Satire & Humour Books

Book SynopsisBertie''s respite from his overbearing mother, Irene, is over. She has returned from the middle-east, only to discover that her son has been exposed to the worst evils of cartoons, movies and Irn Bru, and her wrath falls upon her unfortunate husband, Stuart. Meanwhile, Bruce has fallen in love with someone other than himself; Big Lou wants to adopt her beloved Finlay; Matthew and Elspeth host the Duke of Johannesburg for supper and Bertie decides he wants to move out of Scotland Street altogether and live with his grandmother, Nicola.Can Irene and Stuart''s marriage survive? Will Bruce''s newfound love last? And will Bertie really leave Scotland Street? Find out in the next instalment of this charming, beloved series.

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Book SynopsisDelight the bookworm in your life with the gift of this hilarious and heartbreaking modern-day adaptation of Nancy Mitford''s classic, The Pursuit of Happiness.---Marooned in a sprawling farmhouse in Norfolk, teenage Linda Radlett feels herself destined for greater things. She longs for love, but how will she ever find it? She can''t even get a signal on her mobile phone. Linda''s strict, former rock star father terrifies any potential suitors away, while her bohemian mother, wafting around in silver jewellery, answers Linda''s urgent questions about love with upsettingly vivid allusions to animal husbandry.Eventually Linda does find her way out from the bosom of her deeply eccentric extended family, and she escapes to London. She knows she doesn''t want to marry ''a man who looks like a pudding'', as her good and dull sister Louisa has done, and marries the flashy, handsome son of a UKIP peer instead.But this is only the beginninTrade ReviewIt takes a brave author to attempt a contemporary reimagining of such a beloved novel. Luckily, India Knight [...] has courage and talent in spades ... It's beautifully and meticulously done, echoing the detail of the original plot as far as feasible, but with contemporary twists ... Knight is warmer than Mitford, and more comforting * Sunday Times *Fans of Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit Of Love will adore this brilliant contemporary take ... The writing is as sharp, the details as perfect, the jokes as funny as [the] original * Daily Mail *The delight is in the details. Knight's are bang on, and there's joy in spotting them ... There's heart as well as humour: it was, and remains, a sincere romance ... Pursuit of Love diehards can rest easy: your blood vessels are safe with this faithful, fiercely funny homage * Spectator *In less talented hands, Knight's retelling of this classic novel might have gone horribly wrong. But Darling is a treat, with whip-smart dialogue, larger-than- life characters, witty observations and a heart-breaking twist ... Fans will love Knight's clever re-imagining of this classic tale - and new readers will relish the chance to discover the glorious Radletts * Daily Express *What could have been a disaster - a modern reimagining of Nancy Mitford's superlative comedy of manners The Pursuit of Love - is an absolute triumph. Romantic, clever and oh-so funny * The i Paper, What We're Reading *A perfect comfort read: the kind of book you take into the bath and keep reading even when the water has gone cold, a one-sitting, dark-at-four joy ... Darling is a very human book, full of feelings and heartbreak and humour and joy -- Ella Risbridger * Guardian *Beguiling reimagining ... Spry and wry Darling is delicious * Mail on Sunday, Best New Fiction *[A] lively modern update of a passionately loved classic ... A sizzling modern-day comedy of manners. Plenty of Mitfordian wit but with Ukip peers and mobile phones * The Times, Best Fiction to Read This Autumn *I found myself tearing through, beguiled by Knight's faithful channelling of Radlett ways, wiles and speech patterns ... Reinventing anything so beloved is a formidable challenge, and Knight has risen to it admirably * The Bookseller *A modern retelling of Nancy Mitford's beloved The Pursuit of Love ... Knight nails the wit and satire * Grazia *Sheer brilliance. Darling is hilarious and heartbreaking and vivid and and clever and utterly compulsive - I absolutely loved it * Francesca Segal, author of Mother Ship *Total escapist bliss. A joyous updating of the Mitford classic. I loved every page * Sabine Durrant, author of Finders Keepers *A savagely funny, bracingly sad, dazzlingly clever reimagining of The Pursuit of Love. I loved it * Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss *A triumph! Brilliantly done, faithful but imaginative, tremendously romantic and very funny. Meeting the Radlett family again in the 21st century was an absolute a treat, rather like hearing a new arrangement of beloved old carol and hearing it anew, with trumpets * Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful *Darling is a black forest gateau of a book: rich characters, sumptuous prose, delicious dialogue, and layered throughout with sharp wit and intelligence (which are even better than the cherry liqueur the gateau calls for). Somehow, India Knight's writing manages to be hilarious, melancholy, insightful, and romantic all at the same time. Treat yourself to this novel * Katherine Heiny, author of Early Morning Riser *

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Book SynopsisThe bold and boundlessly original debut novel from the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Synecdoche, New York.Riotously funny' New York TimesJust as loopy and clever as his movies' Washington PostB. Rosenberger Rosenberg, neurotic and underappreciated film critic (failed academic, filmmaker, paramour, shoe salesman who sleeps in a sock drawer), stumbles upon a hitherto unseen film by an enigmatic outsider a three-month-long stop-motion masterpiece that took its reclusive auteur ninety years to complete. Convinced that the film will change his career trajectory and rock the world of cinema to its core, that it might possibly be the greatest movie ever made, B. knows that it is his mission to show it to the rest of humanity. The only problem: the film is destroyed, leaving him the sole witness to its inadvertently ephemeral genius.All that's left is a single frame from which B. must somehow attempt to recall the work of art thTrade Review‘Magnificent … crammed with insanely creative gags’ Guardian ‘Outstanding. Combining his films’ most urgent themes and recurring concerns in a format that supports the digressions and logic-loops he’s so famous for, Charlie Kaufman may have out-Kaufmaned himself’ The i ‘A very strong debut novel, a long, anguished spill of a book, full of buried furies and nervy philosophical expeditions, constantly tossing off sparks of humour and imagination … at once surreal and highly readable’ LA Times ‘Marked by a feverish genius. Antkind is Kaufman pushing himself to every formal and social limit, no holds barred, bleak and devastating, yet marvellous’ LA Times Review of Books ‘Magnificent, genius, enraging, mysterious, joyous, terrifying and, above all, hilarious! Antkind might contain the universe’ Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less ‘A full-throttled absurdist revolt against the constraints of the audience-tested mass entertainment, Antkind is unbridled Kaufman energy and wit coming up against the limits of the imagination itself: discursive, subversive, and genuinely funny’ Joshua Ferris, author of Then We Came to the End ‘To paraphrase Charlie Kaufman, it’s like a brain factory in there! This is a whopper of a book, bursting with the driest of humour, the strangest of scenarios, and the most brilliant of observations. It is wholly original, maddening, and marvellous’ Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book ‘Each page is so stuffed with invention, audacity and hilarity, it feels like an act of defiance. Antkind is a fever dream you don’t want to be shaken awake from, a thrill ride that veers down stranger and stranger alleys until you find yourself in a reality so kaleidoscopic you will question your own sanity. Or: the novel only Charlie Kaufman could pull off’ Maria Semple, author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette

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Book SynopsisIt doesn't matter if you're a caveman, a time traveller or a regular person. Sooner or later, someone's going to break your heart. The sketches in Simon Rich's new book are bizarre, funny, and - if you've ever been in love - all too familiar. From the invisible man stalking his ex, to Sherlock Holmes' only blind spot, The Last Girlfriend on Earth is always enchanting, often sweet, though occasionally awkward. Just like love itself. 'The Last Girlfriend On Earthis silly, surreal, sometimes sad and always laugh-out-loud funny. This collection will have you giggling/crying/squirming in recognition, and wondering what exactly Simon Rich has eaten to dream all this stuff up ... pulls off the tough trick of being both heart-warming and hilarious - it's a must-read if you've ever so much as had a crush on someone' Heat 'Pithy, occasionally bonkers' Time Out 'Truly hilarious' Eva Wiseman, ObserverTrade ReviewSimon Rich is outrageously, lavishly gifted -- Caitlin MoranA James Thurber for our times, in Borges' suit wearing Flann O'Brien's hat -- Ian McMillan * BBC Radio 3 The Verb *Brilliant: a kind of modern version of Woody Allen's Without Feathers for anyone who's been in love ... topsy-turvy imaginative, riotously funny, hugely insightful ... Rich has a wisdom about male-female interaction that most have to wait far, far longer than 28 years to gain. -- Tom Cox * Observer *A collection of sweet stories full of whimsical, gently moving tales of love and loss, thwarted come-ons and doomed crushes... Put it in your pocket and take it out whenever you need a five minute break from the tedium of everyday. -- Lynn Enright * The Gloss *Most original and highly amusing. Rich manages to turn the banal into the absurd... hilarious and touching... and impossible to put down. A perfect cheer-up for the romantically challenged! -- Rachel Glover * Image *The Last Girlfriend On Earthis silly, surreal, sometimes sad and always laugh-out-loud funny. This collection will have you giggling/crying/squirming in recognition, and wondering what exactly Simon Rich has eaten to dream all this stuff up ... This collection pulls off the tough trick of being both heart-warming and hilarious -it's a must-read if you've ever so much as had a crush on someone * Heat *Pithy, occasionally bonkers... expect any weeping to be of the laughter-induced variety -- David Clack * Time Out *Truly hilarious -- Observer * Eva Wiseman *There are many episodes to enjoy ... The scenarios are satisfyingly wide-ranging ... an irreverent pleasure. -- Frank Brinkley * Literary Review *A laugh-out-loud collection of short stories about that crazy little thing called love. * Vogue Australia *If you buy only one quirky, surreal collection of comedy short stories about relationships this year, make it Simon Rich's The Last Girlfriend on Earth ... an endlessly inventive, laugh-out-loud book ... It's fairly spooky that Rich, though still in his 20s, has such telling and very humorous insights into the shortcomings and sensitivities of the male psyche ... this is a one-night stand you will definitely want to tell your friends about. * Jewish Chronicle *The Last Girlfriend on Earth had me giggling out loud -- Emma Sells * ELLE *A quirky and amusing collection -- Julian Fleming * Sunday Business Post *The Last Girlfriend on Earth shows off Rich's special talent for finding emotional truth in surreal premises -- Hugh Montgomery * Independent on Sunday *The Last Girlfriend on Earth and Other Love Stories by Simon Rich is my holiday reading recommendation. Read it on the plane with caution - you will laugh so loud people will think you're having some sort of episode. -- Lauren Laverne * ELLE *Rich is arguably the wittiest American humourist of his generation. -- Ryan Gilbey * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud and incredibly Discworld take on A Midsummer Night''s Dream, featuring everyone''s favourite witches, Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax ''The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies'' IndependentThe fairies are back - but this time they don''t just want your teeth.It''s Midsummer Night - no time for dreaming. Because sometimes, when there''s more than one reality at play, too much dreaming can make the walls between them come tumbling down. And there''s usually a damned good reason for there being walls between them in the first place - to keep things out. Things who want to make mischief and play havoc with the natural order.Granny Weatherwax and her tiny coven are up against real elves. And even in a world of dwarfs, wizards, trolls, Morris dancers and the odd orang-utan, this is going to cause real trouble. With loTrade ReviewA sequence of unalloyed delight - GUARDIANHe is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style - DAILY TELEGRAPHHis spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction - MAIL ON SUNDAYPratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own - SUNDAY TIMESTo say that Terry Pratchett is popular is a bit like saying the Arctic Circle is a bit nippy - SUNDAY EXPRESS

