NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW ""BEST HORROR FICTION OF 2024"" From Eliza Clark, the author of the brilliant novels Boy Parts and Penance and one of Granta’s Best Young British Novelists, comes a fierce, visionary and darkly comic story collection. A woman welcomes a parasite into her body. A teenager longs for perfect skin. A scientist tends to fragile alien flora. A young man takes the night into his own hands. Unsettling, revelatory, and laced with her signature dark humor, Eliza Clark’s debut short story collection plumbs the depths of that most basic human feeling: hunger.

She's Always Hungry

2020 Audie Winner – Best Female Narrator An Earphone Award Winner Audiobook performed by Marin Ireland A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! “I can’t believe how good this book is.... It’s wholly original. It’s also perfect.... Wilson writes with such a light touch.... The brilliance of the novel [is] that it distracts you with these weirdo characters and mesmerizing and funny sentences and then hits you in a way you didn’t see coming. You’re laughing so hard you don’t even realize that you’ve suddenly caught fire.” —Taffy Brodesser-Akner, New York Times Book Review Kevin Wilson’s best book yet—a poignant and often humorous novel about a woman who finds meaning in her life when she begins caring for two children with remarkable abilities. Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins catch fire when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for? With sharp humor and genuine warmth, Kevin Wilson has written his best book yet—a most unique story of parental love.

Nothing to See Here

A hilarious, emotional and thought-provoking book club read for fans of David Nicholls and Cecelia Ahern. –––––––––––––––––-﻿ Nell has always known the date she's going to die. After a psychic predicted her death date twenty years ago, she has lived life accepting she would never see forty – embracing adventure and travelling the world, choosing fun over commitment and laying down roots. So, when the fateful day comes, Nell feels ready. She sends five excruciatingly honest confessions to her sister, parents and past loves, knowing she won’t be around to face the consequences. Then, with her heart laid bare, all that's left to do is check into a glamorous hotel and wait for the inevitable… But when Nell unexpectedly wakes up the next morning broke, single and very much alive, she must figure out exactly how to seize this second chance at life. And then it also hits her: What on earth happens now that everyone knows how she really feels? This is the perfect book club read for fans of David Nicholls, Holly Smale and Beth O’Leary, asking what it is that makes for a life well lived. –––––––––––––––––-﻿ ‘A thought-provoking, funny, delight of a book, I couldn't put it down!’ SOPHIE COUSENS

The Second Chance

Winner of the Comedy Women In Print Prize 2021‘Whip-smart, original and so funny. I found it impossible to put down and lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud’ Beth O’Leary, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Road Trip Your family would kill to see you happy‘ARE YOU…DEAD?’ OH MY GOD. I THINK HE IS. When Meddy Chan accidentally kills her blind date, she turns to her aunties for help. Their meddling set her up on the date so they kind of owe her. WELL, THAT DIDN’T QUITE GO TO PLAN. Although hiding this goddamn dead body is going to be harder than they thought especially when her family’s wedding business has THE biggest wedding of the year happening right now. IT’S PRETTY BAD TIMING REALLY. It turns out the wedding venue just happens to be managed by Meddy’s ex, aka the one who got away. It’s the worst time to see him again, or…is it? Can Meddy finally find love and make her overbearing family happy? –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Readers LOVE Dial A For Aunties!‘Its dark humour and hilarious family dynamics had me in stitches from start to finish’ ‘I loved every second of reading it and couldn’t predict what was going to happen next’ ‘I couldn’t stop laughing throughout’ ‘The characters felt so relatable’ ‘What a great book this is – a really fun read’ ‘A hilariously funny rom-com’ ‘Escapist fun that’ll keep you turning the pages and giggling throughout’

Aunties

Dial A For Aunties

Once, I knew this girl who sent a video of herself to her brother's best friend…while she was hopped up on pain meds. And he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Sounds like a hilarious story, right? WRONG. This really happened…to ME, Melanie Taylor. That was five years ago, so I’m over it—over him. At least, I thought I was…until West got traded to the D.C. Eagles and moved to the same city as me! Oh yeah, did I forget to mention my brother’s best friend is Weston Kershaw? An incredibly talented and famous professional hockey player? Of course, I set out to avoid him completely but end up going to one of his games—against my will, I might add. When I have to face him again all of those stupid butterflies in my stomach return full force. Except this time, the attraction doesn’t feel so one-sided. This is a closed-door, dual POV romcom with mild language and innuendo. Trigger warnings: childhood trauma/anxiety.

D.C. Eagles Hockey

Passion or Penalty

Stuck together on a writing retreat, a fake marriage goes awry when two people fall in love for real! From the author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine, Charlotte Stein's My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a sexy, laugh-out-loud romcom. Connie Evans has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable Henry Samuel Beckett: sweet, a lover of bow ties and so cheery that Connie struggles to believe he’s real. Until Beck – as he’s known to most – tells Connie the secret beneath his sunny surface. He’s been single all his life, but somehow seems to have told everyone he works with that he’s married. And, when Connie can’t help but defend him, she ends up being the wife he doesn’t have. And now they’re on a writing retreat together, surrounded by people convinced they can’t be for real, with both of them sure that those people are right. Until they have to share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds . . . Something has to give. Could it be her heart? Readers love My Big Fat Fake Marriage . . . ‘My heart. I have no words. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I laughed, I smiled, I cried’ ‘So funny from start to ending’ ‘Not only hot but beautiful’ ‘Beck is this nerdy, awkward cinnamon roll of an addiction that I could not get enough of’ ‘This book had me giggling, swooning, and feeling ALL the emotions. And yes, the spice? It delivers’

My Big Fat Fake Marriage

Preorder Mhairi's new novel COVER STORY now! She found The One. But when everyone wants him, can she keep him? When there’s a ring on her doorbell, there’s only one person Edie Thompson wants it to be. The person who’s still in her heart. The person who just might be The One. She and Elliot Owen called it quits once before – but aren’t they too good together not to try? And here he is – offering her everything she dreamed of. But dating Elliot, an actor, is anything but plain sailing. Being an ocean apart and followed by the press is one thing, but when Edie’s friends and Elliot’s family are drawn in, things get messy. Then her boss hires a friendly face in the form of Declan Dunne, who’s there for her when times are tough, and Edie starts to wonder … are she and Elliot a fairytale come true – or a cautionary fable about getting what you wish for? '14/10 on the QWJ scale (queasy with jealousy scale)! I WISH I'd written it. I loved this book so much' MARIAN KEYES 'I am absolutely feral for Mhairi McFarlane. Smart, sensitive, extremely funny and always so, so spot on, she is easily one of the best writers working today' LINDSEY KELK 'McFarlane never misses' GILLIAN MCALLISTER, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL 'Mhairi McFarlane is the absolute queen of romantic comedies that belie a darker core’ STYLIST READERS ARE LOVING YOU BELONG WITH ME: 'A gorgeous story that you can't put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Mhairi is a genius at characterisation and loud-out-loud funny' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The dialogue in this just made me swoon … clever, funny and often heart-wrenching' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another stunner from Mhairi … she is very insightful about real relationships' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The queen of wit is back and long may she reign'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who’s That Girl

