Narrative theme: death, grief, loss

Book SynopsisA powerful and moving summer read that explores love, grief and the reality of the contemporary American immigrant experienceJonas, fresh from a failed marriage, is desperate to make sense of the ties that have forged him. How can he dream of a future when he can''t make sense of his past? He hits the road, tracing the route that his parents - young Ethiopians in search of an identity as an American couple - took thirty years earlier to Nashville, Tennessee. In a stunning display of imagination he weaves together a history that takes him from the war-torn Ethiopia of his parents'' youth to a brighter vision of his own life in contemporary America, a story - real or invented- that holds the possibility of reconciliation and redemption.A story of exile and redemption, beautifully written' The TimesTrade ReviewA straight-forward, compassionate, keenly sensitive observer of real life -- James Lasdun * Guardian *A story of exile and redemption, beautifully written -- Kate Saunders * The Times *[Mengestu has] pulled off a narrative sleight of hand, weaving two - or is it three? - beautiful fictions, while reminding us subtly that the most seductive may be the least true * Los Angeles Times *How To Read the Air is deeply thought out, deliberate in its craftsmanship and in many parts beautifully written...remarkably talented -- Miguel Syjuco * The Scotsman *Challenging -- Peter Carty * Independent *

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Book Synopsis''A novel of female friendship . . . startling and moving'' New York Times _______________________________________________''In the first few months after Charlie died, I began hearing from her much more frequently . . .''When Helen Clapp gets a missed call from best friend Charlie, she knows it''s a mistake. Because Charlie''s dead. Ghosts break so many fundamental laws of the universe that Helen, a physicist, shouldn''t believe in them. Should she?As this question draws Helen to Charlie''s grieving husband and daughter, she finds herself entangled in the forgotten threads of lost friendship and her own paths not taken . . . ______________________________________________________''There aren''t many novels that bring to mind both Middlemarch and Bridget Jones''s Diary - but Lost and Wanted is one of them'' The Times''Dazzling. Freudenberger explores the nature of aTrade ReviewEndlessly rich . . . It is Freudenberger's willingness to accept human contradictions here - and to lay them out with a combination of calm rigour and rueful comedy - that so triumphantly makes Lost and Wanted the real thing * The Times *Dazzling . . .[Freudenberger explores] the nature of ambition, success and grief . . . brilliant -- Francesca Segal * Financial Times *Freudenberger has a real eye for the subtle differences in how people react to adversity, an ear for the way children talk, and an artist's clear-sighted commitment to seeing the totality of her characters * Sunday Times *The effect is beautiful . . . Reading it, I was moved by intimacies near and far, real and imagined, lost and found in all the echoing corners of the expanding universe * New York Times *This spooky mystery fuses nimbly explained science with a finely calibrated meditation on grief and paths not taken -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *Tender, sharply observed and marvellously rich * Daily Mail *Are we connected? Are we alone? Freudenberger's brilliant and compassionate novel takes on the big questions of the universe and proves, again, that she is one of America's greatest writers -- Andrew Sean Green, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Less'[A] stunning portrayal of grief . . . The integration of ideas from physics sparks in the reader new ways of thinking about the nature of time and existence as well as, on a less cosmic scale, about human relationships . . .This is a beautiful and moving novel * Publishers' Weekly *Dazzling . . . [Freudenberger] dramatizes, through Helen, both the dawning awareness that life doesn't always allow for second chances and the great midlife consolation prize: a greater appreciation for those chances - and people - one has been given. * Washington Post *With page-turning acceleration, Lost and Wanted is a piercing meditation on the immutable truths that mourning calls into question. Freudenberger [has a] gravity-defying gift * O, the Oprah Magazine *Deeply involving, substantial, suspenseful, and psychologically lush . . . With daring, zest, insight, wit, and compassion, Lost and Wanted gracefully and thrillingly bridges the divide between science and art * Booklist *Before the full scope of the accomplishment has sunk in-the lucid, compassionate portraits of a wide array of characters, the meticulous hand with which Freudenberger paints their world-you'll be beguiled, as I was, by Helen's narration, so full of humble longing and deep, sweet ruefulness -- Jonathan Lethem, author of 'A Gambler's Anatomy'This tender, engaging story takes a physicist for its heroine, and boldly bends the forces of the universe to the binding love between friends, between partners, between parents and their children. It's a literary and emotional adventure peopled by complex, sympathetic characters, some of whom happen to do science as they navigate their most important relationships -- Dava SobelGorgeous, brainy, and passionate. Lost and Wanted is the best kind of big American novel: a majestic book that takes on nothing less than the nature of the universe-literally-while probing that similarly infinite mystery known as the human heart. Nell Freudenberger's writing is fearless and profound, as it absolutely must be in order to pull off this very modern ghost story that unfolds in the life of an MIT physicist. Freudenberger is one of our best novelists, and she's delivered a real powerhouse of a novel -- Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime WalkLike the finely calibrated tools of particle physics described in its pages,NellFreudenberger's novel demonstrates an astonishing sensitivity to the forces that move us all. Her rendering of grief-with its shadings of denial, anger, longing, dark humor, and magic-is nothing short of perfection -- Julie Orringer, author of 'The Invisible Bridge'An iridescent story of friendship. Lost and Wanted is an extraordinary book, startling in its open curiosity and love -- Rivka Galchen, author of 'Atmospheric Disturbances'Intellectually dazzling and almost unbearably moving, Lost and Wanted stayed with me long after I read it, its characters still moving in my brain like free electrons. Probing the mysteries of the physical universe and the equally mysterious nature of human connection, Nell Freudenberger writes fearlessly and lyrically about physics and grief; parenthood and friendship; the subtleties of race and the seriousness of female ambition. I've read many novels that make me think and some that made me cry, but few that did both as powerfully as this one did -- Amy Waldman, author of 'The Submission'A great work of art treads the line between the ingenious and the improbable. This is true of Nell Freudenberger's remarkable Lost and Wanted. It somehow combines particle physics and paranormal phenomena to present a lucid, humane and wryly comic view of the way we live today. One reads the novel with pleasure and marvels at Freudenberger's courage and intelligence -- David Bezmozgis, author of 'The Betrayers'Brimming with wit and intelligence and devoted to things that matter: life, love, death, and the mysteries of the cosmos. Nell Freudenberger is good at explaining physics, but her real genius is in the depiction of relationships. Each one in the novel-whether between adults, adults and children, or among children-is unique, finely calibrated, and real. The title is a line from a poem by W.H. Auden, which doesn't fully hit until the end of the book, when it takes on heart-rending poignancy * Kirkus *I love novels that are obsessed with the "erotics of knowledge," books that understand how ideas are not the opposite of feelings but rather their intense distillation. A. S. Byatt's "Possession," Ann Patchett's "State of Wonder," Barbara Kingsolver's recent "Unsheltered," and Nell Freudenberger's forthcoming "Lost and Wanted" all are marvelous depictions of the direct link between the body's cravings and the passions of the mind -- Richard Powers * New York Times *Freudenberger's outstanding achievement is that Lost and Wanted is also a moving story about down-to-earth issues like grief and loneliness * NPR *

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Book Synopsis WHAT DID YOU SEE? WHAT DID YOU DO? ''Gripping, poignant...I read it in one sitting'' ROSAMUND LUPTON''Brilliantly compulsive and with one hell of a twist!'' CLAIRE DOUGLAS____________________________Sixty seconds after she wakes from a coma, Maggie''s world is torn apart.The police tell her that her daughter Elspeth is dead. That she drowned when the car Maggie had been driving plunged into the river. Maggie remembers nothing.When Maggie begs to see her husband Sean, the police tell her that he has disappeared. He was last seen on the day of her daughter''s funeral.What really happened that day at the river?Where is Maggie''s husband?And why can''t she shake the suspicion that somewhere, somehow... her daughter is still alive? An emotional page-turner with amazing characters from the Top Ten bestselling author of My Sister''s Bones, this tTrade ReviewA stunning book. Compelling, unsettling and powerful -- C. L. TaylorYou won't see the big twist coming in this haunting thriller. A worthy successor to My Sister's Bones * Daily Express *Memorable, jaw-dropping * Sunday Times *Compelling and intriguing, right from the very first page -- Sharon BoltonA clever, twisty plot that takes psychological mind games to a new level. Nuala Ellwood has done it again! -- Jane CorryThe Day of the Accident had me gasping for breath and on the verge of tears from the get-go. Twisty, haunting, and completely heart-wrenching, you won't breathe until you've turned the very last page. -- Carolyn Jess-CookeGrabbed me on the first page and didn't let go * Woman and Home *Gripping, engrossing and surprising at every turn -- Rowan ColemanA raw, shocking, and serpentine mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end -- Nicolas Obregon, author of 'Blue Light Yokohama'This book will take all your expectations and upend them, making you question everything you thought you knew -- Emma Kavanagh Twisty and unpredictable. Kept me guessing until the end -- Karen Cleveland, author of 'Need to Know'Absolutely brilliant - exciting, clever, it deserves to be a bestseller -- Priscilla Masters