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Book Synopsis''Sharp and wicked, insightful and funny, and then suddenly so touching'' DAVID NICHOLLS''It is a Great Novel . . . It has depth, wit, nuance and life. Heartbreaking and funny'' NIGELLA LAWSON''This is the novel of the summer . . . There is no one that this book isn''t for. I can''t believe it''s a first novel. Pure brilliance'' INDIA KNIGHT, THE SUNDAY TIMES''Could be one of the books of my entire lifetime. I''ve never felt so seen'' GRACE DENT, GUARDIAN''This book is a work of utter perfection'' ELIZABETH GILBERTTHE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, JUNE 2019Finally free from his nightmare marriage, Toby Fleishman is ready for a life of online dating and weekend-only parental duties. But as he optimistically looks to a future that is wildly different from the one he imagined, his life turns upside-down as hTrade ReviewThis is the novel of the summer . . . It is incredibly wise. There is no one that this book isn't for. I can't believe it's a first novel. Pure brilliance -- India Knight * The Sunday Times *This book . . . is the most astonishingly brilliant Trojan horse of a novel. Begins as a hilarious, fast-paced tale of a middle-aged Manhattan man navigating fast sex culture of dating apps, ends as a gut-punch feminist text * Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love *Sharp and wicked, insightful and funny, and then suddenly so touching * David Nicholls, author of One Day *Wonderful. Utterly blistering about how women have to live - a powerful feminist book wrapped with perfect stealth in a wildly entertaining, moving story * Marian Keyes, author of The Break *Here is a portrait of modern love and marriage that is blisteringly funny, wincingly painful, and - ultimately - both heartbreaking and humane. Fleishman Is in Trouble reminds me of the great novels of the 1960s and 1970s - just the sort of thing that Philip Roth or John Updike might have produced in their prime (except, of course, that the author understands women). Taffy Brodesser-Akner can write the pants off any novelist out there. She's a star, and this book is a work of utter perfection * Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love *Fleishman Is in Trouble is so much smarter than a Great American Novel wannabe written by another clever man . . . What Brodesser-Akner has achieved here, by Trojan-horsing herself into Toby's point of view, is to quietly reveal the souls of the women in the story. But more than that, to show that all stories - about marriage, love, loss, hope and disappointment - really are universal. Libby believes that "all humans are essentially the same, but only some of us, the men, were truly allowed to be that without apology". This is an honest, powerful, human story with no apologies. And it will do the "American Novel" a power of good. -- Katy Guest * Guardian *I have just finished Fleishman Is in Trouble... and feel bereft. I read it too fast, because I couldn't stop, but can't bear that it's ended. It is a Great Novel (yes: cap G; Cap N). It has depth, wit, nuance and life. Heartbreaking and funny * Nigella Lawson *From its opening pages, Fleishman is in Trouble is shrewdly observed, brimming with wisdom and utterly of this moment. Not until its explosive final pages are you fully aware of its cunning ferocity. Taffy Brodesser-Akner's debut is that rare and delicious treat: a page turner with heft -- Maria Semple * Where'd You Go, Bernadette *Delving deep into the gender inequalities of sex, marriage, divorce and online dating in modern-day New York, it is a book teeming with insights and humour, a genuine tour de force -- Sarah Gilmartin * The Irish Times *So urgently modern and relevant . . . I kept turning down pages * Hadley Freeman *Chock full with humour and originality . . . It's a grown-up comedy that actually has far deeper things to say about love -- Francesca Brown * Stylist *Excellent first novel by the New York Times super-interviewer -- Josh Glancy * The Sunday Times Magazine *Smart and sassy but also dark and scabrous, fans of Maria Semple will love Fleishman Is in Trouble too. -- Red Online * Sarra Manning *It's biting and bracing, and - like the best beach reads - offers unflinching insight into the unexplored depths of the human condition. -- Kristin Iversen * Nylon *Her debut novel takes her uncanny knack for articulating the human condition with incisive tenderness to new heights; Fleishman is in Trouble is a wisdom-packed story about modern relationships * Porter *Firing on all circuits, from psychological insight to cultural acuity to narrative strategy to very smart humor. Quite a debut! * Kirkus (Starred Review) *Fans of Taffy Brodesser-Akner's whipsmart profiles will not be disappointed by her debut novel. Extending the same heady cocktail of forensic observation, sardonic wit and cynicism mixed with zeitgeist, Brodesser Akner writes a novel for our times: what makes a marriage? A parent? A man? And when does it all end? * Pandora Sykes *A marvel, full of shrewd observations, barbed wit, and deep insight. Taffy Brodesser-Akner reveals the twisted hearts of her characters - and the twisted soul of contemporary America - with an eye that is at once pitiless and full of compassion for our human foibles. This is a remarkable debut novel from one of the most distinctive writers around -- Tom Perrotta * Little Children *You're going to want to read this one: Fleishman in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner . . . It's about everything - love, friendship, life, death. Or, to borrow what we will now call the Tayari Jones standard, a literary novel with a great plot -- Laura Lippman * Sunburn *This glorious debut has the humor of Maria Semple, the heart of Meg Wolitzer, the lustiness of Philip Roth, and a voice that is pure. It's wild and wonderful and goes in so many directions, each with profundity - my favorite thing that novels can do. How does one's favorite journalist become one's new favorite novelist? With this book -- Emma Straub * The Vacationers *Blisteringly funny, feverishly smart, heart-breaking and true. Fleishman Is In Trouble is an essential read for anyone who's wondered how to navigate loving (and hating) the people we choose -- Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney * The Nest *A funny critique of the intoxicating life of the recently separated... Everyone is disastrous and everyone is human, and the writing is so sharp that one finishes the novel somehow feeling warm towards them all -- Emma Brockes * Guardian *A shrewd meditation on marriage and middle age... A twisty, sophisticated narrative filled with humour and pathos -- Olivia Petter * Independent *Deftly done -- Olivia Ovenden * Esquire UK *You don't get advance praise from Elizabeth Gilbert . . . for nothing. This New York Times writer's satirical novel about marriage and relationships in 2019 is dazzlingly clever -- Clara Strunck * Evening Standard Magazine *Funny, acutely observed and certain to be on every sun lounger this summer -- Sarah Hughes * iNews *[A] funny, searing debut . . . Shrewd and satirical, but balanced with sympathy, it's an impressive first novel from the New York Times Magazine writer -- Francesca Carington * Tatler *Believe the hype. Fleishman Is in Trouble is even better than we were promised . . . A feminist jeremiad nested inside a brilliant comic novel - a book that makes you laugh so hard you don't notice till later that your eyebrows have been singed off -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Witty and well-observed . . . Brodesser-Akner has written a potent, upsetting and satisfying novel -- Tom Rachman * The New York Times *Enthralling . . . [Brodesser-Akner] writes with the heft and masterful wordplay of a [Tom] Wolfe, but with empathy for and curiosity about all the players in the tale. It's a cutting sociological dissection of the way we live now, but it cares about its characters as people . . . Fleishman Is in Trouble will occasionally make you angry at the things the people in it do, but mostly it will make you hungry for whatever Brodesser-Akner is going to write next -- Alan Sepinwall * Rolling Stone *[Brodesser-Akner's] prose is seamless, her asides clever, her observations always on point. Without flattening her subjects, she locates the stakes of their quotidian dramas and the hidden tensions of their seemingly controlled lives, transforming something unremarkable into something textured, absorbing, and darkly funny. When she writes a book about modern heterosexual marriage, you don't roll your eyes; you clear your schedule -- Claire Fallon * Huffington Post *Taffy Brodesser-Akner dissects a marriage - and in doing so, interrogates the entire institution. She creates a page-turner as insightful as it is impossible to put down -- Elena Nicolaou * Refinery29 *In her debut novel, Brodesser-Akner does the seemingly impossible, imbuing the classic tale of middle-aged male ennui with a sense of empathy for women -- Keely Weiss * Harpers Bazaar *Brodesser-Akner is a master of zeitgeisty pith -- Hillary Kelly * Vogue *Fleishman Is in Trouble offers a fresh take on modern relationships and mid-life reckonings in a story that complicates the roles of gender, social status, and ambition, with a delightfully comical exploration of emoji culture to boot -- Allison McNearney * The Daily Beast *Toby Fleishman isn't the only one in trouble. Infusing candor, humor and social commentary, this book holds up a mirror to all of us, demanding that we take a hard look at how we live and how we love * Mail Online *Debuts like this don't come along very often -- Phoebe Luckhurst * Evening Standard *A funny, dazzlingly written, delicious subversion of the marriage novel . . . It's wry, deeply felt and moving - it's definitely the book you should read this summer -- Siobhan Murphy * The Times *Just finished reading Fleishman is in Trouble and it is brilliant. Insights into middle age and marriage that will make you sit up straight in your chair, if you happen to be middle aged, and married. * Tracey Thorn, author of Another Planet *This dazzling switchblade of a first novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner is smart and sexy and pitiless and humane. I think human beings must be cellophane to her. Thoroughly recommended * Rhik Samadder, author of I Never Said I Loved You *Wonderfully, perceptively written . . . What I really loved was the savage social satire. Class division and wealthy one-upmanship, holiday homes, spin classes, mega-apartments, posh schools; it's all here. -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *Taffy Brodesser-Akner's Fleishman is in Trouble is a clever novel that upends the sexist clichés of the Great American Novel as written by Philip Roth and John Updike -- Richard Godwin * The Times *Every summer produces a status read, though it is a bonus when it's one that's also a must-read. This year's hot tome is Fleishman Is In Trouble, a novel by American journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner that is both a comedy of Manhattan manners and a very modern battle of the sexes, exploring a clash of female rage and male inadequacy -- Phoebe Luckhurst * Evening Standard *Stylish, smart, surprising. I loved it * Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful *A great book. Really funny and really right about the deepest human stuff. All hail Taffy Brodesser-Akner -- David BaddielThere may be readers who opened Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner hoping to be shocked by all the heavily reported sex and profanity. Indeed, the opening chapter suggests that the book is just about a newly separated middle-aged man, who, after years of monogamy, is bemused and confounded by the brutally sexualised business of online dating. It's a captivating start but the book is much more profound than that. Brodesser-Akner, in her debut novel, captures the essence of modern, middle-class New York mores brilliantly -- Alan Johnson * New Statesman *Could be one of the books of my entire lifetime. I've never felt so seen . . . A coruscating, dizzying, razor-sharp attack on modern marriage, fatherhood, Tinder sex, social hierarchical woes and midlife unravelling. -- Grace Dent * Guardian *I do think this book changed my life! . . . It's hilarious, fascinating, painfully observant. I have recommended it to every single person I know -- Scarlett CurtisThis first novel by one of America's sharpest journalists is the story of hapless Jewish doctor Toby Fleishman, raising his two children alone and discovering the joys of casual sex after being abandoned by his wife. Although at first we see the world through Toby's eyes, contradictory voices gradually begin to emerge in this cunningly constructed and acidly funny debut. * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisJohn Scalzi is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His debut Old Man's War won him science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Lock In, and also Redshirts, which won 2013's Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog Whatever has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.Trade ReviewJohn Scalzi is the most entertaining, accessible writer working in SF today * Joe Hill *Gripping and surpassingly original. It's Starship Troopers without the lectures . . . It's funny, it's sad, and it's true * Cory Doctorow *A fast-paced political thriller laced with observant characterization, great dialogue, and some genuinely original science * Guardian *Clever dialogue, fast-paced story and strong characters * The Times *Top-notch. His combat scenes are blood roiling * Washington Post *Scalzi is one of the slickest writers that SF has ever produced * Wall Street Journal *Astonishingly proficient * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Scalzi's prose harkens back to the Golden Age of science fiction while still remaining fresh and vibrant * Strange Horizons *

