Trapeze – serie

Choose yourself. Reclaim your body. Become whole.The deeply personal and uniquely empowering call to arms from author, model and activist, Charli Howard. 'Powerful and incredibly validating' Lily Reinhart'Extraordinary' Glamour 'Fierce and tender' Yrsa Daley-Ward 'Urgent and timely' Emma Louise-BoyntonIn this urgent and powerful series of essays, author and activist Charli Howard explores how society has objectified the female body throughout time. Through analysing her own body, one piece at a time, Charli charts the impact of long-term sexual objectification and misogyny on the female body, and shows how to reclaim it for yourself and, eventually, truly love it as your own. Through personal reflection and social analysis, she reminds us why we must give ourselves grace when assessing our own bodies, as we are so often viewing them through a lens corrupted long before we were born. Flesh is an unmissable exploration of what it means to be a woman in the twenty-first century.

'You will lose yourself in Lucy Debussy's worlds.' Meghan Flaherty, author of Tango Lessons'Rich and creamy writing fired with a crackling of humour... Tales that charm as quickly as they disarm.' Lynsey May, author of Weak Teeth'Beautiful, shocking and beautifully shocking; treat yourself to this rich and sensuous read.' Catherine Simpson, author of One Body"Now as they take their pleasure, I shall take mine..."A Spanish Inquisitor's daughter breaks out of piety to tap into her talents as a dominatrix. A woman inhabiting a male identity as a sailor explores a heady sexuality that dances across gender lines.An exacting auctioneer loves putting the bidding paddles to good use, and a journalist follows a travelling circus to discovers a carnal awakening with the man who keeps the aerialists flying...The erotic stories in this collection each feature women stepping into their sexual power in the most unexpected and delicious ways.Compellingly immersive, sensual and stunningly written, these tales will speak life to your desires. Delve into their sumptuous beauty and delight your senses.

Hilarious, heartwarming and inspirational, this is the number 1 Sunday Times bestselling autobiography by comedian Sarah Millican. The funniest book of the year! *****'The naughtiest, helpiest, laughieoutloudiest and goodest book I've ever done reading on. Give that girl a banana!' DAWN FRENCH SARAH MILLICAN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, FEEL NORMAL AND PROBABLY SNIFF YOUR LEGGINGS.Part autobiography, part self help, part confession, part celebration of being a common-or-garden woman, part collection of synonyms for nunny, Sarah Millican's debut book delves into her super normal life with daft stories, funny tales and proper advice on how to get past life's blips - like being good at school but not good at friends, the excitement of IBS and how to blossom post divorce. If you've ever worn glasses at the age of six, worn an off-the-shoulder gown with no confidence, been contacted by an old school bully, lived in your childhood bedroom in your thirties, been gloriously dumped in a Frankie and Benny's, cried so much you felt great, been for a romantic walk with a dog, worn leggings two days in a row even though they smelt of wee from a distance, then this is YOUR BOOK. If you haven't done those things but wish you had, THIS IS YOUR BOOK. If you just want to laugh on a train/sofa/toilet or under your desk at work, THIS IS YOUR BOOK.'Of course Sarah Millican's book will make you laugh out loud, but there are moments where she will touch you deeply. The dirty bitch.' KATHY BURKE

'A fresh, original love story, beautifully told.' RUTH HOGAN, author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsAfter 50 years together Stan still adores his wife... so why is he dating again?Bonnie and Stan are soulmates. They met during the Swinging Sixties, to the soundtrack of The Beatles and the Merseybeat scene. Now they've grown up and grown old together, had children and grandchildren. They are finally building their dream home, when disaster strikes.Stan is running out of time, and can't bear the thought of leaving Bonnie alone. Alongside his teenage granddaughter Greya, he forms a plan to find Bonnie a new love of her life. And she must never find out...Bonnie & Stan is a poignant, surprising love story set during the Swinging Sixties and the present day. Ultimately feel-good and full of emotion, Bonnie & Stan will make your heart sing.

