FICTION

THE CICADA HOUSEA warm, funny and surprising love story about one woman's journey to find out who she really is - as if Richard Curtis watched Seachange, shared a cold beer with Dolly Alderton, and together they wrote The Time Traveller's Wife.This is a magical love story. Where, despite what I have just told you, the most extraordinary thing to happen is a woman learns to forgive herself.When Caitlin inherits a significant sum of money on her fortieth birthday, she decides to break the habits of a lifetime and throw caution to the winds. She's about to tell her husband Paul that they're leaving London on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Eat Pray Love their way around the world, only ... she doesn't tell Paul that, because before the candles are lit, he tells her that he's very much in love with someone else. After a drunken night trying to console herself, Caitlin books tickets to Australia - anything to get as far away as possible.What does the world feel like when it's ending for you, and no-one else? What does life feel like when you are running away from it? This is a story that begins in a way you expect, and ends very far from there. It is a story of creaking English hallways and vast Australian skies. Of hands that feel like warm sandpaper. Cicadas that sing so loudly they drown out the grief. Of white wine and an old piano and children who want their parents back from the dead. It is a magical tale of travel and mystery. And a very human tale of sex and loss and seawater and the primal joy of coming home. This is The Cicada House.'A glorious novel: captivating, vibrant and original' Jess Dettmann, Without Further Ado'The perfect read for anyone who loves getting lost in a story ... warm, smart, funny, and genuinely poignant ... delicious from beginning to end' Martha Beck, The Way of Integrity'An atmospheric and moving time-travel love story told with great warmth and humour.' Esther Walker, The Bad Cook

GOD OF PAIN The second book in the dark romance series from USA today, international, and Amazon #1 bestselling author.*TOP 2 BESTSELLER IN THE ENTIRE STORE!*From USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new STANDALONE grumpy sunshine college romance.Creighton King is silent, brooding, and hostile. Annika Volkov still has a crush on him. She is everything he is not- bright, lively, and the heart of every party. What Annika doesn't realize is that behind Creighton's quiet beauty lies a dark and violent soul.Creighton knows he can never outrun his past, so he unleashes his pain on others. He never expected to be drawn to the girl who is his complete opposite. But as Annika tries to break through his walls, he finds himself captivated by her especially after he uncovers her wilder side. Now that he's obsessed, she will never escape him.Can Annika bring light to Creighton's darkness, or will he pull her into the shadows with him?

An entrancing new rural romance from the bestselling author of A Homestead in the Eucalypts.

BRIGHTEST LIGHT OF SUNSHINEAn emotional friends-to-lovers romance between a tattoo artist who steps in to take care of his baby sister and his sister's ballet teacher, who is ready to start healing from her past. Perfect for readers who love friendships that slowly turn into more, relatable main characters, and happy endings.“As much about moving on from adversity—without pretending it can be forgotten—as it is a love story.” -Kirkus ReviewsDetermined to walk away from a traumatic past, 22-year-old Grace Allen feels ready to take the next step in her healing journey and dip a toe into the dating pool. Although she should probably start by making a friend or two, right?Samuel ‘Cal’ Callaghan isn’t who she had envisioned as her first male friend in…well, forever. With an intimidating build, tattoos everywhere, eight years her senior, and a little sister under his care, he’s the last person she expected to warm up to. As their friendship evolves, Grace can’t help but wonder if Cal is exactly who she’s been looking for all this time.Cal can’t afford to lose sight of his priorities—making sure his tattoo parlor thrives and taking care of his little sister. Especially the latter. He wants to make sure 4-year-old Maddie has a healthy and happy childhood, despite their mother going off the rails and her father’s blatant neglect. There’s certainly no room for love in his life right now. But when a sweet blonde with a veiled past breaks down his walls, he finds it difficult to stick to his guns.

Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist Winner of the ABIA Book of the Year Award Winner of the ABIA Award for Literary Fiction of the Year Winner ABA Booksellers Choice Award for Fiction Winner of the MUD Literary Prize Shortlisted for The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction Shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year for Fiction Shortlisted Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction Shortlisted ABIA Matt Richell Award New Writer of the Year‘set to be one of the year’s most talked about books’ – Vogue Australia ‘a great read that will become an Australian classic’ – Sydney Morning Herald‘an absolute cracker, Love & Virtue lobs right into the current moment with a clarifying light. I hope EVERYONE reads this book.’ – Helen Garner, bestselling and award winning author of The First Stone and The Spare Room‘one of the best novels I have read this year ... it’s clever, pacy and wonderfully thoughtful. Read it!’ – Zara McDonald, Shameless PodcastSex. Power. Consent.Whenever I say I was at university with Eve, people ask me what she was like, sceptical perhaps that she could have always been as whole and self-assured as she now appears. To which I say something like: ‘People are infinitely complex.’ But I say it in such a way—so pregnant with misanthropy—that it’s obvious I hate her. Michaela and Eve are two bright, bold women who befriend each other their first year at a residential college at university, where they live in adjacent rooms. They could not be more different; one assured and popular – the other uncertain and eager-to-please. But something happens one night in O-week – a drunken encounter, a foggy memory that will force them to confront the realities of consent and wrestle with the dynamics of power. Initially bonded by their wit and sharp eye for the colleges’ mix of material wealth and moral poverty, Michaela and Eve soon discover how fragile friendship is, and how capable of betrayal they both are.Written with a strikingly contemporary voice that is both wickedly clever and incisive, issues of consent, class and institutional privilege, and feminism become provocations for enduring philosophical questions we face today. Praise for Love & Virtue ‘Diana Reid will be called the new Sally Rooney – you’re certain of it by the end of page one. By the end of this real, raw and startling novel, you know Reid is the talent to whom every smart young novelist who follows her will be compared – or hope to be.’ – Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss ‘Love & Virtue captures the near-erotic thrill of being a young woman, alone and adrift, who finds, in another young woman, an intellectual equal ... Like Elena and Lila in Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, a touchstone for Reid, their spark feels charged, given to exploding.’ – Sydney Morning Herald ‘Love & Virtue is an accomplished novel – by turns funny and furious, and full of the plangent longing and confusion of early adulthood.’ - The Saturday Paper ‘It is not enough to say Love & Virtue heralds the arrival of a new literary talent: Reid is intensely incisive and brilliant.’ – Sarah Schmidt, author of See What I Have Done ‘Reid’s prose interrogates everything we think we know about love. Heartfelt and unputdownable, this is a remarkably self-assured debut.’ – Victoria Hannan, author of Kokomo<p> ‘A fierce new voice at just the right moment, shining a light on consent and class with clarity and grace.’ – Inga Simpson, author of Where the Trees Were and Understory</p>

He’s the world’s most famous frontman. She couldn’t care less.Lexi is already an Oscar-winning documentary director at just 30 years old. But when she’s asked to ditch her current project to film Rebel Heart—a reunited boy band—she’s far from thrilled. Lexi didn’t work this hard to follow a boy group on tour, documenting their every manufactured move for teenage fans.Then she meets Aidan, the unofficial leader of the band, and sparks fly—but not the good kind. To Lexi, he’s egotistical, entitled, and impulsive. To Aidan, she’s high-strung, secretive, and emotionally unavailable.As tensions rise and Lexi struggles to separate work from her complicated feelings for Aidan, she’s forced to confront the painful past she’s carried with her: a father who abandoned her and a belief that no one stays in her life for long. Aidan might just challenge everything Lexi thought she knew—about herself, her work, and love.Will this project prove her wrong in ways she never expected?A classic enemies-to-lovers romance for fans of Hannah Grace and Ali Hazelwood.Note: I Knew You Were Trouble contains mature content and is recommended for readers aged 18+.Readers are falling in love with Emma Rae:“A mouth-watering read.” – Laura Starkey“The perfect spicy summer read… Emma’s writing style is very enjoyable! Great characters and a lovely bit of escapism.” – Margie the Hun“I devoured the whole novel in one sitting.” ????? Reader Review“I cannot stop thinking about this book… I absolutely loved this!” ????? Reader Review“A great love story… you won’t be disappointed.” ????? Reader Review“This book has stayed in my mind for quite some time after reading it—very much the mark of an outstanding book.” Reader Review“This one got me hooked. I finished the book in one sitting.” Reader Review

