01 Juno Jones, Epic Explorer # 5 (2024)

‘Captivating’Literary Review

Waste is everywhere. It’s clogging our rivers and littering our streets. The Pacific Ocean contains a great garbage patch three times the size of France. Our junk is even orbiting the earth. No wonder there are microplastics in our bloodstreams.

Waste, a problem we’ve ignored for too long, is now a global crisis – and it’s getting worse.

From the landfills of New Delhi, to the second-hand clothing markets of Ghana and the overflowing sewers of Britain, join Oliver Franklin-Wallis as he reveals the dirty truth about the global waste industry.

In this eye-opening and ultimately hopeful book, he meets some of the heroic people trying to make a difference and explains precisely how we can create a better, less wasteful world.]]>

Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.

More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.

Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent - Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife - who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.

There’s not much time.

With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them - against impossible odds.

Praise for Drowning:

'Stunning, emotional, and unforgettable.Drowningreads likeApollo 13underwater' Don Winslow,New York Timesbestselling author ofCity on FireandThe Border

'DrowningisThe Poseidon AdventuremeetsThe Martian. It is another can’t-put-down, edge-of-your-seat thriller from T. J. Newman, one of our most exciting new authors' Adrian McKinty,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe ChainandThe Island

'Drowning is pure adrenaline and all heart. Gripping, relentless, effortlessly assured, T. J. Newman’s thriller is tense and moving. You’ll be grabbed from page oneas the crew and passengers of a downed airliner fight for survival and rescuers race to reach them. Drowning is an incredible ride - strap in, brace, and remember to breathe' Meg Gardiner, #1New York Timesbestselling author

'Drowning is the first terrific thriller of 2023. Honest. It has at least a dozen legit cliffhangers and a dozen huggable characters you can’t stop rooting for. T.J. Newman has the goods. Make that

'No second album syndrome for TJ Newman, who follows up her hit plane-hijack debutFallingwith another tense, affecting account of an aviation disaster inDrowning. This feels like a movie blockbuster-to-be, with James Cameron the ideal director.' The Sunday Times

‘Buckle up because this edge-of-the-seat thriller won’t let you go, not until you know the outcome, anyway. Cue rescue teams, complex plans, and a nail-biting and emotional race against the clock. Breath taking stuff.’ Zoe West, Women’s Weekly

'With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them - against impossible odds.' Magic Radio Book Club
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‘The most gorgeous feel-good story about love and grief and how the smallest things can start a journey of healing.’ GEORGINA MOORE, author of The Garnett Girls

'I finished it in a breathless emotional gulp. Truly wonderful, incredibly moving...funny, witty, wise and superbly written...The age beautifully evoked' STEPHEN FRY

'You will rejoice as February gradually finds happiness again, consoled by two little canaries, the treadmill of the Top 40, the rare beauties of Nineties London and finally true love. Eva’s latest story HAS everything' JILLY COOPER

It’s 1990.The Happy Mondays are in the charts, a 15-year-old called Kate Moss is on the cover of theFacemagazine, and Julia Roberts wears thigh-boots for the poster for a new movie calledPretty Woman.

February Kingdom is nineteen years old when she is knocked sideways by family tragedy. Then one evening in May she finds an escaped canary in her kitchen and it sparks a glimmer of hope in her. With the help of the bird called Yellow, Feb starts to feel her way out of her own private darkness, just as her aunt embarks on a passionate and all-consuming affair with a married American drama teacher.

THIS COULD BE EVERYTHINGis a coming-of-age story with its roots under the pavements of a pre-Richard Curtis-era Notting Hill that has all but vanished. It’s about what happens when you start looking after something more important than you, and the hope a yellow bird can bring…

Praise for This Could Be Everything:

'A beautiful, atmospheric, brilliantly observed thing of joy. Eva Rice is a fantastic observer and relayer of the human experience. Absolutely wonderful' Mel Giedroyc

'A beautiful balm of a book full of hope and possibility,This Could Be Everythingwill break your heart and piece it back togetheragain with wit, warmth and magic. The way Rice weaves together fiction and reality is delicious, with details on every page that will have pop fans, Londoners and 90s nostalgics squealing with delight. Nobody captures the exhilaration of first love and teen fandom quite like her' Lauren Bravo

‘A reason to be cheerful - THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING is the book I've been waiting my whole life for, a perfect 90s period piece about sisters, it's glam, gorgeous, a little bit melancholic and a lot charming’ Daisy Buchanan

‘This moving, hopeful and brilliantly told story inhabits the West London of my youth. I loved it’ Betty Boo

‘A gorgeous story about first love and hope’ Red

‘A moving novel about sisterhood, grief and first love’ Good Housekeeping

'The story of loss, love - and ultimately hope - is beautifully told. You won't be able to put it down' Heat]]>

THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #7

‘An absolute master of pace, plotting and character’ ELLY GRIFFITHS

ON A REMOTE ISLAND

When Jez Cardew’s boat is found drifting empty on the Atlantic Ocean, DI Ben Kitto and his fellow lifeboat crew members immediately fear the worst. After an extensive search yields no results, the team are forced to retreat to dry land as darkness sets in.

THE OCEAN IS MERCILESS

But Kitto can’t let it go. Why would Jez – an experienced sailor – get into difficulty when the sea has been calm for weeks? Unless his disappearance was no accident.

BUT SO ARE THE PEOPLE . . .

The gruesome discovery of a hand washed ashore on the beach confirms his hunch. Because a medal is attached to the index finger, and it can only have been placed there by the killer.

This strange clue is the only lead to an agenda as cold as the ocean itself. Kitto must work fast, before the small, isolated community closes ranks. And it’s only a matter of time before the murderer among them strikes again . . .

Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths, this gripping new locked-island mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the bitter end.

‘Beautifully written and expertly plotted’ GUARDIAN

‘Kate Rhodes directs her cast of suspects with consummate skill, keeping us guessing right to the heartbreaking end’ LOUISE CANDLISH]]>

‘Clever, atmospheric and compelling’ WOMAN'S WEEKLY

‘Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story’ METRO

‘Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting’ JAKE KERRIDGE, SUNDAY EXPRESS

‘A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline’ SOPHIE HANNAH, DAILY EXPRESS

‘Rhodes is a published poet and every one of her sentences sings’ FINANCIAL TIMES

‘Gripping, clever and impossible to put down . . . The claustrophobia and paranoia of the island are so brilliantly evoked, I could almost feel the tide encroaching as time ran out to find the killer’ ERIN KELLY

‘The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland’ MEL MCGRATH

‘Evocative, immersive, twisty’ SARAH VAUGHAN

‘One of the most absorbing books I’ve read in a long time’ MEL SHERRATT]]>

Gwen’s life has stalled. She’s in her mid-thirties, perpetually single, her friends are busy procreating in the country and conversations with her parents seem to revolve entirely around herbaceous borders and the council’s wheelie-bin timetable. Above all she’s lonely. But then, isn’t everyone?

When Gwen’s made redundant from a job she drifted into a decade ago and never left, she realises it’s time to make a change. Over what might be the best – and most solitary – meal she’s ever eaten, Gwen vows to find something meaningful to do with her life, reconnect with her family and friends – and finally book herself a dentist appointment.

Her search for meaning soon leads her to volunteer in a local charity shop where she both literally and metaphorically unloads her emotional baggage. With the help of the weird and wonderful people she meets in the shop and the donated items bursting with untold stories that pass through its doors, Gwen must finally address the events and choices that led her to this point and find a way to move forward with bravery, humanity and more regular dental care.

