Narrative theme: love / relationships

Book SynopsisPure romance magic' Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The UnhoneymoonersJoyful thoughtful and real' Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling authorWhat if her Hollywood job turns into her Hollywood ending?***Since a crushing breakup three years ago, Nina Rice has written romance, friends, her dreams of scriptwriting for TV, and even L.A. proper out of her life. Instead, she's safely out in the suburbs in her aunt's condo working her talent agency job from home, managing celebrity email accounts, and certain that's plenty of writingand plotfor her life. But a surprise meeting called by Ari Fox, a young actress on everyone's radar, stirs up all kinds of feelings Nina thought she'd deleted for goodAri is sexy, out and proud, and a serious control freak, according to Nina's boss. She has her own ideas about how Nina should handle her emailsand about getting to know her ghostwriter. When she tells Nina she should be writing again, Nina suddenly finds it less scary t

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Book SynopsisA gripping saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Coal Miner''s DaughterA terrible choice between her sweetheart and her reputation...Orphaned from birth, Mary Trent has always dreamed of the day she can escape from poverty, and when she meets the dashing young doctor Tom Gallagher, it seems her prayers have been answered.But an untimely pregnancy spells disaster and the threat of returning to a life of destitution. Is a marriage of convenience the only thing that can save her?

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Book SynopsisBorn in 1956, Tim Pears grew up in Devon, left school at sixteen and had countless menial jobs before studying at the National Film and Television School. He is the author of six previous novels, including In the Place of Fallen Leaves, which won the Hawthornden Prize and the Ruth Hadden Memorial Award, In a Land of Plenty, which was made into a ten part drama series for the BBC, and, most recently, Landed. He has been Writer in Residence at Cheltenham Festival of Literature, and Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Oxford Brookes University, and has taught creative writing at Ruskin College and elsewhere. He lives in Oxford with his wife and children.Trade ReviewPacks a real emotional punch...Pears, who could not write an ugly sentence if he tried ... His portrait of a family at a time of change is also a lament for a country which is losing its environmental way. * Mail on Sunday *Beautifully understated...A low-key family gathering in the Welsh Marches blossoms into an elegiac meditation on our relationship with the land we inhabit. -- David Robson * Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year *'Delightful ... Pears has terrific fun with his cast and is highly skilled at drawing out foibles and grudges -- James Urquhart * Independent *Very sympathetic, intelligent and moving ... Pears's depiction of enduring married love is beautifully done ... Pears is so adept at the illuminating detail, writes so beautifully of the pleasures of life ... it is a warm and affirmative novel, one which offers incidental joys on every page. It is perhaps the finest book he has written yet. -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *A thorough examination of nostalgia itself. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWhat would you do if you suddenly and unexpectedly inherited 17million? This is what happens to Andy Larkham, recently jilted lover, and resentfully underpaid publishing minion. Arriving late to the funeral of his favourite schoolteacher, he ends up in the wrong chapel with one other mourner, too embarrassed to leave. Pressured to sign the register, little does he realise what effect that signature will have upon his life.The extraordinary story that follows tells of one man''s failed love, the temptations of unanticipated wealth, the secrets of damaged families and the price of being true to oneself. It is a romance for our times.Trade ReviewOne of our best and truest novelists * The Times *Enviably good -- Louis de Bernières * Sunday Times *Thoughtful and beautifully observed... Never predictable, this novel combines a remarkable narrative force with the lightest of touches. A book to savour and pass on * The Economist *Utterly absorbing and enjoyable...a romance which moves with assurance from wild improbability to a reconciliation with things as they may truly be * Scotsman *Completely riveting and very funny indeed. Shakespeare at his empathetic best, as he mines the fragile seam of our desire to be loved for who we are * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisCharles Webb was born in 1939 in San Francisco. He was educated at Williams College, Massachusetts, where he graduated in American history and literature. The Graduate was his first novel, and was made in to a hugely successful film. His other novels include Love, Roger, The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (also filmed), The Abolitionist of Clark Gable Place and Elsinor.

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Book SynopsisIs there such a thing as a perfect marriage?David thought so. But when his wife Mary Rose dies suddenly he has to think again. In reliving their twenty years together David sees that the ground beneath them had shifted and he simply hadn''t noticed. Or had chosen not to.Figuring out who Mary Rose really was and the secrets that she kept - some of these hidden in plain sight - makes David wonder if he really knew her. Did he even know himself?Nothing But Blue Sky is a precise and tender story of love in marriage - a gripping examination of what binds couples together and of what keeps them apart.______________''Touching and enthralling'' Sunday Times''What a beautiful novel ... Elegant, understated, subtly powerful, and rings so perfectly true'' Donal Ryan''Heart-rending ... MacMahon''s words ring with the honesty of truth, offering genuine insight into the human condition'' Trade ReviewA poignant, gentle and astutely observed novel about marriage and the evolution of love * Sunday Times, Novels of the Year 2020 *A piece of perfection - a subtle, thought-provoking investigation of a marriage. It rings true. It's the best book I've read all year * Irish Examiner *What a beautiful novel ... elegant, understated, subtly powerful, and rings so perfectly true ... Beautiful, poignant moments, drawn with such quiet power. And that quiet power is alive and at work on every page -- Donal RyanBeautiful and moving -- Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundInsightful and deeply moving, this is a story of one man's grief that somehow manages to hold onto its sense of humour. I loved this book -- Christine Dwyer HickeySkilfully written with a wonderful lightness of touch ... An acutely observed portrait of a relationship ... filled with astute observations of human behaviour * Irish Times *Kathleen MacMahon's prose could not appear more effortless or beautiful * Sunday Independent *Heart-rending ... a tender and beautiful [love story] ... MacMahon's words ring with the honesty of truth, offering genuine insight into the human condition * Business Post *A tender dissection of marriage * Independent *This elegant, tender novel is an absolute pleasure * Best *A beautifully written and powerful tale * Woman & Home *Gentle and triumphant, MacMahon offers us a novel steeped in beautiful prose and poignant tenderness -- Anne GriffinThe most beautiful prose I have read in years ... Not only my favourite novel of the year, but possibly of the decade -- Margaret Madden * Sunday Independent *I've been recommending Nothing But Blue Sky to anyone who'll listen ... It's about grief and eulogising and getting into the "habit of happiness" and I just loved it -- Emer McLysaght * Irish Times, Best Books of 2020 *Beautiful ... A gentle but deeply affecting read, and the perfect reminder of how sadness and hope can sometimes live side by side * Woman's Way *Sure and subtle, MacMahon holds the reader in her spell. She is a born storyteller -- Mike McCormackKathleen MacMahon has written an absorbing, grave, and emotionally resonant study of a marriage, of a life, of masculinity and of grief. A marvellous achievement -- Neil HegartyKathleen MacMahon sensitively explores the complexities of the human heart and reveals how even in the depths of grief, unexpected light can emerge from the darkness -- David ParkFull of humour and brims with the warmth of family, friendship and the possibility of second chances * Irish Sunday People *An elegantly written and moving account of one man coming to terms with the sudden death of his wife * Irish Times Magazine *Excellent (and darkly funny) ... A sensitive, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful exploration of grief -- Eimear Ryan * Irish Examiner *Full of humour and brims with the warmth of family, friendship and the possibility of second chances * Sunday Mirror *Touching and enthralling * Sunday Times *Stunning -- Henrietta McKervey * via Twitter *A tender portrait of a marriage and how we are formed by our closest relationships * Good Housekeeping *Heart-wrenching ... Almost a parable, it's a cautionary tale for those failing to appreciate just how short life can be * RTÉ Culture *It's rare to read an account of a happy normal marriage and she does it brilliantly -- Sue LeonardKathleen MacMahon writes with a confidence and ease and with an unerring sense of timing * Irish Times *Nothing But Blue Sky is quiet and thoughtful and very moving - Claire Fuller -- Claire Fuller

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Book Synopsis''SO much fun'' MARIAN KEYES, author of GROWN UPS ''Fresh and funny'' BETH O''LEARY, author of THE ROADTRIP----- Birdy Finch just got her dream job. The trouble is, it''s not hers . . . It was a simple accident. Well, maybe a tiny fib. OK, maybe an all-out, blatant, mayhem-causing lie. Because the life she''s just claimed is hers actually belongs to her best friend, Heather. Obviously she''ll tell Heather (eventually). And the first guy she''s properly liked in forever (probably). Absolutely nobody will know - just till she sorts herself out . . . So can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be a world-class wine expert? And can she find the courage to fall in love, even if it means telling the truth? Run away with Birdy Finch - the messy heroine with a heart of gold! THE SUMMER JOB is a fresh, fun, feel good romcom for fans of THE ROAD TRTrade ReviewEngaging, heartwarming and SO MUCH FUN. I bloody loved it -- MARIAN KEYESFresh, funny and filled with delicious food and wine. It made me long for a summer in Scotland with Birdy and all the team at Loch Dorn -- BETH O’LEARYWhat a welcome escape; it's witty and funny and it packs an emotional punch too. Loved it, I'm in the queue for more Lizzy -- JOSIE SILVERFresh, funny and oh so relatable - the perfect tonic -- ABBIE GREAVESFun with a capital F . . . If you've ever felt you're getting left behind in life, or don't have everything worked out quite yet, this is the book for you -- SOPHIE COUSENSI fell for Birdy on the very first page and inhaled the rest of her story . . . A brilliantly original plot paired with fabulously funny writing - a pure joy to read! -- HELLY ACTONIt's really great - so gossipy, warm and funny -- BETH MORREYOne of the funniest and sexiest books of the year. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. Do not miss this one! -- EMILY HENRYEngaging, heartwarming and SO MUCH FUN. I bloody loved it -- MARIAN KEYESEngaging, heartwarming and SO MUCH FUN. I bloody loved it -- MARIAN KEYESFresh, funny and filled with delicious food and wine. It made me long for a summer in Scotland with Birdy and all the team at Loch Dorn -- BETH O’LEARYFun with a capital F . . . If you've ever felt you're getting left behind in life, or don't have everything worked out quite yet, this is the book for you -- SOPHIE COUSENSI fell for Birdy on the very first page and inhaled the rest of her story . . . A brilliantly original plot paired with fabulously funny writing - a pure joy to read! -- HELLY ACTONIt's really great - so gossipy, warm and funny -- BETH MORREYOne of the funniest, and sexiest books of the year. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. Do not miss this one! -- EMILY HENRY

