FICTION

Wild HorsesThe heartwarming new rural romance by the bestselling author of Brumby's Run. Christy Peacock is devastated when an unfounded scandal throws her life as a drama teacher at a prestigious Sydney school off track. With her dream career in shreds, she spontaneously answers an ad to work at Currawong Creek, a horse therapy camp for troubled children nestled among the picturesque Bunya Mountains. Celebrity chef Tyler Ward hopes that Currawong Creek might hold the answer to reconnecting with his surly son, Leo. In a last-ditch attempt to bring the teenager out of his shell, Christy introduces Leo to Lofty, a wild ex-racehorse who trusts nobody. Their lives now intertwined, Christy and Tyler can't help falling for each other. But old secrets and unsolved mysteries refuse to remain buried, and their fledgling romance might be over before it truly begins... Wild Horses is a moving tale of second chances and finding love in unexpected places, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Darling Downs countryside.

Set against the wild backdrop of an intense heatwave in Europe, this is a story about sibling relationships - what holds a family together and what might fracture it forever. Family is everything, even when it falls apart.  There is a heatwave across Europe. Goose and his three sisters gather at the family's house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy. Their father, a famous artist, has recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his masterpiece. Now he is dead and there is no sign of a painting.  Alhough the siblings have always been close, as they search for answers over that summer, the things they learn - about themselves, their father and their new stepmother - will drive them apart before they can come to any kind of understanding of what their father's legacy truly is. Extraordinarily compelling, at heart this is a novel about sibling relationships and those hairline cracks that can appear within a family- what what happens when they splinter, and what it would take to mend them.

They knew they were changing history. They didn't know they would change each other.  Following the unlikely friendship of four of the first ever women to study at Oxford University- a captivating debut novel about sisterhood, self-determination, courage, and what it means to come of age in a world that has changed forever.  Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its 1000-year history, the world's most famous university has admitted female students. Giddy with dreams of equality, education and emancipation, four young women move into neighbouring rooms on Corridor Eight. They have come here from all walks of life, and they are thrown into an unlikely, life-affirming friendship.  Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiance on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Beatrice, politically-minded daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and her own friends - for the first time. Socialite Otto fills her room with extravagant luxuries but fears they won't be enough to distract her from her memories of the war years. And quiet, clever, Marianne, the daughter of a village vicar, arrives bearing a secret she must hide from everyone - even The Eights - if she is to succeed.  But Oxford's dreaming spires cast a dark shadow- in 1920, misogyny is still rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War are still very real indeed. And as the group navigate this tumultuous moment in time, their friendship will become more important than ever.

A major upmarket thriller launch- a famous film actress starts therapy to prepare for a new role, triggering a cat-and-mouse game of obsession and revenge.  Famous film star Lila Crayne is America's Sweetheart- she's generous and kind, gorgeous and magnetic. A golden girl. She and her fiance, visionary filmmaker Kurt Royall, have settled into a stunning New York apartment, and are embarking on a new movie- a modern feminist adaptation of a classic twentieth-century novel.  To prepare for the leading role, Lila begins work with charming and accomplished therapist Jonah Gabriel to dig into the trauma of her past. Soon, Lila's impeccably manicured life begins to unravel on the therapy couch - and Jonah is just the man to pick up the pieces. But everyone has a secret, no one is quite who they seem, and before long, careers, reputations and lives are in danger of being irrevocably destroyed . . .

Marriage, motherhood, sex- excellent!Madeleine Gray A sexy, funny, surprising tale of female friendship, bedrooms and marriage.  Escaping her 'model migrant' family life in Australia, Meena flourished in London. After falling pregnant, she and her boyfriend, Owen, fall in love with baby Sasha and bravely head to Sydney. But now Owen barely looks at Meena.  Â On a backpacking holiday, Sophie meets Todd. After a whirlwind romance she throws in her rising career in New York and follows Todd to Sydney, where she has committed to being the perfect wife, mother, and BFF to Meena. But now Todd's talking about a treechange, and Sophie's not sure if the life she built is the one she wants. Rani came to Australia as an international student and met her husband Daniyal. But raising her son Ali while navigating her husband's late nights has left her lonely. A simple act of rebellion threatens to upend her marriage, but could it also set her free?  Â When their paths collide, Meena, Sophie, and Rani form an unlikely alliance. Over coffee, cocktails, and confessions, they share the messy, hilarious truths about marriage, motherhood, and what they really want.  Â Raw, funny, and heartbreakingly relatable, The Sex Lives of Married Women is an unflinching exploration of the secret lives we all lead and the friendships that keep us going.

