Narrative theme: love / relationships

Book SynopsisKaren Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her debut novel Players, has since been followed by several further novels including Christmas in the Snow, The Perfect Present, Christmas on Primrose Hill and the sequel to Christmas at Tiffany's Summer at Tiffany's.Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Number One Bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick.Sweeping from London in the sixties to 1930s rural Spain, The Muse is an unforgettable novel about love, obsession and a mysterious painting. From Jessie Burton, the million-copy bestselling author of The Miniaturist.'Those who loved The Miniaturist will find here all the cliffhangers, twists and heart-stopping revelations they expected, and in two evocative settings' – Daily TelegraphA picture hides a thousand words . . .On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a poTrade ReviewBurton's multi-layered story is never less than engaging . . . she has an undoubted gift for seizing the reader's attention and holding it . . . powerful . . . genuinely surprising * Sunday Times *Deftly plotted, a masterclass in pacing, tension and suspense, and richly characterised . . . exquisitely written, evocative and suspenseful * Sunday Express *Those who loved The Miniaturist will find here all the cliffhangers, twists and heart-stopping revelations they expected, and in two evocative settings . . . as a study of female creativity, it triumphs * Daily Telegraph *An exhilarating read, Jessie Burton can expect more awards to soon be coming her way * The Herald *Tremendous vitality . . . her craftsmanship and surefooted prose ensure a satisfying conclusion * Daily Mail *Rich and gripping . . . excellently explores the writing process itself . . . Burton breathes life into her words * Independent *An intricate story of imposture . . . strong on the emotional and sensual . . . who would bet against it selling a million copies like its predecessor? * Guardian *Readers who enjoyed The Miniaturist won't be disappointed * The Times *Richly atmospheric and engrossing . . . you'll turn the pages feverishly * Daily Express *Impressive . . . It takes all the promise of The Miniaturist - the complex female characters, an entrancing mystery, a lush and evocative sense of place - and executes it with wit and style. My book of the summer * Elle *A painterly writer with an eye for the telling detail . . . suspenseful . . . when the postman rang the doorbell bang in the middle of the denoument, I sprinted back up six flights of stairs to know who was going to get out of Arazuelo alive * The Spectator *Burton is also adept at generating atmosphere and a sense of place (both Spain and London are vividly realised) and she brings her characters' lives a degree of commitment, imaginative compassion and detail that brings them palpably and affectingly to life * The National *Clever and complex, with a shocking climax . . . Seductive, exhilarating and suspenseful . . . a masterpiece * Belfast Telegraph *Delves deep into another world . . . the must-read of summer 2016 * Glamour *Jessie Burton's gripping new novel follows a young London art-gallery employee whose discovery of a lost masterpiece draws her into the mystery surrounding its provenance * Harper’s Bazaar *A deeply involving and thought-provoking read * Woman & Home *Another surefire bestseller * Fabulous *I found it to be one of the most powerful and beautiful and original things I have read in a very long time. It is exquisite in every way -- Claire Kendal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of YouA beautifully crafted, simmering love story * Glamour (10 Best Novels of 2016) *Jessie Burton’s The Muse is both elegant and as gripping as a thriller, even better than her first -- SJ Watson * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew books have been as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince.A beautiful gift edition of this touching and wise classic children''s book, with the original translation by Katherine Woods and full-colour illustrations.A pilot stranded in the desert awakes one morning to see the most extraordinary little fellow standing before him. Please, asks the stranger, draw me a sheep.And the pilot realises that when life's events are too difficult to understand, there is no choice but to succumb to their mysteries. He pulls out a pencil and paper and thus begins this wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers.This stunning new edition of the classic children''s book The Little Prince, includes the classic English translation by Katherine Woods and original colour illustrations which will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) was

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom literary sensation and International Booker Prize-shortlisted author Mieko Kawakami, the bestelling author of Breasts and Eggs and Heaven comes All the Lovers in the Night, an extraordinary, deeply moving and insightful story set in contemporary Tokyo.'A brief, compelling study of alienation and friendship; I binge-read it in one sitting.' - Rebecca F Kuang, bestselling author of BabelFuyuko Irie is a freelance proofreader in her thirties. Living alone in an overwhelming city and unable to form meaningful relationships, she has little contact with anyone other than her colleague, Hijiri. But a chance encounter with a man named Mitsutsuka awakens something new in her. Through their weekly meetings, Fuyuko starts to see the world in a different light and still, painful memories from her past begin to resurface. As Fuyuko realizes she exists in a small world of her own making she begins to push at her own boundaries. But will she find the strength to bring down the walls that surround her?Pulsing and poetic, modern and shocking, this is an unforgettable novel from Japan’s most exciting writer.‘Mieko Kawakami is a genius’ - Naoise Dolan, author of Exciting TimesAll the Lovers in the Night is translated from the Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd.Trade ReviewIf a book can keep me enraptured for the whole journey I count that as pretty unputdownable . . . a brief, compelling study of alientation and friendship; I binge-read it in one sitting. -- Rebecca F Kuang, bestselling author of BabelKawakami’s novel is uncompromisingly candid in its appraisal of the harm women inflict on one another, while never losing sight of the overarching structures that lead them to do so in the first place. Compact and supple, it’s a strikingly intelligent feat. * The New York Times Book Review *Her most accomplished novel yet . . . A contemporary Japanese master continues her meteoric rise into our literary firmament -- Hamilton Cain * Oprah Daily (A Most Anticipated Book of 2022) *[An] engrossing, fine-boned new novel, deftly translated from Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd . . . with this consummate novel, Kawakami’s star continues to rise, pulsing against a night that’s anything but holy -- Hamilton Cain * The Washington Post *Kawakami — the author of titles such as Breasts and Eggs and Heaven — has crafted another atmospheric, subtly beautiful novel. * TIME Magazine (A Most Anticipated Book of May 2022) *Kawakami has an effortless way of turning the mundanity of Fuyoko's day-to-day into detailed occasions that I want to know more about . . . Though the everyday is more interesting than you'd think, this is a book that's really about Fuyoko discovering happiness * Stylist *In contrast to the many suffocating (western) conventions of romantic storytelling, it is refreshing to encounter a book of such irresistible sweet melancholy. * The Irish Times *Kawakami has created a rich and notable examination of the varied ways women choose to live their lives and the gains and losses that come with the choices they've made. Kawakami writes with the tender and incisive sensibilities of a poet . . . An unforgettable and masterful work. * Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) *Candid and searing, Kawakami's latest is another brilliantly rendered portal into young women’s lives. * Booklist (Starred Review) *The author dazzles with her exploration of emotions . . . An invigorating and empowering portrait. It’s a winner. * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *Out of all the narratives that I’ve read that explore loneliness, anxiety and depression, All the Lovers in the Night is possibly the most accurate . . . The book made me feel less isolated in the struggle and after reading it, I made strides to find balance and joy. * Metro *Kawakami’s novel is a sensitive analysis of loneliness and self-discovery. * Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe first Booker contender of 2024... a deeply touching, beautifully composed book * Sunday Times *My Friends is a brilliant novel about innocence and experience, about friendship, family and exile. It makes clear, once more, that Hisham Matar is a supremely talented novelist. * Colm Toibin *I have always admired Matar's tender and compassionate but equally strong and compelling voice -- Elif ShafakHisham Matar's MY FRIENDS recounts an exile's life shattered by violence, yet sustained, fiercely if complicatedly, by friendship. An unforgettable novel -- wise, urgent and profound -- from one of our era's great writers. * Claire Messud *It is impossible to describe the profound depth and beauty of this book. MY FRIENDS is a breathtaking novel, every page a miracle and an affirmation. If there is a language of exile, MY FRIENDS is what it sounds like: exquisite and painful, compassionate and unflinching, and above all, overwhelming in its boundless hope that within exile rests a path towards a different kind of return. One that leads us back to ourselves. Hisham is one of our greatest writers, how lucky we are to be in his midst. * Maaza Mengiste, author of THE SHADOW KING, shortlisted for the Booker Prize *'I could not love this book more. Reflective, compelling, deeply tender at times, there are surprising shifts and turns and moments of utter brilliance where new understanding blooms. A walk across London from King’s Cross Station to Shepherd's Bush gives rise to memories of a life diverted by a moment of political action. About friendship, exile, belonging, lives lived and not lived, and Libya's recent past, London emerges as a place of refuge, a transitory half-home even after three decades, a stepping stone. As soon as I finished, I started again beguiled by Matar’s long, sinuous sentences and enlivened by my new knowledge of what it was all about, my heart moving in my chest. My Friends is the most beautiful, complete, masterful novel I have read in a long time. Read it.' -- Priscilla Morris, author of the Women's Prize shortlisted BLACK BUTTERFLIESTender, precise, and incredibly moving, MY FRIENDS is a rare novel, holding so much of the human heart that it is at times unbearably real. It’s impossible to read this book without feeling a renewed connection to the world and all its intricate sorrow and love. -- Sean Hewitt, author of ALL DOWN DARKNESS WIDEPoignant and quietly suspenseful... Readers encountering Matar for the first time will find in “My Friends” a masterly literary meditation on his lifelong themes. For those who already know his work, the effect is amplified tenfold. -- New York TimesMeditative yet propulsive – as well as structurally inventive – the narrative puts us in Khaled’s mind as he walks across his adopted city while reflecting on youth, exile and the flashpoints of Libya’s recent history -- Mail on Sunday * Anthony Cummins *Dazzling...a personal, deeply felt work...tightly structured and controlled, looping back and forth through time and memory, building on itself in a process of gradual expansion and revelation * Toronto Star *Matar weighs... complexities with tremendous sensitivity, and My Friends is not only indispensable for a full understanding of Libyan émigrés but is, more generally, a great novel of exile * Wall Street Journal *Exploring identity, family, friendship and exile in a strange land, Matar has produced a work of emotional depth * Radio Times *This novel is equally (as The Return) delicate, intellectually and emotionally, and equally bold in its formal arrangement…the book is artfully paced. Long, mellifluous, meditative sentences are punctuated by short ones of bell-like clarity…this is a book about exile and violence and grief, but it is above all – as the title tells us – a study in friendship * Guardian *Riveting and humane... At the core of My Friends is a powerful juxtaposition of loneliness and camaraderie, self-reliance and dependence, which defines the outline of exile... [Matar] shows us with masterful command how life happens at the intersection of the personal and political, what we can control and what we cannot. * Atlantic *My Friends is quite possibly Hisham Matar’s best work yet, and that’s saying something. A quiet detonation of a novel, this masterful inquiry into the nature of friendship, exile and place is not so much to be read as lived through. The depth of thought, the unflinchingly honest confrontation with loss and longing, is there on every page, in every moment. Very few writers alive can converse with negative space the way Matar does, and My Friends is stunning, beautiful proof. -- Omar El Akkad, author of AMERICAN WAR and WHAT STRANGE PARADISEA profound celebration of the sustaining power of friendship, of the ways we mold ourselves against the indentations of those few people whom fate presses against us * Washington Post *A vivid, finely crafted story about home and exile, family and friendship, loss and rebirth. The old adage that fiction is truer than fact comes to mind... an engaging, symphonic novel of overlapping lives and loyalties' * Irish Times *A moving study of friendship and the effects on a person of living in exile * The Gloss *Part historical fiction, part cultural reflection, this is a story about the way exile calcifies the heart into an organ of brittle longing... a profound celebration of the sustaining power of friendship, of the ways we mold ourselves against the indentations of those few people whom fate presses against us * Washington Post *My Friends is Matar's most political novel, but also an intimate meditation on friendship and love and everything in between. It is deeply affecting, generous and wise, and all these virtues come in writing of extraordinary elegance, with one of those voices that you want to listen to for the rest of your life. -- Juan Gabriel VásquezIn January, we kick things off with My Friends (Viking) by Hisham Matar, a powerful story of friendship and loss. Khaled and Mustafa are wounded by government agents during a protest at the Libyan embassy in London. The pair find themselves torn between the comforts of their life in the UK and the horrors of a civil war at home * Observer *I loved this sweeping yet intimate, powerful yet subtle tale of Libyan exiles in London and the way politics shapes lives. * The Bookseller *What a pleasure and relief that one of the first novels of the new year should be such a success - and in the face of very high expectations * Financial Times *I have always admired Matar's tender and compassionate but equally strong and compelling voice -- Elif ShafakMy Friends is Matar's most political novel, but also an intimate meditation on friendship and love and everything in between. It is deeply affecting, generous and wise, and all these virtues come in writing of extraordinary elegance, with one of those voices that you want to listen to for the rest of your life. -- Juan Gabriel VásquezIt is impossible to describe the profound depth and beauty of this book. MY FRIENDS is a breathtaking novel, every page a miracle and an affirmation. If there is a language of exile, MY FRIENDS is what it sounds like: exquisite and painful, compassionate and unflinching, and above all, overwhelming in its boundless hope that within exile rests a path towards a different kind of return. One that leads us back to ourselves. Hisham is one of our greatest writers, how lucky we are to be in his midst. * Maaza Mengiste, author of THE SHADOW KING, shortlisted for the Booker Prize *Matar writes beautifully . . . He is a nuanced observer with a gift for conveying both absurdity and raw emotion * Guardian on In the Country of Men *Matar is beginning to do for the Arab experience what the likes of Salman Rushdie have done for the sub-continent -- Sathnam Sanghera on In The Country of Men * The Times *Beautifully written . . . a graceful guide through Libya's recent history * Barack Obama on The Return *Hisham Matar's MY FRIENDS recounts an exile's life shattered by violence, yet sustained, fiercely if complicatedly, by friendship. An unforgettable novel -- wise, urgent and profound -- from one of our era's great writers. * Claire Messud *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRECIPIENT OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD Treat yourself to this joyful, big-hearted read from Booker Prize-winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo, part of our Penguin Essentials series which spotlights the very best of our modern classics ''Bernardine Evaristo can take any story from any time and turn it into something vibrating with life'' Ali SmithBarrington Jedidiah Walker is seventy-four and leads a double life. Born and bred in Antigua, he''s lived in Hackney since the sixties. A flamboyant, wise-cracking local character with a dapper taste in retro suits and a fondness for quoting Shakespeare, Barrington is a husband, father and grandfather - but he is also secretly homosexual, lovers with his great childhood friend, Morris.His deeply religious and disappointed wife, Carmel, thinks he sleeps with other women. When their marriage goes into meltdown, Barrington wants to divorce Carmel and live with Morris, but after a lifetime of fear and deception, will he manage to break away?Mr Loverman is a ground-breaking exploration of Britain''s older Caribbean community, which explodes cultural myths and fallacies and shows the extent of what can happen when people fear the consequences of being true to themselves.''Sublime'' Telegraph''Rip-roaring . . . she says things about modern Britain that no one else does'' Guardian''Brilliant'' IndependentTrade ReviewBernardine Evaristo can take any story from any time and turn it into something vibrating with life -- Ali SmithThis riproaring, full-bodied riff on sex, secrecy and family is Bernardine Evaristo's seventh book. If you don't yet know her work, you should - she says things about modern Britain that no one else does * Guardian *Transforms our often narrow perceptions of gay men in England . . . Comical, agonising and, ultimately, moving * Independent *Evaristo has a lot going on in this unusual urban romance, but beneath her careful study of race and sexuality is a beautiful love story. Not many writers could have two old men having sexual intercourse in a bedsit to a soundtrack of Shabba Ranks's Mr Loverman and save it from bad taste, much less make it sublime. But the hero of this book, and his canny creator, make everything taste just fine * Daily Telegraph *An undeniably bold and energetic writer, whose world view is anything but one-dimensional * Sunday Times *Audacious genre-bending, in-yer-face wit and masterly retellings of underwritten corners of history are the hallmarks of Evaristo's wit * New Statesman *Heartbreaking yet witty, this is a story that needed to be told * Observer *I loved this novel. Barrington is flamboyant, complex and in love with his childhood friend Morris. It really makes you think of all the stories, forbidden and forgotten, from the elders who made England their home -- Luan Goldie * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe desert hides dark secrets'MARRAKECH 1966Vicky Baudin steps onto a train winding through Morocco, looking for the grandmother she has never met.It's an epic journey that'll take her to the edge of Atlas Mountains and closer to the answers she's been craving all her life.But dark secrets whisper amongst the dunes. And in unlocking the mystery of Clemence's past, Vicky will unearth great danger too . . .Five-star reader reviews for Night Train to MarrakechA love story and a thriller all in one' ?????Epic storytelling' ?????Utterly spellbinding' ?????A book to lose yourself in' ?????Fabulous, heart-stopping read, absolutely unputdownable in places' ?????Full of mystery and drama' ?????Political tensions, murders and love, this book has them all.' ?????Full of twists and turns' ?????A historical novel, this is also a suspenseful thriller'' ?????Atmospheric, drew me into the souks of Marrakech' ?????This is a story of family, friendships, love and war' ?????A gripping story of love, betrayal and danger'Woman's Weekly An enthralling story' WomanAn utterly atmospheric, gripping read that transports you to Marrakech . . . a real page-turner' SUSAN LEWISA world of stunning beauty and extreme danger . . . Dinah Jefferies is at the top of her game' GILL PAULA mouthwatering read, intense and emotional. I loved it. Its characters hooked me irresistibly and stole my heart . . . a wonderful, heart-wrenching tale of love, danger and bone-chilling secrets' KATE FURNIVALL'The seductive colours, sights, sounds and aromas of Marrakech, with a hidden, darker side, are so powerfully evoked that you are instantly transported there' LIZ TRENOW'A tense, thrilling story full of murders and mysteries . . . this atmospheric story will transport you to the heart of Morocco'Daily RecordTrade Review‘A wonderfully evocative and sensual writer’ SANTA MONTEFIORE ‘A warm and engrossing tale of passion and courage. I loved it’ RACHEL HORE ‘Love, grief, abandonment, betrayal and secrets … I adored it’ LIZ NUGENT ‘A stirring, richly-imagined novel about bravery and love and family loyalty tested to its limits’ RACHEL RHYS ‘As layers of long-hidden family secrets emerge, you are sure to be hooked to the very last page’ LIZ TRENOW ‘Rich in courage, love and sacrifice, but chilling and taut in its portrayal of the horrors of war’ KATE FURNIVALL ‘Lushly descriptive, exciting and vivid, this is a warm and exciting tale that will pull you in and refuse to let you go’ TRACY REES ‘A tender, moving and at times heartbreaking story’ SINEAD MORIARTY ‘Completely swept me away to another place and time. Dinah is the queen of sumptuous settings, transporting the reader effortlessly from chocolate-box Devonshire to the cabaret clubs of 1920s Paris and war-torn Malta. A marvellous, multi-layered story, populated with characters to really care for’ HAZEL GAYNOR ‘Dinah Jefferies wields her storytelling magic on the island of Malta . . . It’s engrossing and sensual, full of the heat of the Mediterranean sun’ GILL PAUL ‘Sweeping and sumptuous with a gorgeous described sense of place. A marvellous adventure’ TRACY REES

