Narrative theme: interior life / psychological fiction

Book SynopsisA provocative new novel from bestselling author T.C. Boyle exploring the first scientific and recreational forays into LSD and its mind-altering possibilities In this stirring and insightful novel, T.C. Boyle takes us back to the 1960s and to the early days of a drug whose effects have reverberated widely throughout our culture: LSD. In 1943, LSD is synthesized in Basel. Two decades later, a coterie of grad students at Harvard are gradually drawn into the inner circle of renowned psychologist and psychedelic drug enthusiast Timothy Leary. Fitzhugh Loney, a psychology Ph.D. student and his wife, Joanie, become entranced by the drug’s possibilities such that their “research” becomes less a matter of clinical trials and academic papers and instead turns into a free-wheeling exploration of mind expansion, group dynamics, and communal living. With his trademark humor and pathos, Boyle moves us through the Loneys’ initiation at one of

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Book SynopsisA READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY * A PEOPLE MAGAZINE PICK * AN INDIE NEXT PICK * A LIBRARYREADS PICK *AN AMAZON EDITORS PICK “On every page there are little shimmering bombs. Like Room, where parenthood is at once your jail and your salvation, it is almost claustrophobic—but in the most glorious way.”—Lisa Taddeo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Women and AnimalA rising international literary star makes her American debut with this visceral, tender, and brave portrait of addiction, recovery, and motherhood, as harrowing and intense as Shuggie Bain.Sonya used to perform on stage. She used to attend glamorous parties, date handsome men, ride in fast cars. But somewhere along the way, the stage lights Sonya lived for dimmed for good. In their absence, came darkness—b

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Book SynopsisAn exultant novel of New York City at the turn of the twentieth century, about one man's rise to fame and fortune, and his mysterious murder—“engrossing” (Wall Street Journal), “immersive” (The New Yorker), and “seriously entertaining” (The Sunday Times, London). Andrew Haswell Green is dead, shot at the venerable age of eighty-three, when he thought life could hold no more surprises. The killing—on Park Avenue in broad daylight, on Friday the thirteenth—shook the city.Born to a struggling farmer, Green was a self-made man without whom there would be no Central Park, no Metropolitan Museum of Art, no Museum of Natural History, no New York Public Library. But Green had a secret, a life locked within him that now, in the hour of his death, may finally break free.A work of tremendous depth and piercing emotion, The Great Mistake is the story of a city transformed, a murder that made a private man infamous, and a portrait of a singular individual who found the world closed off to him—yet enlarged it.

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORKER AND LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A masterful and engrossing novel about a single mother’s collapse and the fate of her family after she enters a California state hospital in the 1970s.“A sweeping family epic that took me from one American coast to another…Simpson is so attuned to the family heart.” —Weike Wang, author of Joan Is OkayWhen Diane Aziz drives her oldest son, Walter, from Los Angeles to college at UC Berkeley, it will be her last parental act before falling into a deep depression. A single mother who maintains a wishful belief that her children can attain all the things she hasn’t, she’s worked hard to secure their future in caste-driven 1980s Los Angeles, gaining them illegal entry to an affluent public school. When she enters a state hospital, her closest friend tries to keep the children safe and their mother’s dreams for them alive.

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Book SynopsisElizabeth Arthur redraws the map of passion in this story of a devastating love affair set against the dramatic landscape of OrkneyTrade Review‘Reminiscent of D.H. Lawrence in its attempts to evoke inner life and conjure up the subconscious ... it is an intense and often claustrophobic narrative, infuriating and addictive in equal measure' * Sunday Herald *‘A brilliant storyteller' * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisBy day, Charlie Bain is the school''s most inspiring teacher. By night he prowls the stylish bars of Glasgow seducing women. Fuelled by art, drugs and fantasies of being an indie star, Charlie journeys further into hedonism, unable to see the destruction his desires are leading everyone towards...One of Scotland''s dazzling young writing talents tackles the modern phenomenon of sex addiction. Dark, funny and deliciously erotic, DEATH OF A LADIES'' MAN is an intense portrait of male vanity, written with verve and emotional rawness.Trade Review'F*cked up, funny and fantastic' * Lauren Laverne *'An insane, hallucinatory mosaic of sexual dysfunction, pathos, humour and narrative energy' * A.L. Kennedy *'Bissett's third novel is delivered with invention and flair' * Esquire *'Hilarious, disturbing and hugely entertaining... Bain is a remarkable creation' * Big Issue *'[Alan Bissett] has pulled the sheets back on Lothario men and shown them lying there wriggling, pathetic, and bare-bummed...Bissett proves himself to be a fresh, compelling and distinctly Scottish literary talent' * Scotland on Sunday *'Devilishly funny and disturbingly accurate. A real gem' * News of the World *'A high-speed, coke-fuelled rollercoaster ride through bars, classrooms and bedrooms' * Scotsman *'This is a novel of real ambition and complexity, at its heart a delicious tension between the desire to be good and darker urges in a world of ever fewer boundaries' * Gutter magazine *'Bracing, funny and full of energy...Bissett's central character is a wonderful literary creation' * The Age *'This is a very funny book...a complex and nuanced take on the sexual and social behaviour of a certain kind of man' * Sydney Morning Herald *'Definitely worth a read... ****' * Look *