You Belong with Me

“Roxane Gay is so great at weaving the intimate and personal with what is most bewildering and upsetting at this moment in culture. She is always looking, always thinking, always passionate, always careful, always right there.” — Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be? A New York Times Bestseller Best Book of the Year: NPR • Boston Globe • Newsweek • Time Out New York • Oprah.com • Miami Herald • Book Riot • Buzz Feed • Globe and Mail (Toronto) • The Root • Shelf Awareness A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched cultural observers of her generation In these funny and insightful essays, Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture. Bad Feminist is a sharp, funny, and spot-on look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better, coming from one of our most interesting and important cultural critics.

Bad Feminist

'One of those delicious books you just can't put down. Utter PERFECTION!' Marian Keyes Selected for the Radio 2 summer book club. A funny, feminist and all-too-relatable novel about our obsession with coupling up, settling down and the battle we all have with accepting ourselves, The Shelf introduces the freshest new voice in women's fiction. Narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People, Gentleman Jack, Cold Feet, War of the Worlds) Ever feel like you're losing a race you never signed up for? Everyone in Amy's life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she's falling behind. So, when her long-term boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he's going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when, instead, she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf. Along with five other women, Amy is brutally dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned 'The Keeper'. While inside the house, will Amy learn that there are worse things than being 'left on the shelf'?

The Shelf

For fans of Really Good Actually and I'm Glad My Mom Died 'A deftness that catches your breath' - Fern Brady 'An incredible piece of writing' - Brett Goldstein 'Interrogates moments of trauma with insight, kindness and humanity' - John Robins This is a book about mistakes. And why we should de-flower shame in all its messy, complicated glory... Hello! It's Lou here... I've poured my heart and guts on to the page and shared my soul in this book. This won't be for everyone but I hope it helps the people it does connect with. We all have stories and I think its useful to share them, I think it helps unite us and in some ways it helps us release some shame. I've been alarmingly truthful and sincere, because I think society would be better if we could all be honest. I've of course used humour too, not as a way to cope (I've processed the darker things that have happened to me), but as a change in pace, some gorgeous light relief, because life is light and dark dancing together in the wind. And I love jokes. If this is the sort of thing you're after, please pick me up and take me to bed (that's the book speaking so a little joke there).

What's That Lady Doing?

The brilliant new novel from the Queen of royal-rom-coms! 'Refreshingly vulnerable and timelessly romantic’ BONNIE WOODS All Lady Alice Walpole wants is to be swept off her feet, but she keeps finding herself on one bad date after another. And when she’s caught partying too hard with her latest royal beau, her father banishes her to Balmoral to clean up her act. Fraser Bell just wants to do his job as Piper to the Sovereign at Balmoral. He prefers tartan to tuxedos, and spends his days with horses rather than dealing with people, so when he’s assigned to wake Alice up to the sound of bagpipes every morning, he’s less than pleased. But as her time in Scotland stretches on, Alice finds herself falling for the rugged landscape – and maybe even Fraser, too. Soon, returning to her glittering but empty life in London sounds less like an escape, and more like a punishment. She wears tiaras, and he wears tartan, but for this unlikely couple, can romance ever reign? Praise for Kilted Lovers: 'Romance, friendship, and soul-searching!' A. T. QURESHI 'Refreshingly vulnerable and timelessly romantic’ BONNIE WOODS 'A perfect mix of humour and heartbreak. I came for the royals, and stayed for the romance.’ ELEANOR GOYMER ‘Loved every moment’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘An absolute joy to read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Read this in one sitting.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I can’t wait to read more by this author.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kilted Lovers

A spicy small-town, brother’s best friend, sports romance “packed with sizzling tension, heat, and sweet, swoon-worthy moments” (Peyton Corinne, author of TikTok sensation Unsteady) between a college football coach and the one that got away that you’ll want to devour in one sitting. If he can prove he loved her then, and he loves her still, this time might be different. Ten years after one of the most heartbreaking nights of her life, Melody Woods is back in her small hometown of Oakwood Bay, broke, jaded, and unceremoniously dumped by her big-city boyfriend. To top it all off, her twin brother, Parker, is pushing her to take his spot on a camping trip with the one guy she’s spent a decade avoiding. For college football coach Zac Porter, his best friend’s twin sister, Melody, has always been off-limits. And after fumbling his chance ten years ago, a devastated Zac was sure he’d lost Melody for good. So, when Melody shows up at the campsite instead of Parker, Zac realizes that now is the time to prove to her that they were always meant to be, no matter how long it takes to make up for his teenage self’s mistake. Reeling from the truth of her last relationship, Melody plans to stay in town just long enough to get back on her feet. Then, she’s gone again. Meanwhile, Zac is facing an uphill battle to coach his team to its first winning game in years, to show Melody how she deserves to be loved, and to keep Parker from ever finding out. Maybe then, being with her will be more than just a dream.

Only in Your Dreams

Having a one-night stand with my sister’s billionaire friend was a mistake… But moving in with the reclusive billionaire would be an even bigger problem. Besides the unfortunate time we slept together, the only thing Jack Townsend and I have in common is our aversion to serious relationships. But after he sees the sh*thole I’m living in, he sweetens the offer to stay in his swanky home with the one thing an impoverished government worker like me can’t turn down—free rent. He makes it clear he’s not interested—our sizzling night together was barely a blip on his playboy radar. I don’t know if I should be offended or relieved. Either way, my heart says no, but my mouth says yes. And my head says it’s not a handout; I’d be helping him around the house. One minute I’m washing his designer boxer-briefs, and the next Jack has me pretending to be his girlfriend to ward off the gold diggers. I don’t need the confusion of a fake relationship, but I could do worse than playing house with a handsome billionaire. Besides, he’s already seen me naked. What could possibly go wrong? **Roommate Wars is a roommates-to-lovers romance, with a commitment-phobe billionaire and a sassy, independent heroine. This novel is a standalone romance guaranteed to give you laughs, feels, and the grand gestures and happy ending you crave.**

All's Fair

Roommate Wars

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SPARE ROOM RACHEL THOUGHT THIS WAS HER YEAR. LIFE HAD OTHER PLANS. 1. Re-download Couch to 5K, and actually do the programme 2. Apply for promotion. Avoid projects about dog biscuits, 'miracle' grass seed, etc. 3. DO NOT agree to further dates with Laurence 4. Try to remember Mum means well (!!!) 5. Start using proper night cream with retinol As her mother likes to remind her, Rachel Ryan is thirty with no partner, hardly any savings and no mortgage. But when she makes her resolutions she's sure this is her year. By February things are not going to plan. Her career is in chaos as the new guy at work is none other than Jack Harper, who broke her heart at university - and despite herself the chemistry is still there. Plus her best friend has news that will change everything. As life starts to fall apart around her, will Rachel be able to move on from the past and make some very different resolutions? Maybe then she'll see what's right in front of her. Don't miss this hilarious debut for fans of Beth O'Leary and Mhairi McFarlane.

