Narrative theme: love / relationships
Penguin Books Ltd Women in Love Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisTwo of D. H. Lawrence's most renowned novels - now with new packages and new introductions Widely regarded as D. H. Lawrence's greatest novel, Women in Love continues where The Rainbow left off, with the third generation of the Brangwens. Focusing on Ursula Brangwen and her sister Gudrun's relationships-the former with a school inspector and the latter with an industrialist and then a sculptor-Women in Love is a powerful, sexually explicit depiction of the destructiveness of human relations.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translatiTrade Review"His masterpiece. . . . An astonishing work that moves on several levels. . . . Lawrence compels us to admit that we live less finely than we should, whatever we are." -The New York Review of Books
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Morgan S Sleigh Bells In The Snow
Book SynopsisI absolutely loved this book . . . It was a lovely story of snow, romance and Christmas' Reader review ??????????A beautiful, tentative romance. Wonderful' Reader review ??????????An absolute gem of a novel and one that I will be reading again and again!' Reader review ??????????Sarah Morgan never fails to write the most magical and lovely stories that make you continue turning the pages long in to the night' Reader review??????????* * *Once upon a time Kayla loved Christmas Now she's more dedicated to her job than decking the halls, and can't wait for the most wonderful time of the year' to be over.Until she arrives at the enchanting Snow Crystal ski resort, determined to win gorgeous owner Jackson as a marketing client.But wooing Jackson professionally quickly turns personal as they spend flirty festive nights in this glittering winter wonderland.With snowflakes swirling and sleigh bells ringingcould Jackson be the one to make Kayla fall back under the Christmas spell?Tropes:?? Findi
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Sleep No More
Book SynopsisWhat if someone you loved who you believed was murdered came back into your life? This high-octane chiller from the No.1 New York Times bestseller gets under your skin, and then burrows deep' (Stephen King).A secret from the past could destroy his futureMallory Gray Chandler was the quintessential Southern Belle.She loved John Waters with a seething passion that threatened to destroy them both, until he ended the relationship. She was later found raped and murdered on a New Orleans pier.A decade later, a single word uttered by the stunning Eve Sumner turns John's world inside out. Exactly who is Eve? And how does she know so much about John's past with Mallory?Face-to-face with a memory from his past, John is plunged into the darkest depths of love and obsession. And a mass of secrets, lies and murder is about to explodeTrade ReviewPraise for Greg Iles: ‘A scorching read’ John Grisham ‘Iles is a phenomenal thriller writer’ Independent on Sunday ‘An engrossing page-turning ride’ Jeffery Deaver ‘A rarity. A thriller that really thrills’ Stephen King ‘Alarming, believable, and utterly consuming’ Dan Brown ‘Splendidly creepy … compulsive’ Daily Telegraph ‘An incredible web of intrigue and suspense, an avalanche of action from first page to last’ Clive Cussler
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Shadow Wife
Book SynopsisWhat would you do if faced with an impossible choice? The emotional family drama for fans of Amanda Prowse and Jodi Picoult Your best friend has suffered a devastating brain injury – she’s a shadow of her former self. Alone and grieving, you turn to the only other person who understands your pain. Her husband. What started out as comfort between friends has become something more… One illicit night of desperate, engulfing passion. When Joelle discovers she’s carrying Liam’s child she’s torn between grief and unexpected joy. But how can she share her secret? The perfect memory of Mara stands on a pedestal between them, casting a shadow over the new life in their grasp… Tell him and face a lifetime of guilt. Lie and deny your unborn baby a father. Joelle has a choice – but can she live with it?
£10.44
Alma Books Ltd Flappers and Philosophers
Book SynopsisPublished soon after Fitzgerald's debut novel This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers was the author's first collection of short fiction, a form through which he had gained notoriety in newspapers and magazines. The familiar themes of aspiration and social satire already permeate his writing: in 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' the fashionable Marjorie attempts to turn her dowdy cousin into a debutante, before betraying her out of jealousy, while 'The Ice Palace' features a Southern belle whose engagement to a Northerner finds her confronted with a cultural clash between tradition and modernity. Also containing 'The Offshore Pirate', 'Head and Shoulders', 'The Cut-Glass Bowl', 'Benediction', 'Dalyrimple Goes Wrong' and 'The Four Fists', this volume of stories illustrates the early stages of Fitzgerald's development as a writer and provides an entertaining chronicle of America in the 1910s.Trade ReviewHe was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *
£7.59
Alma Books Ltd Persuasion
Book SynopsisPersuasion narrates the emotional journey of its protagonist Anne Elliot, who chances upon Captain Wentworth, a suitor she was persuaded to reject seven years earlier, and whose reappearance causes her to reflect on her past decisions and contemplate her marital future.Vividly depicting the society holiday towns of Lyme Regis and Bath and infused with its author's trademark wit, Austen's last completed novel, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, is an entertaining and enduring account of the dilemmas facing young women in the early nineteenth century.Trade Review"As a creative realist, giving to her characters the very body and pressure of actual life, no writer, living or dead, has surpassed her." - John Cowper Powys
£6.99
Alma Books Ltd Mansfield Park: Annotated Edition (Alma Classics
Book SynopsisBorn into a poor family, Fanny Price is raised amid the daunting splendour of Mansfield Park by her rich uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram. Treated as an inferior by most of the family, Fanny forms a close attachment to her cousin Edmund, the only person to show her kindness. With the departure of her uncle to the West Indies and the arrival from London of the fashionable Henry and Mary Crawford, flirtation and romantic intrigue abound. As Fanny becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the conduct of her companions, she finds herself isolated and forced to face the conflict between her sense of integrity and social expectation.
£7.59
Alma Books Ltd Tender is the Night
Book SynopsisWhile holidaying at a villa on the French Riviera, Dick and Nicole Diver, a wealthy American couple, meet the young film star Rosemary Hoyt. Her arrival causes a stir in their social circle and exposes the cracks in their fragile marriage. As their relationship unravels, glimpses of their troubled past emerge, and a series of disturbing events unfolds. Peopled by an unforgettable cast of aristocrats and high-fliers, Tender Is the Night is at once a scathing critique of the materialism and hypocrisy of the Roaring Twenties and a poignant and sensitive account of personal tragedy and disillusionment.Trade ReviewGatsby was a tour de force, but this is a confession of faith. -- Fitzgerald comment on Tender is the Night He was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Hours
Book SynopsisWinner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize and Pen Faulkner prize. Made into an Oscar-winning film, ‘The Hours’ is a daring and deeply affecting novel inspired by the life and work of Virginia Woolf. In 1920s London, Virginia Woolf is fighting against her rebellious spirit as she attempts to make a start on her new novel. A young wife and mother, broiling in a suburb of 1940s Los Angeles, yearns to escape and read her precious copy of ‘Mrs Dalloway’. And Clarissa Vaughan steps out of her smart Greenwich village apartment in 1990s New York to buy flowers for a party she is hosting for a dying friend. Moving effortlessly across the decades and between England and America, this exquisite novel intertwines the stories of three unforgettable women.Trade Review‘“The Hours” is a book which heightens the perception of the reader. Cunningham’s craftsmanship is overwhelming.’ Robert Farren, Independent on Sunday ‘An extremely moving, original and memorable novel.’ Hermione Lee, TLS ‘Engrossing, imaginative and humane.’ Richard Francis, Observer ‘“The Hours” refracts the lives of three women through the prism of a single day. Michael Cunningham evokes these three discrete characters with rare skill.’ Financial Times ‘The concept behind the novel is bold, the execution rich with feeling.’ Helen Dunmore, The Times ‘A sensitive marriage of intelligence, integrity and finely textured emotions.’ Sunday Times ‘Cunningham has found an American tone which is exhilaratingly modern – tense, tender and completely without strain.’ Guardian
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Of Love and Other Demons
Book SynopsisNobel Prize winner and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez blends the natural with supernatural in Of Love and Other Demons - a novel which explores community, superstition and collective hysteria. ''An ash-grey dog with a white blaze on its forehead burst on to the rough terrain of the market on the first Sunday of December''When a witch doctor appears on the Marquis de Casalduero''s doorstep prophesising a plague of rabies in the Colombian seaport, he dismisses her claims - until he hears that his young daughter, Sierva María, was one of four people bitten by a rabid dog, and the only one to survive.Sierva María appears completely unscathed - but as rumours of the plague spread, the Marquis and his wife wonder at her continuing good health. In a town consumed by superstition, it''s not long before they, and everyone else, put her survival down to a demonic possession andTrade ReviewBrilliantly moving. A tour de force * A.S. Byatt *
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd DaughtersinLaw
Book SynopsisCan a mother ever hand over her son to another woman?In this emotional and thought-provoking novel, multi-million copy bestselling author Joanna Trollope expertly weaves a study of familial relationships with a lightness of tone and real sense of compassion. Fans of Elizabeth Noble, Erica James and Amanda Prowse will love it!''Trollope writes about family life with wit, intelligence and verve'' - Guardian''Wonderfully observed and readable'' - THE TIMES''Infallibly elegant...Look more closely and something as grim as Greek tragedy is played out around the cosy family dining table'' - Daily Telegraph''I found it hard to put this book down'' -- ***** Reader review''A brilliant book'' -- ***** Reader review''Always an enjoyable read - Joanna Trollope is the mistress of family emotions'' -- ***** Reader review''I read it last week and have sTrade ReviewWe love Trollope's novels and await each new one with excitement * HEAT *Supremely sure of her material and purpose, compassionate but never sentimental * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Wonderfully observed and readable * THE TIMES *Infallibly elegant... All this lies beneath the sparkling, well groomed surface of a novel which could quite easily be read as a light diversion for an idle afternoon. But look more closely and something as grim as Greek tragedy is played out around the cosy family dinner table -- Jane Shilling * DAILY TELEGRAPH *As ever, Trollope writes about family life with wit, intelligence and verve * GUARDIAN *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Secret Life of William Shakespeare
Book SynopsisThe greatest writer of them all, brought to glorious life.How well do you know the man you love? How much do you think you know about Shakespeare? What if they were one and the same? He is an ordinary man: unwilling craftsman, ambitious actor, resentful son, almost good-enough husband. And he is also a genius. The story of how a glove-maker from Warwickshire became the greatest writer of them all is vaguely known to most of us, but it would take an exceptional modern novelist to bring him to life. And now at last Jude Morgan, acclaimed author of Passion and The Taste of Sorrow, has taken Shakespeare''s life, and created a masterpiece.
