Narrative theme: love / relationships

Book SynopsisChosen as one of the best new book releases' by COSMOPOLITANA best summer read' by ELLE MAGAZINEWhen you look at a woman, who do you see?Every aspect of her body or personality was up for inspection: too big, too small, too available, too hidden, too much, not enough.A wedding day brings back memories of sisterhood and betrayals; a motorway service station is the site of explosive violence, but also strange bonds; a trip home forces a reminder of a life-changing, lost friendship; a woman confronts her own infidelity; an artist celebrates a life spent in observation.This debut collection movingly explores how women and girls are looked at, look at one another, and look at themselves, and how living as an object can shape their passions, fears, and joys. With a clear eye and dark humour, Danielle Pender considers sex, parenting, grief and class as lenses for the ways in which the world watches women and how women are always watching back.Trade Review‘Watching Women and Girls is a searing meditation on the moments that make, and break, us. As canny as they are entertaining, these stories are packed with emotional intelligence, capturing the dark and the light of the female experience in a series of vignettes that every one of us will in some way relate to. I loved it.’CHARLOTTE PHILBY, AUTHOR OF THE SECOND WOMAN Vibrant, intense and darkly comic this is a powerful and thoughtful collection told through closely observed, spellbinding characters that stay with you.’ABIGAIL BERGSTROM, AUTHOR OF WHAT A SHAME ‘A page-flipping joy of a read. Pender is a generous writer and observer of society who incisively captures what it is to be a woman in our times.’CHARLOTTE JANSEN, AUTHOR OF GIRL ON GIRL ‘Smart and astute, funny and wry; a catalogue of the modern conditions of dating, working and being. It encouraged me to pay more attention to the world around me and the secret lives of those in it.’AMELIA ABRAHAM, AUTHOR OF QUEER INTENTIONS ‘To see, be seen and know that you are, always, being watched. That is the experience of being a woman today. This thoughtful, meditative and, at times, absurdly funny collection is a reminder that someone is, always, looking right back.’VICKY SPRATT, AUTHOR OF TENANTS ‘A beautifully written exploration of woman and girlhood, with all of its contradictions and quirks. Danielle is a sharp new talent.’SIRIN KALE Chosen as one of the ‘best new book releases’ by COSMOPOLITAN A ‘best summer read’ by ELLE MAGAZINE

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Book SynopsisA heart-warming and hilarious novel about life, love, and the weight of all we leave unsaid,Duffy & Sonis a quietly moving masterpiece from one of Ireland's most gifted comic writers.Eugene Duffy is turning 70; his son Jim is turning 40.For decades now, they've been running the family hardware shop and living in good-natured bachelor harmony. But time is marching on, and with thoughts of old age weighing heavily on his mind, Eugene is growing increasingly concerned about his son's future.He resolves to help in the best way possible: by finding Jim a wife. And he's not going to let anyone let alone Jim himself stand in his way.Reminiscent of Fredrik Backman's bestselling novel A Man Called Ove, Duffy and Son contains a likeable but curmudgeonly main character, wry humour, tremendous heart, as well as a strong sense of community. It is a funny and heartwarming novel which celebrates the messiness of ordinary lives and would make a perfect reading group choice.Trade Review‘Funny, sweet, charming and just a little bit heart-breaking’ – Dara O’Briain ‘Immensely enjoyable … By turn, hilarious and heartbreaking, we rarely hear the perspective of the ageing working class man worrying about his bachelor son and I think that’s why it was such a refreshing read … It’s such a tender, warmhearted portrait of a man who has always thought he’d done his best and is now suddenly faced with the notion that he might have failed. Skilfully drawn characters jump to life and the storytelling is enormously entertaining … a universal story, told in a uniquely Irish way.’ – Liz Nugent

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Book SynopsisCompelling, heartbreaking and beautifully written. This superb thriller will stay in my mind for a very long time' B P Walter, Sunday Times-bestselling author of The Dinner Guest on The Girl UpstairsHe should have chosen me.I never should have chosen him.Lizzie has been in love with her colleague Dean for three years but he's never given her a second glance.When a job offer in London promises to launch her art career she finally feels ready to upend her life in pursuit of her dream until the night of the office Christmas party when Dean confesses his love for someone else Rebecca, one of Lizzie's closest friends.A few days later,the police show up on her doorstep.Rebecca is missing.After the Party is another mesmerising thriller seething with secrets and lies from the bestselling author of The Girl Upstairs.What readers are saying:I keep losing half my beauty sleep because of Georgina Lees. Her writing is just too damn good Unforgettable!' Robin, 5* NetGalley reader reviewEvery time

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Book SynopsisFabulous to readIt's about a girls' weekend with characters in their 60s and determined to have a good time' Woman & Home A laugh out loud, naughty, enlightening heart-warming story about friendship and discovery' Yours MagazineA weekend at the spa will leave four old friends with a whole lot more than they'd bargained forThe glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives!There for a girls' weekend to celebrate Bridgette's impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience, and that over the hill certainly doesn't mean out of the gamein any respectThe most fun you'll have all year! Perfect for fans of USA Today bestseller Judy Leigh, Dee Macdonald and Maddie Please!Readers are loving The Spa Break:Finished it in one sitting and loved every page!' Bee ?????ReallyTrade Review What people are saying about The Best Boomerville Hotel: ‘This is a brilliant 5 star story. The writing is modern and fresh’ Susan ‘I need to go to a place like this! Quirky characters, right up my street, I really enjoyed the story’ Cal, Birmingham ‘I really wish I could check into Boomerville and participate in the courses. I loved this book, it is a great read. Thanks to the author for bringing the crazy characters to life’ Ronnie, London

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Book SynopsisA compelling, addictive thriller' Samantha DowningDark, gripping and suspenseful' Lesley KaraTense, twisty and unpredictable' T.M. LoganHad me on the edge of my seat' Lisa Hall[A] powerhouse of a thriller' Louise MumfordTwo couples. A fatal accident. And a decision that changes everythingKirsten and Nick are enjoying a weekend away until, on their drive home, they accidentally run over and kill a man. They should call for help but they have too much to lose, and no one can know the real reason they're here. Instead, they make a split-second decision to conceal the accident.Amy and Greg have just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Amy is expecting a baby, and they couldn't be happier. So when Greg fails to come home from a dog walk one weekend, Amy knows the police are wrong to believe he left of his own accord. Someone must be behind Greg's disappearance, and Amy won't give up until she gets justice or revenge.If you had nothing left to lose, how far would you go to find theTrade Review‘Dark, gripping and suspenseful. This smart page-turner had me racing to the totally unexpected end!’ Lesley Kara ‘Revenge is a dish best served ice cold in this tense, twisty and unpredictable thriller’ T.M. Logan ‘A compelling, addictive thriller that starts with a bang’ Samantha Downing ‘A delicious tale of secrets, lies and revenge, The Other Couple had me on the edge of my seat right up to the very last page’ Lisa Hall ‘What a ride! This powerhouse of a thriller keeps the reader enthralled by its tale of revenge and dark deeds’ Louise Mumford

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Book SynopsisFall in love with the brand new Christmas romance from bestselling author, Sandy Barker????? I love Sandy Barker's stories. Modern romances with a bit of heat but a lot of love and plenty of hiccups along the way' NetGalley reviewerA great romantic escape 5 stars from me! Julie HoustonAnother year has passed and it's Christmas again. This year best friends Chloe, Jules and Lucy are all loved up but living worlds apart.Chloe is madly in love with her celebrity beau, Archer, but after a whirlwind year in Hollywood's limelight, she's desperate to get away and spend some quality time together.Jules loves her Melbourne life and gorgeous winemaker Matt but a crowded flat share has her longing for a place of her own.Meanwhile, Lucy is stuck in a long distance relationship, jetting back and forth between Colorado and London to see Will.When Archer's plan to whisk Chloe to Paris goes awry, he surprises her by bringing her friends together for a Christmas to rememberThe perfect feel-good holi

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Book SynopsisWhat can I say, I loved this book. It has all my favorite tropes. Fake dating check! Grumpy/ sunshine (reversed) check! One bed check!' Reader reviewWhen you can't find the perfect date for the holidays you hire him!Hotshot lawyer Rebecca Madison is dreading the annual family Thanksgiving break where the question on everyone's lips will be why are you still single?'.When it comes to her career, she's the best of the best, hired for her take-no-prisoners approach and sharp instincts. But when it comes to her love lifewell, she hasn't found the loophole for happy ever after yet.So when she has a one night stand with a gorgeous stranger she meets in a bar, Becca decides to do what she does best: make a deal with Mr One Night to be her Mr Right (just for the holidays).With an iron-clad contract setting out the terms for their fake relationship, Becca has one important point. Clause 1.a. No kissing, no sex (as mind-blowing as it was), and absolutely no emotional attachment!But five thousand miles from home and spending every waking moment in the company of a man who makes her feel things she's never felt before, just how easy will it be for Becca to stick to her own rulesReaders are LOVING Cassie Connor:Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes but then ya throw in holiday romance and I''m completely soldFreaking loved it and I look forward to reading many more books like it from this phenomenal, talented author!' ?????The perfect rom com with some funny moments and some amazing banterRead if you like: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa and The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas' ?????Completely exceeded my expectationsloved the grumpy/sunshine aspect of it. I couldn''t put it down!' ?????Absolutely adored this fake dating holiday romanceDefinitely a new holiday favorite!' ?????I absolutely loved this book!one of my favorite reads of the year' ?????This book could have been written for meI can''t wait to read more from this author'?????A great five-star readwarmed my cold heart' ?????

