Verlag: Envelope Books
A comic first novel, about a Chinese school teacher who dreams himself back a thousand years, bringing to the formal conventions of traditional Buddhist literature the wry humour of Carrollian satire.
'Funny, uplifting and warm' Sunday Times bestselling author PHILLIPA ASHLEY 'Beautifully written, the characters leap from the page' Million-copy bestselling author SUE MOORCROFTThe Unretirement is an uplifting story about the joy of pursuing dreams at any age, full of warmth, heart and community spirit.––––––––––––– Meet foodie Maggie Lawford. After spending her retirement travelling the world, she’s home again – and ready for a new adventure. When Maggie’s daughter, Hannah, takes her to their favourite restaurant, Maggie is heartbroken to find the place empty. But the last straw comes when Maggie hears the chef is at his wit’s end – she can’t resist charging into the kitchen and taking matters into her own hands. Never one to give up without a fight, Maggie resolves to save their beloved restaurant from failure, and it’s not long before she has a military-grade plan to turn the place around again. Finding herself back at work, all she’ll need is support from Hannah and her cheeky granddaughter, Alice, as well as a little help from her neighbours. After all, Maggie’s golden days aren’t behind her just yet… –––––––––––––––– AUTHORS LOVE THE UNRETIREMENT! 'A breath of fresh air… funny, uplifting and warm.' PHILLIPA ASHLEY 'An uplifting gem of a novel! Funny, heartwarming and hopeful!' KATE STOREY 'An uplifting celebration…a great big hug of a book.' JULIE MA 'Funny, fresh and gloriously inspiring. I feel joyous after finishing this book.' KATE GALLEY 'A likeable cast of characters, an engaging story and delicious food…a fun, involving read.' JANE LOVERING 'I loved Maggie from the first page and cheered her on through every chapter.' RUTH O'LEARY READERS LOVE THE UNRETIREMENT: ‘A must-read for anyone hungry for heartwarming stories!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Maggie’s zest for life is contagious…’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Warm, funny and heartwarming … I loved the diverse community of characters!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A delightful page turner that proves dreams know no age limit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Maggie's resilience is as inspiring as her recipes are mouthwatering!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A delightful concoction of laughter, love, and the sweet taste of second chances.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Penny Mirren's The Unretirement is a humorous, contemporary fiction that delves into the life of a mother, a wife, and a friend. It's a story of family, friendship, and the power of resilience, proving that it's never too late to start a new adventure. For fans of Clare Pooley (How to Age Disgracefully), Kate Galley (Old Girls Behaving Badly), Jo Thomas (A Place in the Sun), Milly Johnson (Let the Bells Ring Out), and Veronica Henry (The Secret Beach). HarperCollins 2024Zum Buch
Maisy Moore is not looking forward to the holiday season. As owner of the only hair salon in Gamble, Alaska, she'll be run off her feet helping her clients get dolled up for parties. Parties she'll never be invited to. But that's not the worst of it. As a single mom, she knows she still won't be able to give her seven-year-old son, Jack, the kind of magical Christmas his classmates get. If only she could give him what he really wants—to know who his dad is. The last thing Maisy needs is for NHL star Chase Evans to come waltzing back into town like he's God’s gift to women. But that's exactly what Chase does. After a taking a crosscheck from behind, Chase's season is over. Instead of scoring goals, he's recovering from shoulder surgery, and according to his mother, there's no better place to recover than home. The last thing Chase expects is to find Maisy Moore still single. He decides to see if maybe they could rekindle their brief romance. But when he tries to talk to her, he discovers Maisy's feelings of lust have turned to loathing. Will Maisy manage to keep the identity of her son a secret? Will there be a holiday miracle that will reunite two hard-headed lovers?Zum Buch
