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The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook: They Came, They Cooked, They Left (But We Ended Up with Some Great Recipes)
by Thisbe Nissen Erin ErgenbrightEvery time we tell someone about this book we get puzzled grins, raised eyebrows, and hilarious guesses as to what on earth The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook might possibly be. Every time we tell a guy about it, he becomes instantly intent on doing pretty much anything if it'll get him into the book. One boy (who swears he only went out with Thisbe in order to get a recipe named after him) found out he'd missed the print deadline by a hair but that the cover wasn't done yet and quickly e-mailed with a list of potential subtitles for the front jacket: Men Are from Marzipan, Women Are from Bean Dip; Dear John, I'm Leaving You and Taking the Cuisinart; He Would Eat His Grandmother's Pie All Night While Mine Just Sat There and Got Cold, Love in the Time of Colander . . . We don't have anyone exactly clamoring to be our boyfriends, yet they're practically lining up to get to be our exes!We swear we didn't conceive of this book as a way to pick up guys. At least it didn't start out that way. Really: One day we were planning a barbecue at the Iowa farmhouse where we lived and Erin said, "Oh, I'll make Davis's spicy BBQ rub!" And we kind of looked at each other and said, "We should write a cookbook of all the recipes we've gotten from ex-boyfriends over the years!" And an idea was born.It was the perfect project for us, too. We're both pack rats, collectors who hold on to every scrap of paper anyone's ever handed us. While all our friends grilled burgers that night and played volleyball on the lawn, the two of us took our beers upstairs and hauled out all of our aging boxes and envelopes full of tear-stained letters, ticket stubs, withered flowers, valentines....We told each other the stories behind every one of those scribbled scraps. "And, god," we'd find ourselves saying, "he made the most incredible vinaigrette . . . . " We never made it outside to our own barbecue. We've pretty much been in our rooms since then, pecking away at this book like crazy people, the floors littered with old letters, our hands covered in rubber cement. We were driven, obsessed, compulsively determined to bring you The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook. And voila! Here it is!Now that the book is out, we're starting to let our imaginations take hold of us again. We've got all sorts of ideas. Like maybe we could spend a year letting a different man cook us dinner every night. We'd bring along cameras, collect artifacts from the evening like budding archaeologists, and select the best dishes for a sequel! But maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves.
The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale: Finding a Formula for the Cost of Love
by Haley McGeeIn this hilarious and heartfelt memoir, Haley McGee sets out to calculate—with mathematical precision—the exact cost of love, and whether all of her former relationships were worth it.Haley McGee is in debt. The solution? A yard sale of gifts from her ex-boyfriends. But when it comes to pricing, she gets stuck. Surely the ways we invest in our romantic relationships should be reflected in the price. But how? Is the mixtape from your first love worth more than the vintage typewriter from a philanderer? Does sitting on an X-Acto knife wedged between seats on a bus to see the boyfriend you lost your virginity to increase or decrease the value of thenecklace he gave you? Should you be compensated for the miserable times or do they render an item worthless? Haley decides to gamble on a larger payout. She interviews her exes and enlists the help of a mathematician to create a formula—with eighty-six variables—for the cost of love. As she's searching for answers, the one that got away reappears with a new proposition. Female desire, heartbreak and the chance for integrity in the aftermath of both are held up in this whipsmart, original and daringly candid memoir. As Haley McGee interrogates her romantic triumphs and failures with unflinching detail and hilarity, her exquisite prose elevates this all too human conundrum: Is love worth it?
The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee: A Novel
by Saki KawashiroWhat ingredients do you need to cure a broken heart? This soul-nourishing comfort read is for anyone who has loved and lost—and wants to love again.Twenty-nine-year-old Momoko has been tragically dumped. She thought her boyfriend was her soulmate. She believed he was going to propose. Instead, he broke things off at a love hotel.So Momoko does what many broken-hearted people do—she gets incredibly drunk. So drunk that she passes out in a nearly empty café. When she awakens, she&’s eager to tell her story to anyone who will listen and pours her heart out to a curious manager and the sole other customer in the café, a Buddhist monk in training. As Momoko describes how she doted on her ex and how he loved her cooking, the manager decides to indulge her by allowing her to slip into the kitchen and cook up her former beau&’s favorite dish: a warm, delightful butter chicken curry. As Momoko finishes telling her story, she realizes that this combination of cooking and sharing has stopped the flow of her constant tears. And the manager has a brilliant idea.What if they started doing this regularly, inviting patrons to share stories about heartbreak while cooking dishes that held significance in their relationships? Thus, an unconventional therapy group, the &“Ex-Boyfriend&’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee,&” is born.Based on the author&’s viral heartbreak story, this is a charming novel (with recipes) about a woman who uses the power of a warm meal to bring together the fellow lonely hearts in this small suburb of Tokyo.
