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How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
by Django WexlerA hilarious fantasy adventure in which a young woman, who is stuck in a time loop, decides the best way to defend the kingdom from the Dark Lord is to become the Dark Lord herself. Davi has done this all before. She's tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she's rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she's killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she's been defeated every time.This time? She's done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that's who she needs to be. It's Davi's turn to play on the winning side.'A darkly comic delight of a novel' Anthony Ryan'Twisty, pacey and full of reverent irreverence for fantasy. I can't get enough' Max Gladstone'A brash swords-and-satire romp that draws you into its rollicking adventure even as it pokes fun at the whole genre. Gamers in particular will appreciate the irreverent upending of classic roleplaying tropes' James L. SutterTakes the old saying 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,' to the next level. A sarcastic, action-packed, intrigue-filled (mis)adventure. One of the funniest books I've read in a long time' Matt Dinniman'Lord of the Rings crossed with Groundhog Day, narrated by a gender-flipped Deadpool' Mike Brooks
My Hot Friend: A funny and heartfelt novel about friendship from the bestselling author
by Sophie WhitePopular Fiction Book of the Year - An Post Irish Book Awards 2023'EXTREMELY funny and refreshingly honest about the unacknowledged complexity of female friendship' Marian Keyes'Her best yet. It's astute, relatable, hilarious, insightful, and utterly impossible to put down' Louise O'Neill'Unputdownable ... a darkly funny, raw story about friendship, vulnerability and honesty' Irish TimesLexi is on top of the worldThe podcast she co-hosts with her ride-or-die bestie is going stratospheric. But will all this fame and success cost them their friendship?Joanne's just had a babyBut her pals keep forgetting that she's no longer available for tequila-fuelled nights out. She loves her son and her boyfriend but the loneliness is killing her.Claire is feeling left outThe Whatsapp chat with her old school friends is ominously quiet these days, which can only mean one thing: a side group without her. Can she convince them to give her another chance, or is it time to move on and seek out new BFFs?Fate brings Claire, Joanne and Lexi together as they navigate the knotty, joyful and occasionally toxic swamp that is female friendship. But how will they each decide which friendships to fight for, and which to let go forever?What people are saying about Sophie's books:Sharp, funny ... with characters you'll fall in love with' BETH O'LEARY'Astutely observed, whip-smart and very, very funny' SARAH BREEN'A modern, witty, razor-sharp page-turner' EMER MCLYSAGHT
The Forest: A Fable of America in the 1830s
by Alexander NemerovA vivid historical imagining of life in the early United States&“One of the richest books ever to come my way.&”—Annie Proulx, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Shipping News&“This is a wonderful book. . . . An extraordinary achievement.&”—Edmund de Waal, New York Times bestselling author of The Hare with Amber EyesSet amid the glimmering lakes and disappearing forests of the early United States, The Forest imagines how a wide variety of Americans experienced their lives. Part truth, part fiction, and featuring both real and invented characters, the book follows painters, poets, enslaved people, farmers, and artisans living and working in a world still made largely of wood. Some of the historical characters—such as Thomas Cole, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Fanny Kemble, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nat Turner—are well known, while others are not. But all are creators of private and grand designs.The Forest unfolds in brief stories. Each episode reveals an intricate lost world. Characters cross paths or go their own ways, each striving for something different but together forming a pattern of life. For Alexander Nemerov, the forest is a description of American society, the dense and discontinuous woods of nation, the foliating thoughts of different people, each with their separate shade and sun. Through vivid descriptions of the people, sights, smells, and sounds of Jacksonian America, illustrated with paintings, prints, and photographs, The Forest brings American history to life on a human scale.Published in association with the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
The Dawn Chorus: A Bone Season novella (The Bone Season)
by Samantha ShannonAn ebook exclusive which bridges the story between the previous and forthcoming instalments of Samantha Shannon's international phenomenon series The Bone SeasonPaige Mahoney and Arcturus Mesarthim have arrived in the Scion Citadel of Paris. Exhausted by her efforts against Scion, Paige has no choice but to remain in hiding, away from the revolution she started, so she can heal and come to terms with her mental and physical scars.In the confines of a safe house, Arcturus and Paige begin to reconnect after following separate paths for weeks. As they wait for contact from the mysterious Domino Programme – an espionage network operating in Scion – their present begins to mirror their past.
