new giant is striding the land -- Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning author of WakeI was reminded of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkein, but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone * THE TIMES *This fast-moving, vivid, and unpretentious debut roots its coming-of-age fantasy in convincing mythology * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY *This breathtakingly epic story is heartrending in its intimacy and masterful in its narrative essence * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *Reminiscent in scope of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series ... this masterpiece of storytelling will appeal to lovers of fantasy on a grand scale * LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred) *Shelve The Name of the Wind beside The Lord of the Rings...and look forward to the day when it's mentioned in the same breath, perhaps as first among equals * The A.V. Club *"Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing." * WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIan McEwan is the critically acclaimed author of seventeen books. His first published work, a collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award. His novels include The Child in Time, which won the 1987 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award; The Cement Garden; Enduring Love; Amsterdam, which won the 1998 Booker Prize; Atonement; Saturday; On Chesil Beach; Solar; Sweet Tooth; The Children Act; and Nutshell, which was a Number One bestseller. Atonement and Enduring Love have both been turned into award-winning films, The Children Act and On Chesil Beach are in production and set for release this year, and filming is currently underway for a BBC TV adaptation of The Child in Time.Trade ReviewWonderful...exquisite...devastating * Independent on Sunday *Exquisitely crafted * Evening Standard *Superb... The protagonists have everything to lose, and their faltering journey towards a point of no return is conjured into life my McEwan with irresistible subtlety, tact and force * Financial Times *On Chesil Beach is more than an event. It is a masterpiece * Times Literary Supplement *This is McEwan's mature style, one we have come to recognise from Atonement and Saturday. It is a polished, civilised style, and very distant from the shock tactics of his early work... McEwan brings Florence and Edward touchingly alive for us; and their seriousness, their idealism, and their desire for love draw us towards them * Guardian *To commend an author for being reminiscent of Edith Wharton is a compliment that this reviewer reserves for a select few. Yet with On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan has earnt it * Telegraph *A master feat of concentration in both senses of the word * Sunday Times *Written with a fierce pursuit of the truth and an utterly modern self-awareness, what a confidant tour de force this turns out to be * Sunday Express *One of our greatest living writers. Many Easter weekends and train journeys will be enlivened by a compelling novella * Herald *It is a masterpiece. The very idea that informs it, fascinating and unfamiliar, is masterly * TLS *A didactic, ironic novella of great accomplishment and calculated ambition. Structurally and linguistically, it is a triumph...intriguingly compassionate * Prospect *It is a measure of McEwan's artistry that he is able here both to linger in the recording of sensuous particularities and at the same time to deliver the satisfactions of plot we are accustomed to deriving from his fiction * Time Out, Book of the Week *McEwan shares with his fellow English novelist Jim Crace not only an interest in history but in finding a style in prose that is slow-moving, yet compelling, at times stilted and dry, and then suddenly sharp and precise * London Review of Books *The protagonists of On Chesil Beach have everything to lose, and their faltering journey towards a point of no return is conjured into life by McEwan with irresistible subtlety, tact and force * Scotsman *The book is steeped in lost hopes and disappointments, with each sentence as powerful as a Larkin poem. I didn't know a British novelist could still be this good * Express *McEwan is word-perfect at handling the awkward comedy of this relationship and, as ever, turning it into something far more disturbing * Observer *Two characters so vibrant they step straight off the page * The Tablet *McEwan's brilliance as a novelist lies in his ability to isolate discrete moments in life and invest them with incredible significance * Observer *McEwan's style is lean and clear...every sentence feels carefully crafted, the words all perfectly in place * Daily Mail *A tightly focused human drama... McEwan gives the reader access to both characters' thoughts with his usual skill, and the comedy of embarrassment, or of the kind of erotic misunderstanding that Milan Kundera used to specialise in, quickly disappears as the marital bed begins to seem more and more ominous... The bedroom scene itself is carried off brilliantly * Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWanted:One (very real) husbandNowhere near perfect but desperately trying his bestTwo years ago, Luc O'Donnell and Oliver Blackwood met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends...and somehow figured out a way to make it all work.Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc's feeling the social pressure to propose. That's what you do when you love someone this desperately, right? But it'll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a hotly contested rainbow balloon arch to get this semi-disgraced son of former rock stars and his tightly-buttoned-up boyfriend from I don't know what I'm doing to 'I do'.Good thing Oliver is such perfect husband material. "Brilliance on every single page." -Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, for Boyfriend Material "The apotheosis of the rom-com." -Entertainment Weekly, A+ Review, for Boyfriend Material "Every once in a while you read a book that you want to SCREAM FROM ROOFTOPS about. I'm screaming, people!" -Sonali Dev, award-winning author, for Boyfriend Material "FAKE DATING, REAL FEELINGS, BEST JOKES." -Olivia Waite, award-winning author, for Boyfriend Material "Fresh and vibrant." -Annie Carl, The Neverending Bookshop (Edmonds, WA), for Boyfriend Material