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Color of Water
Book SynopsisThis is James McBride's tribute to his remarkable, eccentric, determined mother, and an eloquent exploration of what family and the colour of your skin really meansTrade ReviewA triumph * New York Times Book Review *A startling, tender-hearted tribute to a woman for whom the expression tough love might have been invented * The Times *As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race * Washington Post *Inspiring * Glamour *Vibrant * Boston Globe *What is stunning here is the grace and compassion with which a young writer captures how shadows, once thrown, are cast across many generations, while celebrating at the same time a real melting-pot of cultures * Financial Times *A wonderfully evocative, moving book ... beautifully flowing prose, interlaced with compassion and humour * Literary Review *
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Salvage the Bones
Book Synopsis_______________''A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream'' - The Times''Fresh and urgent'' - New York Times''There's something of Faulkner to Ward's grand diction'' - Guardian_______________WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDHurricane Katrina is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch''s father is growing concerned. He''s a hard drinker, largely absent, and it isn''t often he worries about the family.Esch and her three brothers are stockpiling food, but there isn''t much to save. Lately, Esch can''t keep down what food she gets; at fifteen, she has just realized that she''s pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pit bull''s new litter, dying one by one. Meanwhile, brothers Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child''s play and shTrade ReviewFresh and urgent * New York Times *Masterful ... A palpable sense of desire and sorrow animates every page ... Salvage the Bones has the aura of a classic about it * Washington Post *A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream. A real dream: uneasy, vivid and deep as the sea * The Times *Beautifully written ... A powerful depiction of grinding poverty, where somehow, amid the deprivation, the flame of filial affection survives and a genuine spirit of community is able to triumph over everything the system and nature can throw at it * Daily Mail *There’s something of Faulkner to Ward’s grand diction * Guardian *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Tigers in Red Weather
Book SynopsisLiza Klaussmann was born in New York but lives in London. She is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Tigers in Red Weather and Villa America.Trade Review'It’s hard to know where to start a review of this startling debut novel because Tigers in Red Weather is absolutely packed with plot . . . anybody who enjoys Mad Men will almost certainly like this book . . . heady, page-turning stuff — the intelligent beach read of the summer.' Sunday Times‘Postwar America, beautiful and damaged people, secrets and lies and passions and martinis and the smell of something rotting beneath the fragrance of summer . . . an immensely gripping and well-told tale of two generations . . . It is part of the considerable pleasure of this novel that much of it reminds you of other stories, in prose and film. You are on familiar but never stale territory, and you read on with the growing conviction that a nasty surprise lies around the corner.’ Guardian‘What an unexpectedly brilliant read this is. It starts off all Stepford Wives and Valley of the Dolls and ends up somewhere in the territory of Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides or Donna Tartt's The Secret History . . . This is an ambitious undertaking for a first novel but Klaussmann really pulls it off, turning an elegant period piece into a creepy psychological thriller . . . A wonderfully clever, chilling summer read.’ Independent on Sunday'Tigers in Red Weather yokes literary craftmanship to a strong, engaging plot . . . The stakes are raised with artful subtlety over the course of the novel . . . The final sequence, told by a relative outsider, is impressively disquieting and concludes this arresting debut with a flourish of ventriloquism’ Literary Review ‘A scintillating look at a gilded but dysfunctional family grappling with lies, secrets and conspiracies . . . The voices of the five main characters ramp up the tension with languorously graceful prose, perfectly mirroring the book's long, dangerous summers.’ Marie Claire‘The novel you should be tucking into your beach bag this summer is Klaussmann’s excellent Tigers In Red Weather . . . Flipping back and forth across a couple of decades, it gracefully tracks the currents souring the intoxicating cocktail of money, sex, heat, boredom and beauty that constitutes the lives of the wealthy on Martha’s Vineyard following World War II. With a conscious nod to F Scott Fitzgerald, it’s a clever, sensual thriller that combines a smidgen of Klaussmann’s family history with a clear-eyed perspective on the multi-faceted nature of families and the emotional duplicity of the rich.’ Metro'Summers are made for novels like Liza Klaussmann's debut, a sophisticated page-turner, where danger and pain throb in every tight-lipped silence, every casually cruel remark, every misinterpreted gesture . . . Hemingway['s] influence is apparent in the simplicity of her language and observations . . . I read it the first time in one sitting, and envy anyone about to start it, with that delicious pleasure ahead of them.' Sunday Telegraph'Two things set this enjoyably creepy book apart from your average beach read. The plot and pacing are expertly managed . . . But the real selling point is the writing, which is minimalist and evocative at the same time.' Observer‘Tragedy, betrayal and passion . . . A riveting, intelligent read’ Stylist
£7.19
HarperCollins Publishers SPRING ON THE LITTLE CORNISH ISLES The most
Book SynopsisBeautifully written and had me hooked from page one' Reader ReviewA gorgeous springtime read from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.Will love bloom on the little Cornish Isles?Jess has lived at the idyllic flower farm on the Isles of Scilly her whole life, but when her boyfriend Adam leaves without explanation, Jess discovers that even her little slice of Cornish heaven can be lonely.For the first time in Will's life, he's met someone he can't stop thinking about. But nothing is simple when the woman of your dreams is working for you.Gaby is running away from painful memories, and where could be more perfect than a remote island off the Cornish coast? But to put the past behind her, she must keep moving however much she might want to stay.A gorgeous spring-time romance from Sunday Times bestselling author Phillipa Ashley. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Karen Swan and Heidi Swain.Authors and readers can't get enough of Phillipa AshlTrade ReviewPraise for Phillipa Ashley: ‘Sheer joy!’ Katie Ffforde ‘A lovely read full of secrets and hope.’ Jo Thomas ‘Will make you laugh and cry.’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Gloriously uplifting and unashamedly warm hearted!’ Faith Hogan ‘A blissful story, full of sunshine, secrets and Phillipa’s trademark romance.’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘Escapism at its very best, what a book!’ Milly Johnson ‘Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!’ Jill Mansell ‘An utterly glorious, escapist read from a one of the freshest voices in women's fiction today. I loved every gorgeous page.’ Claudia Carroll ‘Serious escapism … like a big warm hug.’ Popsugar ‘Romantic and life-affirming.’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Full of genuine warmth and quirky characters.’ Woman’s Own
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Early Morning Riser The bittersweet hilarious and
Book SynopsisGorgeous. Very, very funny in a knowing wry way but so tender, so beautiful. I loved all the characters.' Marian KeyesWarm, witty, touching and frequently hilarious' David Nicholls, author of Sweet SorrowYou put the book down and feel glad to be alive' India Knight, Sunday Times Duncan is charming, handsome and Jane falls in love with him easily.But he has also slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City. Jane sees Duncan''s old girlfriends everywhere at restaurants, at the grocery store and his ex-wife, Aggie, still has him mow her lawn.But everything changes with one tragic accident. Now her life is permanently intertwined with them all and she knows she will never have Duncan to herself.But is it possible that a deeper kind of happiness is right in front of her eyes?Trade Review‘Gorgeous. Very, very funny, but so tender, so beautiful. I loved all the characters, I cared deeply’ Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups ‘Glorious. I love how it evokes the rhythm of life in all its joy and ordinariness and chaos. I loved the dialogue, the relationships. I love the one-liners, the humour, the gorgeous detail, the food, the innermost thoughts, and the love.’ Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to Be Cheerful ‘Charming and tender, an offbeat and original gem that cracks your heart wide open’ Pandora Sykes, author of How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? 'Wise, sad and barkingly funny. Katherine Heiny writes brilliantly about what we mean by the word 'family' and her novel is loving without being soppy and warm without being cosy – I didn't want it to end’ Lissa Evans, author of V for Victory ‘Katherine Heiny’s books feel like spending time with a smart, funny and beloved friend who always has a million interesting things to talk about but always wants to know about you, too. She is a charming and insightful and unique writer and Early Morning Riser is every bit as good as Standard Deviation, if not better’ Lisa Jewell, author of Invisible Girl ‘Warm, witty, touching – and frequently hilarious’ David Nicholls, author of Sweet Sorrow ‘Heaven. Everything I have ever craved in a novel’ Daisy Buchannan, author of Insatiable ‘Heiny has smart and serious things to say about care and responsibility, even as she keeps things bubbly with a steady stream of comedy provided by the novel's gossipy close-knit community’ DAILY MAIL ‘Early Morning Riser is tender, funny and affecting, a charming friend of a book to ease the Covid blues’ THE BIG ISSUE ‘It’s a heart-warming tale of flawed, fragile, funny characters who battle unruly emotions and disappointments to seize the chance of happiness when it comes their way’ DAILY EXPRESS
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd Seven Exes