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Book SynopsisCynthia Manick’s poetry collection personifies love of self and culture through fresh observations and bitter truths voiced with breathtaking lyricism.No Sweet Without Brine is both a soulful and celebratory collection that summons sticky sweet memories with an acrid aftertaste of deep thought.Trade Review“These are exuberant, engaging poems composed with confidence and flair. I loved this book from beginning to end. Some real standouts include 'Rx for Little Black Girls,' 'We Make Sin a Good Hymn,' and 'Ode to JET Magazine' but really it’s all outstanding, intelligent, referential in interesting ways.” — —Roxane Gay, author of Bad Feminist and Hunger

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Book SynopsisSamantha Harvey is the author of the novels Orbital, The Wilderness, All is Song, Dear Thief and The Western Wind and a work of non-fiction, The Shapeless Unease: A Year of Not Sleeping. Orbital was the winner of the Booker Prize 2024, and her other work has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award, the Women's Prize, the Guardian First Book Award and the Walter Scott Prize. The Wilderness was awarded the Betty Trask Prize. She is a tutor on the MA course in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.Trade ReviewIntense, rewarding and bracingly serious -- Adrian Turpin * Financial Times *Profoundly beautiful, cathartic writing. -- Catherine Taylor * Daily Telegraph *A fine study of the nature and strength of family ties and the morality, or otherwise, of conforming where it matters -- Kate Saunders * The Times *This beautifully written composition does that rare thing, of provoking free thought, while scrutinising the far-reaching repercussions of such rebellious activity -- Freya McClelland * Independent *Harvey's slow, intense thoughtfulness feels positively Woolfean at times. She thinks deeply, and writes beautifully about these thoughts. -- Lucy Atkins * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA NEW TRANSLATION BY ADAM THORPEA great novel that is also an inexhaustible pleasure to read'' GuardianEmma Bovary is an avid reader of sentimental novels; brought up on a Normandy farm and convent-educated, she longs for romance. At first, Emma pins her hopes on marriage, but life with her well-meaning husband in the provinces leaves her bored and dissatisfied. She seeks escape through extravagant spending sprees and, eventually, adultery. As Emma pursues her impossible reverie she seals her own ruin. Madame Bovary is one of the greatest, most beguiling novels ever written.Thorpe''s new translation is stunning and heartily recommendedScotsmanThorpe''s new translation is to die for'Independent[Thorpe's] hard work has yielded beauty. The rhythms are perfectly judged, unexpected enough to make the reader attend to every word'Robert Chandler, TLSTrade ReviewMagnificent. I insist everyone reads Adam Thorpe's new translation. * Vogue *A handsomely bound hardback edition that perfectly befits the beautiful new translation therein... we are pretty confident that Thorpe's bash at Bovary is a contender for the new best English version out there. Sensitive and musical, and simply and wittily annotated, it's got "new classic" written all over it. Plus it's dressed in this really elegant embroidered design by Karen Nichols, so everything gangs up and makes it basically a must-buy. * Dazed and Confused *Flaubert's 1856 novel begins with marriage and what follows is the archetypal tale of a desperate housewife * Daily Telegraph *Mesmerising * Independent *The most scandalous novel of all time * Playboy *

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Book SynopsisAn emotional, uplifting story about sisters, secrets, and second chances, from No. 1 bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick THE FAMILY UPSTAIRSBee Beahorn had it all - a successful music career, fabulous friends, and a glamorous celebrity lifestyle.At least, that''s what her estranged sister, Ana, had always believed.Their lives were worlds apart. Bea was beautiful, extravagant and full of life. Ana was awkward, shy, and destined to live in Bea''s shadow. But when Bea is found dead in her flat, Ana realises that everything she knew about her sister had been a lie. Ana is determined to find out the truth about her sister - and she might just find herself along the way . . ._________''A compelling story packed with intriguing characters'' The Times''Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph'' Hello''Inventive and moving, with definite charms and a Trade ReviewSophisticated . . . Jewell can't help but tell a compelling story packed with intriguing characters * The Times *Tackles serious issues with humour - proving that chick-lit can be intelligent, interesting and huge fun * Sunday Express *Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph * Hello *Inventive and moving . . . a story with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy * Sunday Times *Top marks. Fantastic * Heat *A perceptive, tears-trickling-down-the-side-of-your-nose-on-the-bus brilliant read * Company *Moving and intelligent * Independent *A poignant tale of life, love and loss * Mirror *Traditional, light-hearted romantic fiction at its best * Literary Review *Poignant and humorous * Now *A buoyant tale that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish * Woman's Journal *The twists and turns in the plot will leave you dizzy * New Woman *The story is original and the suspense is skilfully built. An infuriatingly enjoyable feel-good read * The List *An engaging and original plot * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis morose little gem boasts its share of sensuous depravity * Wall Street Journal *Mishima was one of literature's great romantics, a tragedian with a heroic sensibility, an intellectual, an esthete, a man steeped in Western letters who toward the end of his life became a militant Japanese nationalist * New York Times *Mishima is the Japanese Hemingway * Life Magazine *A writer of immense energy and ability * Time Out *A sexually and psychologically complex novel... in a honed translation by Andrew Clare -- Damian Flanagan * TLS *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for Booker Prize 2021, China Room by Sunjeev Sahota intertwines the stories of a young bride in 1929 Punjab and a man in 1999 England, exploring themes of love, oppression, and freedom. Sahota's lyrical prose captivates readers in this multigenerational novel set in India.

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Book SynopsisSteering a path between police duties and family loyalty is not easy . . .Say it with Poison is the first classic English village crime novel in the Mitchell & Markby series by Ann Granger, combining a satisfyingly complex mystery with engaging characters and wit. The perfect read for fans of M.C. Beaton, Agatha Christie and ITV''s Midsomer Murders.''A gripping tale. . . . you''ll soon be addicted'' - Woman and HomeWhen Meredith Mitchell agreed to stay with her actress cousin Eve in the run-up to Eve''s daughter''s wedding she anticipated a degree of drama. But she hardly expected it to include murder, blackmail and unrequited love. Or to involve a certain Chief Inspector Markby, a middle-aged divorcee with an emotional history as unfortunate as her own. A material witness to the only case of murder the Cotswold village of Westerfield has ever seen, Meredith also finds herself acting as mother-confessor to the bride-to-be, who is clearly not telling the whole truth about her involvement with the dead man. Steering a path between her duty to the police and loyalty to her cousin''s family is not easy; even for someone with Meredith''s considerable diplomatic skills. And especially as her personal enquiries into events in Westerfield start to disinter past affections Meredith would far rather leave buried - and to provoke new ones she''s not at all sure she can cope with . . .What readers are saying about Say it with Poison:''Thoroughly recommend to anyone looking for a good English whodunit or just a really good story to keep the reader intrigued and interested to the last page''''Hooked from the first page''''Brilliant in its conception, kept me thoroughly enthralled''

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Book SynopsisErica James at her best - ''A very moving novel about life, families and love'' Sunday Express''James is a great storyteller - a really enjoyable read'' Woman''s Weekly''A terrific tearjerker ... Humorous and sensitive'' Bella''Brilliant!'' Prizes MagazineHarriet Swift thinks she has the perfect life - a satisfying career, her own flat and a new boyfriend who respects her need for her own space. But then her only sister is killed in a car crash, and Harriet is forced to give up her well-ordered life to help look after her orphaned niece and nephew. Moving back to her childhood home in Maple Drive, and sacrificing so much, doesn''t come easy and before long Harriet discovers things about her family she never believed possible. Meanwhile, the shabbiest house in Maple Drive has a new occupant. Will Hart also thinks he has the perfect life. Having swapped his successful career Trade ReviewA very moving novel about life, families and love * Sunday Express *James is a great storyteller - a really enjoyable read * Woman’s Weekly *A terrific tearjerker ... Humorous and sensitive * Bella *Erica James will have you smiling through your tears ... and in Will Hart, James has created the romantic hero every woman dreams of * Nottingham Evening Post *Brilliant! * Prizes Magazine *Erica James writes easily and fluently. This time she has tackled trickier subjects with grace and style * Northern Echo *

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Book SynopsisRosie Goodwin''s engaging addition to Catherine Cookson''s series.Despite her success as a writer, Maisie''s life has never been easy. But with the help of Hamilton, the imaginary horse she conjures up to escape harsh reality, her humour and courage pull her through. Now married to Tommy, Maisie''s hopes of happiness are shattered when he becomes jealous and controlling - threatening even her relationship with her beloved adopted son, Harold. After a tragic accident, Maisie reluctantly agrees to move back to her home town of Fellburn, Tyneside, for a fresh start. But her husband''s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and one of his new employees, a strange man nicknamed the Sand Dancer, strikes fear into her heart every time she meets him. Maisie begins to avoid his place of work, little realises that Tommy is concealing something so terrible it could destroy everything she holds dear...Trade Review'A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer' * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisWith musical language and vivid imagery, Irregular Heartbeats at the Park West attunes us to the sheer wonder of being alive. Intimate reflections on family histories, hardship, and everyday life reveal the ways art and nature can lift us from grief and serve as lodestars in an increasingly uncertain world.