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A wonderful bitter-sweet book, written with disarming simplicity'' Esther Freud''It was as if a curtain had fallen, hiding everything I had ever known,'' says Anna Morgan, eighteen years old and catapulted to England from the West Indies after the death of her beloved father. Working as a chorus girl, Anna drifts into the demi-monde of Edwardian London. But there, dismayed by the unfamiliar cold and greyness, she is absolutely alone and unconsciously floating from innocence to harsh experience. Her childish dreams have been replaced by harsh reality. Voyage in the Dark was first published in 1934, but it could have been written today. It is the story of an unhappy love affair, a portrait of a hypocritical society, and an exploration of exile and breakdown; all written in Jean Rhys''s hauntingly simple and beautiful style.Trade ReviewPrescient and technically astonishing -- Geoff Dyer * GQ *The kind of book you want to stand up and applaud -- Caryl PhillipsEvery so often someone comes along whose prose style is so alert and fresh, so remote from the mainstream idiom of English social fiction that is seems miraculous that they should be able to write like that and be British too. Jean Rhys is such a writer -- Jonathan Raban[Jean Rhys's novels] have the quality of the best books by seeming to have written themselves, and reading them one flinches at truth after truth -- Howard Moss * The New Yorker *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe hockey star she never expected may be the one person to finally set her free . . .My name is Tess Owens and my soon to be ex-husband is trying to set fire to my entire life. Unwilling to face the heat, I do what I do best: run.I run to a new life in a new city and straight into the arms of Rachel and her team of NHL hockey players. They''re all charming, but one player stands apart from the rest, the star forward of the Jacksonville Rays, Ryan Langley.Now I have six weeks to launch a new business. Six weeks to fight for my freedom...all while fighting my growing attraction to this All-American sweetheart with a winning smile and a career on the rise. Did I mention he''s ten years younger than me?Ryan doesn''t need my drama. And we have nothing in common. But it''s getting harder to deny the way he makes me feel. Fun. Free. Wild.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping and dark fictionalised account of life inside the Manson family from one of the most exciting young voices in fiction.If you’re lost, they’ll find you…Evie Boyd is fourteen and desperate to be noticed. It’s the summer of 1969 and restless, empty days stretch ahead of her. Until she sees them. The girls. Hair long and uncombed, jewelry catching the sun. And at their centre, Suzanne, black-haired and beautiful.If not for Suzanne, she might not have gone. But, intoxicated by her and the life she promises, Evie follows the girls back to the decaying ranch where they live.Was there a warning? A sign of what was coming? Or did Evie know already that there was no way back? ‘Taut, beautiful and savage, Cline’s novel demands your attention’ GuardianTrade ReviewA coming-of-age tale like no other … the book of the summer * Grazia *Stunning…thrilling… A spectacular achievement * The Times *This book will break your heart and blow your mind * Lena Dunham *The read of the summer -- India Knight * Sunday Times *A tense and claustrophobic read * Stylist *Taut, beautiful and savage, Cline’s novel demands your attention * Guardian *An exhilarating read * Emma Healey, author of Elizabeth is Missing *Darker than anything Gone Girl had to offer * Shortlist *A seductive and arresting coming-of-age story...spellbinding * New York Times Book Review *An intensely atmospheric story that perfectly captures the aching loneliness and longing of a teenage girl. -- Sarra Manning * Red *One of the best novels I've read about female adolescence... And as with so many novels about cults, The Girls is set to inspire a cultish devotion all of its own * Evening Standard *A joy to read… Intense, clever, beautiful * Sunday Times *Brimming with intelligence and ideas… Buy it for the Mansonesque plot but savour it for its insights * Irish Times *I don't know which is more amazing, Emma Cline's understanding of human beings or her mastery of language. -- Mark Haddon

Read more less

Book SynopsisA mother's secret past collides with her daughter's present in this intoxicating novel from Jane Healey, the author of The Animals at Lockwood Manor.In the summer of 1973, teenage Ruth and her four friends are obsessed with pre-Raphaelite paintings, and a little bit obsessed with each other. They spend the scorching summer days in the river by Ruth's grand family home, pretending to be the drowning Ophelia and recreating tableaus of other tragic mythical heroines. But by the end of the summer, real tragedy has found them.Twenty-four years later, Ruth is a wife and mother of three children, and moves her family into her still-grand, but now somewhat dilapidated, childhood home following the death of her father. Her seventeen-year-old daughter, Maeve, is officially in remission and having been discharged from hospital can finally start acting like a 'normal' teenager with the whole summer ahead of her. It's just the five of them until Stuart, a handsome photographer and old friend of her parents, comes to stay. And there’s something about Stuart that makes Maeve feel more alive than all of her life-saving treatments put together . . .As the heat of the summer burns, how long can the family go before long-held secrets threaten to burst their banks and drown them all? Set between two fateful summers, The Ophelia Girls is a visceral, heady exploration of illicit desire, infatuation and the perils and power of being a young woman.Trade ReviewThis is a potent, mesmerising portrait of girlhood desire, betrayal, beauty and death, sensuously written and passionately told -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersA knowingly put together page-turner; a potent blend of art, beauty, awakening desire and mortality that seduces the reader as much as the cast * Daily Mail *A bruising and beautiful novel about girlhood and desire. Set over two heady summers, The Ophelia Girls perfectly captures the power and vulnerability of being a teenage girl. Within its flower-strewn pages, girls float carelessly down rivers and fall in love with devastating consequences. It's an immersive and intoxicating summer read with the long-lasting feel of a classic. I was captivated by it -- Molly Aitken, author of The Island ChildSet over the course of two stifling British summers, The Ophelia Girls is a dreamy exploration of the interior life of teenage girls and the tangled relationship between mothers and daughters. In her hypnotic prose Jane Healey captures the slipperiness of the adolescence experience, the thirst young women have for independence, and the sometimes perilous ways they attempt to define themselves. A siren song of a novel, The Ophelia Girls seduces as much as it disturbs -- Ellie Eaton, author of The DivinesThe Ophelia Girls is a novel saturated with beauty, menace, longing, secrets -- and with passions deep enough to drown in. It's a sinister, suspenseful page-turner that gripped me tightly and still hasn't fully let go -- Clare Beams, author of The Illness LessonThis is a vivid, sensuous novel that captures the feelings of passion and devastation of girls on the brink of womanhood and life itself, and I can’t recommend it enough -- Anna Bailey, bestselling author of Tall BonesI absolutely adored this exquisite novel. It is dark and sultry and beautiful and terrible. All the good stuff. The characters get tangled in so many complex strands of love, secrecy and obsession. And it perfectly captures the brilliance and terror of being a teenage girl -- Hazel Barkworth, author of HeatstrokeA compelling story of teenage innocence and infatuation, blended with the illicit desires and murky intentions of adults * Woman's Weekly *This novel has a sinewy, enchanting style that draws us into the reverie-like world of the river and its dangers and, like the characters it has so bewitched, never lets us go: it's powerful stuff * The Big Issue *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A beautifully written book with a charming, young narrator, combined with a surprisingly dark and unusual whodunnit. It's a touching, powerful and twisty read, packed with intrigue. Will appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon's The Trouble With Goats and Sheep.' S.J. Harris, author of The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder'Powerful writing...' Woman's Way Magazine'With devastating purity and clarity, nine year old Frankie Appleton is likely to enter your hearts in this poignant and emotional read.' Love Reading Nine-year-old Frankie Appleton likes to count gates.One day she hopes to design the perfect gate - a gate to keep the bad things out.Little does she know that the bad things have already got in.Now her mother is dead, and the only other person with a house key has disappeared.Frankie thinks she knows who it is. But first she has to prove it.A delicately brutal exploration of what lies behind closed doors, and of the secrets and lies that form the fabric of every family, The Weight of Small Things is as charming as it is chilling.Trade Review'A beautifully written book with a charming, young narrator, combined with a surprisingly dark and unusual whodunnit. It's a touching, powerful and twisty read, packed with intrigue. Will appeal to fans of Joanna Cannon's The Trouble With Goats and Sheep.' S.J. Harris, author of The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder'One of the best books I've read this year' Dave, 5 stars'Extremely current and highly readable' Beverley, 5 stars'Brutally honest, frank and beautiful' Natalie, 5 stars

