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The Staycation: A hilarious tale of heartwarming friendship, fraught families and happy ever afters
by Michele Gorman'Perfect summer reading!' - Bella OsborneTwo families. One cancelled flight. And a last minute house swap...Things get desperate for strangers Harriet and Sophie when they become stranded with their families in Heathrow's Terminal 5. Each woman has her own reason for really really really needing the family holiday they've anticipated for months. But Iceland's volcano has other plans for them. When their flights are cancelled, the families swap houses and discover that sometimes the best things in life happen close to home.This ash cloud has a silver lining, even if no one can quite see it yet.For fans of Sarah Morgan, Veronica Henry and Sue Moorcroft.'A lighthearted funny read about two very different families who meet at Heathrow airport when their holidays abroad are cancelled due to the ash cloud!' netgalley reviewer'This is a great book because it has allowed me to switch off from everything that's going on and be lost in the pages.' netgalley reviewer
The Staycation: A hilarious tale of heartwarming friendship, fraught families and happy ever afters
by Michele Gorman'Perfect summer reading!' - Bella OsborneTwo families. One cancelled flight. And a last minute house swap...Things get desperate for strangers Harriet and Sophie when they become stranded with their families in Heathrow's Terminal 5. Each woman has her own reason for really really really needing the family holiday they've anticipated for months. But Iceland's volcano has other plans for them. When their flights are cancelled, the families swap houses and discover that sometimes the best things in life happen close to home.This ash cloud has a silver lining, even if no one can quite see it yet.For fans of Sarah Morgan, Veronica Henry and Sue Moorcroft.'A lighthearted funny read about two very different families who meet at Heathrow airport when their holidays abroad are cancelled due to the ash cloud!' netgalley reviewer'This is a great book because it has allowed me to switch off from everything that's going on and be lost in the pages.' netgalley reviewer
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee (44 Scotland Street Series #17)
by Alexander McCall SmithThe latest installment in the warm and welcoming 44 Scotland Street series finds all our favorite residents of Scotland's most celebrated address navigating their enchanting and eventful lives.Angus Lordie is approached in the park by a shadowy, Deep Throat-like figure with government secrets to share, who mistakes him for a journalist. Now Angus is privy to some controversial plans of the Scottish Parliament—but just what is he meant to do about it? Elsewhere, Big Lou&’s husband Bob hires a personal trainer who changes his entire outlook on life, much to Lou&’s dismay. At the schoolhouse, young Bertie Pollock&’s class has a new ringleader, Galactica MacFee, who quickly comes between Bertie and Olive. All this proves too much for Bertie to bear, and he flees to Glasgow with best friend Ranald Braveheart MacPherson in tow. And the indomitable Irene again finds herself in Edinburgh ... and it looks like there might be romance in the air. Meanwhile, Matthew, too, is keeping busy. He invests in a brand new Pictish Experience Centre, meant to allow residents to experience what life was like for Scotland&’s mysterious early people, the Picts. And they may have made a fantastic discovery — the earliest known work of Scottish literature! But what exactly do those mysterious Pictish runes say? As always, McCall Smith draws on his seemingly unlimited stores of goodwill and generosity in describing the goings-on of this beloved cast of characters.
The Stench of Honolulu: A Tropical Adventure
by Jack HandeyThe legendary Deep Thoughts and New Yorker humorist Jack Handey is back with his very first novel-a hilarious, absurd, far-flung adventure tale.THE STENCH OF HONOLOLUAre you a fan of books in which famous tourist destinations are repurposed as unlivable hellholes for no particular reason? Read on!Jack Handey's exotic tale is full of laugh-out-loud twists and unforgettable characters whose names escape me right now. A reliably unreliable narrator and his friend, who is some other guy, need to get out of town. They have a taste for adventure, so they pay a visit to a relic of bygone days-a travel agent-and discover an old treasure map. She might have been a witch, by the way. Our heroes soon embark on a quest for the Golden Monkey, which takes them into the mysterious and stinky foreign land of Honolulu. There, they meet untold dangers, confront strange natives, kill and eat Turtle People, kill some other things and people, eat another thing, and discover the ruins of ancient civilizations. As our narrator says, "The ruins were impressive. But like so many civilizations, they forgot the rule that might have saved them: Don't let vines grow all over you."