Brimming with life, love and the stories bound up in even the most everyday items,Prelovedis a tale about friendship, loss, being true to oneself no matter the expectations – and the enduring power and joy of charity shops.

'A heartwarming tale of friendship, loss and being true to yourself, regardless of expectations.'Redmagazine

'I think I’ve been waiting for a novel like Preloved for my whole reading life. This is a luscious, shimmering book of depth and delicacy. It’s sad, hilarious, sad, tender, brutal, brilliantly observed – there is a sense of magic on every page.' Daisy Buchanan, author ofInsatiable

'Preloved is full of sharp observations on life, loss, regret and self-preservation... spilling over with wit and hope. Cleverly interwoven with stories of the myriad reasons items find their way into charity shops, the joy, friendship and ultimate enlightenment Gwen discovers offers a quirky and poignant reminder that one person's trash is always somebody else's treasure.' Julietta Henderson, author ofThe Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

'Just like that once-in-a-lifetime charity shop find, Preloved is a gleaming prize to be treasured. Lauren Bravo is witty and thoughtful in her exploration of our relationship with objects and trends, believing that – just as a pair of shoes can have many, many lives – so can the people that wear them.' Caroline O'Donohue, author ofPromising Young Woman

'Laugh-out-loud funny but also poignant and tender, Preloved is an absorbingly special debut novel. I devoured in equal measure the delicious descriptions of food and the moving vignettes of preloved treasures peppered throughout the book, while the nineties and noughties nostalgia had me gasping with pleasure.' Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female

'Full of relatable anecdotes, lively, funny and modern,Preloved is a moving tale of emancipationand friendship. I loved it!'Margaux Vialleron, author ofThe Yellow Kitchen]]>

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Sometime, me love to dream that me is a human, a proper one, like them white folks is.

Enslaved on a plantation in Barbados, Obah dreams of freedom. As talk of rebellion bubbles up around her in the Big House, she imagines escape. Meeting a strange boy who’s not quite of this world, she decides to put her trust in him. But Jacob is from the twenty-first century. Desperate to give Obah a better life, he takes her back with him. At first it seems like dreams really do come true – until the cracks begin to show and Obah sees that freedom comes at an unimaginable cost . . .

Hopeful and devastating, this powerful novel about equality, how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, introduces an extraordinary new literary voice.

Praise forHow Far We've Come:

‘A powerful exploration of racism, solidarity, friendship, freedom and hope’ Laura Bates

‘One of the most impressive young adult debuts of the year. This gripping novel takes a nuanced look at the legacy of slavery, injustice and inequality in today's world’ Observer

‘Both hopeful and heartbreaking, this gripping book turns a searchlight on the changing faces of injustice through time’ Guardian

‘A brilliant idea and a powerful debut’ The Times,Children’s Book of the Week

‘A seriously impressive debut. Read it now’ Irish Times

‘A powerful, ambitious, unforgettable read about freedom, rebellion, love and hope’ Liz Hyder

‘A gut punch of a debut, this book is both vital reading and a call to arms’ Laura Wood

‘Compassionate, brave, authentic, educational. Everyone should read it’ Abiola Bello]]>

DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic. But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.

AI versus human experience.
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?

In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human.

‘I started reading this morning and ten hours later I’ve finished it! It’s so, SO good – really properly compelling, impossible to put down – I was desperate for the solution to the mystery – but so human and moving and massively thought-provoking on what makes us human’ Laura Marshall

‘Completely different and utterly brilliant’ Amanda Reynolds

‘SO good. A really clever twist on the police procedural that asks big questions about instinct, bias, and what it means to be human while also delivering a cracker of a plot. Loved it’ Phoebe Locke

‘It’s phenomenal . . .Perfect blend of police procedural and techno thriller and kept me guessing right to the end!’ StephBroadribb

'It's so much more than a dystopian police procedural and asks questions about who we are and what it means to be human. Brilliant' Nikki Smith

'Thrilling, thought-provoking andcinematic — a slam dunk for movie/TV adaptation'Alexandra Sokoloff, author of the Huntress Moon thrillers

‘Fabulous! A rare crime novel truly as much about character as it is about plot…cried at the ending…huge potential series exploring the human AI connection. Loved'Lindsay Galvin

'I tore through this one in a day. One of the best new crime partnerships to emerge in fiction'Simon Bewick, Bay Tales Festival, Virtual Noir at the Bar]]>

‘A fresh and intriguing detective double act – I fell hard for all-too-human Kat and her AI colleague Lock . . . a riveting cold case mystery told with compassion and verve’ Louise Candlish

‘This brilliant debut had me gripped the whole way through. A refreshing and different take on the police procedural genre’ Prima

‘Crime fiction is full of detectives who have been paired up with someone they don’t like. Few have to get used to a bossy hologram, which is what happens in Jo Callaghan’s entertaining and thought-provoking novel . . . Callaghan grounds her novel in real life, challenging her unusual team to investigate the unsolved disappearances of two students. The moral dilemmas created by artificial intelligence are brilliantly explored in this altogether very human novel’ Sunday Times

'It's so much more than a dystopian police procedural and asks questions about who we are and what it means to be human. Brilliant' Nikki Smith

‘Daring and original, heartbreaking and heart-stopping, this study of what it means to be human is destined to not only be a big success, but a classic crime novel of our times. Loved it’ Caz Frear

‘A standout debut with a unique and thrilling take on the detective novel. Engaging, exciting and superbly readable. I loved it’ Sarah Hilary

‘A truly original premise that is both compelling and filled with heart. Highly recommended’ Olivia Kiernan

‘Clever and compelling, it offers a new take on the police procedural while also examining what it means to be human and the personal cost of loss’ Brian McGilloway

‘Intuitive DCS Frank and logical AI Lock are the perfect pairing. Alongside some wonderfully surreal tech is an investigation grounded in the grittily real. Jo Callaghan explores what makes us human; our flaws and errors, our loves and losses and sometimes our refusal to stop asking questions. Even at its most terrifying, this is a story told with heart and soul’ Jess Kidd

‘Completely different and utterly brilliant’ Amanda Reynolds

‘SO good. A really clever twist on the police procedural that asks big questions about instinct, bias, and what it means to be human while also delivering a cracker of a plot. Loved it’ Phoebe Locke

‘It’s phenomenal . . .Perfect blend of police procedural and techno thriller and kept me guessing right to the end!’ StephBroadribb

‘An incredible book. So original, gripping and wonderfully written. I raced through it’ Karen Hamilton

‘Everything I love in a police procedural but with an imaginative and fresh perspective. Clever and warm, it’s one of the best debuts I’ve read in years’ Jo Jakeman

‘Part futuristic high-concept crime thriller, part police-procedural, part treatise on what it is to be human; I am in awe of what Jo Callaghan has managed to pull off here. A compelling mystery set in a future that feels extremely close and relevant. Callaghan's knowledge of AI and its potential effect on the world is balanced perfectly by her nuanced insight into humanity and grief. I can't wait to see what's next for Kat and Lock. Roll on book two!’ Russ Thomas

‘A well written page turner, with a great premise and a big heart. I loved it’ JoBrowning Wroe

‘Gripping, fun, original and moving. A must for your reading pile’ David Fennell

‘Fabulous! A rare crime novel truly as much about character as it is about plot…cried at the ending…huge potential series exploring the human AI connection. Loved'Lindsay Galvin