From the bestselling author of The Girl from Munich, a sweeping, dramatic tale of love and identity, inspired by a true story. After enduring the horror of Nazi Germany and the chaos of postwar occupation, Lotte Drescher and her family arrive in Australia in 1956 full of hope for a new life. It’s a land of opportunity, where Lotte and her husband Erich dream of giving their children the future they have always wanted. After years of struggling to find their feet as New Australians, Erich turns his skill as a wood carver into a successful business and Lotte makes a career out of her lifelong passion, photography. The sacrifices they have made finally seem worth it until Erich’s role in the trade union movement threatens to have him branded a communist and endanger their family. Then darker shadows of the past reach out to them from Germany, a world and a lifetime away. As the Vietnam War looms, an unexpected visitor forces Lotte to a turning point. Her decision will change her life forever . . . and will finally show her the true meaning of home. PRAISE FOR TANIA BLANCHARD ‘Captures the intensity of a brutal and unforgiving war, successfully weaving love, loss, desperation and, finally, hope into a gripping journey of self-discovery.’ Courier Mail ‘An epic tale, grand in scope … Packs an emotional punch that will reverberate far and wide.’ Weekly Times ‘A tumultuous journey from order to bedlam, and from naive acceptance of the status quo to the gradual getting of political wisdom.’ Sunday Age ‘An original and innovative take on the World War II genre that captures the hauntingly desperate essence of the war. Tania Blanchard has written yet another spectacular novel. Don’t miss this.’ Better Reading ‘A sweeping, dramatic tale of love and identity.’ Fraser Coast Chronicle

This stunning new hardcover edition of the first book in the USA Today bestselling Never After series features specially designed stained edges and an exclusive case design.He wants revenge, but he wants her more...James has always had one goal: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy walks into James’s bar, he sees his perfect opportunity. Seduce the girl, use her to exact his revenge, and take everything from his rival.It’s a flawless plan—until cracks begin to form in James’s organization. As he hunts for the traitor in his midst, his revenge scheme grows increasingly complicated. What’s worse, James finds himself drawn to Wendy in ways he never expected, forcing him to confront whether she’s just a pawn in his game or something more.Wendy has spent most of her life sheltered by her cold and controlling father, but a spontaneous night out with friends leads to an intense and addictive connection with the dark and brooding James. She knows he’s dangerous, but she can’t resist him.As their relationship deepens, Wendy is torn between her growing feelings for James and the shadowy truths she discovers about his world. Now, she must decide if she’s falling for the man known as James—or the monster known as Hook.

"Your world is about to be rocked."—Elena Armas, author of The Spanish Love Deception"Hopelessly, brilliantly, wonderfully romantic. I loved it even more than The Love Hypothesis, and I didn’t think that was possible."—Cressida McLaughlinFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results.Bee Konigswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school: archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies, far, far away.However, when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff starts ignoring her, Bee swears she sees Levi softening into an ally—backing her plays, seconding her ideas... and devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.But when it’s time to make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Konigswasser do?Praise for Ali Hazelwood and her novels:"Ali Hazelwood proves that science is sexy as hell, and that love can 'STEM' from the most unlikely places. She's my newest must-buy author."—Jodi Picoult"I cannot get enough of her brand of brainy romance! Writing with an emotionally brilliant and witty pen, Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse."—Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners"Gloriously nerdy and sexy, with on-point commentary about women in STEM."—Helen Hoang, author of The Heart Principle"Proves that STEM can be sexy!"—RedWhat the five-star reviews are saying about The Love Hypothesis:"Did I read this in 24 hours? Yes.""Funny. Snarky. Intelligent. Real.""If you're even slightly thinking about getting this book, just go ahead and do it.""Adam is just swoon.""Ali Hazelwood has made herself an auto-buy author.""It was just... perfect.""A heroine you will instantly fall in love with."

"Jimenez is a true talent."—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach ReadThe New York Times bestselling author of Life's Too Short delivers a refreshingly modern fairy tale perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry.After a wild bet, Alexis Montgomery’s world is turned upside down. The cause? Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who's ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—exactly the opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet, their chemistry is undeniable.While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to follow in the family footsteps of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t crave glory or fame. She’s content being a "mere" ER doctor. And with every minute spent with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering what’s truly important in life. But allowing their relationship to become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family—and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.Bringing Daniel into her world feels impossible, and yet, she can’t simply give up the joy she’s found with him. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?Why readers are falling in love with Abby Jimenez…"Sweet and achingly romantic—a truly wonderful love story."—Beth O'Leary, author of The Flatshare"Full of fierce humor and fiercer heart."—Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue"Let's get one thing straight, Abby Jimenez is hilarious."—Goodreads reviewer"I laughed, I teared up, and most importantly, I didn’t want to put it down."—Goodreads reviewer