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Book SynopsisShe writes with such panache, such extraordinary perception and wit.' Elizabeth DayA forensically brave writer, with a semantic virtuosity rarely equalled.' TelegraphUnmissable.' Marie ClaireHilarious and distressing, entertaining and wise.'' Roddy DoyleA brilliantly funny and sharply observant novel from one of the most acclaimed American writers of her generation.This novel follows the lives of two 11-year-olds intent on escaping childhood. As the strength of their friendship is tested repeatedly, they begin to take their first, exhilarating steps towards adulthood.

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Book SynopsisP. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is widely regarded as the greatest comic writer of the 20th century. Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters - the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress of Blandings, Mr Mulliner, Ukridge, and Psmith. His humorous articles were published in more than 80 magazines, including Punch, over six decades. He was also a highly successful music lyricist, once with over five musicals running on Broadway simultaneously. P.G. Wodehouse was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for 'an outstanding and lasting contribution to the happiness of the world'.Trade ReviewThe gold standard of English wit … There is not, and never will be, anything to touch him -- Christopher HitchensIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysMr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in -- Evelyn Waugh

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Book Synopsis''He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style'' Daily Telegraph''His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction'' Mail on SundayIt is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A''Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation...Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted. However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death''s apprentice.Terry Pratchett''s hilarious fourth Discworld novel established once and for all that Death really is a laughing matter...Readers can''t get enough of Mort:''This book was so good that if I kTrade ReviewHe is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style * Daily Telegraph *A sequence of unalloyed delight * Guardian *His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction * Mail on Sunday *Pratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own * Sunday Times *To say that Terry Pratchett is popular is a bit like saying the Arctic Circle is a bit nippy * Sunday Express *Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy * Sunday Times *Mort is the book in thich this now great author moved from being simply just a witty writer to one of the premier fantasy authors of our age...now is the time to find out what all the fuss it about while enjoying this spiffy new cover * Starburst *

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Book Synopsis'The best new writer of fiction in America. The best.' – John Irving'Outstanding' – John Boyne, The Irish Times'The best thing a reviewer can do when faced with a novel of this calibre and breadth is to urge you to read it for yourselves.' – The GuardianNathan Hill's brilliant debut, The Nix, journeys from the rural Midwest of the 1960s, to New York City during Occupy Wall Street; from Chicago in 1968, to wartime Norway: home of the mysterious Nix.Meet Samuel: stalled writer, bored teacher at a local college, obsessive player of online video games. He hasn't seen his mother, Faye, in decades, not since she abandoned her family when he was a boy. Now she has suddenly reappeared, having committed an absurd politically motivated crime that electrifies the nightly news, beguiles the Internet, and inflames a divided America.The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high-school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: she's facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel's help.As Samuel begins to excavate his mother's, and his country's, history, he will unexpectedly find that he has to rethink everything he ever knew about her - a woman with an epic story of her own, a story she has kept hidden from the world.Trade ReviewImpressive that a debutant, Nathan Hill, with his scintillating The Nix has given us a character who comes close to out-Trumping Trump . . . Just one of the many pleasures of this engaging story of a mother and son whose private travails become front-page news. -- New Year Highlights * Observer *Alarmingly good . . . both a Great American Novel as well as a great American novel... aches with all-new relevance. * Guardian *A superb debut novel . . . could well be the most ambitious novel of the year... It seems like Hill is a writer who can do pretty much what he wants. * Daily Telegraph *Compulsive and crazily entertaining -- Anthony Quinn * Observer *We're in the presence of a major new comic novelist . . . a brilliant, endearing writer . . . Readers . . . will be dazzled. * Washington Post *The best new writer of fiction in America. The best. -- John IrvingI got a big kick out of Nathan Hill's impressive first novel, The Nix (Picador), out in the UK next year. Hill's zeitgeisty portrayals of video game addiction and customer-oriented university education are brilliant. -- Lionel Shriver, 'Books of the Year 2016' * Observer *Wonderful. Everything that doesn't involve reading this book is a nuisance and a distraction. -- Sarah Jessica ParkerHill has so much talent to burn that he can pull off just about any style, imagine himself into any person and convincingly portray any place or time. The Nix is hugely entertaining and unfailingly smart, and the author seems incapable of writing a pedestrian sentence or spinning a boring story * New York Times Book Review *There is an accidental topicality in Hill's debut, about an estranged mother and son whose fates hinge on two mirror-image political events - the Democratic Convention of 1968 and the Republican Convention of 2004. But beyond that hook lies a high-risk, high-reward playfulness with structure and tone: comic set pieces, digressions into myth, and formal larks that call to mind Jennifer Egan's A Visit From the Goon Squad. * New York Magazine *It broke my heart, this book. Time after time. It made me laugh just as often. I loved it on the first page as powerfully as I did on the last . . . Nathan Hill? . . . He's gonna be famous. -- National Public RadioThis is a book to get one excited not only about Hill and his future as a novelist, but also about the power of writing to blot out background-noise banality and vault us forward into the new and wondrous. * San Francisco Chronicle *Nathan Hill Is Compared to John Irving. Irving Compares Him to Dickens. * New York Times *Hill skillfully blends humor and darkness, imagery and observation. He also excels at describing technology, addition, cultural milestones, and childhood ordeals. Cameos by [the famous] add heart and perspective to this rich, lively take on American social conflict, real and invented, over the last half-century. * Publishers' Weekly, starred and boxed review *This guy has chops -- Jay McInerneyA great sprawling feast of a first novel . . . both darkly satirical and uproariously funny . . . Hill writes with an astonishingly sure hand for a young author . . . Let's just call him the real thing. * Newsday *Dazzling . . . rich and multilayered . . . the debut of an important new writer, able to variously make readers laugh out loud while providing a melancholy, resonant tale that argues "there is no greater ache than this: guilt and regret in equal measure." * USA Today *The Nix is a timely mass-media and political satire, a family saga and two bildungsromans rolled into one ? and, in each facet, Nathan Hill crafts a hilarious, observant, unputdownable tale. * Huffington Post *By turns, wickedly funny, shockingly wise, touching and thought-provoking . . . a rich buffet of a novel. * Toronto Star *A fantastic novel about love, betrayal, politics and pop culture - as good as the best Michael Chabon or Jonathan Franzen. * People *A stunning debut . . . the first book I’ve read in two decades that earns the title Great American Novel. -- Liesl Schillinger, 'What’s the Best Book, New or Old, You Read This Year?' * New York Times *Not only dramatising America’s great tussle between minority interests and Midwestern grievances, [The Nix] even features a rogue presidential candidate who talks about immigrants as though they are coyotes damaging crops . . . But it’s the human drama of a relationship between a son and his mother (too busy protesting in the Sixties to bring him up) that will keep you hooked while you think. * GQ *This self-assured, sprawling debut is about the relationship between a college professor and his mother. It's a dense, satirical piece of fiction which offers commentary on the American history and modern technology. This novel is more relevant than ever in these tech-crazed times of mass media and political turmoil. With J.J. Abrams adapting it for a miniseries starring none other than Meryl Streep, The Nix is definitely one of the highlights of 2017 * Wales Arts Review *I have not read anything like this since . . . Jonathan Franzen . . . Gripping and funny. * Evening Standard *My favourite novel of our solipsistic times is easily The Nix by Nathan Hill. Laura Pottsdam is a student caught plagiarising by her literature professor, the protagonist of the novel Samuel Andresen-Anderson. Pottsdam is the crushing embodiment of our Trumpian age... If his debut is anything to go by, Hill may well one day be seen as the Charles Dickens of our self-obsessed age. -- Will Storr * Guardian *To make sense of what is going on Portland, USA today, refer back to Nathan Hill’s The Nix - published four years ago. Hill captures the soul of the US through a handful of characters. He unlocks the code to the current state of the country - the hubris of polarisation; a way of life played as a zero-sum game . . .The Great American Novel is a myth, much like the baseball World Series, and is the myth that undermines the nation. There can, of course, be a North American great novel. The Nix certainly is that, and even better: it is a great novel. * Daily Maverick *