From the author of the USA Today bestselling Priest and New Camelot series comes the second in a high-heat, gothic, dark academia fairy tale full of lantern-lit rituals, foggy moors, and obsessions that last for a lifetime. All Poe, Auden, and St. Sebastian want is the chance to be together, but Thornchapel's secrets might unravel them-if they don't unravel each other first. From the author of the USA Today bestselling Priest and New Camelot series comes the second in a high-heat, gothic, dark academia fairy tale full of lantern-lit rituals, foggy moors, and obsessions that last for a lifetime. He's an outcast and a loner, named for death itself. Fate wasn't supposed to have plans for him.  But then she came back-the girl St. Sebastian Martinez once kissed in a thorn-covered chapel in the woods. She came back, and Saint could no more resist her than he could pry out his own heart. And by some trick of fate, she wants him as much as he wants her. The only problem? She also wants the man who owns Thornchapel, Auden Guest.  And so does Saint.  Eight years ago, Saint did something to Auden, something terrible. Auden hurt him back the only way he knew how, and so here they are- their hatred seasoned with pain and Saint's loneliness seasoned with longing. The only thing they can agree on is Proserpina Markham, and she wants them to find a way to be together-all three of them.  If Auden wants to earn her as his submissive, then he has to earn Saint as well.  But with the discovery of bones behind the altar and the carnal revel of Beltane fast approaching, it's becoming clear that Thornchapel's secrets are much deeper and older than any of them could have ever guessed. And no matter how bright and merry a feast of sparks may be, it's always followed by ashes.  And darkness.

Painting Portraits Of Everyone I'Ve Ever Dated A wry, tender, and funny debut novel about art and love – and how the act of seeing lies at the heart of both. All Ellie Robertson has wanted to be since childhood is a painter: after all, that’s the easiest way to speak without actually having to say anything. But now she’s turning thirty, has had a major career win, and is only just realizing that she might have let some minor things slide. Like, for instance, working out how to love another human being. So Ellie decides to do what any normal person would do: paint a portrait of each of her exes, from the childhood crush to the woman she may or may not still be madly in love with. The only problem is that she now needs to get in touch with everyone she’s dated, and not everyone is exactly happy to talk to her. Hilarious and bittersweet, Painting Portraits of Everyone I’ve Ever Dated is a story of a young woman who decides to finally try and see other people – even if she runs the risk of (god forbid) finally seeing herself.

Table For One Funny, fierce and life-affirming, TABLE FOR ONE is a love letter to you.If in doubt, date yourself.'A fast-paced, funny and touching story about smart young women’ ELIZABETH GILBERT'It's a fabulous read' RUTH JONES'Funny, warm yet galvanising' JENNIE GODFREY‘Joyful and affirming, this is a dopamine hit of a book' CLAIRE DAVERLEYWillow has everything worked out.*The steady partner*The successful career*The grown-up houseUntil she doesn’t – and she’s cast adrift on the sea of heartbreak, grieving a future with no clear path.With her life transformed beyond recognition, and her friends busy ‘moving forwards’, Willow has never felt more alone.But she’s in good company.And when inspiration arrives from an unlikely source, she rekindles the relationship she longs for – but has long neglected… The one with herself…PRAISE FOR EMMA GANNON:‘Culturally relatable, powerful and funny!’ ??????????‘Fantastic and super relatable’ ??????????‘I felt like I was reading it as a reflection of my life’??????????‘A lovely read with emotional and relatable themes throughout’ ??????????‘Comforting, funny, uplifting, emotional and ultimately just like a big hug in book form’ ??????????

The Patterson GirlsThe 10th anniversary edition of the ABIA award-winning novel from bestselling author Rachael Johns, with new epilogue!How can four sisters build the futures they so desperately want, when the past is reaching out to claim them?When the Patterson daughters return home to Meadow Brook to be with their father after their mother's death, they bring with them a world of complication and trouble.The eldest sister, obstetrician Madeleine, would rather be anywhere but her hometown, violinist Abigail has fled from her stellar career, while teacher Lucinda is struggling to have the children she and her husband so desperately want. The black sheep of the family, Charlie, feels her life as a barista and exercise instructor doesn't measure up to that of her gifted and successful sisters.Dealing with their bereft father who is determined to sell the family motel, their loves old and new and a series of troublesome decisions doesn't make life any easier, but when they go through their mother's possessions and uncover the shocking secret of an old family curse, they begin to question everything they thought they knew.A warm and wise novel about secrets revealed, finding your soulmate and the unique bond between sisters.

Before We Hit The Ground 'A moving exploration of family, migration, class, queerness and belonging… beautifully rendered' JESSICA ANDREWS 'A deeply observant, perceptive writer' JOANNA CANNON 'Evocative, layered and emotionally resonant… deserves to be on your reading list' GLAMOUR 'Masterful… It will stay with you long after you finish it' JJ BOLA Elom can’t make sense of love. It’s like a language he can’t speak, though he’s heard the words before. He wants to feel understood – by his well-meaning yet misapprehending family, his self-assured partner Ben, and his boisterous friends – but he never knows the right thing to say. How can you know yourself, in a world that’s constantly changing? Set across Ghana and Scotland, this is an intimate portrait of one man’s search for belonging, a family’s attempt to love, and the choices that make a life. GLOWING READER REVIEWS ‘Fiamanya's writing is just gorgeous – it's tender, it's unflinching, and it's totally immersive’ ?????????? ‘This is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I truly hope more people discover it’ ?????????? ‘All in all this was an absolutely stunning debut novel, I cannot wait to read more of Fiamanya's work in the future’ ?????????? ‘Hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking, this took my breath away. Wow, what a gorgeous novel. I can't recommend this enough’ ??????????