The Stepford Wives: Introduction by Chuck Palanhiuk
by Ira LevinThe women of Stepford are not all that they seem... All the beautiful people live in idyllic Stepford, Connecticut, an affluent, suburban Eden populated with successful, satisfied hubbies and beautiful, dutiful wives. For Joanna Eberhart, newly arrived with her husband and two children, it all seems too good to be true - from the sweet Welcome Wagon lady to all those cheerful, friendly faces in the supermarket checkout lines. But just beneath the town's flawless surface, something is sordid and wrong - something abominable with roots in the local Men's Association. And it may already be too late for Joanna to save herself from being devoured by Stepford's hideous perfection.
The Stepmom Shake-Up
by Niki LenzGrace + her dad, Davy = Team Gravy. No way is a new stepmom going to break up this team. . . .Filled with reverse Parent Trap-like pranks, The Stepmom Shake-Up is a hilarious and heartfelt look at what it means to be a family.Grace + Dad = the perfect teamAfter Grace's mom died, she and her dad grew extra close. They have special nicknames and are always busy with new projects--like building a puppy condo for their dog, Potus--and they love learning random facts about the US presidents. Grace thinks her little family of two is perfect.Then some committee members at church suggest it's time for Dad to start dating again. And Dad agrees! Grace knows that adding a new member to the team will end in disaster.No problem! She and her best friend have a plan:Operation: Stepmom Shake-UpBut what if a little shake-up is exactly what Grace's family needs?
The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal
by Ambika VohraIn this heartfelt and hilarious debut from Ambika Vohra—that's Netflix's Never Have I Ever meets Jenny Han—one girl tackles a question that changes the trajectory of her senior year: "How have you gotten out of your comfort zone?" That’s the Stanford admissions prompt that valedictorian shoo-in Aisha Agarwal can’t answer. Comfort zone? Her life’s been homework and junk food for as long as she can remember. Not exactly the thing college essays are written about. So, when her crush, Brian, asks her to winter formal, Aisha thinks her fate is changing . . . . . . until Brian stands her up.As if on cue, a banged-up Volkswagen arrives outside the dance; the driver—a guy her age—profusely apologizing for being late to pick her up. Does Aisha know him or what he's talking about? No. Does the Stanford essay convince her to take him up on the ride? Absolutely.To Aisha’s relief, seventeen-year-old Quentin Santos isn’t a kidnapper, but he is failing math. So, they strike a deal: If Aisha helps Quentin pass math, he’ll help push her out of her comfort zone, using a series of sticky note to-do’s—dares—that will not only give Aisha content for her essay but will turn her into the confident person she’s always wanted to be.From New Year’s Eve kisses to high school parties, Aisha’s sticky note manifesto is taking off. But when she falls for the wrong guy, hurts her best friend, and still can’t finish her essay, victory feels far from reach. Is winning worth it if you end up losing yourself in the process?
The Sticky Situation (Geronimo Stilton #75)
by Geronimo StiltonWhen you're with Geronimo Stilton, it's always a fabumouse adventure!The bees were buzzing on the Stilton family farm this summer! Trap and I were learning how to make out own honey to enter the Sweet Taste of Mouse Island contest. But the competition was fierce and someone was trying to ruin our harvest. Can we figure out who before the situation gets stickier?
The Stig: The Untold Story
by Simon du BeaumarcheWho is The Stig? Where did he come from? Why does he never speak?To answer these questions, award-winning biographer Simon du Beaumarche spent a year chasing The Stig and talking to those closest to him, including Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and leading figures from Formula 1, music, movies and the military.What he discovered is an explosive story of intrigue, influence and a sensational conspiracy that seeks to hide the truth about one of the 21st century’s greatest icons.Get behind the visor of the man, the myth, the driver, the legend, THE STIG.This book contains adult humour and some themes that may be unsuitable for children.
The Stingray Shuffle
by Tim DorseyWhen serial-killing local Florida historian Serge A. Storms is off his meds, no one is safe -- not Russian hoods, Jamaican mobsters, spoiled frat boys, women's book clubs, drug dealers, bad Vegas-rejected local lounge acts -- especially when $5 million in cash in a bugged suitcase is still racing up and down the Eastern Seaboard. But in the oddball circus known as the Sunshine State, little things like astronomical body counts tend to get lost in the shuffle.
The Stingray Shuffle
by Tim DorseyWhen serial-killing local Florida historian Serge A. Storms is off his meds, no one is safe -- not Russian hoods, Jamaican mobsters, spoiled frat boys, women's book clubs, drug dealers, bad Vegas-rejected local lounge acts -- especially when $5 million in cash in a bugged suitcase is still racing up and down the Eastern Seaboard. But in the oddball circus known as the Sunshine State, little things like astronomical body counts tend to get lost in the shuffle.
