Search Results for: very good lives/

‘What a read!’ MARIAN KEYES
‘Deeply moving and very funny…I loved it’ LOUISE O’NEILL
‘The funniest book you’ll read this year’ LAUREN BRAVO

Katherine lives by the rules, ticks all the boxes and prepares for the worst, even while she hopes for the best.

Then the worst actually happens and, as she tries to navigate life as a young widow, it turns out she was not prepared at all.

Nothing scares Katherine more than stopping, but everyone insists she needs to take some time for herself. Head to a wellness retreat, they said. Enjoy some me-time, they said…

Except this retreat isn’t the pity party she was hoping for. Instead of massages, she has erotic meditation, and instead of spa treatments she has scream therapy.

Katherine has never lost control in her life. In fact, she’s fairly certain that if she starts screaming she might never stop.

But she’s about to let go, and everyone had better stand back…

Hilarious, heartbreaking and honest, this is a story about learning how to stop playing it safe in a world that feels so dangerous – and showing up to the party, even when it feels impossible.

***

‘Thought-provoking, charming, cathartic and hilariously vivid’ SARAH KNIGHT
‘Pity Party is perfection’ LINDSEY KELK
‘Unbelievably good’ LUCY VINE
‘I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I devoured every page… a laugh-out-loud balm’ NIKKI MAY
‘Daisy Buchanan makes me laugh out loud’ KATHERINE HEINY
‘Wonderfully funny. Her best book yet’ NINA STIBBE
‘Crackling with energy, humour, warmth, and quirk’ JENNY MUSTARD
‘Every line in this book is a wonder’ CAROLINE CORCORAN
‘Moving, funny and wise all at once’ KATE RIORDAN
‘Smart, sexy, and will grab hold of your heart’ JADE BEER
‘Nobody writes about the messiness of life like Daisy’ JULIE OWEN MOYLAN
‘Gloriously readable…I tore through it!’ MARINA O’LOUGHLIN
‘Original, moving and totally addictive’ ROXY BOURDILLON

LONGLISTED FOR THE CRIME WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION 2024 ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR BEST NEW AUTHOR AT THE 2024 TRUE CRIME AWARDS
JUDGES’ CITATION: ‘A cleverly constructed account of three different characters representing different aspects of the ruthless and fierce drugs trade. Never a dull moment. A real page turner… This book is gripping and immerses you in the very real world of the characters.’

‘Read this powerful book by Miles Johnson right now. It will make you realise that what we call terrorism is actually drug trafficking, what we call politics is organised crime and what we call peace is just a truce between mafias.’ – Roberto Saviano, author of Gomorrah

‘McMafia for the new age’ Catherine Belton, author of Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then took on the West

‘Compelling, visceral and highly readable’ Oliver Bullough, bestselling author of Moneyland

‘As breathless, complex and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction – but it’s all real, which makes it truly extraordinary’ Lee Child

‘This astonishing and cinematic rollercoaster of a debut will bring Miles Johnson’s talent into the brilliant light. Delivered with trademark verve and precision, it achieves that rare and precious thing that is the goal of all great reporting: it reveals the world to itself’ Alex Perry, author of The Good Mothers

‘Miles has used his extensive Italian contacts to get a fully-fleshed out story in the Mafia section; likewise with the Hezbollah characters. He has interviewed over 100 people for the book, including many hours with Jack Kelly, the DEA investigator and hero of the book, which gives us an intimate look at a man dedicated to catching bad guys at the expense of his personal life’ Dan McCrum, author of Money Men

A compulsive true crime thriller about modern-day international drugs trafficking, terrorism and the mafia following an investigation driven by one DEA agent, Jack Kelly.

Three very different men battle to control their destinies as they hurtle through the hall of mirrors of the global shadow economy.

Salvatore Pititto is an ambitious Mafia capo working on a vast cocaine shipment who becomes unexpectedly pulled into an arms-smuggling conspiracy.

Jack Kelly, a veteran US Drug Enforcement Administration agent, tasked with following a trail of dirty money across continents from a top-secret investigative unit based in Virginia.

Mustafa Badreddine is a ghost-like master terrorist wanted by governments across the world who has been secretly dispatched to Syria for his final mission.

Each man, born in radically different circumstances in the 1960s, is in his own way grappling with the powerful and unstoppable forces that shape the world around us; forces which topple governments, send refugees fleeing across borders, and put guns in the hands of mercenaries and militias. Each has devoted his whole life to an institution-the DEA, the Mafia and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah-and each will eventually be destroyed or betrayed by the thing they believe in the most.

Set during 2015 and 2016, as the global order began to implode under the pressures of the Syrian civil war and the European refugee crisis, CHASING SHADOWS looks back over the historical conflicts, events and personal histories that have shaped the lives of these three men. It’s a book that shows the betrayals, the disillusionment and the violence as Jack Kelly hunts down his targets.

