Recommendations based on "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting"

"I cannot remember the last book I loved as much... a luminous, heart-achingly beautiful love letter to friendship. Knockout!" — Josie Silver, New York Times bestselling authorInternational bestseller Mhairi McFarlane explores lifelong friendships, long-buried secrets, and unexpected love in a heartfelt, emotional new novel, perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, or In Five Years.Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, the four are as close as ever, Thursday night bar trivia is sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed. Maybe she should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed still thinks about it, too.But then, in an instant, their lives are changed forever.In the aftermath, Eve’s world is upended. As stunning secrets are revealed, she begins to wonder if she really knew her friends as well as she thought. And when someone from the past comes back into her life, Eve’s future veers in a surprising new direction...They say every love story starts with a single moment. What if it was just last night?"[A] book I almost wish I’d written, except that would have robbed me of the intense joy of reading it... the kind of novel that will have you putting everything else on hold so you can keep turning pages until you reach its sparkling, brilliant end.” — Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation

THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA Good Housekeeping "Book We're Most Looking Forward To" * An Independent Today "Best Fiction Books to Read" * A GQ Magazine (UK) "Best Book of 2024" * A Harper’s Bazaar (UK) "Best Novels to Read" * A Daily Record "Best Novel""Captivating [and] flawless...An affectingly hard-won romance. [Michael is] a sturdy and slyly amusing authority figure, … flailing amid the debris of a loving marriage gone sour. Marnie is a compulsively witty, winningly cranky near-agoraphobe...Both protagonists are prickly, smart and desperately yearning, but utterly guarded for understandably good reasons. Nicholls builds his own erotic and at times wrenchingly emotional suspense as the would-be lovers reveal past mishaps and surrendered dreams... As in the best romances, we cherish Michael’s and Marnie’s difficult personalities, and relish the unlikely process that might bring them together. The novel is sharp-tongued and irresistible." — New York Times Book Review"I finished this novel in two breathless sittings, as invested in its outcome as I would be in the happiness of a friend. This is the magic of You Are Here: warm, generous and funny, it invites readers into the world of Marnie and Michael with the promise that everyone is welcome, and that choosing happiness and being courageous in any small way we can is always possible. I loved this book." — Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of TimeFrom the internationally bestselling and Booker Prize-longlisted author of One Day, one of the most enduring love stories of its generation, comes an uplifting and unputdownable love story about second chances.Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way . . .Michael is coming undone. Adrift after his wife's departure, he has begun taking himself on long, solitary walks across the English countryside. Becoming ever more reclusive, he’ll do anything to avoid his empty house.Marnie, on the other hand, is stuck. Hiding alone in her London flat, she avoids old friends and any reminders of her rotten, selfish ex-husband. Curled up with a good book, she’s battling the long afternoons of a life that feels like it’s passing her by.When a persistent mutual friend and some very unpredictable weather conspire to toss Michael and Marnie together on the most epic of ten-day hikes, neither of them can think of anything worse. Until, of course, they discover exactly what they’ve been looking for.Michael and Marnie are on the precipice of a bright future . . . if they can survive the journey.A hilarious, hopeful, and heartwarming love story—the novel belovedNew York Times bestselling author David Nicholls calls “my funniest book yet”—You Are Here is a bittersweet and hopeful story of first encounters, second chances, and finding the way home.