The Stinking: A Get Fuzzy Treasury (Get Fuzzy #18)
by Darby ConleyBe afraid, be very afraid. Bucky B. Katt continues his reign of terror over his Get Fuzzy roommates, Satchel the pooch and Rob the human, in The Stinking. In addition to rants about his anticow crusade, Bucky also berates global warming as global stinking. Always on the defense against a monkey invasion, Bucky is armed with his own self-made arsenal of creative weaponry.It&’s one strange and scary little household in the apartment that Rob, Bucky, and the lumpy canine Satchel share. Mild-mannered Rob can barely manage Bucky, who some might say is deranged, and Satchel, who usually ends up being the patsy. In this treasury, which includes all the cartoons from Masters of the Nonsenseverse and Survival of the Filthiest, Darby Conley once again morphs the human–pet relationship into one that humorously reminds us of our own weird human relationships.
The Stinky Cheese Vacation (Geronimo Stilton)
by Geronimo StiltonEach Geronimo Stilton book is fast-paced, with lively full-color art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love.I, Geronimo Stilton, was finishing up work one evening when I opened a letter from Uncle Stingysnout. He needed to see me immediately! I headed straight to Penny Pincher Castle for what I thought would be a nice visit . . . but my uncle put me straight to work. Moldy mozzarella, what a terrible vacation!
The Stinky Giant (Step into Reading)
by Ellen Weiss Mel FriedmanPepper and Jake love herding sheep in the little valley where they live. But there's a problem-- a big problem. Urk, a giant who lives on a nearby mountain, is big and stinky and doesn't care that dumping dirty laundry water in the nearby stream causes a flood down below every single week. So Pepper and Jake hike to Urk's mountaintop lair to confront him. But there's no reasoning with a giant, especially one who gives cryptic puzzles to solve. If the kids can solve it, Urk will move away. If not, Pepper and Jake (and their sheep) will be the featured ingredients in Urk's next bowl of smelly soup!
The Stinky Truth: The Stinky Truth (Lyttle Lies #2)
by Joe BergerSam Lyttle learns that sometimes the truth can hurt just as much as a lie in this follow-up to the humorous and cheeky illustrated middle grade novel The Pudding Problem which Kirkus Reviews calls perfect for “fans of Timmy Failure and Big Nate.” School’s out, and a long, hot summer of endless fun beckons for Sam and Charlie. Except that no sooner has it begun than they’re wishing it away in anticipation of Cry Wolfe, the first Wolfe Stone movie, which opens at the end of the season. Sam’s mom issues him a challenge: if, and only if, Sam can make it through the entire vacation without telling a single fib, he will be allowed to see his crime-fighting hero on the big screen. Six whole weeks, without a single lie?! No problem. Until the small matter of a tray of snowball cakes in the fridge with a Sam-sized footprint in them threatens to end Sam’s dreams of cinema heaven. Can he continue to steer clear of lying, while not having to reveal the actual reason he was in the fridge, in the dark, standing on a table to get to the top shelf to hide ‘the thing that shall never be named?’
The Stinky Wonky Donkey (A Wonky Donkey Book)
by Craig SmithFrom the internationally bestselling creators of The Wonky Donkey comes a brand-new hysterical rhyming tale about finding your best friends, with an explosive twist.Get ready to hee and haw as Wonky Donkey asks his daughter Dinky: "Which animal do you like best?" The hilarity is nonstop in this rhyming romp. Dinky's friends list includes reindeer, horses, camels, antelopes, and zebras. Wonky grins and tells her: "They all have hooves! You're hoof-hearted." Dinky discovers that Granny and Mommy are hoof-hearted, too. Then Wonky tells her to pull his hoof. And... POOF!Kids young and old will laugh out loud at Wonky's "who farted" joke. With tons of hees and haws, Craig Smith and Katz Cowley have created yet another sweet and laugh-out-loud story that is destined to be the next Wonky Donkey bestseller.