Read more less

Book Synopsis''ONE OF MY COZIEST READS OF THE YEAR'' EMILY HENRYShe found magic in the most unlikely of places.Mika Moon follows three rules: hide your magic, keep your head down, and stay away from other witches. Mika is good at being alone, and she doesn''t mind it . . . mostly.But when an unexpected invitation arrives to teach three young witches at the mysterious Nowhere House, Mika jumps at the chance for a different life. As she comes to care for its quirky inhabitants - and Jamie, the handsome but prickly librarian - finally belonging somewhere feels like a real possibility.But magic isn''t the only danger in the world - is it worth risking everything to protect the found family Mika didn''t know she was looking for?A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a new family - and a new love - changes the course of her life.''A comfort read'' Stephanie Burgis''BewTrade ReviewThis is one of my coziest reads of the last year, and I find myself thinking about its enchanted setting all the time * Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers *The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a warm and witchy hug of a book. Full of endearing characters, romance and found family, it's the cozy magical romance you've been waiting for. I absolutely adored it! * Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne *A cozy tale about the powerful alchemy of believing we are worthy of the family we find. Full of charm, wit, romance, and an affirmation that we are all deserving of love and real magic * Travis Baldree, author of Legends and Lattes *Witty, witchy, and wonderfully romantic, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will warm your heart with its endearing characters, grumpy-sunshine love story, and gorgeously sparkling magic * India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels *This gorgeously cozy romantic fantasy sparkles with real magic, love, and joy. A perfect comfort read * Stephanie Burgis, author of Scales and Sensibility and Snowspelled *Magic in chaotic situations makes for a grand love story, and you'll find it here in The Very Secret Society of Irregular * BuzzFeed *Absolutely charming, adorably witty, and features an endearing cast of characters and a wonderfully tricky and romantic plot. This is a lighthearted tale of a coven everyone will long to join! * Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches *This book is like a warm welcome home and is sure to find itself being a comfort read for many... Mandanna's first adult novel is a positively adorable romantic fantasy * Library Journal (starred review) *Mandanna crafts a cast of winningly quirky characters, each with their own part to play in Mika's path to belonging... This charming romantic fantasy is a gem * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Like the perfect cup of tea on a rainy day: cosy and comforting, with just the right amount of steam. I wanted to curl up in its pages and never leave. Found-family is my weakness, and Mandanna has written this one flawlessly - I fell for every one of these characters the moment they appeared, and loved the way themes of belonging and identity are woven through their relationships in a way that won't fail to warm your heart. This is Mandanna's best book yet! * Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire *This book is as soft and unsubtle as a pile of golden retriever puppies drenched in glitter - but the longer I read, the more I found to love. This romance, more than many, looks to the future, and imagines imagining a better world. Inheritance not only as something you receive, but something you pass on. Not in titles or land or money, but in a more precious currency: love and support and hope * New York Times *Filled with magic, hope, romance and warmth, it was an absolute delight. This uplifting and comforting read will bring a little much-needed magic and sparkle to your day! * My Weekly *The 19 most magical fantasy romance books * Business Insider *A magical romance with a little extra bite, prepare to be utterly bewitched * Heat, Book of the Week *Mandanna delivers the warmest of hugs through a book and leaves her readers with a lingering smile * The Fantasy Hive *This cozy, charming fantasy about found family and self-acceptance enfolds readers in a delightful cocoon of magic and humor * Shelf Awareness *New SF/Fantasy/Horror Books This Week! * Locus Magazine *The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches was a delightful feel-good story that wrapped me up in a big old cozy hug with its magic-and with the togetherness shared by the kindhearted characters I couldn't get enough of * Harlequin Junkie *This book is like a warm welcome home and is sure to find itself being a comfort read for many. Mandanna's first adult novel is a positively adorable romantic fantasy and a must-buy for all public libraries * Library Journal *The world Mandanna has created is exceedingly cozy and heartfelt, full of people bursting with love who have trouble expressing it due to trauma in their pasts . . . A magical tale about finding yourself and making a found family that will leave the reader enchanted * Kirkus Reviews *Mandanna's first adult novel celebrates found family and trusting one's instincts, with a cast of truly endearing characters * Booklist American Library Association *Like a good cup of tea, Mandanna's novel warms you from the inside out. It's got just enough sugar and cream to bring a smile to your face but not so much that you're at risk of a toothache * BookPage *A magical, happy fantasy novel about new love, found family, and witches. If you loved The House In The Cerulean Sea, this book has a similar warm feeling to it that will make you want to hug it afterward * The Young Folks *Sangu Mandanna brings warmth, diversity, and humor to a magical realism novel with romance, danger, and suspense. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is one of my favorite books of 2022 * Mystery & Suspense *The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is beautifully written with gentle humour and a lot of heart; it will wrap you up in a warm fluffy blanket and surround you with joy, laughter and contentment...Sweet, heart-warming and whimsical, readers will thrill at losing themselves in these magical pages and never want to leave Nowhere House * The Nerd Daily *The story is full of romance and chosen family, with just the right amount of whimsy. Mika is an engaging protagonist, full of snark and fire, yet constantly startled whenever anybody actually cares about her. Reading about Mika's slow healing from the wounds of her lonesome is a healing experience for the reader, too * Washington Post *This is a sweet and magical story about finding where you belong. It's got quirky, lovable characters, a slow-burn and steamy romance, and found family - all wrapped up in a uniquely witchy tale. All around an excellent way to start off witchy season! * BookRiot *With wonderful characters and a spellbinding story, this magical book was a real joy to read * MyWeekly.co.uk *Filled with magic, hope, romance and warmth, this book was an absolute delight from beginning to end * My Weekly *Sangu Mandanna's books are the perfect read if you're craving a little magic and a lot of heart * Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Instant New York Times Bestseller**Instant USA Today Bestseller**Instant #1 Indie Bestseller*From Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes One Last Stop, a big-hearted romantic comedy that will stop you in your tracks. . .Moving to New York City is supposed to prove cynical twenty-three-year-old August right: magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist.But then, she meets this gorgeous girl on the train.Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile.August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help Jane. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things after all . . .'A dazzling romance, filled with plenty of humor and heart.' - Time Magazine, 'The 21 Most Anticipated Books of the year''Dreamy, other worldly, smart, swoony, thoughtful, hilarious - all in all, exactly what you'd expect from Casey McQuiston!' - Jasmine Guillory, author of The Proposal Trade ReviewDreamy, other worldly, smart, swoony, thoughtful, hilarious - all in all, exactly what you'd expect from Casey McQuiston! -- Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal and Party for TwoA dazzling romance, filled with plenty of humor and heart. Time Magazine * Time Magazine, "The 21 Most Anticipated Books of 2021" *Absolutely brilliant * The New York Times *One Last Stop is an earnest reminder that home - whether that means a time, a place, or a person - is worth fighting for * New York Magazine *This delightful love story is everything you need for a feel-good day of beach reading * Elle *The story of August and Jane's chance meeting is swoony, thoughtful, and one of those big-hearted romances you'll gush about long after finishing * Hello Sunshine *[A] fireworks in the sky, glitter in your hair joyous royal romance that you’ll want to fall head over heels in love with again and again. A+ * Entertainment Weekly *[An] escapist masterpiece... It’s a truly glorious thing to live inside the world of this book and to imagine it becoming reality, too. * Vogue *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review‘Watching Women and Girls is a searing meditation on the moments that make, and break, us. As canny as they are entertaining, these stories are packed with emotional intelligence, capturing the dark and the light of the female experience in a series of vignettes that every one of us will in some way relate to. I loved it.’CHARLOTTE PHILBY, AUTHOR OF THE SECOND WOMAN Vibrant, intense and darkly comic this is a powerful and thoughtful collection told through closely observed, spellbinding characters that stay with you.’ABIGAIL BERGSTROM, AUTHOR OF WHAT A SHAME ‘A page-flipping joy of a read. Pender is a generous writer and observer of society who incisively captures what it is to be a woman in our times.’CHARLOTTE JANSEN, AUTHOR OF GIRL ON GIRL ‘Smart and astute, funny and wry; a catalogue of the modern conditions of dating, working and being. It encouraged me to pay more attention to the world around me and the secret lives of those in it.’AMELIA ABRAHAM, AUTHOR OF QUEER INTENTIONS ‘To see, be seen and know that you are, always, being watched. That is the experience of being a woman today. This thoughtful, meditative and, at times, absurdly funny collection is a reminder that someone is, always, looking right back.’VICKY SPRATT, AUTHOR OF TENANTS ‘A beautifully written exploration of woman and girlhood, with all of its contradictions and quirks. Danielle is a sharp new talent.’SIRIN KALE Chosen as one of the ‘best new book releases’ by COSMOPOLITAN A ‘best summer read’ by ELLE MAGAZINE