‘From start to end – very, very good’ RODDY DOYLE

‘Full of pop gossip that’ll leave you starry-eyed, and written with a warmth and precision you’ll want to savour for as long as you can . . . I didn’t want it to end’ SÉAMAS O’REILLY

‘Funny, vivid and touching . . . An utter treat’ RACHEL JOYCE
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In a small corner of a field in Wales, Tiffany Murray is hiding with Boggle the dog, dreaming of her mum’s moussaka, blackberry and apple crumble, and, if she’s lucky, ice-cold lemonade. A sheep bleats. The smell of hay tickles her nose. The twang of a guitar and crack of a snare carry on the breeze.

It’s the late 1970s and Tiff lives with her mum, Joan, at Rockfield, the iconic recording studios. This place of legend, where some of the most famous rock albums of all time were recorded, is the background to a freewheeling, ever-changing whirlwind of a childhood. Tiff’s days are spent running around the farm, making friends with local wildlife and helping out with the endless array of dishes her mum creates to keep the bands fed. She’s looking for a dog, she’s looking for a father; but the one constant throughout is her and Joan, building an unconventional family in the most unlikely of locations.

My Family and Other Rock Stars is Tiff’s remarkable, truly unique story of growing up in a rural idyll, of Cordon Bleu cookery and of a childhood where the chances of bumping into Freddie Mercury playing piano, or a group of Hell’s Angels turning up to record for Lemmy, or even the hope of David Bowie appearing, were as normal as hopscotch and homework.

The next escapist romance from Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of TikTok favourite, The Unhoneymooners!

‘My favourite kind of book to devour: something that manages to be hot and intense, yet still the very best comfort food’ JODI PICOULT
……………

Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and ‘reigning romance queens’ (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam ‘West’ Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents – his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.
……………

‘Sexy, swoony, heartfelt’ Library Journal (starred review)

‘Funny, angst-y, and extremely sexy’ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Find out why readers LOVE Christina Lauren . . .

‘Pure, irresistible magic from start to finish’ EMILY HENRY

‘Witty and downright hilarious . . . a perfect feel-good romantic comedy’ HELEN HOANG

‘Pure joy’ SALLY THORNE

‘Writing duo Christina Lauren are my go-to when I’m feeling sad’ BETH O’LEARY

‘What a joyful, warm, touching book! This is the book to read if you want to smile so hard your face hurts’ JASMINE GUILLORY

*Now with an exclusive extract of Elizabeth Chadwick’s next novel, The Royal Rebel – only in the paperback!*

Wales, 1093.

The warm, comfortable family life of young Nesta, daughter of Prince Rhys of Deheubarth, is destroyed when her father is killed and she is taken hostage. Her honour is further tarnished when she is taken as an unwilling concubine by King William’s ruthless younger brother Henry, who later ascends the throne under suspicious circumstances.

But it is Nesta’s marriage that will really change the course of her life. Gerald FitzWalter, an ambitious young knight, is rewarded for his unwavering loyalty to his new King with Nesta’s hand. He is delighted, having always admired her from afar, but Nesta’s only comfort is her return to her beloved Wales. There, she cannot help but be tempted by the handsome, charismatic and dangerous son of the Welsh prince, Owain. When he offers her the chance to join him in his plan to overthrow Norman rule she must choose between duty and desire . . .

From the award-winning and bestselling author comes the heartbreaking tale of a woman trying to survive in a man’s world – a world where the men who would protect her are dead and banished.

Real readers love The King’s Jewel:

‘Elizabeth Chadwick has done it again! What an amazing story. Her writing makes you feel like you are standing right next to Nesta and Gerald as they live their lives…Very strongly recommended!‘ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A refreshing, fascinating read…The story grabbed me from the first few pages and it only got better!’ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A veritable gem of a book; rich in history, drama, romance, action and the good kind of heartbreak, Elizabeth Chadwick outdoes herself in this Welsh period piece…Stunning.’ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Elizabeth Chadwick is an amazing writer [who draws] you right into the history and the story from the beginning…A great read.’ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Well researched, beautifully written and a fascinating story of two people in challenging times…I am a huge Elizabeth Chadwick fan and this book doesn’t disappoint…A must read!‘ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Elizabeth Chadwick is a master of historical fiction. I loved how she brought the story of Nesta, a Welsh princess, to life…I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially if they want to find out about fascinating women in history.’ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a jewel of a read…Wonderful. Couldn’t put it down!’ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Elizabeth Chadwick has a way of making you feel like you’ve magically time travelled back to medieval days. The King’s Jewel is no exception. Fully fleshed out characters, a storyline that is based on historical events, and a writing style that keeps you [gripped] until the very last page‘ GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The daughter of a legend finds the love of a lifetime in this passionate, heart-wrenching instalment in J. R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series . . .