In The Most Beautiful, a title inspired by the hit song Prince wrote about their legendary love story, Mayte Garcia for the first time shares the deeply personal story of their relationship and offers a singular perspective on the music icon and their world together: from their unconventional meeting backstage at a concert (and the long-distance romance that followed), to their fairy-tale wedding (and their groundbreaking artistic partnership), to the devastating losses that ultimately dissolved their romantic relationship for good. Throughout it all, they shared a bond more intimate than any other in Prince's life. No one else can tell this story or can provide a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Prince--both the famously private man and the pioneering, beloved artist--than Mayte, his partner during some of the most pivotal personal and professional years of his career. The Most Beautiful is a book that will be returned to for decades, as Prince's music lives on with generations to come.

'Almost hypnotically perfect prose' Kate Sawyer'A thoughtful, tender and delicate consideration of life's choices' Huma Qureshi 'Ashby handles her material lightly and atmospherically' Rowan Hisayo BuchananWhen Cathy and Noah first got together neither saw children in their future. Eight years later, they're happily married - and Cathy isn't so sure. With Noah's patience for his wife's ambivalence waning, her widowed mother in a world of her own and her best friend yearning for a second baby, Cathy feels increasingly adrift.Escaping into her work in the conservation studios of the National Gallery, she chips away at the layers of overpaint on a canvas from the collection. Will the discovery of an unexpected truth help her find the clarity she craves?This absorbing second novel from the author of WET PAINT - about confronting expectations and learning to cope with the nagging, complex questions that shape a life - is perfect for fans of OKAY DAYS, EXPECTATION and OLIVE.READERS LOVE SECOND SELF⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book spoke to me like no other. Loved all the characters, big or small'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I read this emotive and gripping novel over 48 hours - it's a beautifully written story and I recommend to anyone!'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A gorgeous novel that pulled me straight out of my ongoing slow reading . . . pretty much read majority of it in one sitting!'

'An emotional story about family, love, and freedom' HEAT MAGAZINE'A poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma' WARONA JAY'The women in this house are the same,' she said. 'When we love, we love with all of ourselves.'Mai is navigating life in nineties London as a first-generation British Vietnamese teenager, caught between two cultures. She dreams of being a photographer, and is falling in love for the first time despite her parents' disapproval.Trinh didn't think London would be like this. Forced to flee her war-torn home, she tries desperately to forget the life she left behind and the young girl she once was. Now her focus is the son she thought she lost, and the daughter she swears to protect.But when a secret from the past resurfaces, Mai's world shatters and she is about to discover how little she really knows her mother...Shifting between mother and daughter, Summer Rolls is an epic story of loss and freedom, belonging and hope, and how far we sometimes must go to find our way home. MORE PRAISE FOR SUMMER ROLLS:'Visceral and lucid . . . I hurtled towards the end and was captivated throughout' HUMA QURESHI'Beautiful poetic work . . . A gift of a book' SUDHA BHUCHAR'An exciting, urgent voice that demands to be heard' JEREMY TIANGCANDID BOOKCLUB LOVES SUMMER ROLLS:'A compelling British-Vietnamese coming-of-age story . . . an essential voice' 'Such a beautifully written book''Vivid and raw . . . and full of tension'WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SUMMER ROLLS:'Rich, intimate, and emotionally layered' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This is more than a book, it's a gift' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'It will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book made me feel seen, proud, and more connected to my family's story' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Beautifully written . . . will stay with you long after you finish reading' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, urgent and devastating. A triumph' The Secret Barrister'Funny, heart-breaking and utterly authentic' Dr Amanda Brown, author of THE PRISON DOCTOR'A breath-taking account of the UK's crumbling prison system. Every politician and decision-maker involved in our prisons should be placed on 23-hour lockdown and made to read this book' Nick Pettigrew, author of ANTI-SOCIAL"I was what the older generation of prison officers called a 'care bear'. It was my job to work with the prisoners most in danger of falling through the cracks and, if not deliver them safely to the community upon release, fully rehabilitated, then at least stop them from killing themselves or anyone else..."Come with Angela Kirwin for a journey inside prison like no other. For over a decade she was a social care worker in some of Britain's most notorious prisons. Now she wants to tell the stories of the men she met, because she believes that prison is failing everyone, damaging the most vulnerable people in our societies, creating habitual criminals, leaving us all less safe and contributing to a society that is immeasurably less humane. Every year, we spend billions of pounds on a system that fundamentally doesn't work. Rather than a separate world full of people that aren't like us, prison is where the most damaged and vulnerable people in our society end up and we all need to urgently care about that, so we can change it. Because the state of our prisons is criminal.