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Book SynopsisEliza Morton was born in Liverpool and worked as an actress. She is known for playing Madeline Basset in Jeeves and Wooster and Lucinda in the Liverpool sitcom, Watching. As well as TV, she has also worked in theatre and film. She trained at Guildhall School of Drama and as a writer, with The Royal Court Young Writers' Group. She is an award-winning short-story writer and has also written drama for TV, film and theatre. In her formative years at convent school, she spent her weekends playing the piano accordion in Northern Working Men's Clubs. She lives with her husband - the actor Peter Davison - in Middlesex and is the author of A Last Dance in Liverpool, Angel of Liverpool and The Girl From Liverpool.Trade ReviewOne of my favourite authors – I love her books! -- Trisha Ashley, author of The Little Teashop of Lost and FoundThis book is an absolute gem – full of humour, heartbreak and love, vividly bringing to life the people and places of post-war Liverpool -- Kate Eastham, author of Coming Home to Liverpool, on Angel of LiverpoolHeartstrings are tugged in this gritty Liverpool saga which is beautifully written . . . Saga writing at its best . . . a poignant reminder of how society has changed -- Diane Allen, author of The Girl from the Tanner’s Yard, on Angel of Liverpool

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Book SynopsisYou didn't come for a weekend in Scarborough to watch Homes Under The Hammer.After all those extra shifts, all Lorna wants is a night out on the town and time to reconnect with her daughter. All 16-year-old Mila wants is for the world to stop burning. And for someone to take down that Beach Body Ready' poster. Please. As mum and daughter check into their premium' room where they can almost see the sea, they quickly discover that their favourite seaside town, which was once their annual sunny escape, could really use some attention just like their relationship. Katie Redford''s Wish You Weren''t Here is a hilarious and heart-warming exploration of family relationships, the agony of growing up, and how to find your way in the world when you can't help thinking you're just not good enough. This edition was published to coincide with Theatre Centre''s UK tour in January 2024.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to Happily Ever After . . .Emelle and her four mates are now parents, and their nest is growing.Aside from the impending delivery she has to prepare for, Emelle also happens to be the cupid boss, which means she needs to train the new recruits just in time for Valentine''s Day.With cupids, and babies, and her harem mates, she''s got her hands full.Yet as she knows, if you can''t do something with love, then it''s not worth doing at all. Luckily, she still has plenty of that to go around.And she''s about to get a lot more love back than she expected...For the Love of Cupidity is a novella and Book Four in the fun, addictive and sexy Heart Hassle seriesGild, Glint and Gleam, Sunday Times bestsellers, April 2023

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Book Synopsis'Immersive, tense, seductive' - Sunday Times'Unputdownable' - Sunday ExpressScott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Cole and Linda Porter, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos - all are summer guests of Gerald and Sara Murphy. Visionary, misunderstood, and from vastly different backgrounds, the Murphys met and married young, and set forth to create a beautiful world. They alight on Villa America: their coastal oasis of artistic genius, debauched parties, impeccable style and flamboyant imagination. But before long, a stranger enters into their relationship, and their marriage must accommodate an intensity that neither had forseen. When tragedy strikes, their friends reach out to them, but the golden bowl is shattered, and neither Gerald nor Sara will ever be the same.Ravishing, heart-breaking, and written with enviable poise, Villa America delivers on all the promise of Liza Klaussmann's bestselling deTrade ReviewKlaussmann writes beautifully . . . [A] gorgeous, melancholy novel. * Sunday Express *Immersive . . . a memorably tense, seductive fiction from many perspectives -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times *Glitteringly alive. * Independent *A brilliant novel about love in all its forms . . . A deeply moving portrait of a marriage and of a world. * Irish Times *A stylish and unputdownable book. * Sunday Express *[Klaussmann] entwines her fact and fiction with a smooth, near seemless stitch, and the end result makes for exhilarating and moving reading. * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe House of New Beginnings is a moving and uplifting novel from bestselling author Lucy Diamond.One life-changing summer . . . In an elegant Regency house near the Brighton seafront, three tenants have more in common than they know.A shocking revelation has led Rosa to start over as a sous chef. The work is gruelling but it’s a distraction . . . until she comes up against the stroppy teenager next door who challenges her lifestyle choices. What if Rosa’s passion for food could lead her to more interesting places?Having followed her childhood sweetheart down south, Georgie is busily carving out a new career in journalism. Throwing herself into the city’s delights is fun, but before she knows it she’s sliding headlong into all kinds of trouble . . . Nursing a devastating loss, Charlotte just wants to keep her head down. But Margot, the glamorous older lady on the top floor, has other ideas. Like it oTrade ReviewSeamless, engaging, believable, fun and heartfelt * Heat *An absolute treat -- Katie FfordeA delightful read * Prima *Breezy, witty and with moments of real poignancy, this is a fun, optimistic and warm-hearted read * The People *Bursting with Brighton joie de vivre, this fun book is an excellent cheer-up read * Literary Life *A super summer read * Woman *