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Book SynopsisNow in paperback, two novellas from the Hungarian master László Krasznahorkai—“one of the most mysterious artists now at work” (Colm Toíbín) Trade Review"Gateway drugs to Krasznahorkai’s work: As the very best fiction always does, they bring another world—an alien world, let’s say—into our own." -- Christine Smallwood - Harper’s"Krasznahorkai, poet of the Apocalypse, stands alone relentlessly, if gleefully, offering wonders." -- The Economist"Together, ‘The Last Wolf’ and ‘Herman’ raise a set of spiritual questions that affirms their author as one of the most important — and eccentric — writers working today." -- Hari Kunzru - The Spectator

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Book Synopsis“Cerebral and capacious, Teju Cole’s novel asks what it means to roam freely.”—The New York Times (One of the 25 Most Significant New York City Novels From the Last 100 Years) “Influential . . . makes you think about what kind of city is revealed to us based on where we cannot go.”—Katie Kitamura, bestselling author of Intimacies ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, NPR • WINNER: PEN/Hemingway Award, Rosenthal Foundation Award, New York City Book Award  “A timely and compelling argument for tolerance and moral character in times of extreme antagonism.”—The New York Times One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 YearsAlong the streets of Manhattan, a young Nigerian doctor named Julius doing his residency wanders aimlessly. The walks are a release from the tigh

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Fighting Series, comes Split, a dark, deeply emotional story of love against the odds with a suspenseful twist, perfect for fans of Katy Evans, Jamie McGuire and Sophie Jackson.When her career takes a hit, Shyann abruptly finds herself jobless, penniless and packing for her hometown - where memories of her late mother and a reunion with her distant father await. Lucas needs a quiet life, and that''s exactly what he''s found in Payson, Arizona. He finally feels like he fits...and is starting to keep his mind in check. Having suffered blackouts since he was a child, Lucas knows he''s not like other guys. The minute he meets his boss''s strong-willed, sexy-as-sin daughter, her probing eyes and personal questions pick away at his barriers. Shyann is everything Lucas wants - and everything he should never have. When the blackouts return, the last thing he wants is to expose how dangerous he can

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Book Synopsis''Pitch perfect suspense...The best debut I''ve read this year'' ALLISON BRENNAN''I devoured this atmospheric, twisty, heart-felt suspense novel'' AMBER GARZAA gripping debut about the secrets of a close-knit community, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere.Catherine moved to the close-knit community of Galveston Island to leave the past - and the terrible mistake she made - behind her.What she didn''t realise was how much influence her mother-in-law, Rosalyn, has over the island and that being a Callahan means having strict standards to uphold.She soon meets Morgan, the one woman who seems to get her. But Morgan is still reeling from the former rape accusation against her teenage son, Alex, which left her side-lined from the community.Leslie on the other hand is the model Galveston Island citizen, who since the death of her husband she will do anything to ensure her childTrade ReviewPitch perfect suspense...The best debut I've read this year -- Allison BrennanI devoured this atmospheric, twisty, heart-felt suspense novel -- Amber Garza

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us, delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it. Trade ReviewPraise for All Your Perfects "Colleen Hoover returns with an emotionally raw page-turner." -- Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly"Intimate and raw." * USA Today *"Heart-wrenching...another fantastic read." * Bustle *“Half-adorable, half gut-wrenching—and wholly a great read. Hoover captures the amazing side of a happy marriage, while at the same time connecting with the struggles of having one’s expectation of 'the perfect life' not being met.” * Library Journal (starred review) *"With a deft hand, Colleen Hoover crafts the unraveling of a marriage with brutal, unflinching honesty. The genius is in how she stitches together the perfect ending. This is one beautiful story." -- Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl He Used to Know"A poignant love story…With Hoover’s evocative style, readers will experience the emotion of this story while sympathizing with both Quinn and Graham." * Booklist *"This depiction of a marriage in crisis is nearly perfect." * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for It Ends with Us "What a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down." * USA Today *“It Ends with Us tackles [a] difficult subject…with romantic tenderness and emotional heft. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author's note at the end that explains Hoover's personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read. Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.” * Kirkus (starred review) *"Fans of Hoover's emotional stories, conflicted characters and intense romances will gleefully devour her new novel. If you're a Hoover newbie, this is a great place to start. It Ends with Us is a perfect example of the author's writing chops and her ability to weave together uplifting, romantic and somber plotlines. No matter your level of fandom, readers will love and respect protagonist Lily and learn something from her struggles." * RT Book Reviews (4 stars) *“Best-selling Hoover’s latest valiant and compelling…novel packs her trademark emotional punch… The power and pain of the relationship will stay with readers even as Hoover offers hope.” * Booklist *"It Ends with Us tackles tough subject matter with a deft and confident hand." * Huffington Post *

