Recommendations based on "Half a World Away The heart-warming, heart-breaking Richard and Judy Book Club selection"

'Fans of Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit Of Love will adore this brilliant contemporary take ... The writing is as sharp, the details as perfect, the jokes as funny as [the] original' Daily Mail'Beautifully and meticulously done' The Sunday Times---Marooned in a sprawling farmhouse in Norfolk, teenage Linda Radlett feels herself destined for greater things. She longs for love, but how will she ever find it? She can't even get a signal on her mobile phone. Linda's strict, former rock star father terrifies any potential suitors away, while her bohemian mother, wafting around in silver jewellery, answers Linda's urgent questions about love with upsettingly vivid allusions to animal husbandry.Eventually Linda does find her way out from the bosom of her deeply eccentric extended family, and she escapes to London. She knows she doesn't want to marry 'a man who looks like a pudding', as her good and dull sister Louisa has done, and marries the flashy, handsome son of a UKIP peer instead.But this is only the beginning of Linda's pursuit of love, a journey that will be wilder, more surprising and more complicated than she could ever have imagined.---'A savagely funny, bracingly sad, dazzlingly clever reimagining of The Pursuit of Love. I loved it' Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss'A triumph! Brilliantly done, faithful but imaginative, tremendously romantic and very funny' Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful

You Never Forget The One. You’ll Never Forget This Book. 'a Beautiful, Believable Writer...5 Stars' The Sun

A story of falling out of love from the winner of the Comedy Women in Print Award, for fans of Monica Heisey and Dolly Alderton

Augusta Hope has never felt like she fits in.At six, she’s memorising the dictionary. At seven, she’s correcting her teachers. At eight, she spins the globe and picks her favourite country on the sound of its name: Burundi.And now that she's an adult, Augusta has no interest in the goings-on of the small town where she lives with her parents and her beloved twin sister, Julia.When an unspeakable tragedy upends everything in Augusta's life, she's propelled headfirst into the unknown. She's determined to find where she belongs – but what if her true home, and heart, are half a world away?

*** Book Character of the Year 2013 - Guy Duval - Supportive Business Mums ***'This was a captivating read full of romance and secrets' - Me, My Books and I'A must read for all those that love a well-written story' - After the Final Chapters'It will have you gripped from the start and will hold onto you until the very end' - MissMelvis2005 was the most traumatic year of Emma Barron's life. It was the year her mother died and the year she met Guy Duval. Eight years on, she's an English teacher with a doting boyfriend and a young son. Life's been hard but now it's comfortable. She's settled and content...so why would she risk it all for another chance with the man that broke her heart?Guy's an international renowned footballer newly signed to a top UK team. But behind the confident facade is a man determined to drown the horrors from his childhood with fame, success and money.Unable to confide in her best friend, Ally, Emma tries to hold her life together as her heart is pulled apart. Did she turn her back on love too soon?Neither of them know what really happened on 5 September 2005 and as events are slowly revealed can anyone cope with the truth?'A story of love reveals a labyrinth of despair and hope' - Jolliffe'Mandy's characters Guy and Emma are brought to life by her great gift for storytelling' - Kate Hopkins'Fabulous story, one to re-read' - Jeannie Zelos

*Carol's new captivating, escapist novel, ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENICE, is available to pre-order NOW!*The escapist Sunday Times bestselling debut from the nation’s best loved TV presenter, Carol Kirkwood.‘Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion. A real page turner!’ Jo ThomasOne woman returns to the island that changed her life foreverA-list actress Shauna Jackson has the perfect life. Fame, fortune, marriage. Or so it seems.Running from a scandal, Shauna flees to the place that changed her life twenty years ago, the idyllic Greek island of Ithos.Captivated once more by the azure seas and scented olive groves, bittersweet memories resurface of one summer, one unforgettable man, and a long-hidden secret.Shauna can escape Hollywood, but can she escape her past?‘An absolute cracking read – it’s brilliant!’ Steph McGovern presenter of Packed Lunch‘Sun-soaked, glamorous escapism.’ Cressida McLaughlin‘A sizzling summer read. I couldn’t put it down.’ Alex Brown, bestselling author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage‘An exquisite tale of love lost and found that’s full of intriguing characters and romantic locations. A Perfect summer read.’ Judy MurrayFive Star reviews from NetGalley:Excellent debut novel *****You had me hooked from the very first page, right through to the very last word! I was riveted. I’m in awe. *****100% recommend sitting and relaxing with your favourite cocktail and getting lost in this truly wonderful romance. I loved it. *****A great summer read! *****Full of wonderful descriptions of sun-drenched Greek islands, Hollywood and its screen icons; I didn't want to put it down. *****This book makes for a perfect summer read and one I definitely recommend reading. *****Absolutely adored this book. I'm pretty sure I didn't move the whole time I was reading it! *****Carol Kirkwood's book 'Secrets of the Villa Amore' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-07-24.