Rachel Ryan's Resolutions

A 2022 Audie Award Finalist A MOST ANTICIPATED ROM-COM SELECTED BY * BUZZFEED * LGBTQ READS * BUSTLE * THE NERD DAILY * ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT * FROLIC MEDIA * AND MORE! A BEST BOOK PICK BY * HARPER’​S BAZAAR * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY “The Charm Offensive will sweep you off your feet.” —PopSugar ​​​​In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer. Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star. Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off. As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

The Charm Offensive

One of Elle’s Best Romance Novels of 2024 A Publishers Weekly and Book Riot Best Romance of 2024 The author of the “sexy, insightful, and utterly charming” (BuzzFeed) Kiss Her Once for Me returns with a new queer rom-com following once childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country. A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summers running through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incident the summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking. Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren’t quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves. Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they’re both stuck in old patterns. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars. But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they’re forced together once and for all to fulfill his last wish: a cross-country road trip. Stuffed into the gayest van west of the Mississippi, the three embark on a life-changing summer trip—from Washington state to the Grand Canyon, from the Gulf Coast to coastal Maine—that will chart a new future and perhaps lead them back to one another.

Here We Go Again

"Like hanging with your funniest, sunniest, most sound, wise friend. " – Marian KeyesEverything good, bad and downright mad that has shaped Vogue’s life and career is laid bare in Big Mouth. So get ready for sharply observed, hilarious and very personal insights into divorce, anxiety, family life, and showbiz, alongside important life lessons, such as how to sellotape a bottle of vodka to your inner thigh on a night out and why you should never be friends with a celebrity. Growing up in her beloved Howth, a seaside town in Co Dublin, Vogue’s life had its ups and downs. Her parents separated when she was five, a time in Ireland when priests were still ranting against broken marriages from the pulpit. Bouncing between the routine of her mum Sandra’s house and the pub for a few years (her dad, Freddie, was ‘fond of the drink’), everything changed overnight when Sandra (a complete ride) met Scottish businessman Neil and they moved to the big house on the cliff. In the school halls of Santa Sabina, Vogue made friends for life and spent her teenage years hanging out around off-licences, playing Beat the Slapper and getting kicked out of home. After school, she was packed off to Aberdeen by Neil to begin her short career as a builder but soon jacked it in when she was cast in reality TV show Fade Street. What follows is a behind-the-scenes peek at a rollercoaster life full of highs, lows, marriages, mistakes, misdemeanors and triumphs. Loudly, Vogue tells her whole story, moles and all, for the first time in this candid and funny dive into her hyperactive life.

Big Mouth

Preorder Mhairi's new novel COVER STORY – coming soon! Two best friends.One missed chance.And a night that changes everything.Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen. Now in their 30s, the four are still as close as ever, Thursday pub quiz night is still sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe Eve should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed sometimes thinks about it too. Then one night, in an instant, all their lives change forever. And, as Eve learns she didn’t know her friends as well as she thought, she also discovers she isn’t the only person keeping secrets… 'Poignantly heartbreaking and, at others, genuinely hilarious' EMILY HENRY 'Brilliant on relationships, friendships and emotions… I loved, loved, loved this book’ MARIAN KEYES ‘Gorgeously romantic, as well as a story about friendship and grief and loss; I never wanted it to end’ BETH O’LEARY ‘A luminous, heart-achingly beautiful love letter to friendship’ JOSIE SILVER Don’t miss this hilarious and heartbreaking romcom - one of Emily Henry’s five best romcoms of all time – from the internationally bestselling author, a heartwrenching story of love, friendship and secrets.

Last Night

I'm the notoriously angry, grouchy D.C. Eagles defenseman who just can’t keep his temper in check—a temper that leads to a fifteen-game suspension from the NHL. As if that’s not bad enough, I'm forced into a short-term youth-hockey coaching gig—which my manager swears will “rebuild my image.” But what I didn’t expect was for a gorgeous, spunky blonde to stomp onto the ice on day one and lecture me about being rude to her little brother. Something about this spitfire of a woman, and the boy she’s so protective of, has my defenses melting. And if I’m not careful, I’ll burst into flames, forever melting the ice I’ve carefully kept around my heart. This is a closed-door romcom with mild language. Trigger warnings include parental substance abuse and dealing with grief/loss of parents.

Desire or Defense

What if society wasn't fundamentally rational, but was motivated by insanity? This thought sets Jon Ronson on an utterly compelling adventure into the world of madness. Along the way, Jon meets psychopaths, those whose lives have been touched by madness and those whose job it is to diagnose it, including the influential psychologist who developed the Psychopath Test, from whom Jon learns the art of psychopath-spotting. A skill which seemingly reveals that madness could indeed be at the heart of everything . . . Combining Jon Ronson's trademark humour, charm and investigative incision, The Psychopath Test is both entertaining and honest, unearthing dangerous truths and asking serious questions about how we define normality in a world where we are increasingly judged by our maddest edges. 'The belly laughs come thick and fast – my God, he is funny . . . provocative and interesting' - Observer

Picador Collection

The Psychopath Test

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.` So opens Jane Austens second novel Pride and Prejudice, which was first published in 1813. It follows the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five single daughters. The whole town is set aflutter by the arrival of prosperous Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy, and as the prejudice of the latter hurts the pride of headstrong Elizabeth Bennet, friendship, love, and strife enfold. Perhaps the most beloved of all of Austens work, Pride and Prejudice has been adapted numerous times, including in the 1995 BBC mini-series featuring Colin Firth as Mr Darcy, and the 2005 movie adaption by Joe Wright with Keira Knightley in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most beloved British writers of all time. During her short life she published six novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, that are all considered as literary classics today. Her writing is full of sharp observations on the society in which she evolved, as well as ripe with timeless irony, and a solid dose of humour. She has created immortal characters that have inspired countless authors, novels, and movies such as Bridget Jones and Clueless.