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Book SynopsisMeet 10-year-old Zac – a boy on a mission – in Katy Regan’s Little Big Man . . .You can't see the truth from the outside, that's what I've worked out. Ten-year-old Zac has never met his dad, who allegedly did a runner before he was born. But when his mum lets slip that he’s the only man she’s ever loved, Zac turns detective and, roping in his best friend, hatches a plan to find his father and give his mum the happy-ever-after she deserves. What he doesn’t realize, though, is that sometimes people have good reasons for disappearing . . .Little Big Man is a story about family secrets and fierce, familial love. It's about growing up and being accepted; grief and lies, and the damage they can do. Most of all though, it’s about a little boy determined to hunt down the truth; a boy who wants to give the Dad he’s never met a second chance to be a father – and his mum a second chance at love.Trade ReviewKaty Regan broke my heart and put it back together again with Little Big Man . . . Humour, poignancy, secrets, love – everything you could ask for from a book -- Lucy DiamondA beautifully written love story, with authentic, compelling characters. You’ll love Katy Regan’s new book -- Clare MackintoshA big-hearted, brilliantly pitched tale about family, love and finding your place in the world * Heat *As uplifting as it is heart-breaking in places, this sweeping story of one boy’s courage will effortlessly win your heart -- Rowan ColemanBeautifully written and brimming with people to love and root for, Little Big Man had me from the first page. Zac's voice is arresting, compelling and completely original – I absolutely loved this book -- Lisa JewellWith exquisitely drawn characters you’ll fall in love with, Little Big Man packs a huge emotional punch * The Sun, Fabulous magazine *Katy Regan's writing is effortlessly emotional and authentic, and Little Big Man had me hooked from the first page. Zac's voice is wonderful – vulnerable and tough and entirely convincing. It's a heartfelt novel about love, family, and self-belief, and I loved it -- Julie CohenSometimes you just need to read a novel that lets you sob. Little Big Man is that sort of novel. And Zac, its brave yet bullied 10 year old narrator, is an absolute TRIUMPH -- Sarah VaughanPoignant, funny and heartbreaking with a story that stays with you long after you have put it down * Psychologies magazine *Delightful, heart-wrenching, poignant, and absolutely real, Katy Regan has created a uniquely brave and beautiful voice. She writes with tremendous acuity and tenderness, with a story that you will not be able to stop reading -- Jane GreenAn extraordinary and wonderful book. A real 'just-one-more-page-before-bedtime' story . . . Lovely, clever and incredibly touching -- Milly JohnsonIt is Zac's bright, observant voice which pulls you into his world and exposes the truth – that love and loss make grown-ups do the silliest things * Sunday Express *A towering achievement: wise, funny, sad, deeply human – a perfectly timed reminder of the fundamental values of love and family . . . A book that provokes tears and sorrow as skilfully as it delivers deep belly laughs. It kept me up all night and will stay with me for years to come -- Rosie WalshFunny, sweet and brilliantly written -- this book totally stole my heart -- Eve ChaseA beautiful story about growing up and keeping those we love close to us . . . A heartfelt tale of courage, grief and familial love * Candis magazine *From the moment I started reading I couldn't put it down and I felt bereft when I finished. It's a beautiful, warm story about love, family and friendships, which will leave you laughing one minute and heartbroken the next . . . I was expecting a good story, but this exceeded all my expectations, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it -- Clare SwatmanConvincing and endearing . . . A compelling, provocative and astute story of families and long-hidden secrets * Daily Express *Juliet and her son Zac lodged themselves in my heart from the very first page, and are still there now. Katy Regan makes friends of her characters, and I couldn’t put Little Big Man down until I’d uncovered all their bittersweet, painfully real secrets, wrapping around their Grimsby family like fishing nets. Regan's writing is smart, funny and full of emotional truths that linger; Juliet’s brave and redemptive lifestory will stay with me for a long, long time. This is a wonderful one-sitting treat of a novel -- Lucy DillonHeartwarming * Bella *A touching, funny and original story of a little man with a big heart, with a cast of authentic characters that’ll have you laughing and crying in equal parts -- Jimmy Rice, co-author of The Best Thing That Never Happened to Me and The Night That Changed EverythingTouching * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling coauthor of The Disaster Artist and “one of America''s best and most interesting writers" (Stephen King), a new collection of stories that range from laugh-out-loud funny to disturbingly dark—unflinching portraits of women and men struggling to bridge the gap between art and life A young and ingratiating assistant to a movie star makes a blunder that puts his boss and a major studio at grave risk. A long-married couple hires an escort for a threesome in order to rejuvenate their relationship. An assistant at a prestigious literary journal reconnects with a middle school frenemy and finds that his carefully constructed world of refinement cannot protect him from his past. A Bush administration lawyer wakes up on an abandoned airplane, trapped in a nightmare of his own making.   In these and other stories, Tom Bissell vividly renders the complex worlds of characters on the brink of artistic and personal crises—writers, video-game developers, actors, and other creative types who see things slightly differently from the rest of us. With its surreal, poignant, and sometimes squirm-inducing stories, Creative Types is a brilliant new offering from one the most versatile and talented writers working in America today.

