Sophie Green – författare

A warm-hearted novel about friendship, fresh starts and finding yourself from Top Ten bestselling author Sophie GreenMornington Peninsula, 1999. All Joan ever wanted was to be a painter, but after thirty-five years of marriage, she finds she is simply a wife, mother and good citizen. On a whim, she escapes to the grand Duchess Hotel to find herself.At the Duchess, Frances drops by most days to escape her daughter, Alison, who seems intent on putting her in a home, while hotel maid Kirrily is struggling to balance work, family and her dreams.When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting again, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity the women learn to hold onto their dreams and live life on their own terms.'A great book club pick [for] fans of Elizabeth Strout's Lucy by the Sea, Meg Bignell's The Angry Women's Choir and Joanna Nell's Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'Deftly crafted by an author who knows how to conjure her characters, where to put them and which stories they will tell to evince a swathe of emotions in each of us' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA

'Warm and uplifting' WOMAN'S DAY'Delightful' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS'A ray of sunshine . . . and such a great armchair escape' THE VILLAGE OBSERVERNoosa Heads, 1987: Newly divorced Cynthia has returned to her hometown from Los Angeles to reconnect with her 19-year-old daughter, who is pregnant and determined not to listen to her mother's advice. Cynthia's former best friend, Lorraine, has been stuck mowing lawns as part of a business she shares with her husband - his dream, not hers. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth, and rootless, heartbroken Kathy.The four women soon discover the society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Rather, it offers them the chance to lend a helping hand to people whose lives need a bit of care and attention, right along with their gardens.Between pulling up weeds and planting natives, the women learn from each other that some roots go deep, and others shallow; that seeds can lie dormant for a long time before they spring to life, and that careful tending is the key to lives and friendships that reach their full potential.'An enjoyable and heartwarming read' ABC GARDENING AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE'If you love gardening, then you're going to love Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society. This is a compassionately written story full of joy and hope' YOUR TIME MAGAZINE'Sophie Green's stories are a comfort as warm as the Noosa sun and the embrace of a true friend' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA'Atmospheric and incredibly descriptive writing . . . A must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming story filled with great music and small-town charm' 7WEEKENDER'Wonderful . . . A pleasure to read, offering a new perspective on life' GYMPIE TODAY'A gentle story that left me feeling warm' THAT'S LIFE!

'A heartwarming, feel-good novel bursting with charm, humour and seaside sunshine' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'Cosy, uplifting and entertaining, this is the perfect escape read' WOMAN'S DAYFour women. Four loves. Four life-changing stories. At a little salon by the sea - on the windblown coast of 1980s Australia - four women will learn to embrace love and life in all their beautiful and bittersweet forms.Lost love: Trudy, 57, owns the Seaside Salon in the sun-soaked Central Coast town of Terrigal. She loves her job, her clients and her Princess Di cuts, but since Laurie died, life hasn't been the same.Love on the rocks: Anna, 42, brings her mother to the Seaside Salon every Monday morning but never gets her own hair done - she doesn't have time for vanity. But when Anna kicks her husband Gary out, will she rediscover the joys of caring for herself, starting with highlights?Unrequited love: Hairdresser Evie, 33, has never had much luck with men. Then new hire Sam joins the salon - he's handsome and kind, and he and Evie hit it off immediately. But is their relationship all that it seems?First love: Apprentice Josie, 19, is determined to make her own way in the world, especially when she meets sweet surfer and mechanic Brett, who she can't quite believe is silly over her. How long can she keep him a secret from her overprotective parents?From the bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society, this life-affirming novel follows four women on their journeys for love - in all its beautiful and bittersweet forms.'A cosy, comforting read' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS'[An] enjoyable book that engages the reader's heart and mind' CANBERRA DAILY'A great read. Relatable and realistic characters in a relatable setting with lovely interwoven yet independent story arcs' STARTS AT 60

Australian bestseller Sophie Green returns with a sparkling story about the beauty of the second-hand, the power of second chances, and becoming who you were always meant to be (with a little help from your friends).On Sydney's lower north shore, in the harbourside suburb of Mosman, there is a charity frock shop. For decades, it has clothed the women of this suburb, through good times and bad, for richer, for poorer. Local resident Daphne has always worked at the frock shop. And she knows better than most how clothes are used by women as talismans, as armour, as beauty. Clothes are essential parts of women's stories, and those stories are now part of Daphne's life.Daphne has her own stories, too. Some involve her old friend Adelaide, who still bears the devastating secret that caused her to flee Australia in her youth. Some involve a new friend, Christina, who has been forced to leave her glamorous Los Angeles life to rebuild in her childhood city. Then there is Margot, living a life that is far from what she had dreamed it would be, and Lucy, desperate for escape and the promise of tomorrow.Not only does the frock shop give them purpose, but the clothes will help them become the women they were destined to be, because it is never too late for a transformation.Praise for Sophie's novels:'A heartwarming, feel-good novel bursting with charm, humour and seaside sunshine' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'Cosy, uplifting and entertaining, this is the perfect escape read' WOMAN'S DAY'Delightful' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS'A warm treat of a novel' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN'Reading a Sophie Green book is the greatest escape' WHO MAGAZINE