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Book SynopsisIn February 2015, Ivan Maisel received a call that would alter his life forever: his son Max''s car had been found abandoned in a parking next to Lake Ontario. Two months later, Max''s body would be found in the lake. There''d been no note or obvious indication that Max wanted to harm himself; he''d signed up for a year-long subscription to a dating service; he''d spent the day he disappeared doing photography work for school. And this uncertainty became part of his father''s grief. I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye explores with grace, depth, and refinement the tragically transformative reality of losing a child. But it also tells the deeply human and deeply empathetic story of a father''s relationship with his son, of its complications, and of Max and Ivan''s struggle-as is the case for so many parents and their children-to connect.I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye is a stunning, poignant exploration of the father and son relationship, of how our tendency t

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Book SynopsisAll three books (Iris, Iris and the Friends, and Widower's House) are now available in a single edition, told by the person who knew her best, with gentle humour - at times unbearably moving - in Bayley's portrayal of a remarkable woman.Trade Review'The greatest love story of our age' Observer'A unique glimpse into the alchemy of marriage... a work of art’ Victoria Glendinning, Daily Telegraph'Love has everything and nothing to do with it. John Bayley has set the gold standard for a debased currency' Guardian'It is hard to do justice to the tenderness with which, in exquisite, measured prose and surprising detail, he evokes their marriage' Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisAnna Jacobs was born in Lancashire at the beginning of the Second World War. She has lived in different parts of England as well as Australia and has enjoyed setting her modern and historical novels in both countries. She is addicted to telling stories and recently celebrated the publication of her one hundredth novel, as well as sixty years of marriage. Anna has sold over four million copies of her books to date.

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Book Synopsis''A bracing, heart-lifting read. Patterson is a superb writer'' Observer OUTSIDE, THE SKY IS BLUE is a heart-breaking yet also truly joyful and wise memoir of growing up, of dealing with mental health and illness, and of what it means to be part of a family that, despite everything, is able to laugh and to love.''A memoir about the loss of faith and hope. A memoir about the loss of faith and hope. The book journeys to dark places but it''s too honest and well written to be dispiriting. She perseveres in her quest to understand'' GuardianWhen Christina Patterson''s brother Tom died suddenly, she faced the harrowing task of clearing out his house. Tom had always been the one who held on to the family treasures and memories, but now Christina had to sift through boxes of letters, photos and belongings, not just of Tom''s, but of their parents and their older sister, Caroline.The contents of those boxes teTrade ReviewA bracing, heart-lifting read. Patterson is a superb writer - part of the redemptive message of this memoir is that beautiful prose can make almost anything bearable. Outside the Sky is Blue is a lesson in generosity, in accommodation, but most of all it's a lesson in resilience * Observer *Written with savage honesty about grief and sibling rivalry, this book slices deeply. A memoir about family loyalty and gut-wrenching goodbyes but it serves too as a wise guide from someone who has endured more than her share of life's slings and arrows, and has still come out swinging * Sunday Times (Culture) *A compelling memoir of faith, hope and loss. Her beautifully written and insightful account of a family living with mental and physical ill health * Daily Express *A hymn to optimism, and a beacon of unflagging hope * iPaper *A memoir about the loss of faith and hope. The book journeys to dark places but it's too honest and well written to be dispiriting - she perseveres in her quest to understand * Guardian *A superbly told, heart-buffeting memoir - a powerful account of how we carry the distress that life's blows cause to us; of how we keep sane and carry on; and of how love within a family can endure even the sternest tests * Bookseller, Book of the Month *Patterson has poured every ounce of love and compassion she possesses into this compelling memoir * Daily Mirror *'I read this beautiful and exceptional book in one sitting' * Kate Mosse *A powerful and honest, personal memoir of love and loss * Woman's Own *She has a talent for vivid, visual description and writes about her sister's schizophrenia with candour and sensitivity * Spectator *Christina Patterson's beautifully written memoir spans all the emotions, from joyful to heart-breaking and back again * Choice magazine *A memoir full of wit, wisdom, tenderness and heart. Deeply moving on the devastating impact of childhood schizophrenia on a family. Christina Patterson writes so beautifully, and with searing honesty. I loved this book * Dr Rachel Clarke, author of Dear Life and Your Life in My Hands *Moving and ultimately uplifting and beautifully written * David Nicholls *She writes beautifully - crisp, yet emotional and page-turning. For me, it is something about her clarity and brutal honesty in describing both heartbreak and heart bursting life and love. In the end it is only the love that matters. Her memoir will give hope to those that are suffering and cannot see the light * Julia Samuel, author of Grief Works and This Too Shall Pass *Devastating, funny, wise, intimate and beautifully written. It's filled with empathy and light. This is a handbook for loving and living fully. The writing shines, celebrating life without ever shying away from the sharpness of grief and pain. It's truly life affirming, strengthening and hope filled. This book has never been more needed, it's essential reading for us all right now * Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable *This is a beautiful book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, it's an immersive family memoir that is deeply personal and yet somehow universal. Highly recommended * Adam Hamdy, author of Black 13 *A book about illness, both mental, in all its variety, and physical. One of the things that stands out is the tone, a crystal-clear capturing of intensity of feeling without resorting to hysteria or hyperbole * Strong Words magazine *This is a joyful book. Despite the sorrows, there is a determined joy to this tale, a pattern of finding the good despite the bad, of turning to face the sun so the shadows fall behind. It's a wonderful, heart-wrenching, compelling read * Dr Kathryn Mannix, author of With the End in Mind *All families have stories of mental health struggles but Christina and her family have had more than their fair share. She tells their story with candour and compassion. It makes for an intense and moving read. Having had a brother who had schizophrenia all his adult life I was especially struck by her portrayal of her sister Caroline. There is a lot of death and suffering in this book yet precisely because Christina is so candid and compassionate there is hope within it too. I am sure this will be a welcome addition to the books helping to break down stigma and taboo about mental illness * Alastair Campbell, author of Living Better *This is a profound and beautiful memoir. Anyone who reads it will go on an extraordinary journey - you will learn about a remarkable individual, and also about our shared humanity * Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections *A tender, candid, sometimes heartbreaking, ultimately joyful account of family life, overcoming illness and loss, and embracing happiness * Bookanista *'Tremendous. For me, this is a book about forgiveness, but I think you can find what you want in it' * Suzanne Moore *A tender, funny chronicle of a loving family and the many sorrows and joys they endured . . . Exquisite, brave and highly recommended' * Independent.ie *