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Man Who Is Not A Man recounts the personal trauma of a young Xhosa initiate after a rite-of-passage circumcision goes wrong. With frankness and courage, this powerful novel details the pain and lifelong shame this protagonist experiences as a result not only of the physical trauma, but the social ostracism from being labeled 'a failed man.' He decodes the mysteries of this long-standing cultural tradition and calls to account the elders for the disintegrating support systems that allow such tragic outcomes. But it is also through this life-changing experience that the protagonist is forced to find his strength and humanity, and reassess what it really means to be a man.Trade Review"Highly original." - Nadine Gordimer "His straightforward no-frills prose tells an effective story of a botched circumcision and its consequences." - Zakes Mda, Sunday Independent "A brave book, triumphant and a testament to the indefatigable will to live." - Mail & Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe profound sequel to Firefly Lane, now a major Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. From Kristin Hannah, the bestselling author of The Four Winds and The Nightingale.Fly Away is the heartrending story of three women who have lost their way and need each other – plus a miracle – to transform their lives . . .Tully Hart, a celebrity news reporter is spiralling downward after the sudden loss of her best friend Kate.Consumed with guilt, Tully and Kate's daughter, Marah, grapple with their past mistakes. Meanwhile, Cloud, Tully's mother, endeavours to alleviate the burden. For them to find their way back, forgiveness becomes their only hope.And then something momentous happens – something which causes each one of them to realize what they’ve done, and what they have become . . .'A novel that will touch the hearts of all who pick it up' &ndashTrade ReviewA novel that will touch the hearts of all who pick it up. * Huffington Post *Heart-warming. * Publishers Weekly *Hannah’s storytelling chops keep the pages turning. * Kirkus Reviews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLOUSIA MAY ALCOTT was born in Pennsylvania, in 1832, the second of four daughters. After a period of serving as an army nurse, she published HOSPITAL SKETCHES in 1863, followed by Gothic Romances and lurid thrillers. In 1868-9 she published LITTLE WOMEN, which proved so popular that it was followed by two sequels and several other novels. She died in 1888.Trade Review"The American female myth."—Madelon Bedell

Read more less

Book SynopsisPlayful and experimental, James Joyce''s autobiographical A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a vivid portrayal of emotional and intellectual development. This Penguin Modern Classics edition is edited with an introduction and notes by Seamus Deane.The portrayal of Stephen Dedalus''s Dublin childhood and youth, his quest for identity through art and his gradual emancipation from the claims of family, religion and Ireland itself, is also an oblique self-portrait of the young James Joyce and a universal testament to the artist''s ''eternal imagination''. Both an insight into Joyce''s life and childhood, and a unique work of modernist fiction, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of sexual awakening, religious rebellion and the essential search for voice and meaning that every nascent artist must face in order to fully come into themselves.James Joyce (1882-1941), the eldest of ten children, was born in Dublin, but exiled himself to Pa

