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The Spy Coast: The unmissable, brand-new series from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Rizzoli & Isles (Martini Club 1)
by Tess Gerritsen‘The Spy Coast is The Thursday Murder Club on steroids’ SAGA Magazine'I loved it. A hugely entertaining read!' ANN CLEEVESMaggie Bird is many things. A chicken farmer. A good neighbour. A seemingly average retiree living in the seaside town of Purity. She's also a darned good rifle shot. And she never talks about her past.But when an unidentified body is left on Maggie's driveway, she knows it's a calling card from old times. It's been fifteen years since the failed mission that ended her career as a spy, and cost her far more than her job.Step forward the 'Martini Club' - Maggie's silver-haired book group (to anyone who asks), and a cohort of former spies behind closed doors. With the help of her old friends - and always one step ahead of the persistent local cop - Maggie might still be able to save the life she's built.The Spy Coast is the first novel in the Martini Club series.'Gerritsen is a born storyteller, and this new series showcases her talents more than ever. Irresistible and highly recommended!' LEE CHILD'Echoes of Richard Osman but Gerritsen offers us a darker and consistently exciting thriller' THE MAIL ON SUNDAY'Action-packed pages, G-force twists and turns, and a platoon of fascinating characters' DAVID BALDACCITess Gerritsen, Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024
Stand Up
by Nikesh ShuklaMadhu is 17 and has the weight of the world on her shoulders: her dad is putting pressure on her to apply to university, she misses her estranged sister but contact is strictly forbidden, and she's pulling in every single shift possible at a pizza place to help support her family. What she really wants, though, is to be a world-famous stand-up comedian ...Just as she's about to turn her back on this dream a YouTube clip of Madhu goes viral and she is suddenly catapulted into the bright lights of stardom. It's not long before she catches the attention of a fellow Asian comedy legend who offers her the chance of a lifetime. But the road to comedy glory is not a barrel of laughs - and Madhu's own struggles with her family and identity soon catch up with her. Can she follow her dreams and stay true to herself and those she loves in the process?
Stand-up Comedy and Contemporary Feminisms: Sexism, Stereotypes and Structural Inequalities (Library of Gender and Popular Culture)
by Ellie TomsettWhat are the barriers to women's participation in live comedy, and how these barriers are maintained in the digital era? In this book, Ellie Tomsett considers how the origins of stand-up comedy still impact on current live comedy production, and explains how the contemporary stand-up scene still reflects wider societal stereotypes about the capabilities of women.Using primary data collected from women-only comedy nights and immersive research with the UK Women in Comedy Festival in Manchester, Tomsett analyses examples of stand-up performed by contemporary comedians - including Bridget Christie, Lolly Adefope, Luisa Omielan and Ava Vidal - and questions how these performances relate to conceptions of feminist and postfeminist humour, as well as notions of backlash against contemporary feminisms. She focuses on live comedy that is explicitly feminist to consider how social attitudes to women, the increasing visibility of female labour outside the home, and the emergence of multiple (and sometimes contradictory) feminisms has influenced the comedy produced by women comedians in 21st century Britain.
Starter Villain: A turbo-charged tale of supervillains, minions and a hidden volcano lair . . .