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Beautifully textured ... Anne Tyler by way of Sally Rooney.'' New York Times''A coming-of-age story inextricably bound with a love story.'' MAGGIE SHIPSTEAD''Smart, funny, exhilarating.'' LILY KINGEager to clean up his act after his troubled early twenties, Owen has returned to Kentucky to take a job as a groundskeeper at a small college in the Appalachian foothills, one which allows him to enrol on their writing course.It's there that he meets Alma, a Writer-in-Residence, who seems to have everything Owen doesn't a prestigious position, an Ivy League education, and published success as a writer. They begin a secret relationship, and as they grow closer, Alma, from a supportive, liberal family of Bosnian immigrants, struggles to understand Owen's fraught relationship with his own family and home.Exploring the boundaries between life and art, and how our upbringings affect the people we can become, Groundskeeping i

Read more less

Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER An unforgettably powerful new novel of the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go – from the Number One New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth and Bel Canto 'The book of the autumn. The American author of Commonwealth (brilliant) and Bel Canto (even better) releases perhaps her finest novel yet’ - Sunday Times ‘The buzz around The Dutch House is totally justified. Her best yet, which is saying something’ – John Boyne “'Do you think it’s possible to ever see the past as it actually was?’ I asked my sister. We were sitting in her car, parked in front of the Dutch House in the broad daylight of early summer.” Danny Conroy grows up in the Dutch House, a lavish mansion. Though his father is distant and his mother is absent, Danny has his beloved sister Maeve: Maeve, with her wall of black hair, her wit, her brilliance. Life is coherent, played out under the watchful eyes of the house’s former owners in the frames of their oil paintings. Then one day their father brings Andrea home. Though they cannot know it, her arrival to the Dutch House sows the seed of the defining loss of Danny and Maeve’s lives. The siblings are drawn back time and again to the place they can never enter, knocking in vain on the locked door of the past. For behind the mystery of their own exile is that of their mother’s: an absence more powerful than any presence they have known. Told with Ann Patchett’s inimitable blend of humour, rage and heartbreak, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale and story of a paradise lost; of the powerful bonds of place and time that magnetize and repel us for our whole lives.Trade ReviewA wonderful hypnotic masterpiece of a novel. The best book I’ve read in years -- Rosamund LuptonOne of my top favourite contemporary writers. I don’t think that there’s a book of hers that I haven’t put down at the end and been haunted by for weeks after * Gillian Anderson *The Dutch House is a novel that assures Patchett, alongside John Irving and Anne Tyler, a place as one of the foremost chroniclers of the burdens of emotional inventory and its central place in American lives -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *Indelibly poignant in its long unspooling perspective on family life, The Dutch House brilliantly captures how time undoes all certainties * Observer *An intimate and transporting novel … The Dutch House is a novel brimming with pain and tenderness in which Patchett’s gifts as a storyteller are on full display … A searching, exquisitely wrenching novel about family, sacrifice and obsession * Sunday Times *One of the most celebrated novelists of our times … But it is her new book, widely billed a one of this autumn’s best new reads, where she truly comes into her own * Sunday Times Magazine *Impeccably fine … A thoughtful, quietly profound book * i paper *The Dutch House offers … A simultaneous awareness of human fragility and human resilience * Daily Telegraph *She uses her signature blend of wry humour, rage and regret in a tale of siblings who cannot escape the shadow of their childhood home * i *Masterly * The Times *An outstanding novel, wryly funny, heart-breakingly sad and entirely engrossing -- Eithne Farry * S Magazine *We’re calling it now: The Dutch House will be the book of the autumn ... Her finest novel yet * Sunday Times *Few novelists today combine such a forensic eye with an acute and humane understanding of human nature. I would read Ann Patchett’s shopping list -- Jojo MoyesPatchett is a master at pacing and detail … The question of what makes a home pervades this gripping book -- Erica Wagner * New Statesman *She rivals Tyler for emotional acuity -- Anthony Cummins * Metro *Ann Patchett writes novels that quietly and thoroughly devastate the reader – in a good way. Her new novel is no exception * Red *Patchett well deserves her reputation for compelling novels, and The Dutch House is her most enthralling yet * Vogue *What a spectacular novel. A masterpiece, I’d say -- Cathy RentzenbrinkWise and funny and unwraps the complexities of human beings with heartbreaking tenderness. I love this book -- Renée KnightBliss -- Nigella LawsonThe buzz around The Dutch House is totally justified. Her best yet, which is saying something -- John BoyneIf there’s a better, more poignant or involving novel than The Dutch House published this year, I will be very, very surprised * Andrew Holgate *A dark modern fairy tale, a delicately woven portrait of a family in flux * Evening Standard *The plot is gentle but firm while Patchett’s prose dazzles with detail and nuance, spinning a story that tucks itself inside your heart * i paper *Wonderfully astute ... Patchett’s books … have a sly comic undertow -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *A marvellously romantic and evocative novel about the nostalgic pull of a lost home … Beautifully written and often tender … That rare thing: a novel which reveals greater riches on a second reading -- Cressida Connolly * Spectator *Beautifully imagined … Patchett has excelled herself to produce one of the most moving and engaging novels this year * Daily Express *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Allen shines in her second installment of a planned trilogy about a career-driven Black woman… Allen’s sharp, frank prose advances the engaging plot. This bittersweet treat will have wide appeal with women’s fiction fans.” — Publishers Weekly “Allen’s solid follow-up to Black Girls Must Die Exhausted sees her characters navigating the many societal issues Black women face… Fans of Terry McMillan will enjoy this humorous and entertaining novel.” — Library Journal “The characters here are written in such a way as to make you feel like they’re people you know in real life, so get ready to feel like you’re hearing the latest on your friends. The issues they face are serious, but there is also humor throughout. You’ll be ready to get your hands on the next in the series.” — Book Riot “A charming slice of life centered on a Black woman and her search for the life she deserves, this is a much-needed novel and series.” — Nerdist “Allen has a way of making the reader feel like they’re part of the gang, or in the case of this book, part of the village…. hooks you in from start to finish.” — The Suburban “Masterfully written and pitch perfect, Black Girls Must Be Magic is, simply, magic.” — Good Morning America “In Jayne Allen’s debut novel, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted, readers are reminded of many ways Black women are not afforded tranquility, time or space to just be. . . .. What readers will discover is this: Black women figure it out. Whether Allen’s characters are contending with a problematic manager at work, a husband’s poor decisions or a grim diagnosis, they come together and empower one another with a web of understanding and love that is not available elsewhere in their lives, where they have to project an image of perfection. . . . Black Girls Must Die Exhausted is the first novel in a three-book series. If her opening salvo is any indication, Allen promises to show the relentlessness of the trauma Black women deal with every day leavened with the solidarity of friends who can relate.” — New York Times Book Review on Black Girls Must Die Exhausted “An impossible-to-put-down novel chronicling Tabitha Walker’s extremely relatable journey through relationships—with men, friends, family, and most importantly, herself. With finely-drawn characterizations and touching life lessons, Jayne Allen paints Tabitha’s “adulting” journey with heartbreaking, heartwarming strokes that stayed with me long after I’d finished reading. (On a personal note, as a Black woman who struggles with infertility, it’s so refreshing that Allen sheds a light on this rarely-told story.) Sign me up for the trilogy!” — Tia Williams, award-winning author of The Perfect Find and Seven Days in June on Black Girls Must Die Exhausted “Black Girls Must Die Exhausted is a smart, sophisticated portrait of three very different women, united in both their struggles and their joy. Allen seamlessly blends sharp social commentary with a heartwarming story of friendship between irresistibly complex characters. A fresh, punch-packing debut from an author to watch!” — Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read on Black Girls Must Die Exhausted