‘I loved this book so much. In the Blink of an Eye is a page turner of a thriller, but it’s so much more than that. One that stays with you long after you turn the last page’ Frances Quinn

'Thrilling, thought-provoking andcinematic — a slam dunk for movie/TV adaptation'Alexandra Sokoloff, author of the Huntress Moon thrillers

‘A genuinely different take on the police procedural genre is hard to find, but Jo Callaghan has done it. DCS Kat Frank isn’t keen when she’s assigned an AI (Artificial Intelligence) as her partner as part of a pilot scheme, but she quickly finds their dynamic unearths fresh evidence in a case’
Good Housekeeping

‘The revelation of the full villainy involved in the two men’s disappearance is intriguing, but it is Kat – her personality, her relationship with her young son and her experience of loss – that really lifts this novel’
Literary Review

‘With well-drawn characters, believable emotions and an interesting premise, you can see this becoming a TV series. 7/10’ Independent

'One of the most original and modern police procedurals you’ll read . . . The results are astounding' Belfast Telegraph

‘Original and compelling’ Fabulous]]>

'A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane' NICCI FRENCH
'Chilled me to the bone and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.Callaghanwrites with such intelligence; interspersing humour with moments of utter heartbreak' NIKKI SMITH

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

For if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.
PRAISE FOR LEAVE NO TRACE:

‘A detective working with an artificial intelligence character is such a brilliant premise!’PRIMA, 3 of the best sequels to read this month
‘Callaghan, who is a professional researcher into the effects of AI, has a great talent for making the benefits and limitations of the technology comprehensible. Her account of Lock’s ability to absorb information about human relationships and to provide a sense of empathy and humour is fascinating'LITERARY REVIEW
‘Jo Callaghan’s debut novel In The Blink of an Eye might have been released over a year ago, but it’s still making waves… startlingly original, working as a compelling procedural, an examination of how far artificial intelligence has come – and could go – and an exploration of very human grief'CRIME MONTHLY
'With Leave No Trace, Jo Callaghan cements her status as a crime fiction force to be reckoned with' CAZ FREAR
'Seeing the return of Kat and Lock is like returning to old friends. A brilliant rapidly paced and plotted thriller. Couldn’t put it down. But a thriller with the added extra of being really very original. Executed perfectly. Another masterpiece' IMRAN MAHMOOD
'Every bit as smart, compelling and insightful as her debut' GYTHA LODGE
‘Balanced, nuanced, intelligent, provocative’ AMANDA REYNOLDS
'Jo Callaghan has done it again in this intricately plotted, humorous and incredibly moving thriller' LAURA MARSHALL
'It goes without saying that a crime thriller should keep you on the edge of your seat, but when it also makes you laugh out loud AND cry, you know you’re in the hands of an amazing writer. An absolutely brilliant read' FRANCES QUINN]]>

‘As brilliantly plotted and innovative asIn The Blink Of An Eye,AIDE Lock & DCS Frank are back inLeave No Trace.This time attempting to solve horrific murders in the dead of winter; the story chilled me to the bone and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.Callaghanwrites with such intelligence; interspersing humour with moments of utter heartbreak’ Nikki Smith

‘Seeing the return of Kat and Lock is like returning to old friends. A brilliant rapidly paced and plotted thriller. Couldn’t put it down. But a thriller with the added extra of being really very original. Executed perfectly. Another masterpiece’ Imran Mahmood

‘I am rapidly becoming a huge Jo Callaghan fan. Leave No Trace was every bit as smart, compelling and insightful as her debut, and where these books really excel is in the emotional weight they bring to the thriller genre. A terrific read!’ Gytha Lodge

‘With Leave No Trace, Jo Callaghan cements her status as a crime fiction force to be reckoned with. Emotional and enthralling, with great dashes of humour throughout. It also includes one of the most heart-stopping yet satisfying endings I've read in a long time. More please, Jo!’Caz Frear

'Jo Callaghan has done it again in this intricately plotted, humorous and incredibly moving thriller. As well as being a gripping, fast-moving story in its own right, it has so much to say about the complementary roles of logic and emotion in policing (and life!), the complexities of grief and what it means to be human. I absolutely loved it'Laura Marshall

‘Another exciting and thought-provoking book from Jo Callaghan that combines cutting-edge tech with a classic police procedural that is hugely human and big-hearted. Brava!’Sarah Hilary

‘Balanced, nuanced, intelligent, provocative’ Amanda Reynolds

‘A terrific, immersive read! I found it utterly believable, and it's rare to find a crime novel that captures the AI zeitgeist, with so much authority and verve. The plot is devilishly clever too. I loved it!’
Kate Rhodes

‘I don’t know how, but Jo manages to explore huge societal questions through the medium of a pacy thriller. There’s tension by the bucketload. It’s tough and tender, and is a masterclass in persuading a reader to keep turning pages. Chris McDonald

‘It goes without saying that a crime thriller should keep you on the edge of your seat, but when it also makes you laugh out loud AND cry, you know you’re in the hands of an amazing writer. An absolutely brilliant read’ Frances Quinn]]>

Vox meets The Handmaid’s Talein this feminist reimagining of 1984

In Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you and trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if it is discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free.

When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might finally be in their grasp. But as she gets closer to Winston Smith, Julia’s past starts to catch up with her and we soon realise that she has many more secrets than we’d first imagined – and that overthrowing Big Brother might cost her everything – but if you have nothing left to lose then you don’t mind playing the game . . .

This is a story about love, about family, about being a woman, a mother, a sister, a friend and ultimately about what you would sacrifice for the greater good.

'Fast-paced and suspenseful . . .The Sisterhood'sgreatest gift, however, may be in its message of hope, capable of surmounting even the most formidable of odds and the most uncertain of futures' KATHERINE J. CHEN, author of Joan

'A gut-wrenching, heart-breaking journey through the looking glass of 1984. Compulsively written, Julia’s is a story begging to be told' FREYA BERRY, author of The Dictator's Wife

'A shockingly relevant take on a classic' CLAIRE MCGOWAN, author of This Could Be Us

'A dazzling retelling of the classic dystopian novel, which raises profound questions about how society works, and whether or not woman have political agency. I found it memorable, deeply moving, and at times, terrifying' KATE RHODES, author of the Ben Kitto series

'Katherine Bradley has delivered a worthy counterpart to George Orwell's 1984 in this chilling, taut book. It's as claustrophobic as it needs to be; particularly frightening as one looks around and sees that we are voluntarily moving towards Orwell's nightmare. It is nothing short of a triumph' MARA TIMON, author of City of Spies

‘In this highly original take on Orwell’s 1984– the Big Brother of all dystopian classics – Bradley weaves a complex and engaging plot around the idea of a female resistance to oppressive overlords. Oppressive and creepy, but with real heart’ A. K. TURNER, author of Body Language
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Three bad things: A heartbreak, a loss of independence, and a death.

Three good things: A life-changing trip, reconnecting with someone, and meeting her soulmate.

The issue is that Ginny is due to get married in a month… but it’s all nonsense, obviously. But when some of those pesky predictions start coming true she starts to wonder what might happen next…]]>

'Life-affirming, relatable and effortlessly funny, I read this in two days flat and am now bereft that it’s finished’ KATE RIORDAN

'Fun, Feisty and Fabulous. Perfect escapism -I love Lucy Vine'MILLY JOHNSON]]>

Set in a lavish world of sorceresses, alchemists, jinn and flying carpets, this spine-tingling middle-grade book is perfect for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Sophie Anderson.