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Book SynopsisGabrielle Levy's The Insomniac Society is the international phenomenon for those having sleepless night's everywhere . . . Five people. One thing in common: none of them can sleep.Claire, who sits awake beside a snoring husband and a little boy who is not hers. Jacques, a psychiatrist at the end of his career whose lonely nights are punctuated only by anonymous phone calls. Michèle, a retiree whose dark secret compels her out of bed and to church. Lena, a young goth who cannot brave the dawn, volunteering at a local café. Hervé, a shy accountant who sits in bed, panicking about his job while scrolling through emails into the early hours. As meetings led by sleep specialist Marie-Hélène draw them together, friendships will be formed and confessions made... but will they discover what's keeping them awake? And more importantly: will they be able to get to sleep?Trade ReviewGabrielle Levy does an admirable job characterising her hodgepodge collection of insomniacs and draws from a varied palette of types, demonstrating how anyone, from any strata of society, can lose their sleep * Buzz Magazine *

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Book SynopsisNobody writes like Nell Dunn... always communally, with rare honesty, with love, and with calm and ground-breaking understanding... It's glorious. Ali Smith The Muse is all it could be; an act of sharing that goes beyond particular experience to take us to a happy realm of natural sisterhood. TLSNell Dunn has perfect pitch for the words we use and for the loves and mysteries of the human heart. Carmen Callil Defiant, funny and exhilarating. The Muse is so high-spirited and full of a sense of adventure. Margaret DrabbleThis slim volume is entertaining... You long to know more about Nell's lifeDaily MailThe Muse is the story of a life-changing friendship. It starts with Nell's account of a chance meeting with Josie at the age of 22.Josie teaches her how to live for moment, how to have adventures and find the sweetness of life even in hardship. This was the Sixties, a time of literary and sexual experimentation, of the breakdown of old barriers and inhibitions Even as she was hooking up with dodgy men, Josie always carried herself like a star, and as the inspiration for the ground-breaking novel of working class women Poor Cow and the play Steaming - both of which were made into movies - she became one, feted by producers on Broadway.Life is the thing, was Josie's motto. But where would her philosophy of taking no care for tomorrow lead her?In prose of unique clarity and simplicity that always gets straight to the heart of matter, The Muse follows this friendship over the decades.

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Book Synopsis'A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity.' Sarah WinmanAUSTRALIAN INDIE BOOK AWARD WINNER 2020 BOOK OF THE YEAR & FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2020PRAGUE, 1938: Eva flies down the street. A man steps out suddenly.Eva runs into him, hits the pavement hard. His hat is in the gutter.His anger slaps Eva, but his hate will change everything,as war forces so many lives into small brown suitcases.PRAGUE, 1980: No one sees Ludek. A young boy can slip right underthe heavy blanket that covers this city - the fear cannot touch him.Ludek is free. And he sees everything. The world can do what it likes.The world can go to hell for all he cares because Babi is waitingfor him in the warm flat. She is his whole world.MELBOURNE, 1980: Mala Liska's grandma holds her hand as they climbthe stairs to their third floor flat. Inside, the smell of warm pipetobacco and homemade cakes. Here, Mana and Bill have made alife for themselves and their granddaughter. A life imbued withthe spirit of Prague and the loved ones left behind.Because there is still love. No matter what.Trade ReviewMeticulously observed and masterfully crafted * Books and Publishing *A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity. * Sarah Winman, author of Tin Man *Beautifully layered and complex * Canberra Times *Breathtaking, poignant, hauntingly beautiful * Rachel Joyce on When the Night Comes *If you only read one book this year, make sure it's this. * The Sunday Times on Past the Shallows *

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Book Synopsis'[An] evocative tale of identity, friendship and unexpected love' Mail on Sunday'Marks Okoh as an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.' AnOther magazine'A brilliant read' CloserAfter a bad break up, 25-year-old Osayuki Isahosa leaves behind everything she holds dear in London to return to Lagos, Nigeria: a country she hasn't set foot in for many years. Drawn by the transformations happening in the fashion industry in the city, she accepts a job at House of Martha as their Head of PR. While waiting at Milan airport for her connecting flight to Lagos she meets Cynthia Okoye and Kian Bajo. Cynthia Okoye is a 21-year-old recent graduate whose laissez-faire attitude to life has become her undoing. Unsure of how else to help put her life back on track, her father banishes her to live with his brother in the capital city where she's required to attend the National Youth Service Corps. Kian Bajo is a wannabe Afrobeat star whose left everything he knows in London to make it big in Lagos., Enthralled by the international success of young artists from his motherland, he will go to any lengths to conquer the Lagos music scene. After the plane lands at the Lagos airport, they all go their separate ways but their lives will intertwine again and change the course of their lives forever.Trade Review[An] evocative tale of identity, friendship and unexpected love. * Mail on Sunday *An intoxicating tale of love, identity, and friendship. * Lunate.co.uk *Marks Okoh as an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction. * AnOther magazine *A brilliant read * Closer *