Nalla, the blooded daughter of Zsadist, has led a sheltered life. Protected by her father and the Brotherhood, kept away from the deadly war with the Lessening Society, she is chafing against the walls of the very safety that has ensured her survival. One night, she gives in to her restlessness . . . and finds herself face-to-face with a male whose inner darkness rivals even that of her sire’s horrific origins.

Nate is a fighter with nothing to lose-and nothing to live for. Tortured in a human lab as a young, then cursed with immortality, he is all vengeance and no purpose because he cares for no one-not even himself. The Brotherhood knows this all too well, and following Nate’s deliberate violation of the cardinal rule in the war, they declare him a dangerous liability that must be dealt with.

When Nalla and Nate find themselves fighting side by side, daggers aren’t the only things that fly. A sizzling attraction is ignited, though Nalla knows her sire will never accept him-and on his side, Nate has made a secret bargain to end his own immortality. As the enemy closes in, and Nalla realizes she must choose between her mate and her sire, what starts with such passion may well end with eternal sorrow and no chance of a reunion-even in the Fade.

Find out why readers are OBSESSED with the Black Dagger Brotherhood . . .

‘Insanely good! . . . Intensely romantic and straight up flipping steamy, violent and gruesome, heartbreaking and deep. Her addictive writing tells a story like none other’ Goodreads reviewer

”I can’t get enough of these sexy, tough, intriguing vampires’ Amazon reviewer

‘Emotional by epic proportions’ Kobo reviewer

‘The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a twisting, often surprising, but always awesome read’ Amazon reviewer

‘A must read’ Goodreads reviewer

‘The story had me captivated the whole way’ Kobo reviewer

‘Each and every character is compelling’ Amazon reviewer

Reach for the stars in this exciting graphic novel about three ambitious, space-loving kids who must put their differences aside to save their summer camp before it closes…for good.

Welcome to Camp Launchpad!

Summer is in full swing, which means a new class of kids has arrived to attend the best space camp in Florida…or at least, it used to be. With growing competition from the trendy rival camp next door, Camp Launchpad needs all the help it can get to keep its doors open.

Campers Val, Mark, and Pete are here for very different reasons: following in the footsteps of an astronaut mom, living up to expectations as a vice president’s son, or getting a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship. But they all have one huge thing in common: Their future in the stars launches from here…if there’s still a camp to launch from.

When the hotshot owner of the rival space camp makes a ten-million-dollar bet that could turn Camp Launchpad around, this unlikely trio must band together to pull off a miracle. If they don’t, this could be Camp Launchpad’s last summer ever!

“Elsie Silver’s writing is a true revelation!” ALI HAZELWOOD

Small-town, big characters, four addictive love stories . . . meet the single dads of Rose Hill’s recreational bowling team. Perfect for fans of steamy romance, Lucy Score, and Elsie’s smash hit Chestnut Springs series.
____

She’s been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.

The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World’s Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he’s her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend’s sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm’s length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn’t cross this line. But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can’t do is resist her.

Readers can’t get enough of Wild Love . . .

‘Billionaire romance but make it rustic . . . Elsie Silver just hits the mark every time’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Hands-down my favorite book Elsie has written. HIGHLY recommend‘
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Did I devour this in a single day? You bet I did!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Elsie Silver is the queen of small-town romances’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘The banter. The tension. The relationship between Ford & Rosie. The character development. Wow‘
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I was hooked from the first chapter’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

For years Pia Miranda has been stopped in the street by calls of, ‘Found you!’, forever linked to that character we all loved: Josie from Looking for Alibrandi. But playing Josie is only one small part of everything that has shaped the woman Pia has become.

As a child, her Nonna would tell her stories of the small volcanic island off Sicily she called home. Cannoli, curses and lighting a candle at church were as much a part of Pia’s childhood as mouse plagues, her Aussie Nanna’s lemon slice and cheering on South Melbourne at the footy with her Grandfather.

After chasing a childhood dream to become a ballet dancer (with a back-up plan of becoming a nun) she was cruelly shamed out of her leotard and into a new dream: acting. The rollercoaster ride of fame would see her travel the world and narrowly avoid a sky-high #MeToo moment. But after fame comes real life – work stress, career questions, money worries, relationships and heartbreak, love and marriage, illness and grief. Having grown up pinballing between her very Italian side and her very Australian side while trying to carve out a space all her own, Pia didn’t realise how the push and pull of tradition had made her world all the richer.

Finally, setting foot on Vulcano to reconnect with her roots, Pia understands how all the parts of herself have made her the true survivor she is. Like her Nonna told her, every day on top of the earth is a good day.

Finding My Bella Vita is a charming, honest and uplifting memoir full of heart and humour that reminds us all of the two things that matter most – love and family. (A good cannoli and some Vegemite toast also rate pretty highly!)