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE UNMISSABLE NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF BESTSELLING PHENOMENON SUCH A FUN AGE * THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * * FEARNE COTTON'S HAPPY PLACE BOOK CLUB PICK FOR FEBRUARY * ‘I couldn’t put it down, and I didn't want to either’ EMILY HENRY ‘The drama is just too juicy – how could anyone resist a binge?’ GUARDIAN ‘Razor-sharp … Packs a huge emotional punch’ DAILY MAIL Everything comes at a price. But not everything can be paid for… Millie wants to graduate, get a job and buy a house. She’s slowly saving up from her job on campus, but when a visiting professor offers her an unusual opportunity to make some extra money, she jumps at the chance. Agatha is a writer, recovering from a break-up while researching attitudes towards weddings and money for her new book. She strikes gold when interviewing the girls in Millie’s dorm, but her plans take a turn when she realises that the best material is unfolding behind closed doors. As the two women form an unlikely relationship, they soon become embroiled in a world of roommate theatrics, vengeful pranks and illicit intrigue – and are forced to question just how much of themselves they are willing to trade to get what they want. Sharp, intimate and provocative, Come and Get It takes a lens to our money-obsessed society in a tension-filled story about desire, consumption and bad behaviour. ‘Smart, funny and perceptive’ i ‘A perfect read’ STYLIST ‘Wonderfully immersive, propulsive and beautifully paced’ PAUL HARDING ‘Quiet and intense … A joy to read’ JESSICA GEORGE ‘Witty and nuanced’ RED ‘[An] incisive novel everyone will be talking about’ TOWN AND COUNTRYTrade ReviewA brilliant book ... Really interesting, looks at the lengths we’ll go to get money, and how it informs our decision making and also our relationships. It’s a really good read -- Fearne Cotton, Happy Place Book ClubAn utter joy * Sunday Times *A deliciously chewy, politically charged novel ... The kind of book I want to debate with a room full of women drinking fishbowl-sized glasses of cheap Pinot Grigio with too much ice in it * Vogue *A zippy, laugh-out-loud campus novel ... Reid’s writing is so very funny, always rooted in the everyday * i *Reading Kiley Reid’s fiction feels a bit like watching a prestige TV series. There are expansive casts of characters ... The plots are pacy and compelling, motored by flashbacks and cliffhangers and twists, while also dealing with social issues – particularly race and class – that add intellectual heft. Dialogue is hyper-realistic ... so that you can hear it aloud in your head ... Reid is a talented comic writer. But it also raises deeper questions about how we view the lives of other people, as material for our own consumption. Are the attractions of books and TV so different from those of eavesdropping? * Guardian *A master storyteller ... As fun to read as it is thought-provoking ... In heart-breaking and deeply recognisable details ... we see Reid’s pen at its sharpest * Stylist *A master plotter who’s engineering a spectacular intersection of class, racism, academic politics and journalistic ethics. Reid spots all the grains of irritation and deceit that get caught in the machinery of social life until the whole contraption suddenly lurches to a calamitous halt. Come and get it, indeed! * Washington Post *A biting comedy of campus manners * Mail on Sunday *With her perceptive eye and ear, Reid imbues her novel with the stuff, literally and figuratively, of life ... As I read Come and Get It I found myself thinking of certain writers who have, over the years, elected themselves as “capital C” Chroniclers of contemporary America. With this book, Reid demonstrates that she deserves a place in the running * New York Times Book Review *At once highly readable and an important comment on the lose-lose decisions millennials face in a bleak economy, this is a book you'll devour in days * Harper's Bazaar *It gets to the heart of what Reid is: a consummate storyteller * Service 95 *Reid brings her sharp gaze to the classic campus novel, and university life provides her with similarly rich material when it comes to deconstructing privilege ... She also cleverly turns some of the genre’s dustier tropes on their heads ... Part of what has always made campus stories so captivating is that they show us character as a work in progress – because our university days have always been about working out our sense of self. But contemporary tales like Reid’s are a necessary reminder: this leisurely exploration is a luxury not everyone can afford * Independent *Reid has an excellent ear for speech: you get the impression that she, like Agatha, has put in the hours listening to 20-year-olds chatter, bitch and plot. She’s also a sharp observer of the way in which money confers power or withholds it, and how this can intersect with race ... The decision to foreground money is unusual, yet Reid pulls it off * Telegraph *A wonderfully written and intimate portrayal of entwined lives on campus. Quiet and intense all at the same time, it was a joy to read -- Jessica George, author of MY NAME IS MAAMEExploring hustle culture and capitalist attitudes, it weaves a compelling story that confronts the consequences of insatiable appetites for success * Elle *Kiley Reid is an expert at teasing apart the messy, complicated, nuanced layers of social dynamics, and has a rare gift for making the unknown feel intimately familiar and the familiar feel brand new. In Come and Get It, she's crafted a story that moves with the momentum and inevitability of a snowball rolling down a mountain. I couldn't put it down, and I didn’t want to either’ -- Emily Henry, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of HAPPY PLACEKiley Reid’s books make me feel lucky to be a reader. I’m in awe – Come and Get It is a page-turning pleasure – stylish, sharp and breathtakingly smart. I can’t believe that one book can be this clever, cool and this much fun to read -- Daisy Buchanan, author of INSATIABLEAnother razor-sharp, character-driven, coming-of-age story, which packs a huge emotional punch * Daily Mail *Smart, funny and perceptive * i news, Best Books to Read in January *Multi-layered and complex relationships between seriously flawed characters once again take centre stage as its narrative smartly delves into racism, social and economic status, and university campus politics in the 21st century. A perfect read for anyone who loved Netflix’s brilliant The Chair and Jean Hanff Korelitz’s Admission * Stylist *Wonderfully immersive, propulsive, and beautifully paced. On page one, there is a story that is already happening, and you’re plunged right into the novel’s world, already up and running, full of real people, and complicated – that is, substantive – as all hell. Just great -- Paul Harding, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THIS OTHER EDEN and TINKERSCome and Get It is an engrossing novel full of intimately portrayed characters and the seemingly innocuous choices that lead to life-altering mistakes -- Elizabeth Acevedo, author of FAMILY LORE and THE POET XThe book has a Netflix box-set breezy pace and knowing tone as it satirises staff and student attitudes towards money, hierarchy and status … An absorbingly twisty page-turner * i paper *The pleasure of Come and Get It lies in its plunge into the unfamiliar. This is a society in which poorer students work for richer ones — the Tyler types can call up Millie at all hours to settle dorm disputes or shift furniture — or save money by camping overnight outside a new branch of Chick-fil-A to win a year’s worth of free fried chicken. The tone is breezy and comic, but what’s really happening is shocking * The Times *Reid...masterfully captures the quiet misalignments that stem from a varying sense of what’s at stake…[A] novel of manners that acutely captures the modern moment * Vogue, The Best Books of 2024 So Far *A witty and nuanced exploration of race and female-occupied spaces – I loved the thread of menace running through it * Red *Kiley Reid's next must-read ... It's packed with those awkward moments Reid is so talented at creating, making your toes curl as you read * Grazia, Hot to Drop *A brilliant author who creates ultra-memorable characters * Glamour, Best New Books of January 2024 *If you loved the smash hit Such a Fun Age, don't sleep on Reid's newest ... This is a story of indiscretions and gray areas, power dynamics and privilege that's wound as tight as a violin string. Just don't forget to breathe while you're reading (go ahead and thank us later) * Good Housekeeping *A deft exploration of how microaggressions can lead to macro consequences, Reid’s second outing will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burn, character-driven novels * Booklist *Kiley Reid returns with another incisive novel everyone will be talking about … A riveting and fascinating tale * Town & Country, Best Books of Winter *Kiley Reid's characters are always layered with ethical dilemmas … Subterfuge, sex and self-seeking make things compellingly messy * Sainsbury’s Magazine *A sardonic and no-holds-barred comedy of manners ... Reid is a keen observer­ – every page sparkles with sharp analysis of her characters. This blistering send-up of academia is interlaced with piercing moral clarity * Publishers Weekly, starred review *An illuminating study of power, responsibility, and the bad choices we sometimes make, written in the fresh, bright language for which she’s known * Library Journal *Reid’s fiction, which highlights the ordinary social interactions in which larger forces – of class and racial inequality, financial and cultural capital – make themselves known. There are few outright villains in her stories; her characters often blunder along with good intentions, to comic and disastrous effect * Guardian *Reading a Kiley Reid novel is like watching a docuseries designed exactly for you. She captures those exceedingly awkward and real human interactions with such precision and specificity that you’re fully invested by the first page. Come and Get It is genius. It’s perfect -- Liz Moore, author of LONG BRIGHT RIVER[A] sharp, edgy social novel … Reid is a genius of mimicry and social observation * Kirkus *Beautifully told through the eyes of multiple characters, this intimate and revealing story from the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age is not to be missed * BookBub, The 22 Best Books of Winter *An exciting new portrait of desire, consumption and recklessness, we have no doubt Reid’s new novel will be just as popular as the first * Luxury London, Best New Books *Come and Get It is a festival of micro-aggressions; it’s uneasy, and Reid doesn’t give any character a free ride. She skewers mean girls, mummy’s girls and freeloaders with both clarity and subtlety ... The dialogue and little details [are] so excruciatingly accurate * AnOther magazine, Best Fiction for 2024 *Come and Get It is a page-turning read filled with vengeful pranks and intrigue, but at its heart, it is a fascinating portrait of our obsession with material wealth * Chicago Review of Books, Must-Read Books of January 2024 *It’s a perfect recipe ... in a college setting, about discretion and desire, about money, want, and, most importantly, it’s by Kiley Reid * LitHub, Most Anticipated Books of 2024 *The result is heartbreak that money can’t fix, and a smart novel that says a lot about race, money and female friendships * Heat *A thrilling, delectable look at wealth, privilege and desire * People Magazine, Best Books To Read in January 2024 *The book is funny …The dialogue is particularly snappy … Most importantly, “Come and Get It” offers a deft examination of how young people negotiate their first brushes with independence and responsibility. Reid is particularly attuned to how her characters navigate matters of money and consumption… Reid’s novel carves its own path, capturing a sort of tragic malaise that itself suggests a state of young adulthood * Arkansas Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHe could be anywhere else . . . but he's right here, with meFalling in love wasn't on Emma's agenda for her year abroad at Dunbridge Academy, the boarding school where her parents once met. Here she wants to find out where her father disappeared to when he left their family all those years ago. She has no time for distractions.But when she meets fellow student Henry, Emma knows she's in trouble. During secret midnight parties and moonlit walks through the old school buildings, feelings grow between them, and Emma feels powerless to resist. But Henry has a girlfriend and Emma doesn't want her heart broken . . .Discover the new, heart-pounding romance series that's perfect for anyone who loves Hannah Grace, Elsie Silver and LJ Shen. 'I am absolutely obsessed with this book!' 5* reader review'I laughed and I cried' 5* reader review'Incredible, I couldn't put it down' 5* reader review18+ content