Svenska Ljud Classica

Pride and Prejudice

Welcome to Merrywell. Population: small. Secrets: aplenty. ‘Murder in Merrywell is an entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ – Clare Chase Ex-journalist Violet Brewster is keen to make a good first impression in her new community, having just moved to the small village of Merrywell. When Violet hears about the mystery of Helen Slingsby, who disappeared from the village forty years earlier, she decides to help uncover what happened. But despite Violet’s best efforts, she can find no trace of the missing woman. As Violet talks to the other residents, it becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking beneath the village’s idyllic exterior. When a villager is found dead in their home, Violet becomes convinced that the murder is connected to Helen. Did Helen ever really leave Merrywell? Who in the village is hiding something? And can Violet finally solve this forty-year-old mystery before someone else gets hurt? An utterly gripping and page-turning English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands. Readers LOVE Murder in Merrywell!'A perfect cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully-drawn setting.' Roz Watkins ‘If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache ‘Violet Brewster is everything you could want in an amateur sleuth; empathetic, determined, and ruthless in her quest for truth… A must read!’ Charlotte Baker ‘Interesting characters, and the story is funny, thrilling and touching. A very good combination.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Murder in Merrywell has moments that will make you laugh out loud! I recommend to all readers.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Violet Brewster Mystery

Murder in Merrywell

'Funny, inspiring and uplifting' Nina Stibbe'Raging, outrageous and joyous' Nikki May'A must-read for all people-pleasers! … Explosive, funny, thought-provoking' Good HousekeepingFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a fierce, joyful and uplifting novel about putting life on pause – just for one day. After a morning that starts with a terrible migraine, an accidentally strong concoction of painkillers, and a bump on the head, Clover Hendry is not quite herself. And as she walks out of work at 9.47am, for once Clover isn't worrying about anything. She is taking some much-deserved me-time, and everyone else had better get out of her way. As she crashes from once incident (a deliciously illicit swim) to the next (art theft), Clover is on a one-woman mission to do exactly as she pleases – consequences are for tomorrow! It's a day of joyful recklessness, but behind the chaos, a plan is afoot. Will her new-found freedom uncover long-buried secrets? A euphoric, raging, galvanizing story about putting life on pause, pleasing yourself, and getting your own back – whatever it takes. READERS LOVE LUCKY DAY! 'An utter delight from start to finish. I totally got Clover and I wish I had her sudden gusto for telling everyone exactly what she thinks' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Funny and heartbreaking and funny again … A great, great read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thoroughly enjoyable. We should all be more Clover!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Full of warmth and wit, we follow Clover Hendry as she temporarily throws off the shackles of marriage, kids and work commitments to navigate a day of saying 'what the '****'. Hugely entertaining and an uplifting read with a satisfying ending' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great book that leaves you cheering Clover on' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lucky Day

Growing, growing, gone… Penrith, in the heart of the Lake District, is not the kind of place you can easily vanish. Certainly not when the members of the Penrith Bingo Club are trying to track you down. But even stalwart sleuth, Amita Khatri, and her son in law, Jason, are foxed this time when a local woman tells them her husband, a mild-mannered academic has gone missing. And he’s not the only person to disappear. Soon Amita, Jason, and irascible retired copper, Frank, are searching for more people – and some missing money to boot. From the veg patches of Penrith to the shores of Ullswater, as Jason and Amita comb the Cumbrian countryside for clues, they soon realise they’ve stumbled a case where planting the evidence takes on a whole new meaning. And unless they can unearth some answers soon, they might be the next people to disappear…

The Garden Club Murders

'Cute, quirky and with loveably relatable characters. A sweeping romance, a romp through the jungle in search of lost treasure, snarky banter, great fun from start to finish!’ Marianne Gordon A laugh-out-loud spicy adventure romcom. Perfect for fans of The Lost City, Lyla Sage and Christina Lauren.A surprise gift is exactly what Adriana Jones needs to improve her vacation, and a bracelet with gems will do the trick. Except once it’s on, she’s faced with two problems: The bracelet is actually meant for Andrew Jones – the renowned and utterly gorgeous archaeologistIt will not come off, no matter how hard she tries…Andrew Jones needs this bracelet if he wants to find an ancient lost treasure deep in the jungles of Colombia. And there’s no way he’s letting Adriana’s mistake cost him his career. There’s only one solution: Adriana must accompany him on his quest. Trekking through jungles and crawling through crypts wasn’t on Adriana’s vacation agenda, but an adventure with the very sexy Dr Jones might just be the treasure she’s been seeking… Tropes: Forced ProximityOpposites AttractFish out of WaterDestination romcomSpicyReaders are falling for the adventure romcom of the year!‘A fun, spicy adventure romance perfect for readers who adore puzzles and action mixed in with their love stories… a wild ride that had me grinning the whole way through!’ Lauren Connolly, author of PS I Hate You 'Packed with thrilling treasure hunts and sizzling chemistry, this romantic adventure is impossible to put down… a must-read!’ Annie McQuaid, author of Crash Landing ‘A fun, sexy thrill ride that gave me all The Lost City vibes. I dig this book!’ Carlie Walker, author of Code Word Romance ‘The perfect balance of mystery and adventure, and the characters were both relatable and compelling… I found myself hooked from the first page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The perfect combination of adventure (Indiana Jones vibes) and romance… a very cute book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I loved this story and the characters within all felt so real and unique! Would recommend to those who enjoyed adventure stories and books like Jo Segura’s novels!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Heavy with the Indiana Jones trope, if that's a thing. Oh, and heavy on the slow burn. Overall, delightful’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Andrew and Adriana had perfect, sizzling chemistry’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A really well-paced book, and I just loved the adventure and both of the characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I loved how easy it was to get lost in… from the very first page the story was so engaging with just the right amount of adventure, humour and romance and such compelling characters that were so relatable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Digging Dr Jones

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the “deliciously steamy” (Entertainment Weekly) romance novel that launched the careers of the New York Times bestselling authors of Love and Other Words and The Unhoneymooners. Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other.

Beautiful Bastard

It's not every day you see a new face in my small hometown of Two Harts, let alone one belonging to an annoyingly handsome all-star NFL player. But for some reason, Chris Sterns has decided that the library where I work is his go-to spot to hide from his mega-fans, and unfortunately, winding me up is his new favorite sport. Being crowned “world’s sexiest man” has done little to curb his confident charm and when he somehow ropes me into his two-person book club, I can’t help warming to his endless positivity. But when a photo of him stumbling out of a Las Vegas club with a woman in tow is leaked to the press, I can’t help but question whether his good-boy persona is just an act. And that’s far from the only answer I’m left searching for when Chris pops the question I’ve only ever heard in my favorite romance books. Did he really just ask me to marry him? It’s not the proposal I was expecting, but with my mom’s medical bills piling up faster than I can pay them and with the scandal threatening to ruin everything Chris has worked for, could an engagement be the perfect fake out for us both? Or is this a game we’ll both lose? Full of laugh-out-loud moments, this totally uplifting and addictive friends-to-lovers romance is perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sarah Adams, and Olivia Dade.