‘Like a long phone call with a friend . . . an intimate monologue from a talented storyteller with a self-deprecating and light touch’ BOOKS+PUBLISHING

‘Partly a grappling with the legacy of Alibrandi . . . it is also a contemplation of what it means to live a good life . . . rich with fond recollections of her upbringing’ THE GUARDIAN

The world tells us that having a good job, owning your own business, money, fame, and influence are all important for a successful life. If we don’t have them, we feel like a failure. But even when we achieve them, we still end up unhappy, unfulfilled, or lonely.

God wants us to be successful, but His definition of success is not the same as the world’s definition. The truth is, God’s way of achieving the dreams and desires that truly fulfil us and bring genuine joy to our lives is very different-and that is what we need.

In The Pathway to Success, you will discover a deeper understanding of what it means to seek success God’s way. Through her practical, relatable insights based on God’s Word, beloved Bible teacher Joyce Meyer reveals how to actively pursue the keys to true, lasting success. Full of rich encouragement and timeless wisdom, The Pathway to Success will allow you to refocus your life and fulfil your God-given destiny as you walk out the purpose He’s planned for you.

A brilliant and addictive collection of brand-new essays on modern culture – from ‘the pre-eminent and most widely read critic of her generation’ The Times

Included as a 2024 highlight in the Observer, Stylist, the Skinny, BBC Online and the Independent

‘Funny, insightful and bang on the money’ Stylist

‘Very fun to read … exhilarating and original’ New Statesman

——————————————–

I heard this crazy story, and I want you to know.

It is the age of internet gossip; of social networks, repackaged ideas and rating everything out of five stars. Mega-famous celebrities respond with fury to critics who publish less-than-rapturous reviews of their work (and then delete their tweets); CEOs talk about reclaiming ‘the power of vulnerability’; and in the world of fiction, writers eschew actually making things up in favour of ‘always just talking about themselves’.

In this blistering, irreverent and very funny first book of non-fiction, Lauren Oyler – one of the most trenchant, influential, and revelatory critics of her generation – takes on the bizarre particularities of our present moment in a series of interconnected essays about literature, the attention economy, gossip, the role of criticism and her own relentless, teeth-grinding anxiety.

Illuminating and thought-provoking, by turns drily scathing and disarmingly open, No Judgement excavates the layers of psychology and meaning in how we communicate, tell stories and make critical judgements – to offer dazzling insights into how we live and think today.

‘Brisk, honest and soaring with élan‘ Naoise Dolan, author of The Happy Couple

‘Smart and unafraid and (thank God) funny. This is exactly what I want to read’ Monica Heisey, author of Really Good, Actually

‘Oyler is the kind of dangerous contemporary writer we need more of’ Niamh Campbell, author of We Were Young

A new contemporary romance from the author of the TikTok sensation ARCHER’S VOICE.
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The follow-up to New York Times bestseller Archer’s Voice and its sequel, Travis. Full of charm and heart, this small town romance will sweep you off your feet from beloved bestselling author Mia Sheridan.

How is it possible that perfect Gage Buchanan is still single after all these years?

He can’t quite figure it out himself. Perhaps he hasn’t met the right woman. Maybe he’s spent too many years focusing on work – or maybe he just isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks he is.

Gage thought he left his days of one-night stands behind him, however something about the gorgeous cocktail waitress in a town three hours away is far too intriguing. But when she shows up weeks later in his hometown, Calliope, pretending to be an art appraiser, Gage is completely blindsided – not to mention still very attracted to the (apparent) little liar. He can’t figure her out: not her angle nor the persistent pull between them.

Aurora ‘Rory’ Casteel is determined to find her father. All she knows from her late mother is that he lives in Calliope and he’s an important part of the town. So when Rory’s gallery-owning friend offers to run cover for her while she sleuths around town, she jumps at the chance. But she doesn’t anticipate the man she spent one wild night with turning out to be a local.

Sure, it puts a wrinkle in Rory’s plan, but she can work around Gage Buchanan. Even as it gets harder to pretend her heart doesn’t flip every time he’s in the room. She has a suspicion he isn’t everything he seems, either, but maybe it’s ‘perfect’ Gage’s flaws that are what she’s really drawn to.
………………..

Praise for Mia Sheridan:

‘The bible to how to write a good, convincing love story’ L.J. Shen

‘There is no love story like a Mia Sheridan love story’ A.L. Jackson

‘Dunmore is my new find in historical romance. Her A League of Extraordinary Women series is extraordinary’ JULIA QUINN, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

Bookish suffragist Catriona Campbell is busy: an ailing estate, academic writer’s block, a tense time for England’s women’s rights campaign – the last thing she needs is to be stuck playing host to her father’s distractingly attractive young colleague.