Pieces of Her: A Novel
by null Karin SlaughterThe gripping standalone thriller from Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author Karin Slaughter, now a major Netflix series starring Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote She’s the person you think you know best… But what if you don’t actually know her at all? Andy Oliver thinks she knows everything about her mother Laura. Until, in a moment of terrible danger, Laura steps forward into the line of fire. Now, Andy must embark on a desperate race against time to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past. Before they both run out of time… Praise for the Number One bestselling author: ‘Passion, intensity, and humanity’ Lee Child ‘I’d follow her anywhere’ Gillian Flynn ‘One of the boldest thriller writers working today’ Tess Gerritsen ‘Her characters, plot, and pacing are unrivalled’ Michael Connelly ‘A writer of extraordinary talents’ Kathy Reichs ‘Fiction doesn't get any better than this’ Jeffery Deaver ‘A great writer at the peak of her powers’ Peter James 'Karin Slaughter has – by far – the best name of all of us mystery novelists' James Patterson ‘With heart and skill Karin Slaughter keeps you hooked from the first page until the last’ Camilla Lackberg ‘It’s big, dark, rich, satisfying, and bloody – like a perfectly cooked steak’ Stuart MacBride
The Grey King: The Dark is Rising sequence (A\puffin Book Ser.)
by Susan CooperFollowing a serious illness, Will is sent to stay with his uncle in the wild, bleak mountains of Tywyd. He is troubled by vague memories until he meets the mysterious Bran - and suddenly Will knows the task that lies ahead. With Bran's help, Will set outs to find the golden harp and awaken the six sleepers who must join the final battle between the Dark and the Light. But Will is about to encounter his most terrifying opponent yet: the Grey King.
100 Queer Poems
by Ocean Vuong Carol Ann Duffy Kae Tempest Audre Lorde Mary Oliver Thom Gunn Jackie Kay Seán Hewitt June Jordan Kaveh Akbar Jay Bernard Natalie Diaz Jericho Brown Vikram Seth Langston HughesMary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan's luminous anthology, 100 Queer Poems, is a celebration of thrilling contemporary voices and visionary poets of the past. Featuring Elizabeth Bishop, Langston Hughes, Ocean Vuong, Carol Ann Duffy, Kae Tempest and many more.* A Guardian Best Poetry Book of the Year ** Shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards *Encompassing both the flowering of queer poetry over the past few decades and the poets who came before and broke new ground, 100 Queer Poems presents an electrifying range of writing from the twentieth century to the present day.Questioning and redefining what we mean by a 'queer' poem, you'll find inside classics by Elizabeth Bishop, Langston Hughes, Wilfred Owen, Charlotte Mew and June Jordan, central contemporary figures such as Mark Doty, Jericho Brown, Carol Ann Duffy, Kei Miller, Kae Tempest, Natalie Diaz and Ocean Vuong, alongside thrilling new voices including Chen Chen, Richard Scott, Harry Josephine Giles, Verity Spott and Jay Bernard.Curated by two widely acclaimed poets, Mary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan, 100 Queer Poems moves from childhood and adolescence to forging new homes and relationships with our chosen families, from urban life to the natural world, from explorations of the past to how we find and create our future selves.'Abundantly rich and rewarding...capturing how queer poets and their work speak to one another across generations' Attitude'More than a landmark volume... An anthology that marks the present moment and ushers in a new one' Okechukwu Nzelu, author of Here Again Now
All My Kisses for You: Lancaster Prep: The Next Generation (The new spicy romance series from the New York Times bestselling author) (Lancaster Prep #7)
by Monica MurphyTHE LANCASTER PREP SERIES IS BACK! THIS TIME FOLLOWING A NEW GENERATION OF STUDENTS IN THIS STEAMY, SWOONY, CAMPUS ROMANCEThis steamy, sizzling and beautifully romantic new adult romance will be perfect for readers who love spicy scenesWillow is navigating her school year in the shadow of her infamous parents. Could she find love with the mysterious boy in her class? Will history repeat itself? --- Everyone loves Willow Lancaster, and every girl wants to be her. After studying in Europe, she returns to Lancaster Prep, eager to kick off being a senior back with her friends and maybe even start something up with her old crush? But everything has changed. Her supposed best friend is dating her crush and everyone is obsessed with the new guy . . . Rhett Bennett is gorgeous. Lethally charming. Absolutely full of himself. And he’s all she can think about. Then Rhett begins to feel the same way about her . . . And now, she’s desperate to throw away her good girl reputation just for him.Tropes/themes: 1. Opposites attract 2. Best friend’s old lover 3. Smutty reads4. Slow burn romance ---Readers love the Lancaster Prep series‘Being in the lancaster prep universe is one of the best feelings and Monica does it every single time’ ***** Reader Review‘I LOVE Monica Murphy’s books. The story was addicting, I loved the characters and the tropes are unbeatable!’ ***** Reader Review ‘I can’t get enough of this prep school drama! This was a swoony sugary sweet story! ***** Reader Review‘Monica Murphy is one of those authors you can depend on every time to give you a great book that will give you everything you want in a story’ ***** Reader Review‘The Lancaster Prep world is honestly one of my favourites to step foot into’ ***** Reader Review
Radical Love
by Neil Blackmore'Neil Blackmore re-imagines a story of gay men in London 200 years ago and under the pain of their betrayal and injustice, he uncovers loyalty and above all, love’ Ian McKellen‘An imaginative, layered, clever story’ The TimesLondon, 1809. By day, minister John Church preaches to a congregation of commonfolk in Southwark. By night, he is drawn to the secretive, alluring world of a molly house on Vere Street. There, ordinary men reinvent themselves as outrageous queens, lads on the make flirt with labourers and princes alike, and John finds himself ordaining marriages between men. When he meets the unworldly and free-thinking Ned, one of a group of African abolitionists who attend his chapel, John falls in love with Ned's tender nature and discovers how quickly desire can turn to obsession.Based on the true story of one of the most important events in queer history, Radical Love is a sensuous and prescient story about gender and sexuality, and how the most vulnerable survive in dangerous times.‘I was staggered by this book; one of the boldest novelistic explorations of desire I have read in some time’ Keiran Goddard, author of Hourglass‘Compellingly real’ Daily Mail
Murder Most Unladylike: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery #1)
by Robin StevensA super special 10th anniversary edition of the first gripping, award-winning mystery starring schoolgirl detectives, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. With a new introduction from the author and bonus short story! The first marvellous murder mystery in the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series!'Ripping good fun' The Times 'Plotting is what sets this book apart' TelegraphAt Deepdean School for Girls, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have set up their own detective agency. But they are struggling to find any real crimes to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Which they don't.)Then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. To add to the mystery, when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove one happened in the first place.'Enormous fun' Irish Times'A skilful blend of golden era crime novel and boarding school romp . . . Top class' Financial Times'I absolutely loved it' Susie Day
On Women: A new collection of feminist essays from the influential writer, activist and critic, Susan Sontag
by Susan Sontag‘A brilliant, glittering intelligence’ Sunday TimesOn Women brings together Susan Sontag's most fearless and incisive writing on women, a crucial aspect of her work that has not until now received the attention it deservesWritten during the height of second-wave feminism, Sontag's essays remain strikingly relevant to our contemporary conversations. At times powerfully in sync and at others powerfully at odds with them, they are always characteristically original in their examinations of the 'biological division of labour', the double-standard for ageing and the dynamics of women's power and powerlessness.As Merve Emre writes in her introduction, On Women offers us 'the spectacle of a ferocious intellect setting itself to the task at hand: to articulate the politics and aesthetics of being a woman in the United States, the Americas and the world.'‘Boldly provocative’ iNews‘On Women demonstrates a powerful mind and equally forceful personality’ The Herald
The Seventh Son: From the Between the Covers TV Book Club
