’I can’t recall us ever talking about anything other than eels and how to best catch them, down there by the stream. Actually, I can’t remember us speaking at all. Maybe because we never did.’

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the strangest creatures nature ever created. Remarkably little is known about the eel, even today. What we do know is that it’s born as a tiny willow-leaf shaped larva in the Sargasso Sea, travels on the ocean currents toward the coasts of Europe – a journey of about four thousand miles that takes at least two years. Upon arrival, it transforms itself into a glass eel and then into a yellow eel before it wanders up into fresh water. It lives a solitary life, hiding from both light and science, for ten, twenty, fifty years, before migrating back to the sea in the autumn, morphing into a silver eel and swimming all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where it breeds and dies.

And yet . . . There is still so much we don’t know about eels. No human has ever seen eels reproduce; no one can give a complete account of the eel’s metamorphoses or say why they are born and die in the Sargasso Sea; no human has even seen a mature eel in the Sargasso Sea. Ever. And now the eel is disappearing, and we don’t know exactly why.

What we do know is that eels and their mysterious lives captivate us.

This is the basis for The Gospel of the Eels, Patrik Svensson’s quite unique natural science memoir; his ongoing fascination with this secretive fish, but also the equally perplexing and often murky relationship he shared with his father, whose only passion in life was fishing for this obscure creature.

Through the exploration of eels in literature (Günter Grass and Graham Swift feature, amongst others) and the history of science (we learn about Aristotle’s and Sigmund Freud’s complicated relationships with eels) as well as modern marine biology (Rachel Carson and others) we get to know this peculiar animal. In this exploration, we also learn about the human condition, life and death, through natural science and nature writing at its very best.

As Patrik Svensson concludes: 'by writing about eels, I have in some ways found my way home again.'

One dinner party will destroy everything.The night that throws a wrecking ball into Abby's life starts out perfectly at first. There's still a hint of summer sun in the purple-streaked sky. Abby and her best friend, Sienna, look on fondly as their two husbands laugh under the garden gazebo. None of them know it's the last time they will be together again. What starts out as just a little fun, has devastating consequences for the couples. Alone with Sienna's husband, Greg, Abby finds him unexpectedly charming. And something happens that night that neither she nor Greg can take back. Abby is desperate to tell her husband and Sienna the truth, but can't risk Greg sharing what he knows about her. She has no choice but to keep quiet. Then Greg suddenly disappears. Is her best friend's husband simply running from his secrets? Or has someone decided they can't risk that he may share theirs? The most gripping and twisty psychological thriller you'll read this year from #1 bestseller Kathryn Croft. Perfect for readers who loved Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. What everyone is saying about Kathryn Croft:'I loved the story-telling voice behind this intriguing domestic drama which takes you to the heart of its characters. Intelligently written.' Jane Corry, author of The Lies We Tell 'An extremely twisty plot centring around the disappearance of a central character... the plots twists all over the place with a final one which took me completely by surprise. A well written, enjoyable thriller.' Lesley Sanderson, author of The Birthday Weekend 'OMG Kathryn Croft has done it again!!! I devoured this book in two days!!! ... From the beginning to end kept in suspense and shock. I really didn't see any of it coming.' Goodreads Reviewer, 'I proudly hand over 5 twisty messed-up stars to this book!!! I loved this and all the WTF moments... It was so freakin' cool to read! Oh let's just say... THAT ending!... 5 Stars from me!!!' Goodreads Reviewer, 'Oh, what a great ride this book was... her best book yet! She writes a great story... keeps you guessing right to the very end! I absolutely loved this book... can't wait to see what she comes up with next!' Goodreads Reviewer, 'My 1st book from this author and I loved it... a page-turner... the twist is explosive... Read it in two days... very gripping and emotional... will be reading more from this author.' Goodreads Reviewer, 'Kept me on the edge of my seat... A story of secrets and lies with many twists and turns. A very enjoyable read that I read in one day as I couldn't put it down.' Goodreads Reviewer, 'A great psychological thriller that had me guessing until the very end... Family secrets, lies and twists made this a page turner that I didn't want to put down. 5 twisty stars from me!' Goodreads Reviewer, 'A very gripping read and I was shocked at the end. Unputdownable.' NetGalley review 'So many twists and turns! ... Hard to put down and worth every moment.' NetGalley review 'This book had me guessing right up until the very last chapter ... I couldn't put it down. A perfect thriller!' NetGalley review 'Wow! Wow! Wow! Kathryn Croft at her best' NetGalley review 'I read it in one day ... The ending is also fantastic and is a real gut punch for the reader. Highly recommended, a must-read novel!' NetGalley review 'A captivating, gripping read, very very highly recommended and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.' NetGalley review

