Relationships: friends / friendship and peer groups Books

Book SynopsisThe unforgettable and achingly tender new novel from Sarah Winman, author of the international bestseller WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT and the Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller A YEAR OF MARVELLOUS WAYSTrade ReviewThe writing is powerful and yet understated, whether in Winman's observations about relationships or her evocations of landscapes. With her skilful command of language and deep emotional insight, Winman has produced in the exquisitely crafted Tin Man her best novel to date. * Observer *The writing is powerful and yet understated, whether in Winman's observations about relationships or her evocations of landscapes. With her skilful command of language and deep emotional insight, Winman has produced in the exquisitely crafted Tin Man her best novel to date. * Observer *This is an astoundingly beautiful book. It drips with tenderness. It breaks your heart and warms it all at onceThis is an astoundingly beautiful book. It drips with tenderness. It breaks your heart and warms it all at once[Tin Man] is a marvel, full of love, longing and loss, huge emotions described in such a beautifully understated way that their impact is all the more powerful * Sunday Express (S Magazine) *[Tin Man] is a marvel, full of love, longing and loss, huge emotions described in such a beautifully understated way that their impact is all the more powerful * Sunday Express (S Magazine) *An exquisitely crafted tale of love and loss * Guardian *An exquisitely crafted tale of love and loss * Guardian *It's exquisite. There are stories you just feel privileged to read. Sarah's writing breaks you and heals you, all in the same moment, and I haven't been so moved, and so in love with a book and its characters in a very long timeIt's exquisite. There are stories you just feel privileged to read. Sarah's writing breaks you and heals you, all in the same moment, and I haven't been so moved, and so in love with a book and its characters in a very long timeTin Man may be a short novel, at just 195 pages, but it packs an enormous punch * Independent *Tin Man may be a short novel, at just 195 pages, but it packs an enormous punch * Independent *[Tin Man has] themes of childhood bonds and traumas, and gay love, which she evokes with tender sympathy * The Times *[Tin Man has] themes of childhood bonds and traumas, and gay love, which she evokes with tender sympathy * The Times *A beautifully written novel * Daily Mail *A beautifully written novel * Daily Mail *Heart-wrenching... a short but powerful novel about love and friendship * Woman & Home *Heart-wrenching... a short but powerful novel about love and friendship * Woman & Home *This book is why I read * Prima *This book is why I read * Prima *I didn't think a perfect book could exist, I was wrongI didn't think a perfect book could exist, I was wrongWinman writes with a poetry that makes the impact of Tin Man so much greater than its 200 pages... ephemeral yet powerful... Every fleeting moment is worth repeating, again and again * Stylist *Winman writes with a poetry that makes the impact of Tin Man so much greater than its 200 pages... ephemeral yet powerful... Every fleeting moment is worth repeating, again and again * Stylist *[A] beautiful story about love, loss and longing * Red Magazine *[A] beautiful story about love, loss and longing * Red Magazine *Tin Man sparkles with a timeless beauty that few other authors can invoke... disarmingly lovely and unequivocally heart breaking...Forget every other novel released this month and just read Tin Man, it's the perfect tale of love, loss and life * Culturefly *Tin Man sparkles with a timeless beauty that few other authors can invoke... disarmingly lovely and unequivocally heart breaking...Forget every other novel released this month and just read Tin Man, it's the perfect tale of love, loss and life * Culturefly *Heart-breaking and heart-makingHeart-breaking and heart-makingTin Man is Winman's best novel yet. The playful subversiveness still bubbles away but there's a new candour there, an acceptance of needs and flaws that proves deeply touching. This is storytelling as cruelly kind as fate itselfTin Man is Winman's best novel yet. The playful subversiveness still bubbles away but there's a new candour there, an acceptance of needs and flaws that proves deeply touching. This is storytelling as cruelly kind as fate itselfA beautiful, life-giving book that will constantly surprise you * Attitude *A beautiful, life-giving book that will constantly surprise you * Attitude *'It was beautiful, and occasionally, it hurt,' says Michael - and this exactly describes the wonder of this bruisingly tender book * Psychologies magazine *'It was beautiful, and occasionally, it hurt,' says Michael - and this exactly describes the wonder of this bruisingly tender book * Psychologies magazine *Emotionally charged * Express.co.uk *Emotionally charged * Express.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisA surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.''Bastone delivers on this truly heartwarming, funny, and real story'' Abby Jimenez''The perfect slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Cara Bastone''s voice is wholly unique and sparkles with effervescence and joy'' KJ Dell''Antonia ''One of the most emotionally satisfying romances I''ve read in years'' Joanna Lowell ''A delightfully romantic story that celebrates modern love and the excitement of the unexpected'' Amy Poeppel..................Eve Hatch has always been content to coast through her life, with a steady, if uninspiring, job and a cozy apartment in Brooklyn, close to her childhood best friend Willa and far from the midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. But when she finds herself pregnant after an uncharacte

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA compendium of good advice from her Sunday Times columns, Dear Dolly is Dolly Alderton at her wise, warm and witty best. All of human life is contained in these pages: from dating apps to eating disorders, too much sex, not enough sex and the ebb and flow of friendships, relationships and situationships. I felt like a better, kinder person for having read these letters and Dolly's thoughtful replies * Red *With a thoughtful essay about what answering others' questions has taught her, this collection of Alderton's agony aunt advice offers bundles of empathy (and zero judgement) about life's problems, from totally relatable dilemmas to the entertainingly voyeuristic * Grazia *Her refreshing take makes for compulsive reading. The result is an oddly soothing book, as the problems of others leave you not with a sense of schadenfreude but with the comforting realisation that something you have felt, or are feeling, has been felt by countless others - and it will always be that way * Daily Mail *Alderton has struck a chord with a generation ... Invaluable ... A must for die-hard Dolly fans * Heat *Capturing the hearts and minds of young romantics and dreamers, she offers sage and sisterly advice to those in need * Magic Radio Book Club *

