"A warm hearted story of the inevitable rollercoaster of romantic love... and the more important task of loving one's self" from #1 international bestselling author Cathy Kelly (Elin Hilderbrand). At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend. In that second, everything changes, not just for the happy couple, but for the family and friends awaiting their return in Ireland. Leila's been nursing a broken heart since her husband suddenly left her, but she's determined to put on a brave face for the bride. Vonnie, a widow, has finally dared to let love back into her life, but a curveball arises that puts another's safety at risk. And Grace, a school principal, finds that her son's impending union brings her ex-husband back into her daily life, and starts to ponder past decisions and wonder if her divorce was in fact a mistake. As these three women gather around the young couple to prepare for the wedding, they'll each have to address their own demons and find a way to move forward, whatever the cost. *Includes reading group guide

HELLO!’s ‘Pick of the Week’ A whirlwind mystery and unravelling love story set in a little bookshop in the heart of Paris.

Reading is a revolutionary act, an act of engagement in a culture that wants us to disengage. In The Lost Art of Reading, David L. Ulin asks a number of timely questions - why is literature important? What does it offer, especially now? Blending commentary with memoir, Ulin addresses the importance of the simple act of reading in an increasingly digital culture. Reading a book, flipping through hard pages, or shuffling them on screen - it doesn't matter. The key is the act of reading, and it's seriousness and depth. Ulin emphasizes the importance of reflection and pause allowed by stopping to read a book, and the accompanying focus required to let the mind run free in a world that is not one's own. Are we willing to risk our collective interest in contemplation, nuanced thinking, and empathy? Far from preaching to the choir, The Lost Art of Reading is a call to arms, or rather, to pages.

Paris is the city of chic—and as such, its innate style shines throughout the city, even in the simplest spaces. Quaint bistros, picturesque alleyways, artists’ studios and unique characters are elevated to a modern-day genre painting when set in Paris. From skateboarders to antiquarians, this volume is a glimpse into Parisian life, as if peering over the edge of the balcony at your own pied-a-terre.

Mary Miller seizes the mantle of southern literature with Biloxi, a tender, gritty tale of middle age and the unexpected turns a life can take. Building on her critically acclaimed novel The Last Days of California and her biting collection Always Happy Hour, Miller transports readers to this delightfully wry, unapologetic corner of the south—Biloxi, Mississippi, home to sixty-three-year-old Louis McDonald, Jr. Louis has been forlorn since his wife of thirty-seven years left him, his father passed, and he impulsively retired from his job in anticipation of an inheritance check that may not come. These days he watches reality television and tries to avoid his ex-wife and daughter, benefiting from the charity of his former brother-in-law, Frank, who religiously brings over his Chili’s leftovers and always stays for a beer. Yet the past is no predictor of Louis’s future. On a routine trip to Walgreens to pick up his diabetes medication, he stops at a sign advertising free dogs and meets Harry Davidson, a man who claims to have more than a dozen canines on offer, but offers only one: an overweight mixed breed named Layla. Without any rational explanation, Louis feels compelled to take the dog home, and the two become inseparable. Louis, more than anyone, is dumbfounded to find himself in love—bursting into song with improvised jingles, exploring new locales, and reevaluating what he once considered the fixed horizons of his life. With her “sociologist’s eye for the mundane and revealing” (Joyce Carol Oates, New York Review of Books), Miller populates the Gulf Coast with Ann Beattie-like characters. A strangely heartwarming tale of loneliness, masculinity, and the limitations of each, Biloxi confirms Miller’s position as one of our most gifted and perceptive writers.

'A perfect holiday read, compulsively readable but also intriguing, thought-provoking and so good on female friendship' Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request. Three best friends. A weekend away. And a whole lot of baggage. Alice, Nina and Jules have been best friends for twenty years. They met in Paris and return there once a year, to relive their youth, leave the troubles of home behind, and indulge in each other's friendship and warmth. But this year, aged thirty-nine, the cracks in their relationships are starting to show... After their weekend together in Paris, the three women never speak again. Each claims the other two ghosted them. But is there more to the story? Praise for After Paris: 'A gripping yet tender story about friendship and motherhood... I think every reader will find a version of themselves somewhere in this book.' Holly Miller, author of What Might Have Been 'A refreshing and authentic take on female friendship. Complex, flawed and so real, I loved spending time with these three women.' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City 'Nicole Kennedy writes beautifully about female friendship, family dramas, relationships, parenting, and the city of Paris. Moving, funny, and hugely relatable.' Andrea Mara, author of All Her Fault 'Touching, evocative and impossible to put down.' Lorraine Brown 'Gossip Girl meets Emily in Paris meets One Day. Complex, clever and – as with all of Kennedy's writing – relatable.' Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female 'A gorgeous, big hearted book.' Suzanne Ewart 'Brilliant, engaging and completely compelling, After Paris is a triumph.' Hannah Doyle 'I was enthralled by the story – from the setting to the heartache; the trials of motherhood and such a razor sharp look at the bonds of friendship.' Caroline Khoury 'Perfect... deals with the intricacies of female friendship and the struggles women face in our lives and often hide.' Libby Page 'Superb - funny, heartfelt, sad and moving with a sweet nostalgia that made me catch my breath.' Bethany Clift 'Stunning' Mira V Shah 'Moving, thought-provoking and very, very funny. A love letter to female friendship.' Sarah Turner Readers love After Paris: 'I loved the writing, the three main characters and the scene setting, all just perfect.' Reader Review ***** 'It is rare to find a book that is purely about female friendships. I absolutely adored this book.' Reader Review ***** 'An ideal summer read that will make you appreciate your friends and what you have.' Reader Review ***** 'I raced through the book, desperate to see what happened... I loved this immersive read.' Reader Review ***** 'A beautiful story of adult friendships that really resonated... I absolutely loved the setting and characters.' Reader Review ***** 'I love all things Paris, and I also love female friendships. This book had all of that and more!' Reader Review *****

“Like All the Light We Cannot See, The Paris Hours explores the brutality of war and its lingering effects with cinematic intensity. The ending will leave you breathless.” —Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train and A Piece of the World One day in the City of Light. One night in search of lost time. Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of genius. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city’s most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they’ve lost. Camille was the maid of Marcel Proust, and she has a secret: when she was asked to burn her employer’s notebooks, she saved one for herself. Now she is desperate to find it before her betrayal is revealed. Souren, an Armenian refugee, performs puppet shows for children that are nothing like the fairy tales they expect. Lovesick artist Guillaume is down on his luck and running from a debt he cannot repay—but when Gertrude Stein walks into his studio, he wonders if this is the day everything could change. And Jean-Paul is a journalist who tells other people’s stories, because his own is too painful to tell. When the quartet’s paths finally cross in an unforgettable climax, each discovers if they will find what they are looking for. Told over the course of a single day in 1927, The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit.