A book for book lovers, The Last Bookshop is a uplifting novel that reminds us never to underestimate the power of people who love books. Cait is a bookshop owner and book nerd whose social life revolves around her mobile bookselling service hand-picking titles for elderly clients, particularly the grandmotherly June. After a tough decade for retail, Book Fiend is the last bookshop in the CBD, and the last independent retailer on a street given over to high-end labels. Profits are small, but clients are loyal. When James breezes into Book Fiend, Cait realises life might hold more than her shop and her cat, but while the new romance distracts her, luxury chain stores are circling Book Fiend's prime location, and a more personal tragedy is looming.

The New York Times bestseller—for fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz! “An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London. Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war. “A gorgeously written story of love, friendship, and survival set against the backdrop of WWII-era London.”—JILLIAN CANTOR, author of In Another Time and Half Life “A love letter to the power of books to unite us, to hold the world together when it’s falling apart around our ears. This fresh take on what London endured during WWII should catapult Madeline Martin to the top tier of historical fiction novelists.”—KAREN ROBARDS, author of The Black Swan of Paris Don't miss Madeline Martin's next heartwarming historical novel, The Booklover's Library! Also by Madeline Martin: The Librarian Spy The Keeper of Hidden Books

An utterly breathtaking historical novel, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah Was she incredibly brave or incredibly stupid? Neither. Just a bookshop girl doing what she could against her country’s oppressors. The banned books club was only the beginning; a place for the women of Prague to come together and share the tales the Germans wanted to silence. For bookshop owner, Jana, doing the right thing was never a question. So when opportunity comes to help the resistance, she offers herself – and her bookshop. Using her window displays as covert signals and hiding secret codes in book marks, she’ll do all in her power to help. But the arrival of two people in her bookshop will change everything: a young Jewish boy with nowhere else to turn, and a fascist police captain Jana can’t read at all. In a time where secrets are currency and stories can be fatal, will she know who to trust? A heart-wrenching and powerful story of courage, tenacity and love. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this unforgettable novel. Praise for Helen Parusel: 'This debut shines a light on a little known, but no less vital, corner of the war - events we should all know about. Fascinating.' Mandy Robotham 'The story is poignant and compelling - and what an ending: wow! ... A brilliant story with a powerful message. I wholeheartedly recommend it.' Gill Thompson ‘This novel is a true page turner, as well as being a heart-wrenching, emotional story of one of the darkest chapters of history ...first class research and captivating story-telling!' Louise Fein 'Pacy, twisty and emotional... a beautiful page-turner ... I highly recommended it.' Amanda Geard 'The layers of deception Laila encounters at the Lebensborn home were masterfully done and had me glued to the pages. A powerful debut, and a must-read for fans of historical fiction.' Andie Newton 'Atmospheric and gripping.' Jacquie Bloese 'A heartbreaking tale of love, loss and overwhelming courage. I was captivated, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.' Siobhan Daiko 'The compelling story of Laila - a woman of great hope and courage - who showed how love, loyalty and compassion can endure despite the evils of war.' Catherine Law

This volume contains the two last works by HG Wells. Nearing the end of his life, increasingly distressed over the war, Wells deals with death and apocalypse, mortality and religion, and with “human insufficiency.” Mind at the End of its Tether “One approaches it with awe. You come across references to it everywhere: Colin Wilson, Priestly, Koestler. It seems to have been a wounding work; something no one could agree with, but something that couldn’t be taken lightly.”—Art Beck “In the face of our universal inadequacy . . . man must go steeply up or down and the odds seem to be all in favor of his going down and out. If he goes up, then so great is the adaptation demanded of him that he must cease to be a man. Ordinary man is at the end of his tether.”—HG Wells The Happy Turning Wells’ barbed fantasies about the afterlife take the forms of “happy” dream walks. In one he converses with Jesus: But being crucified upon the irreparable things that one has done, realizing that one has failed, that you have let yourself down and your poor silly disciples down and mankind down, that the God in you has deserted you—that was the ultimate torment. Even on the cross I remember shouting out something about it.” “Eli. Eli, lama sabachthani?” I said. “Did someone get that down?” he replied. “Don’t you read the Gospels?” “Good God, No!” he said. “How can I? I was crucified before all that.”