Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.
Audiobooks Narrated by Mary Woodvine
Browse audiobooks narrated by Mary Woodvine, listen to samples and when you're ready head over to Audiobooks.com where you can get 3 FREE audiobooks on us
"A sweeping tale of love and loss, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and David Nicholls
'Gloriously nostalgic and beautifully emotional..' The Sun
'Elaine Hastings’ stunning debut will keep you turning the pages until you close the book and either reach for someone you love, or get on the move and create something!’ Jessica Anya Blau
Spring, 1994. Will, a talented busker, falls for Emily, a quirky art student. By 1997, Will is playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, and Emily is unveiling her first gallery show. They spend a whirlwind summer touring with Will's band, caught up in their love for their art and each other.
But within two years, Will is dead.
Spring, 2016. Emily remains single. Her art is long forgotten. Now, life revolves around her 16-year-old daughter, Liv. But when Emily accidentally reveals she once knew Will, Liv is stunned. How could her ordinary, predictable mother have known someone like Will Bailey?
And why does Emily blame herself for his death?
Interweaving dual timelines, When We Were Young explores what it means to have loved and lost, and reminds you that the ones you love can set you free."
"'This moving story is not to be missed.' Candis
A forgotten past. A garden full of secrets. A mystery to be uncovered.
1943.
With her best friend having recently joined the Land Army and her mother lost in grief after the death of her father early in the war, Gloria is lonely. When she finds an unlikely kindred spirit in Jerome, an American soldier stationed in her Cotswolds village, Gloria begins to fall in love. But conflict between the soldiers and the villagers lead to an impossible choice with devastating consequences.
Present day.
After their dreams of starting a family are crushed, Philippa and her husband Marco need a fresh start. Focusing on repairing the crumbling walls and leaking roof of the Cotswolds house they impulsively bought seems easier work than repairing their relationship. When Philippa finds a hidden memorial hidden deep in the garden, the discovery only pushes them further apart. But as Philippa determines to uncover the truth behind the memorial, could the secrets it reveals be the key to finally putting their heartbreak to rest?
Don’t miss this sweeping dual-timeline historical novel from the author of The Girl in the Picture and The Book of Last Letters, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Lorna Cook.
Readers LOVE The Garden of Lost Secrets!
'I love a dual timeline story, and this is a really captivating one… Loved it.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A thought provoking dual timeline novel… an excellent read.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book was an absolute joy. I didn’t want to finish it. I look forward to reading more books by this author.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book has heartache and joy and it was an absolute pleasure to read.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'What a wonderful book full of wonderful characters.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"Get ready to solve yet another fun mystery alongside Sophie Sayers!
When a dead body is found in the school’s lost property over the summer holidays, it’s up to Sophie Sayers to get to the bottom of it – or face the threat of closure. But when the body disappears and the police refuse to investigate, a complex web of deceit causes trembles throughout the village.
Can Sophie gather enough evidence to warrant an investigation? And more importantly, with the body now gone, will the killer strike again?
Returning with the seventh adventure, Debbie Young’s bestselling ‘Sophie Sayer’s Village Mysteries’ series promises comforting feelings of community, warmth and humour, peppered with the usual dash of murder and deceit.
Ideal for ‘whodunnit’ fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
-
Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling ‘Sophie Sayers Village Mystery’ series includes the trailblazing ‘Murder Your Darlings’, which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021."
"When Sophie Sayers joins a writers' retreat on a secluded Greek island, she's hoping to find inspiration and perhaps a little adventure. Away from her rural English comfort zone, she also takes stock of her relationship with her boyfriend Hector.
But scarcely has the writing course begun when bestselling romantic novelist Marina Milanese disappears on a solo excursion to an old windmill. First on the scene, Sophie is prime suspect for Marina's murder. When a storm prevents the Greek police from landing on the island to investigate, Sophie must try to solve the crime herself - not easy, when everyone at the retreat has a motive.
As she strives to uncover the truth about Marina's fate, Sophie arrives at a life-changing decision about her own future.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
-
Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling ‘Sophie Sayers Village Mystery’ series includes the trailblazing ‘Murder Your Darlings’, which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021."
"Treading the fine line where the supernatural ends and real human monstrosity begins, GAMES FOR DEAD GIRLS is a haunting, dark read, perfect for fans of Jennifer Hillier and Alex North.
Hithechurch, a peaceful, out-of-the-way seaside town in Kent.
When Charlie was young, she would visit with her family, making friends and playing down by the beach.