Deeply introverted Catriona lives for her work at Oxford and her fight for women’s suffrage. She dreams of romance, too, but since all her attempts at love have ended badly, she now keeps her desires firmly locked inside her head – until she climbs out of a Scottish loch after a good swim and finds herself rather exposed to her new colleague.

Elias Khoury has wheedled his way into Professor Campbell’s circle under false pretences: he did not come to Oxford to classify ancient artefacts, he is determined to take them back to his homeland in the Middle East. Winning Catriona’s favour could be the key to his success. Unfortunately, seducing the coolly intense lady scholar quickly becomes a mission in itself and his well-laid plans are in danger of derailing . . .

Forced into close proximity in Oxford’s hallowed halls, two very different people have to face the fact that they might just be a perfect match. Soon, a risky new game begins that asks Catriona one more time to put her heart and wildest dreams at stake.

Why readers love Evie Dunmore . . .

‘Evie Dunmore is my favourite new historical romance author!’ LISA KLEYPAS, New York Times bestselling author

‘Anyone who binge-watched Bridgerton needs this feminist regency romance on their radar’ Cosmopolitan

‘Pulls on every heartstring: perfection’ EMILY HENRY, New York Times bestselling author

‘Evie Dunmore writes the smartest, sexiest historical romances out there . . . The Gentleman’s Gambit absolutely sizzles!’ KATE QUINN, New York Times bestselling author

‘Absolutely brilliant from the first page to the last’ MIMI MATTHEWS, USA Today bestselling author

‘Excellent’ JODI PICOULT, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

‘Electric chemistry, witty dialogue and compelling characters light up the page in this delightful novel’ CHANEL CLEETON

‘Evie Dunmore is a phenomenon!’ ANNA CAMPBELL

Six-year-old Isabelle doesn’t have any brothers or sisters. But she does have her dad, her cat Steve, her friend Harry B, and her baby cousin, Bibi, who she’s very good at looking after. And then along comes Isobel, a new girl at school. They have the same name, but will they be friends?

Four gentle stories in one volume, all about Isabelle and her world, its trials and triumphs, its small moments and big dramas: friends, family, school life and growing up, from Jane Godwin, one of Australia’s respected writers for children, and with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.

‘Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages’ Living Arts Canberra

‘Jordan is a kind of Australian Marian Keyes, combining overdrive pace and throwaway humour with a razor intelligence and a deft, illuminating touch on darker subjects and themes . . . A sharp-eyed, engaging, endearing and ultimately optimistic story’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘Taps into the humour and pathos of ordinary life in a way that has you nodding with recognition . . . while at the same time laughing out loud’ PIP WILLIAMS

‘I just loved this very smart, very funny and at times moving novel’ SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM

One perfect life. One disastrous week. The brand-new novel from bestselling, acclaimed and beloved author Toni Jordan

As the eldest child in a single-parent family, Kylie’s always had more important things on her mind than smiling for random strangers. Controlling her job, her home, her romantic life and – most importantly – her family takes all her concentration. She’s always succeeded, though, because that’s just who Kylie is.

When her fiercely independent mother breaks an ankle and needs help, it’s up to Kylie, as usual, to fix things. She reluctantly packs her bags and moves in, but back in her childhood home, things start to unravel. Could it be that Kylie’s carefully curated life is not so perfect after all?

Prettier if She Smiled More will make you laugh and make you cry. Is it ever too late to start over?

‘Hilarious . . . A funny take on menopause, caring for an ageing parent, perfectionism and midlife crises told with Toni’s signature observational humour and wit on ordinary life’ Woman’s Day

‘A magic mix of domestic drama, self-doubt, self-discovery and learning to laugh in the face of mayhem . . . A sensitive, amusing read’ Adelaide Advertiser

‘A funny and smart family drama’ Weekend Australian

‘Fabulous’ Who Weekly

‘Such a clever book . . . The author has used both quiet wry humour and laugh aloud moments to speak about the nature of family and of love . . . Prettier if She Smiled More is a life manual for us all’ Living Arts Canberra

‘Pitch perfect with just the right amount of humour . . . Jordan brings all her well-honed creative skills to the fore with this delightful tale’ Good Reading

Praise for Dinner with the Schnabels:

‘I loved every page of this funny, warm, delightful novel!’ LIANE MORIARTY

‘Told with great humour and pathos. It is a tonic and a delight’ PIP WILLIAMS

‘A smart, funny novel about love, marriage and family’ Weekend Australian

‘A contemporary comic masterpiece. Practically every page boasts lines redolent of humour, wit and sarcasm that will make you snigger if not laugh out loud’ ArtsHub

Don’t miss out on the series that everyone can’t stop talking about!