by Sebastian Faulks'Genuinely thought-provoking’ THE TIMES'Extraordinary' WILLIAM BOYD ‘Faulks is an enviably graceful and economical writer’ GUARDIANA CHILD WILL BE BORN WHO WILL CHANGE EVERYTHINGTech billionaire Lukas Parn has an ambitious plan. Behind the doors of the IVF clinic in his London institute, a daring switch is made. Young academic Talissa Adam believes she is simply carrying a child for a grateful family, but the baby inside her is different from any living human. The boy, Seth, grows up unaware, though his parents not that he’s different: he can’t make plans, is unaware of danger and seems to have at least one extra sense. But as Seth becomes a man, the truth about him is revealed and the world starts to hunt him down. ‘ [An] unsettling book from one of our most popular novelists; it’s also one of his best’ FINANCIAL TIMES‘His greatest novel yet' ANTONY BEEVOR'Profoundly moving . . . a wonderful and life-affirming love story' JAMES HOLLAND'Original and enthralling' PETER JAMES
Fight Me: 'The Avengers meets The Breakfast Club in this wry and engaging superhero drama' James Swallow
by Austin GrossmanREAD THE THRILLING, ACERBIC AND HILAROUS NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE 'The Avengers meets The Breakfast Club… wry and engaging' James Swallow, Sunday Times bestselling author of Nomad'A spiky, fierce, erudite riff on the wonderful world of silver age superheroes' Charles Stross, bestselling author of The Atrocity Archives----Dr Rick Tower is a mild-mannered English professor easing into middle-age at a medium-sized New England college. A genial blur, he thinks. Even his vices are unremarkable.But it wasn’t always like this. Not until they changed his name, altered his looks and told him: ‘pretend you were never different’.Because, decades earlier after a very bad day at high school, he was committed to a secret government facility with three other kids, Cat, Jack and Stephanie, each special in their own way. Tested, tutored and trained, this extraordinary quartet were then told to save the world.It was the best thing that ever happened to them. Until it became the worst.Now, twenty years after the tragedy that forced him into academic non-entity, a mysterious disappearance means Tower must reunite with his former comrades. Each returns with their own agenda. And while great power might come with great responsibility, there’s little of that on display from any of them.Combining compelling storytelling and fierce imagination with a rich cast of characters, Fight Me is a page-turning and distinctive thriller, a unique tale of good and evil, and a memorable portrait of man trying to do the right thing at any cost. Against impossible odds . . .----'Hugely enjoyable… kept me up till 3am' Conn Iggulden, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lion‘Combining a coming-of-age story with costume thrills . . . it has sly, smart things to say’ Herald'Fight Me embraces the fun of the genre, while treating its battle-weary characters with heart and empathy. A noir-tinged Big Chill for the superhero set' Bob Proehl, author of The Nobody People‘A treasure that manages to be sad, funny, and hilariously fun at all once. A thrilling adventure but also a searing, intimate look at what it would really cost to have such incredible power, and yet still be human’ Peng Shepherd, bestselling author of The Cartographers'There is a vibrancy to the writing, and a beating heart, reminiscent of my favourite coming-of-age novels' Nick Cutter'A sucker-punch of sheer delight, and couldn't be happier to be on the receiving end' Adam Christopher
Slip: From the Winner of the Northern Writers’ Award
by Amelia LoulliOne in three women in Britain have an abortion. For such a common procedure, it has not been the subject of a dedicated book of poetry - not, at least, until now.'Painful, brave and steadfastly honest' ANDREW MCMILLAN'Original, essential... An unforgettable collection' FIONA BENSONAmelia Loulli opens this fearless, frank, absorbing debut with the words 'I'm going to tell you what happened', and that is precisely what she does. With these careful, generous, insistent poems, we are led through the experience of abortion and surprised at every turn. There is vulnerability and despair, there is the shame and silence too, but there is also the constant, steady pulse of compassion, tenderness and wonder at the world.Slip is a daring book, not just in subject but in style: skilfully worked, integrating the rich terror of nursery rhymes and folk tales with the bland banalities and euphemisms of social interaction, of medical techniques. It is also, sadly, a necessary book - provocative and transformative poetry about women as mothers and survivors. A cry of fury and a cry of love.