Read more less

Book Synopsis** A WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE MONTH ** ** SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD ** 'One of the Scottish crime books of the year. I loved it' CHRIS BROOKMYRE 'Heart-warming, heart-breaking and utterly compelling' MARION TODD 'Excellent' HERALD THE GREATEST DANGERS LIE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS... Twelve-year-old Lesley has lived in the Homes since she was three weeks old, just one of a thousand unwanted children who occupy the village-like estate in the lowlands of Scotland in the 1960s. Life for her and her best friend Jonesy has been hard, and often cruel, but never dangerous. Until now. A girl is found dead at the Homes, soon followed by another. With the police unable to catch the killer, Lesley and Jonesy decide to take matters into their own hands. But unwanted children are easy victims, and the closer they get to the truth, the more they will put themselves in terrible danger... Inspired by a true story, and introducing readers to the unforgettable voice of young orphan Lesley, The Homes is a moving and lyrical thriller, perfect for readers of Val McDermid, Chris Whitaker, Jane Casey and Denise Mina.Trade ReviewA serial-killer mystery and a whodunit, but so much more. Tragic, gritty and haunting, yet brims with bitter-sweet humour and a main character who will steal your heart away -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALAn extraordinary story quite brilliantly told. Lesley is a wonderful character, and J.B. Mylet catches her voice perfectly. I found myself staying up long after lights out reading "just another chapter" -- James OswaldTense yet tender, as moving as it is gripping... set to be one of the Scottish crime books of the year. I loved it -- Chris BrookmyreHeart-warming, heart-breaking and utterly compelling. I could not put this beautiful book down and it stayed with me long after I finished it -- Marion ToddAn evocative, compelling and ultimately moving mystery with a captivating central character -- Brian McGillowayAmazing. I was hooked from the first page... A brilliant, must read story, all the more powerful because it's told through the bewildered logic of a child. I read it with an ache in my chest for all the Lesleys and Jonesys out there -- Anna SmithIn an unguarded voice that conveys her intelligence and courage while still passing convincingly as that of a smart 12-year-old girl, Mylet balances the whodunnit aspects with the painful lessons Lesley is learning about life... It's a testament to the strength of Mylet's characterisation, and his ability to make us care about her, that by the end of this excellent debut the real question is not so much "Who committed the murders?" but "Where does Lesley go from here?" * Herald Scotland *