Confined to a besieged Settlement, Yara longs to free her mother from the alchemists in the City of Zehaira. When Yara receives a message from her mother to find the hidden residence of the Grand High Sorceress, it sets her on a different path.

Yara and her friends set off on an adventure to find her mother’s home, and to seek out a secret magic that her mother was working on – magic so powerful that it could defeat the alchemists once and for all. But the wicked alchemist Omair Firaaz is on her trail and will stop at nothing to gain the power himself…

Can Yara and her friends find the magic that could be the answer to everything … before it destroys them all?

From the author of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Month The Kingdom Over the Seacomes a gorgeous, lyrical adventure about family and finding where you belong.

Praise for The City Beyond the Stars:

“A thrilling, captivating adventure just as fun and magical as the original. Storytelling at its best.” – Hannah Gold,author ofThe Last Bear

"The book shines with magic and the power of storytelling. Spellbinding." – Zillah Bethell, author of The Song Walker

"Lyrical, magical and captivating - Zohra Nabi is the ultimate story sorcerer." – Laura Noakes, Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star

"Vivid worldbuilding. A brilliant fantasy that children will devour." – Nazima Pathan, author of Dream Hunters

"A rare jewel, deftly plotted with thrilling twists and tension - flawless storytelling." – Sarah Driver, author of The Huntress

"I adored every second I spent with this book and I can't wait to read it again." – Jacob North, author of The Ice Apprentices

Praise for The Kingdom Over the Sea:

“Enchanting, immersive and beautifully imagined. Once I’d finished, I couldn’t stop dreaming of this magnificent magical world.” A.F. Steadman, author ofSkandar and the Unicorn Thief

“Spellbinding storytelling - lyrical, heartfelt, and glittering with possibilities.” Sophie Anderson,author ofThe House with Chicken Legs

“Intricately-woven and wholly authentic.” Aisha Bushby, author ofA Pocketful of Stars

“A glorious debut brimming with magic and warmth. The Kingdom Over The Sea dazzled me every time I turned the page.” – Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers]]>

We're theBad Dragon Club and we'rebad as can be.
We’re rascals and rogues and wrong’uns all three.
We’re so full of bad, any badder and we’d burst.
We're the Bad Dragon Club and we’re here to do our worst.

Scorch, Grub and Fang think they are a rather fearsome gang. But when their attempts to cause mayhem somehow keep misfiring and actually HELP people, will these three bad dragons . . . turn good?

Look out for other, hilarious books by Beach:
The Dragon with the Blazing Bottom
The Knight with the Blazing Bottom
The Princess with the Blazing Bottom]]>

The 1923 FA Cup final – also known as the White Horse final – was the first football match played at the British Empire Exhibition Stadium. Although best remembered for its vast, well-beyond-capacity crowd, which had to be marshalled by a policeman atop a white horse, that afternoon marked the opening chapter of the long and eventful history of the stadium soon to be known simply as Wembley.

Over the 100 years since that overcrowded day, Wembley has established itself as the home of the beautiful game and, almost certainly, the world’s most famous football stadium.It occupies a special place in the hearts of players and punters alike. Watching your team at Wembley is the highlight of a fan’s lifetime of support; playing there the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

Its sacred pitch has been the crucible of many classic matches across the decades: World Cups have been won here, as have FA Cups, European Cups, play-off finals and more. And that hallowed turf has also seen greyhounds, stunt motorcycles, American football, plus the feet of 72,000 music fans at Live Aid in 1985.

Nige Tassell chooses 100 matches - from the well known to the esoteric - that have shaped Wembley's legacy and tells a lively and original alternative history of the past 100 years of football, and of Britain.We hear a ball boy’s perspective on the FA Cup Final when Bert Trautmann broke his neck, about the other commentator of the 1966 World Cup final, and why a cup-winning team of eleven unemployed mendidn'treceive a trophy from a future king.

Field of Dreams isthe story of how football found its home.
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In the autumn of 2020, Simon Barnes should have been leading a safari in Zambia, but Covid restrictions meant his plans had to be put on hold. Instead, he embarked on the only voyage of discovery that was still open to him. He walked to a folding chair at the bottom of his garden, and sat down. His itinerary: to sit in that very same spot every day for a year and to see - and hear - what happened all around him. It would be a stationary garden safari; his year of sitting dangerously had begun.

For the next twelve months, he would watch as the world around him changed day by day. Gradually, he began to see his surroundings in a new way; by restricting himself, he opened up new horizons, growing even closer to a world he thought he already knew so well.

The Year of Sitting Dangerously is a wonderfully evocative read; it inspires the reader to pay closer attention to the marvels that surround us all, and is packed with handy tips to help bring nature even closer to us.]]>

Ally’s survival strategy is to escape out of season, take a break abroad and pretend to be the person she always imagined she would be. She meets Logan while she’s away and he turns out to be exactly the kind of distraction she’s looking for.

With her spirits restored, Ally returns home, picks up the reins again and sets her sights on another successful season, but when Logan unexpectedly arrives on the scene, she soon realises she’s in for a summer that’s going to be far from straightforward…

A story about bringing a holiday home – and what happens when what goes on on holiday comes back to bite you…

Your favourite authors love Heidi Swain's books:

'A summer delight!'SARAH MORGAN
'A delightfully sunny readwith added intrigue and secrets'BELLA OSBORNE
'A ray of reading sunshine!'LAURA KEMP
'A lovely, sweet, summery read'MILLY JOHNSON
'An absolutely gorgeous summer tale of love and secrets'RACHAEL LUCAS
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‘A little slice of joy’ – heat

‘A gorgeous comfort-blanket read’ – Fabulous Magazine

‘Expect miles of smiles, laughter, and tears, lashings of spilled secrets, and the fun of meeting a charismatic cast of characters, and you have the perfect sunshine sparkler for spring and summer reading.’ – Lancashire Evening Post]]>

From the authors of the bestselling DRAGON MOUNTAIN comes the first in a brand-new, action-packed, dragon-obsessed series for 8+ readers.

‘Impossible to put down – a dynamic, dragon-filled, delight of an adventure.’– A. F. Steadman, author of SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF

Twelve-year-oldLance Lo, his younger sister Zoe and new friends haven enrolled atCamp Claw to learn all the skills they need to become protectors of the new world. But when the camp is mysteriously attacked and an evil plotexposed, it’s up to the latest recruits to prove they’ve got what it takes to save the day!

Check out the complete Dragon Realm series– Dragon Mountain,Dragon Legend,Dragon City,Dragon RisingandDragon Destiny.And don't missA Dragon Realm Adventure,thespecial World Book Day story!