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Book Synopsis''A stunning writer and a brilliant transporting experience'' Lisa Taddeo, bestselling author of Three Women and Animal''Sensorial as hell... An ode to funky wine labels, good taste, and true inspiration, Francesca Giacco has penned a stunningly cool and stylish debut'' Paul Beatty, Man Booker Prize winning author of The Sellout''If Sally Rooney and Frances Mayes co-wrote a novel in an Airbnb near the Spanish Steps, it might read something like Six Days in Rome'' David Ebershoff, bestselling author of The Danish Girl--Emilia, an artist, arrives in Rome alone. What was supposed to be a romantic trip has, with the sudden end of her relationship, become a solitary one.Six days lie ahead. She wanders the streets, surrendering herself to the music, food and beauty of the city.But when she meets John, an American living out a seemingly idyllic existence in Rome, their instTrade ReviewFrancesca Giacco is a stunning writer and Six Days in Rome is a brilliant transporting experience-a novel about belonging with heart and heat; a gorgeous and literary holiday -- Lisa TaddeoSensorial as hell . . .an ode to funky wine labels, good taste, and true inspiration, Francesca Giacco has penned a stunningly cool and stylish debut -- Paul BeattyIf Sally Rooney and Frances Mayes co-wrote a novel in an Airbnb near the Spanish Steps, it might read something like Six Days in Rome. Smart, keenly observed, and deeply felt, this is a book for anyone who's ever journeyed abroad to find themselves -- David EbershoffOne of the 'Best Beach Reads of 2022': a 'sensual novel of rage, heartbreak, and desire' * Harper's Bazaar *Giacco's rendering of collecting pieces of a shattered heart is relatable and encouraging . . . But an even greater draw is the feeling that just under a week in Italy really is included in the cover price * Glamour *Giacco's debut is an intimate, entertaining, clear-eyed evocation of a disillusioned young female artist's coming of age amongst the ruins of Rome and like her heart-broken narrator, very good company -- Elissa SchappellA masterful debut - a literary travelogue that maps both the internal and external, capturing the intimate fireworks of heartbreak and the endless question of identity, alongside the sumptuous backdrop of Rome. Francesca Giacco has written a novel as artful as it is affecting -- Adrienne BrodeurElegant . . . Upscale escapism * Kirkus *Sensual and deliberately paced . . . Giacco revels in her setting, providing rich descriptions of the streets, food, and people Emilia encounters . . . Sumptuously written * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisZoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.Mesmerising and haunting, Emma Flint's Other Women is a devastating story of fantasy, obsession inspired by a murder that took place almost a hundred years ago.'A pitch-perfect historical mystery' – The Guardian'Bloody brilliant' – Dinah Jefferies, author of The Missing Sister'Compelling, twisty, and wonderfully suspenseful' – Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundIt is 1923 and a country is in mourning. Thousands of husbands, fathers, sons and sweethearts were lost in the war, millions more returned home wounded and forever changed.Beatrice Cade is an orphan, unmarried and childless. After her brother's death, she decides to make a new life for herself. She takes a room in a Bloomsbury ladies’ club and a job in the City. But just when her new world is starting to take shape, a fleeting encounter threatens to ruin everything.Kate Ryan is an ordinary wife and mother. Since the end of the war, she has managed to build an enviable life with her husband and young daughter. From the outside, they seem like a normal, happy family. But when two policemen knock on Kate's door and jeopardize the facade Kate has created, she knows what she has to do to protect the people she loves. And suddenly, two women who never should have met are connected for ever . . .'Exquisite' - Will Dean, author of Dark Pines'This is a book that will stay with you' – Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Vera series'A thoroughly captivating and unsettling page-turner' – iNewsTrade ReviewThe tension grows throughout the book until it's almost unbearable. This is a book that will stay with you. -- Ann CleevesThis beautifully written, pitch-perfect historical mystery is based on a real case – here, a murder that took place in 1924 . . . a moving study of loneliness, desperation, shame and public prurience. -- Laura Wilson * The Guardian *Exquisite and my book of the year. Utterly brilliant. -- Will Dean, author of Dark PinesFlint maintains suspense in what is a thoroughly captivating and unsettling page-turner that deserves to land her on awards lists again. -- Robert Epstein * iNews *Emma Flint reworks the details of a notorious historical murder and unspools the fate of her three entirely convincing main characters. * Daily Mail *Based on a shocking real-life murder in the 1920s Other Women focuses on Beatrice, almost invisible until she falls in love with a colleague, and Kate, seen as a devoted wife and mother, until their lives converge. I expect to see it on all the awards shortlists. * Red *Other Women is compelling and twisty, and wonderfully suspenseful, and yet still full of empathy for the female characters. -- Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundMoving, gripping . . . Other Women takes another tale of a true crime and reimagines it into a novel – this time, the murder of Emily Beilby Kaye by her married lover, Herbert Patrick Mahon. -- Alison Flood * The observer *Bloody brilliant -- Dinah JeffriesSet in the early 1920s, this clever mix of romance, thriller and courtroom drama proves love and heartbreak never ages, whatever the era. * Woman & Home *Utterly, utterly brilliant. Other Women is compelling, thought-provoking, harrowing and incredibly urgent. -- Caroline LeaStaggeringly brilliant, harrowing, haunting and entirely beautiful. Other Women takes a thrilling yet compassionate look at the making of a murder, at loneliness and love, at fixation and the sting of shame. A wonderful novel. -- Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the EndThe tension is superb and I honestly couldn't put it down. * Prima *Poignant and elegant, brutal and beautiful, Other Women, is a masterclass in modern storytelling. -- Helen Cullen, author of The Truth Must Dazzle GraduallyA glittering black diamond of a book. Beautiful and devastating literary true crime. Emma Flint takes a real murder from the 1920s and gives voice to the women involved. Bubbling anger beneath exquisite prose. -- Anna Mazolla, author of The Clockwork GirlIt is brilliant. I was swept up in a turmoil of emotion as I read. This is a book that starts as a love story and turns into something much darker indeed. -- Harriet Tyce, author of The Lies You ToldThe disturbing narrative unspools with a veneer of unsettling normalcy, which make the reveals which Flint masterfully serves up all the more gripping and profound when we reach them. -- Philippa East, author of I'll Never TellPassion, betrayal, and obsessive love combine to create the stunning tour de force that is Other Women . . . Chilling and heart-stopping, this is an instant classic. -- Eleni Kyriacou, author of She Came to StayHeartbreaking. I wanted it to go on and on, even as I raced to the end. Excellent, absorbing and totally gripping. -- Melanie Golding, author of The ReplacementsOther Women is a book about fantasy and the lengths that people will go to to protect what they love, whether that’s another adult, a child, or the dream of another kind of life. * Take a Break *. . . this haunting tale of love and obsession will stay with you. * Heat *Emma Flint has used a murder that shocked Britain almost a century ago - and paved the way for forensic science - as inspiration for her latest thriller. * The Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisThe Affair is a compelling story of mothers and sisters who are there for you when things fall apart, by Danielle Steel, whose countless number one bestsellers have made her the world’s favourite storyteller.A year that none of them would ever forget . . .Rose McCarthy is the legendary editor-in-chief at one of New York’s top fashion magazines. Following the death of her husband some years ago, she and her four adult, career-driven daughters have become even closer. Living in an elegant apartment overlooking the Seine, Nadia had considered her life perfect, married to bestselling novelist Nicolas Bateau, who adored her and their two daughters. But then the tabloid press leak a story of Nicolas’s affair with a dazzling young actress.Heartbroken and publicly humiliated, Nadia looks to her family for comfort, support and help to try to put her life back on course. As mother and daughters spend more time together, they come to realize what matters most in life.

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Book SynopsisThe Butler is an extraordinary tale of family, difficult decisions and destiny, from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel.Joachim von Hartmann was born and raised in Buenos Aires by his loving German mother, Liese, along with his identical twin. But when Joachim moves to Paris with Liese in his late teens, his twin enters a dark world and refuses to leave his beloved Argentina. Joachim begins training to be a butler, fascinated by the meticulous precision and intense demands it involves, and goes on to work in some of the grandest homes in England.Olivia White has given ten years of her life to her magazine, which failed, taking all of her dreams with it. A bequest from her mother allows her a year in Paris to reinvent herself. She needs help setting up a home in a charming Parisian apartment. It is then that her and Joachim’s paths cross.Joachim, on a whim, takes a job working for Olivia for a few weeks, which turn to months as the unlikely pair discover they enjoy working side by side. At the same time, Joachim is shocked to learn the family history he never knew, involving his grandfather’s sinister wartime activity, and also to hear news of the dangerous criminal his twin has become. While Olivia struggles to put her life back together, Joachim’s falls apart.Stripped of their old roles, they strive to discover the truth about each other and themselves, first as employer and employee, then as friends. Their paths no longer sure, they are a man and woman who reach a place where the past doesn’t matter and only what they are living now is true.

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Book SynopsisOne Night in Italy is a charming, funny and heartwarming novel from Lucy Diamond, author of Anything Could Happen.Is Italian really the language of love? A new class of students hopes to find out . . .Anna’s recently been told the father she’s never met is Italian. Now she’s baking focaccia, whipping up tiramisu and swotting up on her vocabulary, determined to make it to Italy so she can find him in person.Catherine’s husband has walked out on her, and she's trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But she’ll need courage as well as friends when she discovers his deception runs even deeper than infidelity.Sophie’s the teacher of the class, who’d much rather be back in sunny Sorrento. She can’t wait to escape the tensions at home and go travelling again. But sometimes life – and love – can surprise you when you least expect it.As the evening class gets underway, friendships form and secrets from Italy begin to emerge. With love affairs blossoming in the most unlikely places, and hard decisions to face, it’s going to be a year that Anna, Catherine and Sophie will never forget.'Charming, funny and as satisfying as a giant tiramisu. Loved it' - Milly Johnson, author of The Sweet Shop of Second ChancesTrade ReviewFunny, sunny and wise. An absolute treat -- Katie FfordeAn utterly joyous novel -- Miranda DickinsonCharming, funny and as satisfying as a giant tiramisu. Loved it -- Milly JohnsonLucy Diamond is a brilliant writer and she skilfully weaves together three women’s lives, each enhanced and changed by the language and food of Italy. The laughs, warm friendships and romance kept me turning pages and I didn’t move from the sofa till I’d finished it -- Abby ClementsDelicious, delightful and warm, Lucy Diamond never fails to make you laugh out loud and cheer for her colourful cast of characters, and One Night In Italy is no exception -- Rowan ColemanThis warm, funny, novel skilfully weaves together the lives of three women, all of them changed or bettered by the language and food of Italy * Woman's Own *