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Book SynopsisThe SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of STILL LIFE''Thronging with incident and wonder'' Guardian''Beautifully true . . . superb'' The Times''Captivating'' Observer''Beguiling . . . You can''t get the voice out of your head'' Daily MailThis is a book about a brother and sister.It''s a book about childhood and growing up, friendships and families, triumph and tragedy and everything in between.More than anything, it''s a book about love in all its forms.Trade Review'Gloriously offbeat... Winman's narrative voice is beautifully true, with a child's unsentimental clarity. A superb debut' * The Times *'Beguiling... you can't quite get the voice out of your head' * Daily Mail *'Captivating... rendered with an appealing frankness, precision and emotional acuity' * Observer *'Thronging with incident, wonder and outré language... sharply funny, whimsical and innovative' * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSatisfying and thoughtful * Daily Telegraph *Publisher's description. Dazzlingly energetic and deeply human, Swing Time is Zadie Smith's most ambitious novel yet: a story about friendship and music and true identity, how they shape us and how we can survive them. Moving from north-west London to West Africa, it is an exuberant dance to the music of time. * Penguin *Endlessly satisfying... [Zadie Smith] has never written better. Pitch-perfect, masterful and sophisticated * Telegraph *Zadie Smith is the best writer of our generation, and Swing Time is her best book to date. As the title promises, the novel swings and pulsates with life, filled with emotion, excited by intellect and haunted by sadness. What a miracle that literature can still do things other forms of art cannot. What a miracle that Zadie Smith is among us, writing. -- Gary ShteyngartClever, funny, confident and kind. Her gift for language is a pleasure and her character shines through * Evening Standard *[Smith] packs more intelligence, humour and sheer energy into any given scene than anyone else of her generation * Sunday Telegraph *Zadie Smith's finest novel. Extraordinary, virtuosic... [It] does what only literature can and what only great literature will: forces us to assess the very vocabulary with which we speak of human experience * Observer *Zadie Smith at her finest... [An] unflinching portrait of friendship... [A] triumph * Guardian *Ingenious, inspired... Zadie Smith's new novel is very good indeed * Sunday Times *Shrewd observation and sly satire, profundity and genuine purpose, as well as some of the most heart-stoppingly lyrical writing of her career * Scotland on Sunday *A powerful story of lives marred by secrets, unfulfilled potential, the unjustness of the world...and the dances people do to rise above it all * Economist *A sweeping meditation on race and identity... [Smith's] most ambitious work yet * Esquire *A nuanced, richly rewarding tale * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisYou can't move past the breakup. You feel stuck in cycles of rumination and pain.This helpful guide provides brand-new therapeutic tools to revolutionise the way we overcome loss, and seek and welcome love, within and outside of ourselves.We know heartbreaks are inevitable. We also know that somehow it is within our power to break free of the suffering and transform pain into meaning. Yet, somewhere between the sad songs, the late-night fixations, and the social media stalking, we get lost.Alice Haddon, psychologist of over twenty-five years, and Ruth Field, bestselling self-help author, show us how we can dissect heartbreaks, mine them for strength and live our most empowered life. They also examine how society sets up women to fall into love traps and engage bad habits of self-sacrificing and enabling. With Alice and Ruth's help, those patterns end forever.Bursting with compassion, humour and courage, this book will take you into the actual exercises conducted at the retreat that they run. It will teach you how to:face your deepest hurt without shame or judgmentask for help and lean on the collectivebe kind and forgiving to yourselfturn your heartbreak into love and prideProviding you with a clear pathway to recovery, Alice and Ruth draw on their wealth of professional and personal experience to help you.

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Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times BestsellerIn Platonic, psychologist and friendship expert Dr Marisa G. Franco unpacks why undervaluing friendship in our culture has led to an epidemic of isolation, and what we can do about it.'Wise, concrete and effective - my friendships are better for it' – Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedWhen was the last time you put yourself out there to make a new friend?How do we keep friends in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos, especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships?This book offers a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong and lasting connections with others – and becoming our happiest selves in the process.Using the groundbreaking framework behind attachment theory, this book teaches us to identify and understand our individual style – secure, anxious or avoidant – and recognize that how we behave in relationships is the key to unlocking what we’re doing right (and what we could do better) in our friendships.Weaving together cutting-edge research in psychology with interviews, personal stories and practical advice, this book gives us the tools we need to be better friends, and better humans.'A timely, unique guide to approaching friendship with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves' – Francesca Specter, author of AlonementTrade Review''Dr. Marisa G. Franco and Platonic have been invaluable guides on my journey to nurture and deepen my friendships. Her advice is wise, concrete, and effective—and my friendships are better for it.' -- Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedThis is a timely, unique guide to approaching friendship, with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves. -- Francesca Specter, author of AlonementReminds us of the importance of platonic love in today’s society - bucking the notion that romantic love trumps everything else in our lives. * The Wall Street Journal *Franco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological (and other) blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships. * University of California *Franco collects and shares the most pertinent insights about the psychology of friendship... game-changing secrets. * MindBodyGreen *Provides a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong, lasting connections with others?and for becoming our happiest, most fulfilled selves in the process. * Next Big Idea Club *A gentle, yet affirming, call-in for us to investigate how we’ve regarded the platonic relationships in our life and opportunities for deep fulfillment that we may be missing out on. -- Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Therapy for Black GirlsFranco offers suggestions for making connections, with step-by-step guidelines on how to be a better pal. * Essence Magazine *A fantastic guide not just for making and keeping friends?it's also a manifesto for how to more effectively invest in the stuff that really matters in life -- Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcastA handbook for us all on how to get out of our own way to make new friends. * The Globe and Mail *It's hard to make friends as an adult – here's great advice on how to do it * News24 *If you want to feel genuinely connected, read this book. -- Shasta Nelson, author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen!The evidence is clear?having strong connections is the lowest-hanging fruit on the tree of a healthy life. What’s less straightforward is how you go about doing that, so see this doctor and she’ll help keep you away from the other ones. -- Billy Baker, author of We Need to Hang OutI closed this book determined to prioritize my friendships as one of the most important aspects of my life -- Laura Tremaine, author of Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go FirstA fascinating meditation on how we develop and build meaningful relationships. An insightful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Everyone needs this book -- Lauren Martin, author of The Book of Moods

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Book SynopsisA moving tale of incredible friendship for fans of Jay Asher, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and David Levithan. It''s never been easy for Finley, particularly at home. But two things keep him going: his place on the basketball team and his girlfriend, Erin - the light in even the darkest of his days. Then Russ arrives. He answers only to Boy21, claims to be from outer space, and also has a past he wants to escape. He''s one of the best high school basketball players in the country and threatens to steal Finley''s starting position. Against all the odds, Russ and Finley become friends. Russ could change everything for Finley, both for better and for worse. But sometimes the person you least expect can give you the courage to face what''s gone before ...and work out where you''re going next.Trade ReviewBeautiful...more than a first-rate novel fueled by basketball; it's a first-rate work of art - New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisThe beautifully illustrated second adventure from cherished friends and Sunday Times bestsellers BIG PANDA AND TINY DRAGON''James has a way to speak to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming'' VEX KING''While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs'' GUARDIAN''A beautifully illustrated book which draws on tender moments. Exquisite'' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE__________''We shall go on a journey, across the river . . .''Join Big Panda and Tiny Dragon as they set off on an extraordinary adventure in this companion to the global bestselling phenomenon Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.Although content in their temple high up in the mountains, Tiny Dragon realises that something feels incomplete. So it is that they decide to make a journey together, to new and distant lands.As they encounter dangers and challenges, they learn that everything they need is already inside them and that change, though sometimes scary, is possible and, with patience, can lead to better things.Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, the story of these whimsical characters makes the perfect gift for anyone looking for a little hope and comfort.__________''If we have to be lost,'' said Big Panda, ''I am glad it is with you . . .''Trade ReviewJames has a way of speaking to your soul. This book is nothing short of comforting and heartwarming * Vex King *

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Book SynopsisWe are used to thinking of good conversation as the glue that holds friendships together, but we shouldn’t forget the immense value of playing games, with some of the same spirit of fun and adventure that we once deployed when we were children. Here is a pack of forty activities to draw us away from static conversation. Among other things, we will build a fort together, dance in surprising ways, deliver funeral orations, practise our acting skills, and play some entertaining (but kindly) pranks. The games are an invitation to cast aside reserve and get in touch with neglected imaginative aspects of ourselves. They are a reminder that friendship doesn’t only require talking; it thrives just as much on the lighthearted but significant business of playing together. Examples Inanimate Impressions Imitation, as Aristotle knew, is an activity humans find pleasurable and meaningful. This perhaps explains our delight in impressions. Ordinarily, we impersonate living creatures – friends, celebrities or animals. But this game takes a slightly different approach. Each guest should attempt to impersonate an inanimate object – a grandfather clock, or a dot-matrix printer, or a blender – using sounds and gestures. At the end, the group as a whole should elect a winner who has most uncannily captured the likeness of the object.