The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the UK's number one true crime podcast, RedHanded!What is it about killers, cults, and cannibals that capture our imaginations even as they terrify and disturb us? How do we carefully consume these cases and what can they teach us about what makes victims and their murderers our collective responsibility?RedHanded rejects the outdated narrative of killers as monsters and that a victim 'was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Instead, it dissects the stories of killers in a way that challenges perceptions and asks the hard questions about society, gender, poverty, culture, and even our politics.With Bala and Maguire's trademark humour, research on real-life cases, and unflinching analysis of what makes a criminal, the authors take you through the societal, behavioural, and cultural drivers of the most extreme of human behaviour to find out once and for all: what makes a killer tick?

A hidden power. A sinister force. A mystery she can't ignore.In a near-future London where technology affects everything from our bodies to our politics, journalist Pels Badmus wants to make a real difference. She's desperate to solve a spate of disappearances of young Black kids-including her friend's brother. But her boss doesn't want to hear it. Instead, he assigns her to cover the "unreasonable" protests thousands of miles away in Benin, against culturally oblivious tourists travelling to partake in sacred Spirit Vine rituals. Pels soon finds herself in West Africa, ignoring her boss's motives in assigning her to this piece and hoping to use it as leverage later. She's also trying to ignore the strange, ethereal dreams she's been having...However, when Pels takes the Spirit Vine herself, she experiences something mind-boggling. Something that points to an unfulfilled destiny that could change the course of her life. But first she must return home and confront an otherworldly conspiracy related to the missing children. Because she may just be the only one able to stop it.A bold imagining of our future through the lens of ancient spirituality, Awakened is a page-turning fable about a Black woman coming into her power, perfect for fans of N.K Jemisin and Netflix's Supacell.

§ Bold and beautiful... a book we need right now ― Chika Unigwe§ A stunning debut ― Yomi Sode§ Finally, a new era of sci-fi is upon us ― Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon§ Determined in its directness but ever hopeful in its tone ― Jendella Benson§ A must read for the hopeful! ― Lavinya Stennett§ Masterful and captivating storytelling ― Tobi Oredein§ A one-of-a-kind voice. . . People need to read this book ― Afua Hirsch§ One of the best books I've read this year ― Aja BarberEnter a world very close to our own . . .One in which technology can allow you to explore an alternate love-life with a stranger.Where you can experience the emotions of another person through a chip implanted in your brain.And where you can view snippets of a distant relative's life with a little help from your DNABut remember: these experiences will not be without consequences . . .In this stunning debut collection, Kelechi Okafor combines the ancient and the ultramodern to explore stories of contemporary Black womanhood. Uplifting, thought-provoking, sometimes chilling, these are tales not limited by our current reality, that will lead you right up to the Edge of Here...Some 5 ★ reviews from Edge of Here readers:'From start to finish I was captivated' ★★★★★ '5.0 out of 5 stars Soul Affirming! Spellbinding! Ethereal! An experience...' ★★★★★ 'If you have not yet experienced The Edge of Here, you are truly missing out!' ★★★★★ 'This anthology of short stories is nothing less than a masterpiece' ★★★★★ 'Every time I finished a chapter and thought I had found my favourite short story I would read the next chapter and be blown away again!' ★★★★★

Every relationship has rules. What if they all changed?Hura and Cillian have a happy, secure marriage and are on the brink of planning a family. But when Hura's teaching career gets derailed, they decide it's time to explore a fantasy: opening up their relationship.Roses has never been monogamous. Her connection with elusive James-who works all hours as a junior doctor-is electric, and they're falling for each other. But both have secrets that make intimacy feel dangerous, and in a bid to reassert her independence, Roses suggests they sleep with other people.When these two couples collide, life shifts on its axis and starts to spin out of control. As Roses and James fight to keep the past from overwhelming them, and Cillian and Hura test the limits of trust, they must all decide which lines to draw-and which to cross.A passionate deconstruction of the complexities of sex, love, honesty and betrayal, OPEN SEASON marks Cassie Werber out as a major new talent.