The Fake Out

The “masterful, inspiring, and full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) Jackie Lau returns with a thoroughly unique love story about a woman reliving the same Friday over and over again—and the intriguing man who can’t quite remember her. Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old woman at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food. Except now she’s reliving the same Friday. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45, and the Wordle answer is always “happy.” Worst of all, any work she does at her job as an engineer? It’s erased when she wakes up. Monday might never come in this workaholic’s nightmare. Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,” and a trip to the food stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it. Then she meets good-looking Cam, who appears in multiple places on her Friday. While the brewery owner seems to have no memory of their encounters, there are signs he might be the key to getting un-stuck. But Noelle can’t figure out how, even when she steps outside of her comfort zone and lives a little. As she grows attached to him, she becomes more worried that she’ll never escape the loop and he’ll never recall her name. And if she does ever get out, can they be together in the “real” world?

Time Loops & Meet Cutes

A “one-sitting-read" (Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author) about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space. Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society. But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward. “A must read” (Haley Jakobson, New York Times Editor’s Choice author), We Could Be Rats is an unforgettable story of two sisters finding their way back to each other, and a celebration of that transcendent, unshakable bond.

We Could Be Rats

‘I was in awe reading this book, wonderfully written, fascinating history and brought with it the scent of all those flowers. A delight for my senses.’ Milly JohnsonThe Lost Bookshop meets The Keeper of Stories in this utterly heart-warming story about friendship, hope and a mystery hidden in the language of flowers… The smallest treasures can hold the biggest mysteries…One year after her husband’s death Emma has become a wallflower, hiding among the brighter blooms in the florist where she works. But when a colleague invites her to a talk on the Titanic, she begins a quest to uncover who arranged the flowers on board. As Emma discovers the lost story of the girl and the great ship, she realises that flowers may unlock long buried secrets in her own life… Will she be able to unlock the mystery of the Titanic and heal her heart too? Escape into the world of Sally Page with the perfect summer read for a weekend away or cosying up in your favourite armchair! From the author of phenomenal bestsellers The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings comes another novel that will warm your heart. 'A gorgeous, gorgeous book.This is such an engaging read, packed with light, colour and kindness.' Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins Readers LOVE The Secrets of Flowers‘Another masterpiece by Sally Page! I read this in one sitting. It moved me, made me smile and stayed with me…’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I devoured this in a day. I knew this book was going to be a big warm hug and it didn’t disappoint’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a delightful book. Finished in one hit because I really wanted to know what happened … A book to make you feel glad to be human’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely, lovely read. Great cast of characters and a wonderful story' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must read for anyone looking for a feel-good heartwarming read. I cannot recommend Sally Page enough’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I found myself moved to tears … I love Sally Page's writing style – she understands people and how they feel, particularly characters who are awkward in their own skins.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book has me laughing and crying… A brilliant read, loved it’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you like flowers and history, then you will adore this book’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is a story that will stay with me for a long time’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Secrets of Flowers

“There is so much at play in this wondrous novel. Vi, struggling to place herself in any context that makes sense within the world, earnestly leads us into a wild experiment, to turn a blob into the man of her dreams, and I was transfixed by her voice. This is a book that looks at identity and desire in profoundly interesting ways.” — Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Now Is Not the Time to Panic A humorous and deeply moving debut novel in the vein of Bunny and Convenience Store Woman about a young woman who tries to shape a sentient blob into her perfect boyfriend. The daughter of a Taiwanese father and white mother, Vi Liu has never quite fit into her Midwestern college town. Aimless after getting dumped by her boyfriend and dropping out of college, Vi works at the front desk of a hotel where she greets guests, refills cucumber water samovars, and tries to evade her bubbly blond coworker, Rachel. Little does Vi know her life is about to be permanently transformed when she agrees to a night out with Rachel. In the alley outside the bar, Vi discovers a strange blob—a small living creature with beady black eyes. In a moment of concern and drunken desperation, she takes it home. But the blob is no ordinary pet. Becoming increasingly sentient, it begins to grow, shift shape, and obey Vi’s commands. As the entity continues to change, Vi is struck with a daring idea: she’ll mold the creature into her ideal partner. Feeding it a stream of sweet breakfast cereals and American pop culture, the creature grows into a movie-star handsome white man. But when Vi’s desire to be loved unconditionally threatens to spiral out of control, she is forced to confront her lonely childhood, her aloof ex-boyfriend, and the racial marginalization that has defined her relationships—a journey of self-discovery that teaches her it’s impossible to control those you love. Blending the familiar with the surreal, Blob is a witty, heartfelt story about the search for love and self and what it means to be human.

Blob

The Sunday Times top 10 bestseller. Laugh along with Michael McIntyre as he lifts the curtain on his life in his revealing autobiography. This audio edition is hilariously read by Michael himself. Michael’s first book ended with his big break at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance. Waking up the next morning in the tiny rented flat he shared with his wife Kitty and their one-year-old son, he was beyond excited about the new glamorous world of show business. Unfortunately, he was also clueless . . . In A Funny Life, Michael honestly and hilariously shares the highs and the lows of his rise to the top and desperate attempts to stay there. It’s all here, from his disastrous panel show appearances to his hit TV shows, from mistakenly thinking he’d be a good chat show host and talent judge, to finding fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams and becoming the biggest-selling comedian in the world. Along the way he opens his man drawer, narrowly avoids disaster when his trousers fall down in front of three policemen and learns the hard way why he should always listen to his wife. Michael has had a silly life, a stressful life, sometimes a moving and touching life, but always A Funny Life.