Silver on the Tree: The Dark is Rising sequence (The\dark Is Rising Sequence Ser.)
by Susan CooperThe six servants of the Light - the Drew children, Will, Bran and the mysterious Merriman - have reached their last, desperate fight against the forces of the Dark. They face one final, daunting task: to find the crystal sword. Their search will lead them from their own world to the haunting, magical Lost Land between sea and shore - and they will each stare death in the face before the battle's final moments.The fifth and final spellbinding book in the highly acclaimed Dark is Rising sequence.
The Guest: A gripping psychological thriller and unputdownable summer read
by Emma Cline'The tension never wavers' Guardian‘Sultry and engrossing… Take it to the beach and savour every page’ ObserverSummer's almost over and Alex is no longer welcome...Alex is a young woman teetering on the edge. Behind on her rent and with nothing to keep her in New York she agrees to spend August by the beach, in the lavish house of the older man she’s been seeing.After one misstep at a dinner party she’s dismissed with a ride to the station and a ticket back to the city. But Alex decides to stay on the island, charming her way into the lives of the dazzlingly wealthy set who live there and leaving a trail of destruction behind her. Just how long can she keep going before she’s found out?‘A delicious, dark-sided novel’ Guardian‘Eerily captivating’ Elle ‘Compulsively readable’ Independent
Star Wars: The Eye of Darkness (The High Republic)
by George MannOne year after the tragic events of The Fallen Star, the Jedi fight to break the Nihil's control over the galaxy.The galaxy is divided. Following the shocking destruction of Starlight Beacon, the Nihil have established an impenetrable barrier called the Stormwall around part of the Outer Rim, where Marchion Ro rules and his followers wreak havoc at his every whim. Jedi trapped behind enemy lines, including Avar Kriss, must fight to help the worlds being pillaged by the Nihil while staying one step ahead of the marauders and their Nameless terrors.Outside of the Nihil's so-called Occlusion Zone, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, and the other Jedi work alongside the Republic to reach the worlds that have been cut off from the rest of the galaxy. But every attempt to breach the Stormwall has failed, and even communication across the barrier is impossible. The failures and losses weigh heavily upon both Elzar and Bell as they search desperately for a solution.But even if the Republic and Jedi forces manage to breach the Stormwall, how can the Jedi fight back against the Nameless creatures that prey on the Jedi's connection to the Force? And what other horrors does Marchion Ro have in store? As desperation for both the Jedi and the Republic grows, any hope of reuniting the galaxy could be all but extinguished. . .