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Book SynopsisUnlikely family and unexpected friendship come together in New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand''s newest novel set against the sun and sand of island life. ''The queen of the summer novel'' (People)Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe and Scarlett Oliver share only two things in common: a love for the man they all married, celebrity chef Deacon Thorpe, and a passionate dislike of one another.When Deacon shockingly takes his own life, the women must come together in order to see out his final wish: to have his whole dysfunctional family - wives, children and all - return to his favourite place on earth, the idyllic eastern bluff of Nantucket.But with everyone under one roof, putting differences aside will be no simple feat. Each wants to claim a special place in Deacon''s life. And yet, as certain secrets are revealed and confidences shared, improbable bonds will begin to form, as this unlikely family says goodbye to the man tTrade ReviewElin Hilderbrand might as well be the queen of the beach read . . . [THE RUMOUR] is nothing short of a gift. * Glamour USA *Beautiful people, dysfunctional families and Nantucket: that's Hilderbrand territory, and it wouldn't be summer without a visit . . . [Here's to Us is] just the thing for a day by the sea * People *The Queen of the Summer Novel * People *'Takes the chick-lit trope of reclaimed friendship and updates it with a timely twist . . . Hilderbrand throws in a handful of plot twists that bounce the story along . . . SILVER GIRL [is] the kind of safe investment beachgoers should adore' * Boston Globe *It provides a pacey read, with colourful characters that have fascinating motivations. I couldn't get them out of my head for days * Sunday Express on SILVER GIRL *So deliciously addictive that it will be the 'It' beach book of the summer * Kirkus Review on THE ISLAND *An honest, raw tale of friendship and love * Cosmopolitan on THE CASTAWAYS *'This book was a great read - you really care what happens to the characters. Perfect holiday reading. I didn't want to put it down' * Candis on BAREFOOT *'A gem of a summer read with a glamorous location, elite lifestyle, and Hilderbrand's appealing take on the constant stress that fills the lives of women everywhere' * Booklist on A SUMMER AFFAIR *Signifies the start of summer to readers * The Book Reporter *The queen regent of the easy-breezy summer read * New York Post *

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Book SynopsisWOULD YOU EVER GIVE UP ON FINDING YOUR CHILD, IF THEY VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE?Number One Irish bestselling author of When All is Said Anne Griffin returns with this beautiful, emotional novel about love, loss, family and hope that will break your heart . . . but also put it back together again.THE IRISH BESTSELLER THAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT:'Stunning . . . I loved it' LIZ NUGENT'Elegant and moving' JOHN BOYNE'A storyteller of rate gifts' JOSEPH O'CONNOR'A beautiful, emotive mystery' CHRIS WHITAKER'Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break' IRISH TIMESOne unremarkable afternoon, Rosie watched her daughter Saoirse cycle into town, expecting to hear the slam of the door when she returned a few hours later. But the slam never came. Eight years on, Rosie is the only person who believes that her child might one day return home.Will this belief come at the cost of everything she has left?Trade ReviewHer most emotionally complex book yet . . . Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times *One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are * Irish Sunday Times Culture *Exquisite -- Woman's OwnThis beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance. -- Good HousekeepingAn agonising but hauntingly beautiful tale * Sunday Post *An elegant and moving account of family loss and reconnection, this is Anne Griffin's best novel yet. -- John BoyneAn immensely powerful novel by a storyteller of rare gifts -- Joseph O'ConnorAnne takes a deep dive into the soul of the mother of a missing child and the result is a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautifully written and sensitive without ever being sentimental, this is a stunning portrait by a master craftswoman. I loved it. -- Liz NugentA beautiful, emotive, heartbreaking mystery. The Island of Longing takes a quietly powerful, yet deeply hopeful, humorous and compassionate look at loss, and belonging, and the absolute agony of the unknown. -- Chris WhitakerAnne Griffin is a lovely writer, and this is a lovely book . . . Oiled by the sturdy little ferry that ploughs the sea between the novel's West Cork island setting and the mainland, Griffin's story is tender and wise and ultimately life-affirming. -- Kathleen MacMahonAnne Griffin's central character Rosie Driscoll will pitch your heart into a stormy sea. You'll feel as if you're right beside her in the waves of love and loss as she strikes out for safe harbour. A beautiful story, steeped in Irish brine -- Tish DelaneyGripping, heart-wrenching and acutely human novel that offers a deeply empathetic view of suffering and resilience - and the many shapes that survival can take. Read this book! -- Alice RyanA powerful novel that is full of grace, this latest work of beauty proves once again that Griffin is a gorgeous storyteller full of empathy and wisdom -- Helen CullenGriffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive. -- Danielle McLaughlinA compelling, cleverly structured novel about loss, legacy and the healing power of community -- Sarah GilmartinWith a great ear for dialogue and eye for setting, Griffin builds a real sense of what loss can do to a family. * The Style List *A beautiful novel, heartbreaking, thoroughly moving and impossible to put down, The Island of Longing further enhances Anne Griffin's standing as one of our very best writers. A sheer joy to read, and a book that deserves to hit every height -- Billy O'CallaghanWhat do you think when the unthinkable happens? The Island of Longing transported me to West Cork to ask that very question in a moving story of family, loss and hope. It's the little details-dialogue, street names and details on the ferryboat-that made me feel at home with heroine, Rosie . . . Griffin perfectly captures the stifling isolation of grief, how claustrophobic tragedy can feel and how, sometimes, only the sea can offer relief. -- Freya BromleyI sympathised with Rosie on every page . . . a suspenseful and deeply satisfying novel -- Margot LiveseyI absolutely loved this novel. Incredibly moving, beautifully observed, with characters so well-drawn that I felt I'd known them my whole life. Although the subject matter is achingly sad, the warmth and humanity that shines through Anne's writing makes it a total joy to read. A bittersweet story of love and loss, deftly and sensitively told, that will stick with me for a long time to come. -- Rebecca PertThe Island of Longing is a moving unforgettable novel, about the burden of loss and grieving, told through Griffin's vivid prose and characteristic gentle humour. This book consumed me -- Disha BoseA beautifully written tale of love, loss and human endurance, with an emotional depth that rings true. -- Madeleine D'ArcyPRAISE FOR ANNE GRIFFIN:There are deep thoughts sown beneath the light and charming surfaces of Griffin's novels. Her books are fable-like, deep musings on life, mortality, and what makes a life worth living, philosophy for everyday readers, cleverly disguised as a good old-fashioned story * Irish Times *The next big name to emerge from the Irish writing scene. -- John BoyneIreland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin, who follows her poignant debut When All is Said with another outstanding read * Sunday Express *Her most emotionally complex book yet . . . Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times *One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are * Irish Sunday Times Culture *Exquisite -- Woman's OwnThis beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance. -- Good HousekeepingAn agonising but hauntingly beautiful tale * Sunday Post *An elegant and moving account of family loss and reconnection, this is Anne Griffin's best novel yet. -- John BoyneAn immensely powerful novel by a storyteller of rare gifts -- Joseph O'ConnorAnne takes a deep dive into the soul of the mother of a missing child and the result is a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautifully written and sensitive without ever being sentimental, this is a stunning portrait by a master craftswoman. I loved it. -- Liz NugentA beautiful, emotive, heartbreaking mystery. The Island of Longing takes a quietly powerful, yet deeply hopeful, humorous and compassionate look at loss, and belonging, and the absolute agony of the unknown. -- Chris WhitakerAnne Griffin is a lovely writer, and this is a lovely book . . . Oiled by the sturdy little ferry that ploughs the sea between the novel's West Cork island setting and the mainland, Griffin's story is tender and wise and ultimately life-affirming. -- Kathleen MacMahonAnne Griffin's central character Rosie Driscoll will pitch your heart into a stormy sea. You'll feel as if you're right beside her in the waves of love and loss as she strikes out for safe harbour. A beautiful story, steeped in Irish brine -- Tish DelaneyGripping, heart-wrenching and acutely human novel that offers a deeply empathetic view of suffering and resilience - and the many shapes that survival can take. Read this book! -- Alice RyanA powerful novel that is full of grace, this latest work of beauty proves once again that Griffin is a gorgeous storyteller full of empathy and wisdom -- Helen CullenGriffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive. -- Danielle McLaughlinA compelling, cleverly structured novel about loss, legacy and the healing power of community -- Sarah GilmartinWith a great ear for dialogue and eye for setting, Griffin builds a real sense of what loss can do to a family. * The Style List *A beautiful novel, heartbreaking, thoroughly moving and impossible to put down, The Island of Longing further enhances Anne Griffin's standing as one of our very best writers. A sheer joy to read, and a book that deserves to hit every height -- Billy O'CallaghanWhat do you think when the unthinkable happens? The Island of Longing transported me to West Cork to ask that very question in a moving story of family, loss and hope. It's the little details-dialogue, street names and details on the ferryboat-that made me feel at home with heroine, Rosie . . . Griffin perfectly captures the stifling isolation of grief, how claustrophobic tragedy can feel and how, sometimes, only the sea can offer relief. -- Freya BromleyI sympathised with Rosie on every page . . . a suspenseful and deeply satisfying novel -- Margot LiveseyI absolutely loved this novel. Incredibly moving, beautifully observed, with characters so well-drawn that I felt I'd known them my whole life. Although the subject matter is achingly sad, the warmth and humanity that shines through Anne's writing makes it a total joy to read. A bittersweet story of love and loss, deftly and sensitively told, that will stick with me for a long time to come. -- Rebecca PertThe Island of Longing is a moving unforgettable novel, about the burden of loss and grieving, told through Griffin's vivid prose and characteristic gentle humour. This book consumed me -- Disha BoseA beautifully written tale of love, loss and human endurance, with an emotional depth that rings true. -- Madeleine D'ArcyPRAISE FOR ANNE GRIFFIN:There are deep thoughts sown beneath the light and charming surfaces of Griffin's novels. Her books are fable-like, deep musings on life, mortality, and what makes a life worth living, philosophy for everyday readers, cleverly disguised as a good old-fashioned story * Irish Times *The next big name to emerge from the Irish writing scene. -- John BoyneIreland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin, who follows her poignant debut When All is Said with another outstanding read * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisAn unusually usual day-to-day story in the Deep South, set in the Gothic, swampy southern town of Wet Moon, a place fraught with lousy love lives, teen angst, and shadowy rednecks. As Cleo Lovedrop heads off for college at the local art school, she''s haunted by her melancholic past. Elsewhere, Trilby deals with unsettled emotional and sexual issues, and keeping her secret habits hidden from everyone. And Audrey comes to the realization that, despite all her efforts, she always causes her friends distress, while Fern, a peculiar girl who lives in an isolated mansion in the bayou, begins to notice Cleo and her friends. Goths, friendship, romance, sex, betrayal, gossip, cats, murder, guilt, a squirrel monkey, and all the terrible and wonderful things people do to each other can be found in the pages of Wet Moon.