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Book SynopsisThis Mr Men Little Miss gift book will help you show that special someone just how much they mean to you.Enjoy this warm and witty celebration of love and friendship featuring the Mr Men and Little Miss.Following the bestselling My Mummy and My Daddy books, this delightful gift book pairs Roger Hargreaves classic artwork with affectionate and humorous new text to help children and adults share the love on Valentine''s Day or at any time they want to say I love you.Trade ReviewThe colourful characters have been delighting children since Mr Tickle first appeared on bookshelves in 1971.The IndependentThe timeless Mr Men books capture modern stereotypes perfectly.The TelegraphThe Mr Men and Little Miss characters remain a cultural phenomenon, whose impact is felt far beyond the nursery bookshelf.The Telegraph

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Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling author of The End of Your Life Book Club comes a warm, funny, irresistible book that follows an improbable and life-changing friendship over the course of forty years''Moving'' NEW YORK TIMES''Schwalbe''s memoir shines . . . Written like a true friend'' DAILY MAIL___________In his last year of university, Will thought he knew everyone he cared to know. A perm-haired, out gay young man, working at an AIDS helpline in the early days of the crisis, Will found community amongst the theatre students, artists and writers.He also knew who he wanted to avoid: the jocks. Wearing sporty clothes and moving in boisterous packs, the jocks seemed to be a different species entirely, one Will might encounter only at his own peril.All this changed dramatically when Will was brought into a secret society at Yale, aimed to bring together a group of opposites. On his first day, he was faced with Chris Maxey - a physically imposing, loud, star wrestler who seemed to be uncomfortable around Will and embodied everything he disliked and feared.But through months of mandated dinners, and many beers, the two swapped life-stories and forged an unexpected bond that became a ballast in each other''s lives for forty years. A real-life The Breakfast Club story, We Should Not Be Friends is a testament to the miracle of human connection, if only we see past our differences.Trade ReviewOne of the most important - and noble - human qualities is our ability to bond with people with whom we have absolutely nothing in common. It's pure fraternal love, entirely for its own sake. Will Schwalbe has written a gorgeous book on exactly this topic . . . what a pleasure to read about a human trait that might one day save, rather than destroy, the human race -- Sebastian JungerSchwalbe's memoir shines . . . Written like a true friend * Daily Mail *Moving * New York Times *We Should Not Be Friends focuses on the improbable, lifelong, life-changing-dare I say life-saving-bond between two men who met by chance in college with nothing in common and everything to teach one another. Here is a deeply compelling story that is uniquely their own-yet grows throughout the book to contain all the trials of finding one's way in an America that is, like these two men and their unlikely but important connection, constantly changing. This marvelous, warm, life-affirming book gave me a fuller understanding of the friendships that have sustained my life, and will make readers fiercely appreciative of their own chosen family. So many pages throughout human history have been devoted to romantic love, how wonderful to read a book about that other massively important emotion, the love of friendship. * Isaac Fitzgerald *We Should Not Be Friends is a funny, warm, brutally honest and entertaining as it is profound. It's unlike any memoir I've ever read * Louise Penny *Reading this beautifully written and generous book, you will find yourself thinking of your own friendships and the greatest gifts we can give one another: listening deeply and taking the risk of becoming - and offering - our true selves * Dani Shapiro *

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Book SynopsisA fully updated 40th anniversary edition of the pioneering handbook for female assertiveness an indispensable guide to getting what you wantTrade Review'The classic assertiveness bible... You might be better off with A Woman in Your Own Right than any of the modern girlboss manuals that claim to be able to transform you wholesale into a kickass corporate woman' Rhiannon Lucy Cosslet, Guardian'We’ve made giant strides towards equality over the decades, but... this advice is even more pertinent today' Linda Kelsey, Daily Mail'As important as it ever was’ Angela Neustatter'The bible for anyone who wants to get their voice heard… invaluable' Lesley Garner

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Book SynopsisThe hugely popular global phenomenon and star of Sanrio makes her way to the RP Studio list with this DIY fill-in-the-blank book celebrating Hello Kitty and Friends and focusing on friendship-perfect for the passionate fanbase, both old and new.