Invasion: The chillingly real new international thriller from the BBC security correspondent and Sunday Times bestseller
by Frank GardnerTHE NEW LUKE CARLTON THRILLER.BBC Security Correspondent FRANK GARDNER'S thrillers are . . .‘Fast, taut, tense, accurate.’ FREDERICK FORSYTH 'Utterly authentic.' DAILY MAIL‘Enthralling, intelligent.’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Nerve-shredding.’ TONY PARSONS‘Heart-in-mouth.’ i-NEWSPAPER 'Compulsively readable.' RADIO TIMES __________________________________________The world is on high alert. Across the Strait from Taiwan, China’s armed forces appear to be readying for war. Could the People’s Republic be preparing to invade its island neighbour?Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service has a mole deep within the Chinese Communist Party leadership – an individual in possession of intel that could defuse this fast-escalating situation. A ‘collector’ is sent to meet the spy and, in an anonymous Hong Kong café, the information is handed over. But before the collector can get the data to MI6, she is overpowered, drugged and abducted by persons unknown. Is it the MSS, China’s feared state security agency? Or has another, less predictable player entered the game?As geo-political tensions rise, MI6 field operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are dispatched to find the missing agent and the precious intel she carries. With the clock ticking and tip-offs taking them to shady Macau casinos, tawdry night clubs and multiple dead ends, Luke is convinced they are being deliberately strung along.Then they get the vital lead they need. It points to Taiwan – a country frantically preparing for imminent invasion. And it’s there that Luke and Jenny uncover what is really going on. . .Drawing on his years of experience reporting on global security stories and in-depth knowledge of the security services, Frank Gardner has written his most frighteningly real, unnerving and explosive thriller yet.'Grips from the very first page . . . this is thriller writing of a high order . . . Gardner steadily ratchets up the tension, peppering the narrative with nuggets of expertise to make an enthralling, intelligent read.' Adam LeBor, FINANCIAL TIMES (about Outbreak)
Practically Perfect: A Novel
by Katie FfordeIs home really where the heart is? A wonderfully romantic novel from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Wedding Season, A Wedding in Provence and One Enchanted Evening. 'The queen of uplifting, feel good romance' AJ Pearce'Top-drawer romantic escapism' Daily Mail'Delicious - gorgeous humour and the lightest of touches' Sunday Times___________________Anna has risked everything to buy and renovate a beautiful cottage.The outside is perfect, but inside all is chaos: with a ladder for a staircase, no downstairs flooring, candles the only form of lighting and a sleeping bag and camping mat for a bed, Anna's soon wondering whether she's bitten off more than she can chew.Her neighbour Chloe comes to the rescue, providing tea, wine and sympathy. But just as Anna's starting to believe she's found the perfect idyll, good-looking but impossible Rob Hunter arrives on the scene, putting up more obstacles than the Grand National.Can Anna have it all? A dream house and the perfect man?___________________The whole world loves Katie Fforde's work ...'Modern-day Austen. Great fun' Red'Warm, brilliant and full of love' Heat'Effortlessly lovable, warm and fun' Closer'Curl up on the sofa with this book and dream... delightful' The Lady'Deliciously enjoyable' Woman and Home'Uplifting and delightful' Hot Brands Cool Places
Think Twice: From the #1 bestselling creator of the hit Netflix series Fool Me Once
by Harlan Coben'Witty, tense, sharp, and paced like a racecar, this one hims' GREGG HURWITZ___________________________________________________________How can a man who’s already dead be wanted for murder?This is the question sports agent Myron Bolitar asks himself when two FBI agents visit him in New York.The man they are looking for is Myron’s former client and rival, Greg Downing. Greg’s DNA has been found at the scene of a high profile double-murder, and he is now the FBI’s main suspect.But Greg died three years previously, Myron says. He went to his funeral and gave the eulogy.The FBI are disbelieving, and Myron knows he has to find some answers – and quickly.Could Greg Downing still be alive?The more Myron and his close friend Win dig into what really happened, the more dangerous their world becomes . . .Secrets, lies and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past lie at the heart of Harlan Coben’s blistering new thriller.____________________________________Readers love Think Twice . . .'Great writing. Great dialogue''Harlan Coben does it again!''Highly recommend''Loved, loved, loved''The best one yet'______________________________________'HARLAN COBEN never ever lets you down' LEE CHILD'HARLAN COBEN: simply one of the all-time greats' GILLIAN FLYNN'HARLAN COBEN is the modern master of the hook and twist' DAN BROWN'HARLAN COBEN is unbelievably brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN'HARLAN COBEN is a GREAT writer' JOHN GRISHAM