Their favourite was telling scary stories; silly games of make-believe that would twist and weave old wives’ tales. They would laugh and try to shake off the shiver than ran down their backs and made the hair on their necks stand on end.
But what if it wasn’t all make-believe?
Years later Charlie returns to Hithechurch with her niece, researching a book on folklore. As she delves deeper into the history of the area, she finds something disturbing: a decades long history of women going missing. Could the stories be true?
Charlie is about to find out some games are deadlier than others."
"A hilarious and heart-warming tale of second chance love from the author of Kindle sensation The Woman Who Ran Away from Everything.
Is he just a summer fling? Or the one she’s been waiting for?…
How Lauren thought her summer holiday would go: Priceless mother-son memories made before Charlie leaves for university.
How things actually are, now they’re here: Charlie refusing to speak to her and a creeping sense of dread contemplating the rest of her life alone.
Although Charlie has decided that holidays with Mum are now deeply uncool, Lauren is determined not to waste this trip. Then she meets James, who was supposed to be holidaying with his daughter but is now, like her, unexpectedly flying solo.
Lauren is soon sneaking away for romantic dinners under the stars and the pair start planning for a future.
But what happens when Lauren and James pick up their emotional baggage back home? And what will their kids make of their mid-life rom com in the making?
Readers love The Man I Met On Holiday:
‘Friendship, romance and parenthood combine to develop into a really strong narrative. The characters were well written and the story was fast paced … a brilliantly written read, perfect for a bit of 'down time’ ’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fiona can do no wrong as far as I am concerned…this one is especially good. I really loved her descriptions of Corsica -I could feel the sun and smell the citrus and food aromas!’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Thoroughly enjoyable…Romantic with a dose of realism, you can’t help but root for the main couple Lauren and James.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Reading this book was a treat, it was full of sunshine, food, families and a beautiful will they/won’t they’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fiona Gibson has written another wonderful story full of real life relevance and thoughtful looks at the ebbs and flows of relationships. It was a joy to read!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another stonkingly good read from the master of romcoms! Absolutely loved the twists and turns!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Happy, lighthearted and funny. I guarantee it will leave you wanting to linger in the sunshine with a pina colada, with the sun on your back and the breeze blowing through your hair.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"When Bunny Carter, the old lady from the Manor House, is discovered in an open grave, Sophie Sayers is sure it’s a case of foul play. But when it comes to suspects, she’s spoiled for choice.
One of Bunny’s squabbling children from three different husbands?
Petunia Lot from the Cats Prevention charity, always angling for a legacy?
All these and more had motive and opportunity.
But who is to blame? And can Sophie and her boyfriend, village bookseller Hector Munro, stop them before they strike again?
-
Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling ‘Sophie Sayers Village Mystery’ series includes the trailblazing ‘Murder Your Darlings’, which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021."
"A romantic Valentine’s evening at The Bluebird turns into a murder mystery when a dead body plummets to the bottom of the village well.
There are no witnesses, but surely in a community where everyone knows each other’s business, the murderer can’t stay hidden for long?
Sophie doesn’t think so, and she’s on the case, determined to restore peace to the idyllic Cotswold village once more.
The latest cosy mystery from bestselling author Debbie Young is ideal for fans of Richard Osman, Katie Gayle, and Catherine Coles.
-
Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the 'Sophie Sayers' and St Brides cosy crime mysteries. She lives in a Cotswold village, where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing."
"Sophie Sayers’ plans for a cosy English country Christmas are quickly brought to an end when her ex-boyfriend storms onto the scene. And things are about to get messier when a baby, abandoned in the manger, disappears in plain sight. Before long, the whole village stands accused of murder. But Sophie knows there’s one man she most definitely suspects. Can she uncover the truth?
Enjoy the fun of a traditional Cotswold festive season as Sophie seeks a happy ending for her latest village mystery – and for her new romance with charming local bookseller Hector Munro.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
-
Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling ‘Sophie Sayers Village Mystery’ series includes the trailblazing ‘Murder Your Darlings’, which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021."
"As Halloween approaches in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, Sophie Sayers, new to the village, is suspicious of the fierce new vicar and his ban on the villagers' seasonal celebrations.
Especially when he plans to replace them with a traditional Guy Fawkes' Night party, and invites everyone to bring a guy (scarecrow) to burn on his giant bonfire.
Sophie thinks the vicar's not the only one with dark secrets to hide. What about her boss, the beguiling bookseller, Hector Munro? Whose body will be found outside his village bookshop? Not to mention the one secretly buried beneath the vicar’s bonfire...
Just as Sophie had been starting to feel at home in Wendlebury, she must call on all her inner resources and trust her instincts to save the day before anyone else can come to harm - and to get Hector back on her side.