by John ScalziLocus and Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi brings us a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference - as Charlie discovers when he inherits it. This one comes with a hidden headquarters, minions, talking cats and James Bond-like supervillain rivals.Warning: supervillain in training. Risk of world domination.Inheriting his late uncle’s business proves complicated. It’s also way more dangerous than Charlie could ever have imagined. Because his uncle had kept his supervillain status a secret – until now.Divorced and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie wasn’t loving life. Although they weren’t close, news of his Uncle Jack’s death didn’t help. And that was before Jake’s rivals (seriously vengeful ones) ambushed his funeral. Now Charlie must decide if he should stay stuck in his rut, or step up to take on the business, the enemies, the minions, the hidden volcano lair . . .Even harder to get used to are the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats – and the fact that in the organization’s hierarchy, they’re management. If Charlie does say yes, this lifeline could become a death wish. Because there’s much more to being an Evil Mastermind than he suspected. Yet could this also, finally, be his chance to shine?Praise for John Scalzi:‘Hugely enjoyable, intelligent and good-humoured fun’ - The Guardian‘Sheer geeky pleasure from start to finish’ - Financial Times‘An escapist delight’ - The Times
Stink: A Stink Adventure
by Jenny McLachlanA laugh-out-loud cartoon-filled adventure for 7+ readers, featuring the world’s funniest fairy, from the bestselling author of The Land of Roar. Perfect for fans of Loki, Tom Gates and Wimpy Kid
The Stormy Life of Scarlett Fife: Book 3 (The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife #3)
by Maz EvansScarlett Fife has BIG feelings. And she's about to get into BIG trouble. From the bestselling Maz Evans comes a heartfelt and hilarious story about sadness, happiness, friends and family, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl's Matilda. Praise for Scarlett Fife: 'A laugh-out-loud story full of warmth, Big Feelings and explosive results' Dominique Valente, author of Starfell'So funny, you'll explode with laughter' Sam Copeland, author of Charlie Changes into a ChickenScarlett Fife has BIG FEELINGS. And when she tries to squash them down, they come back up with shocking results! Feelings are like slime in a party bag. No matter how much someone tells you to keep it in, it'll always find its way out. And very soon, Scarlett notices that every time she pushes her sadness down, the storm breaks!If she's going to avoid her world getting soaking wet, Scarlett will have to work out how to live with her feelings, once and for all ...Laugh-out-loud action for every child and parent who has ever lost control of their feelings, this is the third heart-warming Scarlett Fife book, beautifully illustrated throughout by the fantastic Chris Jevons.
The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification
by Julian MontagueA taxonomy we didn’t know we needed for identifying and cataloging stray shopping carts by artist and photographer Julian Montague. Abandoned shopping carts are everywhere, and yet we know so little about them. Where do they come from? Why are they there? Their complexity and history baffle even the most careful urban explorer. Thankfully, artist Julian Montague has created a comprehensive and well-documented taxonomy with The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America. Spanning thirty-three categories from damaged, fragment, and plow crush to plaza drift and bus stop discard, it is a tonic for times defined increasingly by rhetoric and media and less by the plain objects and facts of the real world. Montague’s incomparable documentation of this common feature of the urban landscape helps us see the natural and man-made worlds—and perhaps even ourselves—anew. First published in 2006 to great perplexity and acclaim alike, Montague’s book now appears in refreshed and expanded form. Told in an exceedingly dry voice, with full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, it is both rigorous and absurd, offering a strangely compelling vision of how we approach, classify, and understand the environments around us. A new afterword sheds light on the origins of the project.
The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification
by Julian MontagueA taxonomy we didn’t know we needed for identifying and cataloging stray shopping carts by artist and photographer Julian Montague. Abandoned shopping carts are everywhere, and yet we know so little about them. Where do they come from? Why are they there? Their complexity and history baffle even the most careful urban explorer. Thankfully, artist Julian Montague has created a comprehensive and well-documented taxonomy with The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America. Spanning thirty-three categories from damaged, fragment, and plow crush to plaza drift and bus stop discard, it is a tonic for times defined increasingly by rhetoric and media and less by the plain objects and facts of the real world. Montague’s incomparable documentation of this common feature of the urban landscape helps us see the natural and man-made worlds—and perhaps even ourselves—anew. First published in 2006 to great perplexity and acclaim alike, Montague’s book now appears in refreshed and expanded form. Told in an exceedingly dry voice, with full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, it is both rigorous and absurd, offering a strangely compelling vision of how we approach, classify, and understand the environments around us. A new afterword sheds light on the origins of the project.