Book Synopsis'Seven Exes made me laugh out loud. It's fresh, fast-paced and joyous. Lucy Vine's writing is so warm and funny - her books are the literary equivalent of an amazing girls' night out' BETH O'LEARY Esther is out with her two friends, bemoaning her lack of relationship, when she finds a magazine from the noughties. Seeking comfort – and a laugh – she turns to the dating advice only to find an article that feels a little too close to home. According to the journalist, there are seven people a woman will date before finding the one: The First Love, The Work Mistake, The Friend with Benefits, The Overlap, The Missed Chance, The Bastard and The Serious One. Her friends laugh but Esther realises each of her exes fits these roles perfectly. Deciding that she’s mistaken her true love in the reject pile she decides to contact each of her exes to find out which is the one that got away...Trade ReviewClever, perceptive and screamingly funny, Seven Exes is a joyous commentary on the mores and mysteries of modern dating and how past loves can shape our future. Throw in some delicious nostalgia, some genuinely sexy love interests and Vine's mastery of female friendships in all their frank and messy glory, and it's a book you'll never, ever want to break up with. -- Lauren BravoFunny, hopeful and agonisingly relatable, Esther is all of us. Lucy Vine writes with such compelling honesty, Seven Exes made me laugh, made me cry and made me want to call all my friends to tell them I loved them then call my exes to apologize/punch them in the nuts. Equal parts romcom and life lesson, it's a must-read. -- Lindsey KelkOne of the freshest, funniest rom-coms I've ever read… with so much heart and depth. -- Daisy BuchananSeven Exes is a bit of me! A shimmering rom-com with plenty of gorgeous romance and even more achingly funny comedy. I loved the nostalgia, I loved the tenderness and I absolutely adored the friendship between Esther and her best pals. This is a joyous must-read. -- Hannah Doyle, author of The A to Z of UsBursting with sparky humour. Esther and her female friends are a joy and Esther’s search for the boy from her past who may or may not have got away is both funny & moving. -- Jill MansellHilarious, relatable, heart-warming, extremely binge-able -- Kate Weston-BrookesAppallingly funny, relatable and wise -- Rosie WalshLucy Vine always knocks it out of the park and Seven Exes is no exception. I couldn’t put it down! It’s so smart, so funny, and so warts-and-all real. A nostalgic, comforting romcom. I loved it! -- Lia LouisRiotously funny, charming, and nostalgic, Seven Exes is a truly optimistic look at turning 30 and all the mess that can come with. Superb! -- Laura Jane WilliamsFun, playful and warm, SEVEN EXES is a whirlwind of book. Riotous yet sincere, lighthearted yet thoughtful, this book is absurdly entertaining and will make you laugh like you’re with old friends -- Caroline HulseI really enjoy SEVEN EXES! It was like a therapy session cleverly wrapped up in rom-com packaging. A bright, sparky rom-com that will make you question your relationship with the past, for sure! -- Justin Myers/The GuylinerSEVEN EXES was such a joy to read. I adore everything Lucy writes but I think this is her best one yet. -- Holly BourneHilarious and heart-warming, SEVEN EXES is unputdownable and deeply relatable. I gobbled it up! Esther is endearing, realistic, and I was rooting for her every step of the way in her mission to track down her exes and take a look back on her journey so far. It's got gorgeously written female friendships and is packed with laugh-out-loud moments, SEVEN EXES is an absolute TRIUMPH. -- Beth ReeklesFun, funny, feisty, and fabulous. Lucy Vine is a firework. -- Milly Johnson'A beautiful testament to female friendship and the power of women in your life. Lucy Vine writes about the messy glory of female friendships with such ease and joy that you immediately want to exist in her world. Seven Exes is the only thing you need to pack this summer' Salma El-Wardany 'A rather lovely ode to the power of friends' Stylist 'A brilliantly absorbing tale' Women & Home ‘Funny and heart-warming’ Daily Mail ‘hilariously funny and sharply observed… fresh, sexy and smart romcom’ Heat ‘funny and frank’ Best ‘endearing’ Times 'The beauty of Lucy's writing is that you'll cry and laugh in the same chapter. With it tapping into 2023's dating culture... It feels both refreshingly modern and satisfyingly traditional in the same breath' Belfast Telegraph ‘A sweary, panic-sweaty but ultimately rather endearing take on facing your demons — and realising that women’s magazine features should rarely be believed. Definitely don’t try this at home’ The Sunday Times
£8.54
Pan Macmillan The Harpy
Book Synopsis‘Brilliant . . . A deeply unsettling, excellent read’ - Daisy Johnson, author of Everything Under 'A potent contemporary fable . . . riveting' - Guardian‘Genuinely thrilling . . . one long beautiful scream’ - Evie WyldLucy lives with her husband Jake and their two boys. Her life is devoted to her children, her days mapped out by their finely tuned routine.Until a man calls one afternoon with a shattering message: his wife has been having an affair with Lucy’s husband. He thought she should know.Lucy is distraught. She decides to stay with Jake, if only for the children’s sake, but in order to even the score, they agree that she will hurt him three times. Jake will not know when the hurt is coming, or what form it will take. And so begins a delicate game of crime and punishment, from which there is no return . . .Told in dazzling, musical prose, The Harpy by Megan Hunter is a dark, staggering fairy tale, at once mythical and otherworldly and fiercely contemporary. It is a novel of love, marriage and its failures, of power and revenge, of metamorphosis and renewal.‘Utterly compelling . . . precise and darkly truthful’ Esther Freud Trade ReviewThe Harpy is brilliant. Hunter imbues the everyday with apocalyptic unease. A deeply unsettling, excellent read. -- Daisy Johnson, Booker shortlisted author of Everything UnderIn The Harpy, Hunter has articulated female rage in a way that lives on in your bones and in your gut. A genuinely thrilling read, one long beautiful scream. -- Evie WyldMegan Hunter’s potent contemporary fable about the enduring taboo of female fury becomes especially relevant. Every bit as riveting as her debut The End We Start From . . . the ensuing drama blends mythic motifs with pointed swipes at modern motherhood’s double binds. * Guardian *The Harpy is an almost perfect book. The premise is so simple, and the execution so flawless . . . I've talked about it more than anything else I've read so far this year: I love explaining the set-up to friends and watching their eyes widen. It's so dark and so much fun. -- Kristen Roupenian, author of Cat PersonHunter writes viscerally and incisively about the taboos of female desire and rage . . . [a] striking, pared-down modern myth * Daily Mail *A fiery tale of infidelity . . . she manages to elevate her story to something that is at once rooted in the everyday and effortlessly transcends it . . . a gripping, psychologically astute account of a relationship in free-fall * Scotsman *Sentence after sentence made my skin bump. Not just with what the sentence said, but because the writing was so very, very good. It's a brilliant piece of work. -- Cynan Jones, author of CoveUtterly compelling . . . so precise and darkly truthful. I thought it succeeding in illuminating - with flair and originality - the damage done by betrayal. -- Esther FreudI was utterly spellbound. Her dark humour and pointillist prose puts her in league with Lydia Davis and Jenny Offil, masterfully rendering the emotional shock of a protagonist finding her life has become story. -- Olivia Sudjic, author of SympathyA sharp, timely and darkly funny novel about maternal love and sacrifice, and the incandescent rage that festers beneath it. Hunter's writing is beautiful and spare, uncanny and hilarious. I utterly loved it. -- Luiza Sauma, author of Flesh and Bone and WaterA beautifully written, viscerally disturbing novel that turns the narrative of the cheated-on wife on its head -- Laura Kaye, author of English AnimalsMegan Hunter effortlessly compels us to feel both heartbreak and the momentary gratification of revenge . . . devastating in its evocation of the expense and sometimes fatal strain of passion, grief, and rage.’ -- Susanna Moore, author of In the CutThe Harpy is a taut and lyrical novel about cosily calibrated lives coming spectacularly undone. Compulsively absorbing yet otherworldly, both a fever dream and a gorgeous and alarming howl of rage. -- Sharlene Teo, author of PontiIn hungry, restless prose, Megan Hunter tears apart the seam between motherhood and the monstrous. She confronts the fear of female anger and asks us what happens when pain that has been swallowed through generations begins to rush to the surface. -- Jessica Andrews, author of SaltwaterOn one level it is the psychological excavation of a suburban marriage on the rocks, on another, a spell to summon primeval feminine power. Above all, it is prose informed by poetry . . . a brilliant and eviscerating work of literary fiction * Review 31 *With shades of Carmen Maria Machado and Karen Russell, Hunter turns in an unforgettable magical realist story of power, revenge, and transformation. * Esquire *A blisteringly tense, brilliant book about adultery, betrayal, motherhood and revenge -- Amanda Craig
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Numbers Game: An uplifting story of second
Book SynopsisRelationships come together, fall apart and are reinvented over time in this warm-hearted novel by the world’s favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Eileen Jackson was happy to set aside her own career dreams in order to raise a family with her husband Paul. But when she discovers Paul’s affair with a younger woman, she begins to question all those years of sacrifice and compromise. On the brink of forty, she fears it is too late to start over. Meanwhile, Paul’s girlfriend Olivia is struggling to find herself while in the shadow of her mother, a famous actress, and her grandmother, a fiercely independent artist. With their love and support, Olivia takes a major professional step. But she realizes she still has much to learn about herself before committing her life to someone else. Ultimately, Eileen decides to chase her own dreams as well, thousands of miles away in Paris. What awaits is an adventure that transforms her life. At every age, there are challenges to be met and new worlds to discover. The Numbers Game is a reminder that it’s never too late to turn a new page and start again.