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Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE JHALAK PRIZE, THE INTERNATIONAL DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE AND THE AUTHORS'' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD**LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE**SHORTLISTED FOR THE GOLDSMITHS PRIZE AND THE GORDON BURN*''I was gripped... remarkable'' Robert Macfarlane, Guardian Books of the Year''A novel that doesn''t flinch, and demands change right now'' Ali Smith''A novel so of this moment that you don''t even realize you''ve waited your whole life for it'' Marlon JamesFor Selvon, Ardan and Yusuf, growing up under the towers of Stones Estate, summer means what it does anywhere: football, music and freedom. But now, after the killing of a British soldier, riots are spreading across the city, and nowhere is safe.While the fury swirls around them, Selvon and Ardan remain focused on their own obsessions, girls and grime. Their friend Yusuf is caught up in a different tide, a wave of radicalism surging through his locTrade ReviewGuy Gunaratne throws words against the wall and makes us watch them bounce. You feel the heat, reel from the sound, and bump to the unstoppable pulse. A novel so of this moment that you don't even realize you've waited your whole life for it.Guy Gunaratne throws words against the wall and makes us watch them bounce. You feel the heat, reel from the sound, and bump to the unstoppable pulse. A novel so of this moment that you don't even realize you've waited your whole life for it.Gunaratne has a gift for inhabiting the lives of his characters, and has used that gift here to give life to Londoners who are not often seen in contemporary fiction... a very fine novel * New York Times *Gunaratne has a gift for inhabiting the lives of his characters, and has used that gift here to give life to Londoners who are not often seen in contemporary fiction... a very fine novel * New York Times *Utterly alive. Joyous in its language * New Yorker *Utterly alive. Joyous in its language * New Yorker *A beautiful, fierce storm of a book, full of courage and hopeA beautiful, fierce storm of a book, full of courage and hopeWhat a voice. What an ear for language. No mean feat to capture the street, the nuance of black experience, the architecture of so many different lives. It's a brave and original piece of workWhat a voice. What an ear for language. No mean feat to capture the street, the nuance of black experience, the architecture of so many different lives. It's a brave and original piece of workA riotous hymn to urban life... passionate, compelling * Guardian *A riotous hymn to urban life... passionate, compelling * Guardian *This is cracking. Original, honest voices and a vivid portrayal of a London rarely seen in literatureThis is cracking. Original, honest voices and a vivid portrayal of a London rarely seen in literatureA vivid and affecting account of estate life, both blighted by frustration and elevated by dreams we can all recognise and share. Guy's characters are drawn with compassion and flair, and I was captivated by their humanityA vivid and affecting account of estate life, both blighted by frustration and elevated by dreams we can all recognise and share. Guy's characters are drawn with compassion and flair, and I was captivated by their humanityA timely read, addressing the urgent questions of our divided society. We're sure Guy is set for big things * Metro *A timely read, addressing the urgent questions of our divided society. We're sure Guy is set for big things * Metro *Gritty, grotesque; graceful and beautiful. This is the London that we call homeGritty, grotesque; graceful and beautiful. This is the London that we call homeThis novel is a love letter to the language of London's streets and to its people, but also a blistering look at a city on the edge that'll sweep you up until you reach the book's breathless, devastating conclusion * Stylist *This novel is a love letter to the language of London's streets and to its people, but also a blistering look at a city on the edge that'll sweep you up until you reach the book's breathless, devastating conclusion * Stylist *A blistering debut unlike anything I've read before. This is a powerful, raw, yet heartrending account of 48 hours on a London estate * BBC.co.uk *A blistering debut unlike anything I've read before. This is a powerful, raw, yet heartrending account of 48 hours on a London estate * BBC.co.uk *The prose remains alive, alert and subtly integrated, with various accents and non-standard Englishes raising themselves up to the same very high literary watermark. This is one of the hardest things to pull off for a prose stylist. The Dominican-born American writer Junot Diaz is, possibly, the finest living exponent of it. Gunaratne is no doubt on his way. What you are left with - always a treat though not by any stretch as essential to all writing as some would have you believe - is a prose that benefits from being read aloud. But more so, a prose that just plain deserves to be read * Irish Times *The prose remains alive, alert and subtly integrated, with various accents and non-standard Englishes raising themselves up to the same very high literary watermark. This is one of the hardest things to pull off for a prose stylist. The Dominican-born American writer Junot Diaz is, possibly, the finest living exponent of it. Gunaratne is no doubt on his way. What you are left with - always a treat though not by any stretch as essential to all writing as some would have you believe - is a prose that benefits from being read aloud. But more so, a prose that just plain deserves to be read * Irish Times *In Our Mad and Furious City is fraught and heartbreaking at the same time, with a biting, in-your-face clarity to it that you can't ignore. It's a searing marvel of a novel * Belfast Telegraph *In Our Mad and Furious City is fraught and heartbreaking at the same time, with a biting, in-your-face clarity to it that you can't ignore. It's a searing marvel of a novel * Belfast Telegraph *In Our Mad and Furious City is our favourite debut of 2018. Gunaratne draws on growing up in north-west London in this tale of 48 hours on a council estate, where three young boys dream of escaping * Glamour *In Our Mad and Furious City is our favourite debut of 2018. Gunaratne draws on growing up in north-west London in this tale of 48 hours on a council estate, where three young boys dream of escaping * Glamour *This riotous hymn to urban life takes a passionate, compelling look at youth culture * Guardian *This riotous hymn to urban life takes a passionate, compelling look at youth culture * Guardian *Two days of race riots, three teenage boys on a north London estate and a grittily realistic patois throughout make this debut glitter despite the darkness * Evening Standard *Two days of race riots, three teenage boys on a north London estate and a grittily realistic patois throughout make this debut glitter despite the darkness * Evening Standard *Already hailed as a modern masterpiece, this timely and authentic portrayal of life for young men living on our city estates is as mesmerising as it is vital * Heat *Already hailed as a modern masterpiece, this timely and authentic portrayal of life for young men living on our city estates is as mesmerising as it is vital * Heat *

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Book SynopsisLife constantly requires us to give other people some hugely awkward messages: that we don’t love them anymore; that we do love them (though we’re not meant to); that they smell a bit; that they’re fired; that we’re furious with them (though we adore them) or that their music is too loud... Often, out of embarrassment, we just stay quiet. Occasionally we explode. And typically, we stumble about, looking for the right words – dreading that we didn’t find them and thereby causing more hurt than we should. This is a book to help us locate the best possible words to get across a range of life’s most difficult messages. With twenty case studies drawn from relationships, friendships, work, our families and service situations, we are gently shown what we might – in an ideal world – find ourselves saying to make our intentions known while causing minimal harm. We are guided, among other topics, to how best to end a relationship, how to make it up with a child and how gently to let down a friend who wants more. We laugh, we recognise our troubles – and we’re introduced to a range of deeply empathetic ways to navigate some of our most acute social dilemmas.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAs seen on The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more. — “’The Office BFFs: Tales of the Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There’ is an enjoyable complement to the series, filled with behind the scenes anecdotes that help explain what made NBC’s hit click. … If there’s any lesson to be learned from the show’s nine-season run and this book, it’s that a lot of teamwork goes into making an office look this dysfunctional.” — Associated Press “Bound to have you giggling… Heart = warmed.” — The Skimm "Reading the book makes you feel like you're out to lunch (at The Ivy, if we can get a patio table!) listening to your two close friends gab. And it's clear those two friends have such warm regards for their show, their cast and crew, and each other." — Mashable “Can you think of a better gift for The Office lover in your life (even if it’s you?)” — AV Club A smart, sweet look from inside The Office about how the show spawned enduring friendships and unexpected careers. — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisWhether your recipient is a Lorelai or a Rory, this book is the perfect way to let your mom, sister, or friend know how much her friendship means to you. Once you fill in the 47 prompts, this book becomes a personalized gift full of funny, memorable, and endearing expressions of appreciation that your loved one will cherish for years to come. This officially licensed book features full-color photography from the show throughout.Copyright 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. GILMORE GIRLS and all related characters and elements are & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. TM & WBEI. (s22)

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Book SynopsisSince moving to a new city, once-adventurous Steph is doing her best to prove to her friends and family back home that her life is as fulfilling and envy-inducing as ever. The truth? She is broke and has found that making new friends isn''t as easy as she expected.Eric has lost his way in life since his breakup with perfect Clarissa. Now that all his friends are buying homes, getting married and starting families, Eric is still living in a house share, feeling left behind.Eric and Steph are lonely. They''re strangers, but with one connection - they live on the same street, on either side of number 26. Neither Eric nor Steph have met their neighbour at number 26, but both used to take comfort in hearing their neighbour playing piano at the same time every night - it made them feel less alone.Now the music has stopped and number 26 lies silent. Brought together by their mutual concern, Eric and Steph begin to grow closer and it looks like they might discover th