‘Julie Shackman knows how to bring the feel-good factor to fiction’ Woman’s Weekly ‘A heartwarming and humorous journey of self-discovery, love, and the magic of the Highlands’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley Reviewer Fall in love with the feel-good heartwarming romance set on the Isle of Skye from bestselling author, Julie Shackman. When ambitious city girl, Darcie Freeman is sent to the Isle of Skye to conduct research for a travel guide, she’s horrified. The prospect of having to travel to a remote island in the Scottish Highlands leaves her wondering what she’ll do. Step in Logan Burns. Gorgeous and adventurous, he lives and breathes the island, and along with his sister Iona, who owns a rather haphazard PR company, they’re going to show Darcie everything she needs to know about Skye. As Darcie swaps her designer shoes for her walking boots and her faux fur jacket for her raincoat, will she learn there’s more to life than the picture-perfect presence she shares on social media, or will it be the case that Skye is the limit... ‘A fun-filled romance... it’ll take your mind off the winter weather and maybe even inspire you to consider Skye as a summer holiday destination’ My Weekly ‘A true page-turner’ Chat Monthly ‘A wonderfully warm tale’ The Sun Why readers love this book: ‘A lovely cozy romance... a feel good book with the best descriptions of the island’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fab story about the importance of living in the moment and finding yourself. Set in beautiful Skye it’s a lovely read all round’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The descriptions of the area were beautiful... I love the mystery that was woven into the story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book was darling!!! I fell in love with the main character! The setting was beautiful and it pulled all the heartstrings. Loved it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thank you Julie for taking me to Skye with Darcie on her journey of enlightenment and love. I was willing her and Logan together from the get go. You could feel the chemistry between them off the pages!!! Absolutely gorgeous book loved in from page 1’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Great story and a fab ending. Some good twists’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An excellent read. This book has a beautifully designed setting and with that background, a mystery, a range of characters; eccentric and otherwise, and a romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two sisters. One secret. A journey to learn who they really are... The instant Irish number one bestseller! 'I really, really loved it. I think it's her best book so far, written with maturity and great compassion. The characters are very relatable, Lou was my favourite ... I enjoyed this book so much' MARIAN KEYES 'A burst of Sicilian sunshine ... Cathy writes from the heart with great warmth and sincerity' ERICA JAMES Lou never puts herself first. She always looks out for other people. Even at her own birthday party, all she does is worry whether everybody else is having a good time. Then a terrible secret upends the celebrations. And she decides to do the one thing that nobody ever expects: something for herself. But she's going to need her sister. Life has pulled Lou and Toni apart- yet now they set off on a journey, one that will whisk them from the windswept Irish coast to sun-baked Sicily. Where will their journey end? READERS HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SISTERHOOD: 'I love Cathy Kelly's books and this is no exception. She seems to have the knack of taking an ordinary family with ordinary problems and making it so very interesting' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I have always enjoyed Cathy Kelly's books, and think this is one of her best' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is a poignant and engaging feel-good story, which had me hoping for bouts of insomnia for a little extra middle of the night reading.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Girl power at its best! A story of self-discovery for two sisters who both have devastating things to deal with.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Cathy's novels never fail to completely engross you in the story - first class.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The book was AMAZING. I loved seeing the sisters support each other and I delighted in Lou getting bolder and stronger and telling people what for.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Englishwoman in Italy Annie Hawes isn't quiteas baffled by Ligurian life as she was when she first came to this land of hills and olive groves. But she is as surprised - and, often, delighted - by its strange twists and turns as she ever was . . . Annie is, after all, the proud owner of a hillside cottage (though its roof is about to fall in, thanks to the efforts of some hungry wood-beetle), while her neighbours are called the Spring Onions and believe that they are the rightful owners of a village called Goat Number One. Wooed in a charmingly unconventional way by local culinary star Ciccio - who first demonstrates his affection by inviting her to his vineyard to help mix up cow manure - Annie soon has an all-knowing local on hand to help. Still, being besieged by goats belonging to an (alleged) ex-marijuana-grower turned organic salami producer, and discovering a nearby village whose lands are jointly owned by a family of prostitutes and a bunch of priests does make her wonder.

Hilarious and touching, Primrose Terrace will appeal to fans of Game of Scones, Wickham Hall and The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe. 'A gem...I loved it’ Alexandra Brown ‘Warm and wonderful...bursting with characters you’ll adore’ Miranda Dickinson Cat Palmer’s dog-walking business, Pooch Promenade is taking off. It hasn’t been plain sailing but with the help of her flatmate Joe, she’s taken on some more new clients from Primrose Terrace. But when she meets boisterous puppy Olaf, who is owned by harassed single mum Frankie, she wonders if she has bitten off more than she can chew! Cat’s also getting to know her sexy neighbour Mark and his Collie, Chips, a little better, but is there more to him than meets the eye? Perhaps sorting out her best friend Polly’s love life will be easier than her own... Sunshine and Spaniels is the second part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.