The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook
by Matt Dunn"Funny, moving, and a guaranteed page-turner. Brilliant!" -Mike Gayle, author of Mr. Commitment "It's not me-it's you." After ten years, Jane's had enough of Edward Middleton. "You've let yourself go," she tells him. "So I'm letting you go too." Determined to get her back, Edward realizes he must learn how to make women want him again. But right now, he's the kind of man who puts the "ex" in "sexy." One thing is certain: if he's going to be Jane's Mr. Right, he needs to turn himself around. From Atkins to Waxing, Edward begins working his way through the makeover alphabet. But is a change in appearance what Jane really wants? Can cuddly Teddy really become sexy Eddie? Or is there more to the dating game than meets the eye? "[The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook] gives a real insight into the different ways men and women think." -Prima
The Ex-Factor
by Andrea SempleMeet Martha Seymore: relationship doctorShe's the girl who gets paid to sympathise with the cheated and jilted, the under-sexed and over-attached at Gloss magazine, but when she finds out about her boyfriend's one-night-stand, she starts to doubt whether she really has any of the answers. Not only does she have to admit a failed relationship to her colleagues, but also to her old frenemy, Desdemona, blond, perfectly evil and newly engaged to Martha's very first boyfriend. Realising she's just as clueless as her hapless readers and tired of always doing the right thing, Martha decides it's time to ignore her own advice. She's going to go for what - and who - she wants, even if it's wrong...
The Ex-Factor
by Andrea SempleMeet Martha Seymore: relationship doctorShe's the girl who gets paid to sympathise with the cheated and jilted, the under-sexed and over-attached at Gloss magazine, but when she finds out about her boyfriend's one-night-stand, she starts to doubt whether she really has any of the answers. Not only does she have to admit a failed relationship to her colleagues, but also to her old frenemy, Desdemona, blond, perfectly evil and newly engaged to Martha's very first boyfriend. Realising she's just as clueless as her hapless readers and tired of always doing the right thing, Martha decides it's time to ignore her own advice. She's going to go for what - and who - she wants, even if it's wrong...
The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend Is My Girlfriend: Advice on Queer Dating, Love, and Friendship
by Maddy CourtThis illustrated book of advice on love, dating, and friendship—written by and for queer women and people of marginalized genders—is the new go-to queer relationship handbook.Fix yourself a cup of non-caffeinated herbal tea and prepare to laugh, cry, reminisce, and feel your feelings as you read through these quintessentially queer dating dilemmas.In The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend Is My Girlfriend, advice columnist Maddy Court (a.k.a. Xena Worrier Princess) answers anonymous queries from lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and people of marginalized genders.Illustrated by comics artist Kelsey Wroten and based on Court's viral zine of the same name, this book features never-before-published letters and responses about first loves, heartbreak, coming out, and queer friendship—all answered with the warmth and honesty of the gay big sister you wish you had.• BY QUEERS, FOR QUEERS: This book was written by and for queer women and people of marginalized genders. The questions reflect real experiences that aren't often represented in the media, and the answers offer an important reminder that loving ourselves takes patience, effort, and the support of our friends and communities.• EXCITING DEBUT AUTHOR: In 2018, Maddy Court made the leap from creating niche lesbian memes on Instagram to writing and distributing a series of zines. Never preachy or dismissive, Court offers advice that is sympathetic and straightforward—it's equal parts refreshing vulnerability and remarkable wisdom.• GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATION: Kelsey Wroten's art brings the letters to life, immersing the reader in all the joys and disappointments of the contributors who wrote in from all over the world. In addition to the traditional illustrations, each chapter features a paneled mini-comic that speaks to the different themes.• AMAZING GUEST EXPERTS: Because one queer cannot possible hold all the answers, The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend Is My Girlfriend also includes advice from an incredible roster of guest experts. Author and comedian Samantha Irby; musicians JD Samson and Ellen Kempner; and writers and activists Tyler Ford, Kalyn Heffernan, Lola Pellegrino, and Mey Rude all tackle questions on long-distance breakups, jealousy, love triangles, making friends, and more.Perfect for:• Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and people of marginalized genders with questions about dating, friendship, and life• Fans of the Ex-Girlfriend zine series and followers of @Xenaworrierprincess• Fans of Kelsey Wroten's graphic novels and art
The Ex-Mas Holidays
by Zoe AllisonIt&’s hard to escape your ex when you&’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance. Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend&’s festive party doesn&’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he&’s serving drinks. Naked. Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands. As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn&’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.