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Book SynopsisFrom storyteller Iolanda Zanfardino (The Least We Can Do, A Thing Called Truth) comes a powerful medley of tales each told in a vivid, polychromatic illustration style that flows from one character to another and back again.Four individuals living in San Francisco are released from the frustrations of their everyday lives by a late-night radio broadcast suddenly hijacked by someone with a message for the world.The passion and honesty of the message steers these four lives in dramatic new directions . . . Each tale speaks to different social issues without pandering to a political agenda: LGBT+ rights, racism, social network addiction, and the difficult decision between settling down versus following your dreams.

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Book Synopsis"A startling debut... This book will make you want to hold everyone you love close, reminding you that life may be fleeting but the people in it never are." PICKED FOR ESQUIRE MAGAZINE'S BEST BOOKS OF 2022Best Books of 2022 - Picked by Readers - FINANCIAL TIMES When Freddy was 21 years old, his dad, a larger-than-life, successful TV producer, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer. In vivid snapshots, Freddy recalls the ups and downs of an impossible time - from the entertaining antics of a wine-gum tossing competition in a hospital ward, to the comi-tragedy of trying to decipher his father's muddled riddles as his speech disintegrates, to painful moments of regret and self-loathing as he squanders precious time.Don't Put Yourself on Toast is a bittersweet coming-of-age memoir which shows how the power of humour and laughter can provide, even in our darkest moments, sustenance, comfort and hope.Trade Review'A book close to my heart. A tragicomic triumph told with love and humour, revealing how out of darkness comes so much light.' -- TOM DALEY'A startling debut... This book will make you want to hold everyone you love close, reminding you that life may be fleeting but the people in it never are.' -- Olivia Ovenden * Esquire magazine *'It takes quite a talent to make a reader smile and cry at the same time. This is exactly what Freddy Taylor manages to do in Don't Put Yourself on Toast. This book is light and deep, funny and sad, but, essentially, full of love.' -- Sonia Delesalle-Stolper, chief foreign editor * Libération *'An utterly fresh, unconventional memoir about realising what is important in life - and seizing it while it is still there.' -- Iona McLaren * The Telegraph *Life-affirming... Don't Put Yourself on Toast faces mortality head-on - and teaches us how to live... I read [the last] lines in tears, then found myself humming along and laughing. -- Helen Brown * Telegraph Review *'[Taylor] intersperses humorous anecdotes that he jotted down at the time, with more sobering medical notes taken by his stepmother. His writing is fresh, never sugar-coated, and full of hope, and the love and comfort of family shines through the fear and desperation.' * The Tablet *'Comedy and tragedy exist side by side and, in this snappy memoir, Freddy Taylor conveys both the utter awfulness of his father's two-year descent from diagnosis to death, and the moments of hilarity the family had on the way.' -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Daily Mail *'Powerful snapshots of love and grief... Always sad, often uplifting, this will stay with you.' -- Phoebe Luckhurst * Evening Standard *'[The book] reads like a Beckettian tragi-comedy, dark and light in equal measure, paired with a coming-of-age spirit, all the while peering through a grim foreboding.' -- Kate Demolder * The Irish Independent *'Deeply moving and, surprisingly, very funny' -- JACK WHITEHALL'It is so engaging that I challenge anyone to read the book in more than one sitting.... Taylor is funny because he observes the absurdity of human behaviour so accurately. But there are also moments of profound tear-jerking sadness.' -- Olenka Hamilton * Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 A little girl throws up Gloria-Jean's teeth after an explosion at the custard factory; Pax, Alexander, and Angelo are hypnotically enthralled by a book that promises them enlightenment if they keep their semen inside their bodies; Victoria is sent to a cursed hotel for ailing girls when her period mysteriously stops. In a damp, putrid spa, the exploitative drudgery of work sparks revolt; in a Margate museum, the new Director curates a venomous garden for public consumption.In Grudova's unforgettably surreal style, these stories expose the absurdities behind contemporary ideas ofwork, Britishness and art-making, to conjure a singular, startling strangeness that proves the deft skill of a writerat the top of her game.Trade ReviewUtterly triumphant... I can't remember the last time I read satire of the Great British institutions so crisply rendered, so exquisitely batty... Grudova has an instinct for queasily precise imagery that few can rival... She's a thoroughly sui generis visionary - and, after reading The Coiled Serpent, I'd say one of the most startlingly original writers we've got. -- A K Blakemore * Guardian *Camilla Grudova's books make other young writers seem meek... It's weird, dark and graphic, but as her new collection proves, it's also funny and poignant and distinctive, so inventive that it makes other writing seem uncourageous. * Sunday Telegraph *A prodigious instinct for story... careering majestically between the astonishing and the terrible to create something uniquely gripping. * Irish Times *It's gruesome fare, served with cold precision... One imagines these stories pairing perfectly with the painter Paula Rego's paintings of women subverting fairy tales... The simmering undercurrent of rage... is all too recognisable. * Financial Times *Grudova's stories are dark, creepy and strange, each a little off-kilter in a world where mental anxiety and fleshy reality are twisted into surreal scenarios by her fertile but festering imagination... for those with a penchant for gothictinged body horror, these are the business. * Daily Mail *Queen of the grotesque... These stories are not for the faint of heart, and reading them is as sharply satisfying as picking at a scab. * The Skinny *Strange, weird, twisted, sometimes surreal and always absorbing. * The Bristol Magazine *Unsettling... refuses to gloss over the grimy reality of years of austerity with Grudova's signature abstract flair. * Big Issue *An excellent second collection of exultantly gross-out tales * Telegraph Best Fiction Books of 2023 *