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Book Synopsis'Absolutely stunning . . . thrilling and unique' - Gillian Flynn'Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining' - Emma Stonex'A banger!' - Chelsea G Summers'Fantastic . . . compelling . . . wonderful' - The ObserverWelcome to The Centre. You'll never be the same . . . Anisa Ellahi spends her days writing subtitles for Bollywood films in her London flat, all the while longing to be a translator of ‘great works of literature’. Her boyfriend Adam’s extraordinary aptitude for languages only makes her feel worse, but when Adam learns to speak Urdu practically overnight, Anisa forces him to reveal his secret.Adam tells Anisa about the Centre, an elite, invite-only programme that guarantees total fluency in any language in just ten days. Sceptical but intrigued, Anisa enrols. Stripped of her belongings and contact with the outside world, she undergoes the Centre’s strange and rigorous processes. But as she enmeshes herself further within the organization, seduced by all that it’s made possible, she soon realizes the disturbing, hidden cost of its services.By turns dark, funny and surreal, The Centre takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London and New Delhi, interrogating the sticky politics of language, translation and appropriation with biting specificity, and ultimately asking: what price would you be willing to pay for success?A remarkable debut from Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.Trade ReviewFantastic . . . This Black Mirror take on the world of language opens up questions of cultural appropriation, the power of language, memory and privilege . . . Siddiqi’s easy storytelling and her heroine Anisa’s sweet narrative voice slip down like summer rosé. Siddiqi has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . compelling . . . wonderful * The Observer *An absolutely stunning and unique novel . . . A book that is not only thrilling but deeply thought provoking, a combination that is truly rare -- Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlSiddiqi . . . has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . a wonderful novel -- Bidisha Mamata * The Guardian *Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining . . . I was gripped -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersIngenious . . . This is a book whose many delights and horrors are unlikely to be lost in translation * New York Times *The Centre is a banger! . . . A book that feels both cheery and terrifying, The Centre draws you in with a gentle hand until it throws the mallet down in the last thirty pages. A terrific meditation on language, diaspora, alienation, and culture, it will stay with you long after you read -- Chelsea G Summers, author of A Certain HungerPropulsive and profound. I was gripped by the mystery haunting the core of the book — and equally gripped by Siddiqi’s exploration of the power of language . . . a debut of dazzling wit and insight -- Helen Phillips, author of The NeedA twisting mystery and nuanced exploration of identity and assimilation, The Centre cuts deep . . . A compelling, witty, sometimes gruesome tale of how we use language to connect and to sever, appropriate and explore -- Julia Fine, author of Maddalena and the Dark and The Upstairs HouseI am obsessed with this book and you will be too! A brilliant meditation on language and translation and the most gripping novel I've read in forever . . . I'm in awe -- Jennifer Croft, author of HomesickAs haunting as it is tempting; this book devoured me back -- Sarah Gailey, author of Just Like Home and Eat the RichA gripping, surreal mystery about language, identity, and greed. The Centre explores impossible success at an equally impossible price—and the difference between merely paying for something and truly understanding its dark cost -- Peng Shepherd, bestselling author of The CartographersThe most fascinating debut I've read in years—enigmatic, biting, absurd, and right when you think you've got it figured out, utterly horrifying -- Daniel Kraus, New York Times bestselling author of The Shape of Water (with Guillermo del Toro)Incredible . . . it's creepy AF, in the best way possible. Highly recommend! -- Lamya H, author of Hijab Butch BluesFilled with astute insights into life as a brown person in a predominantly white country . . . A fast-paced thriller with its finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary social discourse * Kirkus *Manazir Siddiqi’s ambitious debut packs insightful observations about racism, classism, and colonialism into a dark mystery . . . a writer to watch * Publishers Weekly *[An] inventive debut... The Centre informs the current social discourse by offering wry, shrewd insights into colonialism, appropriation and classism, resonant of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s Disorientation and RF Kuang’s Yellowface -- Rabeea Saleem, The Irish TimesTruly fascinating . . . a dialogue-rich drama with comic undertones and a creepy thriller nestled within * Shelf Awareness *One of the most original books published this year * Eastern Eye, Best books of 2023 *The novel explores friendship, purpose, and power * New Yorker, The Best Books of 2023 *

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Book Synopsis‘Written with all the ingenuity and twisty tautness of a thriller’ The TimesFrom the Booker-winning Irish author, a brilliant and moving novel about fame, sexual power, and a daughter’s search to understand her mother’s hidden truths. This is the story of Irish theatre legend Katherine O’Dell, as told by her daughter Norah. It tells of early stardom in Hollywood, of highs and lows on the stages of Dublin and London’s West End. Katherine’s life is a grand performance, with young Norah watching from the wings. But this romance between mother and daughter cannot survive Katherine’s past, or the world’s damage. As Norah uncovers her mother’s secrets, she acquires a few of her own. Then, fame turns to infamy when Katherine decides to commit a bizarre crime. Actress is about a daughter’s search for the truth: the dark secret in the bright star, and what drove Katherine finally mad . . .Trade ReviewA perfect jewel of a book, a dark emerald set in the Irish laureate’s fictional tiara, alongside her Man Booker Prize winner The Gathering (2007) and The Green Road (2015). Its brilliance is complex and multifaceted, but completely lucid… Actress is a deeply humane, often darkly funny novel about the exercise of power over sexually attractive women. The grim subject matter is illuminated by Enright’s acute sensitivity to language… Enright proves, once again, her genius. -- Ruth Scurr * Spectator *Anne Enright, the unofficial rock star of literary fiction, cements her stardom with Actress. -- Niamh Donnelly * Irish Times *Actress absolutely enthralled me… [An] immersive, masterful novel. -- Anya Meyerowitz * Red Magazine *In Katherine O’Dell, her fictional fallen star of stage and screen…Enright has created a heroine as irresistible to the reader as to her audiences… She has become a byword for contemporary Irish literary fiction at its finest. -- Lisa Allardice * Guardian *May I recommend Actress by Anne Enright. Her writing is always pitch perfect, but this is truly exquisite. If there is such a thing as the perfect novel, this is it. -- Nigella Lawson

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Book Synopsis'Charming, witty and warm, Small Miracles is a gentle gem of a novel, a cheery balm in troubling times.' AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs BirdIn the summer of 1995, three nuns play the lottery to save their failing convent and set off on an adventure to Italy in search of a miracle. A joyful, heart-warming story of friendship, community, faith and love.The 1990s are proving tough for the convent. The order of the Sisters of Saint Philomena is down to its three last nuns. The place that Sisters Margaret, Bridget and Cecilia call home is in dire need of repairs and, with no savings and no new recruits, they are facing the prospect of having to sell up and leave behind the friends and neighbours in the parish community that they love.That is, until ninety-year-old Cecilia decides to play the newly launched National Lottery and a series of small miracles begins to unfold...Small Miracles takes the reader on a joyful and uplifting journey as these three unforgettable nuns learn more about life, love and friendship than they could ever have imagined.***Sweet Mercies, the new Christmas adventure with the Sisters of Saint Philomena, is available for pre-order now!***Trade ReviewWith gentle humour, and surprising twists and turns, this is just the book we need in these difficult times. I didn't want it to end. * Katie Fforde *Charming, witty and warm, Small Miracles is a gentle gem of a novel, a cheery balm in troubling times -- AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs BirdHeart-warming and quirky, with a cast of lovable characters...Just wonderful. I loved it. -- Jill MansellCharming, witty and intricately plotted...celebrates the uplifting power of love * The Tablet *What a joy! Small Miracles is warm, compassionate, and sees the good in everyone. I loved it, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to be reminded of what a kind place the world can be. -- Stephanie Butland

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Book SynopsisOn the train from Karachi, as dusk begins to fall, Fahad's dreams of his summer in London are fading. He is headed to Abad, the family's feudal estate, where his father intends to toughen up his sensitive boy, to teach him about power, duty, family -- to make him a man. Instead, over the course of one shimmering, indolent season, Fahad finds himself seduced by the wildness of the land and by the people he meets: those who revere and revile his father; cousin Mousey, who lives alone with a man he calls his manager; and Ali, a teenager like him, whose presence threatens to unearth all that is hidden. Other Names for Love is a truly exceptional novel: a luminous tale of memory and desire, inheritance and love, and the search for a sense of home. Written with urgency and unusual beauty, it marks the arrival of a stunning new voice in fiction.Trade ReviewA beautiful novel on the desire to leave and the hope to remain, the need to find oneself among one's people and away from them -- HISHAM MATAR, author of The ReturnAn exceptional novel about fathers and sons, desire and love, and the long reach of the past -- SUNJEEV SAHOTA, author of China RoomSuch a deftly told and evocative story of duty, masculinity and desire -- KAMILA SHAMSIE, author of Home FireA twenty-first century variation of Turgenev's Fathers and Sons... Taymour Soomro is a thrilling new addition to international literature -- YIYUN LI, author of Must I GoThis haunted, haunting novel is about the cruelties we commit in our search for freedom and the bonds from which we can never be free. Taymour Soomro's piercing insight is that both the freedom and the bonds are constituent of love -- Garth Greenwell, author of CLEANNESS and WHAT BELONGS TO YOU