A Stroke of the Pen: The Lost Stories
by Terry PratchettFar away and long ago, when dragons still existed and the only arcade game was ping-pong in black and white, a wizard cautiously entered a smoky tavern in the evil, ancient, foggy city of Morpork...A truly unmissable, beautifully illustrated collection of unearthed stories from the pen of Sir Terry Pratchett: award-winning and bestselling author, and creator of the phenomenally successful Discworld series.Twenty early short stories by one of the world's best loved authors, each accompanied by exquisite original woodcut illustrations.These are rediscovered tales that Pratchett wrote under a pseudonym for newspapers during the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst none are set in the Discworld, they hint towards the world he would go on to create, containing all of his trademark wit, satirical wisdom and fantastic imagination.Meet Og the inventor, the first caveman to cultivate fire, as he discovers the highs and lows of progress; haunt the Ministry of Nuisances with the defiant evicted ghosts of Pilgarlic Towers; visit Blackbury, a small market town with weird weather and an otherworldly visitor; and go on a dangerous quest through time and space with hero Kron, which begins in the ancient city of Morpork...A STROKE OF THE PEN is a must-have collection for fans of all ages.Praise for Terry Pratchett'Pratchett is a master storyteller' - A. S. Byatt, Guardian'The Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies' - Independent'Compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world . . . There's never been anything quite like it' - Evening Standard'Like most true originals, Pratchett defies categorisation' - The Times 'Pratchett found something better than literature' - Frank Cottrell Boyce, Guardian
Strong Female Character: Nero Book Awards Winner
by Fern BradyBRITISH BOOK OF THE YEAR: AUDIOBOOK WINNER 2024NERO BOOK AWARDS WINNER 2023WINNER, NON FICTION BOOK 2023, BOOKS ARE MY BAG AWARDSSHORTLIST, BOOKSHOP.ORG INDIE CHAMPIONSSHORTLIST, AMAZON NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLIST, GOODREADS CHOICE BOOK OF THE YEARAudible Books of the Year 2023The Times Books of the Year 2023Apple Best Audiobooks of 2023BOOKSHOP.ORG Book of the Month January 2024THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'I tore through this hilarious, smart, sad, revealing book' - Bob Odenkirk'Funny, sharp and has incredible clarity' - Jon Ronson'An absolute riot. I'm literally going to read it again once I've finished, and I'm a miserable bastard...it's a belter' - FRANKIE BOYLE'Strong Female Character is a testament to the importance of self-knowledge.' - Rachael Healy, The GuardianA summary of my book:1. I'm diagnosed with autism 20 years after telling a doctor I had it.2. My terrible Catholic childhood: I hate my parents etc.3. My friendship with an elderly man who runs the corner shop and is definitely not trying to groom me. I get groomed.4. Homelessness.5. Stripping.6. More stripping but with more nervous breakdowns.7. I hate everyone at uni and live with a psycho etc.8. REDACTED as too spicy.9. After everyone tells me I don't look autistic, I try to cure my autism and get addicted to Xanax.10. REDACTED as too embarrassing.'Fern's book, like everything she does, is awesome. Incredibly funny, and so unapologetically frank that I feel genuinely sorry for her lawyers.' - PHIL WANG'Of course it's funny - it's Fern Brady - but this book is also deeply moving and eye-opening'- ADAM KAY'It made me laugh out loud and broke my heart and made me weep...I hope absolutely everyone reads this, and it makes them kinder and more curious about the way we all live' - DAISY BUCHANAN'Glorious. Frank but nuanced, a memoir that doesn't sacrifice voice or self-awareness. And it has brilliant things to say about being autistic and being funny' - ELLE MCNICOLL'A set text for all of us in 2023' - DEBORAH FRANCES-WHITE'Fern is a brilliant, beautiful writer with a unique voice and even more unique story. Astute, honest and very, very funny.' - LOU SANDERS'So funny and brilliant' - HOLLY SMALE'Witty, dry, and gimlet-eyed, Strong Female Character is a necessary corrective. Brady offers a compelling, messy, highly resonant portrait of what masked Autism feels like.' - Devon Price, author of Unmasking Autism
Suitcase S(witch)
by Aisha BushbyAn accidental luggage swap with a witch conjures a series of mishaps for Zahra in this charming magical adventure from acclaimed children’s author Aisha Bushby
Summer at the Chateau (The Chateau Series #1)
by Annabel French‘A Provencal sun drenched read that conjures up the scent of summer in France.’ Julie Caplin A newly single woman. A tall, dark and handsome stranger. A chateau that keeps bringing them together. What could go wrong?