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Book Synopsis Robyn Carr returns to the beloved town of Virgin River with a brand new story about fresh starts, new friends and the magic of Christmas. Warm-hearted characters, a stunning setting – what more could you want for a cosy Christmas read?’ Women’s Weekly Now a Netflix orginal series Struggling with grief after the death of her mother, successful author Kaylee Sloan needs a distraction, to come to terms with life and meet her looming deadline. With Christmas approaching, Kaylee rents a cabin in Virgin River. She knows the isolation will help her writing and as she drives north through the mountains she immediately feels inspired. Until she arrives at a building that has just gone up in flames. Devastated, she heads to Jack’s Bar to plan her next steps. The local bar is the heart of the town and once she crosses the threshold, she’s surprised to be embraced by people who are more than willing to help a stranger in need. Welcomed by those in Virgin River, Kaylee starts to see her life in a new light. And as she becomes more involved in the town and the people in it, especially local artist and dog trainer Landry Moore, Kaylee realises she may have found her peace. As Christmas approaches, Kaylee’s dread turns to wonder. Because there’s no better place to mend a broken heart than Virgin River. Check out the rest of the Virgin River series! Book 1: Mel and Jack’s story! Virgin RiverBook 2: Preacher and Paige's story! Shelter MountainBook 3: Whispering RockBook 4: A Virgin River ChristmasBook 5: Second Chance PassBook 6: Temptation RidgeBook 7: Paradise ValleyBook 8: Forbidden FallsBook 9: Angel's PeakBook 10: Moonlight RoadBook 11: Promise CanyonBook 12: Wild Man CreekBook 13: Harvest MoonBook 14: Bring Me Home for ChristmasBook 15: Hidden SummitBook 16: Redwood BendBook 17: Sunrise PointBook 18: My Kind of ChristmasBoom 19: Return to Virgin RiverBook 20: ´Tis the SeasonTrade Review Readers LOVE the Virgin River series: ‘Laden with suspense, love and drama… a real page turner’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very gripping story, full of suspense and anticipation’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved going back to Virgin River and meeting all people I already knew from first book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘As one book finishes you’re reaching for the next’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Much better than the show – which I loved!’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Moving and beautiful, Robyn takes us along on the journey with the characters, whom you grow to love more with each book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisA nightmare, anxiety attack, or bad trip?A woman is seemingly trapped in a feverish dream, attempting to navigate through a distorted world in a stumbling language, struggling to comprehend what's happening around her:No one speaks my language here... I'm sweating, even though it's actually quite cold. I think I have a fever...I see their smiles, I hear their friendly voices, but I KNOW what they feel!Wretched is written by Henrik Rehr, one of the most active Danish series creators of the last 30 years, and illustrated by Jan Solheim, whose superior line work demonstrates why he is one of the country's most sought-after illustrators.

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Book SynopsisThe SF classic that inspired the blockbuster vampire movie starring Will Smith.

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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning novelist Paul Auster comes the graphic adaptation of his deeply beloved series, The New York Trilogy, a postmodern take on detective and noir fiction.In 1994, Paul Auster''s City of Glass was adapted into a graphic novel and became an immediate cult classic, published in over 30 editions worldwide, excerpted in The Norton Anthology of Postmodern Fiction. But City of Glass was only the first novel in a series of books, Auster''s acclaimed New York Trilogy, and graphic novel readers have been waiting for years for the other two tales to be translated into comics.Now the wait is over.The New York Trilogy is post-modern literature disguised as Noir fiction where language is the prime suspect. An interpration of detective and mystery fiction, each book explores various philosophical themes. In City of Glass, an author of detective fiction investigates a murder and descends into madness. Ghosts features a private eye named Blue, trailing a man named Black, for a client called White. This too ends with the protagonist?s downfall. And in The Locked Room, another author is experiencing writer?s block, and hopes to brake it by solving the disappearance of his childhood friend. The second two parts of this trilogy will be appearing in this volume for the very first time as a graphic novel.Paul Karasik, the mastermind behind the three adaptations, art directed all three books. City of Glass is illustrated by the award-winning cartoonist David Mazzucchielli, the second volume, Ghosts, is illustrated by New Yorker cover artist, Lorenzo Mattotti, and The Locked Room is adapted and drawn by Karasik himself. These adaptations take Auster?s sophisticated wordplay and translate it into comicsplay: both highbrow and lowbrow and immensely fun reading.

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Book Synopsis*The thrilling new novel from Lucy Clarke, THE SURF HOUSE, is available to buy now*Brimming with tension' CLARE MACKINTOSHTalk about twists and turns' EMMA STONEXUtterly addictive . . . her best yet' ERIN KELLYThe perfect holiday read' CLAIRE DOUGLASWE WERE DYING FOR A HOLIDAYThe six of us arrived on that beautiful Greek island dreaming of sun-drenched beaches and blood orange sunsets, ready to lose ourselves in the wild freedom of a weekend away with friends.On the first night we swam under a blanket of stars.On the second night the games began on our clifftop terrace.On the third night the idyll cracked, secrets and lies whispering on the breeze.And by the final night there was a body on the rocks below . . .WHO WOULD KILL FOR IT?_________________________________________________________________What readers are saying about One of the Girls:If you are looking for a sun-soaked, fast-paced, keep-you-up-till-the-early-hours thriller for summer 2022 then my god this is it!' ?????I loved this, a thrilling murder mystery read about friendship, love, deception, lies and secrets'?????Absolutely gripping, a perfect summer read' ?????This was an absolutely delicious read that grabbed me from the get-go' ?????''The ending, and the revelations leading up to it, blew me away' ?????WHAT A READ! . . . I was whizzing through the pages just to find out anything out' ?????Unputdownable! The ideal holiday read'?????Trade Review‘Lucy Clarke goes from strength to strength; this utterly addictive, trouble-in-paradise novel is her best yet. The plot shifts like sand beneath the reader’s feet’ ERIN KELLY ‘Brimming with tension, with such perfectly drawn characters I keep wondering what they’re doing now. Lucy Clarke gets better and better’ CLARE MACKINTOSH ‘I’m breathless. Talk about twists and turns . . . This is going to blow everyone’s socks off!’ EMMA STONEX ‘I loved One Of The Girls: beautiful writing, suffused with menace, complicated female heroines, and an ending I couldn’t predict’ GILLIAN MCALLISTER ‘A masterclass in simmering tension and shocking revelations ’ ROSIE WALSH ‘A propulsive plot full of hidden undercurrents, a brilliant cast of characters and a setting so vividly described you’ll feel you’re right there on holiday with them’ T M LOGAN 'Deliciously escapist and addictive, Lucy Clarke expertly juggles the secret desires and deceptions of six fascinating women. I really couldn't stop reading’ KATE RIORDAN ‘Compelling and clever, One of the Girls is expertly plotted and atmospheric with deft characterisation’ JANE SHEMILT ‘From the first page I was transported to the intoxicating Greek island . . . This is everything the perfect escapist summer read should be: dark, delicious, and completely addictive’ CHARLOTTE PHILBY ‘An addictive sun-soaked thriller with a killer twist. Unmissable’ MARIE CLAIRE ‘Packed with secrets . . . One of the Girls is the perfect beach read!’ ALLIE REYNOLDS ‘I loved the vivid setting of the Greek island. I felt like I was there – hearing, smelling and tasting everything as the sense of unease and mystery expertly unfolded. An immersive, clever and compelling read’ KAREN HAMILTON ‘This was a delicious escape from the world, not to mention as close as I’ll get to a Greek Island for a while. I loved it!’ SALLY HEPWORTH

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully designed, jacketed hardcover edition of The Secret Garden is unabridged and includes 8 illustrations by Charles Robinson. When Mary Lennox is sent from India to the moors of England to live with her uncle after losing her parents, not only does she discover a secret garden, but she also discovers the true meaning of family, friendship, and perseverance. This magical, timeless classic, originally published in 1911, is by the author of A Little Princess and Little Lord Faunteleroy. Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, the Chartwell Classics series includes beautifully presented works and collections from some of the most important authors in literary history. Chartwell Classics are the editions of choice for the most discerning literature buffs.   Other titles in the Chartwell Classics Series include: Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft; Complete Gri