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Book SynopsisIn this dazzling collection of stories, a son must repeatedly come out to his senile father while looking for a place that will care for the old man. An elderly couple confronts the note-taking fiction writer eavesdropping on their conversation. A famous actor in recovery has a one-night stand with the world''s most surprising film critic. And in the beautifully romantic title story, a shy twenty-one-year-old studying Latin in Rome during the year of my reinvention finds himself face-to-face with the gorgeous Italian actress of his adolescent dreams.Funny, poignant, and redemptive, this collection takes the reader to Italy and Idaho, Washington and Mississippi. With his signature wit and bighearted approach to the darkest parts of humanity, Walter tackles the modern condition with a timeless touch.Trade ReviewWalter is a writer whose work deserves a wide readership * Sunday Times on The Cold Millions *One of our most gifted builders of fictional worlds * Esquire on The Cold Millions *Walter is a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humour * New York Times on The Cold Millions *

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Book SynopsisTim Winton has published over twenty books for adults and children, and his work has been translated into many different languages. Since his first novel, An Open Swimmer, won the Australian/Vogel Award in 1981, he has won the Miles Franklin Award four times (for Shallows, Cloudstreet, Dirt Music and Breath) and twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize (for The Riders and Dirt Music). Active in the environmental movement, he is the Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society. He lives in Western Australia.Trade ReviewWinton’s writing is a heady blend of muscular description, deep sentiment and metaphysics. * Sunday Telegraph *His elegiac novels are uplifting and cathartic dissections of fractured men and women. * Independent *Winton has a fine ear for both intimate and monumental scales of drama. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisSometimes the life you want isn't the one you needFreya has skirted through life, drifting from place to place and job to job. Always restless, it seems she's finally found a place to settle down (with a sexy boyfriend to match) in a small and cosy town. But she still finds herself thinking of the rolling hills of her Cumbrian childhood home: Appleby Farm. They're only dreams though there's a life right here ready to be lived.But a phone call rocks the new life she has built. Tragedy has threatened Appleby Farm and Freya makes the choice to return home, leaving her lovely boyfriend and safe job behind. But maybe the grass at Appleby Farm will be a shade greener this timeNow, ever-restless Freya must finally make a choice about what she'd like her life to be. With two lives, two men and two futures to choose from who does she really want to be?Appleby Farm is a charming, funny and romantic story for anyone looking for a feel-gooTrade ReviewA lovely, sunny, gem of a book that made me feel right at home – full of warmth and wonderful characters that stay with you long after the last page * Alexandra Brown, author of Cupcakes at Carringtons *Brimming with colourful characters and deliciously quirky goings-on, reading a Cathy Bramley novel is as good as a picturesque holiday in the country, maybe even better * Sunday Express *An utterly charming read full of romance and adventure! ***** * Woman *Appleby Farm is as sweet and delicious as Freya's scones, and just as moreish. What a cosy, delicious slice of romance! * Michele Gorman *Rustic romance at its very best with a charming cast of characters - warm and endearing and engaging. As comforting as hot tea and toast made on the Aga! * Veronica Henry, author of The Beach Hut Next Door *

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Book SynopsisYou think you are rid of me. You think you have drawn a line under the whole affair.You are so, so wrong.For five years, Sally and Clive have been lost in a passionate affair. Now he has dumped her, to devote himself to his wife and family, and Sally is left in freefall.It starts with a casual stroll past his house, and popping into the brasserie where his son works. Then Sally befriends Clive''s wife and daughter on Facebook. But that''s alright isn''t it? I mean they are perfectly normal things to do. Aren''t they?Not since Fatal Attraction has the fallout from an illicit affair been exposed in such a sharp, darkly funny and disturbing way.. After all, who doesn''t know a normal, perfectly sane woman who has gone a little crazy when her heart was broken?Trade ReviewThis book is Fatal Attraction with a twist and will grip you from beginning to end * Prima *Gasp in recognition at this cracking tale, narrated by a woman scorned... Sister, we've all been there... * Grazia *If you thought Fatal Attraction was the last word on the fury of a woman scorned, think again...acutely observed, wickedly funny and deftly plotted, with a satisfyingly smart twist at the end. * Mail on Sunday *This is a brilliantly chilling read. All about obsession and delusion and the madness that love can induce. It had me up until 3am, gasping to the end -- Jo WhileyWill keep you guessing about its characters fates until the very end * Candis Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''Beautifully written, emotionally intelligent.'' Daily Mail''What separates Thomas'' writing from your average domestic drama is its compelling persuasiveness.'' StylistONE PERFECT HOLIDAY. ONE SHOCKING ENDING.After a stressful year at work, GP Jess decides the family needs a seaside holiday.This idyllic Dorset cottage might just be the perfect escape. But when the neighbour hints at a dire predicament, Jess puts the idea of sun-kissed, sandy bliss on hold. Like a door nudged ajar, the lure of solving someone's problems invites her in.Fuelled by a heady rush of altruism, she decides to act a choice that will have unforgettable, potentially devastating consequences.Readers are gripped by The Family Retreat:***** ''What a fantastic read. I could not put it down!'' ***** ''A fantastic twist. . . I was completely hooked.''***** ''The plot was riveting.'' <

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Book SynopsisIt''s the winter of 1860 when Richard Allen, a young curate, travels to a small hamlet outside Hereford to take up his first position. It''s in this quiet place of wind and trees, birds and water that Richard is to fall passionately in love - but he cannot find fulfilment, for his lover is Susannah Beddoes, the wife of the vicar of his new parish. As Richard''s feelings challenge him to his core, he develops a strange relationship with another woman, the solitary and eccentric Edith Clare. Against the backdrop of immense social and industrial change, the consequences of Richard and Susannah''s affair are dramatic as they - as well as Oliver Beddoes - grapple with doubt and what it means to lose faith when the great certainties are in question. And throughout it all, the crossing-keeper''s daughter Alice Birley - an observer of incidents and events she does not fully understand - has her own part to play...Trade ReviewThis is the work of somebody profoundly connected to the countryside. The Mysteries of Glass casts its own spell, which is the essential requirement of a novel * Daily Telegraph *Gee's gentle and restrained story celebrates the sanctity of the ordinary and the beauty of holiness. In a cynical age, such innocence is startling. * The Independent *This is the work of somebody profoundly connected to the countryside. The Mysteries of Glass casts its own spell, which is the essential requirement of a novel. * Times Literary Supplement *Written with the delicate fluency of a storyteller utterly at ease with her craft * Times Literary Supplement *'Her work is so good it is unforgettable... Gee's books may be unashamedly romantic and sensual, but they are also so sparely written that the economy of her writing is often breathtaking... a beautiful, redemptive book' Jackie McGlone, Glasgow Herald * Jackie McGlone, Glasgow Herald *This is a novel that takes place on the borders of things - between genre and literary, erotic restraint and progressive desire, between Victorian faith and twenty-first century rationalism * Times Literary Supplement *What could have been just another historical romance becomes a powerful meditation on faith, love and happiness thanks to the intensity of Gee's faultless prose. * City Life, Manchester *This exquisitely written novel transports you to the simple beauty, poignancy and hypocrisy of the Victorian era in a way that makes you feel you've been there. I cannot recommend it highly enough * Katie Fforde *'Profound and lyrical, it's full of light and darkness and the most marvellous description' Shena Mackay * Observer *Profound and lyrical, it's full of light and darkness and the most marvellous description * Shena Mackay, Observer *Written with the delicate fluency of a storyteller utterly at ease with her craft...[a novel] alive with the cadences of the natural world, the gentle rhythms of a world still unspoiled by the comings of industry * Time Literary Supplement *This exquisitely written novel transports you to the simple beauty, poignancy and hypocrisy of the Victorian era in a way that makes you feel you've been there. I cannot recommend it highly enough. * Katie Fforde *Her work is so good it is unforgettable... Gee's books may be unashamedly romantic and sensual, but they are also so sparely written that the economy of her writing is often breathtaking... a beautiful, redemptive book * Jackie McGlone, Glasgow Herald *The lovely and sometimes menacing countryside is as much a character in the novel as its doomed participants * The Sunday Times *Unashamedly romantic and sensual, but also so sparely written... the economy of her writing is often breathtaking. THE MYSTERIES OF GLASS is a beautiful book * Glasgow Herald *

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Book Synopsis''I loved it. It''s such a warm-hearted, compassionate story, full emotional insight and hope for the future and so sensitively written'' JILL CHILDS''Rich, warm, humorous and tender'' ALI MERCER''Heart-warming, uplifting, inspiring . . . a compelling read'' GRAEME SIMSIONThree years after the death of their beloved brother, all Daniel''s sisters have left of him are their memories. They know he''s helped others by donating his organs, but as miracles come true for the recipients, his own family are struggling with their devastating loss. When Clare suggests that they find the people Daniel''s death saved, her sisters have their doubts. Will meeting them help to bring the sisters back together, or will old tensions and surfacing secrets splinter the fragile family ties forever?''A page turner from the first to the last - I fell in love with all the characters and was gripped by the plot. Everyone will be reading thiTrade ReviewHeartwarming, uplifting, inspiring . . . a compelling read * Graeme Simsion *A page turner from the first to the last - I fell in love with all the characters and was gripped by the plot. Everyone will be reading this fantastic, heart-warming book . . . This is Kylie Ladd at her very best * Sally Hepworth *Her characters step off the page and straight into your heart * Meredith Jaffe *Reading this book feels like eavesdropping on a lively family dinner. I love the O'Shea sisters and the journey of discovery that brings them closer to their brother, and to each other * Kerri Sackville *Move over Jodi Picoult. Kylie Ladd creates ethical complications, then shows us both sides with uncanny insight into human nature. I inhaled this book! * Fleur McDonald *I loved this book. It's funny, joyful and sharp. An entirely satisfying meal of a novel that doesn't shy away from what is hard about families, it also manages to capture how family can restore you to yourself * Maggie MacKellar *The author's background as a neuropsychologist really shines through in this important book about how an extraordinary act of generosity can unite a devastated family. Told with warmth, compassion and humanity, I'll Leave You With This drew me in from the first page. Ladd blends depth and pace in this thought-provokingnovel that is filled with hope and humour * Joanna Nell *I loved it. It's such a warm-hearted, compassionate story, full emotional insight and hope for the future and so sensitively written * Jill Childs *A perfect book club read. I want everyone I know to read it too so we can talk about the wonderfully drawn O'Shea family and their dilemmas. Highly recommended * Imogen Clark *Rich, warm, humorous and tender, this is a thoroughly satisfying tale of love - and tensions - between siblings, and the aftermath of a devastating loss. It's an unsentimental and touching portrait of a big family learning to live with grief and their differences, as they are drawn together by their shared past and then find they still have more to give each other than any of them could have imagined. * Ali Mercer *Poignant and heartwarming. Be prepared to take the O'Shea sisters to your heart * Emma Robinson *