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Book SynopsisThe highly acclaimed novel and sequel to Temples of Delight by bestselling and much-loved novelist Barbara TrapidoTrade ReviewBarbara Trapido couldn’t write a boring sentence if she tried -- FAY WELDONRavishing * SUNDAY TIMES *A brilliant book -- MARY WESLEY * DAILY MAIL *She wraps up all the golden threads with dazzling wit ... Think Measure for Measure here and a touch of The Tempest there ... Trapido's pen drips with sensuousness and sexuality * THE TIMES *She is simply dynamite … There are no apparent bounds to Trapido’s skill, her inventiveness and her knowledge of the endlessly surprising and devious ways in which people deal with each other -- PHILIP HENSHER * GUARDIAN *Juggling by Barbara Trapido is, I think, already well known but it should be even more so. It has the best piece of Shakespeare criticism in it I’ve ever read -- KATHERINE RUNDELL * GUARDIAN *A joy to read … Supremely skilful * OBSERVER *A work of enormous charm, highly entertaining and told with a deft touch, which handles serious matters lightly and treats light ones with proper respect * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *A brilliant performance; it is also a magically enjoyable book to read … she understand her characters and cares about them and makes you care too * SPECTATOR *She weaves a cat’s cradle of wit and erudition around her high-stepping characters, take breath-taking risks and triumphs against all the odds * INDEPENDENT *A brilliant performance … A magically enjoyable book * SPECTATOR *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A perfectly intoxicating delight! Thank You for Listening is a witty, clever, and open-hearted love story full of delicious twists on all your favorite romance tropes. Julia Whelan has already proven herself to be a singular, wry voice in fiction but with Thank You for Listening, she has something truly special: a story so remarkable and original that only she could write it. A must-read for anyone who loves a good love story." — Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising "Thank You for Listening is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at the voice actors who bring love stories to life for the rest of us. Mix Julia Whelan’s storytelling ability and smart banter with a cynical romance audiobook narrator who won’t trust a happily ever after and what do you get? Pure magic." — Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here “A compulsively readable story about self-discovery with plenty of laughs and spice along the way.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Thank You For Listening is a delight from start to finish. Julia Whelan takes readers behind the scenes of the audiobook world in this story of second acts and second chances that’s full of wit, heart, and humor. The characters felt so real I began to miss them the moment I turned the final page." — Andrea Dunlop, author of We Came Here to Forget [A] poignant and charming novel. Whelan’s skillfully nuanced writing truly shines. — Booklist (starred review) “This pull-at-the-heartstrings yet sexy debut novel by Whelan, an award-winning audiobook narrator, is all about the choices we make for ourselves and others. It will delight Anglophiles as well as Jojo Moyes fans.” — Library Journal "Thank You for Listening is one of the funniest, most clever, sexiest, and most deliciously complex love stories I've read in years. The dialogue is electric. The chemistry, both intellectual and physical, is palpable. The characters are singularly unforgettable. I can't remember the last time I was this jealous of a writer's talent. I wanted to bask in this book, and I also wished I'd written it. Julia Whelan's been my favorite audiobook narrator for years. Now she is one of my all-time favorite authors." — Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet On Vacation "A fearless story! Unflinching, utterly addictive and gorgeously written! I wish I wrote this romance!" — Lauren Blakely, # 1 New York Times Bestselling Author "Playfully sexy and boundlessly charming, Thank You For Listening is a warm and wise tale of love and affection and a must-read for anyone who loves the sound of voices speaking into a microphone." — Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over "Wickedly funny, tearfully poignant, hopelessly romantic, witty and sexy and important, plus a writer at the top of her game, and a peek behind the curtains of both Hollywood and how our beloved audiobooks are created? This book is everything. Narrator and author Julia Whelan is a true talent and THANK YOU FOR LISTENING is utterly unforgettable. A modern classic." — J.T. Ellison, New York Times Bestselling author of Her Dark Lies “Whelan is always wonderful, but she shines in this carefully constructed, sometimes-steamy romance that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny.” - Candace Smith — Booklist (starred review) “Hilarious and touching…this novel has everything the best romance novels should have: a reluctant protagonist, a hot partner, loving family/friends and true love. What more can you ask for?” — USA Today (four stars) "Thank You For Listening is a romcom with serious depth and a lot of heart. It's witty, sharp, and not afraid to tackle some heavy themes, and a fascinating window into the world of audiobook narrating. The magic so often happens when someone writes about a subject they know so well, and this book is the perfect illustration. What a cracking follow-up to My Oxford Year. Julia Whelan gets better and better. I'm a huge fan!" — Lizzy Dent, Author of The Summer Job

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Book SynopsisTerry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comTrade ReviewDelightful...gleeful and downright mischievous—Sunday TelegraphPratchett's writing is a constant delight. No one mixes the fantastical and the mundane to better comic effect or offers sharper insights into the absurdities of human endeavour—Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud, perceptive and thought-provoking fantasy romp dismantling the ridiculousness of gender inequality''Granny Weatherwax is one of my favourite characters of Pratchett''s'' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind''Persistently amusing, good-hearted and shrewd'' Sunday TimesIt is known as the Discworld. It is a flat planet, supported on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of the great turtle A''Tuin as it swims majestically through space. And it is quite possibly the funniest place in all of creation.The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check on the new-born baby''s sex...Terry Pratchett turns hi