The experience of adoption-both adopting and being adopted-can stir up deep emotional pain, often related to loss and early trauma. A for Adoption provides insight and support to those families and individuals facing these complex processes and challenges. Drawing on both a psychoanalytic, theoretical framework and first-hand accounts of adopters, adoptees, and professionals within the adoption process, Alison Roy responds to the need for further and consistent support for adoptive parents and children, to help inform and understand the reality of their everyday lives. This book explores both the current and historical context of adoption, as well as its depiction within literature, before addressing issues such as conflict in relationships, the impact of significant trauma and loss, attachment and the importance of early relationships, and contact with birth families. Uniquely, this book addresses the experiences of, and provides support for, both adoptive professionals and families. It focuses on understanding rather than apportioning blame, and responds to a plea from a parent who requested "a book to help me understand my child better".

Written by a dream team of mental health experts and grounded in the most effective evidence-based therapies, The Anger Toolkit offers powerful tools for managing anger in the moment, when readers need it most. With this quick-relief guide, readers will find fast-acting tips, tricks, and skills to cool their temper, find calm in triggering situations, and stop letting anger run their lives. A quick-relief guide for calming anger in the moment-just when you need it most. Do you struggle with problem anger? If so, you are far from alone. Sometimes anger can be a helpful emotion. It pushes us to stand up for ourselves or the people we care about-or to advocate for a cause we believe in. But sometimes, anger can become intense and overwhelming, and lead us to act in destructive or harmful ways-impacting relationships, work, and our health. So, how can you take charge of your anger before it gets the best of you? Written by a team of anger experts, The Anger Toolkit offers evidence-based anger-cooling skills, exercises, and tools drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). With this powerfully effective pocket guide, you'll learn to: - Find calm right away with "emergency" anger management skills - Understand your anger, as well as your anger triggers - Get unstuck from anger before it gets the best of you - Be good to yourself by creating a life where your physical and emotional well-being are high priorities If you're ready to stop letting anger rule your life, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to stay calm, cool, and in charge of your emotions.

In this ethnographic study Maria Adams turns a geographical and feminist lens on prisoners' families. She captures the testimonies of families as they navigate the sociological and social challenges of the imprisonment of loved ones, exploring key concepts including inequality, penal power, and vulnerability. She also measures the impacts on many aspects of families' emotions, relationships, and identities, and considers the sources of support and resilience they draw on. With original research and fresh insights, the book deepens our understanding of carceral geography and how families experience spaces, both inside prison and beyond the bars.

THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER 'Explosive' The Sun 'Accounts from insiders who have never spoken before' The Times 'Bombshell' The Mirror The British Royal Family believed that the dizzy success of the Sussex wedding, watched and celebrated around the world, was the beginning of a new era for the Windsors. Yet, within one tumultuous year, the dream became a nightmare. In the aftermath of the infamous Megxit split and the Oprah Winfrey interview, the Royal Family's fate seems persistently threatened. The public remains puzzled. Meghan's success has alternatively won praise, bewildered and outraged. Confused by the Sussexes' slick publicity, few understand the real Meghan Markle. What lies ahead for Meghan? And what has happened to the family she married into? Can the Windsors restore their reputation? With extensive research, expert sourcing and interviews from insiders who have never spoken before, Tom Bower, Britain's leading investigative biographer, unpicks the tangled web of courtroom drama, courtier politics and thwarted childhood dreams to uncover an astonishing story of love, betrayal, secrets and revenge.