Fall in love with the brand new escapist Scottish romance from bestselling author, Julie Shackman! Daisy’s career hasn’t exactly been going to plan and the last thing she wants to do is stay home and wallow in self pity. So when an opportunity arises to escape her London home, and make some money working a fancy event at a stately home, she jumps at it. Determined to make the most out of the situation, she decides a road trip to the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect way to reset and take control of her life. When devilishly handsome Evan finds himself stranded at the event following a cancelled flight to Scotland, Daisy does the kindest thing she can think of and invites him to join her. As they embark on their journey north, will the scenic trip help them rediscover themselves, and possibly even find something they weren’t expecting... Praise for Julie Shackman ‘A fun-filled romance... it’ll take your mind off the winter weather and maybe even inspire you to consider Skye as a summer holiday destination’ My Weekly ‘A true page-turner’ Chat Monthly ‘A wonderfully warm tale’ The Sun ‘A lovely cozy romance... a feel good book with the best descriptions of the island’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fab story about the importance of living in the moment and finding yourself. Set in beautiful Skye it’s a lovely read all round’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The descriptions of the area were beautiful... I love the mystery that was woven into the story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book was darling!!! I fell in love with the main character! The setting was beautiful and it pulled all the heartstrings. Loved it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thank you Julie for taking me to Skye with Darcie on her journey of enlightenment and love. I was willing her and Logan together from the get go. You could feel the chemistry between them off the pages!!! Absolutely gorgeous book loved in from page 1’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Great story and a fab ending. Some good twists’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An excellent read. This book has a beautifully designed setting and with that background, a mystery, a range of characters; eccentric and otherwise, and a romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Much more than a romance... I absolutely adored this story’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book isn’t just a summer read – it’s almost like a summer vacation. Highly recommended' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the little town of Greenley-on-Sea, summer has arrived. The turquoise waters of the sea sparkle in the sunlight and, along the beach’s promenade, holiday-makers spill from ice-cream parlours and vintage shops. For Sarah, summer brings the chance for a fresh start. As well as playing Miranda in the Greenley Players’ production of The Tempest (where she’ll get to spend loads of time with her best friends Lottie and Sid) she finally feels ready to find love again after surviving heartbreak. Could handsome colleague Dr Finn Macdonald be the very man she’s looking for? Famous actor Nate finds himself hiding out in Greenley whilst a potentially career-ruining scandal blows over. But when the Greenley Players get wind of his arrival, they draft him in to help out with their performance – and Nate certainly doesn’t bank on his instant connection with the beautiful woman in the lead role... As the temperature rises and the Players’ performance draws closer, can Sarah and Nate overcome their pasts and find love again? From the RNA Award-shortlisted author of The Little Theatre on the Seafront comes a gorgeous, feel-good summer romance. Prepare to laugh, cry and fall totally in love with Greenley-on-Sea and its wonderful cast of characters. Readers LOVE Summer Season on the Seafront! ‘Fantastic... I was quickly drawn into this book and was hooked from the first page to the last... A perfect summer read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Five stars from me... Very highly recommended!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A wonderful story... Had me smirking, laughing, and also wiping the odd stray tear... Highly recommended.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Faultlessly enjoyable.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fun, funny, intelligent, heartwarming and heartfelt... Absolutely five stars from me.’ Belinda Missen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything... LOSE YOURSELF FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN THIS ESCAPIST, ROMANTIC READ ABOUT FAMILY, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, FROM THE MILLION-COPY AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. One summer on a beautiful island could change everything... Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train - a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they're never far from one another...Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place - and people - that she loves.Valentina knows she must confront her heart's desires - but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves? Lose yourself in a heartfelt story of second chances, love, and self-discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Number One New York Times bestselling author of Olive Kitteridge and My Name is Lucy Barton'A terrific writer' Zadie Smith'A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel 'A novel to treasure' Sunday TimesOlive, Again follows the blunt, contradictory yet deeply loveable Olive Kitteridge as she grows older, navigating the second half of her life as she comes to terms with the changes - sometimes welcome, sometimes not - in her own existence and in those around her.Olive adjusts to her new life with her second husband, challenges her estranged son and his family to accept him, experiences loss and loneliness, witnesses the triumphs and heartbreaks of her friends and neighbours in the small coastal town of Crosby, Maine - and, finally, opens herself to new lessons about life.'A powerful storyteller immersed in the nuances of human relationships' Observer'She gets better with each book' Maggie O'Farrell 'Her writing is exquisite; her vision is boundless. What a sublime book.' Rachel Joyce'Glorious' The Times'A perfect novel' Financial TimesElizabeth Strout's new novel Tell Me Everything is available out now!