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Book SynopsisNow a major new Netflix film from Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver and Greta GerwigHow strange it is. We have these deep terrible lingering fears about ourselves and the people we love. Yet we walk around, talk to people, eat and drink. We manage to function. The feelings are deep and real. Shouldn’t they paralyze us?Jack Gladney is the creator and chairman of Hitler studies at the College-on-the-Hill. This is the story of his absurd life; a life that is going well enough, until a chemical spill from a train carriage releases an ‘Airborne Toxic Event’ and Jack is forced to confront his biggest fear – his own mortality.White Noise is an effortless combination of social satire and metaphysical dilemma in which Don DeLillo exposes our rampant consumerism, media saturation and novelty intellectualism. It captures the particular strangeness of life lived when the fear of death cannot be denied, repressed or obscured and ponders the role of the family in a time when the very meaning of our existence is under threat.‘America’s greatest living writer.’ – ObserverPart of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.Trade ReviewAmerica's greatest living writer. * Observer *An extraordinarily funny book on a serious subject, effortlessly combining social comedy, disaster, fiction and philosophy . . . hilariously, and grimly, successful. * Daily Telegraph *An astonishing novel . . . unforgettable . . . nearly every page crackles with memorable moments and perfectly turned phrases . . . dizzying, darkly beautiful fiction. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisNever has DEATH rocked so hard. Terry Pratchett''s phenomenal laugh-out-loud Discworld series returns . . .''If you are unfamiliar with Pratchett''s unique blend of philosophical badinage, you are on the threshold of a mind-expanding opportunity'' Financial TimesOTHER CHILDREN GET GIVEN XYLOPHONES. SUSAN JUST HAD TO ASK HER GRANDFATHER TO TAKE HIS VEST OFF.Yes. There''s a Death in the family.It''s hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe - especially when you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy. And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered Discworld.It''s lawless. It changes people.It''s called Music With Rocks In.It''s got a beat and you can dance to it, but...It''s alive.And it won''t fade away.Readers love Soul Music:''A wondTrade ReviewA sequence of unalloyed delight. - GuardianHe is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style. - Daily TelegraphHis spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction. - Mail on SundayPratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own. - Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line, and Sinker returns with a unique, sexy rom-com about a young married couple whose rocky relationship needs a serious renovation... Rosie and Dominic Vega are the perfect couple: high school sweethearts, best friends, madly in love. Well, they used to be anyway. Now Rosie’s lucky to get a caveman grunt from the ex-soldier every time she walks in the door. Dom is faithful and a great provider, but the man she fell in love with ten years ago is nowhere to be found. When her girlfriends encourage Rosie to demand more out of life and pursue her dream of opening a restaurant, she decides to demand more out of love, too. Three words: marriage boot camp. Never in a million years did Rosie believe her stoic, too-manly-to-emote husband would actually agree to relationship rehab with a weed-smoking hippie. Dom talking about feelings? Sitting on pillows? Communing with nature? Learning love languages? Nope. But to her surprise, he’s all in, and it forces her to admit her own role in their cracked foundation. As they complete one ridiculous—yet surprisingly helpful—assignment after another, their remodeled relationship gets stronger than ever. Except just as they’re getting back on track, Rosie discovers Dom has a secret... and it could demolish everything.“Her voice feels as fresh and contemporary as a Netflix rom-com.” —Entertainment Weekly*Named one of the Best Romances of 2020 by Insider and Oprah Magazine + Marie Claire''s Best New Books of 2020*Trade Review“Books by Tessa Bailey are an insta-buy for me.” — Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine “Bailey writes banter and rom-com scenarios with aplomb, but for those who like their romance on the spicier side, she’s also the Michelangelo of dirty talk. She wields filth like Da Vinci does a paintbrush, and there’s a lot to be said for an author who can fill such exchanges with all the requisite heat, enthusiastic consent, and yes, even humor, of such a scenario without veering into corny territory...” — Entertainment Weekly on Fix Her Up "Bailey loads the story with humor and chemistry while still tackling heavy emotions. Sensual sex scenes and irresistible characters will draw readers in to this sweet romance." — Publishers Weekly "Bailey once again hits it out of the park in this companion novel to Fix Her Up... From no sex to phone sex to a striptease to an orgy in the woods, Bailey is an expert in those lusty, sexually powered scenes. Perfect for fans looking for a sexy romp with a side of heart." — Booklist "a juicy rom-com" — Marie Claire (The Most Anticipated Books of 2020) "Bailey crafts an emotionally wrenching and compelling story of a marriage and how the spouses' different love languages cause them to miss each other’s signals... a powerful story of a marriage in trouble." — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisPreorder Mhairi''s new novel YOU BELONG WITH ME coming soon!If faking love is this easy how do you know when it's real?The brand new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Mhairi McFarlaneLaurie and Jamie have the perfect office romance(They set the rules via email)Everyone can see they're head over heels(They staged the photos)This must be true love(They're faking it)When Laurie is dumped by her partner of eighteen years, she's blindsided. Not only does she feel humiliated, they still have to work together.So when she gets stuck in the lift with handsome colleague Jamie, they hatch a plan to stage the perfect romance. Revenge will be sweetBut this fauxmance is about to get complicated. You can't break your heart in a fake relationship can you?Beautiful and touching I loved it so much!' Marian KeyesSuper funny, packs an emotional punch and deeply, deliciously romantic' Cressida McLaughlinFunny, crackling with sexual tension, and . a total joy to read' Louise O'NeillTrade Review‘Beautiful and touching – I loved it so much!’ Marian Keyes ‘Sharply relevant, super funny, packs an emotional punch and deeply, deliciously romantic – perfect on every level’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘Funny, crackling with sexual tension, and full of complex, nuanced characters – a total joy to read’ Louise O’Neill ‘Super-smart, super-funny and super-relatable’ The Sun ‘Mhairi works her magic … Poignant, witty and smart’ Woman & Home ‘A funny, smart and wonderfully romantic book about faking it… and making it. I loved every page’ Lucy Diamond ‘Smart, witty, funny and poignant … a delicious page-turner’ Woman ‘Fresh and smart romance’ Sunday Mirror Praise for Mhairi McFarlane: ‘I loved it! So funny and warm – a delicious read’ Marian Keyes ‘Wildly funny and wildly romantic… Another wonderful novel from an author at the top of her game’ Louise O’Neill ‘Beautiful, funny and heartbreaking’ Giovanna Fletcher ‘Funny and heartfelt, full of humour and wisdom, I absolutely loved it’ Katie Fforde ‘Intelligent, edgy and laugh out loud funny – a romantic comedy to love’ Sunday Mirror ‘The perfect mix of comedy, whip smart dialogue and all the feels’ Fabulous ‘Mhairi gets the mix of laughs, romance and serious emotional depth just right in this page-turner that stands out from the crowd’ S Magazine ‘Hilarious, clever and beautifully written’ Daily Mail ‘Fiery, feminist, fit, filthy and very timely … astonishingly good’ Harriet Reuter Hapgood ‘Totally hilarious and wincingly real’ Jenny Colgan ‘No-one writes such wry, emotionally complex romantic fiction’ Red ‘The perfect balance of romcom and drama… the ultimate holiday read!’ Grazia ‘Sparky, smart, sore-stomach-laughing kind of read’ Fabulous

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Book SynopsisTerry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.www.terrypratchettbooks.comTrade ReviewA consistently clever, charming and funny voice—IndependentHe wasn't imagining an alternative universe; he was reimagining ours—Frank Cottrell Boyce, GuardianCracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy... Pratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own—Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisTen years on from Trainspotting Sick Boy is back in Edinburgh after a long spell in London. Having failed spectacularly as a hustler, pimp, husband, father and businessman, Sick Boy taps into an opportunity which to him represents one last throw of the dice. However, to realise his dream of directing and producing a pornographic movie, Sick Boy must team up with old pal and fellow exile Mark Renton. In the world of Porno, though, nothing is straightforward, as Sick Boy and Renton find out that they have unresolved issues to address concerning the increasingly unhinged Frank Begbie, the troubled, drug-addled Spud, but, most of all, with each other.Trade ReviewFunny, appalling, frightening * Mail on Sunday *A brilliant satirical study of the ugly dynamic which draws together predators and prey * Sunday Telegraph *Not for the fainthearted... Highly entertaining * Sunday Times *Funny and eloquently obscene * Daily Telegraph *A worthy sequel... A touching love song to the possibilities and limits of friendship. Charming, funny and sly, Porno is a good poke at all kinds of pretence and moral tidiness * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisIn addition to a sparkling modern translation of Praise of Folly, this volume also includes other works by Erasmus: Pope Julius Barred from Heaven, Epigram against Pope Julius II and a selection of his Adages. Together with the extensive annotation of the texts, these help to set Erasmus’s masterpiece in an accessible context for the modern reader. A central text of the Renaissance, Praise of Folly is an essential part of the Western canon, without which much that has followed – in culture, theology and literature – would not exist. Deeply subversive in its time, the book, after the initial controversy it created, finally gained acceptance as theologians, philosophers and readers came to appreciate Erasmus’s lucid, playful and eloquent reasoning.Trade ReviewErasmus searched for reconciliation between Faith and Reason, refusing not only the dogmas of Faith, but the dogmas of Reason as well. -- Carlos FuentesPraise of Folly, still a masterpiece of slyly subversive wit, was in a sense the first best-seller, read covertly under desks and sniggered over by countless trainee monks and priests. -- Nicholas Lezard * The Guardian *I am well aware that what I have had to say on the problem of peace is not essentially new. It is my profound conviction that the solution lies in our rejecting war for an ethical reason; namely, that war makes us guilty of the crime of inhumanity. Erasmus of Rotterdam and several others after him have already proclaimed this as the truth around which we should rally. -- Albert Schweitzer in his 1952 Nobel Peace Prize lectureFrom the terrible hate storm of his age Erasmus has salvaged this intellectual gem, his faith in humanity, and on this small burning wick Spinoza, Lessing and Voltaire – and all Europeans past and present – could light their torch. -- Stefan Zweig

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Book SynopsisFor seven-year-old Bertie Pollock, life in Edinburgh''s most celebrated fictional street has just got immeasurably better. The enforced absence of his endlessly pushy mother Irene - currently consciousness-raising in a Bedouin harem (don''t ask) - has manifold and immediate blessings: no psychotherapy, no Italian lessons and no yoga classes. Bliss.For Scotland Street''s grown-ups, life throws up some new dilemmas. Matthew makes a discovery that could make him even richer but also leaves him worried. Pat makes one that could make her poorer and her father miserable - unless that uber-narcissist, Bruce, can help her out. And the Duke of Johannesburg, we discover, isn''t exactly who he says he is.From what happens behind Edinburgh Airport''s luggage carousel to Machiavellian manoeuvrings at the Association of Scottish Nudists, Alexander McCall Smith guides us through the brighter, lighter and frankly unexpected side of Edinburgh life. As ever with his 44 Scotland Str

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Book SynopsisWelcome to beautiful Hope Island where the sea sparkles, the daffodils are blooming and a blossoming romance is just around the corner . . .Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined...But Isaac is not what he seems. He''s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman.Bella can''t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she''s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again?A gorgeously romantic and heartwarming story to completely lose yourself in. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colga

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Book SynopsisJon Swift + Witches of Eastwick + Kelly ''Get In Trouble'' Link + Mean Girls + Creative Writing Degree Hell! No punches pulled, no hilarities dodged, no meme unmangled! O Bunny you are sooo genius! ''margaret Atwood, via TwitterA wild, audacious and ultimately unforgettable novel. ''Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times Awad is a stone-cold genius. ''Ann Bauer, The Washington PostThe Vegetarian meets Heathers in this darkly funny, seductively strange novel from the acclaimed author of 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat GirlWe were just these innocent girls in the night trying to make something beautiful. We nearly died. We very nearly did, didn''t we?Samantha Heather Mackey couldn''t be more of an outsider in her small, highly selective MFA program at New England''s Warren University. A scholarship student who prefers the company of her dark imagination to that of most people, she is utterly repelled by the rest of her fiction writing cohort--a clique of unbearably twee rich girls who call each other Bunny, and seem to move and speak as one. But everything changes when Samantha receives an invitation to the Bunnies'' fabled Smut Salon, and finds herself inexplicably drawn to their front door--ditching her only friend, Ava, in the process. As Samantha plunges deeper and deeper into the Bunnies'' sinister yet saccharine world, beginning to take part in the ritualistic off-campus Workshop where they conjure their monstrous creations, the edges of reality begin to blur. Soon, her friendships with Ava and the Bunnies will be brought into deadly collision. The spellbinding new novel from one of our most fearless chroniclers of the female experience, Bunny is a down-the-rabbit-hole tale of loneliness and belonging, friendship and desire, and the fantastic and terrible power of the imagination.Named a Best Book of 2019 by TIME, Vogue, Electric Literature, and The New York Public Library