'A heartwarming, feel-good novel bursting with charm, humour and seaside sunshine' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'Cosy, uplifting and entertaining, this is the perfect escape read' WOMAN'S DAYFour women. Four loves. Four life-changing stories. At a little salon by the sea - on the windblown coast of 1980s Australia - four women will learn to embrace love and life in all their beautiful and bittersweet forms.Lost love: Trudy, 57, owns the Seaside Salon in the sun-soaked Central Coast town of Terrigal. She loves her job, her clients and her Princess Di cuts, but since Laurie died, life hasn't been the same.Love on the rocks: Anna, 42, brings her mother to the Seaside Salon every Monday morning but never gets her own hair done - she doesn't have time for vanity. But when Anna kicks her husband Gary out, will she rediscover the joys of caring for herself, starting with highlights?Unrequited love: Hairdresser Evie, 33, has never had much luck with men. Then new hire Sam joins the salon - he's handsome and kind, and he and Evie hit it off immediately. But is their relationship all that it seems?First love: Apprentice Josie, 19, is determined to make her own way in the world, especially when she meets sweet surfer and mechanic Brett, who she can't quite believe is silly over her. How long can she keep him a secret from her overprotective parents?From the bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society, this life-affirming novel follows four women on their journeys for love - in all its beautiful and bittersweet forms.'A cosy, comforting read' BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS'[An] enjoyable book that engages the reader's heart and mind' CANBERRA DAILY'A great read. Relatable and realistic characters in a relatable setting with lovely interwoven yet independent story arcs' STARTS AT 60

'This gorgeous book completely carried me away' Jenny Ashcroft, author of Island in the East'The perfect novel to curl up with on a cosy night in' Hello'An absolute gem of a novel' Better Reading AustraliaYou are warmly invited to join the Fairvale Ladies book club . . .1978. Life in Australia's vast Northern Territory isn't always easy. Telephones are not yet common, and the treacherous seasons make even travelling to the next town a struggle. But Sybil Baxter is finding a way to connect . . .Bringing together her daughter-in-law Kate, who is finding it hard to adjust to married life, and her old friend Rita, often far away working hard for the Flying Doctors, Sybil starts a book club. Joined by Sallyanne, a mother of three with a trouble marriage, and Della, who moved to the country looking for adventure, they come together to bond over their favourite stories.But as life throws up challenges to each of its members, the club might just provide these five women with what they need more than anything: a friendship capable of overcoming any distance and weathering all seasons. _________________Join other readers in discovering the joy of the Fairvale Ladies . . . 'A book showing more kindness between its pages than any I have read before' NetGalley Reviewer'A warm hearted, generous book . . . it was a pleasure and a comfort to come back to the characters each night' Virginia McGregor, author of Before I Was Yours'I didn't want this story to end and would happily spend time in this world each day' Amazon Reviewer'The story is timeless, the characters realistic and descriptions of the landscape breathtaking' Amazon Reviewer'Heartwarming and fulfilling' Australian Women's Weekly'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror__________________Perfect for readers of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, The Sunday Lunch Club and The Lido.

The perfect summer read from the internationally bestselling author. If you loved The Lido, you won't want to miss The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle . . . 'Heart-warming' Hello'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror'A heart-warming tale' Woman & Home (Best Escapist Reads)'The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle will have you laughing and crying' YoursIn a seaside suburb on Australia's golden coast, four women head to the water to swim every day . . .Housewife Theresa wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves.From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, it is the one constant in her new life.Elaine takes to the sea having recently moved from England, while Leanne is twenty-five years old and only has herself to rely on.In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive bluebottle stings and heartbreak, they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean's salt.Most of all, they will cherish their newfound friendship, each and every day.Praise for Sophie Green, author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle:'Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean' Joanna Nell, author of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village'Brimming with atmosphere and warmth, this gorgeous book completely carried me away. I absolutely loved it' Jenny Ashcroft