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Book Synopsis London, 1919: a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back. 'A poignant and readable mystery' THE TIMES Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her dazzling fiancé who was declared Missing in Action. But soon he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams. To make matters worse, a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Elizabeth Smith, who lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing. Elizabeth had been more than a lodger; she had become a close friend to Grace, who feels compelled to uncover the true circumstances of her death. In doing so, she is drawn reluctantly into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that rocked Edwardian society. Will Grace find the answers she so desperately craves, or will she lose herself in the search?********************Praise for The Lodger'A deliciously Gothic page-turner' BEST'A gripping historical mystery' A. J. WEST '[Helen Scarlett] has a gift for pulling readers into the twists and turns of her story' SUNDAY TIMES'A devastating reveal and a tangled web I won't forget' AMANDA GEARDTrade ReviewA poignant and readable mystery * The Times *[Helen Scarlett] has a gift for pulling readers into the twists and turns of her story * Sunday Times *A gripping historical mystery that confounds the impossible. The Lodger takes the longing of wartime heartbreak and wraps it in a wickedly deadly conundrum * A. J. West, author of THE SPIRIT ENGINEER *I was gripped. A clever and richly imagined recreation of the Edwardian world with all its politesse and hypocrisies after the First World War * Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME *An intriguing mystery layered with deeper themes of loss and regeneration after the Great War. London in 1919 is richly atmospheric, and Grace Armstrong is a sympathetic and spirited protagonist * V. B. Grey, author of SISTERHOOD *The atmosphere of post-WW1 London is beautifully evoked and richly detailed . . . I loved the character of Grace . . . It deserves to be a huge hit * Sarah Smith, author of HEAR NO EVIL *A ghostly, immersive mystery threaded with twists and turns as evocative as the 20th-century London in which it is set . . . A devastating reveal and a tangled web I won't forget * Amanda Geard, author of THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE *A deliciously Gothic page-turner * Best *An atmospheric, haunting tale * Woman's Own *An atmospheric and tense period piece that drips in gothic brilliance * Sun *

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Book SynopsisA gripping campus-set psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping ending. Perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, C. J. Tudor and Shari Lapena.SOMEONE'S GOT TO MAKE HIM PAY.Evie has just started her second year at University. She is young, beautiful and popular. She should be having the time of her life, except she has something to hide - a one-night-stand with her English Professor, Simon.Not wanting any of his other students to be used in the same way, Evie reports their relationship to University HR. But hours later, Village Vixen, the student gossip blogger, is baying for blood. She's found out about the accusation and is firmly on Simon's side. But how could Village Vixen possibly have known? Evie can't help but feel like she's being watched. As paranoia and fear set in, the one thing Evie knows for sure is someone has to teach Simon a lesson...

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Book SynopsisRyan Cloverhill, founder and CEO of the world's most popular social media platform, invites his six best friends from college to his home on his private island near Puget Sound. For Stephen, Emma, Perry, Will, Beau, and Lainie, day one is just what the doctor ordered: amazing food, many drinks, lots of laughter, and a sunset cruise around the island aboard their host's custom Van Dutch 55. Day Two, however, takes a bewildering turn when the six hungover guests wake up to find that their host has disappeared, along with all connection to the mainland. A touchscreen tablet of unknown make awaits them, blatantly defying the rules of the weekend with its on-screen challenge: Unlock Me! The passcode to the tablet is hidden somewhere in the group's shared history. But what seems at first like just another silly game turns deadly serious when the group discovers what unlocking the tablet really means. Is it the key to their futures, a Pandora's box none of them will ever be able to close, or both?Only one thing is clear: their old friend Ryan has something unthinkable planned. Now it's up to the six of them to stop him. And when this weekend is over, the world will never be the same.

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Book SynopsisKatrina Kim may be broke, the black sheep of her family, and slightly unhinged, but she isn't a stalker. Her obsession with her co-worker, Kurt, is just one of many coping mechanisms-like her constant shape and number rituals, or the way scenes from her favorite children's book bleed into her vision whenever she feels anxious or stressed.But when Katrina finds a cryptic message from Kurt that implies he's aware of her surveillance, her tenuous hold on a normal life crumbles. Driven by compulsion, she enacts the most powerful ritual she has to reclaim control-a midnight visit to the Cayatoga Bridge-and arrives just in time to witness Kurt's suicide. Before he jumps, he slams her with a devastating accusation: his death is all her fault.Horrified, Katrina combs through the clues she's collected about Kurt over the last three years, but each revelation uncovers a menacing truth: for every moment she was watching him, he was watching her. And the past she thought she'd left behind? It's been following her more closely than she ever could have imagined.A gripping page-turner, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities-and the dangers inherent in unveiling people's most closely guarded secrets.