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd Tennis Lessons
Book SynopsisFor fans of I MAY DESTROY YOU and FLEABAG and for readers who want to laugh and cry: the brave, beautiful, sometimes brutal story of a young misfit and her rocky road to womanhood, stopping at each year along the way.'I loved Tennis Lessons so much. Susannah is a phenomenally talented writer' ELIZABETH DAY'A raw, fierce, shockingly honest coming-of-age story' LOUISE O'NEILL 'Incredibly funny . . . by turns charming and disgusting and I loved it' NELL FRIZZELL You're strange and wrong. You've known it from the beginning.This is the voice that rings in your ears. Because you never say the right thing. You're a disappointment to everyone. You're a far cry from beautiful - and your thoughts are ugly too.You seem bound to fail, bound to break. But you know what it is to laugh with your best friend, to feel the first tentative tingles of attraction, to take exquisite pleasure in the affront of your unruly body.You just need to find your place.From dead pets and crashed cars to family traumas and misguided love affairs, Susannah Dickey's revitalizing debut novel plunges us into the private world of one young woman as she navigates her rocky way to adulthood.'Brilliant . . . a wonderful writer, hugely talented, very funny and insightful' ALAN DAVIES'Propulsive . . . brilliantly vivid . . . stays in the mind long after reading' IRISH TIMES'A beautifully written and psychologically incisive bildungsroman...the arrival of a young writer to watch' OBSERVERTrade ReviewThis is a raw, fierce, shockingly honest coming-of-age story. Tennis Lessons heralds the arrival of a startling new voice in literary fiction * Louise O'Neill *I loved Tennis Lessons so much * ELIZABETH DAY *An incredibly funny and poignant portrait of what it is to be young, female and human. The whole thing is witty - the narrative voice, the dialogue, the plot and the detail - while also having searing moments of sadness, discomfort and cruelty. Susannah Dickey has created a world and a main character that is by turns disgusting and charming and I loved it. * Nell Frizzell *A beautifully written and psychologically incisive bildungsroman...the arrival of a young writer to watch * Observer *Brilliant . . . a wonderful writer, hugely talented, very funny and insightful. * Alan Davies *
£9.49
Cornerstone Miss Austen: the #1 bestseller and one of the
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling novel, set to be a major TV drama series.'You can't help feeling that Jane would have approved.' OBSERVER'So good, so intelligent, so clever, so entertaining - I adored it.' CLAIRE TOMALIN________________________Throughout her lifetime, Jane Austen wrote countless letters to her sister. But why did Cassandra burn them all?1840: twenty three years after the death of her famous sister Jane, Cassandra Austen returns to the village of Kintbury, and the home of her family's friends, the Fowles.She knows that, in some dusty corner of the sprawling vicarage, there is a cache of family letters which hold secrets she can never allow to be revealed.As Cassandra recalls her youth and her relationship with her brilliant yet complex sister, she pieces together buried truths about Jane's history, and her own. And she faces a stark choice: should she act to protect Jane's reputation, or leave the contents of the letters to go unguarded into posterity?Based on a literary mystery that has long puzzled biographers and academics, Miss Austen is a wonderfully original and emotionally complex novel about the loves and lives of Cassandra and Jane Austen.________________________'The perfect book to wrap yourself around on a dark night' STYLIST'Celebrates unexamined lives, sisterhood and virtues such as kindness and loyalty' SUNDAY TIMES'This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel' KAREN JOY FOWLER, author of The Jane Austen Bookclub'It's a delight, one of those that you don't want to end.' RTE'A charming novel' SUNDAY MIRROR'Hornby brings to life the Austen family, using the known to speculate on what might have been.' THE TIMES Audio Book of the Week'Extraordinary and heart-wrenching.' LARA PRESCOTT, author of The Secrets We Kept'Gill Hornby ingeniously imagines what Cassandra Austen's own life might have been like.' DEIRDRE LE FAYE, editor of Jane Austen's Letters'Tender and touching' DAILY MAIL'Utterly absorbing.' ARTEMIS COOPER'Delightful.' SUE RYAN, founder of Henley Lit FestTrade ReviewWithout romanticising its period setting or underplaying the precariousness of any woman’s position in this society, it celebrates unexamined lives, sisterhood and virtues such as kindness and loyalty. * SUNDAY TIMES *This is the perfect book to wrap yourself around on a dark night. * STYLIST *Miss Austen voices the (hitherto) shadowy figure of Cassandra, the villainies of the piece, and makes her flesh and blood…. Gill Hornby is at her best describing the complex bonds between the “excellent women” of her story. She describes the horrors, but also the pleasures, of spinsterhood. * THE TIMES *So good, so intelligent, so clever, so entertaining – I adored it. -- CLAIRE TOMALINHornby's gift to the world of Austen lovers is to return to Cassandra her rightful recognition as Jane's most intimate and sustaining relationship, her greatest love. This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts. -- KAREN JOY FOWLER, author of THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB and WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES
£9.49
Pan Macmillan City of Friends
Book SynopsisAn emotional journey portraying the multiple frustrations, pressures and hidden agonies of four women. City of Friends is the number one bestselling novel from the highly acclaimed author, Joanna Trollope.The day Stacey Grant loses her job feels like the last day of her life. Or at least, the only life she'd ever known. For who was she if not a City high-flyer, Senior Partner at one of the top private equity firms in London?As Stacey starts to reconcile her old life with the new – one without professional achievements or meetings, but instead, long days at home with her dog and ailing mother, waiting for her successful husband to come home – she at least has The Girls to fall back on. Beth, Melissa and Gaby. The girls, now women, had been best friends from the early days of university right through their working lives, and for all the happiness and heartbreaks in between.But these career women all have personal problems of their own, and when Stacey's redundancy forces a betrayal to emerge that was supposed to remain secret, their long cherished friendships will be pushed to their limits . . .'It's fiendishly well plotted and, with its glittering London settings, full of urban glamour' - Daily MailTrade ReviewJoanna Trollope's novels address the issues and emotional journeys that face women today. In this, her 20th novel, she turns a sharp and reflective eye upon four friends in their workplaces . . . As the novel progresses, each woman is forced to question herself and to ask what really matters. How important is work? How much more do women have to put up with in the workplace than men? What price transparency, especially among friends? The author addresses all these questions with her customary insight and wisdom, depicting the characters with warmth and psychological veracity, drawing the reader deep into their lives. * S Magazine, Sunday Express *Ventures into tough new territories of female experience. * Sunday Times *It's fiendishly well plotted and, with its glittering London settings, full of urban glamour * Daily Mail *Explores the multiple frustrations, pressures and hidden agonies of the lives of modern women * Metro *This is a delightfully grown-up tale, deftly balancing escapist details with relatable office and home challenges, including ageing parents, rebellious teens and boardroom ethics. Poised and insightful, it's a paean to the joys of leaning in - especially when the going gets tough. * Mail on Sunday *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Year of Taking Chances
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Summer at Shell Cottage comes The Year of Taking Chances, a novel full of warmth, humour and romance. Because love is always worth the risk . . .It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember.Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet. But as the months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted are thrown into disarray. Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?Trade ReviewWell-written, full of humour and filled with a reminder about what it means to be kind * Closer *Warm, witty and wise - perfect for lazy afternoons on the sofa * Daily Mail *Sparkling tale of love and friendship * Heat Magazine *An exciting read perfect for this time of year! * OK Magazine *Another sparkling read * Sun on Sunday *
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Any Way You Want Me
Book SynopsisOn paper, Sadie's got it all - the partner, the children, the house. But in real life, that doesn't feel quite enough. Sadie can't help harking back to the time when she was a career woman by day and a party animal by night. And what happened to feeling like a sex kitten, anyway? The only sleepless nights she's getting now are due to the baby. Maybe a little reinvention is the answer . . . Sadie can't resist creating a fictitious online identity for herself as a hot TV producer. It's only a bit of harmless fun . . . until truth and fantasy become dangerously tangled. It isn't long before she's wondering if the exciting alter ego she has dreamed up really is the kind of person she wants to be after all . . .Wry, funny and with a wonderful twist in the tale, Lucy Diamond's debut novel Any Way You Want Me is an enchanting story of infidelity, motherhood and friends reunited.