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Book Synopsis'Heartwarming and heartbreaking' Giovanna Fletcher'Deep, emotional and powerful' Milly Johnson'It swept me away' Beth O'Leary___________________________An instant Sunday Times bestseller. Neither of them expected to fall in love. But sometimes life has other plans.When Wren realises her fiancé is in love with someone else, she thinks her heart will never recover.On the other side of the world, Anders lost his wife four years ago and is still struggling to move on.Wren hopes that spending the summer with her dad and step-family on their farm in Indiana will help her to heal. There, amid the cornfields and fireflies, she and Anders cross paths and their worlds are turned upside-down again.But Wren does not know that Anders is harbouring a secret, and if he acts on any feelings he has for Wren it will have serious fall-out for everyone.Walking away would hurt Wren more than she can imagine. But, knowing the truth, how can she possibly stay?__________________________________'This is a book that will have you swooning, crying, and turning the pages late into the night' Sophie Cousens'Beautifully written. So immersive and with such depth of emotion' Jill Mansell'This is going to be totally massive, because it has everything: family, love, secrets, sexy descriptions of brooding, hot men. . . just sublime' Laura Jane Williams'A moving, remarkably romantic and emotional novel written by one of the only writers who can make me cry! Paige Toon continues to weave the most beautiful, deep stories, and Only Love Can Hurt Like This is her at her absolute best!' Lia Louis'A word-perfect deep dive into the highs and lows of love' Heidi Swain'Paige Toon is a genius and I highly recommend this gorgeous book' Lucy Vine'A heart-wrenching story. . . I feel bereft to have finished it' Ali Harris 'Heart-wrenching and beautiful with a seismic plot twist' Zoë Folbigg'Emotional, angsty, and utterly romantic. . .This story will have you wiping away tears one moment, and smiling dreamily the next' Mia Sheridan 'The author is known for writing gutwrenching novels, and hits the mark again with this wonderful tale' The Sun‘A hot man with dark secrets, a sparky heroine, a gorgeous setting and slow-burn emotional fire. Whew. *Fans self*' Natasha Poliszczuk 'Compulsively page-turning, wildly romantic and beautifully heartbreaking. I stayed up all night and inhaled it in one big gulp. A totally brilliant read - I couldn't love it more' Emily Stone'What a beautiful, lovely tearjerker of a book. This story will stay with me for a long time. . .' Lizzy Dent'Toon urges us to risk everything, to never play it safe when it comes to the heart, and to know that caring is always, always, worth the cost' Caroline Leavitt'Paige Toon's writing is emotional and riveting. Even while her novel was breaking my heart into tiny pieces, I could not put it down' Jill Santopolo'Heartbreaking, gorgeous and unforgettable [...] Only Paige can write like this!' Dani Atkins'This book is a delicious, slow burn love story that hit me in parts of my heart I didn't even know I had' Annabel Monaghan

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Book Synopsis'An impossibly fun romance with an all-too relatable message, Lovestruck is the perfect escapist treat from one of the best romance writers out there' Lindsey KelkThis isn't one love story. It's two.Becca Calloway is calling it: she's ready for Mr Right, and she's ready now.She even goes as far as to hold a manifestation ceremony for him - and when she receives a text from her ex five minutes later, she knows it's a sign.The problem is, she doesn't know which way it's pointing...Should Becca reply and reignite things with her old flame Mike? Or delete and block, moving forward with the new man in her life?Becca has one choice, with two ways this could go. And in Lovestruck, you're about to see them both..._________________________PRAISE FOR LAURA JANE WILLIAMS'Laura Jane Williams combines sharp, relatable wit and bold, joyful sincerity' Dolly Alderton'A fresh, smart, modern rom com. It had me totally gripped!' Beth O'Leary'An absolute delight!' Emily Henry'Perceptive, funny and ultimately hopeful - the perfect tonic' Sophie Cousens'I can't remember the last time a book made me forget I had a phone. Pure escapist fiction!' Stacey Halls

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Book SynopsisThe wedding is tomorrow. If they can only get through today...Long-time couple Megan Givens and Tom Prescott are preparing for what should be the happiest weekend of their lives. But their plans for a perfect wedding are ruined when a huge fight causes them to call it all off on the night of their rehearsal dinner.Megan and Tom think the worst is over - until they wake up the next morning and find themselves stuck in a time loop. Somehow they are being forced to relive the worst day of their lives - with its painful secrets, age-old grievances, and family dramas - again and again. We've all had regrets and what ifs; The Rehearsals imagines what you might do with the chance to finally get it right.Trade ReviewRomantic escapism with an irresistible Groundhog Day twist. You will be charmed by Megan and Tom as they relive the worst day of their lives . . . until they get it right. Annette Christie has written a fun, yet thought-provoking, rom-com * Elin Hilderbrand *A funny, clever, enchanting story about finding our way back to ourselves and to those we truly love. It had me spellbound from the first page . . . The Rehearsals is refreshingly honest about the ups and downs of long-term relationships, whether romantic or family, handling its themes with wit and zest. Terrific fun from beginning to end * Sarah Haywood *A fabulously fun read * Prima *A wonderful romantic story about do-overs, second chances, and finding your happily ever after. In the spirit of the story, no sooner had I finished this book than I wanted to read it again -- Dani AtkinsAn enchanting and compelling look at life's what-ifs. Christie writes with honesty, heart, and a great deal of charm -- Helen Hoang, bestselling author of The Kiss QuotientClever, funny and relatable with wonderful characters. I finished it with a lump in my throat -- Cressida McLaughlinUtterly captivating, charming, and brilliant. With a compelling plot and relatable characters, The Rehearsals explores the raw emotions behind the question of what if and the true meaning of second chances -- Sonia Hartl, author of Heartbreak for Hire, Not Your #LoveStory, and Have a Little Faith in MeA compelling, clever look at the hard work of growing up in our relationships - with friends, family, lovers, and ourselves - woven through with humour and tremendous heart -- Rosie Danan, author of The RoommateA compelling story about the power of second chances and forgiveness that's sure to spark conversation. * Kirkus *Delightful . . . This charming story delivers equal amounts of honesty and hope and is bound to win the hearts of rom-com fans * Publishers Weekly *Fans of Christina Lauren and Meg Cabot will savor this charming relationship comedy * Booklist *A perfect beach book * Teleadvisor *A clever concept and a brilliant read * Fabulous *This is light-hearted and funny while still covering serious topics in a way that makes you not want to put the book down * Press Association *This delightful romantic comedy delivers an engaging time-loop of possibilities * Love Reading *It's difficult to see this as a debut as it's confidently written, funny and warm, and perceptive of relationships and how we act to please others * Belfast Telegraph *Light hearted and funny while still covering serious topics in a way that makes you not want to put the book down * My London *Wonderfully fun and touching novel * Woman *

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Book Synopsis'Unputdownable . . . spookily familiar, funny, and darkly captivating. I loved it'Sally Hepworth Question: How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?Answer: Sometimes just one night.From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a gripping, domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.Trade ReviewUnputdownable from the very first page, The Trivia Night was spookily familiar, funny, and darkly captivating. I loved it * Sally Hepworth *Gossip, scandal and intrigue - this twisty tale is deliciously naughty and addictive. A great new voice in fiction. * Veronica Henry *A delicious read that takes a social event many of us have experienced - the innocuous school trivia night - and infuses it with bad decisions, illicit desire and danger. Perceptive, suspenseful and all too realistic, you will see yourself in these characters and be at once shocked and understanding of their actions. * B.M. Carroll *Sex, lies and intrigue abound in this gripping and often hilarious story of suburban marriages in crisis, self discovery and school gates culture. If you've ever wondered about swinging, if you're dying to find out what a school parents' partner swap looks like, if you love a glimpse into the seemingly perfect lives of others, this is the absorbing weekend binge read for you * Anna Downes *Sexy, funny, excruciating - a smart thriller about couples and school gate neurosis. I couldn't put this down * Harriet Walker *An addictive read about marriage, friendships, parent politics and the consequences of one unexpectedly wild night at a school fundraiser. I loved the voices of the three different women who tell the story and the secrets, lies and scandals that unfold irresistibly throughout * Helen Cooper *Light and curly rather than dark and twisty, this is a clever, witty, wonderfully observed satire on the bitchiness, rivalries and friendships that flourish when our children go to school - not in the playground, but at the school gate. I recognised so many of the characters that I could have sworn Ali Lowe had been eavesdropping on my friends and reporting the scandals at my local primary school. * Michael Robotham *A salacious yet recognisable dilemma that examines the consequences of bringing your secret desires to life . . . Exploring what actually happens when you attempt to make your fantasies a reality, this was a thoroughly entertaining, engaging read that I finished in one weekend. I loved it! * Jacqueline Bublitz *If you have to put one book on your TBR pile in the next few months, make it this one. It has it all: secrets and lies, toxic school dynamics, relationship issues and a deadly quiz night . . . Gave me major Liane Moriarty vibes * Sarah Pearse *This Liane-Moriarty-esque page-turner of a read will have you gripped * Fabulous magazine *If you're a fan of Liane Moriarty, Ali may be a new favoured author * Belfast Telegraph *This Liane-Moriarty-esque page-turner of a read will have you gripped * Fabulous *If you're a fan of Liane Moriarty, Ali may be a new favoured author * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWhat if all you inherit from your mother are her secrets? Isla knows her family kept things from her. When she inherits the cliffside cottage where she spent her childhood, she must face dark shadows of her past—the mother who rejected her in favour of her art, the aunt whose death haunted them both, and the silence that permeated every room. Digging through the belongings of someone she realises she never really knew, Isla finally has the chance to find answers to the secrets her mother spent a lifetime hiding. But lies can’t be swept away by the tide. And when Isla crosses paths with a mother and young daughter visiting her remote hometown, she becomes entangled in their family’s secrets, too, forcing her to wonder whether the truth she is seeking will really set her free. Isla’s past is as dark as the ocean around her. But when she comes up for air, the mysteries of this lonely shore will reveal themselves in unexpected ways…

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Book SynopsisIn She Who Lies Above, Beatriz Hausner brings Hypatia of Alexandria, the fourth century Byzantine mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, to life. She does so through layered ventriloquism: publishing amorous correspondence from the feminist icon's friend and former student, Synesius the Cyrene, and scribing Hypatia's replies in turn. These letters are "discovered" by Bettina Ungaro, a librarian and archivist by day, poet by night. She, in turn, collates the correspondence to build a vision of the couple's relationship while writing a kind of postmodern critique of contemporary book and reading culture. These interjections both borrow from and juxtapose writing from ancient times, and, in doing so, explore the evolution of modern knowledge keeping. The result is a rigorous, hyper-layered collection of poems that are elegiac and erotic; steeped in appreciation for a life of books and the technical and transcendent brilliance their authors can exhibit.