Praise for DRAGON FORCE: INFINITY'S SECRET:

‘A rip-roaring adventure full of heart.’– Anna James, author of the PAGES & CO. series

‘Bursting with wild imagination and thrilling adventure, Dragon Force is a rip-roaring riot of fun from first page to last.’– Catherine Doyle, author of THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND

‘Hugely enjoyable and action-packed, this is an adventure-filled extravaganza that promises the start of another epic dragon series!’ – Aisling Fowler, author of the FIREBORN series

‘A soaring, action-packed adventure for anyone who’s ever dreamed of dragons.’–Pari Thomson, author of GREENWILD

Praise for DRAGON MOUNTAIN:

'Splendidly addictive'– Guardian

'Rollicking, escapist storytelling with a dragon-sized heart' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of THE GIRL OF INK AND STARS

'A soaring, sizzling, fire-breathing gem of an adventure story'–Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of SKY SONG

'Packed full of fun, heart and imagination, it will make you wish you had your own dragon bond' – Anna James, author of the PAGES & CO. series

'A wonderful warm-hearted and action-packed adventure' – Katherine Woodfine, author of THE SINCLAIR'S MYSTERIES

'Brimming with warmth and originality, DRAGON MOUNTAIN combines edge-of-your-seat adventure, laugh-out-loud humour andhugelyexciting dragons to create a sweeping fantasy that will captivate readers of all ages.’ – Catherine Doyle, author of THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND

'DRAGON MOUNTAIN has all of my favourite things! A rich mythology and a tale of friendship, snarky dragons and daring deeds...this is the kind of breathless tale that leaves you hungry for the next instalment' –Roshani Chokshi,author of the ARU SHAH series

‘DRAGON MOUNTAINis a joy to read – adventurous and enchanting, with a heart of gold. It will make you re-live the moment you first looked at the sky and longed to see a dragon looking back’–Samantha Shannon,authorof THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE and THE BONE SEASON series]]>

WHEN DANGER CALLS, THE DRAGON FORCE ANSWER...

It’s a dream come true for Lance Lo and his sister Zoe to be at Camp Claw, training for the elite Dragon Force to help protect the world.
But with the core members captured by the evil Devourer, they soon find themselves taking on their most dangerous mission yet. Can they rescue the rest of the team from a creature who will do anything to feed his appetite for magic. . . ?

Praise for DRAGON MOUNTAIN:

'Splendidly addictive'–Guardian

'Rollicking, escapist storytelling with a dragon-sized heart' –Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of THE GIRL OF INK AND STARS

'A soaring, sizzling, fire-breathing gem of an adventure story'–Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of SKY SONG

'Packed full of fun, heart and imagination, it will make you wish you had your own dragon bond' –Anna James, author of the PAGES & CO. series

'A wonderful warm-hearted and action-packed adventure' –Katherine Woodfine, author of THE SINCLAIR'S MYSTERIES

'Brimming with warmth and originality, DRAGON MOUNTAIN combines edge-of-your-seat adventure, laugh-out-loud humour andhugelyexciting dragons to create a sweeping fantasy that will captivate readers of all ages.’–Catherine Doyle, author of THE STORM KEEPER’S ISLAND

'DRAGON MOUNTAIN has all of my favourite things! A rich mythology and a tale of friendship, snarky dragons and daring deeds...this is the kind of breathless tale that leaves you hungry for the next instalment'–Roshani Chokshi,author of the ARU SHAH series

‘DRAGON MOUNTAINis a joy to read – adventurous and enchanting, with a heart of gold. It will make you re-live the moment you first looked at the sky and longed to see a dragon looking back’–Samantha Shannon,authorof THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE and THE BONE SEASON series]]>

'Gloriously funny, witty, wise and wonderful, this book is a total joy!’Alexandra Potter
‘A delicious warm hug of a book’ Jill Mansell
‘Guaranteed to put a spring in your step – I loved it’Jo Thomas
'Gorgeous, heartwarming and moving, The Happiest Ever After is so original and brilliantly written in the typically funny and clever Johnson style'Lucy Vine
'An escapist, uplifting read full of heart' Libby Page
‘Funny and brilliant and gorgeously warm, Milly Johnson always, always delivers’ Paige Toon
'Takes you on a classic transformative journey in the most wonderful and original way. What a joy!' Julietta Henderson

Polly Potter is surviving, not thriving. She used to love her job – until her mentor died and her new boss decided to make her life hell. She used to love her partner Chris – until he cheated on her, and now she can’t forget. The only place where her life is working is on the pages of the novel she is writing – there she can create a feistier, bolder, more successful version of herself – as the ­fictional Sabrina Anderson.

But what if it was possible to start over again? To leave everything behind, forget all that went before, and live the life you’d always dreamed of?

After a set of unforeseen circ*mstances, Polly ends up believing she really IS Sabrina, living at the heart of a noisy Italian family restaurant by the sea. Run by Teddy, the son of her new landlady Marielle, it’s a much-loved place, facing threat of closure as a rival restaurant moves in next door. Sabrina can’t remember her life as Polly, but she knows she is living a different life from the one she used to have.

But what if this new life could belong to her after all?

‘Reading a Milly Johnson book is like spending time with a best friend – you always end up feeling better about the world. Written with genuine warmth and heart, they’re an absolute treat’ Lucy Diamond
‘Milly Johnson always delivers an absolutely cracking read’ Katie Fforde
‘One of those novels that draws you in to its world and makes you wish you could be friends with Shay. A tantalising juicy tale full of twists and turns that kept me gripped. Warm, funny and moving. One to curl up with and devour’ Ruth Jones
‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson
‘Milly’s writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath’ Jane Fallon]]>

’They say laughter is the best medicine and Milly delivers that in bucket-loads - but beneath the laughter is an empowering story of a woman who gets to write - and live - her own happy ending, and it’s one that will have you cheering from the side-lines. Gloriously funny, witty, wise and wonderful, and with a cracking good story-line that keeps you guessing until the very end, this book is a total joy!’ Alexandra Potter

'Oh, readers, prepare yourselves! My sleeves were wet with happy tears as I finished this gorgeous, heartwarming, moving novel. Milly Johnson has written her best book yet in The Happiest Ever After.The story is so original and brilliantly written in the typically funny and clever Johnson style. Get ready for this to be your new favourite novel - it's now mine' Lucy Vine

'If you're after an escapist, uplifting read full of heart then The Happiest Ever After won't disappoint. This charming novel proves it's never too late to start again - and to find your happiness' Libby Page

'The Happiest Ever After takes you on a classic transformative journey in the most wonderful and original way. From unhappy, unfulfilled and unappreciated, to courageous, confident and completely adored, this life-affirming book shows how far we can go when we become the author of our own happiness. What a joy!'Julietta Henderson

'This is proper, skilled and riveting storytelling, yet it remains accessible, understandable and believable.' MyWeekly

'You can always rely on Milly Johnsonto make you feel good.' theipaper

'Mllly Johnsonworks her magic yet again with this unabashedly heart-warming yet nuanced and related tale of resilience against the odds, the power of the imagination and second chances.' The Lady

'The Happiest Ever After has all Milly Johnson’s trademark understanding of human nature presented with wit and emotion.' My Weekly

'Wonderful' The Sun

'A warm hug of a book.There is much happiness to be found in Milly’s latest big-hearted novel' Woman & Home

'Charming and soul-stirring, this will have you falling in love with its cast of characters.'heat

'Milly Johnson at her warmest, most authentic, best. From the dedication at the start to the acknowledgements at the end, The Happiest Ever After is a true treat of a book and simply not to be missed. I adored it!' My Weekly

'The Queen of comfort reading. If there’s anyone that can make me feel like everything’s going to be okay, it’s Milly Johnson. Her novels are like one warm hug and her latest offering is likely to be no different.' Muddy Stilettos

'A warm, witty and wonderfully woven tale. With its wickedly clever plotting, cast of precision-drawn characters, and Milly Johnson's piercingly authentic insights into human frailty andfoibles, The Happiest Ever After is storytelling magic'' Lancashire Post

'There is much happiness to be found in Milly Johnson’s latest big-hearted and humorous second-chance novel.' Woman's Weekly

'A brilliant, feel-good read.'Fabulous Magazine

'Johnson is the Queen of the Rom Com and her talents show no sign of letting up.This is another page-turning triumph from Johnson. You’ll laugh. You might cry. But above all, you’ll get a happy ending, and that’s a wonderful thing.' lovereading

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This moving poignant story of love and loss reminds us of the comfort our memories can bring when we need it the most.