£8.54
Headline Publishing Group Forever Jack
Book Synopsis''I loved this book, everyone needs a Jack Eversea in their life'' 5* reader review Following Eversea, Forever, Jack is the second gorgeous Butler Cove novel from Natasha Boyd. Nicholas Sparks introduced you to Noah Calhoun. Jamie McGuire brought you Travis Maddox. Now meet Jack Eversea, and prepare to be swept away...When Hollywood movie star Jack Eversea stumbled into sleepy Butler Cove, he had no idea he would encounter the only ''real'' thing that''s ever happened to him - only to let her slip through his fingers... Small-town girl Keri Ann Butler''s life changed the night she met Jack Eversea. But suddenly he was gone, and she had to pick up the pieces and start again.Now Jack is back, with one thing on his mind. Winning back the girl who stole his heart. Whatever it takes. But is it too late? Passionate. Devastating. Explosive. Unforgettable. <Trade ReviewBoyd creates magic once again * A Bookish Escape *Natasha Boyd weaves a fascinating tale of love, loss, heartache and redemption * Tome Tender Book Blog *A perfect blend of heartbreak, angst, romance, steam and pure love in its rawest and sometimes most painful form * All Romance Reviews *5 Eversea* glass Loving Stars! * Sizzling Pages Reviews *
£8.54
Headline Publishing Group Eversea
Book Synopsis ''Eversea is captivating, romantic and a stunning read to get lost in! I''ll be honest - this is a book that I have been DREAMING of reading'' 5* reader review Eversea is the first gorgeous Butler Cove novel from Natasha Boyd. If you loved Nicholas Sparks'' Noah Calhoun and lusted after Jamie McGuire''s Travis Maddox, you''ll be dreaming about Jack Eversea...An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose. A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both for ever.As powerful as the pounding surf, as intoxicating as the sea breeze, this is one love affair you won''t be able to forget about...Don''t miss the electrifying sequel, Forever, Jack, and return to Butler Cove in the noTrade ReviewA completely captivating read * Romfan Reviews *You will get lost in the characters and their stories. This book is escapism at its very best. A beautiful coming of age story with lots of lovely romance mixed in * Bookish Treasures Blog *An absolutely sexy, heart-touching tale of finding oneself and discovering love along the way. Eversea is brilliantly written with lovable characters and wonderful story that left me wanting more * Tome Tender Book Blog *So if you'd like a book that's full of vibrant characters, swoon (fracking hot) males that leave you hot under the collar, and just generally a book that leaves you wanting so much more, then pick this book up! * Book Passion for Life Blog *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers LOVE AT THE LITTLE WEDDING SHOP BY THE SEA Return
Book SynopsisSt Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it's always cocktail hour somewhereA pure delight' Debbie JohnsonReturn to your favourite little wedding shop by the sea for love, laughter and a romance to sweep you off your feet! It's the most romantic day of the year but the girls aren't just gearing up for Valentine's Day and a busy wedding season ahead, it's also the 10 year anniversary of their beloved shop!Jess is planning the party of the decade and with the champagne and cocktails flowing, sparks are going to flyand not just from the fireworks display!Readers adore Jane Linfoot's books!Have you ever liked a book so much that you wanted to give it a hugchicklit GOLD' Pretty Little Book ReviewsJane Linfoot combines fabulous friendship with gorgeous true lovea fantastic captivating story with a sweet romantic ending' With Love for BooksA character that you genuinely like' Mrs Wheddon ReviewsThe perfect holiday readyou feel as if you are part of the group ofTrade ReviewPraise for Jane Linfoot: ‘Sparkling, laugh-out-loud, romantic’ Phillipa Ashley, bestselling author of Summer at the Cornish Café ‘The perfect holiday read to warm your heart’ #1 Bestselling author Tracy Bloom 'Just like the perfect wedding cake, Cupcakes and Confetti is beautifully crafted and wrapped in romance' Heidi Swain ‘Funny and big-hearted, I was enchanted by Lily and her friends’ Sunday Times bestselling author Michele Gorman ‘A pure delight…fabulous, fun and unforgettable’ Debbie Johnson, bestselling author of Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe
£11.33
Alma Books Ltd Sense and Sensibility
Book Synopsis"Sense and Sensibility" is famously characterised as the story of two Dashwood sisters who embody the conflict between the oppressive nature of 'civilised' society and the human desire for romantic passion. However, there is far more to this story of two daughters made homeless by the death of their father. Elinor, 19, and Marianne, 17, initially project the opposing roles with Elinor cautious and unassuming about romantic matters, while Marianne is wild and passionate when she falls hopelessly in love with the libertine Mr Willoughby. But the lessons in love and life see the two characters develop and change with sense and sensibility needing to be compromised as a matter of survival.Written when Austen was just nineteen, this story has been read as a biographical reflection of her relationship with her own sister Cassandra, with the younger Jane being the victim of 'sensibility.' However, the novel is far more than a simple case of passion versus manners, and depicts the romantic complications of two women made highly vulnerable by the loss of their father and estate. With a raw and intense quality Austen creates a romantic masterpiece on the backdrop of a fragile social context.Trade Review"As a creative realist, giving to her characters the very body and pressure of actual life, no writer, living or dead, has surpassed her." - John Cowper Powys - "The technique of [Jane Austen's novels] is beyond praise... Her mastery of the art she chose, or that chose her, is complete." --Elizabeth Bowen - "The wit of Jane Austen has for partner the perfection of her taste." --Virginia Woolf
£7.56
Alma Books Ltd The Last Tycoon
Book SynopsisMonroe Stahr is a film producer at the height of his career, revered by the industry and in control of every aspect of his business empire. In his ruthless rise to the top, the young widower has had little time for sentiment, until he mets the beguiling Kathleen Moore and the two embark on an intense but ill-fated relationship. Told in parts from the perspective of Cecelia Brady, the witty and perceptive daughter of Stahr's business partner, The Last Tycoon is a sophisticated, gripping tale of love and intrigue in the Golden Age of Hollywood, containing what many critics have claimed are Fitzgerald's most modern and engaging chracters.Trade ReviewHe was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop
Book SynopsisThe glittering new uplifting Christmas read from bestselling author Cressida McLaughlin.A wonderfully cosy festive treat' My weeklyOllie Spencer has started a new life in the idyllic Cornish seaside town of Port Karadow. Throwing herself into her job at the town's bookshop, A New Chapter, is one way to make friends. The shop is glitzing up for first Christmas and Ollie hopes her inspired ideas will give the shop the edge it needs to dazzle the town.But far from being the Sugar Plum fairy the place needs, Ollie is fast becoming its Christmas pudding. With the bookshop's success at stake, Ollie turns to twinkly-eyed café owner Max for help. Can he help Ollie to turn the page, and put the sparkle back into her Cornish dream?Praise for the Cornish Cream Tea series:Gorgeous!' Phillipa AshleyPerfect' Cathy BramleyWarm-hearted fun with a sprinkle of love' Holly MartinTrade Review Praise for Cressida McLaughlin: ‘One of our favourite women’s fiction stars’ – Heat ‘A warm and wonderful read’ – Woman’s Own ‘The perfect summer treat; as sweet as a cream scone and just as moreish’ – Cathy Bramley ‘Gorgeously romantic’ – Rachael Lucas ‘Cressida's characters are wonderful. So warm and relatable… A delicious summer treat!’ – Sarah Morgan ‘Evocative and gorgeous’ – Phillipa Ashley ‘Warm and wonderful… bursting with characters you’ll adore’ – Miranda Dickinson ‘So many perfect romantic moments that made me melt.’ – Jules Wake ‘You’ll want to cancel plans and stay in’ – Pernille Hughes ‘Sizzingly romantic and utterly compelling’ – Alex Brown ‘I just LOVED this story. All the characters are wonderful’ – Isabelle Broom ‘Real heart and soul’ – Sarra Manning ‘I absolutely love Cressida’s warm-hearted, romantic stories – they’re the perfect escape’ – Rachael Lucas ‘A wonderful ray of reading sunshine’ – Heidi Swain ‘A little slice of a Cornish cream tea but without the calories’ – Bella Osborne ‘Perfectly pitched between funny, sexy, tender and downright heartbreaking’ – Jane Casey 'A lovely warm gem’ – Alex Brown ‘McLaughlin writes so warmly and vividly, the rest of the world melts away!’ – Kirsty Greenwood ‘Beautiful, heartwarming. Drew me in and I didn’t want to leave!’ – Zara Stoneley ‘As hot & steamy as a freshly made hot chocolate, and as sweet & comforting as the whipped cream & sprinkles that go on top’ – Helen Fields
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Christmas Holiday
Book SynopsisShe''s planned the perfect Christmas. But fate might have other ideas... Krystle didn''t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had,bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible. With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway. But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas. Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won''t take no for an answer. Can she melt Max''s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn''t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical--
£8.54
Arcturus Publishing Ltd Pride and Prejudice
Book SynopsisA collector''s edition of the best-loved classic work of English literature, complete with Wibalin binding, gold foil embossing and gilded page-edges.Pride & Prejudice is a classic romance that every reader will love to have on their bookshelf. A comedy of manners centring on the slow-burning romance between the coquettish Elizabeth Bennet and aristocratic, reserved Mr Darcy, this tale of an attraction of opposites has chimed with readers through the ages. This luxurious edition makes a wonderful gift.ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautifully bound editions of iconic literary works across history. These compact, foil-embossed hardbacks are printed using deluxe ivory paper and make the perfect gift.
£8.54
Faber & Faber Tell Me What I Am
Book SynopsisIt kept me awake desperate to find out what had happened to affect them all so badly.' 5* reader review'This is a beautifully written novel with powerfully drawn characters.' 5* reader review'Had me hooked...