A guide to surviving and thriving through your daughter's teenage years, from Dr Justin Coulson as seen on Channel 9's Parental Guidance. What is the best thing about being a teenage girl right now? 'My friends!' 'Independence!' 'Discovering who I am.' What is the worst thing about being a teenage girl? 'My friends.' 'Not knowing what the future holds.' 'Pressure to be perfect and look a certain way.' What do teenage girls wish they could talk to us about? 'I'm sick of pretending to be happy all the time.' 'My face; if anyone is ever going to love me despite how grotesque my face is.' 'I sometimes don't want to be here.' There has never been a better time to be a teenage girl. But perhaps there has never been a harder time. We know that connection is at the heart of our teenage daughters' happiness. And we do our best to have strong connections with our girls. But despite this, we often feel a disconnect. Or perhaps, more precisely, a mis-connect. If you're looking to understand your teen daughter better and deepen your connection with her, this book is your guide. Drawing on cutting-edge psychology research along with interviews and surveys from close to 400 teenage girls, Miss-connection will take you into the world your teen girl experiences and help you connect with her the way she needs you to. As the girls themselves set out the challenges they face - with social media, friends, boys, identity - you will find connection and solutions.

Want to know what it's really like to be a single mum? Perfect for fans of Part-Time Working Mummy and Why Mummy Drinks, this will inspire you to own your single status and make you realise that you're not alone. 'A joyful and moving first person account of solo parenthood and confronting societal expectations of "family" after falling pregnant age 24. Bravo Amy!' Pandora Sykes 'This goes off like a rocket and never lets up . . . this is like going out with your best mate for a coffee and them telling you their whole experience' Penny Smith 'Amy's frank and down-to-earth story is inspiring and honest' The Sun When Amy Nickell left university, she managed to nab herself a real life paid job as a celebrity reporter in London town. She literally got paid to ask Robert Downey Junior out for Nando's, while living with her gay best friend, their Harry Styles cardboard cutout and their pet toad, Snoop Frog. Things were good, they were fun and they definitely weren't serious. That life took a very grown up, very serious detour when Amy found herself unexpectedly pregnant. Pregnant and without a boyfriend. And so her life went in an altogether new direction... From plus one dating to lactating way too near to Simon Cowell, this is Amy's wonderfully frank, honest and hilarious story of a family that is anything but nuclear. So whether you've just arrived, are on the way or have been here a while, this is for anyone who's found themselves scratching their head and wondering: 'How the hell did I end up here?' What readers are saying about Confessions of a Single Mum: 'You don't have to be a single mum or female to love this book! Amy is an absolute hero and role model to everyone. Unbelievably funny and inspirational' 'Hilarious and heartwarming'

"If you're tired of living an anemic life and you want to live courageously, get this book. Terrify No More is a suspenseful read that will introduce you to the new heroes of the faith--people who are willing to take risks to bring hope and freedom to those who need it most."

-- Rick Warren, Author, The Purpose Driven Life Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church

..".Producer Richard Greenberg showed me some truly alarming videotape he'd obtained from a human rights group called the International Justice Mission... That tape would trigger one of the most extensive international searches I'd ever been involved with as a Dateline Correspondent."

--Chris Hansen, NBC News Correspondent

"Now we have a gripping, close-up account of how IJM carries out its mission in Cambodia. Gary Haugen's book should awaken many to what goes on in the 21st century slave trade."

-- Ambassador John R. Miller, Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Out of shocking depravity emerges a story of hope.

In a small village outside Phnom Penh, children as young as five are bought and sold as sex slaves. Day after day their abuse continues, and their hope slips away.