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Book Synopsis'A mesmerising debut. Dark, twisted and bracingly empathetic' Diana Reid, author of Love and Virtue Winner of the 2017 Hankyoreh Literary Award ---------------- Who is Jina? The stupid woman who ruined a young man's promising career? The weird loner whose university boyfriend thinks she has a victim complex? The naïve country girl who ignored a friend's cry for help? The survivor? To answer these questions, Jina will have to return to Anjin University and the toxic culture that destroyed the lives of many female students - including one, Ha Yuri, who died tragically and mysteriously not long before she left. ---------------- PRAISE FOR ANOTHER PERSON 'Immaculately crafted, shocking and moving' Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City 'Dark Academia the way I like it... smart and full of suspense' Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post 'Sharp social commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You NowTrade Review'Dark Academia the way I like it: Another Person is one of those novels where you're never sure who you should be rooting for, or if you should be rooting for anyone at all. Smart, and full of suspense, it will keep you guessing until the end.' - Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post'Sharp societal commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' - Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You Now'This is not a remote-controlled weapon aiming at us from a distance. This is a novel standing right before us like a stone-age axe, hacking at our blunted hearts. A novel not like a drone, but like dynamite; more like a dagger than an arrow. In an ever-more misogynistic society, day after day feminism plots its self-transformation-Another Person is its latest weapon. I love Kang Hwagil's direct and primal writing style. I love her perseverance and courage, not to gracefully skirt around a topic, but instead to shout out, 'This is not okay' - Cheong Yeoul, writer'This novel exposes and interrogates. Another Person's protagonists Yuri, Jina and Sujin-as well as the countless women within the 'brackets' of the Korean context-are screaming out... This is a novel that will spark debate.' - Young-Sook Kang, author of Rina'A novel so immaculately-crafted, shocking, and moving, it's hard to believe it's the author's first; this is what Kang Hwagil's ANOTHER PERSON is to me' - Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City'A confronting and timely book about consent, toxic masculinity, sexual assault and how women are treated in South Korea, by one of the country's most prominent feminist writers' -Independent

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Book Synopsis'I was gripped by it' IAN McEWANThree lives collide, not one of them will emerge unchanged - the exhilarating new novel from the author of the Patrick Melrose series.When Olivia meets a new lover, Francis, just as she is welcoming her dearest friend Lucy back from New York, her life expands dramatically. Her connection to Francis, a committed naturalist living off-grid, is immediate and startling. Eager to involve Lucy in her joy, Olivia introduces the two - but Lucy has news of her own that binds the trio unusually close. Over the months that follow, Lucy's boss Hunter, Olivia's psychoanalyst parents, and a young man named Sebastian are pulled into the friends' orbit, and not one of them will emerge unchanged.'Moving and so funny' Observer, Books of the Year 'Heroic and astonishing' Sunday Times'Clever and compassionate... A novel with heart' Spectator 'Entertaining... Immensely pleasurable' Daily MailTrade ReviewIf, as Henry James said, the first duty of the novelist is to be interesting, he would be happy in St Aubyn's company. Double Blind is emotionally cogent and intellectually fascinating. There are reflections and conversations here which adroitly evoke those important intersections where science and our urgent contemporary concerns meet. I was gripped by it. -- Ian McEwanDouble Blind is a book of big ideas, in which the characters experiment with medicine, psychology, narcotics, religion and meditation to understand themselves and find peace. But as cerebral as the book is, it is also deeply felt, because St Aubyn has been thinking about these issues for decades -- Hadley Freeman * Guardian *This is a novel with heart... Double Blind is both clever and compassionate, confirming St Aubyn as among the brightest lights of contemporary British literature -- Alex Preston * Spectator *Shakespearean in scope and tone, moving from the intimate to the universal within paragraphs and providing tragedy, comedy and human frailty... A less practised author would run the risk of over-saturating all the disparate strands, but St Aubyn offers comment on the natural world, genetics, family dynamics, philosophy, psychiatry and ecology without forgetting the tapestry-like threads of the story itself-and provides a satisfying resolution to boot... Brimful of energy, this novel asks big questions-"How could one ever truly enter into another subjectivity?"-without giving us all the answers... Pacey, caustic and self-aware, it is this neatly choreographed dance of themes and ideas that makes for such absorbing and immediate reading. -- Zoe Apostolides * Prospect *Likeable and rounded characters and a celebration of the best things in life: the wilderness of Knepp and a touching but complex love story... St Aubyn's reinvention as a writer is heroic and astonishing. He has emerged from the "very difficult truth" of this childhood to write brilliantly about that and, now, about a lot more. -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'Marvellous entertainment' Sunday TimesJust married and newly arrived in Los Angeles are Paul and Katherine Cattleman. Paul responds immediately to the sunny, sprawling cosmopolitan city but to Katherine the main impression is of dirt and smog. Paul explores his surroundings and discovers Ceci, a girl who could be the incarnation of the city's uninhibited ways, while Katherine meets Iz a psychiatrist who recognises her unhappiness and sets out to help her. Under the bright west coast sun, the city begins to affect the couple in separate, subtle but significant ways, shining new light on their marriage with moving, funny and unexpected consequences.Trade ReviewI’m mad about Lurie… I have a thing for over-educated adulterers in fiction * Guardian *I am re-reading with enormous delight and greed. If you're new to them, lucky you: marvellously astute comedies of social, moral and sexual manners, their witty exuberance is nothing short of inspirational. -- Helen SimpsonLurie shows some really fine ironic humor… An incisive and very witty novel * Kirkus Reviews *Perhaps more shocking than she knows - shocking like Jane Austen, not GenetThe Queen Herod of contemporary fiction

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Book Synopsis'Tender, beautiful and bold. A very special novel.' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONES, author of Make You Mine This Christmas'Fun, fresh and clever . . . a huge treat for all fans of Jane Eyre.' KATIE LUMSDEN, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall'A sublime and tenderly written novel.' BEA FITZGERALD, author of Girl, Goddess, QueenAll Brontë Ellis has ever known is life at St. Mary's all-boys boarding school, where he lingered first as a student and then as a teaching assistant. So when a chance to forge a new life in Cambridge presents itself, he seizes it with both hands. Arriving at Greenwood Manor as the new live-in tutor, Bron finds himself welcomed by all - the gregarious Mr Edwards, his precocious pupil Ada . . . except for Darcy, the elusive and tempestuous eldest son. Despite the rumours about him, Bron cannot help feeling drawn to the one person who seems determined to avoid him.When tragedy strikes the house, Bron begins to sense dark secrets smouldering beneath Greenwood Manor's surface. Soon he's not sure what to believe, or whether he even has a future at Greenwood. Only Darcy holds the key, if he can be persuaded to reveal his heart to Bron . . .'A love letter to the period drama, and one I could not put down.' WILLIAM HUSSEY, author of Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts'Clever and beautifully written, I loved this.' EMMA CARROLL, author of The Week at World's EndTrade ReviewTender, beautiful and bold. A deeply nostalgic modern classic with a bibliophile, genderqueer Jane Eyre protagonist. Brilliant queer anachronism and deep longing blended with Castle's prose and storytelling prowess make for a very special novel. * Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas *Fun, fresh and clever. A fantastic coming of age story, and a huge treat for all fans of Jane Eyre. * Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall *A love letter to the period drama, and one I could not put down. * William Hussey, author of Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts *The Manor House Governess is a sublime and tenderly written novel that is at once an interrogation of and love letter to the literary classics. I am so happy this book exists. * Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen *A brilliantly queer take on the Victorian governess archetype. Conceptually clever & beautifully written, I loved this homage to Jane Eyre & Jane Austen. * Emma Carroll, author of The Week at World's End *In turns spooky, funny, and romantic, C. A. Castle's debut novel is sure to be a hit with readers across genres and generations. * Mackenzi Lee, Stonewall Honor and New York Times-bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue *C.A. Castle's The Manor House Governess weaves past and present together to create a queer story of love and intrigue that feels thrillingly new and boldly relevant. * Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment *Atmospheric and emotional, this is a mystery that feels at once timeless and totally modern. This slow-burner will keep you guessing until the final pages. An assured debut. * Justin Myers, author of The Last Romeo, The Fake-Up and The Magnificent Sons *Brimming with lush prose and multi-dimensional characters, The Manor House Governess is a reimagining unlike any other. A modern classic about identity, love, and boldly walking one's own path. * Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care *

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Forty-eight-year-old Diane's husband has just left her for a younger woman – because, he says, she 'bores' him. Diane takes the charge to heart and, alongside wild and hilarious best friend Claudine, embarks on a journey to restore her faith in herself and work out exactly what she is left with after all these years. Witty, sharp and emotionally rich, this is a story about freedom and identity and how it's never too late to put yourself first.