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa:
Book Synopsis** AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST AND BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR 2023 ** ** SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARDS 2023: DEBUT FICTION ** ‘A voice unlike any other’ OBSERVER ‘I fell in love immediately’ MAX PORTER ‘A writer of imagination and flair’ ECONOMIST ‘Smart, subversive, funny, heartbreaking’ KAMILA SHAMSIE ‘Buoro's writing deserves to inspire a generation of superheroes’ THE TIMES Fifteen-year-old Andrew Aziza lives in Kontagora, Nigeria, where his days are spent about town with his droogs, Slim and Morocca, grappling with his fantasies about white girls – especially blondes – and wondering who his father is. When he’s not in church, at school or attempting to form ‘Africa’s first superheroes’, he obsesses over mathematical theorems, ideas of black power and HXVX: the Curse of Africa. Sure enough, the reluctantly nicknamed ‘Andy Africa’ soon falls hopelessly and inappropriately in love with the first white girl he lays eyes on, Eileen. But at the church party held to celebrate her arrival, multiple crises loom. An unfamiliar man claims, despite his mother’s denials, to be Andy’s father, and the gathering of an anti-Christian mob is headed for the church – both set to shake the foundations of everything Andy knows and loves. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa announces a dazzling, distinctive, new literary voice. Profound, exhilarating and highly original, this tragicomic novel is a stunning exploration of the contemporary African ‘condition’, the relentless infiltration of Western culture and, most of all, the ordinary but impossible challenges of coming of age in a turbulent world.Trade ReviewThis is extraordinary, driven by a gloriously eccentric central character. It is utterly compelling, not shy about posing difficult questions for the reader * 2023 Nero Book Prize Judges *The pleasure here is as much in the journey as the destination, with sex, terrorism and, er, catechisms in the mix. Buoro has energy to burn -- IndependentCraft and verve abound in this tragicomic coming-of-age debut fuelled by the lapel-grabbing voice of its 15-year-old narrator, Andy . . . Both sweet and sour, it offers a family story, a thwarted romance and a story of friendship * Daily Mail *A smart and incisive coming-of-age tragicomedy * i *The vivid immediacy of Buoro’s prose is transporting, his similes as alive as the scenes he paints . . . [Buoro's] writing deserves to inspire a generation of superheroes * The Times *This ticks all the boxes of a literary blockbuster . . . Buoro commits to representing diversity within Blackness, the way Toni Morrison does . . . You wouldn’t be wrong to read the book as satire of a certain kind of Black aspiration, or as an allegory of Africa and the western imperialist project. Or you could read it as itself, without abstracting its particularities: the story of a boy doing his best under the assault of powerful western influences and illusions * Guardian *An assured debut . . . [Buoro] brings Andy’s world to life with such immediacy * Independent *Buoro is a writer of imagination and flair . . . His sentences are mad, boisterous, incantatory – and, in a continent where rhythm is as common as praying, quite singular. The prose on any page could only be his. And Andy Africa is an unforgettable character … Contemporary African literature is rich in coming-of-age stories. For its sheer energy, The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is among the best * Economist *An exhilarating, tragicomic novel that questions what it means to come of age in Nigeria today . . . A voice unlike any other * Observer *Beautiful, intelligent and heart-wrenching -- NoViolet Bulawayo, author of GLORY and WE NEED NEW NAMESA barnstorming, heartbreaking debut . . . Tackling the perils of carving out a unique identity in a world of carnage and confusion, in the shadow of colonialism, this assured, engaging book, will make you fall in love with teenager Andy Aziza, and will undoubtedly make a star of Stephen Buoro * Harper's Bazaar, Highlights for 2023 *This novel exudes a wonderfully vivid sense of place and leads the reader inside the head of its teenage hero . . . It’s a narrative of depth that also manages to be instantly engaging -- Ian RankinI fell in love with this novel immediately. [It has] hilarious energy, a satirical but also wildly ambitious philosophical framework … It’s eccentric, profound, timely, specific but it also has global concerns and a really, really brilliant central character -- Max PorterFascinating; unashamedly, brilliantly intelligent. It grapples with ideas around maths, Afrofuturism, biblical myth . . . profound philosophical stuff, but fundamentally it’s a really playful, pleasurable book about young boy who’s falling madly in love, and has a difficult, intense, loving relationship with his mother -- Sarah PerryStephen Buoro’s wonderful The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is filled with lovable, memorable characters. You’ll meet a young man pining over a fantasy; his fierce mother who tries to shield him as best she can; a friend who confides; and others who just want happiness. This novel is at once funny and heartbreaking. Most importantly, it’s honest -- De'Shawn Charles Winslow, author of DECENT PEOPLE and IN THE WEST MILLSA blazing debut – smart, subversive, funny, heartbreaking. I’m already impatient for Buoro’s next book -- Kamila ShamsieHilarious and heartbreaking and full of surprises, Stephen Buoro’s debut novel puts us inside the head of the titular teenager, a charming, nervous Nigerian kid who is curious about the world but convinced that he lives on a cursed continent. It’s a fun and harrowing place to be * The Philadelphia Inquirer *
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Jasper Vale
Book SynopsisGet ready for small towns stirred by mystery and desire in The Eden series, sexy fourth story . . .Eloise is so close to her dream she can almost taste it. Eloise Eden always knew one day she''d take over her family''s hotel, The Eloise Inn, in Quincy, Montana. All she has to do is prove she''s responsible to her parents. And that her immature, gullible, and reckless ways are long gone. But now her ideal future is at stake following a weekend in Las Vegas when she comes home married to a stranger. Jasper must have put her under a spell with those soul-deep eyes because after a single night together, they woke up husband and wife. Her only hope is to keep this marriage a secret until it''s annulled. Then she''ll pretend it never happened. Except Jasper begs her to stay married. To fake it for just three months so she can accompany him to a wedding. Maybe she''s lost her mind to agree. But her brooding husband seems desperat
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Nobody Puts Romcoms In The Corner
Book SynopsisThe perfect pick me up romcom for fans of Beth O'Leary, Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood!Not an expert, not even close, not in any of this. But nobody will try harder than me to make you happy.Sally is a classic romantic and Harry is a classic cynic, but when a drunken bet leads the new flatmates to (badly) recreate the lift' from Dirty Dancing, and the video goes viral (#EpicRomcomReenactmentFailure), they both realise there's potential financial benefit in blundering their way through the romcom lexicon for their suddenly vast social media following.Now, as Harry and Sally bring major romcom moments to new life including recreating that classic diner scene their faking it turns to makingout and suddenly they're living a real life romcom of their own! But like all the greatest love stories, the road to happily ever after is paved with unexpected challenges for this hero and heroineEveryone LOVES this book!Fuzzies, chills, goosebumps and more1000% the romcom of the year' ?????Gave me ALTrade Review Readers can’t get enough of The New Guy: ‘Seriously love this twist on an office romance’ Christina Parker, Netgalley ‘Their chemistry was off the charts’Mad Mom Life ‘Better than most rom coms I’ve watched and read!’ Jennifer Arnold, Netgalley ‘Reads like the perfect rom-com movie’ Sinead, Librarian ‘Very sexy and very sweet’ Morgan Shulman, Goodreads ‘Warmed my heart and read like a movie…What a beautiful sweet surprise this was’ Kelsey Peterson, Goodreads ‘You have yourself a page turning, don’t want it to end story, in essence an absolutely cracking read!’ Margaret Harris, Netgalley ‘A gorgeously sweet romance!’ From Rachael Claire ‘It's got laugh out loud moments, heart wrenching moments but most important that feel good factor’ Chantiece Bates, Goodreads
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Alone With You in the Ether
Book SynopsisOlivie Blake is the internationally bestselling author of The Atlas Six, Alone with You in the Ether, One For My Enemy, and Masters of Death. Writing as Alexene Farol Follmuth, she's released My Mechanical Romance her debut YA rom-com. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, goblin prince/toddler and rescue pit bull.Trade ReviewThe pages fly by in this character-driven novel that is intimate, complicated, and utterly romantic -- BooklistFar from your average love story . . . well worth the ride -- HeatThe narration is stunning . . . 100% recommend -- Utopia State of MindThis is a book to savor -- Publishers WeeklyLethally smart. Filled with a cast of brilliantly realized characters, each entangled with one another in torturously delicious ways, The Atlas Six will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go -- Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights, on The Atlas SixAs much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic, this book is half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight -- Holly Black, author The Cruel Prince, on The Atlas SixCoolly horrific, brilliantly brainy and utterly compelling -- Daily Mail on The Atlas Six
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Siren of Sussex
Book SynopsisBridgerton meets Jilly Cooper in this feminist historical romance that will have you swooning!''Unflinching, tender and moving.'' EVIE DUNMORE''A rare treat to enjoy and savour.'' KATE PEARCE''A moving love story and a vivid recreation of Victorian life.'' Anna Campbell The marriage mart is calling, and Evelyn must answer . . . Evelyn Maltravers longs for her perfect match. But with her family tumbling toward ruin. Her only hope is to distinguish herself is on horseback and to succeed she''ll need a habit-maker who''s not afraid to take risks. Ahmad Malik have always made women beautiful - but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible. But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. The indomitable pair must decide wTrade ReviewWhat I love about Mimi Matthews is that in the crowded field of historical romance she always finds new and interesting slants for her plots and characters. That, along with her wonderful writing and meticulous research, makes every book she puts out a rare treat to enjoy and savor. Highly recommended! * Kate Pearce, New York Times bestselling author *Unflinching, tender, and moving, the delicately crafted The Siren of Sussex might just be my favourite work from Mimi Matthews; it certainly is one of my favourite historical romance reads this year * Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author of Portrait of a Scotsman *Lush, seductive, original-The Siren of Sussex drew me in from the first page, and wove its magic. A fresh, vibrant, brilliant Victorian romance, making it an unforgettable read * Jane Porter, New York Times bestselling author *A moving love story and a vivid recreation of Victorian life, The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews is a treat of a book for the historical romance lover * Anna Campbell, award-winning author *The best book I've read in a long time: gorgeously written, thoughtfully considered, swoonily romantic, and unafraid to examine issues of class, race, and gender * Olivia Dade, national bestselling author *Impeccably researched, brimming with passion and chemistry, and a loving tribute to Victorian fashion and