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe No.1 Sunday Times bestseller from the author of A Little Life.To Paradise is a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the elusive idea of utopia; driven by Hanya Yanagihara’s understanding of our desire to protect those we love – lovers, children, friends, family and even our fellow citizens – and the pain that ensues when we cannot.In an alternate version of 1893 America, New York is part of the Free States, where people may live and love as they please (or so it seems).In a 1993 Manhattan besieged by the AIDS epidemic, a young Hawaiian man lives with his much older, wealthier partner, hiding his troubled childhood and the fate of his father.In 2093, in a world torn apart by plagues and governed by totalitarian rule, a powerful scientist’s damaged granddaughter tries to navigate life without him – and solve the mystery of her husband’s disappearance.What unites these characters, and these Americas, are their reckonings with the qualities that make us human – fear, love, shame, loneliness – and the longing to find a place in an earthly paradise.'I’m not sure I’ve ever missed the world of a book as much' - Observer‘Not only rare . . . revolutionary’ - Michael Cunningham‘Prepare to weep in public and be utterly transformed’ - StylistTrade ReviewAfter the painfully affecting A Little Life, To Paradise gives us three stories far apart in space and time but each unique in their power to summon the joy and complexity of love, the pain of loss. I’m not sure I’ve ever missed the world of a book as much as I miss To Paradise now I’ve left it. * Observer *To Paradise is a transcendent, visionary novel of stunning scope and depth. A novel so layered, so rich, so relevant, so full of the joys and terrors – the pure mystery – of human life, is not only rare, it’s revolutionary. -- Michael Cunningham, author of The HoursHanya Yanagihara's To Paradise is as good as War and Peace -- Edmund White, author of A Boy's Own Story One of the most anticipated books of 2022 – if not the decade . . . Prepare to weep in public and be utterly transformed. * Stylist *To Paradise becomes unputdownable . . . Amidst the worst travails and political pressures, the primacy of human bonds is irreducible, a truth that lies at the heart of this frightening and very beautiful novel.' * Literary Review *A future classic . . . For those captivated by Yanagihara’s A Little Life, her next is equally gripping . . . Ultimately, it asks the question: is love really all we need? * Telegraph *A bravura achievement . . . Behind this impressive, significant novel stands the question: what is a life, if it is not lived in freedom? * Guardian *A very unusual sensibility and a burning subject matter have come together here . . . Highly affecting. Read it and hope not to revisit it in your dreams. * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize'Wildly seductive' Sarah Waters - 'Exquisite' New York Times - 'Deeply enjoyable' Daily TelegraphBlanca has been dead for a few centuries when she falls in love – instantly and devotedly – with celebrated novelist George Sand. George is unlike anyone Blanca has encountered in hundreds of years of haunting: a woman dressed in men’s clothes, a ferocious writer, a passionate lover of men and women alike and an ambivalent mother.It is 1838, and George has come to the island of Mallorca with her ailing lover, Frédéric Chopin. As the weather and the locals turn against this strange couple, can the love of a teenage ghost keep them from disaster?Briefly, A Delicious Life is a story about breaking convention, and about love – yearning, secret, forbidden, unrequited.'Dazzling' Melissa Broder, author of The Pisces and Milk Fed‘A luscious, multi-sensory bewitchment of a book’ Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies‘A shining work of art’ Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory'Electrifyingly beautiful, exhilaratingly clever . . . sensual, original, intelligent and brimming with love' Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock‘Hugely accomplished’ The Guardian‘A playful, otherworldly debut’ StylistTrade ReviewA luscious, multi-sensory bewitchment of a book - Stevens’ writing rings with wit and surprise -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sunday Times bestselling author of The MerciesI found myself floored by the astonishing freshness of this historical novel . . . A shining work of art, but so deftfully, gracefully done, that it was a struggle to stop myself from turning the pages. Nell Stevens is an original, whose touch is as deft as it is masterful -- Elizabeth Macneal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll FactoryStevens is brilliant at describing desire * Guardian *Deeply enjoyable, guileful * Telegraph *A voluptuous delight . . . Like the best historical fiction it is playfully disingenuous . . . the whole book is radiant with life * Financial Times *Truly original . . . brilliant * The Herald *Nell Stevens’s hugely accomplished debut novel evokes a sense both of place and time with a confidence that augurs well for her future career . . . The book is attuned to both contemporary and timeless concerns and grips throughout * Guardian *A teenage ghost falls in love with a writer who doesn’t know she exists in this playful, otherworldly debut novel * Stylist *Electrifyingly beautiful, exhilaratingly clever . . . categorically the most gorgeous first novel I've read in years. It's rare that I come across historical fiction so sensual, so original, so intelligent, and so brimming with love -- Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs HancockA gorgeous, wildly seductive novel, shimmering with intelligence, humour and joy. I adored this book. -- Sarah Waters, author of Fingersmith and The Paying GuestsA haunting, dazzling tale of all the good stuff: love, sex, music, literature, death, and what happens after. Nell Stevens is a beautiful writer. -- Melissa Broder, author of The Pisces and Milk Fed A heady yet poignant story about a queer ghost who falls in love * Vogue *This deeply wild debut follows the unconventional love triangle that unfolds between real-life French novelist George Sand, her lover Frédéric Chopin, and the teenage ghost who died over 400 years earlier and pines after George from afar. * Cosmopolitan, Best Summer Reads 2022 *An interesting and absorbing read . . . Highly recommended * Times of Tunbridge Wells *Tantalising . . . Stevens is convincing in her portrayal of the haunting nature of desire past and present * Literary Review *There are biographies, and there are novels fictionalising real characters, imagining what might happen 'if'. This one is truly original, as it is a brilliant mix of both . . . Blanca may be a ghost, but her feelings are very real, as are the sights, sounds, smells, and dramas which envelop Sand, Chopin and their family, as they struggle for acceptance, creative freedom and, at times, survival * i *A novel of tremulous beauty, sly wit and deep understanding, Briefly, A Delicious Life is an addictive, sunlit delight -- Stuart Evers, author of The Blind LightA luminous, beguiling exploration of creativity and love -- Alice Albinia, author of CWENThis delightfully weird story of loss, longing and love just begs to fill a rainy afternoon. * Good Housekeeping (USA) *Stevens’ prose is by turns languid and visceral . . . An entrancing and singular exploration of a fascinating historical footnote and a queer life after death. -- Kirkus (starred review)We know we are curious about the dead but imagine a life lived so vibrantly as to make the dead curious about us. Nell Stevens brings a reader into the strange and brilliant artistic exile of George Sand, writing this tender story with tremendous heart and daring. Here, reader, are the low-lying truths of love, art and time -- Samantha Hunt, author of The Dark DarkStevens' writing is beautiful and evocative of the Majorcan landscape as she slowly develops the arc of Sand and Chopin's affair and elucidates Blanca's life spent in tantalizing anticipation . . . this is a winner with appeal beyond historical fiction readers * Booklist *A haunting (in all senses of the word) and evocative magical realist account of creativity and gender, sexuality and inspiration, a ghost story both gothic and beautiful * The Millions *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a special hardback edition of One Last Stop, with sprayed edges, illustrated endpapers and a bonus chapter!Moving to New York City is supposed to prove cynical twenty-three-year-old August right: magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist.But then, she meets this gorgeous girl on the train.Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile.August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help Jane. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things after all.Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes poTrade ReviewDreamy, other worldly, smart, swoony, thoughtful, hilarious - all in all, exactly what you'd expect from Casey McQuiston! -- Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal and Party for TwoA dazzling romance, filled with plenty of humor and heart. * Time Magazine, "The 21 Most Anticipated Books of 2021" *Absolutely brilliant * The New York Times *One Last Stop is an earnest reminder that home - whether that means a time, a place, or a person - is worth fighting for * New York Magazine *This delightful love story is everything you need for a feel-good day of beach reading * Elle *The story of August and Jane's chance meeting is swoony, thoughtful, and one of those big-hearted romances you'll gush about long after finishing * Hello Sunshine *[A] fireworks in the sky, glitter in your hair joyous royal romance that you’ll want to fall head over heels in love with again and again. A+ * Entertainment Weekly *[An] escapist masterpiece... It’s a truly glorious thing to live inside the world of this book and to imagine it becoming reality, too. * Vogue *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 GORDON BURN PRIZE 'A page-turning blast.' Times 'Genuinely affecting … a very funny book.' Guardian 'Burstingly alive and engaging.' Telegraph FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOKER PRIZE-SHORTLISTED HIS BLOODY PROJECT. 'I have decided to write down everything that happens, because I feel, I suppose, I may be putting myself in danger.' London, 1965. An unworldly young woman suspects charismatic psychotherapist Collins Braithwaite of involvement in a death in her family. Determined to find out more, she becomes a client of his under a false identity. But she soon finds herself drawn into a world in which she can no longer be certain of anything. In Case Study, Graeme Macrae Burnet presents both sides: the woman’s notes and the life of Collins Braithwaite. The result is a dazzling, page-turning and wickedly humorous meditation on the nature of sanity, identity and truth itself, by one of the most inventive novelists writing today.Trade Review'Enormous fun … a mystery and a psychological drama wrapped up in one. Case Study is a triumph.' -- Alex Preston * Observer *'Brilliant, bamboozling … Burnet captures his characters’ voices so brilliantly that what might have been just an intellectual game feels burstingly alive and engaging.' -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *“Sinister and cleverly done … punctures the myth-making of the period.” -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Mail *“What’s real and what’s not is beside the point in this skilful portrait of a disturbed woman and her encounters with an experimental 1960s psychotherapist … Both strands quickly become compelling … I was hooked like a fish.” -- Leyla Sanai * Spectator *'A thrilling investigation into the nature of sanity and identity' -- Alice O'Keefe * Bookseller *“Poses questions about the nature of the self and the authenticity of identity … fine comic passages … shed[s] light on the dark places of the mind … He is an uncommonly interesting and satisfying novelist.” -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *“Undoubtedly one of the best books of the year.” -- Alistair Braidwood * Scots Whay Hae *'A masterclass of diversion … blurring the lines of fiction and reality … serious and witty at once … an enthralling read.' -- Heather McDaid * The Skinny *'A novel of mind-bending brilliance. Graeme Macrae Burnet is a master of muddying the waters, of troubling ideas of truth and identity, fiction and documentary, and Case Study shows him at the height of his powers' * Hannah Kent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarcovaldo is an enchanting collection of twenty stories that are both melancholy and funny, farce and fantasy. Calvino charts the struggles of an Italian peasant to reconcile country habits with urban life, combining comical disasters with a surrealistic view of city life through the eyes of an outsider. As always with Calvino, nothing is quite as it seems.''Delightful and rewarding as always'' Observer''The most magically ingenious of the contemporary Italian novelists'' The TimesTrade ReviewCalvino is surely among the handful of living writers that can be called, without hesitation, great. Each book by Calvino is a completely original conception. Marcovaldo is one of the best works of fiction published * Spectator *The greatest Italian writer of the twentieth century * Guardian *It is the refinement, the oddness and the humour of the thoughts he gets which make Calvino a rare pleasure to read; he is a match for Borges as he stealthily patrols the limits of the unthinkable * New Review *He will continue to glitter, this strange, lonely prospector in the universe of words, well into the next millennium and after, a master in the empire of the imagination * Independent *What is so much admired by the readers of Mr. Calvino's later Invisible Cities was already at work in Marcovaldo and with a more cogent narrative drive... Marcovaldo conveys the sensuous, tangible qualities of life * New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA USA Today Bestseller!Wow! What an enthralling and emotional read! I was literally in tears Captivating.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A world at war. One woman will risk everything. Another will uncover her story.1940:When the island ofGuernseyis invaded by the Nazis, two sisters are determined to rebel in any way they can. But when forced to take in a German soldier, they are shocked to find a familiar face on their doorstep a childhood friend who has now become their enemy.2016:Two generations later, Lucy returns toGuernseyafter the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the old family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out:resistance. Lucy's search for the author will uncover the story of a forgotten sister who vanished from the island one night, never to be seen again.A timeless story of love and bravery. Fans of Fiona Valpy and Kate Quinn will be absolutely gripped from the very first page.Readers love The Girl from the Island:I finished this novel last night and I cannot get it out of my head Put the phone off the hook, pour yourself a nice hot chocolate and settle down for a wonderful read' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I was gripped from the beginning and could not put it down. I lost a lot of sleep on this one and do not regret it in the slightest!!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Unputdownable, passionate, captivating, and magnetic!!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Absolutely brilliant I had to stay up late to read the next chapter!! I couldn''t put it down' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Gripping and very emotional This book has it all and I loved it' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A heart wrenching story of love, loss and survival' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A beautiful, wonderful, and poignant story' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Utterly beautiful and poignant I was blown away' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Trade Review Praise for The Girl from the Island: ‘With a descriptive backdrop this story offers intrigue and tender romance. Highly recommended’ Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan 'Paints an evocative picture of the bravery, fortitude and heart-breaking decisions of two British sisters living under German occupation on the beautiful island of Guernsey during WWII' Adrienne Chin, author of The English Wife ‘A book to get lost in… Love, suspense and a page-turning story’ Tracy Rees, Richard and Judy bestselling author ‘A heart-rending, devastating, beautiful book that brings Guernsey’s past to life in a fresh and thoroughly readable way’ Louise Douglas, author of The House by the Sea ‘A sweeping tale of love and courage, The Girl from the Island is tender and shocking in equal measure. Get ready for an utterly absorbing, heart-rending read. I loved it’ Emma Rous, author of The Au Pair Praise for Lorna Cook: ‘I was so absorbed I read it in a single day’ Kate Riordan ‘Compelling, dramatic, with a great twist’ Jenny Ashcroft ‘An intriguing mystery’ Gill Paul ‘Kept me turning the pages eagerly’ Tracy Rees ‘Entrancing, evocative and romantic’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Full of twists and turns’ Nikola Scott ‘Hugely likeable characters and a corker of a twist!’ Mandy Robotham

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.She had...