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Book SynopsisTwo happy couples. One dead body. A whole load of secrets. Married life wasn't meant to start like this.On honeymoon in Bali, you hit it off with another newlywed couple and celebrate your last night at a fancy cliff-side restaurant.No one predicted the evening would end with a dead body. But it was an accident, right? A tragic accident.The honeymoon may be over but it soon becomes clear that there's another side to this story . . . and your life depends on uncovering it.Many marriages can survive anything – but when it starts on a lie is it really 'til death do us part? ___________'This sizzling summer read is a breathtaking exploration of obsession and betrayal' - S Magazine'A page-turner full of secrets and lies, this is a totally addictive read' - Heat, 5-star review'Full of suspense and a whole load of secrets' - Prima'Atmospheric' - Candis'A wonderful twisty thrill ride' - Crime Monthly, lead review, 4 stars'Secrets, lies and the mother of all cover-ups...' - Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House and The Only Suspect'An addictive, jaw-dropping read. I loved it.' - Claire Douglas'Fantastically atmospheric and suspenseful ... Set to be one of the biggest sizzling reads of the summer!' - L.V. Matthews'A nerve-jangling tale of tension, suspicion and betrayal' - T.M. Logan'Tense, pacy, twisty and ingeniously plotted, it's going to be HUGE this summer!' - Isabelle Broom'Clever, twisty and tense, I'll be recommending The Honeymoon to friends looking for the perfect summer read.' - Nicole Kennedy'Brilliantly plotted, full of suspense and atmosphere, it had me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep.' - Lia Middleton'I really loved this book. Gripping. Atmospheric. Couldn't put it down.' - Imran Mahmood'Dark, devilish and deliciously addictive. The Honeymoon hooked me from page one and delivered twist after twist. The perfect summer thriller.' - Chris WhitakerTrade Review'A page-turner full of secrets and lies, this is a totally addictive read' * Heat, 5-star review *'Full of suspense and a whole load of secrets' * Prima *'Atmospheric' * Candis *'A wonderful twisty thrill ride' * Crime Monthly, lead review, 4 stars *'Secrets, lies and the mother of all cover-ups ... I was gripped by this twisty tale of two couples' honeymoons colliding' -- Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House and The Only Suspect'An addictive, jaw-dropping read. I loved it' -- Claire Douglas'Fantastically atmospheric and suspenseful ... Set to be one of the biggest sizzling reads of the summer!' -- L.V. Matthews'A nerve-jangling tale of tension, suspicion and betrayal' -- T.M. Logan'Tense, pacy, twisty and ingeniously plotted, it's going to be HUGE this summer!' -- Isabelle Broom'Clever, twisty and tense, I'll be recommending The Honeymoon to friends looking for the perfect summer read' -- Nicole Kennedy'Brilliantly plotted, full of suspense and atmosphere, it had me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep' -- Lia Middleton'I really loved this book. Gripping. Atmospheric. Couldn't put it down' -- Imran Mahmood'Dark, devilish and deliciously addictive. The Honeymoon hooked me from page one and delivered twist after twist. The perfect summer thriller' -- Chris Whitaker'I was gripped from the very beginning ... Keeps you guessing all the way' * The Breakfast Book Club *'Tense, twisty and expertly plotted' * The Unmumsy Mum *

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Book SynopsisA delicious, sharp novel about a woman who jets off to France after her perfect marriage collapses, putting the broken pieces of herself back together while rediscovering her own joie de vivre – a lust for life, art, and steamy sex.Sophie Bloom's forty-second birthday promises a night of celebration with Gabe, her devoted husband, and her two besties and their spouses. Dinner is served with a side of delicious gossip: after a secret dating site for married and committed couples was hacked, thirty-two million cheaters worldwide have been exposed... including Sophie's 'perfect' husband.Humiliated and directionless, Sophie flees to Paris, where her teenage daughter is studying abroad and nursing her own heartbreak. Heading further south to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Sophie begins to acknowledge her own desires and rediscover her essence with painful honesty and humour, reawakening both her sensuality and ambitions as a sculptor.Surrounded by the postcard beauty of Provence, Sophie Bloom is determined to blossom. As she allows her true self to emerge, Sophie must decide what is broken forever... and what it means to be truly unbreakable.Trade Review'This exquisitely wrought novel will appeal to readers who believe in the redemption of new beginnings' * Publishers Weekly *'Artful, feminist, and emotionally gripping. The Unbreakables is a remarkable tribute to a woman's strength in the face of heartbreak and adversity' -- Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient'An impossibly sexy read of love, friendship and art' * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisMeet Delphy Rose: thirty-eight, a SEN teacher, and happily single. After a chance encounter with Ben, she is transported back to more carefree times when both were in a local post-punk band, The Thistles. They can’t help but fall in love, but things are complicated: Ben is married and has changed. Delphy is fragile and has a secret. A young, working class, ambitious Delphy dreamt of Uni. She immersed herself in and escaped through the explosion of eighties’ alternative music. As a mature woman, Delphy recalls first loves, friendships, bust ups, colourful characters, the gigs, the parties. Through the memories of Delphy’s younger days, full of hilarious escapades, Delphy Rose recounts the journey of a woman trying to find her way through and out of a difficult, coercive relationship with issues on both sides. She must realise that while Ben is the key, he is perhaps not the answer to healing past traumas. Can she resolve the pain of her past with her final song?

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Book Synopsis'A funny and touching insight into music, autism and motherhood' Dawn French'A truthful book that dives headfirst into the realities of motherhood that will make you laugh out loud and touch your heart in equal measure' Izzy Judd________________________________Your family doesn't fit the mould. So what?Lucy had it all: an exciting career, a rock-star husband, and pelvic floor muscles that could crack a walnut. And then, she had kids...Since giving birth to her second child, Lucy's life is totally unrecognisable: the romance in her marriage is officially dead and so is the career it took her years to build.Instead of playing the cello behind superstars at packed-out arenas, Lucy now spends most days mopping up broccoli vomit whilst listening to her four-year-old recite facts about the gallbladder. Something needs to change.With a little help from her friends, Lucy comes up with a plan to get her life on track, claw back her career and help her extraordinary son to find his place in an ordinary world.Trade ReviewA funny and touching insight into music, autism and motherhood * Dawn French *A truthful book that dives headfirst into the realities of motherhood that will make you laugh out loud and touch your heart in equal measure -- Izzy Judd, bestselling author of Dare to DreamA relatable yet original read you won't be able to put down ... will make you laugh out loud. Simply brilliant! * Vicki Broadbent (The Honest Mum) *Honest, heartfelt and frankly bloody hilarious * Rowan Coleman *Will make you snort with laughter, wince in recognition and then punch you in the heart - often all in one page * Laura Vaughan *

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Book SynopsisA collection of early short stories which helped make Fitzgerald’s name, Tales of the Jazz Age combines period pieces – the most notable of which is the novella-length ‘May Day’ – with more fanciful creations, such as the fantastical ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, recently made into a Hollywood film. Also containing the now classic story ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz’, as well as lesser-known sketches and tales, this diverse selection, compiled by Fitzgerald himself from material published in newspapers and magazines, showcases both the variety of his writing and early examples of the themes and characters which would find their way into his later novels.Trade ReviewHe was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *Table of ContentsContains: The Jelly Bean, The Camel's Back, May Day, Porcelain and Pink, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tarquin of Cheapside, O Russet Witch!, The Lees of Happiness, Mr Icky, Jemina, the Mountain Girl.

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Book SynopsisBasil and Josephine charts the coming of age of two privileged youths from quiet Midwestern towns, Basil Duke Lee and Josephine Perry - based on Fitzgerald himself and a combination of his first love Ginevra King and his wife Zelda. As one struggles to gain the acceptance of his peers and becomes consumed by ambition, the other finds herself obsessed by teenage crushes and has to confront the pitfalls of popularity. Written for the Saturday Evening Post while the author was working on Tender Is the Night, these stories form a realistic and entertaining portrait of two young adults in the 1910s, fascinating both for the autobiographical insights they provide and the timeless satire that Fitzgerald's fiction has become synonymous with.Trade ReviewHe was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented a generation. * The New York Times *

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