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making. Since her brother took his life after WWI, Ruth Emeraldine has had one goal: to help those suffering from mental illness. Then she falls in love with charismatic Robert Apter—a brilliant doctor championing a radical new treatment, the lobotomy. Ruth believes in it as a miracle treatment and in Robert as its genius pioneer. But as her husband spirals into deluded megalomania, Ruth can’t ignore her growing suspicions. Robert is operating on patients recklessly, often with horrific results. And a vulnerable young mother, Margaret Baxter, is poised to be his next victim. Margaret can barely get out of bed, let alone care for her infant. When Dr. Apter diagnoses her with the baby blues and proposes a lobotomy, she believes the procedure is her only hope. Only Ruth can save her—and scores of others—from the harrowing consequences of Robert’s ambitions. Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing novel of a woman fighting against the most grievous odds, of ego, and of the best intentions gone horribly awry.Trade Review“Dramatic and compelling…” —Historical Novel Society “A fascinating and quick read. The author, Samantha Greene Woodruff, modified just the right elements to create an engaging storyline while retaining the critical historical information.” —Relevant Reading “Samantha’s fictionalized novel sheds light on the real-life atrocities endured by so many during a time when maladies of the mind were so misunderstood. The focus placed on mental illness in The Lobotomist’s Wife certainly make it a timely read due to the attention placed on this topic since the beginning of the pandemic. This historically-inspired story allows readers to see the progress made in the treatment of mental illness through the years.” —Hope Magazine “A compassionate historical fiction.” —The Voice Magazine “Based on extraordinary real-life events, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a riveting and impressive debut that had me in its grasp from the very first page. Samantha Greene Woodruff has crafted a suspenseful tale of good intentions gone awry that features an indomitable heroine who finds her strength and voice in the midst of harrowing circumstances. I simply could not put it down.” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil “In her stunning debut, Samantha Greene Woodruff explores the fascinating world of midcentury mental health treatments with deft attention to rich historical detail and memorable characters who carry the story with heart and heft. Woodruff has skillfully crafted a novel with an artfully structured second story line, a propulsive ending, and an underlying theme so relevant to the struggles of the modern day. I absolutely loved this novel and can’t wait to see what she does next!” —Susie Orman Schnall, author of We Came Here to Shine “A dazzling, page-turning debut, The Lobotomist’s Wife is the shocking tale of a pioneering lobotomist and his devoted ambitious wife. Not only did I stay up reading past midnight to find out what happened in this fascinating portrait of a marriage and mental hospital, the pitch-perfect ending thrilled me to the core.” —Brooke Lea Foster, author of Summer Darlings “Woodruff easily pulls the reader into this story of a gifted man with the best of intentions slowly spinning out of control, and the woman who loves him gradually realizing that he must be stopped. Carefully researched and detailed, The Lobotomist’s Wife emerges as a strong cautionary tale about the madness of power gone unchecked. A skillful debut!” —Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor “The Lobotomist’s Wife is a stunning exploration of blind ambition gone awry and the sacrifices one extraordinary woman must make in order to protect innocent people from harm. Woodruff impresses both with her prose and her mastery of this challenging subject matter. Readers are sure to be drawn to this compelling and relatable debut.” —Lynda Loigman author of Two Family House and The Wartime Sisters

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Book Synopsis“There is a smudge where my memory is supposed to be.” Claire wakes in a hospital room in the Florida Keys. She has no idea how she got there or why. The loss of so many memories is paralyzing. Some things she can piece together by looking at old photos saved by her husband, Charlie, and her best friend, Rachel, and by combing through boxes of letters and casual jottings. But she senses a mystery at the center of all these fragments of her past, a feeling that something is not complete. Is Charlie still her husband? Is Rachel still her friend? Told from alternating points of view that pull the reader into the minds of the three characters, the story unfolds as the smudge that covers Claire’s memory is gradually, steadily wiped away, until finally she can understand the why and the how of her life. And then maybe she and Charlie and Rachel can move forward, but with their lives forever changed. In Remind Me Again What Happened, debut novelist Joanna Luloff has written a moving and beautifully nuanced story of transience, the ebb and flow of time, and how relationships shift and are reconfigured by each day, hour, and minute.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Christie Affair, the new February Reese's Book Club Pick and New York Times instant bestseller:A riveting "literary whodunit" about a strained marriage and an unsolved murder. Brett has been in love with her husband, Charlie, from the day she laid eyes on him in college. When he is found murdered, Brett is devastated. But if she is honest with herself, their marriage had been hanging by a thread for quite some time. All clues point to Charlie’s mentally ill brother, Eli, but any number of people might have been driven to kill Charlie-a handsome, charismatic man who unwittingly damaged almost every life he touched. Brett is determined to understand how such a tragedy could have happened-and whether she was somehow complicit. Set in the desolate autumn beauty of Cape Cod, this riveting emotional puzzle explores the psyche of a woman facing down the meaning of love and loyalty. “Impossible to put down . . . With an artist’s eye and a poet’s heart, de Gramont realizes a world of love, mystery, and the shattering sorrow of mental illness, deceit, hope, and lives cut short.” —Library Journal, starred reviewTrade ReviewOne of Ten Great Fall Thrillers from Entertainment Weekly"With an artist's eye and a poet's heart, de Gramont realizes a world of love, mystery, and the shattering sorrow of mental illness, deceit, hope, and lives cut short. Impossible to put down." —Library Journal (starred review)"The Last September is a wonderful early fall read. As a picture of a marriage struggling under the weight of expectation and mental illness, it is nearly flawless. De Gramont should be proud.” —New York Journal of Books “A moody murder mystery . . . De Gramont's latest boasts lovely, understated writing, sharply drawn settings--Boulder, Amherst, and Cape Cod--and, once again, characters who are irresistibly attractive, flawed, and dangerous . . . But it is also an emotionally intense study of how a transcendent love becomes a fraying marriage . . . A fine literary whodunit from an accomplished storyteller." —Kirkus Reviews “Brilliant rendering of love story, murder mystery, pitch-perfect study of horrific 'ordinary' mental illness, and that rare coming of age novel that deals with adults, who actually do come of age in the most difficult ways. I was hooked by the first paragraph, which somehow contains all the beautiful, luminous grief of the whole story, and I truly did not want to let it go in the end.” —Brad Watson, author of Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives“The Last Septemberis a wonderful, glowing book populated by characters that become a part of your life long after the last page has been turned. It is the type of novel writers admire and readers long for.” —Jason Mott, author of The Returned “Nina De Gramont’s The Last September portrays an immediately gripping world of secrets, trauma, and conflicting loyalties. Spanning mental illness, the meaning of family, and the lengths we go to for love, this novel begs to be read in a single sitting. . . A literary novel of both suspense and emotion, this flashback-filled murder mystery has broad appeal.”—Foreword Reviews “Nina de Gramont writes excellent characters and a dazzling storyline involving mental illness, family, infidelity, relationships, love and murder.The Last September is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s a masterful mediation on relationships.”—Entertainment Realm“A convincing and suspenseful novel, well-written, precise, and poignant in its depiction of human nature in dire distress.” —Sheila Kohler, author of Dreaming for Freud “The Last September is a riveting emotional puzzle that takes readers inside the psyche of a woman facing the meaning of love and loyalty.”—Story Matters “A highly readable novel, the emphasis here is on a troubled marriage and not the murder mystery.”—Swiftly Tilting Planet “Full of poignant prose, a brilliant presentation of Eli’s illness and the toll it takes on his family, and a plot that ebbs and tides with the ocean and sand dunes, The Last September in non-put-down-able. Sleek and elegant, The Last September is a must read.”—The Review Broads