The best queer history book you'll read this year.LONGLISTED FOR THE BREAD & ROSES AWARDShoulder to Shoulder is a love letter to the LGBTQ+ pioneers of solidarity and coalition. Offering a new global look at forgotten moments when those from marginalised backgrounds stood shoulder to shoulder to build a better future for all.Through astounding research and fascinating storytelling, author and journalist Jake Hall takes us into the world of these trailblazers, bringing their tales to life and exploring both the inexplicable joys and brutal realities in their fights for justice. Spanning movements from the Black Panthers coalition with the Gay Liberation Front in the US to queer solidarity groups in Argentina, Spain, France and Germany; from trans fights for abortion rights to the Pride support for miners strikes in the UK, Shoulder to Shoulder is for anyone who loved Bad Gays, Natives or Poverty Safari and is hungry for a fresh perspective on queer history.

LONGLISTED FOR THE BREAD & ROSES AWARDHave you ever felt unheard by your doctor? Been frustrated that they haven't understood your symptoms, that they have neglected your concerns?When Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan was admitted to hospital as a patient she didn't receive the pain medication that she told them she needed, despite her being a senior doctor. It was in that moment she understood that something was deeply wrong with our healthcare system. Doctors aren't listening, and it is making us ill.In Unheard, Dr Dhairyawan takes us on a journey through history to show how not listening to patients has been ingrained in medicine from its inception. Western medicine has been built on the assumption that power should always lie with the doctor, and that patients should be powerless to decisions made about their body if it is done to make them well. This, alongside the prejudices of society, has led to dramatic gaps in medical knowledge because for centuries people have not been heard.Dr Dhairyawan offers a way to reshape our health system for a future where active and engaged listening is the new frontier in a timely, shocking and engaging exposé of the medical world.

ANDY BURNHAM'S AMBITIOUS TEN-POINT PLAN TO FIX BRITAINDescribed as:'A PATH-BREAKING BOOK' - Gordon Brown'HEARTFELT, AMBITIOUS' - Brian Groom'A PROGRAMME OF OPTIMISM' - Tribune'PERSUASIVE... A CLEAR PLAN' - The ObserverPrime Minister Andy Burnham outlines his ambitious plan to help fix Britain, along with the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram. They discuss the challenges and lessons learned throughout their lives, including how the Hillsborough disaster shaped them, their time in Westminster witnessing its systematic flaws, becoming Mayors up North and battling Boris Johnson during the Covid-19 pandemic, all whilst showing how they have led two of the country's fastest growing city regions. Building on this, Andy and Steve offer a comprehensive ten-point plan that would completely rewire our country.A timely discussion around power and devolution, a razor-sharp analysis of the failed promises of 'levelling up' and an inspiring call for change, Head North outlines how we can spread political and economic power throughout the UK and push forward for a fairer future.

'Part ghost story, part Jewish family epic, and part romance, RULES FOR GHOSTING is a meditation on life, death, and healing that is at turns bitingly funny and deeply moving' - Anita KellyRule #1: They can't speak. | Rule #2: They can't move. | Rule #3: They can't hurt you.Ezra Friedman can see ghosts - which made growing up in a funeral home complicated, especially with his grandfather's ghost giving disapproving looks at every choice he makes from his taste in boyfriends to his HRT-induced second puberty. It's no wonder that since moving out, he's stayed as far away from the family business as possible.But when dream job disappears and his mother uses Passover seder to tell everyone she's running away with the rabbi's wife, Ezra finds himself back in the thick of it at the funeral home.Having agreed to help out, Ezra must face not only his loved ones, but also his crush on Jonathan - the handsome funeral home volunteer who also happens to be his new neighbour - and Johnathan's ghostly relative, who is breaking every spectral rule Ezra knows.As he tries to keep his family together and his heart from getting broken, Ezra will soon realise there's more than one way to be haunted...