A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science—from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she longed for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-earned—until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive frontman threaten to bring it all crashing down.Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through, and he's a man who gets what he wants—with one glaring exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution to the wind—both in the lab and the boardroom. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But when it comes to the heart, there's no such thing as a risk-free business.Real readers are in love with Not in Love:"Ali Hazelwood's spiciest book so far... also one of the funniest. The dual POV was really fun! Loved this book!"—Real Reader Review ?????"Ali never, ever misses! Another incredible book with characters you simply cannot resist falling for... And the spice. Just wow. Absolute perfection!"—Real Reader Review ?????"WOW... Intelligent, beautiful, profound in a gentle way, and entertaining from the get-go... I can't help but think about it days later. I'm obsessed. One of the easiest five stars I have ever given."—Real Reader Review ?????"ALI FINALLY DID DUAL POV!!!... The spice was also chef's kiss, but there was a great mix of storyline and plot as well... 100% recommended to any romance readers out there!"—Real Reader Review ?????"I loved this book so much! I couldn't drag myself away... An absolutely gorgeous romance, and one I will be rereading and enjoying all over again."—Real Reader Review ?????"ATTENTION: I HAVE A NEW FAVOURITE ALI HAZELWOOD BOOK. Not only is this Ali's spiciest book yet, but it's so full of heart and growth... Oh, and did I mention it's dual POV?"—Real Reader Review ?????

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy of finding the perfect match—from a true talent (EMILY HENRY).Readers are absolutely loving Yours Truly!"Literally the best book I’ve ever read."?????"This author has blown me away before, but this book... I can't even. I will need some serious time to recover. It was everything and more."?????"Can you be in love with a book? That's me right now. In love. This was just magnificent. My favorite book of Abby Jimenez and top read of the year—I'm calling it right now. Chef's kiss."?????"OK, this is the best romance I've ever read. I loved everything about it."?????"This book deserves all the stars in the universe."?????"If I could give this book infinite stars, I would, but for now it gets 5 stars."?????"Things I loved about this book... I mean, it's literally everything. Not a single flaw."?????"Wow. Wow. WOW. Every book I've read of Abby’s just gets better and better."?????Dr. Briana Ortiz's life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is almost finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new guy—the "man-doctor" who’s already registering an eighty-friggin'-seven on Briana’s pain-in-my-ass scale.But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game... by sending Briana a letter. A really good letter. The kind that proves Jacob isn't actually Satan. Worse, he might just be this fantastically funny and surprisingly likable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly, he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her "sob closet," and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses.When Jacob turns out to be the perfect donor for her brother, Bri starts to realize that this quietly sexy new doctor might just be her perfect match, too."Abby Jimenez's words... sprinkle humor and warmth all over my life."—Ali HazelwoodFIND OUT WHY READERS ARE FALLING IN LOVE WITH ABBY JIMENEZ...

From the author of TikTok sensations and global bestsellers The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain…Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom.The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie supplements her meager paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and tarnished the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who dominates the physics department at MIT, standing directly between Elsie and her dream job.Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage, but… those long, penetrating looks? The way she doesn’t have to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?Praise for Ali Hazelwood and her novels:“Ali Hazelwood proves that science is sexy as hell, and that love can 'STEM' from the most unlikely places. She's my newest must-buy author.”—Jodi Picoult“I cannot get enough of her brand of brainy romance! Writing with an emotionally brilliant and witty pen, Hazelwood is an absolute romance powerhouse.”—Christina Lauren, author of The Unhoneymooners“Gloriously nerdy and sexy, with on-point commentary about women in STEM.”—Helen Hoang, author of The Heart Principle“Proves that STEM can be sexy!”—RedReaders love The Love Hypothesis:"Did I read this in 24 hours? Yes.""Funny. Snarky. Intelligent. Real.""If you're even slightly thinking about getting this book, just go ahead and do it.""Ali Hazelwood has made herself an auto-buy author.""It was just... perfect.""A heroine you will instantly fall in love with."The Love Hypothesis was on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists in January 2022, and Love on the Brain also made the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists in August 2022.

"Contemporary romance's unicorn: the elusive marriage of deeply brainy and delightfully escapist."—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The UnhoneymoonersWhen a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships—but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is on her way to a happily-ever-after was always going to be tough. Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting woman, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when he agrees to keep her charade a secret and pretend to be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire and Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support (and his unyielding abs), their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion.Olive soon discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Three irresistible short stories by global phenomenon Ali Hazelwood, now available together in paperback for the first time, with an exclusive bonus chapter.Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study take them to different corners of the world, they all agree on one universal truth: when it comes to love and science, opposites attract—and rivals make you burn.Under One RoofAn environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell—a detestable big-oil lawyer who won't stop meddling with the thermostat.Stuck with YouA civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry—and their feelings—to the next level when they get stuck together in a New York elevator.Below ZeroA NASA aerospace engineer's frozen heart begins to melt when she’s injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station, and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival.Ali Hazelwood’s latest novel, Love on the Brain, is out now.