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlice Munro was born in 1931 and was the author of thirteen collections of stories and the novel, Lives of Girls and Women. She received many awards and prizes, including three of Canada's Governor General's Literary Awards and two Giller Prizes, the Rea Award for the Short Story, the Lannan Literary Award, the WHSmith Book Award in the UK, the National Book Critics Circle Award in the US, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Who Do You Think You Are? (previously published as The Beggar Maid), and was awarded the Man Booker International Prize 2009 for her overall contribution to fiction on the world stage, and in 2013 she won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Paris Review and other publications, and her collections have been translated into thirteen languages. Alice Munro died in 2024.Trade ReviewIn these stories lives come into focus through single events or sudden memories which bring the past bubbling to the surface. The past, as Alice Munro's characters discover, is made up not only of what is remembered, but also what isn't. The past is there, just out of the picture, but if memories haven't been savoured, recalled in the mind and boxed away, it's as if they have never been - until a moment when the pieces of the jigsaw re-form suddenly, sometimes pleasurably but more often painfully. Women look back at their young selves, at first marriages made when they were naive and trusting, at husbands and their difficult, demanding little ways. There is in this new collection an underlying heartbreak, a sense of regret in her characters for what might have been, for a fork in the road not taken, a memory suppressed in an act of prudent emotional housekeeping. But at the same time there is hope, there are second chances - here are people who reinvent themselves, seize life by the throat, who have moved on and can dare to conjure up the hidden memories, daring to go beyond what is remembered.

Read more less

Book Synopsis**NOW A MAJOR FILM - ALL OF US STRANGERS - STARRING PAUL MESCAL, CLAIRE FOY, ANDREW SCOTT AND JAMIE BELL** ''Deeply satisfying. . . a wonderful study of grief and isolation.'' Daily Mail''A sharp, chilling contemporary ghost story.' The Scotsman''Powerful.'' Guardian''Sexy, insightful and frequently funny.'' Irish ExaminerMiddle-aged, jaded and divorced, TV scriptwriter Harada returns one night to the dilapidated downtown district of Tokyo where he grew up. There, at the theatre, he meets a likable man who looks exactly like his long-dead father. And so begins Harada''s ordeal, as he''s thrust into a reality where his parents appear to be alive at the exact age they had been when they had died so many years before.Trade Review"'A cerebral and haunting ghost story... Highly recommended.' David Mitchell 'A memorably uncanny tapestry... The powerful mood of Strangers lingers long after its graceful, downbeat ending has passed.' Guardian 'A disconcerting, yet deeply satisfying novel: a wonderful study of grief and isolation, a moving expression of our longing for things we have lost and are unable to have again.' Daily Mail 'Quickly paced, intelligent and haunting.' Bret Easton Ellis"

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the HWA Sharpe Gold Crown for Best Historical Novel.An international bestseller, To Die in Spring is a beautiful and devastating novel of a friendship tragically interrupted by war, by German author Ralf Rothmann.Walter Urban and Friedrich 'Fiete' Caroli work side by side as hands on a dairy farm in northern Germany. By 1945, it seems the War's worst atrocities are over. When they are forced to 'volunteer' for the SS, they find themselves embroiled in a conflict which is drawing to a desperate, bloody close. Walter is put to work as a driver for a supply unit of the Waffen-SS, while Fiete is sent to the front. When the senseless bloodshed leads Fiete to desert, only to be captured and sentenced to death, the friends are reunited under catastrophic circumstances.In a few days the war will be over, millions of innocents will be dead, and the survivors must find a way to live with its legacy.'To Die in Spring holds its own against Günter Grass and Erich Maria Remarque; it is an excellent work, and one deserving of its wide readership' – GuardianTrade ReviewTo Die in Spring holds its own against Günter Grass and Erich Maria Remarque; it is an excellent work, and one deserving of its wide readership. -- Rachel Seiffert * Guardian *A Bosch-like vision of hell... The horror of war and the deep damage it does to people... is not always handled as well, or as powerfully, as this. * Sunday Times *A wonderful, precise, very moving novel. -- Roddy DoyleA remarkable and memorable book, about the nastiness, fear, dirt and brutality of war . . . Few novels, in any language, have conveyed them better. -- Caroline Moorehead * Times Literary Supplement *Yes, you’ve already read Remarque, but you should read this one because it’s not just the story of wartime trauma, but also the story of how that trauma affects the future. Walter Urban and his friend Friedrich Caroli are just 17 years old when they’re drafted from their dairy-farm duties into the trenches. Today, right now, we all need to read the chilling section in which very young men are hectored into military service. * LitHub *Rothmann's work [is] one of the most substantial of contemporary German literature. * Tagesspiegel *In this masterpiece, Ralf Rothmann manages the seemingly impossible. He describes the guilt of their fathers' generation from the viewpoint of the post-War generation without betraying it to a moralising know-it-all attitude. * Badische Zeitung *In contemporary German literature, there is nothing that can be compared to this book. * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *Searing, haunting, incandescent: Rothmann’s new novel is a vital addition to the trove of wartime fiction. * Kirkus (starred review) *A sublime novel of damaged lives - and of fathers and sons. * Der Spiegel *With his powerful poetics, Ralf Rothmann belongs to the most important German authors, and as a narrator, he is possibly the most sensitive of his generation. He visualises thoughts, gestures and noises masterfully. * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *As a critic, one should use superlatives cautiously, but this novel is a sensation, a literary and political event. Rothmann's scenes and imagery are so impressive that readers experience the sensation of standing on the battlefield themselves. The author always finds the appropriate words for the horror, for this life damaged by war . . . Rothmann poses the question of guilt, without moralising . . . Apart from the prizes that this powerful and smart novel will receive, one wishes the text one thing first and foremost: many readers. From all generations, in Germany and abroad, because in belligerent times like these, the sad story of Walter and Friedrich is a strong, timeless beacon against war. * SWR *He imagines the characters, landscapes, dialogues with hallucinatory precision, doesn't spare the reader any detail of the brutality . . . [He] lets objects - a footstool, a coat, the hem of a dress - speak. * Süddeutsche Zeitung *One can justifiably say that To Die in Spring heralds the post-Grass era with force. * Die ZEIT *Rothmann tells a story which, without resorting to a hyper-realistic description of catastrophe, narrates the destruction of human beings who seek to remain untouched by evil, who strive with very different intensities to preserve the traces of their humanity . . . Moving, with exquisite prose, suffused with a sense of poetry, in the face of human and collective desolation. * Diario Vasco *To Die in Spring by Ralf Rothmann, is the best novel about the end of the Second World War in years, and a beautiful anti-war tale of universal importance . . . With its lyrical realism, the text reaches new heights. Not a word is out of place. * El País *The war is almost over, the Russians are getting nearer and two young men join the SS. A bad career move, but To Die in Spring is a wonderful, precise, very moving novel by German author Ralf Rothmann. -- Roddy Doyle * Guardian *In To Die in Spring Ralf Rothmann finds a way to describe German suffering without succumbing to self-pity or overlooking guilt. An extraordinary novel. * La Nueva España *Brilliant . . . Spare and elegant, [To Die in Spring] paints a quietly harrowing picture of the lasting effects of human violence . . . Directly confronting issues of responsibility, accountability, and legacy, this is an undeniably powerful work. * Publishers' Weekly (starred review) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisInvited to an extravagantly lavish party in a Long Island mansion, Nick Carraway, a young bachelor who has just settled in the neighbouring cottage, is intrigued by the mysterious host, Jay Gatsby, a flamboyant but reserved self-made man with murky business interests and a shadowy past. As the two men strike up an unlikely friendship, details of Gatsby's impossible love for a married woman emerge, until events spiral into tragedy. Regarded as Fitzgerald's masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of American literature, The Great Gatsby is a vivid chronicle of the excesses and decadence of the "Jazz Age", as well as a timeless cautionary critique of the American dream.Trade ReviewIt seems to me the first step that American fiction has taken since Henry James. -- TS Eliot He was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisScandal and intrigue among the rich and famous, Players is the glamorous debut novel from the bestselling author of The Paris Secret, Karen Swan.Harry Hunter is the new golden boy of the literary scene. With his books selling by the millions, the paparazzi on his tail, and a supermodel on each arm, he seems to have the world at his feet. Women all over the globe adore him but few suspect that his angelic looks hide a darker side, a side that conceals a lifetime of lies and deceit. Tor, Cress and Kate have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Through all the challenges of marriage, raising children and maintaining their high-flying careers, they have stuck together as a powerful and loyal force to be reckoned with - living proof that twenty-first-century women can have it all, and do. It is only when the captivating Harry comes into their lives that things begin to get complicated, as Tor, Cress and Kate

Read more less

Book SynopsisSabrina is a firebird blazing through 1950s New York: she is a woman daring to enjoy the sexual licence that men have always known. Wearing extravagant outfits and playing dangerous games of desire, she deliberately avoids committment, gripped by the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Maddie Dupree enters Hennessy''s Bar in Truly, Idaho, she isn''t looking for a husband, a boyfriend, or even just a drink. She''s looking for the truth about her past, and nothing will stand in her way. Especially not a Hennessy boy. Everyone knows Mick Hennessy is irresistible. So far, he''s managed to keep the ladies in line, but when he claps eyes on gorgeous Maddie, he just can''t help getting involved. But Maddie''s keeping secrets about why she''s in town - and when those secrets are revealed, there''ll be a whole lot of trouble in Truly...

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's the last place she wants to be. It's the only place left to go . . .Hugely entertainingan instantly engaging read, what you might get if you mixed Jojo Moyes with Marian Keyes' Sunday IndependentA fabulous readyou're immediately immersed' Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away'A superb writer the Irish Jojo Moyes' Irish ExaminerCiara Geraghty is a wonderful writer' Hazel Gaynor, author of the Irish Times bestseller, The Bird in the Bamboo CageMarianne left home when she was fifteen following a family tragedy, one that changed all their lives. She never planned to return.But when her carefully controlled life falls apart, she has no choice but to return to Ancaire, the ramshackle house overlooking the Irish Sea, where her mother, Rita, a flamboyant artist and recovering alcoholic still lives.As her mother invites her to pull up a chair and make herself at home, alongside the friends, family and neighbours who wander its rooms. Marianne discovers that sometTrade Review Praise for Make Yourself at Home ‘A fabulous read … [the] characters are so real … you’re immediately immersed in their stories’ Sheila O’Flanagan ‘Written with Geraghty’s trademark humour and keen sense of observation, we go on a rollercoaster journey … A deeply satisfying read’ Patricia Scanlan Acclaim for Ciara Geraghty: ‘Tender, emotional and uplifting…I loved it’ Lucy Diamond ‘Rules of the Road had me laughing and crying on the same page…such a talented writer.’ Patricia Scanlan ‘Very funny, very moving and utterly unsentimental…as Terry discovers what makes life worth living.’ Irish Times ‘A genuine feel-good hit […]Geraghty's tightly wound adventure is as touching as it is entertaining’ Independent ‘A book to be shared, a book to be cherished … an homage to the strength of friendship and a celebration of life in all its colours’ Mairead Hearne, Swirl and Thread ‘Tender, funny, and heartbreaking… Ciara Geraghty is a wonderful writer’ Hazel Gaynor ‘Infused with warmth, humour and human understanding. An homage to life and fantastic friendships, this book will warm the cockles of your heart.’ Justine Carberry, Sunday Independent ‘Funny, gentle, compassionate and wise’ Anne Cunningham, Meath Chronicle ‘A superb writer… the Irish Jojo Moyes. Her books are beautifully written, and infused with warmth, humour and human understanding.’ Irish Examiner ‘A touching, tender, often funny story about love in all its messy, uncertain glory . . . with a hero who will find a place in your heart. Julie Cohen ‘You will feel all the feelings – we can't remember the last time we rooted for two characters quite as much.’ Heat

Read more less

Book SynopsisHaving travelled from her native New York to London to meet her relatives, Isabel Archer, a young, independently minded young woman, rejects the marriage proposals of two suitors in her determination to stay in control of her destiny. When she suddenly comes into a large legacy, Isabel believes that this windfall will finally ensure the freedom that she yearns for and embarks on an exhilarating journey through France and Italy, only to find her endeavours thwarted by the sinister plotting of some of her acquaintances. Considered by many to be Henry James’s finest novel, The Portrait of a Lady is a subtle examination of Victorian society and power relations, providing a groundbreaking psychological study of its protagonist. This volume is based on the authoritative New York Edition, and includes the author’s seminal preface.Trade ReviewHenry James’s great, humane masterpiece. -- Hermione Lee