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Book SynopsisStep into Alliott country with the fabulously funny and wonderfully heartwarming story from the bestselling author of A Cornish Summer and Behind Closed Doors''I raced through it, completely gripped from start to finish'' DAILY MAIL''An entertaining read that''s as light as the summer breeze'' DAILY EXPRESS_______A modern marriage, or a big mistake? Ella was nineteen and madly in love when she married dashing young artist Sebastian Montclair. But that was a long time ago. Now Ella and the kids live in a ramshackle farmhouse while Sebastian and his paintings inhabit the outhouse next door - a family separated in every way but distance. Is it a marvellously modern relationship - or a disaster waiting to happen? When charming gardener Ludo arrives on the scene and Sebastian makes a sudden and surprising decision, Ella sees a chance at a fresh start. Yet with two teenagers and her parents on the verge Trade ReviewCharming, clever, well-written, laugh-out-loud funny with a great plot * Irish Times *Hilarious and full of surprises * Daily Telegraph *Compulsively readable * The Times *Another huge treat from Catherine Alliott. It's hilarious yet poignant, with wonderful characters, including all the animals! I lapped up every page * Sophie Kinsella *Captivating and heartwarming * Closer *

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Book SynopsisTHE HILARIOUS AND HEARTWARMING NEW ROMCOM PERFECT FOR FANS OF THE FLATSHARE, FROM THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE SHORTLISTED AUTHOR''An entertaining romcom with a very relatable set-up. The Back Up Man goes down like a good cup of tea . . . warm, comforting, enjoyable'' i''Delightful and uplifting. Brimming with nostalgia and warmth. A great read to brighten up the winter months'' Culturefly Marriage pact Slow burn Forced proximity Friends to lovers''I could not put it down - I just HAD to know what happened'' 5***** Reader Review''A romcom with depth and substance and also, refreshingly, set in Glasgow'' RED''Uplifting and compelling. I couldn''t put it down and I couldn''t stop smiling - I loved it'' 5***** Reader Review*Shortlisted author for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize*<Trade ReviewAn entertaining romcom with a very relatable set-up. Luckhurst is a terrific writer. The Back Up Man goes down like a good cup of tea - you know what to expect, but it doesn't make it any less warm, comforting or enjoyable * i *A romcom with depth and substance and also, refreshingly, set in Glasgow * Red *Fresh, funny, satisfying - it's everything I want in a book -- Holly Miller, author of Richard and Judy pick The Sight Of YouPhoebe Luckhurst is one of the funniest new novelists out there. Perfect for anyone who has ever attempted to stalk an ex on Facebook (all of us, then) * Evening Standard *I adored The Back Up Man! Phoebe is so funny, with such a brilliant observational eye and a perfect ear for dialogue. An absolute delight -- Emma HughesA charming romance * Woman's Own *Funny and uplifting * Sun *You'll have a lot of fun * Heat *Delightful and uplifting. Brimming with nostalgia and warmth. A cosy, heartfelt novel that celebrates life for all of its messy, joyful and far-fetched twists and turns, making for a great read to brighten up the winter months * Culturefly *Praise for Phoebe Luckhurst * : *David Nicholls for millennials . . . a dream read * i *Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity -- Emma Gannon, bestselling author of OliveThe year's most original rom-com * Elle *Immensely readable, witty and well-crafted * i *An entertaining tail of friendship full of squirming setbacks and humorous happenings * Woman *

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Book SynopsisFallen Heir, the fourth in the #1 New York Times bestselling TikTok sensation The Royals series It''s time to fight for what they want - each other.Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence. His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn''t have to.Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life. She''s the one girl who''s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can''t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.Hartley doesn''t want him. She says he needs to grow up. She might be right.Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton''s life, wearing a Royal crown isn''t enough. When you start high, do you fall harder?

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Orange Prize 2011Trade Review'A writer of great talent and courage' * Monica Ali *'An intricate tapestry of betrayal, tragedy and loss ... an affecting, passionate and intelligent novel about the redemptive power of love and storytelling' * Daily Telegraph *'Let us hope that it takes its place where it deserves to be; not at the top of the pile of "African Literature" but outside any category altogether - and at the top of award shortlists' * The Times *‘Intelligent, engrossing and beautifully crafted' * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis_______________''Unexpectedly funny'' - New York Times''Full of imagination, humour and invention ... A glorious debut'' - Irish Times''Mesmerising ... She writes with a heartbreaking clarity ... and is dexterously able to evoke emotional extremity through pitch-perfect narrative compression'' - The Times_______________THE EXQUISITE DEBUT NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF WEATHER, SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2020To eight-year-old Grace Davitt, her mother, Anna, is a puzzling yet wonderful mystery. This is a woman who has seen a sea serpent in the lake, who paints a timeline of the universe on the sewing-room wall, and who teaches her daughter a secret language which only they can speak. For Grace''s father, however, the only truth is science, and increasingly he finds himself shut out by Anna as she draws Grace deeper and deeTrade ReviewOffill creates for Grace a mesmerising imaginary world ... She writes with a heartbreaking clarity ... and is dexterously able to evoke emotional extremity through pitch-perfect narrative compression * The Times *Engaging, funny, full of imagination, humour and invention ... A glorious debut * Irish Times *Offill's remarkable first novel is crisply written, economically constructed and so inventive that you read without a clue as to what anyone will say or do next ... If "last things" means things that will last, then this novel is one of them * New York Times *The unsentimental honesty means that the humour and the charm of the novel - both heavily in evidence - come exclusively from the writing * Express on Sunday *The charisma and damage of madness lend a desperate glamour to Last Things * ELLE *A pleasure the read and a tender evocation of childhood ... Full of myth, historical anecdote, scientific fact, cosmology and philosophy ... A gem of a book * Tatler *Brilliantly captures the confusion of childhood * Red *

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Book SynopsisIf you''ve ever dreamed of starting over, then this superbly entertaining novel from Erica James is just what you need...Alice Shoemaker habitually goes to great lengths to avoid telling the truth about herself and her past. After agreeing to help out a friend by shopping and cleaning for the unknown man staying at Cuckoo House, she soon becomes suspicious that her strange and obnoxiously rude client has something to hide... Clayton Miller''s life is a mess. His career as one of the country''s best comedy scriptwriters has stalled and his long-term girlfriend has left him for his ex-best friend and ex-writing partner. Just when he thinks his life couldn''t get any worse, he commits a spectacularly public fall from grace and with the press hounding him, his agent banishes him to the middle of nowhere until the dust has settled. And there he meets Alice...When Alice and Clayton discover the truth about each other they form an unlikely friendship - until Trade ReviewJames is a great storyteller * Woman's Weekly *You know you have made it as a storyteller writer when readers simply cannot put your book down ... Erica James has this page-turning ability in abundance ... I wouldn't have thought this writer could get any better but she has! * Welsh Country *

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Book Synopsis*DEBBIE JOHNSON''S GORGEOUSLY ROMANTIC AND UNMISSABLE NEW NOVEL, FOREVER YOURS, IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!*''A laugh-cry book from first page to last'' MILLY JOHNSON''Simply brilliant'' JANE LINFOOT''Moving, beautiful and heart-wrenching'' CATHY BRAMLEY''Humour, tears and above all, hope. Bring tissues'' CATHERINE ISAACWhat if you had the chance to find a lost love? Jess still thinks about the man who disappeared from her life seventeen years ago, and the tragedy that tore them apart. So when she discovers a hidden box of letters in her mother''s attic, Jess realises that the truth about why he walked away has been kept from her all this time. Jess sets out to follow the faded postmarks across the country, determined that her journey will bring her closer to him. As each clue falls into place, Jess discovers new things about herself - andTrade ReviewBeautifully written, full of gorgeous prose and killer one-liners. A laugh-cry lovely book from first page to last. What a lovely, lovely book this was!Beautiful, moving and heart-wrenchingly braveAn emotional, wise, big-hearted gem of a novel. The perfect read!A heart-warming story about what happens to a young family after they're derailed by a tragedy. There's humour, tears and above all, hope. Bring tissuesFunny and poignant - a celebration of life and the enduring power of loveThis book will tug on your heartstrings ... It's clever and wise, brimming with warmth and poignancy. For all of us who have ever harboured a 'what might have been' regret, this is a must-readA beauty of a book, a proper heart-bursterWitty, harrowing, beautifully characterised, life-affirming - and I shed an actual tear at the beauty and perfection of the ending. * My Weekly *A heart-warming read, with pure love at its core * Woman *

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Book SynopsisWhat if you''re the only one who believes your son is missing? A chilling, twisty psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Laura Dave and Gillian Flynn.Maggie Lawson is the smart, capable dean of a boutique college, but even the most confident mother has a weakness - her child. When Maggie can''t reach her college senior son, Aiden, to tell him that his father has been shot, she starts to panic. She texts. She calls.Is Aiden ghosting her, or have the dangerous stories Aiden''s father, her investigative journalist ex-husband, pursues finally brought trouble to her door? Maggie is sure that something is very wrong, but no one believes her. As dark events unfold, she must rely on her own investigative instincts to find Aiden. But when Maggie uncovers a devastating secret, she faces a race against time to save him.