A beautiful rhyming text from debut author Charissa Coulthard is perfectly paired with exquisite illustrations by Sam Usher.]]>

The small town of Rislake in the picturesque Blue Mountains is about to be engulfed by a major bushfire.
The order has been given for the residents to clear out.
But a last sweep uncovers one person is missing: Tracey Hilmeyer, wife of one of the firefighters tackling the blaze.

Detective Kennard is in town to help with crowd control, but instead he finds himself driving straight towards the inferno to look for Tracey at the Hilmeyer home.
When he gets there, he finds her dead at the bottom of the stairs, and it’s clear she was murdered.

With the evacuation almost complete there is barely enough time to save the living never mind the dead.
But Detective Kennard has something to prove and cannot let this one go.

Can he solve her murder before the crime scene, and the entire town, turns to ash?

'Faster than a raging bushfire, Delargy paints a terrifying portrait of a town under siege, and the traumatized detective tracking down a murderer in its midst. Blistering stuff!' SAM HOLLAND

'With his trademark immersive writing, James Delargy drops you into the Australian bush amid scorching flames, choking soot and your own pounding pulse. A blistering narrative delivered with cool prose – this book is on fire!'JO FURNISS

'Delargy ratchets the tension masterfully . . . Packed with atmosphere and as unpredictable as a bushfire, this is a searingly good thriller'HEATHER CRITCHLOW

'A terrific read, the best yet from a rising star in the world of crime writing'KATE RHODES

'Brilliantly menacing and evocative, the heat is set to high' ELEANOR RAY

'Intense, fierce and with a violence to match the fire itself. I couldn’t put it down, James Delargy writes with a grip on character and plot which will pin you to the page' RACHEL WOLF]]>

Praise for Anna Quindlen

‘Leaves the reader feeling grateful, wide awake, lucky to be alive’ Michael Chabon
‘Simply impossible to forget’ Alice Hoffman
‘Qualities and shades ofloveare this writer's strong suit, and she has the unusual talent for writing about them with so muchtruth and heart’Elizabeth Jane Howard
‘Breathtaking... Quindlen writes superbly about families, grief and betrayal. I was completely mesmerised’ Lisa Jewell
‘Engaging, immaculately constructed storytelling’ Guardian
‘One of our most astute chroniclers of modern life’ New York Times Book Review
‘Brave and beautiful’ The Times
‘Her storytelling is exemplary’ Sunday Telegraph
‘With relentless and dazzling brilliance, Quindlen grapples with the lancing pain and the swirls of disorientation experienced by anyone who has loved and lost’ Daily Mail
‘A wise, closely observed, achingly eloquent book’ Huffington Post
‘Overwhelmingly moving’ New York Times]]>

‘A new Anna Quindlen novel is always cause for celebration. After Annie might just be my favourite one yet. It’s a beautiful and deeply moving story about love, loss, friendship, marriage, family and community from one of our wisest chroniclers of modern life. I treasured every page’ J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Friends and Strangers

‘After Annie is a novel about loss – and yet its pages are full of life and heart. With her deft interiority and spot-on depiction of the small moments that bring characters to life, Anna Quindlen tells a family story that’s at once candid and complex – and ultimately quite hopeful’ Claire Lombardo, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had

‘The characters in After Annie are flawed, just as each of us is flawed, and as they fumble through their grief, as they make mistakes, their lives feel so authentically lived-in that I’d swear I’ve known them my whole life. And how I rooted for them! In Anna Quindlen’s hands, a story about the greatest of losses becomes a story of abiding hope above all. I predict this will be one of the best novels of the year’ Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes

‘A master of exploring human frailty and resilience in the face of domestic tragedy, best-selling Quindlen plumbs the depths of Annie’s survivors’ individual and collective grief in scenes that are both subtle and sharp. Exquisite in its sensitivity, breathtaking in its compassion, Quindlen’s exploration of loss and renewal will provoke both weeping and wonder’Booklist

‘A quietly revelatory and gently gleaming gem of a book… The very best thing about this book might be the way Quindlen, an anthropologist of domesticity, catalogues the sparklingly random moments that make up human experience’New York Times Book Review

‘Luminous with life, hope and the power of love’People Magazine]]>

Edwards describes getting his break in the mid 1970s as a scruffy, stoned 20 year old just back from the hippy trail; his encounter with London’s thriving punk scene, which inspired him to set up his own PR company; finding success and broadening his horizons as his work with the likes of Blondie and Bowie takes him to the US and beyond. He brings the reader up to the present day through a series of vivid, funny, always insightful behind the scenes vignettes, whether it’s playing a spontaneous game of football with Bob Marley, listening to Prince discuss the future of civilisation in a nightclub VIP area, or being used as a pawn in the power struggle between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Along the way, we’re treated to all the entertaining tales of debauchery and rock-star antics you might expect, but more uniquely we’re privy to Edwards’ fascinating observations about the brilliant artists he has worked with, and what makes them tick. We also get a front-row seat to the rise of PR as a major force in British society, from the seven-figure media deal Edwards brokered for the Beckhams’ wedding, to the role of spin in the New Labour government.

Even as Edwards grows into the consummate PR, playing a crucial background role in the lives and careers of some of the world’s biggest stars, he retains a powerful sense of being an outsider – never forgetting how lucky he is to look back on decades of music and culture and say, ‘I was there’.
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In 15th century China two women are born under the same sign, the Metal Snake. But life will take the friends on very different paths.

According to Confucius, ‘an educated woman is a worthless woman’, but Tan Yunxian – born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separation and loneliness – is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. She begins her training in medicine with her grandmother and, as she navigates the male world of medicine, requiring tact and diplomacy, she struggles against the confining world of her class.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose – despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it – and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles.No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of tradition, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts?Lady Tan’s Circle of Womenis a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Praise for Lisa See

'This novel spans wars and generations, but at its heart isa beautifully rendered storyof two women whose individual choices become inextricably tangled’ Jodi Picoult

'No one writes about female friendship, the dark and the light of it, with moreinsightanddepththan Lisa See’ Sue Monk Kidd

'See’sthoughtfulandempatheticbooksheds necessary attention on this largely ignored event' New York Times

'A powerful and essential story of humanity' Los Angeles Review of Books

'A spellbinding portrait of a time burning with opportunity and mystery'O: The Oprah Magazine

'A lush tale infused with clear-eyed compassion' The Washington Post]]>

Introduction

The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See is inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China—and perfect for fans of See’s classic Snowflower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Topics and Questions for Discussion

1. The opening of this novel begins with a preface which includes the line “My cousin has excelled at treating women because she has shared in the losses and joys of what it means to be a female on this earth.” How does this set up the novel and what is to come for Yunxian? After reading the novel, what does it mean to be a “female on this earth?”

2. How does the death of Respectful Lady shape Yunxian? What lessons from Respectful Lady does Yunxian carry with her? When Respectful Lady is near her end, she mutters: “To live is to suffer.” How is this a warning for Yunxian early in the novel?