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Book Synopsis''Packed with heart and suspense; I absolutely loved it'' Jenny AshcroftThings aren''t always as they seem... A small town can be a refuge, but while its secrets are held, it''s hard to know who to trust and what to believe.The Teacher''s Secret is a tender and compelling story of scandal, rumor and dislocation, and the search for grace and dignity in the midst of dishonor and humiliation. Suzanne Leal draws us into a public school in the intimate town of Brindle, Australia in which vice principal Terry comes to generational loggerheads with stand-in principal Laurie concerning teachers and their treatment of their pupils. Told over four semesters, this conflict will slowly change their lives.Perfect for fans of The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys BrayWhat Reviewers and Readers Say:''Delicately woven a big-hearted book,'' Joanne FedlerElegantly structured, unsettling, yet with moments of surprising wit,' Kathryn HeymanMasterfully constructed, this moving novel warns us of our capacity to make or break the lives of those around us Drawn with wit and clear-eyed affection, the inhabitants of this wonderful novel will remain with you long after you have put it down.' Mark LamprellA rich interweaving of beautifully drawn characters told so gently and in such exquisite detail that they grew on me until I was lost in their world.' Robin de Crespigny''The Teacher's Secret is a gutsy yet intricate examination of one of society's nightmares, filled with strong characters and relationships interwoven in a storyline that has the reader engrossed to the last page,' Robert WainwrightSuzanne Leal writes with her hand on her heart, writing according to its beat translating the ordinary into the extraordinary. An Australian talent, universally understood.' Charles WaterstreetSuspenseful, moving and full of heart. I couldn't put it down.' Richard GloverAn eloquent story of a life thrown into disarray; it drew me in and held me, page after page.' Rachel SeiffertSuzanne Leal is a writer of unusual sensitivity, with a rare ability to shed light on the dark tangle of emotional attachments which lies just below the surface of everyday life.' John Colle''What a great read! I could not put it down. I can imagine this book being talked about and passed around from teacher to teacher in the school staff room and from parent to parent in the school car park ...'' Schooldays Magazine

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Book Synopsis'This story is full of adventure and heart! A real page turner!' Dani Harmer'Warm, funny, pacy, endlessly inventive and life-affirming; there are lots of young readers who will identify with Rory' Chris Beckett, Arthur C. Clarke-Award winnerEleven-year-old Rory Hobble has it tough: he gets upsetting thoughts all the time and they won't go away – 'Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)', the head doctors call it. His mum hasn't been very well for a long while either. Perhaps it's his fault... Maybe that's why she doesn't always feed him; maybe that's why she screams at him. At least Rory has his telescope – gazing at the unchanging stars keeps him calm. But, one night, Rory sees something impossible in the sky: mysterious lights – artificial and definitely not of earthly origin.When his mum is abducted by the shadowy Whiffetsnatcher, Rory – accompanied by his space-faring, care-experienced social worker, Limmy – travels beyond the Earth, chasing those mysterious lights to the frozen ends of the Solar System. Along the way he must outwit a breakaway human civilisation living on a Martian moon; survive the threat of otherworldly monsters; and learn to speak to alien whales.But his greatest challenge left Earth with him and it will take all the courage he has not only to overcome his OCD, but to decide whether he wants to rescue an abusive mother if he gets his chance…Trade Review'This story is full of adventure and heart! A real page turner!' Dani Harmer'Warm, funny, pacy, endlessly inventive and life-affirming; there are lots of young readers who will identify with Rory' Chris Beckett, Arthur C. Clarke-Award winner'A boy-and-social-worker space-travelling duo... What's not to love?! A truly unique sci-fi adventure, which does not shy away from the difficult realities being faced by some children here on Earth. Uplifting, and at moments so insightful it staggers, it's definitely a story Aniyah from The Star Outside My Window would have picked up' Onjali Q. Raúf, winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2019 and Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019