horsemanship, The Siren of Sussex is a page-turning, powerful, and endearing love story about two people rising above the pressures of society to follow their hearts. A five-star fantastic read! * Syrie James, USA Today bestselling author *A tender and swoonworthy interracial, cross-class romance in Victorian London...Readers will delight in this paean to women's fashion and horseback riding * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Matthews brings the Victorian era to vivid life with meticulously researched details and an impossible romance made believable and memorable * Booklist, starred review *Romance aficionados who love fashion and animals will delight in this tender romance and will be excited to see Evelyn's friends in future installments * Library Journal, starred review *An exquisite historical romance that is so captivating I had to force myself not to gallop through it at a breakneck speed, wanting to savor the author's obvious care and delicate attention to detail...A must read for lovers of historical fiction * Meg Tilly, author of The Runaway Heiress *Readers should expect emotional heft and fascinating historical detail...Matthews explores cultural identity conflicts, exoticism and the difficult position of a merchant catering to the whims of a privileged class, all within a tender, empowering love story * Shelf Awareness, starred review *A masterclass in using fashion history to build character * BookRiot *At times passionately intelligent and achingly vulnerable, The Siren of Sussex is destined to dazzle readers of Evie Dunmore and Harper St. George * Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code *Any reader who has ever loved horses, high fashion, and brooding protagonists will fall hard for The Siren of Sussex * Stephanie Barron, author of That Churchill Woman *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Roman Stories
Book Synopsis'Stimulating, elengant, distinctive and thought-provoking' Sunday TimesFrom the internationally bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies comes an exquisitely crafted work of fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri sets her gaze on the eternally beautiful city of Rome, illuminating the frailties of the human condition and dissecting lives lived on the margins.A man recalls a summer party that awakens an alternative version of himself. A couple haunted by a tragic loss return to seek consolation. An outsider family is pushed out of the block in which they hoped to settle. A set of steps in a Roman neighbourhood connects the daily lives of the city’s myriad inhabitants. This is an evocative fresco of Rome, the most alluring character of all: contradictory, in constant transformation and a home to those who know they can’t fully belong but choose it anyway.Rich with Lahiri’s signature gifts, Roman StorTrade ReviewLahiri [works] over her themes with a precise and controlling intellect . . . These stories are stimulating, elengant, distinctive and thought-provoking * Sunday Times *A writer of formidable powers and great depth of feeling * The Observer *One of the most interesting American writers at work today * The Sunday Times *Lahiri steps back from the action, gets out of the way, so the people and things in her stories can exist the way real things do: richly, ambiguously, without explanation. * Time *A writer of uncommon elegance and poise * The New York Times *Lahiri has a talent for capturing the everyday * Spectator *Jhumpa Lahiri is intelligent, astute, informed and genuine * The Irish Times *Jhumpa Lahiri is an elegant stylist, effortlessly placing the perfect words in the perfect order time and again so we’re transported seamlessly into another place * Vanity Fair *Jhumpa Lahiri's writing is wonderful in the literal sense: on every page there is something to take your breath away * Sainsbury's Magazine *Lahiri has an extraordinary voice -- Salman RushdieJhumpa Lahiri is the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you see and say “Read this!” She’s a dazzling storyteller with a distinctive voice, an eye for nuance, an ear for irony. She is one of the finest short story writers I’ve read. -- Amy TanAn urgent and affecting portrait of Rome in nine stories . . . * Guardian *Full of humanity and its joys and disappointments, tiny incidents resonate through time and relationships. The city feels like another character, slipping in and out of focus just as the fleeting lives of the characters do too. * The Independent *
£15.29
Amazon Publishing The Starfish Sisters: A Novel
Book SynopsisFrom the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids comes an emotional novel about two women facing the betrayals, heartbreaks, and refuge of true friendship. Phoebe and Suze used to be closer than sisters. Growing up in a quiet and wildly beautiful coastal town in Oregon, they shared everything. Until the secrets they couldn’t share threatened their bond and complicated their lives. Now, decades later, Suze, a famous actress desperate for safe haven following a brutal attack, is back in town. Phoebe, a successful illustrator and fabric designer, has discovered keeping a secret means she can’t let anyone get close, aside from her beloved granddaughter, Jasmine. As Jasmine’s move to London looms, Phoebe doesn’t know how to face the return of her old friend and all that’s still unsaid between them. Can the two women who’ve never confronted their past do it now when the choice is between healing and survival? Heartfelt and layered, The Starfish Sisters is a moving story about the complicated nature of female friendship, the joys and heartbreaks of life, and the resiliency and power that women possess.Trade ReviewPraise for The Starfish Sisters “Barbara O’Neal is at the top of her game. The Starfish Sisters is a gorgeous, heartfelt story about two lifelong friends who, now estranged, must battle their way back to each other after years of betrayals and jealousy and misunderstandings. Suze is a famous, world-traveling movie star who seems to have everything but love—while her former best friend, Phoebe, does art and nurtures the people around her. O’Neal has written a deeply harrowing, suspenseful, and ultimately loving book that explores the nature of women’s friendships and the lengths to which we all will go to protect those we love from danger. I read it far into the night, and, yes, I wept a few tears along the way.” —Maddie Dawson, Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners Previous Praise “A wonderfully moving tale…This Place of Wonder will sweep you away.” —Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Kristin Hannah readers will thoroughly enjoy the family dynamic, especially the mother-daughter relationships.” —Booklist (starred review) on This Place of Wonder “A woman’s strange disappearance brings together four strong women who struggle with their relationships, despite their need for one another. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will appreciate the emphasis on nature and these women’s unique gifts.” —Library Journal (starred review) on The Lost Girls of Devon “An emotional story about the relationship between two sisters and the difficulty of facing the truth head-on.” —Today on When We Believed in Mermaids “Elegiac but also forward-looking…I loved every moment of it.” —Julie Powell, author of Julie & Julia and Cleaving on This Place of Wonder “Great writing, terrific characters, food elements, romance, a touch of intrigue, and more than a few surprises to keep readers guessing.” —Kirkus Reviews on The Art of Inheriting Secrets
£8.99
Penguin Books Ltd Good Material
Book SynopsisFunny of course it's funny but also smart, insightful and sincere about heartbreak'' DAVID NICHOLLS, author of ONE DAY''This is the greatest. You''ll cry and laugh. I read it though the night. And I never, ever avoid sleep'' CLAUDIA WINKLEMANI award it 13/10 on my QWJ scale (stands for Queasy With Jealousy that I didn''t write it)' MARIAN KEYES---Every relationship has one beginning.This one has two endings.Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy.And he can''t work out why she stopped.Now he is. . .1. Without a home2. Waiting for his stand-up career to take off3. Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn''t lookingSet adrift on the sea of heartbreak at a time when everything he thought he knew about women, and flat-sharing, and his friendships has transformed beyond recognition, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of their broken relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him.Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend''s side of the story.From the bestselling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love: a sharply funny, beautifully observed and exquisitely relatable story of heartbreak and friendship, and how to survive both.''The most book-based fun I had this year ... It''s the most I''ve laughed while reading about heartbreak since Nick Hornby''s High Fidelity. A complete delight'' The Sunday Times, Critics'' favourite books of the yearSunday Times bestseller, November 2023Trade ReviewIf Dolly’s memoir Everything I Know About Love summed up being twentysomething then this, her second novel, is a tender and funny love letter to our tumultuous 30s * Red *Brilliantly observed … Beautifully written, pacy and excellent on rejection, friendship and letting go. Fabulous * Daily Mail *Laugh-out-loud dialogue on every page ... No-one has a firmer grasp on the themes she explores. Good material, indeed * Sunday Express *Funny, sad and true; a book she has clearly poured her soul into ... Cements her status as a fiction heavyweight * inews, The best new books to read in November 2023 *This is the greatest. You’ll cry and laugh. I read it through the night. And I never, ever avoid sleep * Claudia Winkleman *It's so good. I loved it * Sharon Horgan *Leaves you heartsore but happier. Irresistible * Richard E. Grant *Made me laugh while punching me in the gut. Loved this book * Aisling Bea *Sharply written and acutely observed ... A beautifully nuanced portrayal of modern love that will have you racing to the last page * Heat *Have you ever wondered what a lost love was thinking? In this ingeniously constructed and endlessly amusing novel, Dolly Alderton flips the script on everything we think we know about romantic loss, to bring us an unforgettable character on a deeply relatable downward spiral. Wise and relatable and pee-your-pants funny. I cried by page 5. Dolly Alderton is, quite simply, the bard of modern day love * Lena Dunham *WONDERFUL ... Shot through with Dolly's characteristic emotional intelligence ... Very funny ... Such a pleasure to read. I devoured it ... I award it 13/10 on my QWJ scale (stands for Queasy With Jealousy that I didn't write it) * Marian Keyes *I adored it! I ... Dolly is THE comic writer of our generation. This feels like her most ambitious book yet, and it delivers on every single page. She uses humour so brilliantly to underpin the quiet roar of romantic despair - this book is raw, smart and human. This makes me believe Dolly knows everything there is to know about love. * Daisy Buchanan *Dolly Alderton just gets better and better. Good Material is both heartbreaking and hilarious with an ending that has you holding your breath. With the wit of Nick Hornby and the emotional scalpel of Nora Ephron, Alderton is one of our greats and this is sure to be an absolute classic * Emma Gannon *A relatable, laugh-out-loud story of a thirtysomething failed comedian struggling with a break-up * Sunday Times Style *Good Material combines Alderton’s wit and eye for detail with a beautiful depth of emotion * Woman & Home *Genuinely laugh-out-loud funny – with characters straight out of a Richard Curtis film – whipsmart dialogue and relatable millennial themes (Alderton’s forte) mean there’s never a dull moment ... Thought-provoking and wise * The Independent, Best New Books to Read This Autumn *The author of Everything I Know About Love nails the zeitgeist with a witty, relatable and acutely insightful page-turner about the trails and tribulations of the lovelorn * Daily Express *Dolly Alderton is the Adele of writing * Esther Coren, The Spike *Witty, warm and well-observed * Fabulous