3. Grandfather Tan and Grandmother Ru have very different ideas about childbirth. Who do you agree with, and why? Although 500 years have passed since the time the novel takes place, do you think these contradictory ideas still hold true today – not just for childbirth but for women’s medical care in general?

4. Lisa often writes about friendship: Snow Flower and Lily in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Youngsook and Mija in The Island of Sea Women, and now Yunxian and Meiling in Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. These two girls shouldn’t have contact with each other, let alone have a relationship formalized and sanctioned by Grandmother Ru and Midwife Shi. How do Yunxian and Meiling each benefit from the relationship? Are there downsides for each of them? Talk about what friendship means to you. And, since you’re all in a book club—typically a circle of women—share what it means to you.

5. Each character—and Yunxian’s relationship to that person—changes and evolves over time. How does Yunxian come to see and understand the characters of Miss Zhao, Miss Chen, Lady Kuo, Doctor Wong, and her husband and father?

6. The importance of having a son was critical in ancient China. It still is in many countries and cultures around the world. What are the main plotlines in the novel related to this issue? Consider the perspectives of Spinster Aunt, Miss Chen, Doctor Wong, Midwife Shi, Lady Kuo, and Meiling and Yunxian. Were these characters out for his or her own self-interest?

7. Lisa often uses aphorisms to help illuminate a character or a plot point. One of the most significant in this novel is No mud, no lotus. Discuss how this aphorism is important to the story. On page 256, Miss Chen recites a series of aphorisms to Yunxian: It takes a lifetime to make a friend, but you can lose one in an hour. Life without a friend is life without sun. Life without a friend is death. What message is Miss Chen trying to convey to Yunxian? Lisa considers these aphorisms to be true across time and cultures. Do you agree? How have they played out in your life, if at all?

8. A case could be made that Yunxian was a modern woman. What are some of the ways she balances work and family? Do you see yourself in her?

9. The Dragon Boat Festival looms large in Yunxian’s imagination. What does it mean for her—and the other women who reside in the Garden of Fragrant Delights—to finally get to attend?

10. Lisa was inspired to write this novel during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, walking past her bookshelf to find a text she had but hadn’t read in the decade that she owned it. How does time and memory inspire us to examine neglected objects? Have you experienced newfound inspiration or ideas by the objects around your home?

Enhance Your Book Club

1.Host a tea tasting for your book club. Bana Tea Company has put together a package featuring the special tea dried in the mandarin orange that Yunxian serves Lady Kuo on page 166 and the jasmine tea that Meiling and Yunxian share on page 177. Access the custom tasting kits here: www.banateacompany.com/pages/Lisa-See-Tasting-Kit-2023.html

2.Share with your book club the year in the Chinese zodiac in which you were born. What are the characteristics of your birth sign? Do they ring true to you? What other signs are you compatible with, and why? What signs should you avoid?

3.Design your own Ming dynasty outfit. Use this link to find an outline of an outfit along with some symbols and their meanings. You can do this as a group activity with the host providing crayons, colored pencils, felt-tip pens, or even watercolors. Or you can create your outfit at home and bring it to your book club to share. What symbols did you use, and why?

4.Step Inside the World of Lady Tan on Lisa’s website www.LisaSee.com to see photos, videos, and more about the people, places, customs, and traditions that inspired the book.]]>

‘See envelops her story in the accepted practices of the time: arranged marriages, the buying and selling of concubines, the pressure to provide male heirs, and the crippling and sometimes deadly practice of female foot binding. Despite the inordinate limits placed on women, See allows their strengths to dominate their stories, even though not all women were graced with lives of fulfillment.’ Washington Post

‘Spellbinding… vividly depicts 15th-century China with artfully woven details, rich characters and descriptive language. See captures a world of propriety and cruelty as she ruminates on the disparity between the lives of men and women, and how women – no matter their class – are treated as possessions of the men around them. But through her strong-willed characters, See also emphasizes how women can act as the anchors of society… an emotional and illuminating epic.’ BookPage

‘Based on true events, this richly imagined historical novel captures the extraordinary lives of two women in the Ming Dynasty’ Woman’s Own

‘Engaging… Based on the writings of an historical Ming dynasty female physician, See’s accomplished novel immerses readers in a fascinating life lived within a fascinating culture.’ Booklist

‘The lives of women in 15th-century China are illuminated in this engrossing novel… Women’s friendships in a world where they have little freedom shape a quietly moving book.’ Kirkus Reviews

‘An appealing tale of female love and loyalty… See adds intrigue with a side plot involving a mysterious death, along with notable depictions of footbinding and the intricacies of Chinese medicine. See’s fans will find much to enjoy.’ Publishers Weekly

‘The deft ways the story addresses issues of class and power are intriguing… But the heart of this tale is indeed its titular circle of women, who rally around each other in ways both large and small … the quiet ways they make space for and uplift one another is touching and heartfelt.’ Paste magazine

‘See’s novel is a portrayal of female strength, resilience, and intelligence… An intimate and absorbing story that immerses readers in the rich cultural and historical context of Ming Dynasty China, revealing the life of a woman whose legacy extends far beyond her time.’ Medium]]>

We all want to be happier, but our brains often get in the way. When we’re too stuck in our heads we obsess over our inadequacies, compare ourselves with others and fail to see the good in our lives.

In The Science of Happiness, world-leading psychologist and happiness expert Bruce Hood demonstrates that the key to happiness is not self-care but connection. He presents seven simple but life-changing lessons to break negative thought patterns and re-connect with the things that really matter.

Alter Your Ego
Avoid Isolation
Reject Negative Comparisons
Become More Optimistic
Control Your Attention
Connect With Others
Get Out of Your Own Head

Grounded in decades of studies in neuroscience and developmental psychology, this book tells a radical new story about the roots of wellbeing and the obstacles that lie in our path. With clear, practical takeaways throughout, Professor Hood demonstrates how we can all harness the findings of this science to re-wire our thinking and transform our lives.
_______________________________________________________________________

‘Arare bird – a book that is grounded in the best new science, written with wit and wisdom, and provides clear and valuable lessons for living your best life. Highly recommended!’DANIEL GILBERT, author of the New York Times bestseller Stumbling on Happiness

‘A wonderful guide to what actually makes people happier – full of wisdom backed by a wealth of scientific evidence’ROBERT WALDINGER, author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Study on Happiness

‘The most erudite, thoughtful, and original take on this important subject I have ever encountered’MICHAEL SHERMER, author of Why People Believe Weird Things]]>

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Patricia Highsmith meetsWhite Lotusin this compulsive and brilliant gothic thriller

‘Clever, emotionally resonant, packed with startling twists and dark turns and very funny indeed, this is fiction roaring on all cylinders.’Guardian

‘Through her bold storytelling, “The Sleepwalkers” becomes a work of peculiar, gonzo genius. … Thomas takes a glamorous late-capitalist setting, with rosé and catamarans, and shreds, twists and warps it into a story that is surprising, humane and political to its bones.’New York Times

‘Thomas tells her story with the craft and cunning of an Aegean sorceress. … [S]he can make metafiction not just smart but fun. Once more she earns her place in a postwar British canon of playfully serious mavericks that runs from Muriel Spark and Brigid Brophy to Nicola Barker and Ali Smith.’Spectator

‘Like a darker, funnier The White Lotus, The Sleepwalkers is horrifying in the best possible way. I loved every moment of it.’ James Smythe

‘The Sleepwalkers is brilliant, savage and hilarious. The voice is so strong and so distinctive from the get-go, so bold and pitilessly funny. There is no whingeinghere, just a fearless takedown which I read through in a single streak of pure delight. This is Scarlett's best yet, and I don't say that lightly.’ Bidisha Mamata

'The Sleepwalkersis never-endingly surprising and full of keen observations on relationships, politics, and art. Thomas makes real life so fraught with meaning, it feels hauntingly supernatural. A twisty Gothic tale of vertiginous depths and haunting power.'Sandra Newman, author of Julia

'This original thriller has plenty of surprises.' Good Housekeeping

'An attractive summer holiday read', Independent

Still reeling from the chaos of their wedding, Evelyn and Richard arrive on an idyllic Greek island for their honeymoon. It’s the end of the season and out at sea a storm is brewing.

