The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation. Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. Luckily she meets Tadano, a timid wallflower who decides to step out of his comfort zone in order to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends. It’s White Day! Traditionally, guys give girls a gift to thank them for their Valentine’s Day chocolate. But the boys of Itan High are putting their own spin on the holiday,with interesting results. And while Tadano might be giving Komi and Manbagi a rather basic present, the question he wants to ask Komi is anything but!

A stunning and playful graphic novel exploring emotions and how to cope with them, for everyone from 7 to 107! Did you know: - When you're experiencing a feeling, it's much easier to feel the emotion rather than put it into words? - The four basic emotions - anger, joy, sadness and fear - all have a positive function? - You can ease intense feelings by inviting them into your body, and with some deep breathing you can feel calm again? Join Art-mella and her furry sidekick Rattie as they go on a fascinating voyage of self-discovery where they learn all about emotions; why we have them, how we process them and techniques on how to cope with them. Drawing on extensive research into how our brains process emotions, My Emotions and Me helps us to find the messages behind our moods and offers simple tips to feel better in times of need. It's time to follow the clues to make your own investigations into your amazing brain!

The return of a Brighton girl turned movie star spells nothing but trouble for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace in the gripping crime novel Not Dead Yet, by award winning author Peter James. Gaia Lafayette has a movie to shoot back home and Grace is in charge of her security. Yet when a vicious gangster is released from prison and an unidentifiable headless torso is found, a nightmare unfolds before Grace’s eyes. An obsessed stalker is after Gaia – and Grace knows that they may be at large in his city, waiting, watching, planning . . . Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Not Dead Yet is the eighth thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Dead Man's Time and Want You Dead. Now a major ITV series, Grace, starring John Simm.

A full-length Hercule Poirot novel, adapted from Agatha Christie’s stage play by Charles Osborne Sir Claud Amory’s revolutionary new formula for a powerful explosive is stolen. Locking his house-guests in the library, Sir Claud switches off the lights to allow the thief to replace the formula, no questions asked. When the lights come on, he is dead, and Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings have to unravel a tangle of family feuds, old flames and suspicious foreigners to find the killer and prevent a global catastrophe. BLACK COFFEE was Agatha Christie’s first playscript, originally performed in 1930 and made into a now rarely-seen film the following year. Combining her typically beguiling plot and sparkling dialogue with his own faithful narrative, Charles Osborne’s novelisation is ‘A worthy addition to the Christie canon’ (The Spectator)

'For fans of Margaret Atwood' Elle 'Thoughtful...wry, magical' Guardian 'brimming with wonder' Raven Leilani, author of Luster Josephine Thomas has heard every conceivable theory about her mother's disappearance. That she was kidnapped. Murdered. That she took on a new identity to start a new family. That she was a witch. This is the most worrying charge because in a world where witches are real, peculiar behaviour raises suspicions and a woman - especially a Black woman - can find herself on trial for witchcraft. Finally ready to let go of the past, Jo’s future is in doubt. The State mandates that all women marry by the age of 30 - or forfeit their autonomy by registering to be monitored. At 28, Jo is ambivalent about marriage, feeling she has never understood her mother more. When offered the opportunity to honour one last request from her mother's will, Jo leaves her regular life to feel connected to her one last time. Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Deborah Harkness, and Octavia E. Butler, The Women Could Fly is a feminist speculative novel that speaks to our times – a piercing dystopian tale, set in a world in which magic is real and single women are closely monitored in case they are shown to be witches . . .

Three-time Eisner Award winner Junji Ito invites you to the horrific Tomb Town and beyond. Three-time Eisner Award winner Junji Ito invites you to the horrific Tomb Town and beyond. Countless tombstones stand in rows throughout a small community, forming a bizarre tableau. What fate awaits a brother and sister after a traffic accident in this town of the dead? In another tale, a girl falls silent, her tongue transformed into a slug. Can a friend save her? Then, when a young man moves to a new town, he finds the house next door has only a single window. What does his grotesque neighbor want, calling out to him every evening from that lone window? Fresh nightmares brought to you by horror master Junji Ito.

’Perfect historical romance’ Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan on The Princess Plan ‘The wit and charm made this a book I simply didn’t want to put down.’ Nicola Cornick on The Princess Plan A Secret. A Lie. A Revolution. Hollis Honeycutt has written her London gazette since the death of her husband – featuring fashion plates, marriage advice, and the latest gossip in and around Mayfair. But now she feels her gazette should have more meaning, cover topics of more consequence than the latest curl cream. The opportunity presents itself when Hollis overhears rumours of a potential coup in the Kingdom of Wesloria, a coup linked to the highest level of government in London. During her investigation Hollis spies a man with no business lurking around peace talks, and determines to expose him for the traitor he most certainly must be. When Weslorian Marek Brendan was fifteen he was shocked to discover his heritage was not what he believed – he was whisked away from the Weslorian palace when he was born because there was fear that corrupt forces would try and kidnap him. Now he is determined to stop these corrupt forces staging a coup in his home country. Except for the beautiful woman whose questions are putting his own investigation at risk. Yet soon Marek realises that pretty Hollis can help him. But when he confides his suspicions, Hollis’s loyalties are tested and she must choose between her loyalties to her family, or her heart…