Read more less

Book Synopsis**As read on BBC Radio Four**Uplifting, joyous, hopeful - a novel about late love and second chances, shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and winner of the Paul Torday Memorial Prize'A moving tribute to friendship and love, to the courage of the ordinary, and to starting again' RACHEL JOYCE, author of Miss Benson's Beetle'Full of grace and humanity' Sunday Times________________________This story begins with a letterFrom a housewifeto the gentle curatorOf an extraordinary museumWhere lies peacefullyAn ancient exhibitThat holds the keyTo EverythingWe are.Meet Me at the Museum tells of a connection made across oceans and against all the odds. Through intimate stories of joy, despair, and discovery, two people are drawn inexorably towards each other, until a shattering revelation pushes their friendship to the very edge.This deeply affecting debut novel by seventy-three year-old Anne Youngson won the Paul Torday Memorial Prize and was dramatized on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour*******************************'Tender, wise and moving, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to cherish.' JOHN BOYNE'Insightful, emotionally acute and absorbing' DAILY EXPRESS'Beautiful and affecting' NINA STIBBEWhat readers are saying:'I loved this book. It was so different from anything else I have read'*****'I just loved this book and read it in one sitting. There were times when I felt like underlining the sentences that resonated with me'*****'I read this book one letter at a time, just to let the contents sink in. Tears came to my eyes'*****Trade ReviewExquisite. Its characters somehow resist following their story and reverse themselves into a new one. A beautiful lasting read. * JAMES HANNAH, author of THE A TO Z OF YOU AND ME *Insightful, emotionally acute and absorbing * Daily Express Literary highlights 2018 *A moving tribute to friendship and love, to the courage of the ordinary, and to starting again. * RACHEL JOYCE *‘Tender, wise and moving, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to cherish.’ * JOHN BOYNE *Full of grace and humanity * Sunday Times *A thoughtful and gentle meditation on buried passions, regrets, love, grief and loneliness . . . Youngson’s debut offers hope for change in its tender exploration of what it means to have experienced a life well-lived. * Guardian *The loveliest short novel of late love you'll ever read. Whenever I talk about it, I simply cry with joy * JAMES HAWES *Quietly intriguing, beautifully observed, full of powerful emotions * RUTH HOGAN, Author of The Keeper of Lost Things *I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that makes you think and wonder and quietly hope. Loved it. * Tammy Cohen *A quirky, wise and tender novel. Proof that the richest fruits come on the edge of autumn * SARAH DUNANT *Warm-hearted, clear-minded, and unexpectedly spellbinding, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to savour * ANNIE BARROWS, co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society *A beautiful, affecting novel of late love, by an extraordinary new writer * NINA STIBBE *Precise, clear, funny, poignant and truthful. This is a work of art, dear readers. Revel in its beauty * ADRIANI TRIGIANI *Intriguing and compelling, Meet Me at the Museum invites you into the meeting place between two people, imparting wisdom, thought, and endless charm. * JENNIFER RYAN, author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir *A correspondence that begins with a search for clarity becomes something much deeper and richer - both for the two main characters, and for the reader.Anne Youngson peels away the layers that prevent us from living the lives we ought to be leading, and her book is both tender and absorbing. * LISSA EVANS, author of Their Finest Hour and a Half *Intriguing, tender, unexpectedly moving * Woman and Home *Full of emotion, wisdom and honesty, the story envelops the reader in a celebration of true friendship and an appreciation of the opportunities that life can unexpectedly present. This book makes you realise that life is too short and that the future can be more hopeful than we anticipate.If you only read one book this year, read this. Highly recommended * Mature Times *An insightful and emotional debut … tenderly hints at second chances and rejuvenation * Sunday Express *Full of funny, wise perceptions. The author is 70. This lovely novel is her debut. When's the next? * Saga Magazine *Absolutely beautiful, about loss and the life choices we make -- Liz Hoggard * Daily Mail *I thought the author wrote the content of the letters absolutely beautifully, making the characters jump off the page. * The Writing Garnet *I love books like this, that you can immerse yourself in and enjoy as a treat – books that just hold you in their spell. * On The Shelf Book Blog *Tina and Anders will capture your heart and you will root for them all the way. A very accomplished debut by Anne Youngson. * Novel Deelights *There is a sensitivity and warmth throughout that I found utterly charming. * Reflections of a Reader *It was beautifully crafted and once I had the book open I didn't close it until I had read the last page. * Books And Me *This book touched me to the heart – quite beautiful and exceptionally moving, and one of the very best books I’ve read this year. * Being Anne *When the book finished, I felt an immense sadness that I had to say goodbye to these two people. * My Reading Corner *I loved the setting and the characters were great, it was a pleasure to read. * Donna's Book Blog *Few books ever have that much impact on me and I feel this is something that everyone needs to experience. * Book Lover Worm *A beautiful, lyrical love story, played out with words and paper. * My Weekly *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt Finn's funeral, grieving best friend Eric receives a message frombeyond the grave - and it must be because this is Finn's biggestprank ever, faking his own death! As Eric follows Finn's crypticinstructions for various challenges, he goes down memory laneand through a scavenger hunt that will change him for ever.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fast-paced fantasy adventure for readers of all ages by Brandon Sanderson, bestselling author of the Mistborn series and the Stormlight Archives.Here, in a school for the magically gifted, your talent could cost you your life . . .Joel is fascinated by the magic of Rithmatics, but few have the gift and he is not one of them. Undaunted, he persuades Professor Fitch to teach him magical theory. Joel can't infuse his protective lines and circles with power, or bring his chalk-drawn creatures to life, but he's quick to master the underlying geometric principles. His unique skills will soon face an extraordinary test when top Rithmatist students are kidnapped from his Academy.Since he's not a magic user, Joel appears to be safe – but he's desperate to investigate and prove himself. Then people start dying, but can Joel really stop a killer alone? As even more students disappear, he realizes he'll need the help of Rithmatist appreTrade ReviewThe Rithmatist contains some very good surprises on the way to a pleasingly nifty conclusion -- Patrick NessThere are very few authors about whom I can say, without a doubt, that I will read every single book they ever write. Brandon Sanderson is a member of that club. He's brilliant and has an imagination I've only seen in the likes of Stephen King and J.K. Rowling -- James Dashner, author of The Maze RunnerBrimming with wit, mystery, and enough ideas to make ten other books jealous, The Rithmatist is boldly entertaining and wildly original ... the slam-bang finish made me stand up and cheer * Dan Wells *Feisty characters, and a complex plot likely to unwind over several volumes, this high-spirited, exciting story will appeal to readers of all ages * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Fantasy readers should devour this well-crafted mix of action and setup, enriched by thoroughly detailed cultural and historical background and capped by a distinctly unsettling twist * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *The story is compelling and the main characters of Joel and Melody are ones that we can relate to-- even their wishes, desires, hopes, and dreams ring true . . . I believe that it would be of interest to readers of all ages * SFRevu.com *It's utterly engrossing. Because it's a Sanderson book, I feel like it almost doesn't even bear mentioning any more that there's an inventive new magic system with well-defined rules * The FantasyBookCritic blog *The Rithmatist is an imaginative, action-packed SFF adventure - entertaining, fun, and with oodles of future potential. In other words: get your chalk out, folks, because this is another good one from Brandon Sanderson . . . I absolutely cannot wait to return to Joel and Melody's world, and absolutely recommend this book * TheBookSmugglers.com *The Rithmatist has easily become one of my all-time favourite young adult fantasy books and is a wonderful addition to anyone's summer reading list ... I couldn't help but find myself attached to the characters and their struggles to find confidence and worth in themselves. As much as it is a story about magic, monsters, and chalk lines, it is a story about growing up and learning that everyone has something they can do, something they can give to others * TeenReads.com *The Rithmatist is a captivating, winning story with likable characters, an interesting and original magic system, and an ending that opens up rather than closes down * FantasyLiterature.com *A must-read for teens and adults alike. Full of mystery, suspense, intrigue - The Rithmatist is impossible to put down and refreshingly unpredictable. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more - the vivid characters, the clever story, or the rich fantasy world. Together these make for a solid and impressive novel that I wholeheartedly recommend * SciFiChick.com *