The Stolen Chapters: Story Thieves; The Stolen Chapters; Secret Origins; Pick The Plot; Worlds Apart (Story Thieves #2)
by James RileyOwen, Kiel, and Bethany confront secrets, stolen memories, and some very familiar faces in the second book in the New York Times bestselling series, Story Thieves—which was called a “fast-paced, action-packed tale” by School Library Journal—from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.Owen Conners&’s whole life changed the day he found out his classmate Bethany was half-fictional, and could take him into any book in the library. Which story would they jump into next? Another fantasy, like the Kiel Gnomenfoot, Magic Thief books? Maybe something with superheroes? Owen&’s up for anything except mysteries—those just have too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Then Owen wakes up in a real-life mystery with a memory that&’s been erased and too many questions. How did Kiel Gnomenfoot lose all of his magic? Where is Bethany? And who&’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger? Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that&’s slowly filling with water, and she can&’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What&’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel? Maybe some mysteries just shouldn&’t be solved… Please note: The black bars in the first nine chapters are intended.
The Stolen Lake (The Wolves Chronicles #4)
by Joan AikenIn this fantasy adventure, a young girl visits a land where birds carry off men, fish eat human flesh, and she must rescue a pilfered lake. Readers who have followed Dido Twite&’s escapades in Black Hearts in Battersea and Nightbirds on Nantucket will welcome her return in her wildest escapade yet. Now back in print, The Cuckoo Tree and The Stolen Lake continue the Wolves Chronicles, the exhilarating and imaginative series that stemmed from Joan Aiken&’s classic The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. A dazzling piece of dramatic, snowballing adventure, The Stolen Lake is full of fantastical details: revolving palaces, witches who are also court dressmakers, an apocalyptic volcanic eruption, and an infernal country with a noticeable lack of female children. On her way back to London aboard the British man-of-war Thrush, twelve-year-old Dido Twite finds herself and the crew summoned to the aid of the tyrannical queen of New Cumbria. A neighboring king has stolen the queen&’s lake and is holding it for ransom, and it&’s up to Dido and the crew to face fire, flood, execution, and wild beasts to get the lake back—or else.Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl &“Aiken lures us into historical fantasy . . . our interest never slows.&” —School Library Journal &“The adventure Miss Aiken has dished up . . . in The Stolen Lake is zanier and more devilishly fiendish than ever.&” —New York Times
The Stone Giant (The Balumnia Trilogy #3)
by James P. BlaylockThird in the Balumnia Trilogy from the author of The Elfin Ship and The Disappearing Dwarf, &“a singular American fabulist&” (William Gibson, author of Neuromancer). Jonathan Bing wasn&’t the first citizen of Twombly Town to have a run-in with Selznak the Dwarf. Meet the young Theophile Escargot, aggrieved former citizen of Twombly Town. Divorced, exiled, and humiliated—all for the crime of eating his own pie—he sets off down the Oriel River in search of a fetching barmaid, only to find himself traveling by submarine into fabled Balumnia, where is he is beset on all sides by an evil dwarf, a piratical elf, a stone giant, and an unlucky bag of marbles. With a little help, Escargot must rescue his true love, save the elves, and—most importantly—redeem his dignity. Revisit the world of The Elfin Ship and The Disappearing Dwarf, and discover where the adventures began. &“Blaylock crafted a story of engaging characters, cozy settings, and goofy adventures. Escargot is one of the most likable and ridiculous rogues in fantasy. His evolution from layabout and pie-thief to actual hero is terrific.&” —Black Gate Praise for the Balumnia Trilogy &“A magical world, magically presented . . . Having journeyed there, you will not wish to leave, nor ever to forget.&” —Philip K. Dick, Hugo Award–winning author of The Man in the High Castle
The Stoned Family Robinson
by J. D. Wyss J. P. LinderFor many days we had been tempest-tossed--and our stash was soaked. Six times had the darkness closed over a gnarly scene, and returning light as often brought a renewed jones while the storm raged on and after seven days all hope was lost of finding that magical island to grow our free-range weed unnoticed by narcs. Forget the classic you knew as a child; you've never seen the Robinsons have so much fun being shipwrecked--until now. In this "highlarious" update of the beloved family adventure, you can smoke up with the whole Robinson family while they are shipwrecked on an uncharted tropical island. From constructing a home made entirely of weed and sampling the millions of strains of pot they find on the island to trying to make a bong out of a coconut, this book will leave you jonesing for more!