'Snort-out-loud funny, warm and moving' Lizzie Damilola Blackburn on CHAOTIC ENERGY_____________________________Cassie's not looking for love. She's just doing it for the plot...Cassie is looking for a man. She knows exactly what she doesn't want: no one with a podcast, more Instagram followers than her and definitely no one who is 'in between' jobs. It should be easy enough, but London's soul-crushing dating scene (and her dry spell) is making it harder than it should be...So when Cassie comes across OuiMeet, an app for hiring escorts, she signs up as a laugh! Until she sees Jericho: smooth and sexy, he's just her type. Their chemistry in person is electric too and it's just a little bit of fun...right?The rules of their arrangement are clear but there's just one problem: she's starting to fall for him...Bridget Jones Diary meets The Wedding Date in this hilarious, witty and unputdownable romance about a woman who hires an escort after a string of bad dates and ends up falling for him.____________________________READERS ARE FALLING HARD FOR STEPHANIE YEBOAH'S ROMCOMS!'I absolutely devoured this book - it was unputdownable!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Refreshing, funny, sassy characters and a lovely modern day romance' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'You're going to laugh, you're going to get angry, you're going to gasp, you're going to probably cry a lil too... and you will enjoy every second of it! I sure did!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Perfect summer read. laughed so much. an amazing fictional debut!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'You won't look at your screens in the same way after reading this book' Grace Blakeley, author of VULTURE CAPITALISM 'Logging Off is a life-saving book' Mikaela Loach, author of IT'S NOT THAT RADICAL'A harrowing but important read' Carole CadwalladrWe live in a digital world. In the 30 years since we've been online, we've created connections, crossed boundaries and discovered new worlds. We have done things generations before us could never have imagined. But at what cost?Growing up as a Gen Z, Adele spent endless hours as a teenager on social media, shaping her view of herself and the world. As a freelance journalist, she has used her social media platforms and digital technology to develop a career in an unfamiliar and competitive industry, benefitting from the opportunities that these spaces can offer. But after losing her sister to online harms, she realised that our current digital world is failing us.We are an anxious and discontent generation. Our lived realities and our online vulnerabilities are inextricably linked, and this means big business for social media tycoons who want us to stay scrolling at any cost. As Big Tech barons make their billions, capitalising on our emotions, instincts, insecurities and desires, everyday people are losing out.From workers being fired by algorithms, to online forums dedicated to revenge porn and encouraging suicide, to censorship of marginalised voices and the turbulent impacts of AI, Logging Off reveals that our digital world is currently fuelling crises that only empathy, agency and humanity can resolve. This book is a call for a radical reclamation of our digital world, for a more humane future that empowers us all.'Poignant, timely and astute, Logging Off is a compelling examination of how our lives have been shaped - and irrevocably changed - by the rise of digital technologies' Yomi Adegoke, author of THE LIST

Two Black writers - with stories to tell, and some they'd rather forget.One wins the big prize, gets the book tour, walks into the spotlight of global success.The other is about to walk into a place ripped apart by violence - a school that's recently suffered a shooting - with only a speech to offer them.Some stories are simple, and stay neatly in the lines.This one wanders, bends time, breaks rules. This one has sea monsters, floating handguns and ridiculously tiny French cars.Some stories are true.This one is - mostly - made up.Some people turn the page and move on.Some people survive by forgetting.But those people? They're not people like us.

From Jacob Tierney, the creator of Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, comes I'll Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Based on Rachel Reid's blockbuster Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. I'll Believe in Anything takes readers behind the curtain, showing how Tierney, his producing partner Brendan Brady, and the entire Accent Aigu team drew on a deep reverence for Reid's work, impeccable casting, clever sets and costume design, and thoughtful sex scene choreography to both rewrite the playbook for adapting romance novels to the screen and obliterate the long-held misconception that queer love stories have limited appeal. I'll Believe in Anything answers all the questions fans of this groundbreaking series have been asking. How did Tierney interweave Ilya and Shane's rivalry with Scott and Kip's love story to create the ultimate television moment? Where did the idea for that incredible Canadian Olympic fleece originate? And what does it look like for a full team, led by Tierney and Brady, to plan, choreograph, and film some of the best sex scenes in television history? Featuring annotations on scene directions, intimacy choreography, costume insights, and more, alongside Tierney's never-before-seen scripts, this book gives fans a brand-new way to come to the cottage!