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Dawn O'Porter's bold and buzzy new novel, HONEYBEE, is available to buy now! **The Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club pick*A total joy' Matt HaigUnputdownable' Marian KeyesFearless, frank and for anyone who's ever doubted themselves,So Lucky is the straight-talking new novel from the Sunday Times bestseller.IS ANYONE'S LIFE . . .Beth shows that women really can have it all.Ruby lives life by her own rules.And then there's Lauren, living the dream.AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?Beth hasn't had sex in a year.Ruby feels like she's failing.Lauren's happiness is fake news.And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling outTrade Review‘A total joy . . . Compulsively funny’ Matt Haig ‘The characters in So Lucky are lovely, very likeable. I enjoyed this book a lot, it really was unputdownable ’ Marian Keyes ‘Funny, thought-provoking and filthy’ Red ‘Thought-provoking . . . Beautifully drawn characters espouse the idea that you shouldn’t judge any book by its cover’ Daily Mail 'Couldn't put it down – it's wonderful' Pandora Sykes ‘Perceptive, poignant and proves that no one’s life is as perfect as it looks’ Sunday Express ‘Expect some raw realities of female life, but when these women come together, they go full-blown badass’ Heat ‘A relatable take on the struggle for perfection and a journey to accepting who we truly are’ Woman & Home ‘A binge read, was racing home from my day to cuddle up with it on the couch’ Aisling Bea ‘So Lucky is compulsively gripping and taps into the shame and self-hatred we *all* battle with. It is also very, very funny’ Sara Pascoe ‘Full of relevant issues’ Prima ‘In true Dawn style, she has created layered, interesting characters who rile you up but also make you fall in love with them. If you enjoyed The Cows, you are going to LOVE this book. Timely, funny and very very entertaining’ Emma Gannon ‘Funny and very honest’ Davina McCall ‘It’s an incredible and wonderful thing to read her painfully accurate, heart warming and hilarious analysis of our age of comparison in this wonderful, powerful novel!’ Scarlett Curtis ‘Perceptive, poignant and proves that no one’s life is as perfect as it looks’ Sunday Express ‘What a fabulous book. I read it, no DEVOURED it terribly fast and loved every minute’ Mel Giedroyc ‘A funny and relatable one-sitting read’ Carmel Harrington ‘‘Refreshingly raw . . . This is one to race through’ Sunday Mirror

Read more less

Book SynopsisGet ready for small towns stirred by mystery and desire in the heart-pumping sixth story in the Eden series . . .For four years Vera Gallagher''s life was anything but normal and she refused to remember the years before that. The past is a painful wound and life is fragile . . . Her mother taught her that. Now, she's determined not to waste a moment of her newfound freedom.Mateo Eden's handsome. Charming. Witty. And he loves his family the way Vera loves-with her whole heart.Some could consider her crush on Mateo Eden wasted time. Or call her a fool for loving a man who hasn''t shown her a crumb of interest. Still, to Vera, it''s Mateo or nothing.Maybe he''ll never notice her. Maybe she''s just too damaged to find that normal life she desperately craves. Maybe her secrets will always keep them apart. But Vera will love him anyway. Whether Mateo realizes it or not.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Completely, terrifyingly BRILLIANT'Marian Keyes, author ofGrown UpsI didn't want it to end'Lisa Taddeo, author ofThree Women andAnimalMagnificent: I read it in one sitting'Kate Mosse, author of TheCity of TearsWhen Marisa meets Jake, everything falls into place. But then their new lodger Kate arrives.Something isn't right about her. It's the way she looks at Jake, keeps her toothbrush right next to theirs and constantly asks questions about the baby they are trying for. Or maybe it's all in Marisa's head. That's what Jake thinks. And she trusts him, doesn't she?But Marisa knows something is wrong, and she is determined to find out why, even if it costs her everything.''A very elegant, tense, literary thriller''Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a ScandalUtterly engrossing, a thick sense of dread unfurling from every page'Refinery29I literally couldn't put this down'Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie LangtonA compelling, twisting read'Matt Haig, author of The MidnightTrade Review'I raced through Magpie. A very elegant, tense, literary thriller full of misdirection, unreliable witnesses, motherhood, madness, rage, and the most heart-breaking account of infertility I've read'SARAH VAUGHAN, AUTHOR OF ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL ‘A dark, sleek, ever-tightening spiral …Completely, terrifyingly BRILLIANT’MARIAN KEYES, AUTHOR OF GROWN UPS ‘Elizabeth Day has written that rare book I always go hunting for, something that will keep me breathless with suspense but also buoyant with good energy. It is both sinister and comforting, outrageous but grounded, with a head-spinning plot twist…Magpie is a book that needed to exist in the world. It is the book that was missing’ LISA TADDEO, AUTHOR OF THREE WOMEN AND ANIMAL ‘Magpie is a clever, suspenseful read with a brilliant central pivot and a keen eye for relationships, including the toxic ones. A compelling, twisting read’MATT HAIG, author of The Midnight Library and The Comfort Book ‘Superbly taut and well-written, noirish with a big and beating heart’JESSIE BURTON, AUTHOR OF THE MINIATURIST AND THE CONFESSION ‘An absorbing exploration of infertility and mental illness combined with the pace and plot of a heart-racing thriller … I literally couldn’t put this down. Sublime’SARA COLLINS, AUTHOR OF THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON ‘The most mind-blowing book of the year’JOANNA CANNON, AUTHOR OF THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEP AND THREE THINGS ABOUT ELSIE ‘Magpie is tightly plotted, crackling with an uneasy tension, and has an ingenious twist you won’t see coming. Stylish, sinister, and clever, this is a sublime thriller’LOUISE O’NEILL, AUTHOR OF AFTER THE SILENCE ‘Magnificent. Clever, beautifully-crafted, gripping, warm: I read it in one sitting’KATE MOSSE, AUTHOR OF THE CITY OF TEARS

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe instant Top 5 Sunday Times bestseller''The Book Of The Summer' VOGUE''A page-turning read about the dark side of social media''STYLISTTopical, heartfelt, provocative' BERNARDINE EVARISTOImpossible to put down' PAULA HAWKINSA page-turner that you can't second guess' THE TIMESFans of Yellowface will love The List' RED MAGAZINEONLINE RUMOURS. REAL LIFE TROUBLE.Ola Olajide, a high-profile journalist at Womxxxn magazine, is marrying the love of her life in one month''s time. She and her fiancé Michael seem to have it all.That is, until one morning when they both wake up to the same message:Oh my god, have you seen The List?'It began as a list of anonymous allegations about abusive men. Now it''s been published online. Ola made her name breaking exactly this type of story. But today, Michael''s name is on there.Will the truth behind The List change everything for both of them?An Evening Standard and The Times book of the year.*SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES*Explosive Every book club shoulTrade Review‘A page-turning read about the dark side of social media’ Stylist ‘A total page-turner on the underbelly of life online’ BBC Woman’s Hour ‘One of the hottest books of the year… Topical and vital’ Marie Claire ‘The Book Of The Summer… Sure to inspire frenzied debate’ Vogue 'Blistering… a love story for our times’ Harper's Bazaar ‘Impossible to put down. The hype is real’ Independent ‘Fun and thought-provoking… A book that's just right for our times’ Harpers Bazaar ‘Punchy, topical and hugely thought-provoking’ Glamour ‘The hottest book of the summer… an incredible commentary on the internet’ BBC Radio London ‘A gripping social nightmare’ Observer ‘One of the most anticipated books of the summer’ Guardian ‘A compulsive read’ Heat Magazine ‘Topical, heartfelt, provocative’ Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other ‘The perfect summer read’ Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train ‘An enthralling, razor-sharp, witty page-turner’ Bolu Babalola, author of Honey & Spice ‘Phenomenal’ Abi Daré, author of The Girl with the Louding Voice ‘Utterly compelling, immersive and addictive’ Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton 'Full of sharp wit and exacting observation’ Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People ‘A biting, chilling, prescient page-turner’ Deborah Frances-White, author of The Guilty Feminist ‘Whip-smart and thought-provoking’ Ruth Ware, author of The It Girl ‘Addictive… will set off a million debates’ Annie Lord, author of Notes on Heartbreak ‘Unputdownable’ Nels Abbey, author of Think Like a White Man ‘Explosive … Every book club should read this’ Symeon Brown