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Book SynopsisCosy up with The Heart of Winter by bestselling author Emma Hannigan and escape with this warm, magical novel set over a beautiful winter wedding in an Irish country house.''A wonderful storyteller'' Cathy KellyWith the promise of December in the air and the hedgerows laced with frost, Huntersbrook House has never looked more beautiful. Once the Craig family''s beloved home, the house has been transformed into a magnificent countryside venue. And its first booking couldn''t be more perfect - the Christmas wedding of a well-known film actress. Yet, behind the scenes, the Craig children are feeling the chill. Pippa is skating on thin ice with her reckless personal life; Joey, preoccupied with the business, is blind to his fiancé''s struggles. And Lainey''s future is dealt a cruel blow. As the wedding approaches, everyone hopes the house will weave its magic. But can the Craigs put their differences aside a

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Book Synopsis** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER **''A wonderful storyteller'' Cathy Kelly''Warm, intelligent and brilliant'' Marian Keyes''A beautiful book by an exceptional author - lose yourself in her wonderful writing'' Sinead Moriarty-----------------------Happy Birthday, darling girl...Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.For Keeley, who''s raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she''s been holding for thirty years. And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them aTrade ReviewA glorious read . . . A wonderfully uplifting novel about women's friendship by a writer who understands exactly how women think -- Cathy KellyHannigan's novel, much like the vivacious author herself, is brimming with hope, joy and inspiration * Sunday Independent *A moving tale celebrating the bonds between women, Emma Hannigan beautifully captures the difficult and wondrous thing that is loving and learning to let go . . . just a little. An excellent read * Irish Tatler *Emotional and heartbreaking . . . A fast-paced story with endearingly warm characters - you'll savour this touching tale -- Candis Magazine, Book of the MonthThis fast-paced and endearing novel is about friendship between women, accepting yourself and trusting your own judgement * Belfast Telegraph *Restores our faith in human nature and makes us feel warm inside * Writing Magazine *This is her best novel yet. Her heart and soul was poured into every word of this story and it just radiates from the pages . . . a wonderful, heartfelt, emotive book * Shaz’s Book Blog *I didn't just like it, I really LOVED it . . . grab this book, curl up on the couch and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too * Celeste Loves Books *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for readers of Colleen Hoover, Jay Crownover, and K. A. Tucker, the first novel in this darkly sexy New Adult contemporary series from New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy continues her emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love, following Never Tear Us Apart.His secret threatened to tear them apart. But what they share can''t easily be destroyed...Katie fell hard for Ethan, but when she discovered what he was hiding, the truth threatened to ruin them both for ever. Yet the connection that has always been there between them remains strong - even as they contend with those fighting against them. Not least Ethan''s father. The man nearly destroyed Katie all those years ago and is doing his best to finish the job.Katie can''t deny she''s in love with Ethan and doesn''t want to let him go. But she can''t stop the doubts creeping in. Is he worth the pain? Will their love survive, or will they have no choice Trade ReviewThis book has all the best parts of romance and betrayal. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough -- Jay Crownover, New York Times bestselling authorA powerful story that left me raw yet hopeful -- K. A. Tucker, USA Today bestselling author

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Book Synopsis''Jaci Burton has no problem creating a sexy and thrilling story. I love how she brings in both passion and emotion to all the couples she writes'' 5* Goodreads reviewNew York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton is back with a new smokin-hot novel in the Brotherhood by Fire series, about a firefighter who reunites with an old flame and tries to rekindle the passion they once felt.Readers are loving Jaci Burton and the Brotherhood By Fire series!''Jaci Burton never fails to provide a well written book and this is one of my favorites of hers'' 5* reader review''As a fan of Jaci Burton''s contemporary romances, especially her Play by Play multi-sports series, I''m always happy to see her name on an upcoming new release'' starred Goodreads review''When I saw that Jaci Burton was starting a new series and it would be about firefighterTrade ReviewIt's the perfect combination of heat and romance that makes this series a must-read * Heroes and Heartbreakers *Plenty of emotion and conflict in a memorable relationship-driven story * USA Today *Strong characters, an exhilarating plot, and scorching sex . . . You'll be drawn so fully into her characters' world that you won't want to return to your own * Romantic Times *A beautiful romance that is smooth as silk . . . leaves us begging for more * Joyfully Reviewed *A strong plot, complex characters, sexy athletes, and nonstop passion make this book a must read * Fresh Fiction *Hot, hot, hot! . . . Romance at its best! Highly recommended! * Coffee Table Reviews *[She] has a way of writing intense scenes that are both sensual and raw . . . Plenty of romance, sexy men, hot steamy loving, and humor * Smexy Books Romance Reviews *A wonderful contemporary erotic romance that I recommend! * The Romance Dish *Spy the name Jaci Burton on the spine of a novel, and you're guaranteed not just a sexy, get-the-body-humming read, but also one that melds the sensual with the all-important building of intimacy and relational dynamics between partners * Romance: B(u)y the Book *The characters are incredible. They are human and complex and real and perfect * Night Owl Reviews *

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Book SynopsisTHEY SAY IT''S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND . . . HATE AT FIRST SIGHT.Kate hates feeling out of control. Her incessant need to overprepare has always served her well. Yet nothing could have prepared her for today. Not only is she being evicted from her flat . . . by her best friend, but now her boss has announced cost-cutting measures that will put her job in jeopardy. She may not love the company she works for, but she''s worked too hard for too long to just give up. So she''s ready to prove herself.The catch? If she wants to save her job, she''ll have to work with creative, happy-go-luckyHarry. The one man she''s spent the last five years trying to forget.But what happens when that line you''ve drawn starts to blur?This witty, dizzying, snort-with-laughter enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy is an instantly unputdownable and unmissable treat that will have you falling head over heels in lo

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Book Synopsis Order Jodi Picoult''s stunning new novel about life, death, and missed opportunities. THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''A writer the world should be reading right now.'' IndependentWho would you be, if you hadn''t turned out to be the person you are now? Dawn is a death doula, and spends her life helping people make the final transition peacefully. But when the plane she''s on plummets, she finds herself thinking not of the perfect life she has, but the life she was forced to abandon fifteen years ago - when she left behind a career in Egyptology, and a man she loved. Against the odds, she survives, and the airline offers her a ticket to wherever she needs to get to - but the answer to that question suddenly seems uncertain. As the path of her life forks in two very different directions, Dawn must confront questions she''s never truly askeTrade ReviewA writer the world should be reading right now * Independent *It is hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes * Financial Times *A wise, cerebral, propulsive adventure . . . It eruditely spans the worlds of Egyptology, university physics and end-of-life care, while never losing sight of its high-stakes human story... a captivatingly immersive, multilayered, painstakingly researched and impressively realised exploration of deeply human geographies -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times *Ambitious * The Times *This complex, time-shifting romance combines moral hazard with Wuthering Heights echoes and degree-level Egyptology. And there aren't many books you can say that about. -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *The pull of the well-drawn characters and powerful themes of regret and love make this head-spinning story a compelling read * Sunday Mirror *Literary powerhouse Jodi Picoult writes novels that make you think and her latest is no exception * Sunday Express *This brilliant Sliding Doors-style novel will really get you thinking * Sun, Fabulous Magazine *Riveting * Hello *A consummate storyteller * Saga *A thrilling adventure ... one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves * Associated Press *Similar to Alice Hoffman's depiction of complex family ties, Picoult's latest stretches the importance of recognizing our bonds to those we love. Highly recommended for open-minded readers. * Library Journal, starred review *The Book of Two Ways is a return for Picoult to the themes of her earliest books -motherhood, complicated romantic love . . . Picoult, at this point in her career, could skilfully build tension in a broom closet, but the best part of this book is not the suspense; it's the look at the complexity of a woman as she enters middle age . . . [Picoult] always tells both sides of a story not with judgment, but with grace. * Washington Post *Picoult's fans will appreciate this multifaceted, high concept work. * Publishers Weekly *Picoult's fans will be more than ready for this puzzle of a novel . . .[they] will find heady themes to consider. * Booklist *Powerful and compelling * VIP Magazine *You're sure to be moved by the questions it poses about the meaning of life and death. Food for thought in these current crazy times * Heat *If you've ever wondered if you could have lived another life, you'll like this * Sun *Picoult's writing is insightful and richly descriptive * Press Association *A stunning Sliding Doors-style novel about life, death, and missed opportunities * East Anglian Daily Times, Top 10 of 2020 *How many of us have looked back on a decision that changed our lives and wondered: what if we had made a different choice? Picoult's novel The Book of Two Ways digs into this very question and the result is incredibly thought-provoking. Dawn Edelstein was once a young grad student working on a dig in Egypt, in love with a fellow Egyptologist, and getting ever closer to proving a radical new theory about ancient Egyptians' burial rituals for the road to the afterlife. Then a phone call from home changed everything. Fifteen years later, Dawn is married, with a teenage daughter, and working in Boston as a death doula, helping the dying prepare to leave this world in the best way possible. When Dawn has a near-death experience she is confronted with the question of whether the good life she has could have been a great one. Dawn doesn't just ponder the question-she returns to Egypt, and the man she once loved, to see if she can find the answer. Picoult incorporates fascinating details about Egyptology into her novel-the title comes from an ancient Egyptian tome of the same name-bringing history and a universal connection into the story. The Book of Two Ways is a provocative exploration into monumental questions: about the life we are living, who we want to be with when we die, and whether it's possible-and acceptable-to change our mind, return to the trailhead, and go another way. * Seira Wilson, Amazon Best Book of September 2020 *Picoult always tells both sides of a story not with judgment, but with grace * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisMeet the women in love with three very different brothers . . . Izzy's determined to escape her troubled past with a new start by the sea - but flirtatious Charlie Jones is causing complications. Alicia's been happily married to loyal Hugh for years but secretly craves excitement. Maybe it's time to spice things up? Emma's relationship with David was once fun and romantic but trying for a baby has taken its toll. Then temptation comes along . . . As the future of the family's B&B becomes uncertain, Izzy, Alicia and Emma are thrown together unexpectedly. It seems that keeping up with the Joneses is harder than anyone thought . . . From Lucy Diamond, Me and Mr Jones is a sparkling tale of heartbreak, hope, friendship and love.