‘Pure escapism – think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades‘ – The Sun

‘We weren’t expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, but we very much are – and we’re not alone . . .’ – Sunday Times Style

‘I couldn’t put it down!’ – Millie Bobby Brown

‘The new publishing sensation’ – Daily Mail

‘This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn’t warn you’ – Glamour

‘Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter’ – Mail on Sunday
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FRIENDS. ENEMIES. LOVERS . . .
EVERYONE HAS AN AGENDA

Violet Sorrengail expected to live a quiet life surrounded by books, until she was forced onto the world’s deadliest training ground. Now she must fight to join the army’s elite: dragon riders. But dragons don’t choose fragile riders, they incinerate them, and when your body breaks as easily as Violet’s does – death is only a heartbeat away.

EVERY NIGHT COULD BE YOUR LAST

Many cadets would kill Violet to better their own chances of success; the rest would kill her just because of her last name . . . including the ruthless Xaden Riorson, her family’s greatest enemy. With the odds stacked against her, Violet must use every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise, because once you enter Basgiath War College, there are only two ways out:
GRADUATE OR DIE
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OVER ONE MILLION READERS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN FOURTH WING FIVE STARS. ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE WORLD OF BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE?

‘If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one’

‘I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again‘

‘This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read’

‘FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating’

‘There are some stories you read and enjoy but every so often you come across one that just obliterates everything and takes over your entire being within a few pages and becomes your world and personality. Well, this is the one’

‘The world building in this was phenomenal. I lived, breathed and became a part of the college’

‘You know when you finish a book, and it leaves an ache in your chest because it was so good, and now it’s over? That’s exactly how I feel after finishing Fourth Wing’


OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMPYREAN SERIES:
– FOURTH WING
– IRON FLAME

*Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing paperback was an instant number-one bestseller in the first week of April 2024.

The instant number one Sunday Times bestseller and thrilling sequel to the global phenomenon, Fourth Wing!

Don’t miss out on the series that the world can’t stop talking about:

‘An absolute romantasy sensation . . . Yarros is the true inheritor of Harry Potter and inspires Hunger Games levels of devotion’ – Guardian

‘Fear not, levels of fighting, rebelliousness and all-round sexiness are still sky-high’ – Daily Mail

‘Iron Flame is on course to set the world alight’ – Glamour

‘Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter’ – Mail on Sunday
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She survived her first year at Basgiath War College . . . but the danger is only beginning.

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is – unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits, and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College – and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

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Reviews for Fourth Wing

‘Pure escapism – think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades’ THE SUN

‘We weren’t expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, but we very much are – and we’re not alone . . .’ SUNDAY TIMES STYLE

‘I couldn’t put it down!’ MILLIE BOBBY BROWN

‘This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn’t warn you’ GLAMOUR

‘Throw in an enemies-to-lovers plotline, some life-threatening trials and the threat of war in the outside world, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously gripping dish, which I downed in one sitting’ STYLIST

‘2024 is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese calendar. Dive into a fantasy narrative featuring these mythical, winged creatures.’ POP SUGAR

‘If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one’ READER REVIEW

‘I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again‘ READER REVIEW

‘This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read’ READER REVIEW

‘FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating’ READER REVIEW

‘There are some stories you read and enjoy but every so often you come across one that just obliterates everything and takes over your entire being within a few pages and becomes your world and personality. Well, this is the one’ READER REVIEW

‘The world building in this was phenomenal. I lived, breathed and became a part of the college’ READER REVIEW

‘You know when you finish a book, and it leaves an ache in your chest because it was so good, and now it’s over? That’s exactly how I feel after finishing Fourth Wing’ READER REVIEW


OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMPYREAN SERIES
– FOURTH WING
– IRON FLAME


*Rebecca Yarros’s Iron Flame was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller in hardback in the second week of November 2023

From the record-breaking, four-time Hugo Award-winning N. K. Jemisin comes ‘a glorious fantasy’ (Neil Gaiman) – a story of culture, identity, magic and myths in contemporary New York City. The sequel to the critically acclaimed The City We Became, this is the final book of the Great Cities Duology.

Every great city has a soul. A human avatar that embodies their city’s heart and wields its magic. New York? She’s got six.

But all is not well in the city that never sleeps. Though Brooklyn, Manny, Bronca, Venezia, Padmini, and Neek have temporarily managed to stop the Woman in White from invading–and destroying the entire universe in the process–the mysterious capital “E” Enemy has more subtle powers at her disposal. A new candidate for mayor wielding the populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia, and “law and order” may have what it takes to change the very nature of New York itself and take it down from the inside. In order to defeat him, and the Enemy who holds his purse strings, the avatars will have to join together with the other Great Cities of the world in order to bring her down for good and protect their world from complete destruction.