A Funny Life

Read the most captivating historical debut of the year! ‘[A] scintillating, swash-buckling debut… terrifically fun’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Sharp, modern and absolutely delicious’ TAYLOR JENKINS REID ‘Fans of Bridgerton will swoon’ NITA PROSE Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Love is not required… She’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 way… Readers 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 charming book, absolutely loved it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Witty and it delivers on everything you’d hope’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I inhaled this book … a charming, blissful story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sophie Irwin's book 'A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 09-05-2022.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting

Sometimes, to find love, you have to be a little accommodating…A whip-smart, hilariously funny romcom for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella! ‘Witty, heartwarming and totally relatable’ Kathryn FreemanCath Beckinsale is in a jam. She’s a single mum of three, with her 40th birthday in sight and a precarious hold on employment. And she can’t quite let go of her late husband Gaz, whose ashes are still in an urn on the kitchen table. To make ends meet a student lodger seems like the perfect solution – after all, what’s one more child in the house? But when Dan flies in from the US with guitar and chest hair on display, it’s immediately clear that he’s no teenager, but someone who quickly sends life in an unexpected direction. ‘Properly hilarious yet touching and real …serving up laugh after laugh amid the challenges of life’ Pernille HughesReaders love The Accidental Housemate:‘I loved every page of this book. Thank you Sal Thomas for giving me so many laughs’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely brilliant. Loved, loved, loved the characters and it was just so heartwarming and uplifting’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Did I dislike anything about this book? Absolutely not! Well other than the fact I didn’t want it to end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Witty and charming story. Had me laughing out loud at several points’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely, lovely read. Definitely a great one to read on the beach’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book so much!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Not what I was expecting, as it was so much better’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An utter gem of a book…has all the feels; its poignant, funny and smart’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Accidental Housemate

Preorder Mhairi's new novel COVER STORY – coming soon! A SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023 ‘Everything you want from a rom com and satisfyingly knotty with proper, recognisable characters. She just gets better and better’ JOJO MOYES ‘I LOVE her books PASSIONATELY and this is her best yet’ MARIAN KEYES ‘She’s so ridiculously talented . . . consider this recommendation my personal gift to you and your life’ EMILY HENRY When Joe and Roisin join their group of friends for a weekend away, it’s a triple celebration – a birthday, an engagement and the launch of Joe’s new crime drama on TV. But when Roisin sees secrets she shared with Joe play out on the TV screen, she knows that between us means nothing at all. Roisin finds herself searching for clues to the truth – about her life, their history, and the man she thought she loved. And it’s then that Roisin finds the most unexpected plot twist of them all. Among those same old friends, there’s a surprising potential for new beginnings . . . EVERYONE LOVES BETWEEN US‘Mhairi McFarlane’s ninth novle is a treat . . . totally swoonworthy’The Times ‘Mhairi writes with such magic, I am completely in awe . . . smart, funny, compelling – all things I’ve come to expect from Mhairi McFarlane’s books and more’ LUCY VINE ‘I love Mhairi McFarlane’s books and this was no exception . . . it’s clever and engrossing and sharp’ LOUISE O’NEILL ’No one writes like Mhairi and somehow she gets better with every book. So clever, so heartfelt and so unbelievably funny, Between Us is a perfect book’ LINDSEY KELK ‘So funny and smart. She’s brilliant at writing characters you really fancy, and characters you love to hate’ DAISY BUCHANAN ‘Mhairi is simply the best of the best, I adore everything she writes and I'm forever in awe of her talent . . . she makes me howl with laughter’ EMMA HUGHES ‘Buoyant and funny and warm, but still with enough realism and wryness to satisfy the cynic . . . A total treat!’ NIAMH HARGAN ‘Another cracking read, but something different too. Wise, clever . . . a brilliant rollercoaster of a romance’ PERNILLE HUGHES ‘A heart-swelling romance’Best

Between Us

This audio edition is brilliantly and hilariously read by Sally Phillips, known for her performances in Bridget Jones's Diary and Smack the Pony. More Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up: the laugh-out-loud sequel to the hilarious, WTF AM I DOING NOW?! runaway bestseller! 'The new Bridget Jones for our times' – Celia Walden, Telegraph There is no magical land you finally arrive at where everything is figured out, fixed and sorted. Life, like us, is a sum of moving parts, and if we’re lucky, we get to keep f**king up, figuring it out and laughing in the face of it all. Nell’s back. Her life still isn’t going to plan. And she’s still asking the big questions and getting none of the answers. Like, for example: 1. Why is falling in love so easy, but staying in love so hard? 2. What do you do when your friendships are put to the ultimate test? 3. Can we ever really live in the moment and leave the past behind? 4. When everything goes tits up, do you fall apart or jump on a plane to LA with Cricket (an eighty-something widow and your BFF)? 5. And when all else fails, will celebrity-scented candles, smashed avocados and Instagram filters save us?* In this hilarious, un-put-downable follow-up to the bestselling Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, now the basis for the major TV series, Not Dead Yet, there are laugh-out-loud lessons to be learned, truths to be told, adventures to go on and joys to discover. But first, Nell has some more confessions . . . *#onlyjoking #sortof #LOL Praise for Alexandra Potter: 'The story of Nell Stevens’ struggle through her imperfect, messy life doesn’t just make brilliant fiction, it’s turning into a cultural revolution!' – Matt Cain 'Say hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're 20, 40 or 80' – Heat 'Brilliant! Laughing out loud' – Emma Gannon 'Funny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep, this is a perfect and inspiring new year read' – Red

Confessions

More Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up

‘His best novel yet … A Middlemarch-like triumph’ Telegraph‘A pleasure bomb of a novel’ Vogue‘A true modern master’ IndependentIt’s 23 December 1971, and the Hildebrandts are at a crossroads. Fifteen-year-old Perry has resolved to be a better person and quit dealing drugs to seventh graders. His sister Becky, the once straight-laced high school social queen, has veered into counterculture, while at college, Clem is wrestling with a decision that might tear his family apart. As their parents – Russ, a suburban pastor, and Marion, his restless wife – tug against the bonds of a joyless marriage, Crossroads finds a family, and a nation, struggling to do the right thing. ‘Funny, moving, crackling with life, it has what all great fiction should have’ Financial Times ‘Intoxicating – a luxuriant domestic drama’ Guardian THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A GUARDIAN BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2021 • AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR • A WHITE REVIEW BOOK OF THE YEAR • A LIT HUB BOOK OF THE YEAR

Crossroads

Captivatingly read by the author, Natalie Haynes. In Divine Might Natalie Haynes, author of the bestselling Pandora’s Jar, returns to the world of Greek myth and this time she examines the role of the goddesses. We meet Athene, who sprang fully formed from her father’s head: goddess of war and wisdom, guardian of Athens. We run with Artemis, goddess of hunting and protector of young girls (apart from those she decides she wants as a sacrifice). Here is Aphrodite, goddess of sex and desire – there is no deity more determined and able to make you miserable if you annoy her. And then there’s the queen of all the Olympian gods: Hera, Zeus’s long-suffering wife, whose jealousy of his dalliances with mortals, nymphs and goddesses lead her to wreak elaborate, vicious revenge on those who have wronged her. We also meet Demeter, goddess of agriculture and mother of the kidnapped Persephone, we sing the immortal song of the Muses and we warm ourselves with Hestia, goddess of the hearth and sacrificial fire. The Furies carry flames of another kind – black fires of vengeance for those who incur their wrath. These goddesses are as mighty, revered and destructive as their male counterparts. Isn’t it time we looked beyond the columns of a ruined temple to the awesome power within?