Ralph's Party: The 25th anniversary edition of the smash-hit story of love, friends and flatshares
by Lisa Jewell25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE BESTSELLING DEBUT ABOUT A PARTY YOU’LL NEVER FORGETFOR FANS OF ONE DAY AND THE FLAT SHARE'Addictively readable' The Times'It was so much fun being reunited with Ralph, Jem, Smith and Siobahn! . . . It still feels so sharp, fresh and cool. I'm so excited to see a new generation of readers falling in love with this iconic love story' Daisy Buchanan‘The fabulous first novel by the fabulous Lisa Jewell: it's pure 90s and completely brilliant'. Jenny Colgan, bestselling author of Little Beach Street Bakery. ----THE SMASH-HIT STORY OF LOVE, FRIENDS AND FLATSHARES TURNS 25Meet the residents of 31 Alamanac Road . . .Ralph and Smith are flatmates and best mates. Nothing can come between them – until the gorgeous Jemima moves in. They’re both falling for her, but which one of them does Jem want?Upstairs, Karl and Siobhan are happily unmarried and have been for fifteen years – until Cheri, in the flat above, fixes her sights on Karl. Why should a little problem like his girlfriend get in her way?Sooner or later it’s all going to come to a head – and what better place for tears and laughter, break ups and make ups than Ralph’s party?Tropes/themes:1. Love triangle 2. Forced proximity 3. Best friend’s current lover 4. Roommates ----'A joy . . . a fun summer read’ GuardianPraise for Lisa Jewell‘A big warm-hearted book’ Marie Claire‘Jewell's readability and emotional intelligence make her the cream of pop fiction’ Glamour ‘A book you simply disappear into’ Sunday TelegraphReaders love Ralph’s Party‘A refreshing take on falling in love and living happily ever after. I couldn't wait to curl up in bed and read it most evenings!!!’ ***** Reader Review‘An interesting, funny and absorbing story. This one takes me back to student days in London’ ***** Reader Review‘This is a good story of friendship, love and crossing the line’ ***** Reader Review‘I read this book when it was first released. I loved it. And now I am loving it all over again’***** Reader Review‘Love is in the air, what a brilliant story, what a party!!!! Can always guarantee a great story by Lisa Jewell, loved it!’ ***** Reader Review‘I always know when I love a book because I want to recommend it to the people I care about. This will definitely be one of those stories’ ***** Reader Review
Like Love: Essays and Conversations
by Maggie NelsonA CAREER-SPANNING COLLECTION OF INSPIRING, REVELROUS ESSAYS ABOUT ART AND ARTISTS'Like Love may be one of the most movingly specific, the most lovingly unruly celebrations of the ethics of friendship we have' Guardian'A polyphonic assemblage . . . graceful and aesthetic, deftly crossing boundaries and definitions, a concordant symphony' Irish TimesLike Love is a momentous, raucous collection of essays drawn from twenty years of Maggie Nelson's brilliant work. These profiles, reviews, remembrances, tributes and critical essays, as well as several conversations with friends and idols, bring to life Nelson's passion for dialogue and dissent. The range of subjects is wide - from Prince to Carolee Schneemann to Matthew Barney to Lhasa de Sela to Kara Walker - but certain themes recur: intergenerational exchange; love and friendship; feminist and queer issues, especially as they shift over time; subversion, transgression and perversity; the roles of the critic and language in relation to visual and performance arts; forces that feed or impede certain bodies and creators; and the fruits and follies of a life spent devoted to making.Arranged chronologically, Like Love shows the writing, thinking, feeling, reading, looking and conversing that occupied Nelson while writing iconic books such as Bluets and The Argonauts. As such, it is a portrait of a time, an anarchic party rich with wild guests, a window into Nelson's own development and a testament to the profound sustenance offered by art and artists.