‘Hopeful and enthralling, The World We Make is more evidence of [Jemisin’s] ferocious talent’ Esquire

‘Jemisin brings her living-city saga to a satisfying conclusion, maintaining a sense of energy and excitement throughout‘ Booklist

‘Jemisin embodies the spirit of the city in as lush and lively a voice as ever and does a masterful job incorporating even more history and magic’ Publishers Weekly

‘The conclusion to Jemisin’s Great Cities duology is a searing commentary on present-day politics as manipulated by a primordial evil…This riveting and powerful urban fantasy duology is masterfully written’ BuzzFeed News

The Great Cities Duology
The City We Became
The World We Make

‘Incredibly fun . . . A lovely, compulsively readable story about finding your path and believing in your own worth’ Kirkus Reviews

‘This is a winning combination of a light read with serious emotional depth, the very mix Weiner’s many fans have come to expect from her’ Booklist

‘Charming . . . lively banter reels the reader in . . . this breezy outing goes down easy’ Publishers Weekly
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From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and the power of a trip to change your life.

Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place, with good friends, her bike, and her bike club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body – at least, most of the time – and she’s on track to marry her childhood sweetheart. Abby and Mark met at the weight-loss camp Abby’s perpetually-dieting mother, Eileen, forced her daughter to attend. Fifteen years later, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, and finds out that he still adores her, it feels like fate.

Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right . . . or the memories of one mind-blowing night spent with a man named Sebastian two years ago. So when she gets a last-minute call to lead a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, Abby is happy to have time away to make up her mind.

But on the first day, Abby is shocked when she sees Sebastian in the tour group. A serial dater, Sebastian is far from Mr Perfect, and Abby is determined to keep her distance, even if their chemistry is undeniable. To make things worse, Eileen, whom Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities, also joins the group unexpectedly.

Over the next two weeks, strangers become confidantes, hidden truths come to light, and a teenage girl with a secret will unite all the riders in surprising ways – while all of Abby’s certainties about herself, her mother, and the nature of love are challenged.
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Find out why everyone’s talking about Jennifer Weiner:

‘You’ll love this book and wish she was your friend’ MINDY KALING

‘Fiercely funny, powerfully smart, and remarkably brave’ CHERYL STRAYED

‘Like Helen Fielding, Weiner balances fresh humour, deft characterisations, and literary sensibility’ GUARDIAN

‘Mrs Everything is like Beaches but with mothers and daughters and sisters. I may never recover’ JILL GRUNEWALD

‘Generous and entertaining’ Publishers Weekly

‘You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to read it again’ TheSkimm

‘Jennifer Weiner has done it again. She has made me feel more emotions than I’ve felt in a long time’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Beautifully written and heart-touching’ Goodreads reviewer

Reasons Not to Worry is an accessible introduction to the Stoic principles of virtue, moderation and self-discipline, adapting this ancient knowledge to inspire practical advice for everyday life.

We’re all searching for answers to the biggest questions: How can we be good? Find calm? Properly grieve? Beat FOMO? Work out what truly matters? Well, the good news is that the wisest minds in history asked the exact same questions – and they found answers. The ancient philosophy of Stoicism shows us that we are already in possession of the very tools we need to excavate this much-needed wisdom for ourselves.

So into the past we go with journalist Brigid Delaney, to a time not unlike our own: one full of pandemonium, war, plagues, pestilence, treachery, corruption, anxiety, overindulgence, and – even back then – the fear of a climate apocalypse. By living and learning the teachings of three ancient guides, Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, Brigid shows us how we can apply their lessons to our modern lives in a way that allows us to regain a sense of agency and tranquillity.

Stoicism can be a tough medicine to swallow, but no longer – this book is awash with insight, humour and compassion. Timely, so very useful, and filled to the brim with ways you can wrest back control, here are all the reasons not to worry.

In this new mystery for Max Tudor, he is forced to revisit the past to solve a very recent case of murder…

Max Tudor thought he’d left the world of deceit when he resigned from MI5 to become an Anglican priest. Then his bishop asks him to return to his Oxford college, St Luke’s, to investigate the death of its chaplain, and Max realizes there’s no leaving the past behind.

At first, Max agrees with the official police verdict of death by natural causes. The Rev. Ace Graybill was as harmless a man as ever lived. It’s difficult to see how he managed to cross anyone capable of murder.

And the suspects are all above reproach: the celebrated Principal, the cautious bursar, the wise librarian, and a raft of benign students and academics.

But someone in the college wanted the kindly chaplain dead… and looks can be very deceiving.

Praise for G M Malliet

‘A superb novel, a wonderful read.’ Louise Penny

‘G M Malliet has brought the village cosy into the twenty first century… Wicked Autumn is a refreshing read for everyone who loves a really good murder.’ Charles Todd

‘There are certain things you want in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth… Malliet delivers all that.’ New York Times Book Review

‘For readers who relish a traditional mystery with a satiric edge, perfect for a cozy fireside read’ – The Boston Globe

From the series named “Best Mystery of the Year” by Library Journal and The Boston Globe

‘Fierce. Game-changing. Urgently necessary. Brilliant, brilliant and did I say brilliant?’ EMMA THOMPSON

‘Is it worth the hype? Absolutely’ LAURA PULLMAN, STYLE

——-

Actor, writer and hopeless romantic Rebecca Humphries had often been called crazy by her boyfriend. But when paparazzi caught him kissing his Strictly Come Dancing partner, she realised the only crazy thing was believing she didn’t deserve more.