Divine Might

*Discover The Secrets of Flowers, the brand new novel from Sally Page – available to pre-order now* ‘I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny and charming’ Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde‘Funny, wise, moving and full of lovely moments…The characters are endearing and unforgettable’ Hazel Prior, author of the Richard & Judy Book Club Pick Away with the Penguins ‘Janice is a wonderful woman whose authenticity pulls you along…the breadth and originality of supporting characters makes this debut an immersive delight’ Dorset Magazine ‘Absolutely spellbinding…a warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny and yet deeply poignant’ Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory Lane ‘A treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you’ll love spending time with’ Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and Found She can’t recall what started her collection. Maybe it was in a fragment of conversation overheard as she cleaned a sink? Before long (as she dusted a sitting room or defrosted a fridge) she noticed people were telling her their stories. Perhaps they always had done, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to her… When Janice starts cleaning for Mrs B – a shrewd and tricksy woman in her nineties – she meets someone who wants to hear her story. But Janice is clear: she is the keeper of stories, she doesn’t have a story to tell. At least, not one she can share. Mrs B is no fool and knows there is more to Janice than meets the eye. What is she hiding? After all, doesn’t everyone have a story to tell? Readers are loving Sally Page:‘Oh my giddy aunt what an amazing book…absolutely adored it from start to finish’ Jeannie ‘Not what I was expecting at all…loved the way it ended’ Julie ‘An absolutely wonderful, unputdownable book full of delightful characters’ Sue ‘What a wonderful idea for a book…A joy to read’ Angela ‘Beautiful story…I loved every minute of reading it!’ Rubie

The Keeper of Stories

The Flatshare meets a modern You've Got Mail Do you believe in love at first type? When Ada set up her own PR firm from a coffee shop, she didn't expect to meet journalist Fraser. Also working there daily, he soon becomes a friend. Reporting on interesting things to do around Edinburgh, Fraser ropes Ada into accompanying him on his assignments. As they work side-by-side Ada can't help but notice how attractive Fraser is, and how well they get along. But, Ada has been chatting to a guy she met on an Agatha Christie fan fiction site, and she can't stop wondering about him. His interests are the same as hers, and the anonymity helps them both be more honest and open. As Ada's messages with the mystery man become deeper, she thinks she's falling for him. Ada is torn between Fraser and Myster-E - but can you have real feelings for someone when you're virtual strangers?

Virtual Strangers

A holiday romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, with spice and fake dating that follows a fiery designer who teams up with her charming billionaire boss for a week-long Christmas competition, and their pretend holiday romance soon starts to feel all too real. “Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.” To Fable’s surprise, her billionaire boss, Wilder Blaine, is more than willing to take on the challenge of playing her holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one for a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and she’s the maid of honor. With her ex also in the wedding party, the two team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season. Their partnership includes participating in the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding. What starts as late nights crafting the best popcorn balls for the contest soon turns into a passionate night together, where the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. But when the holidays end, can their winter wonderland romance turn into something real back at the office? Or are they destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s Day?

My Favorite Holidate

Mia's a curvy, nerdy cam girl. I’m a professional hockey player who just got traded to the New York Stars. She's also the best one-night stand I’ve ever had and I sure wouldn’t mind making her a permanent fixture in my life. But we have a problem—she betrayed a mutual friend and I just can’t get past that. Yet, every single J/P gene in my body roars to life when I find my baby brother paying to watch her on a cam-girl site. This woman is mine. Can a one-night stand ever be anything more? Damn straight—watch me make it happen.

New York Stars

Waiting Game

I found the perfect rental in the overpriced city I can’t quit. My only problem? The arrogant landlord is my new roommate’s best friend. Max Burrows comes from one of the wealthiest families in San Francisco—and I come from one of the poorest. We have nothing in common. Max is tall, built, with chiseled good looks, while I struggle to keep stains off my blouse. Under the guise of spending time with his friend, Max has been known to share embarrassing personal facts to potential suitors and steal my expensive chocolate. The man is a nuisance. But the more I get to know him, the more I start to wonder if he’s intentionally driving men away from me. And then I remember that his mother treats me like the help, and his ex-girlfriend is rich and beautiful, and she wants him back. There is no way our worlds could ever come together. No way a man like that would take me seriously. But the near kiss in the kitchen has me wondering if the attraction isn’t only one-way. **Landlord Wars is a grumpy-sunshine, cinderella story with a bit of enemies-to-lovers thrown in. This audiobook is a stand-alone romance guaranteed to give you all the feels, along with the grand gestures and happy ending you crave.**

Landlord Wars

An assassin and a secretly spicy bookworm ignite sparks in Hannah and the Hitman, a steamy romantic suspense bursting with humor, sizzling chemistry, a supernatural twist, and the ultimate fight for a happily-ever-after. What happens when a sexy, cocky hitman and a secretly smutty small-town librarian get together? Sparks fly. I’m a hitman. With all the bad guys out there, business is brisk. I don’t have time to focus on anything but work until I sit beside a curvy woman on a plane…and read over her shoulder. I’m instantly obsessed with the small-town librarian who dreams of having a happily-ever-after of her own but is convinced true love is a fantasy only found in books. My new job? Proving that she’ll have an HEA with me. Because she’s mine. Except...big problem. I haven’t told her I’m a hitman. Turns out, she has a few shocking secrets of her own. When a mafia boss doesn’t like me distracted from one last hit, can I be a superhero and keep Hannah alive, or am I not the one wearing the cape? Hannah and the Hitman has tons of heat, lots of laughs, plus a fun, supernatural twist.

Hannah and the Hitman

Erasure is Percival Everett's hilarious satire about race and publishing, now an Oscar-nominated film, American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross. 'Hilarious . . . Everett is a first-rate word-wrangler.' – Nicholas Lezard, The Guardian Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's once-acclaimed writing career has bottomed out: his latest manuscript has been rejected by seventeen publishers. He seethes on the sidelines of the literary establishment as he watches the meteoric success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, a first novel by a woman who once visited 'some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days'. Meanwhile, Monk struggles with real family tragedies – his aged mother is fast succumbing to Alzheimer's, and he still grapples with the reverberations of his father's suicide seven years before. In his rage and despair, Monk dashes off an outlandish novel full of stereotypes. He doesn't intend for My Pafology to be published, let alone taken seriously, but it is, and soon it becomes the Next Big Thing. How Monk deals with the personal and professional fallout galvanizes this audacious, hysterical and quietly devastating novel. 'Sublime . . . brilliant, uproarious . . . A wise novel about how we live.' – Brandon Taylor, author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Real Life 'Seminal doesn't even come close. This novel is Everett at his finest, full of trademark protest, humanity and incisive humour, all wrapped up in one hell of a story.' – Courttia Newland, author of A River Called Time Read Percival's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel James in paperback now.