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Book Synopsis''He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style'' Daily Telegraph DEATH IS MISSING - PRESUMED... ER... GONE.Which leads to the kind of chaos you always get when an important public service is withdrawn.Meanwhile, on a little farm far, far away, a tall, dark stranger is turning out to be really good with a scythe. There''s a harvest to be gathered in...Readers can''t put down Reaper Man:''The second DEATH is as hilarious as the first one, this time positioning the friendly reaper in a perfect setting for having philosophical and deep thoughts about human nature and life in general'' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''This book is full of really profound messages about life and death and making your life count, if only by giving others some of your time . . . due to the impeccable combination of profound messages, silly adventures and laugh-out-loTrade ReviewA sequence of unalloyed delight. - GuardianHe is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style. - Daily TelegraphHis spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction. - Mail on SundayPratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own. - Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis''The literary equivalent of a security blanket'' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind ''This is one of Pratchett''s best books. Hilarious and highly recommended'' The TimesThis is where the dragons went. They lie... not dead, not asleep, but... dormant. And although the space they occupy isn''t like normal space, nevertheless they are packed in tightly. They could put you in mind of a can of sardines, if you thought sardines were huge and scaly. And presumably, somewhere, there''s a key...GUARDS! GUARDS! is the 8th Discworld novel - and after this, dragons will never be the same again!Readers adore Guards! Guards!''You will enjoy it if you already enjoy fantasy; you will very likely enjoy it even if you don''t generally enjoy fantasy, because the humour, characterisation, and dialogue are ridiculously good'' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐

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Book SynopsisRead the most captivating historical debut of the year![A] scintillating, swash-buckling debut terrifically fun' SUNDAY TIMESSharp, modern and absolutely delicious' TAYLOR JENKINS REIDFans of Bridgerton will swoon' NITA PROSEKitty Talbot needs a fortune. Love is not requiredShe's got just twelve weeks to find a rich husband and save her sisters and she must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb London society if she is to succeed.The only person she can't fool is Lord Radcliffe, who sees straight through her plans, and is determined to stop her at any cost.There is not a day to lose and no one not even a lord will stand in her wayReaders LOVE A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting:Like Bridgerton, but better' ?????The best book I have read in a long time' ?????Sassy, outrageous and bingeable' ?????MUST READ' ?????LOVED it!' ?????Sophie Irwin is going to be an author to watch' ?????An utter delight of a book' ?????Great fun and hugely entertaining' ?????What a chTrade Review‘[A] scintillating, swash-buckling debut … terrifically fun’ Sunday Times ‘Sharp, modern, and absolutely delicious … one of the most fun, romantic books I've read in a long time’ Taylor Jenkins Reid ‘What a sassy, witty, delicious tale [with] a fabulous, fearless heroine’ Sophie Kinsella ‘A thoroughly modern heroine with wit, style and energy … a formidable Austentacious talent’ Janice Hallett ‘Delicious – frothy, gossipy and glamorous’ Daily Mail ‘Charming, witty and infectiously exuberant’ Santa Montefiore ‘Divine – an utter delight’ Nina Stibbe ‘Will fill the Bridgerton-shaped hole in your life’ Red ‘Plucky, witty and bright … Readers of Austen and fans of Bridgerton will swoon’ Nita Prose ‘A diamond of the first water! Shades of Heyer with a dash of modern roguishness … Full of heart and swooningly romantic’ Beth Morrey ‘An addictive read’ Sunday Express ‘Utterly delightful and impossible to put down’ Louise O’Neill ‘[A] whip-smart, beautifully observed, sparkling romance’ Lindsey Kelk ‘Full of spirit and gumption … enormous fun: just what we all need’ AJ Pearce ‘Funny, fresh and original – you’ll want to put it straight on your dance card’ Cesca Major ‘Very clever and hugely entertaining’ Sarah Hilary ‘This is SO much fun. The most pleasing homage to Georgette Heyer with a thoroughly modern sensibility. Tremendous stuff’ Harriet Tyce ‘A huge, warm treat of a book. Refreshing, funny and sparklingly smart … The debut of the season’ Cressida McLaughlin 'A sparkling debut that reads like a turbo-charged Jane Austen’ Joanna Toye ‘I cheered for Kitty as she confronts polite society in her outrageous pursuit of a rich husband….an impressive debut’ Mary Balogh ‘Move over, Mr Darcy! [A] hilarious, sparkling debut! Utterly irresistible’ Eloisa James

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Book SynopsisBut the sassy wit and sexy voice of the girl behind the mask intrigue him, and one look at her stunning face—followed by a mind-blowing kiss against his doorjamb—leaves Louis wanting more.Roxy doesn't need a spoiled rich guy who's had everything in life handed to him on a Tiffany platter.Trade Review“Louis and Roxy are a terrific match from the start. But Bailey is a master at portraying a heroine with a complex core, and Roxy’s proud character carries the novel— making readers wish she was their roommate, empty bank account be damned.” — Washington Post “Chase Me is funny, sexy and real. Tessa Bailey has fast become one of my favorite authors!” — Monica Murphy, New York Times bestselling author “Chase Me is the most fun read I’ve had in a long time! Hilarious, sexy, and absolutely addicting! I loved every character.” — Cora Carmack, New York Times bestselling author The tenderness, vulnerability and heat I am always guaranteed with a Tessa Bailey book are the reasons she is one of my all-time favorite authors.” — Sally Thorne “Tessa Bailey’s writing stands out in all the right sexy ways.” — Buzzfeed “Bailey launches the Broke and Beautiful contemporary series with the gripping story of an independent woman and a generous man. [...] Honest emotions and real passion lead to [...] sex scenes that never feel gratuitous. Readers will appreciate these highly sympathetic leads and their powerful story of mutual self-discovery.” — Publishers Weekly “a laugh-out-loud raunchy romantic comedy.” — Heroes & Heartbreakers “This first outing in the Broke and Beautiful series is simply wonderful. With super hot love scenes and a generous dose of humor, Chase Me is — like sexy hero Louis McNally the Second — utterly irresistible.” — RT Book Reviews 4 1/2 Stars (top pick and Winner of March Seal of Excellence Award) “I can’t remember the last time I read a romance as funny as this one. Roxy is one of the most hardworking heroine’s in contemporary romance and she’s so incredibly dedicated to making ends meet. The book, for me, truly embodies what modern romance is all about. ” — BookRiot (Best Books of March 2015)

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Book SynopsisMarch 1978 saw the first ever transmission of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on BBC Radio 4; the beginning of a cult phenomenon. March 2020 marks the 42nd anniversary of that first transmission – 42 being the answer, of course, to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. To mark the occasion, Pan Macmillan are bringing back into print The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts with an introduction from Simon Jones.The collection also includes the previously 'lost' Hitchhiker script from the 25th anniversary edition, 'Sheila's Ear' and the original introductions by producer Geoffrey Perkins and Douglas Adams.This collection, which is a faithful reproduction of the text as it was first published in 1985, features all twelve original radio scripts – Hitchhiker as it was written and exactly as it was broadcast for the very first time. They include amendments and additions made during recordings and original notes on the writing and producing of the series by Douglas Adams and Geoffrey Perkins. For those who have always loved Douglas Adams, as well as for his new generation of fans, these scripts are essential reading and a must-have piece of Adams memorabilia.This special anniversary edition will accompany reissued eye-catching editions of the five individual Hitchhiker books coming in March 2020: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and Mostly Harmless.Trade ReviewHe had almost a Wodehousian style and some of his phrases and jokes entered our language. He changed the way people spoke -- Stephen FryThere has never been another writer remotely like Douglas Adams. He discovered a completely new genre – scientific wit – and having discovered it he raised it to dizzying heights -- Tony RobinsonQuite good I suppose, if you like brilliantly entertaining books written with a touch of imaginative genius -- Griff Rhys JonesVery occasionally a book comes along that changes the way you laugh and what you laugh about -- Richard DawkinsOne of the world’s sanest, smartest, kindest, funniest voices * Independent on Sunday *Sheer delight * The Times *Magical . . . read this book * Sunday Express *

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Book Synopsis'A gorgeous festive treat of a story, glowing with warmth and Christmas spirit.' Phillipa Ashley 'A fabulous slice of village life!' Heidi Swain A feel-good, festive read to keep you cosy this winter. For fans of Heidi Swain, Sarah Morgan and The Archers. Recently divorced, the family home sold and her son all grown-up, Clare is at a crossroads. She's dedicated her whole adult life to her family, and now it's time she did something for herself. In the lead up to Christmas, Clare decides that a bit of time in the countryside might be just what she needs, so she moves back to Little Bramble, the village she grew up in. But living with her mum for the first time in years - and not to mention Goliath the Great Dane - can be challenging. When Clare finds herself running the village Christmas show, it feels like she has purpose in her life again. Bringing together people from all sides of the community, and all walks of life, will Clare manage to pull off a festive feat like no other? And will she find the new start in life - and possibly love - that she's been looking for? The Country Village Christmas Show is the perfect romantic read to get cosy with this winter. Return to Little Bramble in The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding, available now. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Authors and readers are already loving The Country Village Christmas Show: 'A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it.' Holly Martin, author of Christmas at Mistletoe Cove'A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas.' Bella Osborne, author of Escape to Willow Cottage'As warm as a hot chocolate on a winter night.' Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness'A joyous read celebrating love, community and Christmas spirit.' Julie Caplin, author of The Little Cafe in Copenhagen'Everything you need for entertainment of the best possible kind . . . I loved it.' Raven McCallen'A heartfelt and uplifting read - the perfect book to get into the festive spirit!' Andrea Michael, author of The Book of Us 'A fun and festive read and has to be one of my favourite reads of 2020.' gingerbookgeek blog'I love Christmas stories and this didn't disappoint!' Netgalley reviewer'I loved everything about this book.' Netgalley reviewer'Everything I hoped it would be - and so much more!' Netgalley reviewer'The PERFECT Christmas read!' Netgalley reviewer'Wonderfully festive to get you in the Christmas mood!' Netgalley reviewerTrade ReviewA joyous read celebrating love, community and Christmas spirit. * Julie Caplin, author of The Little Cafe in Copenhagen *Everything you need for entertainment of the best possible kind . . . I just loved it. * Raven McCallen *A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it. * Holly Martin, author of Christmas at Mistletoe Cover *A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas. * Bella Osborne, author of Escape to Willow Cottage *A heartfelt and uplifting read - the perfect book to get into the festive spirit! * Andrea Michael, author of The Book of Us *As warm as a hot chocolate on a winter night. * Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness *A fabulous slice of village life! * Heidi Swain *A gorgeous festive treat of a story, glowing with warmth and Christmas spirit. * Phillipa Ashley *