A flood of support poured in on social media, but amongst the well-wishes was a simple question with an infinitely complex answer: ‘If he was so bad, why did you stay?’

Empowering, unflinching and full of humour, this book takes that question and owns it. Using her relationship history and experiences since the scandal during Strictly, Rebecca explores why good girls are drawn to darkness, whether pop culture glamourises toxicity, when a relationship ‘rough patch’ becomes the start of a destructive cycle, if women are conditioned for co-dependency, and – ultimately – how to reframe disaster into something magical.

——-

‘Pacy, vivid, compelling and very, VERY funny… it will help so many’ MARIAN KEYES
‘A fucking classic. Required reading for all women and men’ BRYONY GORDON
‘A funny, brave and honest book that will change lives. I have not stopped talking about it’ THE TIMES
‘So funny and heart-breaking. So stunningly written. ‘ SUSAN WOKOMA
‘A magical, magical book’ GLAMOUR
‘So thoughtful and moving and funny and sad and great, I love it so, so much. I resented having to put it down’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘Her thought-provoking story should be required reading for anyone in a relationship’ DAILY MIRROR
‘This book isn’t an ice-cold revenge opus; it’s a diary of self-discovery, a celebration of friendship, resilience and finding one’s self-worth…is it worth the hype? Absolutely: I had to stop myself from reading it one grateful gulp’ LAURA PULLMAN, STYLE

A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, from award-winning author Jane Godwin.

‘A brilliantly woven tale, deliciously tense from first page to last. This is classic unputdownable Godwin’ DAVINA BELL

‘It’s just a walk in the dark. What is there to worry about?’

That’s what the head teacher, Johan, says. And so the Year Nines from Otway Community School set out on an overnight hike, with no adults.

But doesn’t Johan know that a storm is coming?

When five teenagers head in to the forest that late afternoon, none of them is aware what the night will bring. Each will have to draw on their particular strengths to survive. Each will have to face the unknown, battling the elements, events beyond their control, and their own demons. It’s a night that will change everything.

Set in the rainforest of Victoria’s Otway Ranges, A Walk in the Dark is about friendship, trust, identity and family, consent and boundaries, wrapped in a compulsively readable, suspense-filled adventure.

Five head into the forest, but will all five make it out?

‘Quality storytelling . . . gripping’ The Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Unique and intriguing’ Better Reading
‘Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus’ Readings
‘Suspenseful and exciting . . . Extremely engaging . . . highly relatable and real. This novel has everything to keep the audience enthralled. No reader will be able to put the book down until the very end’ ReadPlus
‘This is deft, intuitive writing, deeply sympathetic, non-judgemental, canny. Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages. Importantly, she values these concerns, treats them with due respect and creates stories in which her book people mature and blossom through the overcoming of self-doubt and their fear of the new and unknown. Good lessons for adults there, too’ Living Arts Canberra

‘A horny romp that makes you think, laugh, and feel. O’Connell is one of my favourite writers’ MONICA HEISEY, author of Really Good, Actually

‘A very funny novel about falling for a fantasy and finding love for one’s own self’ MELISSA BRODER, author of The Pisces

‘Funny, horny, heartbreaking’ CAROLINE O’DONOGHUE, author of Promising Young Women

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Eliott is a TV writer with a perfect-penised boyfriend. He’s living the dream.

But behind the glossy veneer he’s been papering over cracks, and they’re starting to show. He’s creatively stifled, he’s drinking a little too often and his cerebral palsy makes him feel like gay Shrek.

When River walks in, Elliott’s life is turned upside down in the best way. River is funny, charming and makes him feel seen. But maybe that’s part of the deal when you hire a sex worker.

Eliott is lost and he needs someone, anyone, to point him in the right direction. After all, it’s a long limp towards redemption.

A hilarious, sexy, ground-breaking debut novel about the intersection of queerness and disability, and discovering who you really are.

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What readers are saying about Just By Looking at Him

‘Darkly funny and poignant’

‘Such a fresh take . . . I was gripped from the first page’

‘Brutally honest, funny and poignant look at modern life through the lens of disability’

‘This book is honest, hilarious, and raw . . . I loved literally every character’

‘The author has such a strong voice and has created in Eliot a character that I will not soon forget . . . I found myself laughing out loud’

‘Reads like your favorite whip- smart sitcom everyone looks forward to at the end of the day’

‘One of the funniest books I have ever read’