The Ex-Wives
by Deborah MoggachThe bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel &“marries comedy and canniness into a novel that&’s warm, tolerant, shrewd and exuberant&” (The Sunday Times). The demise of Russell Buffery&’s latest marriage has put the sixty-one-year-old actor in a reflective mood. After all, his three ex-wives—the journalist, the new-age housewife, the antique dealer—have easily found their way without &“Buffy&”, and his connections to his children are tenuous at best. Spurned and alone, he still wonders where it all went wrong. Until he meets Celeste . . . Only twenty-three and new to London, the fresh-faced young woman has given Buffy, the hopeless romantic, a new lease on life. But, unknown to Buffy, Celeste has her own agenda. She begins to delve into his past, but discovering each ex-wife leads to another one—not to mention the women on the side. And though Celeste may be in over her head, what is revealed to her will transform her life—and give both her and Buffy a chance to get it right this time around.Praise for Deborah Moggach &“Deborah Moggach is brilliant at capturing just the right voice for her characters.&” —Cosmopolitan &“You&’ll be hooked from the first page of this original, funny book . . . Just delicious.&” —New Woman &“Wonderfully funny.&” —Daily Mail &“Cracking good dialogue, excellent jokes and laser sharp.&” —The Daily Telegraph
The Excitements: Two sprightly ninety-year-olds seek revenge in this feelgood mystery for fans of Richard Osman
by CJ Wray'I will be thinking about Penny, Josephine and Archie for a while yet!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A fun and entertaining story that made me laugh out loud!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Highly recommend!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐_____________________________________________________________A charming, uplifting and cosy mystery about two national treasures hiding official secrets and double lives - perfect for fans of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.Revenge is a dish best served old...Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain's most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their nineties, Josephine and Penny are in demand, popping up at commemorative events all over the country. Despite their age, they're in great form-sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next "excitement." This time it's a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d'honneur, accompanied by their devoted great-nephew, Archie.Archie suspects the sisters are hiding secrets about their wartime careers. And this trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have quietly trailed the sisters since the war. Now armed with new information about an old adversary can these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans pull off one last heist before the curtain comes down on their illustrious careers?Penny and Josephine will return for more adventures in Jinx, coming in Spring 2025._____________________________________________________________ 'Funny, thrilling and brilliantly researched.' SJ Bennett'It's P.G. Wodehouse meets Dear Mrs Bird and it's utterly wonderful.' Annie Lyons 'Utterly charming and engrossing' Jenny Colgan 'A glorious, rip-roaring adventure, so funny and charming, yet laced with unexpected moments of real tenderness and reflection' Lucy Dillon'The literary equivalent to a perfect Martini, The Excitements is sharp, delicious, instantly mood-lifting and utterly intoxicating.' Kate Eberlen'Not all heroes wear capes, some wear M&S cardigans! A triumph!' Mike Gayle'A sublime mix of comedy, drama and adventure' Jill Mansell'Just pure joy from start to finish.' Alexandra Potter'I couldn't get enough of the wonderful Williamsons. More please!' Holly Hepburn
The Exodermis Protection Suit
by Michael SismondoFinally—the reason so many socks have gone missing in the laundry! But is it believable?
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
by Tobias SmollettWilliam Thackeray called it "the most laughable story that has ever been written since the goodly art of novel-writing began." As a group of travellers visit places in England and Scotland, they provide through satire and wit a vivid and detailed picture of the contemporary social and political scene.