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Book SynopsisThe moving and life-affirming bestseller, perfect for anyone who loves unforgettable storiesLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION AND A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK''I absolutely loved Because of You. Fantastic, passionate, compassionate, so much wisdom, a lot of humour, very real and credible'' BERNARDINE EVARISTO, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other''Gorgeous . . . wise and full of love'' MARIAN KEYES__________Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight.As the old millennium turns into the new, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters.Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.Anna leaves with empty arms.Seventeen years later, the truth of that night starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all.A reckoning is coming. Lives will collide.And mother-love will be tested . . .Trade ReviewI absolutely loved Because of You. Fantastic, passionate, compassionate, so much wisdom, a lot of humour, very real and credible -- BERNARDINE EVARISTO, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, OtherGorgeous . . . wise and sad and full of love * Marian Keyes *An extraordinary book - sad, heartening, gripping and reassuringly human -- Jo BrandIncredible * Russell Brand *Dawn tackles the big ones - love, death, grief, childhood, motherhood, parenthood - head on * Guardian *Harrowing but uplifting . . . It is a book about mistakes, regret, forgiveness and unconditional love * Daily Mirror *Fans who have waited five long years for French's fourth novel won't be disappointed: Because Of You is a book with a beating heart, a story told with warmth and verve * Daily Express *Moving . . . French's best yet * Good Housekeeping *The final scenes are so perfectly executed they almost broke my heart. Because of You is a story to cherish * Sunday Express *Told with French's unfailing wit and warmth, Because Of You is the tale of family bonds and the mother-daughter relationships that ultimately make us who we are * Independent *Brilliant . . . a moving read that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page * Closer *A fantastic page-turner * Mail on Sunday *Beautifully observed * The Times *Wise and poignant, Because of You is a story about mothers and daughter, love and loss, mistakes and regrets, and family bonds * Eastern Daily Press *A must-read story told with compassion and heart * Sunday Express *French always writes so melodically about the truth of human nature . . . French manages to pick your heart up with the nib of her pen and slowly pull it apart, heart-wrenchingly, page by page . . . A true writing talent * My Weekly *An emotionally charged story - and a heartbreaking twist at the end * Hello! *A warmly told story about the bond between mothers and daughters * Evening Standard *Warm, witty and wise . . . I raced through * Daily Mail *A powerful and emotional book * Good Housekeeping *A bright, brilliant and heartbreaking tale of two mothers, two babies and the far-reaching consequences of one fateful day * Yahoo! Style *A beautifully powerful story about mothers, family and sacrifice * Sun *An uplifting story about mothers and daughters and familial relationships, in which two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters on the same night * Woman & Home *Arresting page-turner * Best *A novel her fans are sure to love * Woman's Weekly *A story of love, identity and belonging * i *Heartbreaking and humorous in equal measures * Boundless *A bouncy, comedy drama. Funny, poignant and bursting with joie de vivre * Daily Mail *A thought-provoking read . . . shows the true extent of motherly love * Publishers Association *Dawn French moves between the aftermath of that fateful night and 18 years later, when the explosive impact of Hope's actions is finally felt * Daily Express *A heartfelt story, handled so carefully and empathetically -- Aisling BeaBecause Of You is a tale told with warmth by a storyteller who never takes herself too seriously * Sunday Express *Heartbreaking but redemptive, and lightened by French's trademark humour, this is a compelling read that will keep you poised between laughter and tears * Daily Mail *A tantalising story of motherhood told with Dawn French's signature warmth * Sainsbury's Magazine *As ever, even in the darkest of times, Dawn has found humour to inject into her novel * Best *A brilliant book * Good Housekeeping *The life-affirming and unmissable new novel * Eastern Daily Press *A tale told with warmth * Daily Record *While Dawn French's latest novel contains a dash of humour, it's also heart-wrenching * The Hunsbury Handbook *A fabulous emotional tearjerker of a novel * Silversurfers *Praise for Dawn French * - *Hilarious and brilliant * Woman & Home *I adored According to YES. It's so different to anything I've read in forever, so charming, wise, brilliantly written. I loved it allWitty and wise, it'll have you burning the midnight oil. A cracker * Woman's Weekly *Very funny and packs an emotional clout. Brilliant! * Heat *An enlightening and feel-good read offering a fresh look at life and how to embrace it. Funny and enjoyable to the end * We Love This Book *There is lots of fun to be had reading this book. It's impossible not to warm to Rosie, a funny and open-hearted woman who acts as a salve and comfort blanket for this unhappy, inhibited family. There's something quite joyous about the way she unashamedly romps her way through the novel, changing the lives of those around her for the better * Express *Another hilarious novel! * Bella *French can spin a yarn . . . which sets According to YES apart. Think the vicar of Dibley, without the dog collar. YES YES YES indeed * Independent *Wise and poignant * Beyond the Joke *Heart-warming * Choice Magazine *

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Book SynopsisBret Easton Ellis is the author of several novels, including Imperial Bedrooms, Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho, Glamorama and Lunar Park, and a collection of stories, The Informers. Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho and The Informers have all been made into films. His first work of non-fiction, White, was published in 2019. He is the host of the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast available on Patreon. He lives in Los Angeles.Trade ReviewAn enormously entertaining novel, powered by a celebratory fun entirely absent in the writing of the generation of American writers who succeeded Ellis. * Independent *Great emotional complexity and depth . . . it’s a very interesting ride with an always interesting novelist – and, as such, is one worth taking. * The Times *Sharply observed, insidiously disquieting and extremely funny. * Literary Review *A triumphant piece of storytelling from a rebel whose work is controversial precisely because its sinister themes are so dexterously written. -- Chris Cleave * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'The funniest take on love and marriage I’ve read in years – possibly ever' - SANTA MONTEFIORE 'Social satire at its finest' - CANDACE BUSHNELL 'I fell over laughing' CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN ___________Have You Got Anything Stronger? is a sharp and furiously funny novel about being married with two children and having a husband whose tits are bigger than yours.We follow a year in the life of four best friends as they navigate careers, friendship, love, sex, money, children, and question their harassed realities.Why did they get married? Do they like their children? Does lemon in your vodka and tonic count as one of your five a day? Does life ever, you know, slow down?Between running late, meetings, pick-ups and drop- offs, it's clear the hamster wheel never really stops turning and the question eventually must be asked . . .Is this it?For fans of Why Mummy Drinks, this next-generation Bridget Jones's Diary will resonate with women who, between running late for playdates, meetings and Ocado deliveries, have realised that the hamster wheel never stops turning, and it may be too late to crash out.Reviews for Have You Got Anything Stronger?:'This rollicking, moving comedy of contemporary urban family life is reminiscent of I Don't Know How She Does It. Except that it's bolder, wilder, swearier and even funnier . . . Fabulous' - Daily Mail'Painfully relatable and funny' - Heat'A hilarious new satire' - Hello'A sort of midlife Bridget Jones with less drinking shame' - Sunday TimesTrade Review'This rollicking, moving comedy of contemporary urban family life is reminiscent of I Don't Know How She Does It. Except that it's bolder, wilder, swearier and even funnier ... Fabulous' * Daily Mail *'Painfully relatable and funny' * Heat *'A hilarious new satire' * Hello *'A sort of midlife Bridget Jones with less drinking shame' * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisGET COSY READING THE SWOONIEST, MOST HEARTWARMING WINTER ROM-COM OF 2024 . . .------It''s the perfect Christmas love story.Margot Murray is a newly single, high-flying businesswoman with no interest in a cutesy seasonal romance.Ben Gibson is an unlucky-in-love sweetheart in need of a woman to bring home for the holidays.Together, they make a pact: Margot gets a blissful week away from London in a picture-perfect manor, in exchange for posing as Ben''s girlfriend.The story can only go one way. Margot is sure to fall in love for real.And she does.With Ben''s sister, Ellie.What could possibly go wrong?Trade ReviewGloriously messy * DIVA *

