"The paths of three young Black women in pre-Civil War Philadelphia unexpectedly-and dangerously-collide in this dramatic debut novel inspired by the explosive history of a city at war with itself. Philadelphia, 1837. When nineteen-year-old Charlotte escaped from the deteriorating White Oaks plantation four years ago, she'd expected freedom to look completely different from her former life as an enslaved housemaid. Instead, she's locked away playing...

"From White Review Short Story Prize winner Julia Armfield, a brilliant, provocative debut story collection for fans of Carmen Maria Machado and Kelly Link. In her electrifying debut, Julia Armfield explores women's experiences in contemporary society, mapped through their bodies. As urban dwellers' sleeps become disassociated from them, like Peter Pan's shadow, a city turns insomniac. A teenager entering puberty finds her body transforming in...

"Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan in store for her. Ever since she was young, whenever she met a new guy, Daphne would find a slip of paper with exactly how long they'd spend together--4 months, two weeks, one night. That's how she met her ex-boyfriend and current best friend, Hugo, the only person in Daphne's life who knows of her secret. Followed by a string of men and countless dates, Daphne resigned herself to the fact that she was...

Paula Spencer is a thirty-nine-year-old working-class woman struggling to reclaim her dignity after marriage to an abusive husband and a worsening drinking problem. Paula recalls her contented childhood, the audacity she learned as a teenager, the exhilaration of her romance with Charlo, and the marriage to him that left her feeling powerless. Capturing both her vulnerability and her strength, Roddy Doyle gives Paula a voice that is real and unforgettable....

"A dark and stylish novel of psychological suspense about a young theater critic drawn into a dangerous game that blurs the lines between reality and performance Vivian Parry likes the dark. A former actress, she now works as the junior theater critic at a major Manhattan magazine. Her nights are spent beyond the lights, in a reserved seat, giving herself over to the shows she loves. By day, she savages them, with words sharper than a knife. Angling...

"The . . . story of a queer Black recovering opioid addict recently out of prison, who fights to stay clean and regain custody of her two children while her old life beckons"--Provided by publisher.

Can a Greek escape be the start of something special? Xanthe Fox has it all: a famous, drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend, a dream career and bright future – until heartbreak sends her life into a tailspin. So when Xanthe's Greek godmother unexpectedly leaves her a villa on the sumptuous island of Kefalonia Xanthe jumps at the chance to put her life in London on hold and escape to the island hideaway to rethink her future. The break allows Xanthe the...

I could make her. Or break her. I plan to do both... I don't like the word 'no.' Especially when the word comes from the lips of the curviest, most gorgeous blonde I've ever seen. Elizabeth Downing thinks she can give me the brush-off. Maybe because she has no idea what kind of cold, ruthless bastard she's dealing with. Or that I own the best art gallery in town. She wants to sell her paintings. I can make that happen. She wants to support her disabled...

Plagued by illness and haunted by the loss of her children, Olivia is driven by a fierce determination to heal. She suspects her ailments are tied to the heartache of her estrangement and sets out on a quest for wellness. As she grapples with her own health and remorse, she takes up residence in a modest apartment near a hospital, where she meets Jolene, a sometimes friend, sometimes burden, battling her own demons with alcohol. As Olivia confronts...

Ruby and Claire are two best friends "of a certain age", (a description some women use for old enough to be going through menopause). Though unrelated, they are as close as any biological sisters could be. Ruby is divorced, since her husband decided to abandon her after decades of marriage. Claire is widowed after as many years of marriage with her husband. They are neighbors in the small coastal town of Sea Spray, North Carolina, just a ferry...