The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife: Book 1 (The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife #1)
by Maz EvansScarlett Fife has BIG feelings. And she's about to get into BIG trouble. From the bestselling Maz Evans comes a heartfelt and hilarious new series, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl's Matilda.'A laugh-out-loud story full of warmth, Big Feelings and explosive results.' Dominique Valente, author of Starfell'So funny, you'll explode with laughter' Sam Copeland, author of Charlie Changes into a ChickenScarlett Fife has BIG FEELINGS. And when she has BIG FEELINGS, they explode out of her like an over-squeezed stress ball. Scarlett's in big trouble after a BIG FEELINGS episode leads to a runaway hamster getting into the vicar's trousers at her aunty's engagement party. If she loses her temper ONE MORE TIME, she's going to miss out on her trip to Mega Awesome Sicky Fun World, the best theme park on the planet. But feelings are like slime in a party bag. No matter how much someone tells you to keep it in, it'll always find its way out. And very soon, Scarlett notices that every time she pushes her feelings down, something explodes. Like ... really, properly explodes. It might be her teacher's slimy green smoothie. A huge pot of purple paint. Or a massive pile of elephant poo at the zoo. And let's hope Scarlett doesn't get mad at Aunty's wedding - that wedding cake is HUGE ...Laugh-out-loud action for every child and parent who has ever lost control of their feelings - this is sparkling, heartwarming and beautifully illustrated throughout by the fantastic Chris Jevons.
The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife: Book 1 (The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife #1)
by Maz EvansFrom the bestselling Maz Evans comes a new series about Scarlett Fife: logical, mathematical - but when it comes to her BIG FEELINGS, completely out of control ... Heartfelt and hilarious, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl's Matilda.'A laugh-out-loud story full of warmth, Big Feelings and explosive results.' Dominique Valente, author of StarfellScarlett Fife has BIG FEELINGS. And when she has BIG FEELINGS, they explode out of her like an over-squeezed stress ball. Scarlett's in big trouble after a BIG FEELINGS episode leads to a runaway hamster getting into the vicar's trousers at her aunty's engagement party. If she loses her temper ONE MORE TIME, she's going to miss out on her trip to Mega Awesome Sicky Fun World, the best theme park on the planet. But feelings are like slime in a party bag. No matter how much someone tells you to keep it in, it'll always find its way out. And very soon, Scarlett notices that every time she pushes her feelings down, something explodes. Like ... really, properly explodes. It might be her teacher's slimy green smoothie. A huge pot of purple paint. Or a massive pile of elephant poo at the zoo. And let's hope Scarlett doesn't get mad at Aunty's wedding - that wedding cake is HUGE ...Laugh-out-loud action for every child and parent who have ever lost control of their feelings - this is sparkling, heartwarming and beautifully illustrated throughout.(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard
by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleEtienne Gerard, Hussar in the French Army during the Napoleonic Wars, is vain - he is utterly convinced he is the bravest soldier, the greatest swordsman, the most accomplished horseman, and the most gallant lover in all France. He is not entirely wrong, but his self-satisfaction and obsession with honour and glory undercut his brave acts again and again, providing a delightful satire of the stereotypical English view of the French, along with Gerard's baffled view of English manners and attitudes.