An intricately woven love story about mothers and daughters, and the ties - of both nature and nurture - that can never be broken. From the bestselling author of Star-crossed.THREE DRESSES . . . THREE DAUGHTERS . . . ONE SEARCH . . .In 1980, designer Claudie Miller is a household name. Girls are begging their mothers to make them her famous dress, the 'Juliet'. But there's a big hole in Claudie's life - sixteen years ago she was forced to give up her baby for adoption. Now she's in a race to track her daughter down before it's too late. In 1980, Roisin, Miranda and Bindi are turning sixteen on the same day. Raised in different families, in different parts of the country, they know nothing about each other . . . or their connection to the dress every teenager is talking about. But the Juliet was designed with one of them in mind - and its threads are slowly pulling them closer to the truth.'Three Juliets is unmissable. Exquisitely crafted, this story of adoption, longing and family is heartbreaking, tender and beautiful. Stitched together with Minnie Darke's ever vibrant characters and deep humanity, this story, like every baby born, is a small miracle.' HEATHER ROSE

Swept Away Lost at sea . . . with your one-night stand 'Feels like a brand new version of romance . . . I drowned happily in this book' Jodi Picoult 'I adored it, it was so romantic' Marian Keyes Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun with a stranger. She deserves one night for herself, doesn't she? Zeke is looking for love. But for one night with a woman like Lexi, he'll break his rules . . . Sparks fly at the pub, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling home to the marina together. The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is more than ready for Zeke to leave. There's just one small problem . . . the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea. As their supplies start to run dangerously low, and the waves pick up, Zeke and Lexi soon realise there's much more on the line than their new relationship. How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea? Will search and rescue find them? And who will they be if they both make it back to dry land? Swept Away is the epic new romance from the million-copy bestselling author of The Flatshare and The No-Show about your one-night stand becoming your one and only lifeline. Sharp, funny and breathtakingly intense, this standout novel is set to capture readers' hearts next spring. 'My book of the year, my book of the decade. The best romcom I have ever read' Gillian McAllister 'Completely original, so romantic, funny, fresh and deeply heartfelt' Lindsey Kelk 'This love story will capture you hook, line and sinker' Lucy Clarke 'My new favourite Beth O'Leary' Paige Toon 'What a concept, what a novel! I absolutely raced through this bold and beautiful story' Lia Louis EVERYONE LOVES BETH O'LEARY 'Beth O'Leary crafts novels with such wit, heart and truth' SOPHIE KINSELLA 'Beautiful, humorous, tender, insightful - just perfect' 5* READER REVIEW 'Beth O'Leary is that rare, one-in-a-million talent who can make you laugh, swoon, cry and ache all in the same book' EMILY HENRY 'Clever and authentic storytelling. Loved it!' 5* READER REVIEW 'Beth weaves her stories together with such charm and grace, I couldn't help but fall in love' LINDSEY KELK 'A real rare talent' 5* READER REVIEW 'Beth O'Leary can do no wrong!' CARLEY FORTUNE 'I laughed, I cried, and I again fell in love with a Beth O'Leary book' 5* READER REVIEW Warm, escapist and unhesitatingly romantic CAROLINE HULSE

The Conditions Of Will THE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF TIKTOK SENSATION MAGNOLIA PARKS **** Featuring stunning illustrated endpapers by Emmy Lawless exclusive to the UK hardback edition. **** London-based Georgia Carter, professional lie-detector and body-language savant, has long been estranged from her infuriating, close-minded, wealthy South Carolina family. After a falling-out years ago, the chasm runs deep between the black sheep - Georgia and her gay, alcoholic brother - and their parents and elder siblings. But when their father dies suddenly, Georgia returns to the States for the funeral ... where she comes face-to-face with Sam Penny, her brother's AA sponsor. Amid the tensions, dramas and revelations of the family reunion, Georgia and Sam are instantly drawn to each other. However, Georgia's brother also harbours feelings for Sam, and the last thing Georgia wants to do is hurt the only family she's ever really had. When their father's will reveals a surprising bequest to a mysterious stranger, Georgia's ability to read people becomes crucial in unravelling her father's hidden past. The delicate balance within the family teeters, and secrets - both old and new - threaten to push them beyond the breaking point. There are only so many cracks a damaged family can take before it shatters.

Right Way Up When plans are upended, who can turn them the right way up? A heartwarming, wise and tender novel about life's twists and turns and figuring out what really matters, from Australian bestselling author Fiona McCallum. Kind-hearted and practical psychologist Colin Palmer has spent decades helping his clients. Now he's under pressure to retire and hit the road in a new caravan with his wife Joyce. However, when Joyce abruptly heads off on her own adventure, Colin's perfectly ordered world is flipped upside down. He's left grappling to make sense of their marriage, who he is and what he wants. Enter no-nonsense, blunt, firecracker ex-nurse Shirley Royal! Recently widowed, Shirley is also searching for meaning after losing the bedrock of her existence. She's ripe for a new project and Colin might just be it! But just when Colin's future appears bright and assured, thanks to Shirley's friendship, Joyce tumbles back into his world. How will he now navigate a path between his old life and new?