Silence a racing mind and cure insomnia with a monotonous stream of useless trivia designed for deep sleep. Instead of high-stakes narratives or guided meditations, embrace the power of intentional boredom to master your bedtime routine. Perfect for moments when anxiety keeps you awake, this experience utilizes flat delivery and calm pacing to shut down overactive thoughts. Swap the stress of the day for a soothing, repetitive background of inconsequential information. Whether you are struggling to wind down after work or waking up in the middle of the night, the sheer lack of excitement creates a safe, predictable environment for drowsiness to take over. The gentle tension of mild curiosity keeps you listening just long enough to fade out. What you will experience in this sleep aid: Calm Narration: A deliberately flat, monotone delivery style tailored for ultimate relaxation and cognitive disengagement. Random Knowledge: A slow drizzle of facts covering animals, history, food, and geography without any dramatic flair. Anti-Narrative Structure: No plot twists or emotional highs, ensuring you are free to drift off without missing a thing. Sleep Association: A consistent nightly ritual that trains your brain to recognize the transition from wakefulness to rest. Discover the paradoxical usefulness of uselessness. Let the endless flow of triviality act as an anchor for your attention, lulling you into a heavy, comfortable slumber before you can even finish the session.Zum Buch
‘Brilliant and funny… I raced through it at 90 mph and was devastated at the last page and just wanted to go read it all again… Sheer genius… More please!!!!’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Suzy Medley is having the worst day of her life when a shaggy terrier suddenly turns up at her door. Just like Suzy, Scout has been abandoned, although only Suzy has been left with a financial mess and a business in tatters thanks to her ex. Suzy takes Scout in and her chaotic world changes in unexpected ways: strangers have never been more welcoming and her teenage kids can’t wait to come home to visit. Then a chance encounter on a windy Hebridean beach makes things more complicated, because Suzy isn’t the only one who needs a friend. Scout has plenty of love to go round… but does Suzy? A wonderfully funny and uplifting story about friendship and second chances (and whisky!), perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell and Marian Keyes.Readers are falling in love with The Dog Share: ‘An outstanding book! One to remember!… Sheer escapism, a feel good and uplifting read, I would recommend this book to anyone’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely loved this book! A must read for all dog owners! A real comfort read’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Warm, hopeful, wonderful escape… The island's beauty and community spirit made me want to be there’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Perfect escapism… A joy to read… I read it in almost one sitting as I couldn't put it down… An easy, heartwarming read’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A feel-good, uplifting story that all animal lovers will enjoy!’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must read for those who love stories about dogs… Sure to make you smile’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Adorable!… I love the idea of the dog share and how it brings people together in lots of different ways’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastically feel good… A book to warm your heart and make you smile… A happy, uplifting read’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I am in the camp of cat-lover… However, it is impossible to not fall in love with Scout… Left me with a smile on my face’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Set in a small, rural town, this humorous and romantic tale is a testament to the power of family and the love of animals. Suzy's life may be in tatters, but with Scout by her side, she learns that every day can be a bestseller. For fans of Carmen Reid (The Mum Who Got Away), Freya Kennedy (The Fabulous Forties Club), Beth Moran (Have I Told You Lately), Phoebe Macleod (Love, Accidentally), and Sophie Ranald (The Fall-Out).Zum Buch
In a bustling dining hall at the Golden Galleon Hotel, Kenelm Jerton finds himself seated next to a mysterious young woman who has lost her memory and identity. She recalls only that she holds a title, and in her quest to discover who she is, she humorously engages Jerton in a series of tests to eliminate potential identities. As their conversation unfolds, she reveals her whimsical approach to piecing together her past, including an extravagant lunch choice and a failed bet on a horse race.Zum Buch
Nothing sets the tone for the day like learning your home planet has just changed ownership. Today is a day like any other on Earth. People wake and work. Minds plug into electronic devices. Social networks spark with spontaneous brain sputterings. A woman primps. A man scratches his balls. Humans relate, congregate, procreate. And news anchors across the globe offer an ounce of vital information for every pound of mind-numbing nonsense... Then, the figurative bomb hits. Screens are ablaze, and radio is abuzz with a news flash like no other: Earth has been inherited. The planet has a new owner. And he's not happy to find his endowment overrun by a planetary pestilence. Earth gets its wakeup call. How would you answer it?Zum Buch