For fans of cosy mysteries everywhere, Sophie’s second adventure will have you laughing out loud as you try to solve the mystery before she does, in the company of engaging new characters, as well as familiar favourites from 'Best Murder in Show'.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Verity Bright and Ann Sutton.
Debbie Young is a British writer of cosy mystery novels. She is the UK ambassador for ALLi and the founder of the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction is full of English humour, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been her home for over 30 years. Her bestselling ‘Sophie Sayers Village Mystery’ series includes the trailblazing ‘Murder Your Darlings’, which was shortlisted for the Selfies Award for best independently published fiction in 2021."
"Get ready for another deliciously amazing Christmas treat from Sue Watson…
As the Prosecco chills and Bing Crosby croons, Jen Barker just knows that her long-term boyfriend is about to propose. But instead of a diamond ring nestled in her champagne flute, Jen finds cold flat rejection. Her once perfect life and dreams of a husband and family seem even further from reach.
A working holiday to the Swiss Alps with her younger sister Jody might not be the Christmas Jen had it mind, but it offers her the chance to recharge her batteries and recover from heartbreak.
When Jen meets handsome ski instructor Jon Zutter, her hopes for a happy-ever-after seem within her grasp again. Jon is kind and gorgeous and as they bond over Sachetorte at the picturesque Cake Café, Jen thinks he might just be her perfect man. But a relationship with him comes with a catch – and there are some things even cake can’t fix.
As the snow falls and Christmas approaches, could this be the place that restores Jen Barker’s faith in love?
What people are saying about The Christmas Cake Café:
‘Hands down this is one of the best Christmas novels I have ever read! The story is literally crammed full of all things festive. It made me laugh, smile, cry and eat cake! Yet another fabulous novel by a very wonderful and talented author.’ By the Letter Book Reviews
‘Yet another of Sue’s books which I absolutely adored. It had me choking on my hot chocolate on more than one occasion with laughter. It also had me reaching for the tissues too…an all-round feel good cosy heartwarming book which I was sad to see come to an end.’ The Reading Shed
‘What a deliciously delightful Christmas book that will make you laugh and cry with happiness…a light-hearted wintery story, that won't fail to lift your spirits.’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘Sue's books make me laugh, they make me choke with emotion…Sue Watson is a writer who amazes me with her depth, the way she invites us readers to take a look at our own lives through her engaging stories, her wholesome, believable, lovable characters. I just loved this book like I have loved every one of her books so far. Each word is a treat - this book is a gem. Funny, heart warming and oozing Christmas spirit and cheer. Loved it! Highly recommended!’ Renita D’Silva
Sue Watson was a journalist on women’s magazines and national newspapers before leaving it all behind for a career in TV. As a producer with the BBC she worked on garden makeovers, kitchen takeovers and daytime sofas – all the time making copious notes so that one day she might escape to the country and turn it all into a book."
"A laugh-out-loud, uplifting comedy about finding the courage to be yourself, the importance of dreams, and learning to grab life by the glitter balls.
Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you’ll never get hurt...
Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it.
After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination.
With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez.
A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream... to make him proud.
But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching... and love like she’ll never get hurt?
What readers are saying about Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams...
‘Ms. Watson wouldn’t be our favourite rom-com queen without her unique writing style and laugh-out-loud moments. I was reading alone in my yard and laughed so loud that my neighbour who was cutting the grass in his yard, stopped the machine and looked at me, all puzzled... Enjoy this wonderful book!’ This Chick Reads
‘I am a HUGE fan of Sue Watson and if you have a rather filthy sense of humour, and like a good giggle her books don’t fail to raise a smile... By the time I finished this book I wanted to book myself on a trip to Grenada to see all the sexy Spanish men and women dancing Flamenco.’ Best Crime Books and More
‘This book really has everything - laughter, fulfilling dreams, sexy strangers in exotic gorgeous settings, friendships and pretty dresses! ... A total 5* read for me - and would love to read this sat around a pool or on a beach listening to the waves crashing on the shore!’ Bookworms and Shutterbugs
Over 24,000 copies sold
-
Sue Watson was a journalist on women’s magazines and national newspapers before leaving it all behind for a career in TV. As a producer with the BBC she worked on garden makeovers, kitchen takeovers and daytime sofas – all the time making copious notes so that one day she might escape to the country and turn it all into a book. After much deliberation and copious consumption of cake, Sue eventually left her life in TV to write. After a very successful debut novel, Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes Sue signed a deal with Bookouture."