In Terrify No More an international team of investigators goes undercover to infiltrate this ring of brothels and gather evidence needed to free these girls. Meanwhile, skilled legal minds race the clock, working at the highest levels of U.S. and foreign governments to bring the perpetrators to justice. Headed up by former U.N. war-crimes investigator, Gary Haugen, the team perseveres against impossible obstacles--police corruption, death threats, and mission-thwarting tip-offs--in a mission focused on bringing freedom to the victims.

Your dream of finding a partner is a natural and normal human instinct and your dream is perfectly achievable. Whatever your history, whatever your heartbreak, as a single person you are in an ideal position to learn what you need to know what what you can do to greatly improve your chances for finding, and keeping, love.

With "Keeping the Love You Find, " renowned relationship therapist and bestselling author Harville Hendrix will help you to:

• IDENTIFY your Imago -- the fantasy partner that your unconscious mind, which has a hidden agenda of its own, has chosen for you
• BREAK FREE from those patterns in your parents' marriage that you have unknowingly accepted as your relationship model
• CREATE hope in place of despair, companionship instead of loneliness
• DEVELOP communication skills to turn conflict into contact -- and togetherness
• TRANSFORM every past relationship into a source of positive growth
• DISCOVER the rewards of real love -- and the little things that make it last

...and more. Filled with wisdom and compassion, "Keeping the Love You Find" will help get your next relationship off to the best start and keep your love strong for a lifetime.

This RHS planner is a stylish, beautifully designed guide to help remove the stress from planning for your special day. Organising a wedding takes a lot of planning. But help is at hand! This structured planner will keep you on track with checklist reminders, calendar countdowns and plenty of space to record who is doing what and when to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. Comprehensive but flexible enough for you to customise according to your needs, this beautiful notebook will be all you need to plan your big day. Featuring an elegant floral design and compact format, the planner is split into fourteen sections, each marked with tabbed opening pages, making it easy to find whatever information you need. Sections include: Planning; Budgets; Ceremony; Clothing; Beauty; Flowers; Reception; Guests; Stationery; Gifts; Photography; Transport; The Honeymoon. Plan your perfect wedding or give as a gift to a lucky bride or groom-to-be, this planner will prove an indispensable companion in ensuring everything around your big day goes without a hitch!

Many couples devour beautiful images in their desire to infuse meaning and memory into their wedding celebration, but they don't have the tools they need to translate the ideas. Award-winning stationery designer, painter, and stylist Kristy Rice, consultant to celebrities, bridges the gap between how to dream your wedding and how to do your wedding. She works inspiration from iconic artists like Monet, Hopper, Dali, O'Keeffe, and Wyeth into stunning scenery, historic estates, gardens, materials, and color compositions. Sixteen chapters of painterly ideas come alive with commentary from some of the world's most respected wedding professionals, such as Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty, Mindy Weiss, and fine art photographer Jose Villa. Her approach fosters lessons that will be used beyond the big day to style a life and home.

Laugh your way through the joyful misadventures of motherhood.

The Queen of Encouragement is back and this time her joy box―or is it a laundry basket?―is spilling over with giggles and guffaws that will warm the heart and tickle the funny bone of mothers of every generation. Barbara Johnson's collection of hilarious jokes, zany cartoons, and inspiring stories commemorate the fun and frustration found in every stage of motherhood, from:

• labor room to laundry room
• diapers to driver's licenses
• full house to empty nest
• PTA to AARP

If you are a mom―or" have" a mom―this little book provides an uplifting gift of love and laughter that will energize your day and brighten your attitude as you join Barbara in the fun-filled hunt for humor wherever it's hidden in Mama Land (which, as Barb points out, is just one letter away from Lala Land).