Dive into THE WHITSTABLE HIGH TIDE SWIMMING CLUB - the irresistible, feel-good novel from Katie May. Join Debs and Maisie and the high tide swimmers as they make waves in life, love and friendship. Only the truly devoted manage to swim every day at Whitstable, because the sea's only deep enough at high tide. So when Deb (ageing bikini, sunglasses) and Maisie (black wetsuit, swimming shoes, goggles) keep meeting on Reeves Beach, they strike up an unlikely friendship based on their love of swimming and their recent divorces.They swim early in the morning and late at night; through sea-fogs, rain and glorious sunny days. Soon, they are joined by other high tide swimmers, each with a crisis of their own to weather. Ann, a bossy organiser, is caring for her elderly mother at home; Julie has somehow (although she's not quite sure how) managed to produce three children under school age; and Chloe, a bright, brittle girl of fifteen, finds calmness in the water. Quiet, anxious Bill is initially thought to be a peeping Tom, before being welcomed into the heart of the club.When the swimmers discover plans for their beach to be paved over for a leisure complex, they find a higher purpose that bonds them together, and exposes their fragile worlds to public scrutiny.THE WHITSTABLE HIGH TIDE SWIMMING CLUB is a book about the power of female friendship, that never loses sight of the complicated truths behind the lives of women who - from the outside - seem to take everything in their stride. It's also a song to the author's home town of Whitstable, where the sea is smooth, the shingle is painful on bare feet, and the air is full of possibilities.

From the bestselling author of Wintering, Katherine May, The Electricity of Every Living Thing is a life-affirming and poignant exploration of nature, and how reconnecting to wild landscapes can create peace in our unquiet minds.'A windswept tale, beautifully told' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path 'A manifesto for the value of difficult people. I loved it' Amy Liptrot, author of The OutrunIn August 2015, Katherine May set out to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path. She wanted to understand why she had stopped coping with everyday life; why motherhood had been so overwhelming and isolating, and why the world felt full of inundation and expectations she can't meet. Setting her feet down on the rugged and difficult path by the sea, the answer begins to unfold.The Electricity of Every Living Thing tells the story of the year in which Katherine comes to terms with a diagnosis which shakes her to her core. It leads to a re-evaluation of her life so far - a kinder one, which finally allows her to be different rather than simply awkward, arrogant or unfeeling. The physical and psychological journeys become inextricably entwined, and as Katherine finds her way across the untameable coast, she also finds the way to herself.What readers are saying about The Electricity of Every Living Thing:'Honest and sensitive' 'The astonishing sensitivity and awareness in her writing, both about the beautiful landscapes and nature around on her walks, and in relation to her family, friends and self put paid to many outdated myths about what it is like to be autistic''Compelling and transformative. I could not put this book down so I stayed in bed and read it in one go.''Katherine has a fantastic way with words, I could read her books for hours on end, they are calming and relatable.''Read it - you won't regret it.'

'A passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of' - Kerrang! "I never wanted to be a big star. I just wanted to be the biggest at what I do! Powerful, unstoppable, heavy - when that word still meant something good!" - Meat Loaf, as told to Mick WallEverything in the story of Meat Loaf is big. From the place he was born (Texas); to the family he was born into (his father weighed 22 stone, his uncle weighed over 40 stone, while Meat Loaf himself weighed 17 stone before he was even in his teens); to the sound he made (a colossal collision between Richard Wagner, Phil Spector and Bruce Springsteen); and of course the records he sold - nearly 50 million in Britain and America alone.From a tumultuous childhood with an alcoholic father to the relentless abusive bullying he endured, nobody could have predicted Meat Loaf's meteoric rise to fame.But when the messianic rock opera Bat Out of Hell was released in 1977, it became one of the biggest albums of all time, selling over 45 million copies worldwide to date. Its release marked the start of a rollercoaster ride of incredible highs and seemingly career-ending lows. By the 80s, Meat Loaf was battling with drug and alcohol addiction and escalating money problems. But just when it seemed like it was all over, the astonishing success of Bat Out of Hell II and the mega-hit 'I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)' marked an extraordinary new wave of success. Now, Mick Wall will bring this extraordinary story up to date, drawing on the hours he spent with Meat Loaf, both in interviews and on tour, as well as offering up a unique insight from those who have known him best.