Erasure

Winner of Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ+ Romance A Best New Holiday Romance by PopSugar, BuzzFeed, Refinery29, and more! The author of the “swoon-worthy debut” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister. One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money. Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover it’s Jack—the mysterious woman she fell for over the course of one magical Christmas Eve the year before. Now, Ellie must choose between the safety of a fake relationship and the risk of something real. Perfect for fans of Written in the Stars and One Day in December, Kiss Her Once for Me is the queer holiday rom-com that you’ll want to cozy up with next to the fire.

Kiss Her Once for Me

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life. As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details: the singular, pitbull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)the curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the armwhy, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drinkthe pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonaldsthe satisfaction of writing jokes about suicidehow doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciaticatrying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s weddingthat he has fallen in love at LOT, but rarely done anything about itwhy it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holidaythat he’s not David Mitchell the novelist. Despite what David Miliband might think

David Mitchell: Back Story

It takes an organised mind to solve a well-planned crime …The perfect new cosy crime novel for fans of Agatha Christie, Nita Prose and Ian Moore! A Platinum book of the month! 'Mrs Beeton herself would be proud. A perfect recipe, best devoured in one sitting between elevenses and afternoon tea' Ian Moore 'A glorious new addition to the cosy crime genre with recipes which will leave you wanting more' Melanie Cantor 'Highly recommended' Nuala McGovern, Woman's Hour – Alice Beeton never anticipated finding herself single and childless past fifty. A distant relative of the famous Mrs Beeton, Alice had once envisioned a perfect household of her own. Instead, she resides in her pristine flat in a rather shabby Kensington block, with Agatha, her brilliant, if overly protective, corgi-Jack Russell mix. Alice runs the Good Housekeeping Management Agency, supplying discreet domestic staff to luxurious townhouses and grand country estates. When Camille Messent urgently needs a new housekeeper, Alice sends Enya, a bold young woman with stellar references and fluency in French. But Alice's quiet New Year's Day is shattered when news breaks that Enya has been found dead. With the scruffy but intriguing Detective Rigby struggling to conduct a proper investigation, and the wealthy family closing ranks, Miss Beeton, along with her astute companion Agatha, takes it upon herself to crack the case. After all, it takes an organised mind to solve a well-planned crime… – Readers LOVE Miss Beeton's Murder Agency: ‘What a sleuth Miss Beeton is. I need more!’ ‘Move over Agatha (and not Miss Beeton's loveable dog), there's a new queen in town’ ‘Strong women, friendship and found family, not to mention a handsome detective and a very special dog called Agatha! How I loved this book' 'Absolutely delightful stuff, I really hope there's more to come.' 'The perfect title to get cosy with this autumn and winter.' Perfect for fans of: Cosy crimeGolden age crime fictionWomen sleuthsFound familyOld money and high society

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency

‘Hilarious and heartbreaking’ MONICA ALI 'Deeply funny and knowing' MEG WOLITZER 'Witty, moving' ANN NAPOLITANO 'Poignant, funny and brilliantly told' POSY SIMMONDS An often hilarious, surprisingly moving portrait of a long-married couple, seen through the eyes of their wickedly observant daughter – for fans of A Man Called Ove and The Royal Tenenbaums. Miranda’s parents live in a dilapidated house in rural France that they share with two llamas, eight ducks, five chickens, two cats, and a freezer full of food dating back to 1983. Miranda’s father is a retired professor of philosophy who never loses an argument. Her mother likes to bring conversation back to the War, although she was born after it ended. Married for fifty years, they are uncommonly set in their ways. Miranda plays the role of translator when she visits, communicating the desires or complaints of one parent to the other and then venting her frustration to her sister and her daughter. At the end of a visit, she reports 'the usual desire to kill'. Read by Harriet Walter, The Usual Desire to Kill is a wry, propulsive, exquisitely observed debut about a singularly eccentric family and the sibling rivalry, generational divides, and long-buried secrets that shape them. This is an extraordinary novel from a seasoned playwright with a flare for dialogue and, in the end, immense empathy for the mysterious intimacies of marriage, family, and love. ‘Hilarious and heartbreaking. Barnes’s dialogue is pitch-perfect, and her characters dance off the page and straight into your heart’ Monica Ali, author of Love Marriage ‘Camilla Barnes deftly deciphers the secret language of one family, often with deeply funny and knowing results. I loved spending time in the very specific, complicated and memorable world of this novel’ Meg Wolitzer, author of The Wife ‘I love nothing more than reading about eccentric families, and the family in The Usual Desire to Kill is just that. Miranda and her sister work to uncover the true story of their parents' marriage, only to have their brilliant, quirky mother and father deflect them at every turn. Barnes has written a witty, moving novel about characters who, even when they seem incapable of speaking honestly, are worth listening to nonetheless’ Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful ‘An account of two ageing, secretive, disputatious and thoroughly maddening parents – poignant, funny and brilliantly told through gritted teeth’ Posy Simmonds, author of Cassandra Darke

The Usual Desire to Kill

Discover a world of outrageous experiments with the Sunday Times top ten bestseller, Elephants on Acid. Guided by Alex Boese's engaging storytelling, unearth answers to questions that have tickled your curious mind – from the unusual to the hilariously absurd. 'Excellent accounts of some of the most important and interesting experiments in biology and psychology' – Simon Singh, author of The Code Book A riveting look at historical experiments that challenge conventional thinking: If left to their own devices, would babies instinctively choose a well-balanced diet? - Discover the secret of how to sleep on planes - Which really tastes better in a blind tasting - Coke or Pepsi? - Would your dog run to fetch help if you fell down a disused mineshaft? - What would happen if you gave an elephant the largest ever single dose of LSD? Elephants on Acid humorously delves into these and more, delivering a unique blend of popular psychology and historical science – a fascinating insight into the bizarre world of scientific experiments.

Elephants on Acid

rank|desc

publishdate|desc

publishdate|asc

rating|desc

title|asc

audioduration|desc

audioduration|asc

Comedy & Humour

BookBeat lets you enjoy over 1 million audiobooks and e-books on your mobile or tablet. Try for free!

BookBeat - Audiobooks and e-books directly in the mobile. Try for free!

Unless you're out on an adventure, it's better to sign up at the website of {country}.

Comedy & Humour

About us

Follow us

Help and contact

Information

BookBeat

Download BookBeat