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Book SynopsisThe instant New York Times BestsellerIn Platonic, psychologist and friendship expert Dr Marisa G. Franco unpacks why undervaluing friendship in our culture has led to an epidemic of isolation, and what we can do about it.'Wise, concrete and effective - my friendships are better for it' – Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedWhen was the last time you put yourself out there to make a new friend?How do we keep friends in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos, especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships?This book offers a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong and lasting connections with others – and becoming our happiest selves in the process.Using the groundbreaking framework behind attachment theory, this book teaches us to identify and understand our individual style – secure, anxious or avoidant – and recognize that how we behave in relationships is the key to unlocking what we’re doing right (and what we could do better) in our friendships.Weaving together cutting-edge research in psychology with interviews, personal stories and practical advice, this book gives us the tools we need to be better friends, and better humans.'A timely, unique guide to approaching friendship with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves' – Francesca Specter, author of AlonementTrade Review''Dr. Marisa G. Franco and Platonic have been invaluable guides on my journey to nurture and deepen my friendships. Her advice is wise, concrete, and effective—and my friendships are better for it.' -- Glennon Doyle, author of UntamedThis is a timely, unique guide to approaching friendship, with the love (and self-reflection) it deserves. -- Francesca Specter, author of AlonementReminds us of the importance of platonic love in today’s society - bucking the notion that romantic love trumps everything else in our lives. -- The Wall Street JournalFranco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological (and other) blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships. -- University of CaliforniaFranco collects and shares the most pertinent insights about the psychology of friendship... game-changing secrets. * MindBodyGreen *Provides a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong, lasting connections with others—and for becoming our happiest, most fulfilled selves in the process. -- Next Big Idea ClubA gentle, yet affirming, call-in for us to investigate how we’ve regarded the platonic relationships in our life and opportunities for deep fulfillment that we may be missing out on. -- Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Therapy for Black GirlsFranco offers suggestions for making connections, with step-by-step guidelines on how to be a better pal. -- Essence MagazineA fantastic guide not just for making and keeping friends—it's also a manifesto for how to more effectively invest in the stuff that really matters in life. -- Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcastA handbook for us all on how to get out of our own way to make new friends. -- The Globe and MailIt's hard to make friends as an adult – here's great advice on how to do it. -- News24If you want to feel genuinely connected, read this book. -- Shasta Nelson, author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen!The evidence is clear—having strong connections is the lowest-hanging fruit on the tree of a healthy life. What’s less straightforward is how you go about doing that, so see this doctor and she’ll help keep you away from the other ones. -- Billy Baker, author of We Need to Hang OutI closed this book determined to prioritize my friendships as one of the most important aspects of my life. -- Laura Tremaine, author of Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go FirstA fascinating meditation on how we develop and build meaningful relationships. An insightful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. Everyone needs this book -- Lauren Martin, author of The Book of Moods

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Book Synopsis''This is the book I wish I''d had to guide me through my twenties'' - Anjelica Huston''A fierce-but-tender guide to conquering our self doubt'' - Glennon DoyleBy the time she was in her late twenties, Tara Schuster was a rising TV executive who had worked for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and helped launch Key & Peele to viral superstardom. By all appearances, she had mastered being a grown-up. But beneath that veneer of success, she was a chronically anxious, self-medicating mess. No one knew that her road to adulthood had been paved with depression, anxiety, and shame, owing in large part to her minimally parented upbringing. She realized she''d hit rock bottom when she drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies is the story of Tara''s path to re-parenting herself and becoming a ''ninja of self-love''. Through simple, daily rituals, Tara transformed her mind, body and relationships, and shows how to: * fake gratitude until you actually feel gratitude * excavate your emotional wounds and heal them with kindness * identify your self-limiting beliefs, kick them to the curb, and start living a life you choose * silence your inner frenemy and shield yourself from self-criticism * carve out time each morning to start your day empowered, inspired, and ready to rule * create a life you truly, totally f*cking LOVE This is the book Tara wished someone had given her and it is the book many of us desperately need: a candid, hysterical, addictively readable, practical guide to growing up (no matter where you are in life) and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it''s-so-cheesy way.

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Book SynopsisTHE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERBravely revealing' BERNARDINE EVARISTOFunny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience' SATHNAM SANGHERAThis book is brilliant' JO ELVINEssential reading admirably candid and well-crafted' GUARDIANAs a society, there is a tendency to elevate romantic love. But what about friendships? Aren''t they just as if not more important? So why is it hard to find the right words to express what these uniquely complex bonds mean to us? In Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, Elizabeth Day embarks on a journey to answer these questions.Growing up, Elizabeth wanted to make everyone like her. Lacking friends at school, she grew up to believe that quantity equalled quality. Having lots of friends meant you were loved, popular and safe. She was determined to become a Good Friend. And, in many ways, she did. But in adulthood she slowly realised that it was often to the detriment of her own boundaries and mental health.Then, when a gTrade Review Praise for Friendaholic: ‘A joyful read’ THE SUNDAY TIMES ‘Essential reading… admirably candid and well-crafted’ THE GUARDIAN ‘(An)eloquent, disarmingly honest book’ DAILY MIRROR ‘A generous, companionable guide to a part of life every bit as crucial – and as fraught – as romance or family.’ THE OBSERVER ‘Perceptive, compassionate and filled with relatable insights into all that is beautiful about friendship, with its most valuable point being that it should be about quality, rather than quantity.’ THE DAILY MAIL ‘This book is brilliant.’ Jo Elvin ‘I’ve never read a book about friendships before. This one really digs deep, is bravely revealing and makes me reflect on my own friendship habits, issues, and culture.’ Bernardine Evaristo ‘I really want to say that reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend, but it's complicated by the fact that I’m an actual friend who makes an appearance in this book on friendship. But fuck it, it's true: reading Elizabeth Day feels like listening to a friend. And reading her on this strangely neglected theme is a revelation. Friendships can mean as much, sometimes even more than family, and finally we have a book that treats the subject with the seriousness it deserves. And Day is the best possible guide: funny, moving, helpful and true, Friendaholic deserves a massive audience.’ Sathnam Sanghera

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Book Synopsishave you ever wanted to have a friend of your very own if your answer to this is yes then this is the book for you.there is more than 9 million people in the world right now so there is a good chance that 1 of them will want to be your friend.so to help you on your friendship journey i have made this book to teach you how to be the best friend that the world has ever known.inside of this book you will learn about: being alone making friends with strangers and animals how to make friends with people at your work or at your school popular friendship clubs that you can join how to stay friends with friends fun things to do with your friend eating with friends not eating friends online friends films about friendship caring for friends random acts of kindness losing friends and much moreso pick up this book and follow me as we walk on this magical journey of friendship together and who knows

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Book Synopsis'Another delicious romance from Tracy Corbett. It's fun, quirky and delightfully romantic.' Rosanna Ley, author of From Venice with LoveWhat happens on holiday doesn't always stay on holiday...When mousy factory-worker Lilith Monroe meets gorgeous Will Taylor on holiday, she reinvents herself as Lily, a risk-taking costume designer extraordinaire. What’s the harm in a few white lies when she’ll never see Will again?Back in England, Will can’t stop thinking about Lily. When his events company needs a costume designer last minute for the Royal Windsor Festival, it’s like fate is knocking on his door. He can hire Lily and see if the spark is still there. Except he hasn't been entirely honest with Lily...Can a holiday fling become something more, or are there too many untruths between Lilith and Will?A gorgeously uplifting romance for fans of Portia MacIntosh and Trisha Ashley.Praise for Someone Like You ‘I loved this book and devoured the whole thing in one day. It's one of those stories which is so realistic, romantic, and funny, that surely someone is going to want to turn it into a movie. One for fans of Sophie Kinsella’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘This is truly a wonderful romantic story. I enjoyed this book to pieces! I smiled through most of it, teared up a time or two, and highly recommend this book to anyone.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘Love a bit of romance and this book ticked all the boxes, thoroughly enjoyable read with likeable characters and a good background’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘What a treat this story was. At the beginning of the story I was in tears and by the end I had a huge smile on my face. This book has the ultimate feel good factor about it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to kindness - a book full of inspirational ideas, quotes and famous acts of kindness, at a time when we need it most."If you see someone without a smile today, give 'em yours." Dolly Parton This empowering guide to kindness will inspire you to make a real difference to your life and the lives of others. Inside you'll find:- over 50 stories about famous - and not so famous - acts of kindness, from Jacinda Ardern's empathetic leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic to Marcus Rashford's determination to support underprivileged children, and the real story of the WWI Christmas Truce.- suggestions for acts of kindness you can carry out yourself, to improve the lives of those around you - quotes about kindness to help encourage change, from people like Kamala Harris, Beyonce and RuPaulThis is the perfect gift for yourself or for a friend - because Kindness is Power.