The Extra Large Medium
by Helen Slavin“Complete with chatty prose, the requisite tea shop, and spooky clues, Slavin’s delightful novel takes the reader happily all the way to the ever after” (Booklist). Annie Colville can see—and converse with—dead people. She’s had this gift since she was a child, though “gift” may be overstating it since most of what they have to tell her is quite petty and tedious. But when her husband disappears suddenly, he does not come to visit her. So does that mean Evan is still alive? During her long wait to discover what happened to Evan, Annie searches through her mother’s vast collection of lovers for the other missing man in her life—her father—and struggles with the questions her gift asks of her. Who is the mysterious girl who sits by the lake? What happened to the lost woman whose sister has never stopped searching for her? And why are so many of the dead voices called Jim? Quirky, irreverent, moving, and a little bit spooky, this novel by “a highly original talent” will charm you completely—even as it’s raising the hairs on the back of your neck (Beryl Bainbridge, author of An Awfully Big Adventure). “Lightheartedly macabre . . . Slavin has something more subversive up her sleeve than mere entertainment: in conjuring a world of ghosts as likely to bore as to scare her heroine to death, she wickedly skewers a society whose obsession with the afterlife shortchanges life itself.” —The New York Times “Annie endears herself to the reader . . . She embodies a genuine purity of heart.” —Publishers Weekly
The Extra Man: A Novel
by Jonathan AmesJonathan Ames, whose debut novel I Pass Like Night was enthusiastically praised by Philip Roth and Joyce Carol Oates, has followed up with a brilliant and comic second novel. Louis Ives, the narrator of The Extra Man, fancies himself a young gentleman fashioned after his heroes in the books of F. Scott Fitzgerald. He dresses the part -- favoring neckties, blue blazers, and sport coats. But he also has a penchant for women's clothing, a weakness that causes him to lose his job as a teacher at a Princeton day school after a bizarre incident involving a colleague's brassiere. Thrust out of Princeton, he heads to New York where he rents a cheap room in the madly discombobulated apartment of Henry Harrison, a failed but brilliant playwright who dances alone to Ethel Merman records, sneaks into Broadway shows, and performs with great style the duties of a walker -- an escort for the rich widows of the Upper East Side. The two men, separated in age by more than forty years, develop a relationship that is irascible mentor and eager apprentice, and they form a bond the depths of which neither expected. But Louis, when he's not with Henry, has fascinations that lead him to an unusual community on the fringes of the sex world of Times Square. He develops a secret life there, which he fears will be his undoing and which he must keep hidden from Henry at all costs. A hilarious yet moving story about friendship and longing, The Extra Man is an original and unforgettable novel by one of America's most talented young writers.
The Extraordinaries (The Extraordinaries #1)
by Tj KluneAn Indie Next Pick! Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves. Hardcover edition comes with an exclusive, reversible jacket! Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer's Renegades in TJ Klune's YA debut.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Extraordinary Book of Useless Information
by Don VoorheesThere are more incredibly pointless and delightfully entertaining things to discover in this new entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. You probably never knew... Ronald Reagan is the only president who has been divorced. It is estimated that half of the world’s spider species have yet to be discovered. November 15 is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. And did you really ever have to know... The whiskers on a harbor seal are known as "vibrissae”? Modern scholars believe Isaac Newton may have had Asperger’s syndrome? In the 1920s, Hollywood made twice as many films a year as it does today? .
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an IKEA Wardrobe
by Sam Taylor Romain PuertolasFor readers of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, a funny, charming, feel-good story about a fake fakir from India who arrives in France to shop at IKEA and unwittingly embarks on a European tour like no other. Meet Ajatashatru Oghash Rathod. One day a fakir leaves his small village in India and lands in Paris. A professional con artist, the fakir is on a pilgrimage to IKEA, where he intends to obtain an object he covets above all others: a brand-new bed of nails. Without adequate euros in the pockets of his silk trousers, the fakir is all the same confident that his counterfeit 100-Euro note (printed on one side only) and his usual bag of tricks will suffice. But when a swindled cab driver seeks his murderous revenge, the fakir accidentally embarks on a European tour, fatefully beginning in the wardrobe of the iconic Swedish retailer. As his journey progresses in the most unpredictable of ways, the fakir finds unlikely friends in even unlikelier places. To his surprise--and to a Bollywood beat--the stirrings of love well up in the heart of our turbaned hero, even as his adventures lead to profound and moving questions of the perils of emigration and the universal desire to seek a better life in an often dangerous world. The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an IKEA Wardrobe [pause for breath] is a hilarious tale that evokes the manic energy of a Marx Brothers romp and calls to mind the incisive social commentary of Candide. Pull up your Poang chair and take an unforgettable tour of Europe propelled by laughter, love and redemption. (Meatballs not included, but highly recommended.)