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Book SynopsisWow! Kept me up into the night. I couldn''t put this book down! Highly recommend!' NetGalley reviewer, 5 starsFor fans of Stephen King, Mark Edwards and The Haunting of Hill House comes a dark tale of a mysterious house haunted by tragedy.The Nightingale House is a new beginning for widower Daniel Price and his young daughter Caitlyn. After months of grief, this will be the place where they start their life as a family of two.But something is wrongDaniel can't settle. There's an odd, cold feeling in the master bedroom, and a mysterious dripping noise that seems to move from room to room. Whispers of I can't sleep echo through the corridors, long into the night.And then Daniel uncovers the chilling story of the family who lived in the house years before, of betrayal, tragedy, and murder. Could the Nightingale House be not the home Daniel dreamed of for his daughterbut a place that will bring their worst nightmares to life?Readers LOVE Nightingale House!Holy wow! This book was exciting,

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Book Synopsis Edgar Allan Poe''s gothic tale of the decaying Usher mansion comes to life in an all-new way! In this graphic novel edition of The Fall of the House of Usher, Raul Garcia adapts his animated short, The Fall of the House of Usher, now streaming on Prime Video, and as a part of the animated feature Extraordinary Tales. A traveler arrives at the Usher mansion to visit his old friend, Roderick Usher. Upon arriving, however, he discovers that Roderick and his sister, Madeline, have been afflicted with a mysterious malady: Roderick''s senses have become painfully acute, while Madeline has become nearly catatonic. That evening, Roderick tells his guest of an old Usher family curse: any time there has been more than one Usher child, all siblings have gone insane, dying horrible deaths. As the days wear on, the effects of the curse reach their terrifying climax. In this adaptation, the celebrated animator translates the cinematographic language int

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Book Synopsis'Absolutely breathtaking' Christy Lefteri, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo.We all have something to tell those we have lost . . .On a windy hill in Japan, in a garden overlooking the sea stands a disused phone box. For years, people have travelled to visit the phone box, to pick up the receiver and speak into the wind: to pass their messages to loved ones no longer with us.When Yui loses her mother and daughter in the tsunami, she is plunged into despair and wonders how she will ever carry on. One day she hears of the phone box, and decides to make her own pilgrimage there, to speak once more to the people she loved the most. But when you have lost everything, the right words can be the hardest thing to find . . .Then she meets Takeshi, a bereaved husband whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of their loss. What happens next will warm your heart, even when it feels as though it is breaking...The Phone Box at the Edge of the World is an unforgettable story of the depths of grief, the lightness of love and the human longing to keep the people who are no longer with us close to our hearts.'A moving and uplifting anatomisation of grief and the small miraculous moments that persuade people to start looking forward again' Sunday Times'Strangely beautiful, uplifting and memorable, it's a book to savour' Choice, Book of the Month'A poignant, atmospheric novel dealing with love, coming to terms with loss and the restoration of one's self' Daily Mail'A story about the dogged survival of hope when all else is lost . . . A striking haiku of the human heart' The Times'Beautiful. A message of hope for anyone who is lost, frightened or grieving' Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of After the End'Incredibly moving. It will break your heart and soothe your soul' Stacey Halls, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars'Mesmerising . . . beautiful . . . a joy to read' Joanna Glen, Costa shortlisted author of The Other Half of Augusta Hope'Spare and poetic, this beautiful book is both a small, quiet love story and a vast expansive meditation on grieving and loss' Heat'A perfect poignant read' Woman & HomeTrade ReviewA story about the dogged survival of hope when all else is lost . . . Messina shows us that even in the face of a terrible tragedy, such as an earthquake or a loss of a child, the small things - a cup of tea, a proffered hand - can offer a way ahead. Its meditative minimalism makes it a striking haiku of the human heart * The Times *Carefully told and with great care, this feels a particularly resonating story right now * Stylist *This beautiful novel tells a story of universal loss and the power of love. It will remain engraved in my heart and mind forever. During these difficult times we face, it addresses questions that we might all have - how to connect with those we have loved and lost and how to allow ourselves to live and to love again. Beautifully written, sensitive and evocative, it paints a picture of an inner and outer world that is infused with both tragedy and hope. It moved me to tears and made me want to speak my own secret thoughts in the phone box at the edge of the world. Absolutely breathtaking and stunning * Christy Lefteri *A message of hope for anyone who is lost, frightened or grieving. Beautiful. * Clare Mackintosh *Incredibly moving. It will break your heart and soothe your soul * Stacey Halls *Spare and poetic, this beautiful book is both a small, quiet love story and a vast, expansive meditation on grieving and loss * Heat *Before I got started, I already loved the phone box at the edge of the world. But then I loved everything else. Especially the beautiful prose, powerful but held back, like grief. And the characters - emerging blinking from their tragedies, hurt and hesitant - but ultimately hopeful. It was a joy to read. Mesmerising! * Joanna Glen, author of The Other Half of Augusta Hope *This is a beautiful book. And a timely one. It tells a story about the aftermath of a disaster, long after the disaster. It tells of memories of the first few weeks after horror struck, but more it tells about the years after. If we're not directly affected, we lose sight of the years after that others have to endure. Or survive * Bookbag *The Phone Box at the Edge of the World has such a subtle strength to it. The power to transfer such huge emotion from the page to my heart. It felt like a balm to my soul, one I did not know I needed. For me it is easily one of my books of the year * Waterstones bookseller *Immensely moving and emotionally powerful . . . possessed of a rare empathetic pull * Waterstones bookseller *This book is one to read now * Cosmopolitan *A perfect poignant read * Woman & Home *A balm to the soul in difficult times * Good Housekeeping *All I can say is that I thoroughly recommend this book to all, even if you have not lost someone dear. This book offers a sweet and poignant story, as well as some meaningful messages and a hopeful outlook on life * Escape to the Bookshelf *This an aching sweetness about this novel, with telling details that bring the departed so alive * Saga Magazine *A quiet, elegantly told story of how life goes on after loss. * Press Association *An elegant, elegiac story ... a poignant, atmospheric novel dealing with love, coming to terms with loss and the restoration of one's self. * Daily Mail *A stylish and carefully calibrated meditation upon the nature of loss, grief and the joyously restorative power of love. * The Yorkshire Times *This was a poignant read that brings love, light and hope to a heartbreaking situation * Rea's Book Review *Messina's beautifully-written debut novel of loss and the power of love, provides hope in the most of difficult of times. * Surrey Life *A touching tale of loss and recovery. * Wiltshire Living *Beautifully moving read ... heartbreaking and poignant. * Woman's Own *A quiet, elegantly told story of how life goes on after loss * Leinster Leader *BOOK OF THE MONTH: Strangely beautiful, uplifting and memorable, it's a book to savour. * Choice magazine *Strangely beautiful, uplifting and memorable, it's a book to savour * Scottish Herald *Moving, heart-breaking, redemptive * Irish Examiner *A whimsical, moving and uplifting anatomisation of grief and the small miraculous moments that persuade people to start looking forward again. * The Sunday Times *A tale of strength and hope born out of pain ... Messina has captured a grieving nation's soul. * The Lady *Beautiful in its candour ... staggering in its hold on you. More than a story of grief, it points to a fundamental hope in reforming after tragedy, and a celebration of lives well-lived. * Sunday Business Post *

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Book SynopsisIllustrated with high-contrast artwork, a graphic-novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood''s modern classic depicts the terrifying realities of women consigned to childbirth roles in the occupied Republic of Gilead.

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Book SynopsisFrom the three-time Igantz award-winning artist and author of Big Questions comes a fascinating graphic novel retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus"An extraordinary reinvention of some of our oldest stories. Nilsenbrings these old gods to an electrifying new life, and gives us a new sense of humanity as well."?Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel ?Mind-bendingly good. It?s up there with Maus,Fun Home, Persepolis,Jimmy Corrigan.? ?Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeSet in a version of modern Central Asia, Tongues is a retelling of the Greek myth of Prometheus. It follows the captive god?s friendship with the eagle who carries out his daily sentence of torture and chronicles his pursuit of revenge on the god that has imprisoned him.Prometheus?s story is entwined with that of an East African orphan on an errand of murder, and a young man with a teddy bear strapped to his back, wandering aimlessly into catastrophe (a character readers may recognize from Nilsen?s Dogs and Water). The story is set against the backdrop of tensions between rival groups in an oil-rich wilderness.Tongues is both an adventure story and a meditation on human nature in our present fraught, historical moment.