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Book Synopsis'A nourishing, useful, and timely book' - Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk To SomeoneRelationships are a cornerstone of happiness and key to living a full life. But relationships are not given, they are made. In his breakout new book, New York Times bestselling author Rick Hanson offers the fundamental tools and skills to foster happy, lasting and fulfilling relationships in all areas of life.Making Great Relationships offers 50 simple practices that we can all easily add in to our everyday life. Bringing together ground-breaking research, Hanson reveals that relationships are not fixed entities but instead each of us has the power to make our relationships every single day with our thoughts and words. This empowering book is an essential guide to making your relationships great.

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Book Synopsis"So to the person that broke my heart in 2021 by way of a casual voice-note. Thank you."Told from the perspective of some of the finest contemporary Black writers and thinkers, MANDEM is an ode to the moments in our pasts that shape us, and gratitude at being able to appreciate these lessons in the present.In a beautiful blend of prose and lyricism, each essay sees its author tap into their most vulnerable place - engaging honestly in conversations often silently grappled with by Black British men because of socially enforced beliefs around Black masculinity.The themes in this essay collection range from the importance of male role-models, and the unique relationship between mother and son to the sexual pressure placed on young heterosexual men, while also asking the question: "what does contemporary Black queerness actually look like?"Edited by award-winning artist Iggy London and featuring essays from Yomi Sode, Jeffrey Boakye, Christian Adofo, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Athian Akec, Dipo Faloyin, Okechukwu Nzelu, Phil Samba, Sope Soetan, and Jordan Stephens, MANDEM is an unmissable, thoughtful anthology of Black male expression.

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Book SynopsisForeword by Ashley Judd“Rosenfeld’s tour-de-force takes the power of female alliances to a higher level, giving us a road map for a new vision of women’s equality through the relationships and bonds we form among one another. The gift of this book is that it gives us hope.”—Valerie Jarrett, New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice, and former senior advisor to President Barack ObamaThe Bonobo Sisterhood is a revolutionary call to action for women and their allies to protect one another from patriarchal violence. Internationally recognized legal expert Diane L. Rosenfeld introduces us to a groundbreaking new model of female solidarity; one that promises to thwart sexual coercion.Urgent, timely, and original, The Bonobo Sisterhood harnesses the power of the #MeToo movement into a road map for sex equality in humans. Our closest evolutionary cousins, the bonobos have a unique social order in which the females protect one another from male aggression. The takeaway? Evolutionarily, bonobos have eliminated sexual coercion and enjoy a more peaceful, cooperative, and playful existence. We have much to learn from them.Rosenfeld explores the implications of the bonobo model for human societies and systems of governance. How did law develop to elude women’s rights so consistently? What difference does it make that we live in a patriarchal democracy? And what do bonobos have to offer as living proof that patriarchy is not inevitable? Most important, how can women break down barriers among themselves to unleash their power as a unified force? Rosenfeld has answers.The Bonobo Sisterhood takes us through real-life stories from the courtroom to the classroom and beyond, charting a new vision of a collective self-defense among women and their allies. It offers an action plan accessible to everyone immediately. This is an open invitation to anyone who wants to challenge the status quo. It starts with the power inherent in each of us knowing that we have selves worth defending, and awakening that power for ourselves and for our sisters. We now have a new model for real change, Rosenfeld reminds us. It’s time to use it.The Bonobo Sisterhood forges a path to create and discover a new meaning of equality, liberty, and justice for all.Trade Review “Rosenfeld’s tour-de-force takes the power of female alliances to a higher level, giving us a road map for a new vision of women’s equality through the relationships and bonds we form among one another. The gift of this book is that it gives us hope.” — Valerie Jarrett, New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama “On the Harvard campus, Diane is known by many names: Harvard Law Lecturer, angel, bonobo. In the darkest hours after a rape, survivors learn from a whisper network about an angel of the law. That angel is Diane. I know because I was one of the Harvard rape survivors who found hope and help from Diane. This book describes that network, affectionately called by Diane, The Bonobo Sisterhood. It is a sisterhood to whom I owe my justice, success, and healing today.” — Amanda Nguyen, founder of Rise and 2022 TIME Woman of the Year “With The Bonobo Sisterhood, everyone—including the men she invites in as allies—can get a taste of Rosenfeld’s signature fusion of passionate advocacy for survivors along with an activist-scholar’s command of legal theory and practice. This book should be widely read by anyone who is rightly tired of the status quo and wants both revolutionary insight and practical suggestions for change.” — Jackson Katz, PhD, author of The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help “The Bonobo Sisterhood shows us that the way to disrupt patriarchy is by demonstrating that safety, security, and strength can exist among women—an idea that is both simple and radical all at once. When we strengthen our bonds with one another, rather than relying on the unstable promise of protection under patriarchy, a whole new direction is possible, and, indeed, better for all.” — Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center and cofounder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund “Rosenfeld’s gripping indictment of the inadequacy of society’s responses to sexual violence makes her call for a social and legal awakening urgent and persuasive. The Bonobo Sisterhood suggests how the world really can become less patriarchal.” — Richard Wrangham, author of The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution, and Ruth B. Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard University “An innovative analysis of the legal and social structures that enable gender-based violence and how to overcome them. Rosenfeld builds a persuasive case.” — Publishers Weekly “How to fight patriarchy . . . well-informed, insightful, and, sadly, timely.” — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisMeeting up with our friends is one of life’s great pleasures. We look forward to a chance to connect, share news and reaffirm our affection and sense of fun. But having a great time together, even with people we know well, is not necessarily as simple as it sounds. We don’t always manage to hit the right sort of topics of conversation and get to say the truly important things. This is a pack of cards with questions on them that guarantee that our encounters will be properly joyful and interesting. The questions take us through how conversation should ideally flow, from the more everyday topics to what is sincere, deep and tender. The cards take us on a perfect journey across a meal or a drink, from catching up to reconfirming why we matter to one another.