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Book SynopsisIn this remarkable novel of menace and mystery, Pammy and Lyle Wynant are an attractive, modern couple who seem to have it all. Yet behind their 'ideal' life is a lingering boredom and quiet desperation: their talk is mostly chatter, their sex life more a matter of obligatory 'satisfaction' than pleasure. And still they remain untouched, 'players' indifferent to the violence that surrounds them, and that they have helped to create.Originally published in 1977, Players is a fast-moving yet starkly drawn socially critical drama that demonstrates the razor-sharp prose and thematic density for which Don DeLillo is renowned today.Trade ReviewA witty, harrowing and superbly controlled novel about modern alienation and violence. * Washington Post *

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Book Synopsis'A glorious love story' – Sarah Winman, author of Still Life'Extraordinarily daring . . . a remarkable novel, an almost visionary celebration of the death-defying power of the women’s love' - Sunday Times, Book of the Year From the bestselling author of Burial Rites and The Good People, Devotion is a stunning story of girlhood and friendship, faith and suspicion, and the impossible lengths we go to for the ones we love.1836, Prussia. Hanne is nearly fifteen and the domestic world of womanhood is quickly closing in on her. A child of nature, she yearns instead for the rush of the river, the wind dancing around her. Hanne finds little comfort in the local girls and friendship doesn't come easily, until she meets Thea and she finds in her a kindred spirit and finally, acceptance.Hanne's family are Old Lutherans, and in her small village hushed worship is done secretly - this is a community under threat. But when they are granted safe passage to Australia, the community rejoices: at last a place they can pray without fear, a permanent home. Freedom.It's a promise of freedom that will have devastating consequences for Hanne and Thea, but, on that long and brutal journey, their bond proves too strong for even nature to break . . .'Exquisite . . . it's taken root in my heart' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies'So beautiful and so raw . . . Impossibly good' – Evie Wyld, author of The Bass RockTrade ReviewPiercingly beautiful . . . [Hanne and Thea's] story is an elegy, freighted with loss and longing * Guardian *Such a glorious love story. And the poetry of the landscape had, for me, a Whitmanesque sensibility. A mighty impassioned cry to love and the land -- Sarah Winman, author of Still LifeHannah Kent’s latest novel is stunning - full of magic and adventure. I fell in love with language again reading it. So beautiful and so raw. Devotion is impossibly good -- Evie Wyld, author of The Bass RockWith an extraordinarily daring twist halfway through its narrative Devotion is a remarkable novel, an almost visionary celebration of the death-defying power of the women’s love * Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Book of the Month *There’s a mesmerising, transcendent reverence for love and the land in Hannah Kent’s exquisitely-wrought novel . . . Passionate and poetic, Devotion is a slow burn of a novel, full of grace and emotional gravitas * Daily Mail *Devotion is rare and exquisite, both beautiful and muscular in its portrayal of love found and denied. It’s a story of love as a radical act, and a celebration of place and persistence. As we’ve come to expect from Kent, this is masterful storytelling with pull-no-punches stakes. It’s taken root in my heart -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesAbsolutely stunning. The writing, the characters and the twist were just perfect. Any Hannah Kent novel is guaranteed to be powerful, moving and so imaginative, but this was something else. It is a story that will stay with me. -- Elizabeth Macneal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory and Circus of WondersA superb novel. A fantastic merging of exquisite lyrical writing and page-turning adventure. Devotion had me constantly surprised, always entertained, and ultimately deeply moved: it deserves to be a glittering success. -- Emma Stonex, Sunday Times bestselling author of The LamplightersKent tells her heroine's burgeoning love story beautifully * The Times *[A] marvellous queer love story * InDaily *A tale of the refiguring might of faithful hearts; of love that sustains and love that ruins; of exile and dominion * Sydney Morning Herald *It is a love story, ardent and wholesome, and it drapes its reader in lush historical detail. Fans will find a lot to savour * Guardian Australia *A poetic story of friendship, nature and what it means to step into a new world - both physically and spiritually * Cosmopolitan *Devotion, is nothing short of divine. Kent uses prose like a magician might use a wand. I could say so much about the depth and scope of this novel, its raw, powerful connection to nature and human emotion, and it still wouldn’t do it justice. Simply put, this is a beautiful book. A liturgy of love, full of grace and wonder. -- Nydia Hetherington, author of A Girl Made of AirKent combines lyrical writing with a strong sense of place in this novel that takes us from a 19th-century Prussian village to the dusty plains of Australia * Good Housekeeping *One of my favourite reads of the year . . . While there is great sadness and hardship here, this surprising novel is ultimately about beauty, nature and an epic love. I adored it * ABC Arts *Draped in rich historical detail, Hannah Kent's luminous and poignant story explores kindred spirits and an epic search for freedom * Woman's Own *Devotion is utterly original. A glorious heartbreaking love story of infinite beauty -- Heather Rose, author of The Museum of Modern LoveA modern classic, on par with heart wrenching love stories such as Wuthering Heights and Pride And Prejudice. It tells the story of an achingly beautiful love and a brutal search for freedom . . . A moving tale with a breathtaking twist * The Herald *Exceptional . . . there are not many novelists writing today who can conjure a European past as vividly as Hannah Kent . . . she is a master at immersing the reader in a particular place and a particular period, specialising in stories of women on the margins trapped in close-knit communities and claustrophobic situations * New European *

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Book SynopsisChris Kraus’ The Bastard Factory tells the story of an entire epoch: a drama of betrayal and self-delusion spanning the years 1905 to 1975, taking us from Riga to Moscow, Berlin and Munich all the way to Tel Aviv.Hubert and Konstantin Solm are brothers, born in Riga at the beginning of the twentieth century. They will find themselves – along with their Jewish adopted sister, Ev Solm – caught up in in the maelstrom of their changing times.As the two brothers climb the rungs of society – working first for the government in Nazi Germany, then as agents for the Allied Forces, and eventually becoming spies for the young West Germany – Ev will be their constant companion, and eventually a lover to them both. The passionate love triangle that emerges will propel the characters to terrifying moral and political depths.The story of the Solms is also the story of twentieth-century Germany: the decline of an old world and the rise of a new one – under new auspices but with the same familiar protagonists.Translated from the German by Ruth Martin

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Book SynopsisThe Hiding Game is an intoxicating story of love and betrayal, set in the Bauhaus art school. Heady, gripping and unforgettable, Naomi Wood's third novel explores the perils of secrecy in a changing and increasingly dangerous world.In Roaring Twenties Germany, Paul, Charlotte and Walter meet at the Bauhaus art school. The trio form a close-knit group, in which passions and rivalries collide. But when Walter is betrayed, he makes a terrible mistake – a secret he will keep from Paul and Charlotte for as long as he can.As political tensions escalate and the Nazis gain power, Walter’s secret – hidden in notebooks, paintings and blueprints – ultimately threatens the very lives of his friends, with devastating consequences.Shortlisted for The Historical Writers' Association Gold Crown Award.Longlisted for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.Trade ReviewThe Hiding Game is a brilliant, fascinating novel - a gripping story, skilfully told -- Sara Baume, author of Spill Simmer Falter WitherA suspenseful story of obsession against the tense political backdrop of Germany’s Bauhaus art school -- Francesca Angelini * Sunday Times Style *Atmospheric and compelling . . . A haunting read -- Caroline Lea, author of The Glass WomanI was seduced and fascinated by the hedonism, the creative and romantic rivalries and conflicted loyalties in this tangle of flawed and beautiful people -- Isabel Costello, The Literary SofaWith great conviction, Wood summons up the intensity of the students’ camaraderie and the forces that destroy it -- Nick Rennison * The Sunday Times *Wood can recreate a time and place with all its glamour and grit . . . art and ideas have never felt more thrilling -- Alexandra Heminsley * Grazia *A fantastic novel, so beautiful and sad . . . Immersive, elegant and affecting, Wood’s prose, as always, delights the senses -- Megan Bradbury, author of Everyone is Watching A love story set in the Bauhaus art school during Germany's turbulent 1920s? Be still, my pounding heart! -- Sarra Manning * Red, 'The only summer reads you need' *Set against the political upheaval of 1930s Germany, The Hiding Game is a dazzling tale of artistic ambition and romantic desire, of the choices we make in youth and the price we pay for them as we grow older. Beautifully written, vividly realized, it will remain seared in my imagination for years to come -- Ellen Feldman, author of Next to LoveTense and absorbing, this is a book that you’ll want to dive into and hungrily read to the last word * Stylist *An engaging tale filled with jealousies and rivalries turns into a dark, compelling drama about betrayal, revenge and the cost of loving too much . . . Like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, Wood’s novel starts out as a chronicle of a death foretold . . . emotionally charged and morally complex * Literary Review *Wood effortlessly evokes the atmosphere at the Bauhaus . . . The Hiding Game is a carefully and intricately woven novel of love, deceit and creativity * Icon Magazine *A devastating secret haunts Naomi Wood’s third novel . . . Fans of Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life will be carried away by the similarly fraught friendships and loving betrayals in Wood’s book * New Statesman *In The Hiding Game, the reader is lured expertly into the atmosphere and eccentricities of a group of Bauhaus students whose loves and loyalties are tested within their odd, exciting environment. This is a novel of curious, arresting detail and sharp emotions, a coming of age story like no other. Layered and intricate, it's another triumph from the lively mind of Naomi Wood -- Nuala O'Connor, author of Becoming BelleA novel of delicate menace, in which the gathering weight of personal struggle becomes insidiously roped to the political upheaval of 1930s Germany and its rising fascist forces -- Ross Raisin, author of God's Own Country