Summer at the Cornish Farmhouse (Escape to Cornwall)
by Linn B. HaltonFrom the bestselling author of Christmas at The Highland Flower Shop writing as Lucy Coleman, comes a brand new series set in a Cornish Farmhouse.When Jess Newman married the love of her life Ben she was sure they had what it took to stay together forever. So when Ben falls out of love with her only to promptly fall in the arms of new girlfriend, Naomi, she really doesn't know how to come to terms with their divorce.Thankfully Jess's granddad, Gabe, has the perfect place for Jess and her eight-year-old daughter Lola to start afresh when he hands them the keys to his holiday home in Cornwall, a beautiful albeit rundown farmhouse – the fresh countryside air, the saffron buns and the seaside breeze might just be what the doctor ordered but soon it's clear this fresh start includes a whole new set of complications...
Summer at the Ice Cream Café: Brand-new for 2023: A perfect feel-good summer romance from the bestselling author
by Jo Thomas'Full of love and warmth, tears and laughter, another gorgeous book from Jo Thomas' Katie Fforde---A dream homeBeca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?A big mistake?Returning home isn't as easy as she thought, however. Her family's beloved ice cream café is gone - turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn't straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she's made a terrible mistake.A recipe for changeBut an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?
A Summer Holiday at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery: A Short Story (The Carrington’s Bicycle Bakery #2)
by Alex Brown*Preorder this fabulous short story from bestselling author Alex Brown!*
Summer Reading
by Jenn McKinlay'This flawless romcom is sure to delight' Publishers Weekly'A whisk-you-away romcom ... It's the perfect summer vacation.' Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off ScriptSam set out to spend the summer resurrecting her career as a chef but instead, has to chaperone her half-brother to a robotics competition at the local library.And naturally, because the universe hates her, the library's interim director, Ben, turns out to be the Hot Reader Guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry to the island.Sam doesn't do reading. Ben doesn't do romantic relationships.But when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she's always dreamed about, they discover there might be more than just a creative spark between them. . .______Praise for Jenn McKinlay'A playful breezy read that I couldn't put down!' Abby Jimenez, USA Today bestselling author'I devoured this clever novel in one sitting!' Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author'A thoroughly satisfying read that tugged at my heart and made me happy-sigh when I reached the end!' Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man
Summer School and Cyborgs
by Steven CamdenJay and his mates were looking forward to the best summer ever before they become nervous little minnows heading off to senior school learning to swim with the sharks. But when Danny and Dom have to bail, Jay is left facing the long holiday alone, until his mysterious new next door neighbour makes him think hanging out at Summer School might not be such a bad idea after all.Summer School and Cyborgs, the sequel to ClIppa award-winner Steven Camden's funny and tender first novel My Big Mouth, is for readers of 8+ about friendship, growing up and working out who you want to be. Brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chanté Timothy.
A Summer Surprise at the Little Blue Boathouse (Love Heart Lane #11)
by Christie BarlowPreorder the next book in the heartwarming and bestselling Love Heart Lane series
Suzie and the Comet of Chaos (Space Blasters #3)
by Katie Tsang Kevin TsangSave the universe in the awesome and hilarious space-themed adventure series from bestselling authors Katie and Kevin Tsang!
A Swear A Day: A Daily Dose of Rude Words and Profanities
by Sid FinchNever be lost for dirty words again with an insult for every day of the year If you've ever been angry at your commute, stubbed your toe or broken a glass, swearing can help you vent and make you feel just a little bit better. Now you can get creative with your expletives with this witty collection of vulgar and versatile words. In this side-splitting little book, you will be armed with a swear word for every occasion, and ready to curse whatever life throws at you. Learn a new profanity each day, broaden your rude vocabulary and express yourself in new and entertaining ways. With well-known swear words, dirty phrases from the past, and insults in foreign languages, this book is complete with all the things you've ever wanted to say but didn't have the words for. The perfect book for a foul-mouthed friend, A Swear A Day is the hilarious way to say what you're really thinking.