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Book SynopsisYour sister or her baby. Who do you choose? A moving page-turner with a heart-pounding dilemma. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes will love Kelly Rimmer.As children, Lexie and Annie were incredibly close. Bonded by the death of their beloved father, they weathered the storms of life together. When Lexie leaves home to follow her dream, Annie is forced to turn to her leatherbound journal as the only place she can confide her deepest secrets and fears...As adults, sisters Lexie and Annie could not be more different. Lexie is a successful doctor and happily engaged. Annie is an addict - a thief, a liar and unable to remain clean. When Annie''s newborn baby is in danger of being placed in foster care, Annie picks up the phone to beg her sister for help. Will Lexie agree to take in her young niece? And how will Annie survive, losing the only thing in her life worth living for?What readers are saying about the stunning BeTrade ReviewA heartbreaking book about an impossible decision. A novel about the deepest love possible -- Luanne RiceA heartrending tale . . . captures the unbreakable bond of two sisters * Publishers Weekly *One of the best books for discussion that I've read in years -- Diane ChamberlainRipped from the headlines and from the heart, Before I Let You Go is an unforgettable novel that will amaze and startle you with its impact and heart -- Patti Callahan HenryHeartbreaking and life-affirming. Before I Let You Go captures the bittersweet nature of existence and turns it into something truly beautiful -- Tilly TennantHeartbreaking, soul-searching but ultimately uplifting, this thought-provoking book challenges the judgements society makes and weaves a heartwarming story around the bonds we forge as sister, mother and partner -- Zara StoneleyA deeply emotional and thought-provoking read. It was impossible to not be moved by this beautifully written book -- Vanessa CarnevaleAnother incredible, gripping read from an exceptionally talented author. This book takes you through a myriad of emotions, whilst opening your eyes to some very important issues for women. I read this in one sitting, because I had to. So will you. A magnificent read I can't praise or recommend highly enough -- Heather HillBeing a mother means you are open to criticism from every angle, but if you are a pregnant addict, what then? Children are protected in society, but what about those who gave them life? Kelly Rimmer writes from the heart and soul. Be prepared to lose and gain a little of each as you read her stories -- Rachel DovePraise for Kelly Rimmer * - *I couldn't put it down ... I got teary eyed quite a few times. It's a beautiful story * One Hopeless Romantic’s Booklandia Blog on When I Lost You *A celebration of love ...I was devastated when it ended * Big Little Sister on When I Lost You *I loved When I Lost You, it was full of deep raw emotion and had me hooked until the end * That Thing She Reads on When I Lost You *I fell in love with this amazing book after the first sentence and would read it all over again. A wonderful mixture of emotions, real love, secrets, laughter and sadness * Sky’s Book Corner *I was hooked right from the start, and it was just the most beautiful portrayal of falling in love I've ever read. It's the type of love you dream of and want for yourself... Kelly Rimmer has done an outstanding job with Me Without You, it's engaging, it warmed my heart to the very core, and then tore it out and stomped all over it. ... Me Without You is an unforgettable tale that I couldn't recommend more. 5/5 * GirlsLovetoRead.com *Me Without You is the beautiful, moving story of Callum and Lilah and they turned me into a complete emotional wreck. I loved the banter and the chemistry between them both right from the first, brilliant chapter and then as the book went on, it warmed and broke my heart all at the same time... It's an incredible novel * Reviewed the Book *It's been a while since I've read a book that made me 'ugly cry'. You know what I mean... big, fat tears rolling down your cheeks leaving you with eyes so puffy you look like you've had an allergic reaction. Think Claire Danes in... well... pretty much any role she's ever been in. Kelly Rimmer's Me Without You certainly broke that dry spell... a heartbreaker of a book that has great characters and a gut-wrenching ending that left me feeling a weird mix of bereft and yet hopeful * JudgingCovers.co.uk *There's not much I can say without giving the story away, other than how much I adore Callum and Lilah. Their love story is so genuine and heartfelt... This book is beautifully written, and I found myself highlighting like crazy throughout. I highly recommend this book, but I must warn you, it's one that will make you cry * Mrs Leif’s Blog *

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Book SynopsisSome friendships need celebrating, some are hard to navigate, and some need a bit of tender love and care. Delve into this anthology for a tour of all aspects of friendship by your favourite classic authors.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning pocket size classics. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited and introduced by writer, academic and historian, Michèle Mendelssohn.Why Friendship Matters is an inspiring collection that spans three centuries of writing and includes many favourite authors such as Michel de Montaigne, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Jane Austen. Readers will also discover lesser-known delights such as American writer Audre Lorde on her high school friendships and playwright Alice E. Ives writing about friendship between women. Contributors from across the globe celebrate and investigate all aspects of friendship; the strength of its bonds, how it can hurt and how it runs deep.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever felt like your day-to-day life is one big 'to-do' list? There's the daily juggle of work, an energy-sapping commute, the demands of family life or running a busy household. And then there are life's crucial turning points: relaunching a career, moving house, finding love. Between all that noise, it can be hard to make and maintain friendships.The Little Book of Friendship offers guidance for when the scales of life are tipped and a moment of companionship is needed. Packed full of wise words from some of the world's best-known figures – from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day figures – this book will help you to prioritize your friendships and truly value your loved ones, even when times are tough.'No road is too long in the company of a good friend.' - Japanese proverb'Friendship is essentially a partnership.' - AristotleTable of ContentsWhat Are Friends For?: What exactly friendship is is hard to define – but let's give it a go anyway... • Forging Friendships: Making friends is easier said than done, and yet, when you find the right one, it's the simplest thing in the world • A Friend In Need: In this day and age it's sometimes hard to know who your real friends are. Here are some wise words to help you find out • BFFs: There's nothing so precious as a best friend, except perhaps an old friend • Keep Your Friends Close: Like anything worth having, friendships often require some work if they are to stand the test of time. Making friends can be easy – holding on to them is much harder • You've Got A Friend: There's nothing so painful as the loss of a treasured companion. Peruse these words of wisdom at times when, for whatever reason, friends feel few and far between.

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Book SynopsisFRIENDS FROM THE BEGINNING celebrates the dear friendship and shared experience between the Vice President and her close, childhood friend Stacey Johnson-Batiste.Growing up together in Berkeley in the '60 and '70s, Stacey and Kamala were born of a time and place bursting with cultural diversity and freedom of expression. This memoir provides a candid, colorful, look at the formative years during which Stacey and Kamala shared and experienced an inclusive environment of community support, love, and non-traditional education-set against the backdrop of roiling political tension, demonstrations held frequently on and around the U.C. Berkeley campus and People's Park, and bold expressions from people from all walks of life.FRIENDS FROM THE BEGINNING also offers readers a window into Kamala's mother, Shyamala-as observed by Stacey-the brave woman who set the future Vice President on a path of many firsts. While that path was not always easy, Shyamala's light and legacy shines through on these pages. In addition, Johnson-Batiste introduces several other essential formative figures who informed their early lives and whose influences have played a role in shaping the character of both the author and of our Vice President.FRIENDS FROM THE BEGINNING is a story of enduring friendship, life lessons described in bright, loving detail, and the courage, sacrifice, and dedication to shared values that have sustained their friendship for decades.