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Book SynopsisA 2022 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE TIMES ‘The witty, improbably propulsive rom-com you didn't know you were waiting for' ELIF BATUMAN ‘Razor sharp and very funny on the cult of modern dating' PANDORA SYKES ‘So good. I couldn't stop reading it' NICK HORNBY ‘Cult Classic makes an uproarious time of romantic carnage' RAVEN LEILANI 'A witty and fantastical story of dating and experimental psychology in New York City' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) One night in New York City's Chinatown, Lola is at a dinner with former colleagues when she excuses herself to buy a pack of cigarettes. On her way back, she runs into a former boyfriend. The next night, she runs into another ex. And then… another. The city has become awash with ghosts of heartbreaks past. What might have passed for coincidence becomes something far stranger when the recently engaged Lola must contend not only with the viability of her current relationship, but the fact that her best friend and her former boss – a magazine editor turned mystical guru – might have an unhealthy investment in its outcome. As memories of the past swirl and converge, Lola is forced to decide if she will surrender herself to the conspirings of one very contemporary cult. A smart, sharp and hugely entertaining tale of luck and love, Cult Classic asks: is it possible to have a happy ending in an age when the past is ever at your fingertips and sanity is for sale?Trade ReviewThis twisted and very funny New York anti-rom-com may ruin your love . . . [Crosley] is a caustic skewerer of internet millennial life on a par with Patricia Lockwood * The Times *A book about regret, about hoping you made the right choice, about the noxious power of our memories, but also about one of the worst things a woman can do in a big city: date men. Look, some of us can’t help it, despite our best efforts * New York Times *A bona fide fun time. If you ghosted Ms Sloane Crosley’s stunner of a rom-com (and gleeful evisceration of dating culture) back in the summer – all is forgiven. Slip on something gorgeous, pour wine, light candles, open cover and have a beautiful time * Mr Porter, Books of the Year 2022 *Crosley’s writing is as funny as ever, with a great line or clever observation on nearly every page . . . Her fascinating conceits – entertaining and compelling in their own right – are the engines of the narrative, but her insights into contemporary life are the fuel * LA Times *Crosley brings her prodigious gifts as a humorist to this crackling novel . . . At once acerbic and poignant, Cult Classic’s tour through heartbreaks past yields bittersweet truths about finding love by swipe. It’s as fine a treatise on modern romance as they come * Esquire *A witty and fantastical story of dating and experimental psychology in New York City . . . Thoroughly hilarious [and] sharply perceptive . . . Crosley has found the perfect fictional subject for her gimlet eye * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Like your favorite rom-com meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind . . . Crosley casts a spell with lightning wit, devilish dialogue, and walloping truths about how little reason there is to anything resembling love * Booklist, starred review *A sharp, deliciously weird skewering of the cult of modern romance and that hackneyed term ‘closure’. Pre-order for your sun lounger -- Pandora Sykes, TwitterGobbled! Loved! . . . The author is at her best and that is a treat for all readers! -- Sarah Jessica Parker, InstagramCrosley is nothing if not ambitious here, interrogating contemporary wellness culture and the very nature of love as [her narrator] confronts a gauntlet of ghosts from her romantic past . . . It’s Crosley’s analytical acumen and gift for the striking metaphor that really gives the book life. Thoughtfully and humanely acerbic * Kirkus, starred review *Cult Classic makes an uproarious time of romantic carnage. Crosley captures the brutal mirror of past love, the slow creep of ambivalence into dread, and the sense that a detour can easily become a life -- Raven Leilani, author of LUSTERCult Classic is aimed with deadly accuracy at those unfortunate enough to have dated only during the twenty-first century. It’s witty (of course, because Sloane Crosley wrote it) and razor sharp, and very clever, ditto, but it’s more romantic and redemptive than one had any right to expect. It also contains one-liners destined to appear on T-shirts and coffee mugs. It’s so good. I couldn’t stop reading it -- Nick HornbyI love a secret society, and I love a wry narrator alive to the mysteries and absurdities of the world. Cult Classic has both, taking us on a journey that, even as it unspools into comic mayhem, only becomes more real. Here is a book that is unbelievably smart on modern love and startup mystics alike, and a Manhattan that feels accurate down to the molecule. Sloane Crosley can do it all -- Robin Sloan, author of MR PENUMBRA'S 24-HOUR BOOKSTOREThe witty, improbably propulsive rom-com you didn't know you were waiting for – and just the sparkling, slightly sinister love letter to New York City that New York City deserves. An effervescent delight -- Elif Batuman, author of THE IDIOTDid the comic romantic thriller exist before Sloane Crosley, or has she invented it? Either way, Cult Classic is a classic. Funny, suspenseful, unputdownable, here is one of America's wittiest writers at her best. A pleasure on every page -- Andrew Sean Greer, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning LESS

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Book SynopsisSometimes a crisis can bring people together . . .Meredith White was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has shut herself away from the world, living in her San Francisco mansion.Then, on a late summer day, a devastating earthquake strikes, plunging the city into chaos. Without hesitation, Meredith invites her now homeless neighbours into her largely undamaged house as the recovery begins. From the respected doctor, to the beautiful young woman whose boyfriend views her as a rich man’s toy, to the brilliant concert pianist in his eighties, each has a story and a closely guarded secret that will slowly be revealed.Strangers become friends and relationships are forged as they support each other through not just the aftermath of the earthquake, but their own personal crises.As Meredith finds herself venturing back into the world she suddenly sees her isolation, her estranged family and even her career in a whole new light. And thanks to the suspicions of one of her new acquaintances, a shocking truth in her own life is exposed.Neighbours, by the world’s favourite storyteller Danielle Steel, is a novel of friendship, support, trust and love, and what it takes to bring people together.

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Book SynopsisWithout a Trace is a moving tale of second chances and creating a life worth living, from the billion copy bestseller, Danielle Steel.Charles Vincent feels trapped in his treadmill of a life. He’s wealthy and successful, doing a job he doesn’t want to do, in a marriage to a woman where the romance died many years ago. All that interests Isabelle is his money to fund her extravagant lifestyle. The children have left home and there is nothing for him to look forward to.One evening Charlie leaves work, driving towards their Normandy chateau. He has been working late every night, is tired and isn't concentrating. Just an hour away from the chateau, his car veers off the road, down a cliff and into the sea. The accident should have killed him – he almost felt ready to die. But he escapes – and somehow finds the strength to climb to safety.The area is remote but, in the growing darkness, he sees a light on in a cottage in the woods. He knocks on the door and is greeted by Aude, an artist who is escaping her own demons.This fateful meeting will change Charlie’s and Aude’s lives forever . . .

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Book SynopsisOne Good Thing is the heartwarming, hilarious alternative love story, from the internationally bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up, Alexandra Potter'A joyful, wholly unpredictable love story' - Woman's OwnIn life, nothing is certain. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something can happen to change the course of everything . . .Liv Brooks is still in shock. Newly-divorced and facing an uncertain future, she impulsively swaps her London Life for the sweeping hills of the Yorkshire Dales, determined to make a fresh start. But fresh starts are harder than they look and feeling lost and lonely she decides to adopt Harry, an old dog from the local shelter, to keep her company.But Liv soon discovers she isn’t the only one in need of a new beginning. On their daily walks around the village, they meet Valentine, an old man who suffers from loneliness who sits by the window and Stanley, a little boy who is scared of everyone, hides behind the garden gate and Maya, a teenager who is angry at everyone and everything. But slowly things start to change . . .Utterly relatable, hilarious and heart-breakingly honest, this is a novel about friendship, finding happiness and living the life unexpected. And how when everything falls apart, all you need is one good thing to turn your life around and make it worth living again.Trade ReviewWise, warm, witty and wonderful. Captivating and charming, a book to warm the cockles of the heart. A book that makes the world look like a better place- a must read! -- Milly JohnsonAssured and accomplished. Pacy, absorbing, witty and tender. She made me laugh out loud and swallow back tears in the space of a single page. Her characters are written with a light touch and full hearts, I absolutely loved it. -- Karen SwanSay hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're twenty, forty or eighty -- Heat on Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k UpFunny and moving, Alexandra Potter is fast establishing herself as the Queen of Comfort and this is a tale you’ll delight getting lost in. -- Mike GayleEnchanting and uplifting. It’s a big warm hug in book form. . . It’s exactly the novel we need right now -- Chris Manby A must-read for 2022 . .. Inspiring, heartwarming and set against the beautiful backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales. One Good Thing is one GREAT thing. -- Laura PriceFunny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep, this is a perfect and inspiring new year read -- Red magazine on Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k UpThe new Bridget Jones for our Covid-ridden times -- Celia Walden on Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up * Telegraph *Feistily funny . . . and so relatable -- Fabulous magazine on Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up * Sun on Sunday *A warm, very funny read -- Bella on Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k UpA joyful, wholly unpredictable love story * Woman's Own *A funny, thoughtful and poignant feel-good read * Choice *

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Book SynopsisBrilliant, bold and thrilling, The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood is the epic fantasy sequel to The Unspoken Name.Could you sacrifice your dreams to escape a nightmare?Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal survey abandoned Echentyr worlds to make a living. The empire’s ruins seem harmless but fascinating. Yet disaster strikes when they stumble upon ancient magic during a routine expedition. This revives a warrior who’d slept for an age, reigniting a conflict thousands of years old. And the soldier binds Csorwe to her cause.Shuthmili is desperate to protect the woman she loves. However, as events escalate, she’s torn. Can she help Csorwe by clinging to her own humanity or by embracing her eldritch powers?Tal heads home, but his peace is shattered when a magical catastrophe hits his city. The wizard Sethennai is missing and Tal can’t face seeking his former lover to ask for help. So, he flees – but there’s no escaping the future. For throughout the Echo Maze’s linked worlds, fragments of an undead goddess are waking. Soon all must choose a side.Praise for The Unspoken Name:‘An outstanding debut . . . unlike anything I’ve read before’ – Nicholas Eames‘Richly detailed, enthralling and extraordinary’ – Jenn Lyons‘Stylish, classy and timeless . . . I cannot recommend it enough’ – Tamsyn Muir‘An adventure I couldn’t put down’ – S. A. ChakrabortyTrade ReviewA fun, fresh new take on the traditional fantasy quest and an adventure I couldn't put down! -- S. A. Chakraborty on The Unspoken NameAn astounding debut, written with skill and stunning assurance . . . From its flawless first page to its bittersweet last, The Unspoken Name is unlike anything I’ve read before -- Nicholas Eames on The Unspoken NameThe Unspoken Name is the best kind of modern fantasy – it feels totally fresh, it's full of satisfyingly weird gods and frightening magic; plus it's stuffed with the sort of characters you'll either want to be friends with or run screaming from. I loved this book! -- Jen Williams on The Unspoken NameWhat a glorious book! Richly detailed, enthralling, and extraordinary, with brilliant nods to such luminaries as Ursula K. Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones . . . Fabulous, in every meaning of the word -- Jenn Lyons on The Unspoken NameA.K. Larkwood’s The Unspoken Name is an epic fantasy in the vein of Le Guin’s magnificent Tombs of Atuan – if Arha the Eaten One got to grow up to be a swordswoman mercenary . . . The action is fast-paced and emotionally compelling; the magic is dangerous, beautiful and utterly compromising. I love this book so much -- Arkady Martine on The Unspoken Name