The Stoned Family Robinson
by J. D. Wyss J. P. Linder"For many days we had been tempest-tossed - and our stash was soaked. Six times had the darkness closed over a gnarly scene, and returning light as often brought a renewed jones while the storm raged on and after seven days all hope was lost of finding that magical island to grow our free-range weed unnoticed by narcs."Forget the classic you knew as a child; you've never seen the Robinsons have so much fun being shipwrecked - until now. In this "highlarious" update of the beloved family adventure, you can smoke up with the whole Robinson family while they are shipwrecked on an uncharted tropical island.From constructing a home made entirely of weed and sampling the millions of strains of pot they find on the island to trying to make a bong out of a coconut, this book will leave you jonesing for more!
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Gabrielle ZevinThis internationally bestselling sensation is a 'funny, tender, and moving' (Library Journal, starred review) tale about community, books and second chances set in a world you won't want to leaveA.J. Fikry, the grumpy owner of Island Books, is going through a hard time: his bookshop is failing, he has lost his beloved wife, and his prized possession-a rare first edition book has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly.But one day A.J. finds two-year-old Maya sitting on the bookshop floor, with a note attached to her asking the owner to look after her. His life - and Maya's - is changed forever.Gabrielle Zevin's enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books--an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.Originally published as The Collected Works of A. J. Fikry.'Readers who delighted in Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Jessica Brockmole's Letters from Skye will be equally captivated by this adult novel by a popular YA author about a life of books, redemption, and second chances. Funny, tender, and moving' Library Journal, starred review'This novel has humor, romance, a touch of suspense, but most of all love--love of books and bookish people and, really, all of humanity in its imperfect glory' Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Gabrielle ZevinBY THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW 'Marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both' Washington Post A.J. Fikry, the grumpy owner of Island Books, is going through a hard time: his bookshop is failing, he has lost his beloved wife, and his prized possession - a rare first edition book has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly. But one day A.J. finds two-year-old Maya sitting on the bookshop floor, with a note attached to her asking the owner to look after her. His life - and Maya's - is changed forever. Gabrielle Zevin's enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books - an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love. Readers say: 'A lovely uplifting book' five star reader review 'Devoured in a day. So much heart and control. Love it' five star reader review 'the writing style and characters made this novel a firm five stars' five star reader review 'This book has become my absolute favourite and not just best of the year but ever. I had to make a new shelf for it on GoodReads. I was completely blown away by it' five star reader review
The Stories
by Jane GardamThroughout her career, prize-winning novelist Jane Gardam has been writing glorious short stories, each one hallmarked with all the originality, poignancy, wry comedy and narrative brilliance of her longer fiction. Passion and longing, metamorphosis and enchantment are Gardam's themes, and like a magician she plucks them from the quietest of corners: from Wimbledon gardens and cold churches, from London buses and industrial backstreets. A mother watching her children on the beach dreams of a long-lost lover, an abandoned army wife sees a ghost at a moorland gate, a translator adrift in Geneva is haunted by the unspeakable manifestation of her own fears, and a colonial servant wreaks a delicious revenge on her monstrous masters. Gardam's cast is wide and wonderful, saints and mystics, trollops and curmudgeons, yearning mothers and lost children, beloved figures such as Old Filth and less familiar - but equally unforgettable - characters like Signor Settimo, the sad-eyed provincial photographer marooned in Shipley or Florrie Ironside, the ferocious matron he seduces. With a mischievous ear for dialogue, a glittering eye for detail and a capacious understanding of the vagaries of the human heart, Jane Gardam's stories will captivate, sadden and delight.
The Stories
by Jane GardamThroughout her career, prize-winning novelist Jane Gardam has been writing glorious short stories, each one hallmarked with all the originality, poignancy, wry comedy and narrative brilliance of her longer fiction. Passion and longing, metamorphosis and enchantment are Gardam's themes, and like a magician she plucks them from the quietest of corners: from Wimbledon gardens and cold churches, from London buses and industrial backstreets. A mother watching her children on the beach dreams of a long-lost lover, an abandoned army wife sees a ghost at a moorland gate, a translator adrift in Geneva is haunted by the unspeakable manifestation of her own fears, and a colonial servant wreaks a delicious revenge on her monstrous masters. Gardam's cast is wide and wonderful, saints and mystics, trollops and curmudgeons, yearning mothers and lost children, beloved figures such as Old Filth and less familiar - but equally unforgettable - characters like Signor Settimo, the sad-eyed provincial photographer marooned in Shipley or Florrie Ironside, the ferocious matron he seduces. With a mischievous ear for dialogue, a glittering eye for detail and a capacious understanding of the vagaries of the human heart, Jane Gardam's stories will captivate, sadden and delight.