The perfect summer read from the internationally bestselling author. For fans of THE 24-HOUR CAFE and THE CHILBURY LADIES CHOIR . . .Australia, 1993At 74, former cane farmer Grace Maud is feeling her age, and her isolation, and thinks the best of life may be behind her. Elsewhere in town, high school teacher Patricia has given up on her dreams of travel and adventure and has moved back home to look after her ageing parents, while cafe owner Dorothy is struggling to accept that she may never have the baby she and her husband so desperately want.Each woman has an unspoken need: reconnection. And that's how they find themselves at Orange Blossom House, surrounded by perfumed rainforest, being encouraged by their yoga teacher, the lively Sandrine. Together, they will find courage and strength - and discover that life has much more to offer than they ever expected . . .Set amid the lush beauty of tropical Queensland, Thursdays at Orange Blossom House is a heartwarming story of friendship and family, of chances missed and taken, and the eternal power of love._______________PRAISE FOR SOPHIE GREEN:'Heart-warming' Hello'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror'A heart-warming tale' Woman & Home (Best Escapist Reads)'Will have you laughing and crying' Yours

The perfect summer read from the internationally bestselling author. For fans of THE 24-HOUR CAFE and THE CHILBURY LADIES CHOIR . . .Bellbird River, 1998Teacher and single mum Alex has arrived in the small town of Belllbird River after escaping the city in search of a change of pace and the chance to reconnect with her young daughter. Across town, well-known matriarch Victoria and her globe-trotting, opera-singing cousin Gabrielle find themselves at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives, while local baker Janine and newcomer to the area Debbie are each secretly dealing with the consequences of painful pasts.With its dusty streets, lone pub and iron-lace verandahs, Bellbird River could just be a pit stop on the road to somewhere else. But their town holds some secrets and surprises - and it has a heart: the Bellbird River choir.Amid the melodies and camaraderie of the choir, each of the women will find the courage to leave the past behind. And together, they'll discover that friends are much closer to home than they'd ever realised.A warm-hearted story of fresh beginnings, unexpected friendships and the sustaining power of love and community, from the internationally bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Thursdays at Orange Blossom House.PRAISE FOR SOPHIE GREEN:'Heart-warming' Hello'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror'A heart-warming tale' Woman & Home (Best Escapist Reads)'Will have you laughing and crying' Yours

The perfect summer read from the internationally bestselling author. For fans of THE 24-HOUR CAFE and THE CHILBURY LADIES CHOIR . . .Bellbird River, 1998Teacher and single mum Alex has arrived in the small town of Belllbird River after escaping the city in search of a change of pace and the chance to reconnect with her young daughter. Across town, well-known matriarch Victoria and her globe-trotting, opera-singing cousin Gabrielle find themselves at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives, while local baker Janine and newcomer to the area Debbie are each secretly dealing with the consequences of painful pasts.With its dusty streets, lone pub and iron-lace verandahs, Bellbird River could just be a pit stop on the road to somewhere else. But their town holds some secrets and surprises - and it has a heart: the Bellbird River choir.Amid the melodies and camaraderie of the choir, each of the women will find the courage to leave the past behind. And together, they'll discover that friends are much closer to home than they'd ever realised.A warm-hearted story of fresh beginnings, unexpected friendships and the sustaining power of love and community, from the internationally bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Thursdays at Orange Blossom House.PRAISE FOR SOPHIE GREEN:'Heart-warming' Hello'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror'A heart-warming tale' Woman & Home (Best Escapist Reads)'Will have you laughing and crying' Yours

A brilliant new series bursts onto the scene filled with ghostly goings-on and an unusual investigative duo. With illustrations from Karl Mountford.Lil Potkin lives in bleak Peligan City. Her mum works in City Hall and is rarely at home, so aspiring journalist Lil has all the time she needs to explore the city in her bright yellow raincoat, investigating unsolved stories.One rainy evening Lil meets a sad-looking boy sitting by himself in the bus station and buys him a hot chocolate. That night Lil wakes to find him in her bedroom. He doesn't want to admit to being a ghost, but when he finally remembers his name (Nedly ... possibly) he explains that he needs Lil's help to find out what happened to him after he disappeared from his orphanage a year ago.So Lil and Nedly - aka Potkin and Stubbs - team up to solve their mystery, and they call in the reluctant help of once-famous detective Abe Mandrel. He agrees to help them with the Stubbs case if they help him find the criminal who escaped justice and cost him his career.Except - Mandrel thinks it's only Lil he's working with. And Lil realises she is the only person in the whole of Peligan City who can see Nedly. Which can come in handy when trying to solve crime...Funny, atmospheric, spooky - the perfect detective story for young readers

Peligan City, late November. Three months have passed since Lil and Nedly - Potkin and Stubbs - solved their first case. And now, at last, something new and unusual turns up: strange things are afoot at the doll hospital. But investigation turns up no more than an odd new owner. More important is the mysterious epidemic of deaths at the notorious Fellgate Prison. And when the Klaxon breaks the news that City Hall is hushing up that ghosts are real and are terrorising the city, mass hysteria reigns in Peligan City.Will Lil and Nedly get to the bottom of the case before any more trouble happens - and will they be the first to the scoop? Time to get to the library for help . . .