They check in to an exclusive hotel, the Villa Rosa, where the proprietor Isabella —a strangely intense woman of indeterminate accent— flirts outrageously with Richard while treating Evelyn with a rudeness bordering on contempt. Isabella tells them the story of 'the sleepwalkers': a couple who stayed at the hotel the year before and drowned in a tragic and unexplained accident. It starts to feel like the entire island is obsessed with 'the sleepwalkers', but what at first seems like a fun tale to tell before bed quickly evolves into a living nightmare.

Caught in a web of deception and intrigue, where nothing and nobody are quite what they seem, Evelyn and Richard discover that their island paradise may in fact be hell on earth and that their only means of escape is to confront dark truths about themselves and those they love.

Exhilarating, suspenseful, and subversively funny, inThe SleepwalkersThomas takes elements on Daphne Du Maurier and Patricia Highsmith and blends them with her own unique sensibility to create an unforgettable thriller of rare intelligence that cements her reputation as the most exciting and original author of her generation.

‘Muriel Spark’s disreputable niece.’Spectator

‘She's a genius.’ Douglas Coupland

‘Thomas has the mesmerising power of a great story teller.’ Financial Times

‘One of the most startling, unpredictable writers of her generation.’Scotsman]]>

‘Nothing short of epic’Rosie Talbot, bestselling author of Sixteen Souls

Pre-order Powerful, a heart-racing new story set in the Kingdom of Ilya coming in April 2024. The perfect companion to the Powerless Trilogy.

Follow Lauren Roberts on TikTok and Instagram @LaurenRobertsLibrary]]>

An eye-opening, no-holds-barred guide to contraception, written by campaigner, journalist and documentary-maker Kate Muir

Everything You Need to Know About the Pill (but were too afraid to ask)is the thinking-woman’s guide to contraception, bringing you answers to all those questions that have been hidden behind a veneer of misplaced shame, bad science and centuries of patriarchy.

• What's happening to my body - and my mind?
• Which method of contraception is best for me?
• Do I really need to take a pill break every three weeks?
• What about men - where's their pill?!

This ground-breaking guide is a social, cultural and scientific exploration into a criminally overlooked and under-discussed part of women's lives. It is a manifesto for change, calling for equality in healthcare and an entirely new - and long overdue - approach to women’s health.

'This book finally allows us to think differently about hormones and contraception. Kate is a genius' - Dr Louise Newson

‘Essential reading for any woman who has ever taken the pill, it’s likely to educate, anger and empower’ -Liz Earle Wellbeing Magazine

She only wants three things. He isn't one of them...

Dumped by her cheating ex, fired from her dream job, about to lose her flat: Clementine Monroe is not having a good day. So when her sisters get her drunk and suggest reviving a childhood ritual called the breakup spell, she doesn’t see the harm in it.

But now Clemmie has accidentally ruined a funeral, had her first one-night stand, and she’s stuck with a new job she definitely doesn’t want - spending six weeks alone with the gorgeous and very-off-limits rock star, Theo Eliott.

He’s the most famous man on the planet. Her life’s a disaster. When it comes to love, Clemmie is learning you should be careful what you wish for...

‘I have read a ton of contemporary romantic fiction and this one stands out from the crowd.’
‘Fresh and original in the way that Emily Henry and Beth O' Leary books are… but it has something else that makes it different.’
‘Wonderful and gorgeous, I cannot recommend it enough.’
‘This might just be my perfect book’
‘I binged it all in 24 hours’
‘It has EVERYTHING I could ask for in a romantic comedy’
‘Funny, heartwarming and downright sexy’
‘A truly dreamy read that I would recommend to anyone who loves Beth O'Leary, Sarra Manning, Mhairi McFarlane or Emily Henry’
‘Pure joy from beginning to end.’
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'Under Your Spell cast a spell on me! This is a note-perfect romcom featuring a heroine to root for, a hero to swoon over and a sexy, tender and funny story that I never wanted to end. Fans of Emily Henry and Mhairi McFarlane will adore Under Your Spell and I can't wait for whatever Laura Wood writes next' -Sarra Manning

'Sweet, sexy and swoonsome, Laura's smart funny voice and magical blend of escapism and relatability makes for the ideal summer read' - Lindsey Kelk

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Camp counsellor Cory Ansel, eighteen and aimless, afraid to face her high-strung single mother in New York, is no longer sure where home is when the father of one of her campers offers an alternative.

The CEO of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company, Rolo Picazo is middle-aged, divorced, magnetic. He is also intoxicated by Cory. When Rolo proffers a childcare job (and an NDA), Cory quiets an internal warning and allows herself to be ferried to his private island off the coast of Maine. Plied with luxury and opiates manufactured by his company, she continues to tell herself she’s in charge. Her mother, Emer, head of a teetering agricultural NGO, senses otherwise. When her daughter seemingly disappears, Emer crosses land and sea to heed a cry for help she alone is convinced she hears.

Alternating between the two women’s perspectives, Fruit of the Dead incorporates its mythic inspiration with a light touch and devastating precision. The result is a lush and haunting story that explores love, attraction, control, obliteration and America’s own late capitalist mythos.

Advance praise for Fruit of the Dead

'A gripping literary thriller, Fruit of the Dead presents a coming-of-age tale that is so well-observed and intoxicating that the reader will lose track of time, but won't forget how they spent it. Egan and Cline fans: assemble.' Caoilinn Hughes, author of The Wild Laughter

‘Ancient Greece meets Succession by way of Emma Cline, Fruit of the Dead is a deliciously dark examination of agency and power, and the savage complexity of the mother-daughter bond.’Ruth Gilligan, author of The Butchers

‘Mesmerised and profoundly alarmed, I read this in one go; I’ve been haunted by it ever since. I’ve passionately loved Lyon’s writing for years, andFruit of the Deadfurther confirms what I’ve long suspected: I want to lunge to read anything she writes.’ R. O. Kwon, author ofThe Incendiaries

‘Irresistible and devastating. Lyon has spun an utterly absorbing, lush and terror-laced retelling of an ancient, archetypal tale – a young woman tempted and taken, a mother’s feral grief – that is both timeless and crisply contemporary.'Melissa Febos,author ofGirlhood]]>

With more than 35 million views on TikTok, the second heart-racing instalment in this bestselling and sizzling fantasy romance trilogy.Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Hunger Games.

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this bestselling,dagger-to-the-throat romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.

Powerless available now.
Powerful, the not-to-be-missed story set in the world of Powerless coming April 2024. Pre-order now.

Follow Lauren Roberts on TikTok and Instagram @LaurenRobertsLibrary.

THE LATEST PULSE-POUNDING THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE MORAL DILEMMA AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, JACK JORDAN.