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022‘Remarkable' - Colm Tóibín, author of Brooklyn'Like Finnegans Wake, only readable' - The TimesIn A Shock, a clutch of more or less loosely connected characters appear, disappear and reappear. They are all of them on the fringes of London life, often clinging on – to sanity, solvency or a story – by their fingertips. With this deftly conjured high-wire act, Ridgway achieves a fine balance between drama and fidelity to his characters. The result is pin-sharp and breathtaking.Book of the Year Selection in the Guardian, New York Times, Spectator, Hot Press and The White ReviewShortlisted for The Goldsmiths Prize Trade ReviewKeith Ridgway offers his London a luminous glow, but his competing narratives are also rooted in a real place, with a remarkable sense of character and the shifting systems that make up his contemporary urban space -- Colm TóibínLike Finnegans Wake, only readable. * The Times *Ingeniously slippery . . . an expertly constructed house of mirrors -- Lucy Scholes * New York Times Book Review *A sultry, steamy shock of a novel . . . a provocative collection of nine interlinked stories, jostled together like neighbours on a London street or regulars in a pub, which is where most of his characters cross paths * The Spectator *Keith Ridgway's gifts as a writer are many: his complex, vivid characters, his ability to create a humane and tender cityscape in an unfeeling metropolis, and to dig into our fallibilities and desires with such humour and compassion -- Sinéad GleesonEndlessly interesting -- Anthony Cummins * The Observer *Keith Ridgway is an incredible writer and A Shock is a wonder . . . There were times, reading this book, that I never wanted it to end -- Chris Power, author of Mothers A Shock is a meticulously crafted diorama * Vanity Fair *A great and generous book, an incomparable achievement -- Richard BeardSimply imagine being as good at anything as Keith Ridgway is at writing -- Nicole Flattery on Keith RidgwayReaders are instantly involved in the action of Ridgway's worlds, the characters he writes with great compassion and clarity, and always with an awareness of the fuzziness of being alive -- Sarah Gilmartin * Irish Times *Flows over with invention and imagination -- John Self * The Irish Times *In this playful yet deeply sincere novel, Ridgway squeezes into the gaps of realism and makes something beautifully new * Guardian *A Shock is a perfect, living circle of beauty and mystery; clear-sighted and compassionate, and, at times, wonderfully funny. The radiance and vitality of the writing, and its, frankly amazing, control and precision, reminded me of Henry Green but with a warmth and reflective quality that deserves to reach many readers -- David HaydenLike Lewis Carroll or Muriel Spark, the author is not content with the normal measly amount of dimensions: he goes in for bewitchment as a narrative art -- Barbara Epler * TANK Magazine *A Shock is an experiment that pays off: deeply funny, in a morose sort of way, oblique but never frustrating; and with a realism in dialogue that lends its characters depth and reliability * Business Post *Superb . . . Elizabeth Strout meets Bret Easton Ellis * Sunday Times Ireland on Hawthorn & Child *A Shock, Keith Ridgway’s mesmerizing new novel-in-stories, portrays a London on the edge of the edge, precarious, strange and enthralling. Haunting each other and life itself, these characters and their stories will haunt you too! -- John KeeneA masterful polyphonous portrait of modern London * Literary Review *Profane, god-dappled, transcendent, even gently poetic and funny – all those things at once -- Rivka GalchenThis modern look at (dis)connection is stunning, in all its story parts, and as a whole, it's a brilliant mind fuck. Political, pertinent, spunky and funny, A Shock is a grand sweep of modern storytelling. Hold out for the mice . . . -- June CaldwellOften hilarious, sometimes scary, always fearlessly assured. Each chapter is an intimate snapshot, a peek through the window into the life of one of the loosely linked characters living in one area of London . . . these characters vibrate at a frequency that we can all hear, feel, taste and see . . . Ridgway provides a crystal clear shot of grief, loss and loneliness * Irish Independent *There is a canny empathy running through A Shock. This is a masterfully crafted, highly intriguing novel that delivers the shock of its title with the slow, steady build-up of anxiety and dread that often characterizes dreams * Books Ireland *A fascinating and marvellously accomplished piece of work from a great and hugely under-rated Irish author -- Pat Carty * Hot Press *Once this novel clicks into place, its blend of the heady and the visceral is immersive and compelling * Kirkus *This novel will leave the reader with lots to think about, laugh about, cry about * Sunday Independent *Sex, lies, and drugs shape the interlocking and recursive narratives in Irish writer Ridgway’s marvelous latest (after Hawthorn & Child), revolving around a set of neighbouring London houses * Publishers Weekly *A Shock is a provocative collection of nine interlinked stories, set in south London’s sultry streets. In writing about characters many would overlook, Ridgway reminds us that everyone has a story * The i *

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Book SynopsisNumber one New York Times bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron once again captures the bravery and determination of a very good dog in the gripping sequel to A Dog’s Way Home, the acclaimed novel that inspired the hit movie.Bella was once a lost dog, but now she lives happily with her people, Lucas and Olivia, only occasionally recalling the hardships in her past. Then a weekend camping trip turns into a harrowing struggle for survival when the Rocky Mountains are engulfed by the biggest wildfire in American history. The raging inferno separates Bella from her people and she is lost once more.Alone in the wilderness, Bella unexpectedly finds herself responsible for the safety of two defenceless mountain lion cubs. Now she’s torn between two equally urgent goals. More than anything, she wants to find her way home to Lucas and Olivia – but not if it means abandoning her new family to danger. And danger abounds, from predators hunting them to the flames threatening at every turn.Can Bella ever get back to where she truly belongs?A Dog's Courage is a moving tale of loyalty and the constant heart of one devoted dog – brought vividly to life with a keen understanding of what makes all dogs so special.Trade ReviewAnother winning tale of an extraordinary human-canine companionship full of tug-at-the-heartstrings adventure -- Booklist on A Dog's Way Home

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Book SynopsisWartime Friends is a tale of unbreakable bonds in times of strife, by bestselling author of The Poacher's Daughter, Margaret Dickinson.It is 1940s coastal Lincolnshire and Carolyn Holmes is keen to do what she can for the war effort. Raised on the family farm, she is prevented by her mother from going to secretarial college.Phyllis Carter, a widow from the Great War, lives close by with her son, Peter, who works on the farm. Peter and Carolyn are great friends but do not see a future together, although it is the dearest wish of both mothers to see them marry.After their home town is caught in an air raid, Peter decides to volunteer – to the distress of his mother – and Carolyn leaves to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service – the 'women's branch' of the British Army – where she meets Beryl Morley, who will become a lifelong friend.Carolyn and Beryl are posted to Beaumanor Hall as ‘listeners’, the most difficult of signals intelligence gathering, intercepting enemy messages which are then sent to Bletchley Park for deciphering.As the war unfolds and their work becomes even more vital, Carolyn and Beryl’s friendship strengthens and, in the dangerous times that follow, they will both need the support of the other as they face personal troubles of their own and the lives of those they love are put at risk.Trade ReviewQueen of Saga * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis'Acutely smart' - Elizabeth Day'Completely addictive' – Taylor Jenkins Reid'Funny, sexy, unafraid, completely unputdownable' – India KnightJess first meets Josh at their Ivy League college. He is an entitled white guy in chinos, ready to inherit the world. She is almost always the only Black woman in their class. And she’s not expecting to inherit anything.After graduation, Jess and Josh end up working at the same bank. They share lunch, they share sparring matches, they share ambitions. And suddenly they’re sleeping together . . .Cecilia Rabess' Everything's Fine is hilarious, heartbreaking and impossible to put down.'Spectacular' – Curtis Sittenfeld'Addictive and extremely funny' –Jenny Colgan'Stunning’ – Meg Mason'Plain funny as hell' – Zakiya Dalila Harris'Our most explosive discussion yet . . . The PERFECT book club book' – Casual Readers Book Club*A Times 100 Best Books of the Summer and Guardian Book of the Year*Trade ReviewThe book of the moment . . . It’s about whether it is ever possible for two people who fancy each other but profoundly disagree about everything that matters to have a happy relationship . . . It’s so good — funny, sexy, unafraid, brilliantly nuanced, completely unputdownable. -- 100 Best Books of the Summer 2023 * The Times *A stunning debut -- Meg Mason, bestselling author of Sorrow and BlissTruly brilliant . . . incredible dialogue and characters so real that I felt preoccupied with them when I wasn't reading. I couldn't have loved it more -- Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Romantic ComedyOne of the smartest books I’ve read this year and also completely addictive. I can’t say enough good things about it -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoDoes love conquer all? Does it now? Did it ever? These are questions Cecilia Rabess asks in her nimble, discerning debut . . . The ending of Everything’s Fine is one of the best I’ve read in years * The New York Times *Addictive and extremely funny -- Jenny Colgan, The Guardian, Five of the best romance books of 2023A subtle, ironic, wise state-of-the-nation novel, sharp enough to draw blood, hidden inside a moving, intimate, sincere and very real love story - or vice versa -- Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity and About a BoyEverything's Fine poses incisive questions about love, identity, and the countless ways these things can both bruise and bolster one another. Cecilia Rabess has crafted an extraordinarily brave debut that's painfully real—but plain funny as hell, too -- Zakiya Dalila Harris, bestselling author of The Other Black GirlA smart, tangly romance * Vanity Fair *An assured debut that provides an honest look into the fraught terrain of a mixed-race, mixed-politics romance . . . Rabess is at her best when she is shining a light on the subtle mores that exclude Black women from conventions of desirability * Guardian *Warm, funny and romantic but it’s also sharp and full of nuance * ELLE *A brilliantly observed novel about what it means to lose yourself as a young woman. So funny but also incredibly true -- Nina Stibbe, author of Love, NinaWith the 2016 election looming, a volatile cultural and political landscape forces Jess and Josh to reckon with a relationship defined by their differences, and they find that the closer you are to someone the harder it is to villainize them * The Washington Post *Fans of Such A Fun Age will enjoy this nuanced, witty read that’s about race, privilege and loving someone but not always liking them * Red Magazine, 10 best books in June 2023 *Original, confident, hilarious -- Sathnam Sanghera, author of EmpirelandA whip smart, sexy, biting love story about how what unites us does not always overcome what divides us -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesFunny, felt, and riveting, all at once—a story for anyone who’s ever fallen in love that’s less than straightforward. Cecilia Rabess is equal parts comedian and sorcerer, reminding us that none of us are (only) as we appear -- Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, VitaminBoth entertaining and wise, a page-turner that explores race, class, sex, and ambition and how love and compromise work (or don’t) in our current political climate -- Jennifer Close, bestselling author of Girls in White DressesA love affair that turns inferno.... You'll be riveted * People Magazine *Clean, crisp and charismatic -- Hena J. Bryan, Bookish BabeA hot book on a hot topic, well worth reading and arguing about * Kirkus *A breezy yet unsettling debut… Rabess’s humor is on-point, and the chemistry between the leads is electric; each scene involving them is fraught with a double-edged sword * Publisher's Weekly *[A] thought-provoking debut…An intriguing cliffhanger makes this an excellent pick for book clubs that enjoy rousing debate * Booklist *Rabess’s ability to sit with difficult questions should be applauded * Sunday Times *Observant, thought-provoking and sharply funny * Daily Express *Deserves to be one of the most-talked about reads of the summer * Mirror *This timely novel explores weighty topics with a clear eye and a light touch * The Scotsman *Do not have anything planned for the day you start this because it is impossible to put down and will provoke discussion with anyone else that has read it. Book Clubs – this is your next pick . . . deeply funny, razor sharp * Glamour Magazine *A funny, painful, poignant dissection of modern love, society and politics that delivers right through to its final lines * Marie Claire *Pride & Prejudice on Wall Street -- Samira Ahmed, BBC Radio 4This timely novel explores weighty topics with a clear eye and a light touch * PA News *[A] stunning debut...a story that asks big questions about America and what it means to live and love in polarized times. It will make you think but also make you want to keep turning the pages at a relentless pace! * Pop Fiction Women *Can two ideologically opposed people fall — and stay — in love? That's the question Rabess takes on in her bold debut novel. Rabess displays a sharp sense of humor, and her examination of entitlement and staying true to yourself in the modern political world rings painfully real -- Connie Ogle, Minneapolis Star TribuneA subversive love story . . . a funny and punchy debut . . . enthralling * Independent *[An] opposites-attract story bound to elicit plenty of book-club conversation * New York Post, Best books of 2023 *