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Book SynopsisEva was once a legendary fashion designer until, mysteriously, she retired. Now widowed, she lives with her family in Salix House, the home she's owned and loved for forty years. When the family announces it's time to sell, Eva is deeply reluctant. The house contains memories and secrets that are part of her, although she never shares them. Megan is a fashion journalist working in London who interviewed Eva for a magazine. Torn apart by the brutal end of a love affair, Megan is drawn back to Salix House and Eva. Decades apart in age, the two women share a bond. Both are hiding something, but perhaps together they can confront their fears, their past pain and their uncertain futures - and discover the truth of Salix House's secrets.Trade Review'An unforgettable story highlighting how one deed committed when too young to realise the connotations can taint a life. A beautifully unfolding gem from someone who knows how to use the power of words' Bookbag. * Bookbag *'Geras makes a superb comeback with this tale of female friendship set in the fashion world ... An intriguing tale' The Lady. * Lady *'A well-crafted novel this manages to combine elements of a spooky Victorian ghost story ... for an effective and eminently readable result ... a very engaging and enjoyable story' We Love this Book. * We Love this Book *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis‘Tender. . .confidently told and a very relatable tale.’ Daily Mail ‘An unsettling drama. . .shored up with multi-faceted characterisation.’ Financial Times She knows everything. She’ll stop at nothing.Trade Review‘At its heart — and at its best — this book is an exploration of grief and the very different responses it produces. It is also about the dangers of the distance it can create between two people. . .McGrath's tender examination of grief and vulnerability is confidently told and a very relatable tale.’ Daily Mail ‘McGrath’s unspooling of her unsettling drama is non-pareil, shored up with multi-faceted characterisation (particularly of the traumatised central couple).’Financial Times ‘Dark and sinister with a shocking final twist.’Bella ‘McGrath provides a sensitive study of trauma and loss as well as expertly ratcheting up the tension, and the result is a compelling read.’Guardian

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Book SynopsisABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!!! up there for me with PS I Love You' Reader reviewAn emotional, uplifting story of life, loss and love perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern and S.D. Robertson.It's been two years since cancer stole Evan Harper's wife, Claire, from their lives. Although Evan's doing everything he can to be Super Dad for his five year old, Violet, he can't seem to get anything right. So he turns to the one person who gives the best advice Claire herself.Before she died she wrote him a book of letters to see him through the ups and downs of raising their daughter and her words soon help him see that there is life after loss and maybe even a second shot at love when you find the courage to start living againIt's time to start living again, Evan. Your new forever starts right here. Love always, Claire*Previously published as The Single Dad's Handbook*Readers ADORE this book!An absolutely gorgeous, heartwarming, just-what-everyone-needs story which I utterly adored' Rachael LucasTe

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDagerman wrote with beautiful objectivity. Instead of emotive phrases, he uses a choice of facts, like bricks, to construct an emotion -- Graham GreeneDagerman can evoke such emotion in a single sentence -- Colm ToibinThere are some writers (Kafka and Lorca immediately spring to mind) who come to enjoy the status of saint; their lives and deaths constitute statements about existence and its proper priorities. A saint of this type is the Swedish writer Stig Dagerman. * Times Literary Supplement *A writer of uncommon urgency and power -- Siri HustvedtA literary giant in Sweden, Dagerman conjures a Strindbergian atmosphere of shadowy menace in his brief, intense novel, A Moth to a Flame... The novel absorbs the reader effortlessly... The landscape round Stockholm, with its fog-bound flatlands and grey winter seas, is vividly evoked. This moody, death-haunted novel is well worth reading * Evening Standard *This searing tale of bereavement and loathing feels all too relevant today * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA compelling and thought-provoking novel from the world’s favourite storyteller. Set around a New York talent agency, a group of accomplished women discover the high price of success. Jane Addison is smart, young and ambitious. She’s delighted to have landed a job with a prestigious talent agency, Fletcher and Benson. Hailey West, her boss, is dedicated to her authors, but her home life is chaotic and challenging as a single mother following her husband’s tragic death. Francine Rivers, the stern and bitter head of department, is also raising children on her own after an acrimonious divorce, and she has had to overcome financial hardship by paying the very highest price. Meanwhile, Allie Moore seems to have it all: she relishes success and loves working with the talented actors she represents. But then a passionate relationship with one of her star clients risks derailing her career. And Merriwether Jones, the CFO of the agency, appears to have the perfect marriage until her husband’s jealousy over her career threatens her happiness. Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets behind the doors of the agency. She has the least power, but she is also the least willing to accept things as they are. And when she tries to put things right, the consequences will leave no one unscathed. In this riveting novel, five women at the top of their game navigate the challenges of career and ambition, family and personal lives in a world where it’s necessary to fight for what is right.

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Book Synopsis 'The unrelenting tension of this well-crafted debut kept me whizzing through the book . . . I loved the tension, the secrets and the satisfying, unexpected conclusion' KL Slater In a converted Georgian townhouse in south west London, three families live under one roof.The large flat that takes up the top two floors is home to the Harlow family: happily married Paul and Steph, and their bubbly teenage daughter Freya. The smaller first floor flat is rented by Emma, who spends most of her time alone, listening to people coming in and out of the building. And the basement flat belongs to Chris, a local driving instructor, who prefers to keep his personal life private from the neighbours.But their lives are all upended when Freya vanishes. As the police become involved and a frantic Paul and Steph desperately search for answers, they begin to realise that the truth behind their daughter's disappearance may lie closer to home than they were expecting. When everyone has something to hide, can you ever really know those closest to you? Or will some secrets be taken to the grave?Trade ReviewThe unrelenting tension of this well-crafted debut kept me whizzing through the book, eager to discover exactly what had happened to Freya and whether the intriguing neighbours had anything to do with it. Loved the tension, the secrets and the satisfying, unexpected conclusion. Recommended! * KL Slater *I can't remember the last book that made me guess and long for answers quite as much as The Downstairs Neighbour. The story was always one step ahead of me, catching me out. Gripping, teasing, intricately plotted, an accomplished debut that's impossible to put down. * Cath Weeks *Lock your doors, close your curtains, and sink into this claustrophobic tale of families, neighbours and buried secrets. Tense and perfectly paced, this emotionally charged novel will keep you guessing right to the very end * Emma Rous, bestselling author of The Au Pair *A gripping read with plenty of twists, Cooper's debut will keep you guessing throughout * Heat *The air is thick with the sound of chickens coming home to roost in this promising domestic noir debut -- Mark Sanderson * The Sunday Times Crime Club *I am a sucker for an eavesdropping premise, and Helen Cooper's The Downstairs Neighbour doesn't disappoint. Cooper starts with a bang, with a missing girl and a big house filled with suspects, then holds the suspense high with characters that will keep the reader guessing - and guessing wrong. A gradual unearthing of long-held secrets wrapped in a smoothly plotted page-turner * Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of Stranger in the Lake *A heart-pounding debut . . . Even avid suspense readers won't be able to predict all the twists. Cooper is off to a strong start * Publishers Weekly *An intriguing and compulsive story about family, secret pasts and private lives. Simmering with suspense and packed with twists and tension, this expertly crafted novel kept me gripped from start to finish * Holly Miller *If you loved Harlan Coben's The Stranger, this is the perfect pick * Woman & Home *A compelling story about secret pasts and private lives * Waitrose Magazine *If you want smart writing and a book that dashes all your theories on 'who dun it' The Downstairs Neighbour is your bag. I adored this book! So clever, so engaging, such heart * L.V. Matthews *