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE MUST-READ SUMMER 2020 RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK'If you wished Normal People had tackled female friendship, try Expectation' GRAZIA'Profoundly intelligent and humane. Deserves to feature on many a prize shortlist' GUARDIAN'A brilliant exploration of friendship, feminism and thwarted ambition' PANDORA SYKES______________________What happened to the women we were supposed to become?Hannah, Cate and Lissa are young, vibrant and inseparable. Living on the edge of a common in East London, their shared world is ablaze with art and activism, romance and revelry - and the promise of everything to come. They are electric. They are the best of friends.Ten years on, they are not where they hoped to be. Amidst flailing careers and faltering marriages, each hungers for what the others have. And each wrestles with the same question: what does it take to lead a meaningful life? The most razor-sharp and heartbreaking novel of the year, EXPECTATION is a novel about finding your way: as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a rebel. ___________________'Thoughtful, beautifully written, honest. A sensual book. I URGE YOU TO READ IT' MARIAN KEYES'Beautiful, sharp, moving. I urge you to read it'' ELIZABETH DAY'A brilliant exploration of friendship, feminism and thwarted ambition' PANDORA SYKES'I loved it ... 10 out of 10' BRYONY GORDON'Will resonate with approximately 99% of women' RED MAGAZINE summer pick'One of the most intensely readable novels this year' METRO'One of our most gifted contemporary writers' WATERSTONES'SO GOOD. A 'What they did next' story of characters from a Sally Rooney novel' SARAH FRANKLIN'The story of 3 college friends, if you're a fan of Sally Rooney, you'll love EXPECTATION' IRISH EXAMINER'A must-read' FABULOUS MAGAZINE'A generation-defining book on motherhood, ambition and sex. Like NORMAL PEOPLE with female friendship under the microscope.' ERIN KELLY'Few novels leave me so genuinely breathless with their brilliance' HANNAH BECKERMAN'Sublime' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, Book of the Year'A marvellously tangy London novel' DAILY MAIL'A grown-up, honest take on female camaraderie. Packed with talking points' MAIL ON SUNDAY'Hugely absorbing, massively enjoyable' LISSA EVANS'Totally unputdownable, immersive, sharp, FAB' HARRIET EVANS'Beautifully observed study of female friendship and a moving account of the collision between aspiration and reality' DAILY MAIL MUST-READ'Fantastically well-realised portrait of female friendship's joys and pains from an exciting new voice in British fiction' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade ReviewProfoundly intelligent and humane. Deserves to feature on many a prize shortlist * Guardian *A brilliant exploration of friendship, feminism and thwarted ambition * Pandora Sykes *One of the most intensely readable novels I've encountered this year * METRO *I loved it . . . 10 out of 10! * BRYONY GORDON *Will resonate with approximately 99 % of all women * RED magazine summer pick *Thoughtful, beautifully written, honest. A sensual book. I URGE YOU TO READ IT * MARIAN KEYES *Brilliant portrayal of long-term female friendships . . . I was gripped. * Prima *A Sally Rooney-esque evocative examination of female friendship * BEST SUMMER READS, i-newspaper *The real joy of this novel – while exploring just what second wave feminism has done for this generation of women (“you’ve had everything… we changed the world for you. For our daughters. And what have you done with it?”) – is in it’s writing; the dialogue and the honesty behind these characters who are doing their best, who are trying to live up to the fictional counterparts that they themselves have created… It’s the perfect summer reading * STYLIST MAGAZINE *Absolutely encapsulates what it means to be a young woman today, and beyond * Grazia Magazine *Hope’s writing is sublime and her characters so well fleshed out they will feel like friends at the end * Good Housekeeping Book of the Year *BEST BOOKS FOR JULY: Expectation has defied all my expectations and completely redefined the friendship novel. Each of the characters resonated with me and I’m in awe of the way Anna Hope captures what it means to be a woman, right here, right now, with all the precision of a surgeon’s knife. * Red Magazine Book of the Year *EDITOR'S CHOICE: I enjoyed this contemporary novel about the gulf between the expectation of how life will turn out and the reality... [it] taps into the current conversation about finding fulfilment and living a meaningful life. -- Alice O'Keeffe * The Bookseller *Jaw-droppingly good * SARRA MANNING *Anna Hope has a way of getting inside difficult and painful moments, turning them inside out. I felt I knew these women as my own friends. Taut, electric, complex, funny. * RACHEL JOYCE bestselling author of THE UNEXPECTED PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY *Few novels leave me genuinely breathless with their brilliance. EXPECTATION is one of them. This book is beautiful. I am in AWE * HANNAH BECKERMAN *Succulent, tender and honest, EXPECTATION is about the relationships between women: love, loss, triumph and betrayal. It was one of those books that knowingly flirted, then seduced me and then utterly ravished me * TOR UDALL *A generation-defining book, honest and relatable on motherhood, ambition and sex. Like NORMAL PEOPLE with female friendship under the microscope * ERIN KELLY, bestselling author of HE SAID/SHE SAID *I loved it. Raw, honest, unputdownable. * TAMMY COHEN *I tore through EXPECTATION at the weekend. Exceptional gorgeously written and reads like a love letter to London. I highly recommend it * STACEY HALLS, bestselling author of THE FAMILIARS *I absolutely loved this. What really appealed to me was the depiction of the parents, about legacy and about what the mother's generation leaves for the one that comes after * ANNE YOUNGSON *An intimate and touching portrayal of female friendship that shows it's okay to just be * NINA POTTELL *So fresh, human, kind and relatable * JENNY COLGAN *Such a dark, relatable, elegant take on how time alters female friendships: how we become THESE people and our friends become THOSE people. Anyway, I loved it. You probably will, too * LIZA KLAUSSMANN, author of Tigers in Red Weather *A must-read. Will make you want to hug the women in you life * FABULOUS MAGAZINE Book of the Year *A deftly crafted hymn to the comfort and frustration of female friendship from one of our most gifted contemporary writers * WATERSTONES *Sensual and evocative, deeply attuned to both the inner lives of the protagonists * CULTUREFLY *The prose is beautiful, the characters achingly real, their flawed decisions enraging and yet somehow still relatable. This wonderful book will resonate with every woman who reads it * LOUISE O'NEILL *A quietly political story that suggests historic battles have left women with new impossible burdens of expectation. A marvellously tangy London novel * DAILY MAIL *Hope beautifully examines how female friendship, its issues entirely relatable, ebbs and flows over time in this wise and engaging read * SUNDAY EXPRESS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe number one Sunday Times bestseller'A touching, tender tale of boy meets boy in the bleak tenements of Glasgow . . . Superb' – The Times ‘Best Summer Reading’'Love and hope across the religious divide in a fervent, gritty and emotionally engrossing novel' –The Guardian 'Best Reads For Summer'‘Writing of transcendent beauty’ – The Financial Times ‘Best Summer Books’The extraordinary, powerful second novel from the Booker prizewinning author of Shuggie Bain, Young Mungo is both a vivid portrayal of working-class life and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men: Mungo and James.Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgow’s housing estates where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation. They should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all, and yet they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the doocot that James has built for his prize racing pigeons. As they begin to fall in love, they dream of escaping the grey city, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his elder brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold.But the threat of discovery is constant and the punishment unspeakable. When Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland, with two strange men behind whose drunken banter lie murky pasts, he needs to summon all his inner strength and courage to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future.Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism, Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.Trade ReviewPrepare your hearts, for Douglas Stuart is back. After the extraordinary success of Shuggie Bain, his second novel, Young Mungo, is another beautiful and moving book, a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the brutal world of Glasgow’s housing estates. * Observer *I wasn't sure Young Mungo could live up to Shuggie Bain, but it surpasses it. Deeply harrowing but gently infused with hope & love. And so exquisitely written. It's a joy to watch, in real time, as Douglas Stuart takes his place as one of the greats of Scottish literature. -- Nicola SturgeonFew novels are as gutsy and gut-wrenching as Young Mungo in its depiction of a teenage boy who finds love amid family dysfunction, community conflict and the truly terrible predations of adults. Vividly realised and emotionally intense, this scorching novel is an urgent addition to the new canon of unsung stories. -- Bernardine EvaristoSome novels can be admired, others enjoyed. But it is a rare thing to find a story so engrossing, bittersweet and beautiful that you do not so much read it, as experience it. It is this quality Young Mungo possesses - an intense, lovely, brutal thing. Stuart is a masterful storyteller. -- Kiran Millwood HargraveI can honestly say that the second novel from the author of Shuggie Bain... surpassed my (high) expectations. Stuart makes you care deeply about all of his characters but none more than Mungo, Mo-Maw's beloved, "the softest, sweetest boy she had ever known". * Bookseller, 'Fiction Book of the Month' *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Sunday Times bestselling author and the nation's best loved TV presenter Carol Kirkwood comes a glittering escape to the French Riviera.Deliciously escapist' Cathy KellyA stunning holiday read with passion and heart, perfect!' Anton Du BekeBy the sapphire blue waters of the French Riviera, a decades-long secret is about to be revealedWayward Greek heiress, Ariana Theodosis, inherits the Hotel du Soleil as part of a mysterious legacy. Captivated by its faded glamour, she hopes it offers her the chance to start again.Hotelier Gabriel du Lac's family have owned the hotel for decades and he has no intention of giving it up for a beautiful stranger.Madame du Lac has watched the rich and famous pass through the doors of the hotel for almost half a century, and she has kept its secrets too.As the past finally catches up with them all, will this summer reveal a forgotten secret, and change their lives forever?Praise for Carol Kirkwood:Sizzles with secrets and passion' Jo ThomasIntrigue and drama a great sunshine read' ChoiceA real treat marvellous!' Anton du BekeTrade Review ‘Soak up the glamour … A great summer read’ Prima ‘Expect plenty of glamour and dramas in this sunshine read’ – Choice Praise for Carol KIrkwood: ‘Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion.’ Jo Thomas ‘Utterly engaging, deliciously escapist, with a heart as warm as its author's’ Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of The Family Gift ‘A real treat, wonderfully escapist with heart and drama – marvellous!’ Anton du Beke ‘An exquisite tale of love lost and found that’s full of intriguing characters and romantic locations. A perfect summer read.’ Judy Murray ‘An absolute cracking read – it’s brilliant!’ Steph McGovern presenter of Packed Lunch ‘Sun-soaked, glamorous escapism.’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘A sizzling summer read. I couldn’t put it down.’ Alex Brown, bestselling author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn Almost Perfect Holiday is a warm and witty story of friendship, family and hope by the Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Diamond, author of The Beach Cafe and Summer at Shell Cottage.The holidays are here, and down in Cornwall Lorna’s cottages are fully booked. The sun loungers are lined up beside the swimming pool, the sky is blue and a new set of arrivals are on their way . . .Em’s planned the perfect break with her teenagers plus her new boyfriend . . . but now his difficult six-year-old is coming too. Will their romance survive the realities of parenthood?Maggie’s hoping a seaside holiday will bring her and her daughter closer together, but when her ex makes a surprise reappearance, it changes everything. Can she trust the man who broke her heart?Olivia has escaped the domestic grind, only for the past to catch up with her. Maybe the time has come to confess all – if she can find the courage . . .Meanwhile, the teenagers are running wild and love is in the air. With friendship, heartache and secrets in the mix, will this holiday turn out to be a scorcher – or simply too hot to handle?'A delight from first page through to last' - Milly Johnson, author of My One True North.Trade ReviewA delight from first page through to last -- Milly JohnsonMulti-layered, compelling and beautifully written -- Daily Express on Something to Tell YouA beautiful, life-affirming novel -- Sun on On a Beautiful DaySeamless, engaging, believable, fun and heartfelt -- Heat on The House of New BeginningsThis warm, moreish tale is about a large, appealing family in transition -- Daily Mail on Something to Tell YouThis charming family drama is upbeat and fun -- Sunday Mirror on Something to Tell YouThis endlessly enjoyable drama puts even the most dysfunctional families in the shade – brilliant fun -- Woman & Home on Something to Tell You