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe
by Sam Taylor Romain PuertolasA charmingly exuberant comic debut from an exciting new literary voice, and a "quirky, hilarious, elegantly written farce" (The Daily Telegraph), The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe is the globetrotting story of a trickster from rural India and his adventure of a lifetime. When the fakir--a professional con artist--arrives in Paris, he has just one goal: to get to Ikea. Armed with only a counterfeit hundred-euro note in the pocket of his silk trousers, he is confident that he has all he needs to thrive. But his plan goes horribly awry when he hides inside a wardrobe at the iconic Swedish retailer--the first in a series of accidents that will send him on a whirlwind tour across Europe. Pursued across the continent by a swindled taxi driver dead set on revenge, our fakir soon finds unlikely friends--from movie stars to illegal immigrants--in even unlikelier places. And, much to his own surprise, his heart begins to open to those around him as he comes to understand the universal desire to seek a better life in an often dangerous world.Channeling the manic energy of the Marx Brothers and the biting social commentary of Candide, Romain Puértolas has crafted an unforgettable comic romp around Europe that is propelled by laughter, love, and, ultimately, redemption. (Meatballs not included but highly recommended.)From the Hardcover edition.
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe
by Sam Taylor Romain PuertolasA charmingly exuberant comic debut from an exciting new literary voice, and a "quirky, hilarious, elegantly written farce" (The Daily Telegraph), The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe is the globetrotting story of a trickster from rural India and his adventure of a lifetime. When the fakir--a professional con artist--arrives in Paris, he has just one goal: to get to Ikea. Armed with only a counterfeit hundred-euro note in the pocket of his silk trousers, he is confident that he has all he needs to thrive. But his plan goes horribly awry when he hides inside a wardrobe at the iconic Swedish retailer--the first in a series of accidents that will send him on a whirlwind tour across Europe. Pursued across the continent by a swindled taxi driver dead set on revenge, our fakir soon finds unlikely friends--from movie stars to illegal immigrants--in even unlikelier places. And, much to his own surprise, his heart begins to open to those around him as he comes to understand the universal desire to seek a better life in an often dangerous world.Channeling the manic energy of the Marx Brothers and the biting social commentary of Candide, Romain Puértolas has crafted an unforgettable comic romp around Europe that is propelled by laughter, love, and, ultimately, redemption. (Meatballs not included but highly recommended.)
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks (Lottie Brooks)
by Katie KirbyBestselling author Katie Kirby captures the humorous and heart-felt antics of Lottie Brooks, an 11-year-old who is in for one long--and embarrassing--year if she can't learn to laugh at life's little mistakes.A Warning to Future Readers:Hi, I'm Lottie Brooks! I'm 11 (and 3/4) years old and this is my diary. Before you read, though, you should be warned. This book is going to include mortifying moments like bra shopping with your mom and your seven-year-old brother, showing up to class with cereal in your hair, watching your dad sing horrible karaoke, standing awkwardly at your first school dance, and so many more humiliating occurrences.Turn away now if you&’d rather not read about such excruciating experiences. It would be entirely understandable and highly recommended!
The Extremely High Tide! (Secrets of Topsea #2)
by Kir Fox M. Shelley CoatsTalise knows more about the ocean than any kid in Topsea. Any adult, too. As the best-and only-bathymetrist in Topsea, Talise is able to predict important things about the sea, like the next tide (Severely Low with a threat of Wildcard) or the arrival of Seaweed Season. What she can't predict, however, are her classmates' behaviors. Sometimes it's as if they're speaking different languages.When Talise discovers a mysterious message in a bottle, her classmates believe it must have been sent by someone stranded on a deserted island. (Not to be confused with a dessert island.) But Talise is convinced the message is meant for her. And it's telling her to build a boat. Everyone seems to think Talise is just being silly. Even Talise isn't exactly sure why she has to build the boat. And who keeps sending those strange bottled messages, anyway? All Talise knows is that she'd better finish building her boat fast, because an Extremely High Tide is coming?
The Eye of Love: A Novel (The Martha Novels #1)
by Margery SharpMargery Sharp&’s enchanting New York Times–bestselling novel about the profound ways that love can change our view of other people and the world around us Miss Dolores Diver and Harry Gibson have been passionately in love ever since they met at the Chelsea Arts Ball: He came as a brown paper parcel, she as a Spanish dancer. Only the eye of love could have transformed plain Dolores into a Spanish rose and stout Harry into the man of Dolores&’s dreams. But ten years later, during the Great Depression, Harry must marry his colleague&’s daughter in order to save his nearly bankrupt business. The course of true love never runs smoothly but with some inadvertent help from Dolores&’s keenly observant nine-year-old niece, Martha, Harry&’s grasping fiancée, and Dolores&’s calculating lodger, Harry might succeed in both averting financial ruin and reclaiming his beloved.