Nero: The author of the bestselling Emperor series returns to Rome
by Conn IgguldenTYRANTS AREN'T BORN. THEY'RE RAISED.Travel to the heart of a Roman dynasty drenched in danger and intrigue in master storyteller Conn Iggulden's bold and brilliant return to Rome as he tells the story of NERO – last of the the Julio-Claudian emperors . . . 'Deft and robust storytelling, that whips through the history with plenty of blood, guts and plot-twists' The Times'Epic and in a class of his own' Daily Mirror ---- ANCIENT ROME, AD 37 It begins with a man’s hand curled around another’s throat. Emperor Tiberius first dispatches a traitor. Then his whole family. Next all his friends. It is as if he never existed. THIS IS ROMAN JUSTICE. Into this fevered forum, a child is born. His mother is Agrippina, granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. But their imperial blood is no protection. The closer you are to the heart of the empire, the closer you are to power, intrigue, and danger. She faces soldiers, senators, rivals, silver-tongued pretenders, each vying for position. One mistake risks exile, incarceration, execution. Or, worst of all, the loss of her infant son. For Agrippina knows that opportunity waits, even in your darkest moments. Her son is everything. She can make this boy, shape him into Rome itself – the one all must kneel before. BUT FIRST, THEY MUST SURVIVE . . .This then is the story of Nero's birth and raising under the watchful and scheming eye of his mother Agrippina – a woman every man crossed at his peril. ---- PRAISE FOR CONN IGGULDEN'Breakthtakingly good’ Bernard Cornwell‘Magnificent’ The Times 'Pacy and propulsive, cracking with energy, violence and stirring speeches, Iggulden chronicles power struggles, political machinations and the bloodthirsty ravages of up-close combat' Daily MailReaders love Nero'Iggulden draws you into Rome, its brutality and its glory, and brings it back to life with such seamless ease' ***** Reader Review'Absolute quality from first to last page, atmospheric with a real feel for time and place' ***** Reader Review'It was fascinating to see the seeds being planted that will lead to the Nero becoming the tyrant we know through the ancient historians, but told in such a contemporary and accessible way' ***** Reader Review'An absolutely immersive experience throughout that throws you into the politics of Ancient Rome' ***** Reader Review
The Undomestic Goddess: Perfect Escapism from the Number One Bestseller
by Sophie Kinsella'Funny, fast and farcical. I loved it' JOJO MOYESThe hilarious romantic comedy from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Sophie KinsellaSamantha thrives under pressure. A high-powered London lawyer, all she can concentrate on is taking the next step in her career; eating, sleeping, seeing friends – even taking a breath – will have to wait.But just when she’s about to get everything she has ever wanted, Samantha makes a mistake. A fifty-million-pound, career-destroying mistake. Unable to face the consequences, she does the unimaginable and runs away…Catching the first train she can, she finds herself in the countryside, outside a beautiful grand house. Mistaken for another woman, she falls into a new job as the family’s housekeeper.Disaster ensues. In a blink, her life has shifted from writing briefs to washing them – and she has no idea how to work the washing machine. Let alone the oven. A former master of the takeaway menu, she’s now expected to whip up fine cuisine.But gradually, she falls in love with her new life in a wholly unexpected way. Will her employers ever discover the truth? Will Samantha's old life ever catch up with her? And if it does...will she want it back?***** EVERYBODY LOVES SOPHIE KINSELLA: *****'I couldn’t put it down.' LOUISE PENTLAND (SprinkleofGlitter)'I almost cried with laughter' DAILY MAIL'Life doesn't get much better than a new Sophie Kinsella novel' RED'Hilarious . . . you'll laugh and gasp on every page' JENNY COLGAN
Greenwitch: The Dark is Rising sequence (The\dark Is Rising Sequence Ser.)
by Susan CooperIn their desperate quest to find the grail, stolen by the forces of the Dark, the Drew children have returned to Trewissick. One night, in a strange ceremony, Jane watches the village women construct the Greenwitch: an ancient offering to the sea. Overcome by the Greenwitch's power, Jane makes a perilous wish - one that will tip the balance in the ongoing struggle between good and evil.The third haunting, magical book in the highly acclaimed Dark is Rising sequence.