Read more less

Book Synopsis**A Sunday Times Paperback of the Year** **A Granta Best of Young British Novelist** **Winner of the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2022** **Winner of the BBC National Short Story Award 2022** **Shortlisted for the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize 2023** SELECTED FOR STYLIST'S BOOKS YOU CAN'T MISS IN 2022 - 'A MUST READ' 'An exhilarating debut' GUARDIAN 'A fresh new voice in fiction, wry and sharp and raw' EMMA CLINE 'I still remember where I was when I first encountered a Saba Sams story' NICOLE FLATTERY 'I fell for this stunning collection with a rare, consuming passion' MEGAN NOLAN ____________________________________________________________ In ten dazzling stories, Saba Sams dives into the world of girlhood and immerses us in its contradictions and complexities: growing up too quickly, yet not quickly enough; taking possession of what one can, while being taken possession of; succumbing to societal pressure but also orchestrating that pressure. These young women are feral yet attentive, fierce yet vulnerable, exploited yet exploitative. Threading between clubs at closing time, pub toilets, drenched music festivals and beach holidays, these unforgettable short stories deftly chart the treacherous terrain of growing up – of intense friendships, of ambivalent mothers, of uneasily blended families, and of learning to truly live in your own body. With striking wit, originality and tenderness, Send Nudes celebrates the small victories in a world that tries to claim each young woman as its own. _____________________________________________________________________ 'A roiling, raw, gut-punch of a debut collection, best read in one sitting ... I sat motionless for about half an hour after reading them; I can't wait to see what she writes next' PANDORA SYKES 'A seriously impressive debut. Saba Sams digs into the chaos, euphoria and menace of sexual attraction, friendship and family with bravery and wit' CHRIS POWER CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE 2022 BY THE GUARDIAN, STYLIST, VOGUE, GLAMOUR, COSMOPOLITAN, EVENING STANDARD, IRISH INDEPENDENT, AnOTHER, FOYLES, BOOKSHOP.ORG Trade ReviewSaba Sams is a fresh new voice in fiction, wry and sharp and raw -- EMMA CLINESaba Sams is adept at wrongfooting our assumptions, creating a set of unique, multi-dimensional characters with rich internal lives -- ELIZABETH DAYSaba Sams’s unsettling, full-throated Send Nudes captures girls and young women on the brink of change * GUARDIAN, Best Fiction of 2022 *Ten startlingly original stories that … seem to come out of nowhere and clamp their jaws shut around you. Exploring the uneven, hazardous terrain between girlhood and womanhood, Sams expertly reveals its inherent contradictions – the rawness and intense vulnerability of teetering on the edge of something new coupled with the power and euphoria that come with self-discovery … Sams’ unflinching observation yet tender empathy for each of her characters sets her apart as a bold new talent * STYLIST, BOOK OF THE WEEK *The earthy resilience and joie de vivre of these stories make for an exhilarating debut ... Sams joins the ranks of writers such as Megan Nolan and Frances Leviston with these acute portraits of the fragile intimacies and euphoric moments snatched by a generation of women coming of age into a precarious future ... In spare, rhythmic sentences, this exhilarating collection captures the light and dark of negotiating relationships, solitude, sexuality and loss * GUARDIAN *An ode to the women you drunkenly befriend in club toilets, Send Nudes is an astonishing selection of short stories charting the ebb and flow of girlhood. Saba Sams' authoritative yet witty tone of voice shines through, rendering this one of the most exciting books to come out of 2022 * GLAMOUR, THE BEST BOOKS COMING OUT IN 2022 *Girlhood, womanhood and everything in between. Ten glorious stories – set in clubs at closing time, pub toilets, sweaty music festivals and hazy beach holidays – of young, feral women who are navigating the complexities of growing up, friendships and truly living in their own bodies * REFINERY29, The Ultimate Gen Z Book Guide For Surviving 2022 *A collection of short stories that speak to the female experiencer * COSMOPOLITAN, BEST BOOKS OF 2022 *In ten quickfire stories, Brighton-born Saba Sams conjures up the spaces between lovers, the visceral attraction and the damning rejection. Read in one sitting and you’ll be transported to moments in your past, to scenes you instantly recognise but may have deliberately forgotten; a must-read for 2022 * STYLIST, The fiction books you can’t miss in 2022 *A visceral and compulsive writer, Saba Sams’ ten short stories slalom through the pulsing veins of romance, rejection, and resistance to a world that attempts to box in every young woman. Painfully familiar feelings are dredged up, but it’s so utterly compelling it can be consumed in one sitting. I have fallen in love with Sams’ feral women, found in club toilets, on beach towels, in ferocious friendships, navigating tense family dynamics and body politics * AnOTHER, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *A razor-sharp debut * VOGUE, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *I still remember where I was when I first encountered a Saba Sams story. She is an instinctive storyteller attuned to the ordinary details that make up a life. A highly perceptive and intelligent writer -- NICOLE FLATTERYAcclaimed by Emma Cline, Nicole Flattery and Megan Nolan, this debut short story collection from 25-year-old British author Saba Sams announces the arrival of a striking new talent … Wry, visceral, astute, they capture the intensity of adolescent self-consciousness and fledgling experience * CULTURE WHISPER *If you’ve made it your 2022 mission to cut down on screen time, there’s no shortage of brilliant new fiction to scratch the escapist itch that social media has left. Send Nudes by Saba Sams is a collection of short stories perfect for those who are pressed for time (and attention span), all focused on the world of girlhood and growing up as a woman (fans include Emma Cline and Megan Nolan) * EVENING STANDARD, CLASS OF 2022 *Beautiful, compressed, fleeting -- SALLY ROONEY on 'Overnight'A roiling, raw, gut-punch of a debut collection, best read in one sitting. Sams conveys the suffocation of being and the longing to break free - from parents, partners, children, convention, your own self - in tender, spare prose. I sat motionless for about half an hour after reading them; I can't wait to see what she writes next. -- PANDORA SYKESSend Nudes is a seriously impressive debut. Saba Sams digs into the chaos, euphoria and menace of sexual attraction, friendship and family with bravery and wit. The balance her prose strikes between observation and empathy is remarkable, and its rhythms irresistible -- CHRIS POWERSaba Sams’ writing is dark and glittering. Her collection twists the world on its axis and filters it through an unsettling light. Her precise, wry sentences and sticky, uncompromising characters got beneath my skin -- JESSICA ANDREWSI really liked Saba Sams' spare, blunt style and her quirky take on adolescence and young womanhood. The stories covered such a wide range of moods and experiences and the various humiliations and disappointments were treated with a wonderfully clear and unsentimental eye ... I hope this collection brings her lots of new readers -- CLARE CHAMBERSUnfalteringly different, ensnaring, often frightening stories about characters caught between childhood and adulthood, who are feeling out their boundaries, desires and limits for the first time. Sams’ writing is intoxicating -- CLAIRE KOHDAIn Send Nudes Saba Sams provides an alluring glimpse into contemporary life by presenting familiar experiences in entirely new and electrifying prose -- ZEBA TALKHANITen short stories about the treacherous terrain of growing up, learning to live in your body, friendships, mothers and blended families introduce a promising debut author, whose work has appeared in The Stinging Fly * IRISH INDEPENDENT, HOTTEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJen has finally got her daughter home.But why does fifteen-year-old Lana still feel lost?When Lana goes missing for four desperate days and returns refusing to speak of what happened, Jen fears the very worst. She thinks she''s failed as a mother, that her daughter is beyond reach and that she must do something - anything - to bring her back.The family returns to London where everyone but Jen seems happy to carry on as normal. Jen''s husband Hugh thinks she''s going crazy - and their eldest daughter Meg is tired of Lana getting all the attention. But Jen knows Lana has changed, and can''t understand why. Does the answer lie in those four missing days? And how can Jen find out?''As gripping as Elizabeth is Missing'' Elle''Utterly compelling'' Rosamund Lupton ''[A] satisfying, cathartic mystery'' Jenny Colgan''A compelling modern family drama with witty and wonderful characters. UtTrade ReviewCourageous...intriguing...entertaining * Observer *As gripping as its predecessor * Elle *A compelling modern family drama with witty and wonderful characters. Utter bliss. -- Nina StibbeGripping, deeply affecting * Irish Times *A beautiful exploration of mental health and love * Stylist *Utterly compelling and insightful, I was drawn into this family in crisis from the first chapter of this unflinchingly honest and beautifully written novel -- Rosamund Lupton, bestselling author of 'Sister'I adored the forensic detail of Healey's writing and the wry, sharp take on millenial family life * Daily Mail *A fast-paced, gripping read * Closer *Oozing with tension and written with captivating brilliance * Heat *At once an absorbing thriller and a beautifully observed study of the relationship between mother and teenage daughter * Refinery29 *I don't know anyone else who writes like this. Emma Healey's voice soars, sings and startles as she takes you right under the skin of her characters. She 'magics' the ordinary into the extraordinary and, just as impressively, transposes the extraordinary to the ordinary. Unforgettable. -- Jane Corry, bestselling author of 'My Husband's Wife'This novel is a beautiful and rare thing - a page turning thriller with all the pain, warmth and humour of authentic family life portrayed. I absolutely loved it. -- Kate Hamer, author of 'The Girl in the Red Coat'Healey is a natural story-teller -- Claire Fuller, author of 'Our Endless Numbered Days'