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe moving story of a little dog with a huge heart and of the unbreakable bond between an animal and his owner.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features an introduction by Mary Paulson-Ellis.When Auld Jock, a shepherd, loses his job, he moves to Edinburgh in search of work. But the city isn’t kind to him and he falls into a life of poverty. Lonely, old and ill, his only companion is a plucky little Skye terrier named Bobby, who belonged to the farmer that dismissed Jock. When the farmer tries to take the dog back, Bobby escapes and finds his way back to town. From that day on, he stays devoted to Auld Jock, even guarding the old man’s grave in Greyfriars kirkyard for many years. Inspired by true events, Eleanor Atkinson's Greyfriars Bobby is the deeply touching story of an inseparable bond and a wonderful evocation of Edinburgh in the late nineteenth century.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGoodreads Choice Award winning poet Trista Mateer "expertly exposes the intensity of first love" in this confessional collection of poetry.You will meet people in your lifetime who demand to have poems written about them. It''s not something they say. It''s something about their hands, the shape of their mouths, the way they look walking away from you.Honeybee is an honest take on walking away and still feeling like you were walked away from. It''s about cutting love loose like a kite string and praying the wind has the decency to carry it away from you. It''s an ode to the back and forth, the process of letting something go but not knowing where to put it down. Honeybee is putting it down. It''s small town girls and plane tickets, a taste of tenderness and honey, the bandage on the bee sting. It''s a reminder that you are not defined by the people you walk away from or the people who walk away from you. Consider Honeybee a memoir in verse, or at the very least, a story written by one of today''s most confessional poets.Perfect for fans of Caroline Kaufman, Atticus, Clementine von Radics, Nina LaCour, Adam Silvera, and Becky Albertalli; or anyone interested in bisexuality, heartbreak, running away from your problems, and coming out.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club Pick, from the acclaimed author of Room. The Pull of the Stars is set during three days in a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu. 'Moving, gripping and dazzlingly written' – StylistDublin, 1918. In a country doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city centre, where expectant mothers who have come down with an unfamiliar flu are quarantined together. Into Julia’s regimented world step two outsiders: Doctor Kathleen Lynn, on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over the course of three days, these women change each other’s lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue tells an unforgettable and deeply moving story of love and loss.'A visceral, harrowing, and revelatory vision of life, death, and love in a time of pandemic. This novel is stunning' – Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven'Reads like an episode of Call The Midwife set during a pandemic' – Mail on SundayGuardian, Cosmopolitan and Telegraph's 'Books of the Year'Trade ReviewA visceral, harrowing, and revelatory vision of life, death, and love in a time of pandemic. This novel is stunning -- Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station ElevenExtraordinarily prescient * Daily Telegraph *The Pull of the Stars has a fever dream-like quality . . . about as moving and absorbing as it gets * Evening Standard *An immersive, unforgettable fever-dream of a novel * Times *A timely, exquisite and unputdownable reminder of love and compassion -- Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold FryA story that is as timeless as it is urgent * New York Times *Fascinating and resonant * Sunday Times *Emma Donoghue is one of our greatest living prose stylists . . . a must-read novel * The Australian *Emma Donoghue’s best novel since Room * Metro *Eerily topical, Donoghue’s new novel reads like an episode of Call The Midwife set during a pandemic * Mail on Sunday *Moving, gripping and dazzlingly written * Stylist *It is rare for such a fast-paced story to be told so beautifully, and the writing is comical & exquisite * Irish Independent *Moving and memorable * Daily Mail *As strong and compelling as Jack in Room and Lib in The Wonder . . . a haunting and finely balanced literary novel -- Sarah Moss * Guardian *One of the Emerald Isle’s most glittering literary lights, Donoghue here delivers a historical fiction turned timely reminder of human resilience * Oprah Magazine, 'Best Books of Summer 2020' *Enticingly written . . . a felicitous comment on our new times * The Irish Times *Remarkably prescient * Irish Independent *Rarely can a novel have been as prescient or as timely as The Pull of the Stars . . . the book flies by like a hospital shift, as drama follows crisis and victory chases tragedy in a never-ending cycle of suffering, joy and bodily fluids * Business Post *Certainly, the currency of The Pull of the Stars gives it a gripping edge, but at its heart this is a story about friendship, love and compassion in extraordinary times . . . It's an engrossing read. Donoghue's writing is visceral and her female characters strike a powerful chord of humanity that stays with you * Australian Women's Weekly *Donoghue offers vivid characters and a gripping portrait of a world beset by a pandemic and political uncertainty. A fascinating read in these difficult times. * Booklist *Donoghue’s searing tale . . . Her blunt prose and detailed, painstakingly researched medical descriptions do full justice to the reality of the pandemic and the poverty that helps fuel it. Donoghue’s evocation of the 1918 flu, and the valor it demands of health-care workers, will stay with readers * Publishers Weekly *[Julia and Bridie’s] relationship forms the emotional core of a story rich in swift, assured sketches of achingly human characters coping as best they can in extreme circumstances . . . Darkly compelling, illuminated by the light of compassion and tenderness: Donoghue’s best novel since Room * Kirkus (starred review) *Eerily reminiscent of our current global health crisis, The Pull of the Stars brings readers intimately close to a world where health care workers risk it all to keep their patients alive * Time *Emma Donoghue's latest is getting an early release, and it's clear to understand why: In 1918 at the height of the Great Flu in Ireland, sick, pregnant women are quarantined together in a hospital while a group of overworked nurses tries to navigate their patients through the darkness * Marie Claire *Timely, punchy and gripping * Evening Standard *A powerful, persistent, highly detailed and incredibly moving book that speaks through time. Donoghue is a marvel of a writer * Press Association *Emma Donoghue has a gift for taking details from the past and creating believable and absorbing worlds around them * The Tablet *Gripping . . . fans of Call The Midwife will relish the true-to-life accounts of labour * S Magazine *Although compassion, female solidarity and dedicated service are at the novel’s core, suffering and terrible conditions are front and centre . . . Donoghue [excels] in strong characterisation and a vivid sense of time and place * The Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD__________________________________________________'Fresh, entertaining, funny and moving' RODDY DOYLE'A touching tale of how one woman survives a tough beginning to eventually end up exactly where her heart belongs' ANNE GRIFFIN, author of When All is Said__________________________________________________'If I could go back to being sixteen again, I'd do things differently.''Everyone over the age of forty feels like that, you total gom,' says my best friend Lizzie Magee.When she was young Mary Rattigan wanted to fly. She was going to take off like an angel from heaven and leave the muck and madness of troubled Northern Ireland behind. Nothing but the Land of Happy Ever After would do for her.But as a Catholic girl with a B.I.T.C.H. for a Mammy and a silent Daddy, things did not go as she and Lizzie Magee had planned.Now, five children, twenty-five years, an end to the bombs and bullets, enough whiskey to sink a ship and endless wakes and sandwich teas later, Mary's alone. She's learned plenty of hard lessons and missed a hundred steps towards the life she'd always hoped for. Will she finally find the courage to ask for the love she deserves? Or is it too late?Trade ReviewThis is in many ways a familiar story but it is told in such a fresh, entertaining, funny and moving way, it felt like I was reading something brand new. * Roddy Doyle *Two pages into this book you know you've unlocked something special . . . the book is brightened up plenty by sunshine characters and the magnificence of Tyrone nature . . . Tish knows what she's talking about. * Irish Examiner *A really lovely book. I loved reading it. -- Mariella FrostrupDelaney's writing is a beautiful wave flowing lyrically through the life of Mary Rattigan. A touching tale of how one woman survives a tough beginning to eventually end up exactly where her heart belongs. -- Anne Griffin author of WHEN ALL IS SAIDI did not expect this debut to turn into the most exquisite love story, but it did, and I was besotted. * Red *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPreloved is one for your keeper shelves. * Red *An absolute gem of a novel, like finding vintage Dior in your local chazza. It's hard to believe that this tender-hearted, wryly observed and exquisitely written story is a debut and its heroine Gwen, as lost as the unwanted donations she prices up, will resonate with so many readers. Preloved is one for your keeper shelves. -- Sarra ManningI think I’ve been waiting for a novel like Preloved for my whole reading life. This is a luscious, shimmering book of depth and delicacy. It’s sad, hilarious, sad, tender, brutal, brilliantly observed – there is a sense of magic on every page. -- Daisy Buchanan, author of InsatiablePreloved is full of sharp observations on life, loss, regret and self-preservation... spilling over with wit and hope. Cleverly interwoven with stories of the myriad reasons items find their way into charity shops, the joy, friendship and ultimate enlightenment Gwen discovers offers a quirky and poignant reminder that one person's trash is always somebody else's treasure. -- Julietta Henderson, author of The Funny Thing about Norman ForemanPreloved has taken up residence in my heart and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. It's completely enchanting, completely captivating, completely brilliant, I adored everything about it. It has so much heart and warmth, while Gwen is so well-written and relatable. I was already a fan of Lauren Bravo's writing, and now I'm officially obsessed. -- Lucy VineLaugh-out-loud funny but also poignant and tender, Preloved is an absorbingly special debut novel. I devoured in equal measure the delicious descriptions of food and the moving vignettes of preloved treasures peppered throughout the book, while the nineties and noughties nostalgia had me gasping with pleasure. -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleFull of relatable anecdotes, lively, funny and modern, Preloved is a moving tale of emancipation and friendship. I loved it! -- Margaux Vialleron, author of The Yellow KitchenBeautifully considered and wonderfully crafted with characters who feel true to life. Full of witty observations and dazzling retorts and withering reactions… it won’t disappoint. -- Justin Myers/The GuylinerPreloved is a beautiful, funny novel full of pitch perfect insight and detail. In a world of fast fashion, fast friendships and fast opinion, this is a refreshing and relatable alternative, celebrating and challenging our ideas about objects and ownership. For anyone (like me) who has ever stood behind the counter of a charity shop, it will spark particular joy. Political, delightful and very very funny. -- Nell Frizzell‘While all Gwen’s friends are “procreating in the countryside”, she is single, lonely and now, jobless. So she begins anew in the place where all things get a second chance: a charity shop. Preloved is a funny and touching read.’ -- The I, best April books‘When Gwen is made redundant she volunteers at a charity shop, where encountering objects that come with incredible stories changes her life. Poignant and funny’ -- BestA hot water bottle of a novel – in that it’s best enjoyed on the sofa when you’re in need of something warming and comforting -- StylistOptimistic and engaging… intimate and joyful… We’re waiting for Preloved to be optioned by Reese Witherspoon or at least adapted into a binge-worthy Netflix series… -- GlamourA love letter to charity shops and the treasures within, this is a tale that will warm your heart. -- My WeeklyGenerous, hopeful, and big-hearted, Preloved’s warm sweetness is perfectly balanced by sharp observation, and a deeply moving exploration of grief. A glorious find of a book; one worth holding onto -- Kate Young

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe tender and moving novella from the author of A Man Called Ove and Anxious People''I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly wowed, wanting to share it with everyone I know'' Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice_________Grandpa and Noah are sitting on a bench in a square that keeps getting smaller every day.As they wait together on the bench, they tell jokes and discuss their shared love of mathematics. Grandpa recalls what it was like to fall in love with his wife, what it was like to lose her. She''s as real to him now as the first day he met her, but he dreads the day when he won''t remember her.Sometimes Grandpa sits on the bench next to Ted, Noah''s father - Ted who never liked maths, prefers writing and playing guitar, and has waited his entire life for his father to have time for him, to accept him. But in their love of Noah, they have foTrade ReviewWinsome, bittersweet ... Wise and heartbreaking. Backman's slim novella celebrates the joy of connecting even in the midst of letting go * People Magazine *A novella to be savoured and reread about a boy, his dad and his grandpa as they learn to say goodbye. It's a little book with a big message * San Francisco Chronicle *I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly wowed, wanting to share it with everyone I know -- Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still AliceBeautiful, dreamlike, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Bring tissues. Bring all the tissues * RealSimple.com *The saddest, sweetest book ever ... It is heartbreakingly sad, but also beautiful and uplifting in the end * LaSalle News Tribune *

Read more less

Book Synopsis The Sunday Business Post Fiction Book of the Year | Shortlisted for Popular Fiction Book of the Year – An Post Irish Book Awards A heart-warming and hilarious novel about life, love, and the weight of all we leave unsaid, Duffy & Son is a quietly moving masterpiece from one of Ireland’s most gifted comic writers.Trade Review‘Funny, sweet, charming and just a little bit heart-breaking’ – Dara O’Briain “Enormously entertaining … a universal story told in a uniquely Irish way” ’ – Liz Nugent

Read more less

Book Synopsis______________ 'Elegant, filthy – and quite possibly the queerest thing you will read all year.' - Guardian 'Intriguing and inventive.' - Electric Literature, "Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Book of the Year" 'A dizzyingly enticing and kaleidoscopic take on the spectrum of sexual experiences.' - Publishers Weekly, starred review _____________ A daring, category-confounding, and ruthlessly funny novel from National Book Award honored author Edmund White that explores polyamory and bisexuality, ageing and love. Sicilian aristocrat and musician, Ruggero, and his younger American wife, Constance, agree to break their marital silence and write their Confessions. Until now they had a ban on speaking about the past, since transparency had wrecked their previous marriages. As the two alternate reading the memoirs they’ve written about their lives, Constance reveals her multiple marriages to older men, and Ruggero details the affairs he’s had with men and women across his lifetime—most importantly his passionate affair with the author Edmund White. Sweeping outward from the isolated Swiss ski chalet where the couple reads to travel through Europe and the United States, White’s new novel pushes for a broader understanding of sexual orientation and pairs humor and truth to create his most fascinating and complex characters to date. As in all of White’s earlier novels, this is a searing, scintillating take on physical beauty and its inevitable decline. But in this experimental new mode—one where the author has laid himself bare as a secondary character—White explores the themes of love and age through numerous eyes, hearts and minds. Delightful, irreverent, and experimental, A Previous Life proves once more why White is considered a master of American literature.Trade ReviewElegant, erudite, raunchy and fun, America’s great Man of Letters is working at the top of his form, giving us a pair of portraits hung against the pattern of history. What a joy to read this master of prose and invention! * Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize winning author of LESS *The best book in Edmund White's long and extraordinary career * Benjamin Moser, Pulitzer Prize winning author of SONTAG: HER LIFE AND WORK *White's project, as always, is to show us the human: the human body as defined by its urges and needs, and the human heart as it evolves through time and experience. In A Previous Life, he also gives us daring experiments of form, of autofiction, and of storytelling. Fresh and inventive and wise * Rebecca Makkai, author of THE GREAT BELIEVERS *An erotically charged and ingenious metafictional story of a married couple … A dizzyingly enticing and kaleidoscopic take on the spectrum of sexual experiences * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Humorous and nearly always irreverent ... An erotically charged literary romp facing the loss of physical beauty and the inevitable passage of time * Booklist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Orphanage Girls come back together in The Orphanage Girls Reunited, the second installment of a moving wartime saga set in London’s East End, from the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood.EllenAbandoned by her father for the second time, left scarred from the orphanage, Ellen finally finds happiness and hope – reunited with her long-lost gran. But it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. When a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.Ruth Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress and surrounded by new friends. But still she longs to be with Ellen and Amy, after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans – what hope have they of finding her?One wish comes true when Ruth’s acting career leads her to Ellen. No sooner than has the dust settled, war is on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other’s her hearts forever.Will they find Amy? Can the Orphanage Girls ever unite?Trade ReviewWood is a born storyteller * Lancashire Evening Post *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Compelling' Marie Claire * 'Immensely enjoyable' Observer * 'Fascinating' Red *One week into lockdown, the tenants of a Manhattan apartment building have begun to gather on the rooftop each evening and tell stories in this exciting new twist on the novel.With each passing night, more and more neighbours gather, bringing chairs and milk crates and overturned buckets. Gradually the tenants – some of whom have barely spoken to each other before now – become real neighbours.With each character secretly written by a different, major literary voice - from Margaret Atwood to John Grisham and Celeste Ng, Fourteen Days is a heart-warming ode to the power of storytelling and human connection.‘An immensely enjoyable product of an immensely unenjoyable time, Fourteen Days is lively, freewheeling… An impressive achievement’ Observer‘Fourteen Days serves as a valuable reminder that stories can teach, console, provide a place of acceptance and perhaps even change their readers (or listeners)’ Financial TimesIncludes writing from: Margaret Atwood, Sylvia Day, Emma Donoghue, Dave Eggers, Diana Gabaldon, Tess Gerritsen, John Grisham, Erica Jong, Celeste Ng, Tommy Orange, Doug Preston, R.L. Stine, Nafissa Thompson-Spires, Meg Wolitzer and many more.Trade ReviewFourteen Days serves as a valuable reminder that stories can teach, console, provide a place of acceptance and perhaps even change their readers (or listeners) * Financial Times *If you want to feel well read in double-quick time, try Fourteen Days, which is set in a New York city tenement in the early days of the pandemic. It has a novel twist (pardon the pun) - each character has been secretly written by a different author from Margaret Atwood and John Grisham to Dave Eggers and Celeste Ng * BBC *While we're really not in a rush to think about the pandemic again, we'll make an exception for Margaret Atwood. Fourteen Days is a collaborative novel edited by Atwood and Douglas Preston, and includes writing from Celeste NG and John Grisham, amongst others. In the novel, the inhabitants of a Manhattan apartment block gather on the roof and tell stories, as more neighbours join people start to form real bonds * Cosmopolitan *Reading Fourteen Days is like sitting by a campfire, with characters taking turns telling tales about their lives * Economist *A heart-warming and surprising narrative, Fourteen Days is an ode to the power of storytelling and human connection * SheerLuxe *

Read more less