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Book SynopsisAll she wants is one last dance…Lily and Vincent have been dancing everything from the waltz to the foxtrot together since they were six-years-old. Now a teenager, Lily realises she has feelings for Vincent that she never knew were there. However, with Vincent off to war, Lily is evacuated to a mother and baby home with her younger siblings. It is there that she finds she has more in common with the fallen women than she once thought. But as the bombs begin to fall in Liverpool, will she ever see her sweetheart again?…A heart-warming saga for fans of Call The Midwife from the author of A Liverpool Girl.

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Book Synopsis'The new masterpiece by eminent Chinese writer Yan Lianke . . . two revolutionaries take matters disastrously into their own hands while conducting a crazed affair' MARGARET ATWOOD on TwitterA breakneck adventure story following the erotic love affair of party cadres Aijun and Hongmei during China's Cultural RevolutionThis is the story of the freewheeling love affair between married soldier Aijun and Hongmei, a beautiful young woman from his village in the Balou Mountains.Intoxicated with one another, Aijun and Hongmei hurl themselves into their town's revolutionary struggle. Spending their days and nights stamping out feudalism, writing pamphlets and organising rallies, they become inseparable: they are the engines of history.But as their political activity reaches new heights, so does the danger of getting caught... 'A blistering tour-de-force... Sensuous and riveting' MADELEINE THIEN, Booker-shortlisted author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing'Fascinating... This tale of an illicit tryst during the Cultural Revolution is a stinging satire' The Times**A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST FICTION IN TRANSLATION BOOK 2021**Trade ReviewThe new masterpiece by eminent Chinese writer Yan Lianke . . . two revolutionaries take matters disastrously into their own hands while conducting a crazed affair -- Margaret Atwood on TwitterA blistering tour de force . . . Carlos Rojas's exceptional translation makes English feel new again. Yan's linguistic daring, and the novel's relentless stream of provocative images and observations, create a sensuous and riveting world . . . a sharp, desperately moving analysis of the logic of ideology -- Madeleine Thien * Guardian *A fascinating work . . . Yan's challenge, to his samizdat readers in China and those beyond, is to look in the murky glass of ambition and self-deception and find the face that resembles their own -- John Phipps * The Times *A vivid, even lurid, portrait of the vandalistic savagery and hypocrisy of the post-1966 Cultural Revolution . . . Well-served by Carlos Rojas's agile and richly textured translation -- Boyd Tonkin * Financial Times *The novel, a parody, sets itself up as a kind of Maoist Anna Karenina . . . At its core, Hard Like Water seeks to make a mockery of claims to political purity. As Hongmei and Aijun arouse each other with propaganda slogans and revolutionary citations, the novel pokes fun at how easily an ideology can be contorted to satisfy individual desires -- Jennifer Wilson * New York Times *A piercing satire of Communism and the language of revolutions -- Ángel Gurría-Quitana * Financial Times, *Books of the Year* *Yan probes the darkness and absurdity of Chinese society and history with a sexy satirical tale of the Cultural Revolution as wrought in a small village . . . distinctive and punchy. Yan's exuberant and unflinching tragicomedy is undeniably appealing -- Publishers WeeklySurreal and amusing, biting and fun -- Caroline Overington * The Australian *A gritty, memorable story . . . Yan's study of power and class struggle becomes, in the end, a near-classic tragedy -- Kirkus ReviewYan's signature biting wit creates another indelible work of bittersweet humor and socio-political insight * Booklist *Predicted to become a new future classic . . . this is a powerful, multi-faceted book that questions everything from marriage to sexual desire, power and the dangers of hubris -- Clara Strunck * Buro *Gao Aijun, the narrator of this boisterous novel, set during the Cultural Revolution, finds his life charmless: his village is like "a pool of stagnant water," and his wife makes him feel "a clump of cotton" in his throat. Then he meets a beautiful woman, also married, and, to attract her, sets out to lead the "revolution" in their village. In speech larded with Mao quotes and traditional maxims, Gao reveals how their romance, fuelled by the feverish political climate, pitches the village into ever-escalating extremism -- a years-long parade of self-advancing schemes culminating in an unthinkable end * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisAn intoxicating and evocative novel about the all-consuming love affair between two women in Paris and the ruin it leaves in its wake.'Captivating...intense...seductive' GuardianA thirty-something teacher drifts through her life in Paris, raising a daughter on her own, lonely in spite of a new boyfriend. Then one night, at a friend's tepid New Year's Eve party, Sarah enters the scene like a tornado. A talented young violinist, she is loud, vivacious, appealingly unkempt in a world where everyone seems preoccupied with being 'just so'. It is the beginning of an intense relationship, tender and violent, that will upend both women's lives. A literary sensation in France, All About Sarah perfectly captures the pull of a desire so strong that it blinds us to everything else.'All About Sarah moves impressively from the chaos and noise of love, to silence and solitude, like a spun coin settling' ObserverTrade Review[All About Sarah] moves impressively from the chaos and noise of love, to silence and solitude, like a spun coin settling. -- John Self * Observer *A story of desire and desolation. -- Kim Willsher * Guardian *A brief, intense read... compulsive... seductive prose. -- Lara Feigel * Guardian *There are shades of Duras, Nabokov, and Barthes in the intensely living heart of this magnificent novel. * L'Express *

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Book SynopsisThe dreamlike story of a young woman in contemporary Beijing forging a different life for herself, from one of our brightest new literary stars.One morning in autumn, just after breakfast, Jia Jia finds her husband dead in the bathtub of their Beijing apartment. Next to him is a piece of folded paper, a sketch of a strange creature from his dream. He has left her no other sign. Young, alone, and with many unanswered questions, Jia Jia sets out on a journey. It takes her deep into her past where, for the very first time, she begins to have a sense of her future.'Startlingly original... A portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free' Guardian'Rich and wild...it gets under your skin' Observer'An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist' Sunday Times'A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope' Daily MailTrade ReviewAn elegant, dreamlike tale of a woman’s self-realisation in contemporary Beijing. Yu’s writing has an arresting, unadorned lyricism * Daily Telegraph *A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope that moves from high-rise Beijing to rural Tibet and the mysterious, magical ‘world of water’ -- Fanny Blake * Daily Mail *A startlingly original imagination... Braised Pork is a sensitive portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free * Guardian *Rich and strange … Braised Pork is a debut that gets under your skin -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *Braised Pork is mesmerising, incisive and utterly disarming. An Yu writes beautifully about loneliness, the experience of isolation — from others, from one’s own past — and the possibility of human connection, however fragile. * Rosie Price *So elegant and poised, so tuned to the great mysteries of love and loss. Like a breeze on a still day, An Yu’s is a voice I didn't know I needed until I felt it. Braised Pork is a major debut * John Freeman *Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer. * Katie Kitamura *What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before. * Idra Novey *Yu’s novel has a cool, poised elegance that only adds to its enigmatic allure * Economist *A dizzying read… An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist -- Lucy Knight * Sunday Times *Richly associative, the book’s imagery insinuates itself into the reader’s consciousness long after it’s finished -- Jude Cook * Spectator *This exquisite novel is many things: a detective story in which the real object of pursuit is how one makes meaning of a sometimes ineffable existence; a meditation on the talismanic power of art and the indefatigability of the human spirit; and a many-faceted, perfectly cut gem of psychological portraiture set in well-wrought sentences burnished to a gorgeous luster. The emotions in this book keep pace with you, shadowing you with a quiet intensity, until in the last stretch they overtake you completely. * Matthew Thomas *What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before. * Idra Novey *Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer.' * Katie Kitamura *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Searing, hilarious and poignant' MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER'Smart and clever' GUARDIAN 'A killer debut about class, love and money' GRAZIA 'Marvellous - clever, funny and brilliantly well observed' INDIA KNIGHTMeet the Stockton women of Brooklyn Heights: Darley, who was born with money; Sasha, who married into it; and Georgiana, who wants to give it all away.Among glittering parties, weekend homes and hungover brunches, the three will have to grapple with the burden of parental expectations, the hardships and bewilderment of growing up, and the miles between the haves and have-nots.Pineapple Street is a witty and wicked novel about New York’s one percenters: their first loves, family feuds and the complexities of being human – even when you have everything.'Wise, emotionally honest fun' HELEN FIELDING'Deliciously fun' KEVIN KWAN'Lovely, absorbing, acutely observed' NICK HORNBYInstant New York Times bestseller, March 2023Trade ReviewIt's marvellous - clever, funny and brilliantly well observed -- India KnightThe season's first beach read, a delicious romp of a debut featuring family crises galore * New York Times *A delicious new Gilded Age family drama . . . a guilty pleasure that also feels like a sociological text * Vogue *A joy to read . . . Pineapple Street is a gift of a novel * iNews *

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