The Sweetheart List: The beguiling new novel about fresh starts, second chances and true love (Sunrise Cove)
by Jill ShalvisBeloved New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a beguiling, lighthearted story about fresh starts, second chances and true love.'Perfect, feel-good fiction' Sarah Morgan'Fall in love with Jill Shalvis! She's my go-to read for humor and heart' Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author'[J]ust as welcoming as the cozy small-town community within which it's set, and Shalvis hits the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Readers will be thrilled' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.............................................Can a fresh start lead to true happiness?When Harper Shaw's life falls apart, she ditches everything that doesn't spark joy - from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists - and sets off for Lake Tahoe, to fulfil her dreams of opening her own bakery.Settled in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, Harper feels a peace she's not experienced since . . . well, forever.Then she meets teenage runaway Ivy, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets . . .When those secrets explode, it changes Harper's new world. She'll learn it's never too late to start over, it's never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it's never too late to let yourself believe in love.............................................Raves for Jill Shalvis's life-affirming novels:'Jill Shalvis's books are funny, warm, charming and unforgettable' RaeAnne Thayne'Sisterhood takes center stage in this utterly absorbing novel. Jill Shalvis balances her trademark sunny optimism and humor with unforgettable real-life drama. A book to savor - and share' Susan Wiggs'Readers will find it easy to root for Shalvis's stubborn, vulnerable heroines to recognize both the decency and compassion of the sexy men who love them and their own worthiness to be loved. This heartfelt tale is thoroughly satisfying' Publishers Weekly
The Swifts: The New York Times Bestselling Mystery Adventure (The Swifts #1)
by Beth Lincoln'A stunning debut . . . laugh-out-loud funny' - ObserverDiscover the hilarious New York Times bestselling mystery adventure perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Lemony Snicket.On the day they are born, each Swift is brought before the sacred Family Dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, and it is assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift has other ideas.So what if her relatives all think she's destined to turn out as a troublemaker, just because of her name? Shenanigan knows she can be whatever she wants - pirate, explorer or even detective.Which is lucky, really, because when one of the Family tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, someone has to work out whodunit.With the help of her sisters and cousin, Shenanigan grudgingly takes on the case, but more murders, a hidden treasure and an awful lot of suspects make thing seriously complicated.Can Shenanigan catch the killer before the whole household is picked off? And in a Family where definitions are so important, can she learn to define herself?'Murder most splendid' - The Telegraph.
T.V.: Big Adventures On The Small Screen
by Peter KayTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *The long-awaited return of the comedy national treasure*
Tackle!: Let the sabotage and scandals begin in the new instant Sunday Times bestseller
by Jilly Cooper OBE'A giddy, sexy, exuberant romp of a story...a total tonic, offering the sort of glorious escapism we're all desperately in need of' - Daisy Buchanan'Won't disappoint her many fans: bonking, balls and Campbell-Black. All present and incorrect' - Ian Rankin'Bursting with fun, puns, and shenanigans' - Jill Mansell---------------------------------------Jilly Cooper's legendary hero returns!Rupert Campbell-Black, all-conquering racehorse owner-trainer and handsomest man in England, is in the darkest of places. His adored wife, Taggie, is about to undergo chemotherapy. His beloved leading stallion has been assassinated.Now his daughter Bianca is badgering him to buy into a failing local football club, Searston Rovers, so he can sign up her superstar striker boyfriend, Feral Jackson, and he and Bianca can return home from Perth to look after Taggie.Rupert dislikes football and his first impressions of Searston are distinctly unfavourable. But as their new and indelibly competitive Chairman, he won’t stand for anything less than an Everest climb to the top of the Premier League.With the help of the club’s ravishing and adorable secretary, Tember West, and his sassy Press Officer, Dora Belvedon, he becomes increasingly fond of his riotous mix of players, despite bawling them out whenever they face defeat.Rupert’s explosive arrival at Searston causes outrage, so the fights are as furious off the field as on – particularly when glamorous WAGS flood in to stir up trouble and lust after Rupert…Nor do the rival local football team, their duplicitous chairman and their corrupt dealings make things easier – let the scandals, sabotage and seductions begin…--------------------------------------------Praise for Jilly Cooper:'Fun, sexy and unputdownable - a classic' Marian Keyes'A combination of drama, sex and good social comedy . . . unputdownable' Sunday Times'Flawlessly entertaining' Helen Fielding'Jilly Cooper is the very best . . . elegant, glamorous, wonderful fun' Daily Mail'Joyful and mischievous' Jojo MoyesTackle, instant Sunday Times bestseller, November 2023