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Book SynopsisDeep in the Somerset countryside, the Combe Pomeroy village library hosts a monthly book club.Ruth the librarian fears she’s too old to find love, but a discussion about Lady Chatterley’s Lover makes her think again.Aurora doesn’t feel seventy-two and longs to relive the excitement of her youth, while Verity is getting increasingly tired of her husband Mark’s grumpiness and wonders if their son’s imminent flight from the nest might be just the moment for her to fly too. And Danielle is fed up with her cheating husband. Surely life has more in store for her than to settle for second best?The glue that holds Combe Pomeroy together is Jeannie. Doyenne of the local cider farm and heartbeat of her family and community, no one has noticed that Jeannie needs some looking after too. Has the moment for her to retire finally arrived, and if so, what does her future hold?From a book club French exchange trip, to many celebrations at the farm, this is the year that everything changes, that lifelong friendships are tested, and for some of the women, they finally get the love they deserve.Judy Leigh is back with her unmistakable recipe of friendship and fun, love and laughter. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.Readers love Judy Leigh:‘Loved this from cover to cover, pity I can only give this 5 stars as it deserves far more.’‘The story’s simply wonderful, the theme of second chances will resonate whatever your age, there’s something for everyone among the characters, and I do defy anyone not to have a tear in their eye at the perfect ending.’‘With brilliant characters and hilarious antics, this is definitely a cosy read you'll not want to miss.’‘A lovely read of how life doesn't just end because your getting old.’‘A great feel-good and fun story that made me laugh and root for the characters.’Praise for Judy Leigh:‘Brilliantly funny, emotional and uplifting’ Miranda Dickinson'Lovely . . . a book that assures that life is far from over at seventy' Cathy Hopkins bestselling author of The Kicking the Bucket List'Brimming with warmth, humour and a love of life… a wonderful escapade’ Fiona Gibson

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Book Synopsis"There's a magic that's yours, and it's like nothing else. It's something you share just by being yourself. It's hard to define, but I know that it's real. It's something my head and my heart simply feel." This is a book for a friend you appreciate, one who matters more than a little. It's a celebration of someone who's so good, it's hard to find just the right words to share how much they mean. Featuring a whimsical cast of adorable animals and playful, endearing rhymes, this friendship book is a charming way to shine a light on someone who makes life brighter. Offer it as a thoughtful gift to celebrate a birthday or show appreciation for a friend who is one of a kind.

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Book Synopsis “The very act of reading it makes you feel happier.” - A.J. Jacobs A bad breakup. A serious illness. The loss of a job. Life has a habit of throwing people curveballs. To which Karen Salmansohn says: “When life throws you curveballs, hit them out of the park.”Bounce Back! mixes from-the-gut wisdom with humor, feistiness, and sophistication, in a hip, inspiring resource that will brighten the darkest mood. The book is grounded in happiness research, psychological studies, Greek philosophy. And it delivers: Here are 70 easily digestible, potentially life-changing tips on how to bounce back from adversity, each on a spread that's as punchy in look as it is powerful in message.Shrink negativity into nuggetivity. Think of yourself as the type of person the world says yes to. With its attitude, techniques, and advice on everything from exercise to staying connected, plus charming illustrat

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Book SynopsisAn intimate and original memoir of love, grief and male friendship by one of Scotland's brightest young talents.''As perfect a portrait of friendship as I''ve ever read.''STEPHEN FRY''Lucid, lyrical, loaded . . . A love letter to friendship.''JACKIE KAY''A lovely book: bright and heartfelt, funny and refreshing.''ANDREW O''HAGAN''A beautiful, moving, life-affirming book.''IAN RANKINFriendships might just be the greatest love affairs of our lives . . .In 2018 poet and author Michael Pedersen lost a cherished friend, Scott Hutchison, soon after their collective voyage into the landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Just weeks later, Michael began to write to him. As he confronts the bewildering process of grief, what starts as a love letter to one magical, coruscating human soon becomes a paean to all the gorgeous male friendships that have transformed his life.''Boy Friends sees Pedersen illuminate these companions with a poet's eye, a comedian's timing and a lover's care.''OBSERVER''Written with enough electricity that it seems to jolt off the page . . . Boy Friends opens up conversations about . . . the brunt of suicide, the circumstances of certain types of Scottish masculinity and where friendships fit into that.''SUNDAY TIMES

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Book SynopsisAn intimate and original memoir of love, grief and male friendship by one of Scotland's brightest young talents.''As perfect a portrait of friendship as I''ve ever read.''STEPHEN FRY''Lucid, lyrical, loaded . . . A love letter to friendship.''JACKIE KAY''A lovely book: bright and heartfelt, funny and refreshing.''ANDREW O''HAGAN''A beautiful, moving, life-affirming book.''IAN RANKINFriendships might just be the greatest love affairs of our lives . . .In 2018 poet and author Michael Pedersen lost a cherished friend, Scott Hutchison, soon after their collective voyage into the landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Just weeks later, Michael began to write to him. As he confronts the bewildering process of grief, what starts as a love letter to one magical, coruscating human soon becomes a paean to all the gorgeous male friendships that have transformed his life.''Boy Friends sees Pedersen illuminate these companions with a poet's eye, a comedian's timing and a lover's care.''OBSERVER''Written with enough electricity that it seems to jolt off the page . . . Boy Friends opens up conversations about . . . the brunt of suicide, the circumstances of certain types of Scottish masculinity and where friendships fit into that.''SUNDAY TIMES

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“An in-depth examination of one of life's most fascinating experiences, friendship. I didn't know how much I needed this book. I needed this book at the exact moment I cracked it open. I needed it fifteen years ago, and I’m sure I’ll need it again in five.” * Abbi Jacobson, cocreator of Broad City and A League of Their Own *“I can't think of a better-timed book than You Will Find Your People. We're all seeking connection more than ever, and Lane Moore answers questions about friendship that I didn't even realize I had! Prescient and important, You Will Find Your People is a necessary read.” * Jessica Valenti, author of Sex Object: A Memoir *“As someone who has always felt insecure about the friendships I have versus the ones I think I’m ‘supposed to have,’ this book honestly made me feel better about myself.” * Rachel Bloom, Emmy Award–winning cocreator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend *“An essential roadmap for one of the most vulnerable experiences one can attempt: making friends as an adult. Funny, beautiful, and encouraging. Lane Moore dives deep into the depth of what we humans have to offer each other and how we should do it. Why is this the first book I’ve ever heard of examining all the layers of making and keeping adult friendships? You'll want a highlighter because she covers it all. I’ve been looking for this book my entire adult life.” * Judy Greer, actress and author of I Don’t Know What You Know Me From *"I love Lane Moore's work, which is always funny, vulnerable, and wise, and I appreciate how seriously she treats the project of building a rewarding, secure adulthood around relationships other than the romantic ones we've historically been told are central.” * Rebecca Traister, New York Times bestselling author of All The Single Ladies *

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Book SynopsisThe history of Coogee’s McIver’s Ladies Baths – Australia’s only ocean pool reserved for women – is eloquently told in these stories from women who have found friendship, sanctuary and sheer pleasure as they have gathered and swum at ‘the Women’s Pool’. Humorously told tales of encounters at the pool sit together with stories of sorrow and regret. Older women tell of the history of the pool and the famed ‘Thursday Married Ladies Club’; younger women detail their delight at the natural beauty, the safety and the sense of freedom that the pool offers. No aquatic manspreading here. In this book, women from a diverse range of cultures reveal the role that the women’s pool has played in their lives. From the ‘365ers’ who brave the elements all year round to the younger women who seek summer sun on the rocks, a picture emerges of a place of natural beauty and a space for women to simply be themselves.Trade ReviewThese heart-warming tales of trials tribulations and trysts at Australia’s only ocean pool ¬ just for women – will make you want to dive in, naked at midnight, to revel in all that joyous aquatic camaraderie. —Kathy Lette, Writer, ocean swimmer and shameless sea pool skinny dipper.

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Book Synopsis

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