Read more less

Book SynopsisPart of the Penguin Essentials series, discover a beautifully designed edition of Evelyn Waugh''s British classic featuring cover art by Jim Tierney''I knew Sebastian by sight long before I met him. That was unavoidable for, from his first week, he was the most conspicuous man of his year by reason of his beauty, which was arresting, and his eccentricities of behaviour, which seemed to know no bounds.''Charles Ryder, a lonely student at Oxford, is captivated by the outrageous and exquisitely beautiful Sebastian Flyte. Invited to Brideshead, Sebastian''s magnificent family home, Charles welcomes the attentions of its eccentric, aristocratic inhabitants. But he also discovers a world where duty and desire, faith and earthly happiness are in conflict; a world which threatens to destroy his beloved Sebastian.A scintillating depiction of the decadent, privileged aristocracy prior to the Second World War, Brideshead Revisited is widely regardedTrade ReviewA wildly entertaining, swooningly funny-sad story * Time *The Oxford novel . . . lush and evocative * The Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSet between two fateful summers, Jane Healey's The Ophelia Girls is a heady exploration of illicit desire, infatuation and the perils and power of being a young woman.'An immersive, intoxicating summer read with the long-lasting feel of a classic' - Molly Aitken, author of The Island ChildSummer, 1973. Teenage Ruth and her four friends spend the scorching summer days in the river, recreating tableaus of the drowning Ophelia and other tragic heroines. But as autumn draws nearer, real tragedy has found them.Summer, 1997. Ruth returns to her childhood home with her husband and three children, including her eldest daughter seventeen-year-old Maeve. However when Stuart, an old family friend comes to stay, the uneasy relationship between mother and daughter is pushed to its limit. For Stuart's arrival is a reminder of a death in Ruth's past, while Maeve is feeling more alive than ever . . .As the heat of the summer burns, how long can the family go before long-held secrets threaten to burst their banks and drown them all?'A vivid, sensuous novel . . . I can't recommend it enough' - Anna Bailey, bestselling author of Tall BonesTrade ReviewThis is a potent, mesmerising portrait of girlhood desire, betrayal, beauty and death, sensuously written and passionately told -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersA knowingly put together page-turner; a potent blend of art, beauty, awakening desire and mortality that seduces the reader as much as the cast * Daily Mail *This is a vivid, sensuous novel that captures the feelings of passion and devastation of girls on the brink of womanhood and life itself, and I can’t recommend it enough -- Anna Bailey, bestselling author of Tall BonesA bruising and beautiful novel about girlhood and desire. Set over two heady summers, The Ophelia Girls perfectly captures the power and vulnerability of being a teenage girl. Within its flower-strewn pages, girls float carelessly down rivers and fall in love with devastating consequences. It's an immersive and intoxicating summer read with the long-lasting feel of a classic. I was captivated by it -- Molly Aitken, author of The Island ChildSet over the course of two stifling British summers, The Ophelia Girls is a dreamy exploration of the interior life of teenage girls and the tangled relationship between mothers and daughters. -- Ellie Eaton, author of The DivinesThe Ophelia Girls is a novel saturated with beauty, menace, longing, secrets -- and with passions deep enough to drown in. It's a sinister, suspenseful page-turner that gripped me tightly and still hasn't fully let go -- Clare Beams, author of The Illness LessonI absolutely adored this exquisite novel. It is dark and sultry and beautiful and terrible. All the good stuff. The characters get tangled in so many complex strands of love, secrecy and obsession. And it perfectly captures the brilliance and terror of being a teenage girl -- Hazel Barkworth, author of HeatstrokeA compelling story of teenage innocence and infatuation, blended with the illicit desires and murky intentions of adults * Woman's Weekly *This novel has a sinewy, enchanting style that draws us into the reverie-like world of the river and its dangers and, like the characters it has so bewitched, never lets us go: it's powerful stuff * The Big Issue *Deliciously atmospheric and brilliantly constructed, The Ophelia Girls tugs at the reader from the very first page until its satisfying finish. Engrossing and rich in imagery, Jane Healey writes the way dreams feel. I loved it -- Elissa R. Sloan, author of The Unraveling of Cassidy HolmesSensual and lush, The Ophelia Girls captures the dangerous power of approaching the world with an artist's eye, of seeing others and being truly seen in turn . . . a page-turning exploration of girlhood, secrets, desire, and art -- Sara Flannery Murphy, author of The Possessions

Read more less

Book SynopsisLucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. At first glance Lewis and Mariah are a blessed couple – handsome, rich, and seemingly happy. Almost at once, however, Lucy begins to notice cracks in their beautiful facade.With a mixture of anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the privileged, facile world of her employers while comparing it to the vivid realities of her home in the Caribbean. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is.In this environment a new person unfolds: passionate, sexually forthright, and disarmingly honest. In Lucy, Jamaica Kincaid has created a startling new character: a captivating heroine possessed with clear-sightedness and ferocious integrity.Part of the Picador Collection, a new series showcasing the best of modern literature.Trade ReviewBeautifully precise prose . . . It leaves the reader with the unforgettable experience of having met a ferociously honest woman on her own uncompromising terms * New York Times *Brilliant . . . Lucy confirms Ms. Kincaid as a both a daughter of Bronte and Woolf and her own inimitable self * Wall Street Journal *A furious, broken-hearted gem of a novel . . . Part of the richness of this book is the way we come to see, as Lucy struggles to do, the connections between those of us who have too much and those who will never have enough - and between 'a sentence for life' (what can't be changed in the self) and that which can be wrestled with and, at least, understood * San Francisco Chronicle *What a writer – elegant, uncompromising, simultaneously direct and layered and complex. * Ali Smith *I’ve read everything by Jamaica Kincaid, and I’ve still never read anyone like her. If you are new to Kincaid, I envy you. -- Jackie kay

Read more less