A heartfelt contemporary middle grade novel about a girl who must try to save her aunt’s failing pie shop, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish, Fish in a Tree—and The Great British Baking Show.When Cady Bennett is sent to live with the aunt she didn’t even know she had in the quaint mountain town of Julian, she isn’t sure what to expect. Cady isn’t used to stability, after growing up homeless in San Diego with her dad.Now she’s staying in her mother’s old room, exploring the countryside filled with apple orchards and pie shops, making friends, and working in Aunt Shell’s own pie shop—and soon, Cady starts to feel like she belongs.Then she finds out that Aunt Shell’s shop is failing. Saving the business and protecting the first place she’s ever really felt safe will take everything she's learned and the help of all her new friends. But are there some things even the perfect pie just can’t fix?Summer of a Thousand Pies is a sweet and satisfying treat of a novel full of friendship, family, and, of course, pie.

“ heart-warming, intelligent novel about finding your people.” —Becky Alexander, author of Someone Like You Edith has Alzheimer’s. The idea that she will someday forget her son, her life, even her self, plagues her constantly. So there is something important she must do beforehand: she has to find Sven, the love of her life she was supposed to meet on a bus bench twenty-seven years ago and run away with. Her son, Blade, is struggling to keep an eye on her. His mother’s full-time caregiver, he resents the fact that he gave up most of his life to look after her. But what wouldn’t he do for his mother? Track down her decades-old flame before her mind fails her? Sure, he can do that. Sophia is fiercely working to keep her business afloat. Her uncle left his flower shop to her and her brothers after he died, and she needs to show her family that the business is worth saving. So when an opportunity comes along that takes her all over Sweden, she can’t say no. While Edith is desperately trying to hold on to her memories, she discovers friendship as she sits daily at the bus stop. While Blade is out looking for Sven, he learns to embrace his relationship with his mother more fully. While Sophia is fighting to keep her dream alive, she comes to terms with the therapies that were forced upon her in response to her autism diagnosis. Life is happening all around them, and like in life, there’s always still good to be found.

'Oh how I wish the Comfort Food Café was real!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Welcome to The Comfort Food Café! It's been a tough year for Maxine Connolly - so tough she's almost given up on finding her happy ending. But then she discovers The Comfort Food Café, shining like the star on top of the Christmas tree and welcoming her in to its cozy, cake-filled embrace for hot chocolates dripping with whipped cream, melty grilled cheese toasties and the funniest bunch of regulars she soon calls friends. Then there's gorgeous local Gabriel Moran, who looks at Max like she's a present he can't wait to unwrap - and she can't help but think that, maybe, he's just what she wants for Christmas too... Readers ADORE the Comfort Food Café: 'Spellbinding' Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley 'You'll devour this book in one go' Woman's Weekly 'As cosy as a buttered crumpet' Sunday Times bestseller Milly Johnson 'Just my cup of tea' Bestseller Sue Moorcroft 'Full of heart and a delight to read' Award winning author Bella Osborne 'Full of comfort and cheer - the perfect antidote to cold winter nights' Sunday Times bestseller Jane Costello 'Full of quirky characters, friendship and humour, you will devour this engaging and heartwarming novel in one sitting' Sunday Express

'Julie Shackman knows how to bring the feel-good factor to fiction' Woman's Weekly A cosy autumnal story of love, believing in yourself and starting over set in the Scottish Highlands For Bailey McArthur, her family and job mean everything. She runs her own floristry shop and loves spending time in nature in the pretty town of Heather Moore, whilst desperately trying to forget about being jilted on her wedding day. When journalist Zach Stern arrives in town asking questions about a famous actor, Bailey decides to throw him off the trail of the superstar hiding out in the Scottish Highlands. But despite Bailey's efforts to thwart Zach's investigation she finds herself falling for him. It's just a shame she can't be honest with him. But then, Bailey might not be the only one with a secret to hide... Readers are loving A Scottish Highland Hideaway: 'Fabulous... perfect summer holiday read. I loved it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A number of subplots and interesting characters keep things moving to the eventual HEA. A fun read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A cute book and an easy summer read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fab and fun autumnal read. I devoured this book in a day and loved every word!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Julie shackman does it again... another page turner that you can't put down because you just have to read a bit more...' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A wonderful novel that appeals to the desire in us for happy endings... a definite must read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A really cute, cosy story with love, laughs and twists galore. More secrets you can imagine too, but all worth keeping' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A sweet story about starting over, finding love and finding yourself' ⭐⭐⭐⭐