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Book Synopsis'Moskovich is the master of silky, slinky sentences that run in unexpected directions' The Telegraph'Sexy and readable . . . a celebration of resilience and of myriad survivors' Times Literary Supplement'One of the best fiction releases of 2023' Dazed DigitalA queer anthem for doomed youth by the author of Virtuoso and A Door Behind a DoorOn the longest night of a Berlin winter two women sit side-by-side. Both fled the Soviet Union as children, one from Ukraine, and her girlfriend from Russia.A thigh shifts, fingers fold in, a shoulder is lowered. Neither speak.As silence weighs heavy between them, decades of Ukrainian and Russian history resurface, from Yiddish jokes, Kyiv's DIY queer parties and the hidden messages in Russian pop music, to resistance in Odessa, raids in Moscow clubs and the death of their friend.As the requiem inside the narrator's head expands within the darkness of the room, she asks the all-important question: what does it mean to have hope?'Nadezhda in the Dark is a marvel - a spellbinding work' LAUREN ELKIN'Yelena Moskovich is a true original, a literary titan, an innovator' JENNI FAGANTrade ReviewSexy and readable [...] This is a story of one night, but you could equally describe it as a 182-page love letter; a celebration of resilience and of myriad survivors; a troubling history of LGBTQ+ communities in Eastern Europe; and a lament for lost homelands, and all the other losses that ensue [...] If you love the Beats, you may find yourself loving Yelena Moskovich's night in Berlin even more * Times Literary Supplement *Moskovich is the master of silky, slinky sentences that run in unexpected directions . . . Fact and fiction intermingle, as storytelling becomes a means of making it through the night, and a way of processing a tumultuous history * The Telegraph *Yelena Moskovich's new novel Nadezhda in the Dark might just be one of the best fiction releases of 2023 * Dazed Digital *Nadezhda in the Dark is a marvel - a spellbinding work of essayistic, poetic prose, urgent, never not surprising. Yelena Moskovich reminds us that the best novels are adventures of language and form, and acts of bearing witness to the fates of the tender body in the world -- Lauren ElkinYelena Moskovich is a true original, a literary titan, an innovator, her prose is both poetry and punk, political without any obviousness to it, pure, demented in the best possible way, and always brilliant. She is one of my favourite living writers -- Jenni FaganCosmic and intimate, reading Nadezhda in the Dark is like tumbling through jewelled galaxies of words. There is tender grief and love in the negative space between its dazzling stars; and rays of turbulent history refracted through a turbulent mind and body. Easily one of the greatest writers to ever dance on our scorched, collapsing plane of reality -- Tom Benn * award-winning author of OXBLOOD *Yelena Moskovich writes the page on fire. Meandering, marauding, tender, lacerating, and entirely alive. All of life is here, and Yelena Moskovich does it like no other -- Rosa Rankin-Gee * author of DREAMLAND *Nadezhda in the Dark is a stunning read. It is beautiful and important and made me laugh and cry. If you read one book this year, it must be this one -- Camilla Grudova * author of CHILDREN OF PARADISE *A dazzling moonlit and deeply shadowed book, Nadezhda in the Dark draws out personal landscapes in the hopeless, war-wreckage of the now, the self against and within the unreachable and contradictory past. In its lovers, sitting in stillness together, it threads twin veins of queer love and queer angst. A novel that sings low and sinks teeth - is there anyone out there who is doing it like Yelena Moskovich right now? -- Helen McClory * author of BITTERHALL and THE GOLDBLUM VARIATIONS *Nadezhda in the Dark is a poem of a novel, a threnody of a paean, everything it takes to be human genrefucked and writhing on the page. Lyrical and lawless, Yelena Moskovich dares you to keep picking at the ingrown hair of love and see what erupts. 'I don't know any culture / that mixes party time with despair / as well as the Slavs' and I don't know any book like this, I have to quote it to define it, and you'll have to read it to understand -- Sonya VamtoskyMoskovich writes sentences that lilt and slink, her plots developing as a slow seduction and then clouding like a smoke-filled room * Guardian *Moskovich's prose radiates with heat * Financial Times *We don't often see writing like this: genuinely subversive and innovative * Guardian *Prose that reads as heady yet ephemeral as smoke * Independent *

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Book SynopsisTroy Felon, a wealthy and renowned man with a short temper, plans to leave his entire estate to Rachel Lane, a doctor and missionary in the Brazilian forests. Net Oreille, tasked with finding Rachel, faces challenges from other potential heirs. Rachel holds a surprise for everyone.

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