Taking us from the mundane to the magical, this award-winning collection will entertain and delight. Drawing inspiration from Asian myth and folklore, Zen Cho guides the reader through enchanted realms inhabited by dragons, vampires and incorrigible grandmothers. These nineteen sparkling stories are full of joy, humour and tenderness. We’ll meet an elderly ex-member of parliament, who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian. This was forbidden. Not because her lover was an invisible jungle spirit, but because she was Muslim and he was not. Then a teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites, pitting granddaughter against granddaughter. An earth spirit becomes entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord. And Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora. Enjoy this journey into magical new worlds of the imagination.

Ghostalker Ropa Moyo and her rag-tag team of magicians are back in The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the third book in the spellbinding Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu. She came for magic. She stayed to solve a murder . . . Ropa Moyo is no stranger to magic or mysteries. But she’s still stuck in an irksomely unpaid internship. So she’s thrilled to attend a magical convention at Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye, where she’ll rub elbows with eminent magicians. For Ropa, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally prove her worth. Then a librarian is murdered and a precious scroll stolen. Suddenly, every magician is a suspect, and Ropa and her allies investigate. Trapped in a castle, with suspicions mounting, Ropa must contend with corruption, skulduggery and power plays. Time to ask for a raise? Praise for The Edinburgh Nights series: 'An artful combination of magic, history and imagination wrapped up in an engaging story' - Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London, on Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments 'The Library of the Dead’s alluring, shadowy Edinburgh with its hints of sophisticated academic magic will draw you in' - Olivie Blake, bestselling author of The Atlas Six

An action-packed comedy about a fake family that includes a spy, an assassin and a telepath! Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment—to get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head! Twilight has overcome many challenges in putting together the Forger family, but now all his hard work might come undone when Yor’s younger brother Yuri pops in for a surprise visit! Can Twilight outsmart Yuri, who actually works for the Ostanian secret service?!

Her cheeks were pale, and her eyes had the wild and stolid glare which Rodolph had observed when she awakened from the slumber of the grave; she quitted the castle, and after gazing around her, as if uncertain which way to go, she proceeded towards the village. In the mid 1800s, the inexpensive publications known as penny bloods were all the rage in Britain. Spinning tales of high Gothic drama, violence and monstrosity, this literary phenomenon was significant for its depictions of dangerous and transgressive women which inspired such milestone Gothic works as Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla. Collecting ten tales from classic - and truly obscure - penny publications and featuring newly edited text and insights from Dr Dittmer's research, this new volume revives a company of witches, femme fatales, vampire mistresses and deadly criminals to enthrall a new generation of readers.

Returning to Ashok K. Banker’s brilliant epic fantasy world of the Burnt Empire, A Dark Queen Rises features Aqreen and Krushita, a mother and daughter on a quest to protect the innocent and bring down tyrants Queen Aqreen of Aquila leaves her husband Jarsun and flees across the Red Desert. She is determined to keep her daughter from being used by Jarsun to stake his claim to the Burning Throne of Hastinaga, seat of the all-powerful Burnt Empire. But Jarsun is vengeful and can summon legions of demoniac forces at will. The Red Desert is vast, and the journey dangerous. Aqreen and Krushita’s caravan of ten thousand wagons will take several years to reach the only safe harbor, the queendom of Reygar. Jarsun’s pursuit is relentless and his vengeance terrible, but hope shines from the growing powers of little Krushita herself, along with the four-armed, twin-bodied Vanjhani wagon train leader and their band of valiant desert militia. Fierce battles are in store. There are other players in this great game of demigods and mortals, each pursuing their own agendas. The powerful seer-mage Vessa seeks to join Krushita’s talents with that of Drishya, an avatar destined to confront and kill Tyrak, Jarsun’s diabolical son-in-law. Ladislew the assassin aligns with Tyrak for her own reasons. All paths culminate in a feverish finale on the hot sands of Reygar, as father, mother, and daughter confront each other in one ultimate showdown.

A ghost has no substance, but it has power - and presence - and it can appear in alternative forms. In the metaverse, we are all alternative forms. The Dead will join us. The genre-bending and masterful new collection of ghost stories from Jeanette Winterson 'Always passionate and provocative' NEW STATESMAN 'The best living writer in this language' EVENING STANDARD Our lives are digital, exposed and always-on. We track our friends and family wherever they go. We have millennia of knowledge at our fingertips. We know everything about our world. But we know nothing about theirs. We have changed, but our ghosts have not. They've simply adapted and innovated, found new channels to reach us. They inhabit our apps and wander the metaverse just as they haunt our homes and our memories, always seeking new ways to connect. To live amongst us. To remind us. To tempt us. To take their revenge. These stories are not ours to tell. They are the stories of the dead - of those we've lost, loved, forgotten... and feared. Some are fiction. But some may not be.