Death. Sex. Money. Tricky subjects we're taught to avoid in polite conversation. Here, the host of a hit podcast reveals how to talk about difficult things, and why it might be the most important thing we do. In Let's Talk About Hard Things, Sale takes her quest for more honest communication into her own life. She considers her history of facing (and sometimes avoiding) difficult subjects; she reflects on race, wealth, inequality, love, grief, death, power - all the things that shape our daily lives, the things we should be talking about, but often struggle to. Through the personal stories of people whose lives have been transformed by tough conversations, we discover new ways of approaching these tricky topics with family, friends, loved ones, and strangers. Let's Talk About Hard Things is candid, unflinching, and entertaining in its quest to make everyone more comfortable with the uncomfortable realities of life.

'Piercingly honest... witty... wonderful' - The Observer 'My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me - that's why I love Rosie Wilby!' - Sara Pascoe 'Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming...' - Viv Groskop 'Hilarious, honest and brilliant' - Helen Thorne 'Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak' - Abigail Tarttelin In 2011, comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby was dumped by email... though she did feel a little better about it after correcting her ex's spelling and punctuation. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak. This book is a love letter to her breakups, a celebration of what they have taught her peppered with anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists about separating in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and conscious uncoupling. Mixing humour, memoir and science, she attempts to assimilate their advice and ideas in order to not break up with Girlfriend, her partner of nearly three years. Will this self-confessed serial monogamist, and breakup addict, finally settle down?

Anyone can be a good parent, even if their own parents were abusive, neglectful, or absent. In this compassionate and practical book, Rick Johnson shows you how to identify the ways in which your past experiences affect your own parenting choices. Then he walks you through the process of healing the emotional and spiritual wounds toxic parenting has left behind. Finally, he outlines healthy habits and practices to take the place of negative ones that may have been modeled for you. With Rick as your sympathetic guide, you can break the cycle of abuse, neglect, or absenteeism and create a positive family environment now and for the future.

Everyone knows someone who's sick or suffering. Yet when a friend or relative is under duress many of us feel uncertain about how to cope.
Throughout her recent bout with breast cancer, Letty Cottin Pogrebin became fascinated by her friends' and family's diverse reactions to her and her illness: how awkwardly some of them behaved; how some misspoke or misinterpreted her needs; and how wonderful it was when people read her right. She began talking to her fellow patients and dozens of other veterans of serious illness, seeking to discover what sick people wished their friends knew about how best to comfort, help, and even simply talk to them.
Now Pogrebin has distilled their collective stories and opinions into this wide-ranging compendium of pragmatic guidance and usable wisdom. Her advice is always infused with sensitivity, warmth, and humor. It is embedded in candid stories from her own and others' journeys, and their sometimes imperfect interactions with well-meaning friends. "How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick" is an invaluable guidebook for anyone hoping to rise to the challenges of this most important and demanding passage of friendship.

Everywhere you look these days, there's sex, violence, and depravity perverting our minds, infecting our hearts, and corrupting our souls. It's coming through the internet, television, magazines, and music, invading our schools, our churches, our communities, even our homes. Mothers, fathers . . . it's time to fight back. And Rebecca Hagelin's bold new book "Home Invasion "tells you how.

This brave and bracing book is your weapon in the struggle to preserve childhood as a place of innocence for your young children, and to help your teens tower above the culture that seeks to rob them of strong character and their best future.

Providing much-needed support and encouragement, Rebecca Hagelin― a columnist, a nationally known social commentator, and most important, a concerned mother of three―shows you how you can triumph over a culture that's gone stark raving mad.

Speaking as one parent to another, Hagelin offers practical, powerful solutions for building strong, safe environments for our kids. She inspires and coaches parents on how to stay informed, secure allies in this monumental battle, and most of all, muster the courage and the resolve to lead your family to victory against "cultural terrorism."

Written with the conviction of a mother who has had enough of the cultural sludge of indecency and immorality thrust on our vulnerable children, this book takes a bold look at how today's depraved culture has invaded the last safe place―the American family―and what we must do to reclaim the sanctity of the home and the innocence of our children.

"Why would we engage in this battle? asks Hagelin. "Because we love our kids. Because our children are depending on us to protect them. Because it's the right thing to do. And because we can win."