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Book Synopsis'An electrifying debut, and the perfect summer read... A million out of five stars!' Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis'Swoony, sexy, funny, and profoundly moving' Ava Wilder, How to Fake it in Hollywood'This road trip romance is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet!' Amy Lea, Set on You'Stunningly heartfelt and sexy beyond words' Rachel Lynn Solomon, The Ex Talk---Two weeks on the road... stuck in a car with your high-school enemy.Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos and letters that hint to a forbidden love in her gram's past. Needing to know the full story, she creates a TikTok video appealing for information - and it goes viral.Through her video, she manages to track down her grandmother's secret love, Paul, who offers to take her on the honeymoon road-trip he and Gram planned but never got to go on.Noelle jumps at the chance to make this one last connection with her grandmother. There's just one problem - Paul's grandson is Noelle's frustratingly handsome high-school rival Theo.And Theo has to come, too.It's only two weeks. Surely Noelle can survive that long? But with one car between them - and often only one bed - it doesn't take long for things to heat up...---Readers are loving You, With a View'I can't wait for everyone to scream about this... Absolute romance perfection''This was a couldn't-put-it-down/read-almost-in-one-sitting read for me... A true romance novel where my heart was left a mushy happy mess''EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS PERFECT TO ME''An absolute stunner of a debut. The banter between the two characters is top-notch and hilarious''Do yourself a favour and add this to your TBR immediately!'Trade ReviewJessica Joyce has gifted all of us with an electrifying debut, and the perfect summer read! If you love your flirting paired with a healthy dose of roasting, rivals turned lovers, road trips that become journeys of self discovery, hilarious but sexy banter, and steamy love stories, this is the beach read you want to pick up! A million out of five stars!' * Ali Hazelwood, bestselling author of Love, Theoretically *A stunningly emotional debut that wrapped itself around my heart from page one... this road trip romance is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet! * Amy Lea, author of Set on You *You, with a View is the total package: swoony, sexy, funny, and profoundly moving. Noelle and Theo's irresistible chemistry had me tearing through the pages, and the depth and beauty of Jessica Joyce's writing lingered with me long after I finished. This is a book that nestles deep into your heart and stays there * Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood *Sometimes all it takes to get back on track is a road trip with your oldest rival . . . Jessica Joyce's debut, You, with a View, stole my heart and had me absolutely sweating at the chemistry between Theo and Noelle. I will never see a vintage red Bronco, a TikTok travel video, or a man's thighs the same way again * Alicia Thompson, author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers *Stunningly heartfelt and sexy beyond words. Jessica Joyce writes with a deeply empathetic pen, drawing each character with profound tenderness and crafting the perfect amount of rivals-to-reluctant-road-trip-companions-to-lovers tension - incidentally, my new favorite trope. I want to live inside this book * Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of The Ex Talk *A complete joy of a book. It's tender, swoony, sexy and endlessly witty * Culturefly *You, with a View is a sexy-as-hell romance that I couldn't put down, a heartfelt tribute to the love of grandparents, and an achingly relatable exploration of the search for "success" in your twenties. Noelle and Theo's road trip is as epic as their emotional journey, leaving my heart a happy, mushy mess by the end. I love this book. * Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters and Something Wild & Wonderful *You, with a View is angsty, atmospheric perfection. While navigating grief's pain as well as its transformative power, this road trip romance is an unforgettable journey of tenderhearted healing, scorching chemistry, and divinely witty banter * Chloe Liese, author of Two Wrongs Make a Right *Simultaneously escapist and deeply intimate, You, with a View is a love story about soulmates-both romantic and familial-and the importance of seizing the present while honoring the past. Debut author Jessica Joyce's prose and voice shine on every page, threading her leads' simmering tension and tangible chemistry through a vividly drawn travel adventure. The result is a soul-satisfying romance about the genesis of beautiful things out of grief, and of two people discovering that what they truly seek has been there on the journey with them all along * Jen Devon, author of Bend Toward the Sun *

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Book SynopsisWhen seven-year-old Jedza witnesses a tragic incident involving a train and the death of his close boyhood friend in his hometown Miner’s Drift, he is convinced that his life is haunted. Now in his mid-20s, Jedza is a down-and-out electrician, moving to Harare in the hopes that he will escape the darkness and superstitions of the small town. But living in the shadowy restless atmosphere of the Avenues with its mysterious pools of water rising under musasa trees, he is tormented by the disappearance of his sister and their early encounters with ancestral spirits, the shapeshifting power of the njuzu and a vengeful ngozi. To move forward, he must stop running away and confront the trauma of his past. An eclectic, experimental novel, Avenues By Train is a brash and confident debut by an exciting new voice

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Book Synopsis A fabulously funny, feel-good novel that will make you laugh until you cry, for anyone who's ever presented a perfectly-filtered life online to hide the unglamorous reality. Trade Review Praise for We Just Clicked: ‘Such a fun read!’ Carrie Hope Fletcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of On the Other Side ‘Warm-hearted and hilarious. It will make you giggle and want to hug the book when you finish it.’ Miranda Dickinson, author of Our Story ‘A brilliantly funny, uplifting yet emotional rom-com that I just lost myself in.’ Elle Spellman, author of Running Into Trouble ‘This is the fun breath of fresh air we need right now!’ Fabulous ‘Funny and touching’ My Weekly Praise for Anna Bell: 'The perfect laugh-out-loud love story' Louise Pentland, Sunday Times bestselling author of Wilde Like Me 'Smart, witty and completely fresh' Cathy Bramley, Sunday Times bestselling author 'Romantic and refreshing' Mhairi McFarlane, Sunday Times bestselling author 'Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella' Take a Break 'A fun, bouncy, brilliant tale' Heat 'Funny, relatable and fabulously written' Daily Express 'Funny, romantic and uplifting' Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Cornish Cream Tea Summer

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Book SynopsisMalcolm, Peter and Charlie and their Soave-sodden wives have one main ambition left in life: to drink Wales dry. But their routine is both shaken and stirred when they are joined by professional Welshman Alun Weaver (CBE) and his wife, Rhiannon.Trade ReviewA copy should be given out with every bus pass. -- John Sutherland * The Times *A brilliant novel. It is sadly comic and comically sad -- Anthony BurgessHe was a genuine comic writer, probably the best after P. G. Wodehouse ... He had a lasting influence and was a very good novelist -- John MortimerA bloody funny lovely bloody book... A genius at full throttle * Financial Times *In these explicit days, Mr Amis is the laureate of the unsayable, the literary it man * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed international bestseller now a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan!When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars and that she is about to encounter the strangest, craziest group of people in existence. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian jet set; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money - and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.Trade ReviewOriginal and fun, Crazy Rich Asians is quite a roller coaster trip. I loved it! -- Jackie CollinsMordantly funny -- Anna WintourUnputdownably funny... a Chinese Dallas meets Pride and Prejudice -- Plum Sykes, bestselling author of BERGDORF BLONDESThis summer's Bergdorf Blondes, over-the-top funny and a novelty to boot. Mr. Kwan delivers nonstop hoots about a whole new breed of rich, vulgar, brand-name-dropping conspicuous consumers -- Janet Maslin, New York TimesIf your definition of a beach read is a book version of Vogue, then this is the book for you -- Emma G Keller, 'Best Beach Reads' 2013 * Guardian.co.uk *This is fun, superficial escapism that hooks and reels in even the reluctant reader: Dynasty among the filthy-rich Chinese community -- Independent

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Book SynopsisBret Easton Ellis is the author of several novels, including Imperial Bedrooms, Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho, Glamorama and Lunar Park, and a collection of stories, The Informers. Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho and The Informers have all been made into films. His first work of non-fiction, White, was published in 2019. He is the host of the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast available on Patreon. He lives in Los Angeles.Trade ReviewA murder mystery – a woozy, paranoid, hallucinatory version of LA noir. * Sunday Times *Brilliantly written and coolly self-aware . . . Here, as in Less Than Zero, Ellis is plumbing the depths of human nature, exposing it at its worst. * Observer *The novel is a kind of modern noir and, as in Chandler, the form’s accepted master, atmosphere is king. Paranoia prevails. * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisDavid Lodge (CBE)'s novels include Changing Places, Small World and Nice Work (shortlisted for the Booker) and, most recently, A Man of Parts. He has also written plays and screenplays, and several books of literary criticism. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages. He is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Birmingham, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.Trade ReviewLodge's wit... like that of Wodehouse, froths around and out of characters.. hugely enjoyable * Spectator *Clever enough to confirm him as one of the leading comic writers of his generation * Guardian *All funny, clever and beautifully paced * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisMichael Young is a brilliant young history student whose life is changed when he meets Leo Zuckerman, an ageing physicist with a theory that can change worlds. Together they realise that they have the power to alter history and eradicate a great evil. But tinkering with timelines is more dangerous than they can imagine and nothing - past, present or future - will ever be the same again. ''The tensions and resolutions are intrinsically comic, made still more enjoyable by [Fry''s] sinuous invention and cleverness at caricature'' Spectator ''Sprightly and entertaining'' TelegraphTrade ReviewStephen Fry at his twinkling best * Sunday Times *His best novel yet ... an extravagant, deeply questioning work of science fiction * GQ *A sci-fi comedy that is also a time-travel thriller, constantly topical and always surprising... packed with the author's personal enthusiasm and hatreds, the former red-hot and the latter icy-black * Literary Review *A powerful imaginative pull that keeps the pages turning while the tea goes cold and the cat gets the goldfish * The Independent *A sprightly and entertaining read * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWith his characteristic warmth, inventiveness and brilliant wit, Alexander McCall Smith gives us more of the gloriously entertaining comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street, the Edinburgh townhouse. Six-year-old prodigy Bertie perseveres in his heroic struggle for truth and balanced good sense against his insufferable mother and her crony, the psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn, going as far as to make a short-lived bid for freedom on a trip to Paris with the Edinburgh youth orchestra. Domenica sets off on an anthropological odyssey with pirates in the Malacca Straits, while Pat attracts several handsome admirers, including a toothsome suitor named Wolf. And Big Lou, eternal source of coffee and good advice to her friends, has love, heartbreak and erstwhile boyfriend Eddie''s misdemeanours on her own mind.Trade ReviewIt is McCall Smith's particular genius to be able to look on the brighter side of life, and he's seldom done so more enjoyably * THE SCOTSMAN *A master storyteller . . . as warm and enjoyable as a very good soap opera * SUNDAY TIMES *A master storyteller . . . as warm and enjoyable as a very good soap opera * SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisMarigold Green calls herself ''hideous, quaint and barmy''. Other people calle her Bilgewater, a corruption of Bill''s daughter. Growing up in a boys'' school where her father is housemaster, she is convinced of her own plainness and peculiarity. Groomed by the wise and loving Paula, upstaged by bad, beautiful Grace and ripe for seduction by entirely the wrong sort of boy, she suffers extravagantly and comically in her pilgrimage through the turbulent, twilight world of alarming adolescenceTrade ReviewShe does fiction as it should be done, with confidence and insight -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Observer *Lively....excellent * The TIMES *One of the funniest, most entertaining, most unusual stories about young love * EVENING STANDARD *A striking story * TLS *

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