Rebellion could be their salvation – or their doom. War Bodies by Neal Asher is a gripping, high-octane standalone set in his expansive Polity world. Long ago, the Cyberat left Earth to co-evolve with machines. Now, led by the powerful dictator Castron, their Old Guard believe that machines should replace the physical body. But these beliefs are upended with the arrival of the human Polity – and their presence ignites rebellion. Piper was raised as a weapon against the Cyberat, implanted with secretive hardware. When his parents are captured by the Old Guard, the Polity offer him unexpected aid. Piper knows the Polity want more from him, but at what cost? The rebellion also attracts the deadly prador, placing an entire world in peril. As war rages across the planet, Piper must battle with the unknown technology implanted in his bones. It may be the Polity’s answer to their relentless fight against the prador. It could also be civilization-ending Jain tech – or something far more extraordinary.

The new action-packed thriller from Richard & Judy and Zoe Ball Book Club pick, TONY KENT.

Losing the love of your life once is tragic. TWICE looks like carelessness . . .

Rachel Walsh is a survivor: she survived rehab and the loss of her greatest love.

These days everything in her life is good - good job, good dog, very good boyfriend. Then Luke - her ex of six years - shows up.

Suddenly she's fragile and falling.

They ended badly and neither can speak of the secret hurt which drove them apart.

But is it fear of what happened? Or what might happen next?

The beloved fantasy adventure Inuyasha continues with the next generation of demon hunters! Can the three teenage daughters of demon dog half-brothers Inuyasha and Sesshomaru save their parents, themselves, and both realms from the menace of the seven mystical Rainbow Pearls? Before the trio can continue their perilous journey to the west, they must first complete an all-important task—one way or another, Towa will get to enjoy a cushy heated bath! Then the girls are joined by Takechiyo, Riku, and Rion and head toward the town of Sakai. While facing off against the remaining members of the Four Perils, Towa and Moroha fight fiercely to protect Setsuna as she remembers the day she received her curse…

Tinka word bewus van woorde en taal, boeke en lees. Sy teken haarself af op 'n vel koerantpapier. Nou het sy 'n maat en sy noem haar "Ink". Met haar lyf vol woorde, is Ink die perfekte maat vir Tinka. Sy neem Ink na haar kamer om haar beste boeke vir haar te wys, want " 'n boek is soos 'n maat, met die beste stories om te vertel". 'n Meesleurende en diepsinnige prenteboek vir lesers 5+ wat ook volwasse lesers se verbeelding sal aangryp.

'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' KARIN SLAUGHTER   Everybody has a story to tell...Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison has moved up the ranks, fighting every step of the way to break through Scotland Yard's glass ceiling. Now, on her first day as the head of the Vice Squad, a high-profile case threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. When Tennison's latest investigation reveals an influential public figure as her prime suspect - a man with connections to politicians, judges, and Scotland Yard - she's given a very clear message about the direction her investigation should take.  In a case defined by murky details, one fact becomes indisputably clear - that for Tennison, going after the truth will mean risking her happiness and maybe her career. Based on the award-winning TV series starring Helen Mirren.  Praise for Lynda La Plante 'Lynda La Plante practically invented the thriller' Karin Slaughter 'Classic Lynda - a fabulous read' Martina Cole 'Satisfyingly full of twists and turns' The Independent 'A rare ring of authenticity' Sunday Telegraph 'An absorbingly twisty plot' Guardian  

'The darkness dwells, the desperation grows between the characters and the walls close in until you're caught in the trap.' Lars Kepler A breathless page-turner from an international master of suspense, this is a story about dependency, justice, and the sometimes fine line between right and wrong. Three young people. Bill, a widower and single dad, is in a financial mess with bills to pay when he rents out a room in his apartment to Karla. Karla left home to study law and to earn some money begins working as a cleaner at the palatial home of Steven and Regina Rytter. But inside their house it is clear that something is wrong with the doctor and his wife, who never leaves her bedroom. Jennica is single and careerless when she meets Steven on Tinder. But just as she thinks her luck is changing, it soon becomes clear that Steven is hiding secrets of his own . . . Two murders. By the end of the summer Steven and Regina Rytter will be found dead in their home and the questions will begin . . . One truth. Ordinary people will do things they never thought possible when faced with extraordinary circumstances, and the truth is that the woman inside may hold the key to it all . . . Praise for Nearly a Normal Family: ‘Deceptive and riveting’ Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten ‘Taut page-turner *****’ The Sun ‘A cracking read!’ T. M. Logan, bestselling author of The Vacation ‘A compulsively readable tour de force’ Wall Street Journal ‘A canny, intensely suspenseful legal thriller’ Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent

He loves me. He loves me not… Ama Torres is a great wedding planner. Ama Torres does not believe in happily-ever-afters… When Ama lands the job of her dreams, a headline-grabbing wedding for a glamorous Instagram star and her fiancee, it’s her biggest job yet. But the florist is none other than Elliot Bloom – Ama’s ex, the man whose heart she broke two years ago. The man she hasn’t spoken to since. Can they get through the wedding without killing – or kissing – each other? A scorching hot debut rom-com you won’t want to miss in 2023. For fans of The Love Hypothesis and The Unhoneymooners