Enough plastic is thrown away every year to circle the world 4 timesMore than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year300 million tonnes of new plastic is produced every year An estimated 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic now litter the world's oceans 38.5 million plastic bottles are used every day in the UKA million plastic bottles are used per minute around the world500 million plastic straws are used per yearWithout big action, at the current rate, pieces of plastic will outnumber fish in the ocean by 2050. That is the legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren.Plastic flows into our lives from every direction and most of it is not recycled. Instead it is incinerated or ends up in landfill, where it will sit for hundreds of years, or enters the world's seas where it fragments into tiny pieces to become microplastics - the environmental scourge of our times. Many of us had assumed that governments, brands and waste authorities were dealing with plastic on our behalf. But the impact of shows such as Blue Planet along with national beach cleans and high-profile campaigns have resulted in a collective wake-up call. If there were plans and strategies, they have not worked as we imagined. It would be easy to feel despondent but instead we need to turn our anger and emotion into action, starting by making a big dent in our own enormous consumption. Turning the tide on Plastic is here just in time. Journalist, broadcaster and eco lifestyle expert Lucy Siegle provides a powerful call to arms to end the plastic pandemic along with the tools we need to make decisive change. It is a clear-eyed, authoritative and accessible guide to help us to take decisive and effective personal action. Because this matters. When it comes to single-use plastics, we are habitual users, reaching out for plastic water bottles, disposable coffee cups, plastic straws and carrier bags multiple times a day. If only 12 of us adopt Lucy's 'reduce, rethink, refill, refuse' approach, we could potentially ditch 3K-15K single items of plastic in a year. When we consider our power as influencers - whether at school, the hairdressers, at work or on the bus - we suddenly become part of something significant. So now is the time to speak up, take action and demand the change you want to see in the ocean, in the supermarket aisles and on the streets. It's time to turn the tide on plastic, and this book will show you how.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Radio Times, Daily Herald and FT Book of the Year'I was born with a warped sense of humour and when I was carried home from being born it was Coronation Day and so I was called Victoria but you are not supposed to know who wrote this anyway it is about time I unleashed my pent-up emotions in a bitter comment on the state of our society but it's not quite me so I think I shall write a heart-warming story with laughter behind the tears and tears behind the laughter which means hysterics to you Philistines...'From 'Pardon?' by Vicky Wood, Aged 14. Bury Grammar School (Girls) Magazine, 1967In her passport Victoria Wood listed her occupation as 'entertainer' - and in stand-up and sketches, songs and sitcom, musicals and dramas, she became the greatest entertainer of the age. Those things that might have held her back - her lonely childhood, her crippling shyness and above all the disadvantage of being a woman in a male-run industry - she turned to her advantage to make extraordinary comedy about ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary bodies. She wasn't fond of the term, but Victoria Wood truly was a national treasure - and her loss is still keenly felt.Victoria had plenty of stories still to tell when she died in 2016, and one of those was her own autobiography. 'I will do it one day,' she told the author and journalist Jasper Rees. 'It would be about my childhood, about my first few years in showbusiness, which were really interesting and would make a really nice story.' That sadly never came to pass, so Victoria's estate has asked Jasper Rees, who interviewed her more than anyone else, to tell her extraordinary story in full. He has been granted complete and exclusive access to Victoria's rich archive of personal and professional material, and has conducted over 200 interviews with her family, friends and colleagues - among them Victoria's children, her sisters, her ex-husband Geoffrey Durham, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Dawn French, Anne Reid, Imelda Staunton and many more. What emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer who spoke to her audience like no one before or since.

'A wonderfully written, funny and moving debut with an intriguing mystery at its heart... Unforgettable.' - Claire Douglas, bestselling author'Thought-provoking, beautifully observed study of love' - JILL MANSELL, bestselling author'With all the twists and turns of this book, I was hooked from the start' - Amazon reviewer, 5 starsLizzie James is happy.She has a steady office job (with a steady stream of snacks), has had the same best friend since school, and she sees her family every Thursday night for take-away and trashy TV. Lizzie likes her uncomplicated life.Then a letter arrives one day from her first love, Roman. A letter dated the day he disappeared, 12 years before. As Lizzie uncovers the secrets of the letter, she discovers what really happened the year her life fell apart - and all avenues lead back to Roman.Lizzie James thought she was happy, or somewhere close to happy, at least. Now she's not so sure.'I LOVED Somewhere Close to Happy. It made me cry several times but was also really funny. It is incredibly good and I am sure it will be huge.' - Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request*Perfect for fans of Giovanna Fletcher, Mhairi McFarlane and Cecelia Ahern and Kate Eberlen's Miss You. This is a novel you won't soon forget.*

FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR'Dazzlingly inventive'Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month'A meticulously plotted exploration of friendship, foe-ship and the lies that bind, which builds to a gripping and powerful conclusion'Cara Hunter**********FIVE WOMEN.They meet at their NCT Group. The only thing they have in common is they're all pregnant.FIVE SECRETS.Three years later, they are all good friends. Aren't they?ONE MISSING HUSBAND.Now the police have come knocking. Someone knows something.THE TROUBLE WITH SECRETS IS THAT SOMEONE ALWAYS TELLS...**********'The perfect dose of thrills and suspense, this will keep you engrossed to the very end' Heat'Original and stylish... will keep you guessing to the last page'Sharon BoltonFor fans of Big Little Lies, The Rumour and I Invited Her In, this is first class psychological suspense from the critically acclaimed Sarah J Naughton.

'This book will make you love her as much as I do' FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON 'Breath-taking courage and compassion [...]a beautiful book' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'A renegade Florence Nightingale cares for the ill in a remarkable tale of compassion and combating prejudice'GUARDIAN 'An extraordinary tale' EVENING STANDARD 'If I have one message with this book it's that we all have to care for one another. Today, not just in 1986. Life is about caring for each other, and I learned more about life from the dying than I ever learned from the living. It's in an elephant ride, it's in those wildflowers dancing on their way to the shared grave of two men in love, and it's in caring for that young man who just needed information without judgement.' In 1986, 26-year-old Ruth Coker Burks visits a friend in hospital when she notices that the door to one of the patient's rooms is painted red. The nurses are reluctant to enter, drawing straws to decide who will tend to the sick person inside. Out of impulse, Ruth herself enters the quarantined space and begins to care for the young man who cries for his mother in the last moments of his life. And in doing so, Ruth's own life changes forever. As word spreads in the community that she is the only person willing to help the young men afflicted by the growing AIDS crisis, Ruth goes from being an ordinary young mother to an accidental activist. Forging deep friendships with the men she helps, Ruth works to find them housing and jobs, and then funeral homes willing to take their bodies - often in the middle of the night. She prepares and delivers meals to 'her guys,' supplementing her own income with discarded food found in the dumpsters behind supermarkets. She defies local pastors and the medical community to store rare medications for her most urgent patients, and teaches sex education to drag queens after hours at secret bars. Emboldened by the weight of their collective pain, she fervently advocates for their safety and visibility, ultimately advising Governor Bill Clinton on the national HIV-AIDS crisis, and in doing so becomes a beacon of hope to an otherwise spurned group of ailing gay men on the fringes of society. Ruth kept her story a secret for years, fearful of repercussions within her deeply conservative community. But at a time when it's more important than ever to stand up for those who can't, Ruth has found the courage to have her voice - and the voices of those who were stigmatised, rejected and abandoned - heard.

For fans of Adele Parks and Clare Mackintosh'Deceptively clever... Bad Seed is a chilling portrayal of how family can go terribly wrong.' - Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door'I LOVED Bad Seed. Twisty, wonderfully written, genuinely gripping, shocking and compelling. Impossible to put down!' - KAREN HAMILTON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Perfect GirlfriendNicola is going to die. Just like her husband did. Nicola thought she'd gotten away with it. Since her husband died, life has been getting back on track. She has a new boyfriend, Phil. A new home, living next door to her brother-in-law, his wife and their children. She is closer than ever with her daughter, Sarah. She even likes her job at the local shop, though she's had some time off recently with illness. The doctor says its menopause, that it's nothing to worry about. As if he could know how she's feeling.Nicola is finally moving on with her life.But then she receives the note. Someone knows what she did. They know the secret she doesn't even think about when she is alone.And they want revenge.A gripping domestic thriller told from the points of view of three women from the same family, each with their own heart-wrenching revelation. 'I raced through this brilliantly twisty tale of family secrets and betrayals which kept me guessing at every turn. Clever and creepy and difficult to put down.' Phoebe Locke, author of The Tall Man and The July Girls