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Book Synopsis'Prepare to ugly cry and snort laugh with abandon' - Heat'An emotional read with an OMG ending' - Jill MansellOne moment in time can change everything...The day Scarlett dies should have been one of the most important of her life. It doesn't feel fair that she'll never have the chance to fulfil her dreams - all because she stopped to help a stranger. And now, she's still ... here - wherever here is - watching the ripple effect of her death on those she loved the most.Evie cannot contemplate her life without Scarlett, and she certainly cannot forgive Nate, the man she blames for her best friend's death. But Nate keeps popping up when she least expects him to, catapulting Evie's life in directions she'd never let herself imagine possible. If you could go back, knowing everything that happens after, everything that happens because of one choice you made, would you change the course of history or would you do it all again?'A gorgeous love story with a twist' Veronica Henry'Fans of Jojo Moyes will devour Becky Hunter's stunning tale' Sunday ExpressTrade ReviewA thought-provoking and moving novel about loss, love, and the unique and life-affirming power of friendship. Poignant yet unwaveringly hopeful, One Moment is a fresh look at how grief can not only break us, but put us back together again. An unmissable debut. * Holly Miller *'Completely involving. An emotional read about love and trust, with an OMG ending -- Jill MansellA beautiful, bittersweet examination of friendship, love and grief, prepare to ugly cry and snort laugh with abandon * Heat *Wonderful * Marie Claire *This heart-wrenching tale is beautifully written * Sun *A beautifully written novel that captures the joy of a lifelong friendship and the horror of grief. Fans of JoJo Moyes will devour Becky Hunter's stunning tale * Sunday Express *A joy from start to finish -- Sheila O'Flanagan. No. 1 bestselling authorThis emotional read about friendship, love and loss is touching and relatable with an unexpected ending that leaves you reeling * Good Housekeeping *Full of heart and humour and the characters are all so well written * Prima *One Moment is so many things. A gorgeous love story with a twist, a tender portrait of the kind of friendship that transcends everything, and an exploration of the important things in life. It will make you question who you are, and what you want, and how to make the most of every opportunity and every relationship you have. Intimate, thoughtful, beautiful and deeply moving. Becky Hunter will steal your heart! -- Veronica HenryI adored this emotional debut from Becky Hunter. It's such a gorgeous tale of love and friendship, beautifully written and with characters you really believe in. * Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls *An exquisitely written novel about grief, hope and the power of love. I loved every word. -- Cathy Bramley, Sunday Times bestselling authorBeautiful, hopeful, deeply emotional, incredibly wise and wonderfully romantic. One of those books I feel stronger for reading -- Cressida McLaughlinFantastic. Incredibly moving and very thoughtfully written -- Harriet TyceThis stunning debut explores grief, love and friendship in a beautiful and original way - a powerful read full of both moving and joyful moments * My Weekly *A story of friendship, loss and how one moment can change your whole life. A gorgeous debut. * Woman *Sharp, funny, tear-jerking, so assured and well observed. What a debut! -- Elizabeth BuchanA compelling read * Bella *A heart-warming and often heartbreaking read * Daily Express *A beautiful story about love and loss * Best *A warm and thoughtful novel that skewers friendship, loss and negotiating grief in a touching and relatable way. I was completely caught up in Evie and Scarlet's stories. -- Fanny BlakeA page-turner to grip you * Chat *The must-read debut of the year ... brings joy, happiness and pleasure in a story simply not to be missed' * People's Friend *Deeply moving ... truly packs an emotional punch. Heatwarming, witty and brilliantly written. * Press and Journal *A poignant, uplifting and life-affirming tale of friendship, love, grief and learning to let go. It'll have you welling up one moment and smiling the next. And by the end, your heart will feel a little fuller. * CultureFly *A hugely accomplished debut about dying, grief and loss, but also learning to live again. It's about love in all its forms, and, despite its subject matter, it manages to be uplifting and life-affirming. It's a story that will stay with me for a long time. -- Claire FrostSo moving and uplifting - I have no doubt that readers will fall in love -- Emylia HallAn engaging story about love, true friendship and sacrifice * Candis *A touching tale focusing on friendship, grief, and hope * That's Life *

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Book SynopsisThe son of one of the greatest writers of our timeNobel Prize winner and internationally best-selling icon Gabriel García Márquezremembers his beloved father and mother in this tender memoir about love and loss.It enthralled and moved me.' Salman RushdieIn March 2014, Gabriel García Márquez, one of the most acclaimed writers of the twentieth century, came down with a cold. The woman who had been beside him for more than fifty years, his wife Mercedes Barcha, was not hopeful; her husband, affectionately known as Gabo, was then nearly 87 and battling dementia. I don''t think we''ll get out of this one, she told their son Rodrigo.Hearing his mother's words, Rodrigo wondered, Is this how the end begins? To make sense of events as they unfolded, he began to write the story of García Márquez's final days. The result is this intimate and honest account that not only contemplates his father's mortality but reveals his remarkable humanity.Both an illuminating memoir and a heartbreaking work of Trade Review‘a powerfully written memoir…García Márquez maintained that his novels were inspired not by magic but by reality. His son’s memoir shows that, when it comes to his father’s life, it is impossible to separate the two.’ Daniel Rey, Spectator ‘Rodrigo Garcia finds the words that cannot be said, the moments that signal all that is possible to know about the passage from life to death, from what love brings and the loss it leaves. With details as rich as any giant biography, you will find yourself grieving as you read, grateful for the profound art that remains a part of our cultural heritage’ Walter Mosley, New York Times bestselling author of Down the River Unto the Sea ‘You read this short memoir with a feeling of deep gratitude. Yes, it is a moving homage by a son to his extraordinary parents, but also much more: it is a revelation of the hidden corners of a fascinating life. A Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes is generous, unsentimental and wise.’–Juan Gabriel Vásquez, author of The Sound of Things Falling ‘Garcia’s limpid prose gazes calmly at death, registering pain but not being overcome by it … the result is a moving eulogy that will captivate fans of the literary lion’ Publishers Weekly “A warm homage filled with both fond and painful memories.” Kirkus ‘This is a beautiful farewell to two extraordinary people. It enthralled and moved me, and it will move and enthrall anyone who has ever entered the glorious literary world of Gabriel García Márquez’ Salman Rushdie

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Book SynopsisResolutions are madeMarriages are brokenA gripping domestic thriller set in The Cotswolds and perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Adele Parks!It started with the partyFrankie, Verity and Alice live in the idyllic Cotswolds community of White Fir Lake, but behind closed doors everyone has a secret they're desperately trying to keepAnd ended with a bang!Now, as midnight on New Year's Eve approaches, the three women will face the consequences of a long-ago holiday, one which changed their lives forever and threatens to shatter their perfect worlds into perfect pieces.Readers can't get enough of The New Year's Eve Party:????? I absolutely couldn't wait to finish it and I was amazed by the ending. One of the best thrillers I've read all year' Lyn????? A wholly engaging and entertaining one sit read' Ruth

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Book SynopsisAs her hand slips from his grip, Patrick''s life is shattered, forever changed...Trapped high on a high mountain face during the worst storm in living memory, a young man is forced to fight the brutal winter for his life - moments after his beloved wife is swept away forever across the ice. Haunted by grief and guilt, Patrick keeps vigil on the mountain for 25 years, in the hope that one day it will release his devastating secret.Trade ReviewThe mountain and its ferocious weather are brilliantly described * The Times *Another gripping mountaineering epic, but also much more than that, a fine, poetically written meditation on love, loss and redemption * Daily Mail *The familiar Simpsonian territory of guilt, survival and loss against a background of elemental terror and beauty * Daily Telegraph *Arresting * Metro *The tale is deftly woven with an air of immediacy and a visceral, intimate feel, drawing heavily on Simpson's mountaineering experiences * Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisIn this deeply emotional memoir, a longtime ESPN writer reflects on the suicide of his son Max and delves into how their complicated relationship led him to see grief as love.

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Book SynopsisRiley Vasher hasn''t spoken to her friend Piper Kingsley for years . . . now she''s making a documentary about her murder.Documentary filmmaker Riley Vasher has been living a low-key life on the island of Oahu with her long-time boyfriend Brody. This all changes when Brody overhears on his police scanner that popular TV weathergirl Piper Kingsley has been murdered. When Piper''s boyfriend, Ethan Jakes, is arrested for the crime, a high-profile murder trial is sure to follow - and Riley and Brody sense their chance to make a name for themselves. Riley convinces Ethan she can help him if they make a documentary about the trial, and recommends the brilliant but eccentric defense lawyer Nicholas Church. But as the trial nears and Riley becomes personally involved in the case, the lines of truth soon begin to blur and she finds herself becoming part of the story.

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