Magazine *A funny, tender novel about human relationships. By turns, laugh-out-loud, eye-roll relatable, and 'stop you in your tracks' heart-wrench. A thoroughly modern romantic masterpiece. * Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina *Highly relatable for millennials navigating dating in London, and hugely insightful for those generations wanting to understand them. Packed with sharp observations and wisdom. A triumph * Sathnam Sanghera *Alderton entertains with observational quips about thirtysomething life ... There's a Hornby-esque charm to her well-meaning characters and their relatable dramas * The Observer *The bestselling author brings her warmth, emotional intelligence and wry observation to bear on her second novel ... Refreshing * The Bookseller, Editor's Choice *Alderton is perceptive about how men deal (badly) with emotional pain * The Times *Relatable, funny and refreshing * Elle *[A] book to be devoured, adored, underlined, and passed on (but only to the friends you know will give it back) ... [Alderton] proves herself once again as having both a deep understanding of the intricacies of relationships and the ability to articulate it better than the majority of us ever could ...Good Material showcases Alderton’s knack for rich characterisation and zippy dialogue like never before ... Genuinely funny – if only more books made you laugh as much as this * The i *All of Alderton's considerable gifts as a writer are on display here: her wit, her ability to capture exchanges that feel real, and her skilful characterisation ... Alderton's work truly shines when she writes about friendship * Sunday Independent *With distinct notes of Helen Fielding, Richard Curtis and Nick Hornby ... Warm and generous ... A writer very much in control of her material * Guardian *Alderton is excellent at fusing poignant tenderness with wry observations about modern life, and that talent is on full display here. Good Material is a highly enjoyable exploration of the messy, non-binary nature of many break-ups, and how two people can simply make a terrible couple ... If you're on the hunt for a readable romcom to inhale in a few sittings, this is very good material * Stylist *Funny, tender and astute on heartbreak * Mail on Sunday *This is Dolly Alderton's best book yet ... Alderton is a great social chronicler: her observations here about thirty-something friendship and the differences (or not) between millennials and Gen Z feel particularly true. But most crucially, this is a tender, bittersweet portrait of the addictive fug of longterm monogamy – and the crushing pain when it ends * The i – All I want for Christmas: Which books should you buy for your loved ones this year? *Brilliantly observed ... addictive * Daily Mail *Comical yet warming * Psychologies *A brilliantly observed portrait of a break-up, which examines how miserable it is to become obsessed with the unknown reasons a relationship has ended. Andy can’t understand why Jen no longer wants to be with him. The more he thinks about it the madder he feels but he can’t stop. Addictive * Daily Mail – Christmas Books: Best way to survive Christmas? Read a really good book! *I’ve already bought several copies of Dolly Alderton’s Good Material for the men and women in my life, and I will continue the rampage through the festive season. It’s the perfect blend of easy to read, funny and extremely astute * The Observer – Books of the year 2023 *Failing stand-up comedian Andy is devastated when his girlfriend Jen breaks up with him out of the blue. Alderton explores the trials and tribulations of finding yourself unexpectedly single in your mid-30s in a novel as witty as it is perceptive * Daily Express – Stocking fillers: What were the must read novels of 2023? *The most book-based fun I had this year ... It’s the most I’ve laughed while reading about heartbreak since Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity. A complete delight * The Sunday Times – My favourite read of the year, Charlotte Ivers *
£17.09
Penguin Random House Children's UK Esio Trot
Book Synopsis
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers Once Upon An Algorithm
Book SynopsisA brand new spicy STEM romance for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Sally Thorne!What do you do when your mortifying Friday night blind date is sitting opposite you at your desk on Monday morning?A hot blind date in Paris with no strings? Practical Leonie would never do such a thing! But when a new dating app that uses science and logic leads her to gorgeous, so-not-her-type Jack the chemistry is off the charts.Only, when the morning after proves that opposites definitely don't attract, Leonie is relieved they never need to see each other again.Until she starts her new job and there he is, sitting in the boss's office, the man behind the best and worst night of her life.Readers are obsessed with Once Upon An AlgorithmA delightful and engaging romantic novel that adds a fresh and modern twist to the world of love and algorithms.' ?????''Freaking PERFECTION. 10/10. This was just so so good. I couldn't get enough of it and wanted a thousand more pages of this.' ?????Trust me when I say you won''
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Pink House
Book SynopsisEnter THE PINK HOUSE, the heartwarming new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors''Stepping into the world of The Pink House is like getting home and discovering someone has already run a hot, bubbly bath for you after a hard day''s work'' CELIA ANDERSONWhen Emma and Hugh move into The Pink House, it''s a welcome new start.Lazy summer afternoons in the sun, quiet Sunday mornings reading the paper.Or so Emma hoped. Unfortunately, life in the country is far from a peaceful idyll.There''s Hugh''s sister Sally, who lives in the garden cottage.Their son''s upcoming wedding, which they''ve promised to host.The old barn which Emma wants to transform into an art gallery and a new career.But Emma has it all under control. Until she runs into Rory McCloud -the one who got away so many years ago . . .Is The Pink House the only new beginning for Emma,or could Trade ReviewI've always been a Catherine Alliott fan, and this was an absolute joy.A delicious tangle of secrets and hidden desire. Alliott's heroines are always a delight - like Bridget Jones' posher cousin: a bit dizzy, but with a huge heart and a strong sense of what's right and what's important. And in this case, that's family. A complicated, messy, imperfect family and all the baggage that brings, all playing out in the most gorgeous setting. How I longed to live in the Pink House!It's a modern fairy tale of mistakes and the lengths we go to to pretend everything is perfect: wise, funny, glamorously chaotic and achingly romantic. -- VERONICA HENRYThis deeply satisfying read brings Emma's desirable world to life and will keep you guessing until the end * Daily Express *Another fantastic family drama with superb characterisation from this much-loved author * Woman's Weekly *A great family drama * Woman & Home *A joyful read about love and new starts * The Sun *Stepping into the world of The Pink House is like getting home and discovering someone has already run a hot, bubbly bath for you after a hard day's work. Emma and Hugh's story is intriguing and twisty. They've been married for what feels like forever and it's been mostly...well...okay. The children are great but they're independent now, and the chance to relocate to Hugh's idyllic family home in the country is too difficult for Emma to resist. What follows is a voyage of discovery for them all that turns Emma's largely contented life upside down. A kaleidoscope of family complications tends to threaten Emma's equilibrium but nothing daunted, she breezes forward and gets right on with socking it to them all. I adored every moment of this blissful book! -- CELIA ANDERSONPraise for Catherine Alliott * - *Warm, witty and wise * Daily Mail *A huge treat. Hilarious yet poignantHer writing is both intelligent and sparklingHilarious and full of surprises * Daily Telegraph *
£8.54
Pan Macmillan The Challenge: A gripping story of survival,
Book SynopsisIn this thrilling novel from the world’s favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel, a small community is tested when their children go missing while exploring a dangerous local peak, forcing them to band together during the crisis.Fishtail, Montana, is home to Anne and Pitt Pollock, local royalty, high school sweethearts and owners of the successful Pollock ranch. The sprawling foothills of the Beartooth Mountains surround the town, overlooking the Pollocks’ property and the nearby ranch belonging to Bill and Pattie Brown. The two couples have known each other since childhood. Their sons Peter Pollock and Matt Brown are also the best of friends. When they and two other local kids meet Juliet Marshall, new to town after her parents’ bitter divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable, spending their summer days swimming, horseback-riding, hiking and fishing.But one August afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn – and quickly escalates into a battle for survival – when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak. Fear reverberates through the town as their parents grow ever more desperate to hear word that their children have been found. They must place their own trials aside amid a massive search-and-rescue operation. As they come to lean on one another for support, a media frenzy ensues, heightening tensions and testing some already fragile relationships.In the aftermath of this one fateful event, devastating secrets are revealed, new love appears on the horizon, and families are forced to reconsider what they once held dear.
£8.54
Simon & Schuster We Are the Light
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Penguin Books Ltd The Little French Village of Book Lovers
Book SynopsisWhat a joy to read The Little French Village of Book Lovers, which will delight Nina George's millions of readers. Exquisitely written, as always, she draws you in from the first page and immerses you in the lives of her delightful characters. You won't want to put it down. - Patricia ScanlanThe heartwarming new novel from the international million-copy bestselling author of THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP ''Everyone knows me, but none can see me. I''m that thing you call love'' __________In a small town in balmy Provence, Marie-Jeanne has a gift.She can see the marks Love has left on the people around her. Glowing faces, hands that shimmer brighter when enclosed in another. Before long, Marie-Jeanne is playing matchmaker.When her foster father, Francis, sets up a mobile library travelling the many mountain towns of the Nyons region, Marie-Jeanne takes her quest further. Their library offers enTrade ReviewBrimming with magic . . . Full of allegory and mysticism, the book often feels more like a poem than a novel. Nuanced and enchanting . . . an elegantly crafted, unhurried examination of the enthralling and elusive nature of love * Kirkus Reviews *An appealing companion piece to The Little Paris Bookshop. George convincingly portrays her characters’ emotions . . . Charming * Publishers Weekly *This spin-off of George’s beloved The Little Paris Bookshop—this is the book within that one—is narrated by omniscient and powerful representations of abstract concepts, with Love, Pride, and Fate all weighing in, and this creative framing adds to its considerable charm. George pays particular attention to the romantic potential of the everyday—those mundane events that can spark new feelings in anyone hoping for a chance at love. Fans will adore George’s latest exploration of life, love, and destiny * Booklist *PRAISE FOR NINA GEORGE * - *Glowing...layered with wit, enchanting writing and a love of books...I prescribed it for a cynical friend who has "seen it all" (and read it all) and she swooned' * Daily Mail *A true gem for fiction lovers * Good Housekeeping *A charming tale...for fans of Like Water for Chocolate and Amelie * Red *An enchanting, uplifting read...the sort of book that acts as a soothing tonic as you read - so the perfect accompaniment to relaxing in the sun * Independent *
£13.29
