Recommendations based on "The Fifth Letter"

Named a Best Book of 2023 by NPR"This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible...Clover’s emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer’s take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional." ––The New York Times Book ReviewWhat’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story––and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine as it turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.

From the author of the phenomenal bestseller The Keeper of Stories, comes the next uplifting story of how the most unexpected friendships are forged in the most unlikely of places . . .Jo Sorsby knows she is hiding from her past when she steps in to look after her uncle’s stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble notes with fountain pens and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from the life she has left behind.Yet far from home, Jo feels adrift . . .When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian struggling to write his first book, she realises that she isn’t alone.It’s the beginning of a friendship that can transform Jo’s life . . . if only she can let them in.

Now a CW Original Series!The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Virgin River series explores the healing powers of Colorado as one woman seeks the happiness she’s long been missing.Maggie Sullivan knows she needs to slow down and the best place to do that is Sullivan’s Crossing. The campground and charming general store at the crossroads of the Colorado and the Continental Divide Trails belong to Maggie’s eccentric father, Sully, and she longs to indulge in his simple way of life.But when Maggie must take responsibility for the Crossing, a quiet and serious hiker, Cal Jones, offers to lend a hand. Maggie is suspicious—until she discovers the true reason for his deliberate isolation.Though Cal and Maggie each struggle with loss and loneliness, the time they spend together gives them hope for something brighter on the horizon…if only they can learn to find peace and healing—and perhaps love—with each other.Don't miss Robyn Carr's next uplifting novel, The Friendship Club, wherefour women come together at a tumultuous time in their lives, forging an unbreakable bond that will leave them all forever changed—available January 2024!Sullivan Crossing Series:What We Find Any Day Now The Family Gathering The Best of Us The Country Guesthouse

Another page-turning story of tragedy and triumph from the No.1 bestselling author of The Loner and The Journey. In the sleepy Lancashire village of Salmesbury, childhood sweethearts Emily and John are secretly planning a life together when they are cruelly forced apart. Already abandoned by her father, and unhappy at home, Emily is heartbroken when John leaves the village. Her life takes a devastating turn for the worse when she gives birth to a child. She dare not reveal the identity of the child's father or there will be a terrible price to pay. Many miles away, John is trying to forget Emily and forge a new life. Having carried her in his heart for years, a chance encounter leads him to believe she has forgotten him. Emily has never been able to banish thoughts of John. But when it looks as though history is about to repeat itself, Emily must put the past – and John – behind her and safeguard her daughter. But can she forget him?

Nikki finally owns the little coastguard cottage of her dreams - and it's a few steps away from the hidden beach that means so much to her. But when a handwritten note lands on her doorstep, she realises it's only a matter of time before the heartbreaking truth of her past is uncovered. Twenty years ago, her whole world was turned upside-down when a terrible storm rolled into the small seaside town of Speedwell. Ever since that night, Nikki has been keeping a secret. One she knows has the potential to destroy the lives of those she loves most. Because as sure as the tide turns, there are no secrets in a small town...

More Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up: the laugh-out-loud sequel to the hilarious, WTF AM I DOING NOW?! runaway bestseller!'The new Bridget Jones for our times' – Celia Walden, TelegraphReaders love More Confessions of a Forty-something F##k Up:'Full of humour, optimism, love, loss, friendship, reality and a little magic. Really lifted my spirits''So relatable''Laugh out loud moments with such thoughtful insights into real life''Loved this book''Obsessed''Inspiring, funny, emotional - I could not put it down'There is no magical land you finally arrive at where everything is figured out, fixed and sorted. Life, like us, is a sum of moving parts, and if we’re lucky, we get to keep f**king up, figuring it out and laughing in the face of it all.Nell’s back. Her life still isn’t going to plan. And she’s still asking the big questions and getting none of the answers. Like, for example:1. Why is falling in love so easy, but staying in love so hard?2. What do you do when your friendships are put to the ultimate test?3. Can we ever really live in the moment and leave the past behind?4. When everything goes tits up, do you fall apart or jump on a plane to LA with Cricket (an eighty-something widow and your BFF)?5. And when all else fails, will celebrity-scented candles, smashed avocados and Instagram filters save us?*In this hilarious, un-put-downable follow-up to the bestselling Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, now the basis for the major TV series called Not Dead Yet, there are laugh-out-loud lessons to be learned, truths to be told, adventures to go on and joys to discover.But first, Nell has some more confessions . . .*#onlyjoking #sortof #LOLPraise for Alexandra Potter:'The story of Nell Stevens’ struggle through her imperfect, messy life doesn’t just make brilliant fiction, it’s turning into a cultural revolution!' – Matt Cain'Say hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're 20, 40 or 80' – Heat'Brilliant! Laughing out loud' – Emma Gannon'Funny but layered, light-hearted but surprisingly deep, this is a perfect and inspiring new year read' – Red

"When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Pierce comes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full of twists, and the end brings a surprising revelation. Strongly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who enjoys a very well-written thriller." --Books and Movie Reviews (re Almost Gone) A FATALITY IN SPAIN is book #4 in a charming new cozy mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone has received 1,500 five-star reviews. The series (A YEAR IN EUROPE) begins with book #1 (A MURDER IN PARIS). Diana Hope, 55, is still adjusting to her recent separation when she discovers her ex-husband has just proposed to a woman 30 years younger. Secretly hoping they would reunite, Diana is devastated. She realizes the time has come to reimagine life without him-in fact, to reimagine her life, period. Devoting the last 30 years of her life to being a dutiful wife and mother and to climbing the corporate ladder, Diana has been relentlessly driven, and has not taken a moment to do anything for herself. Now, the time has come. Diana never forgot her first boyfriend, who begged her to join him for a year in Europe after college. She had wanted to go so badly, but it had seemed like a wild, romantic idea, and a gap year, she'd thought, would hinder her resume and career. But now, with her daughters grown, her husband gone, and her career no longer fulfilling, Diana realizes it's time for herself-and to take that romantic year in Europe she'd always dreamed of. Diana prepares to embark on the year of her life, finally turning to her bucket list, hoping to tour the most beautiful sights and sample the most scrumptious cuisines-and maybe, even, to fall in love again. But a year in Europe may have different plans in store for her. Can A-type Diana learn to go with the flow, to be spontaneous, to let down her guard and to learn to truly enjoy life again? In A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4), Diana decides to let go and take a chance at love, meeting up with her newfound friend in Barcelona, and trying to muster the courage to fulfill her lifelong dream of running with the bulls in Pamplona. Between the great food, the sunny streets, and her new love, life seems alive again-until a murder turns her world upside down. Can Diana save the case and herself-along with her summer? A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. As Diana embarks on her quixotic quest for love and meaning, you will find yourself falling in love and rooting for her. You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun have finally found the cozy mystery series they've been hoping for! SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5), AN IMPOSTER IN DUBLIN (Book #6), SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7), JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8), and A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9) are now also available!

"Karma Brown's work is as smart as it is effortless to read." --Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Reese's Book Club Pick Daisy Jones & The Six From #1 internationally bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife comes an unforgettable story that explores the intricate dynamics of friendship and parenthood Best friends Hannah and Kate have been inseparable almost all of their lives. While they're close as sisters, Hannah can't help but feel envious of the little family Kate and her husband, David, have created--complete with two perfect little girls. She and Ben have been trying for years to have a baby, so when they receive the news that she will likely never get pregnant, Hannah's heartbreak is overwhelming. They begin to tentatively explore the other options, and Kate offers to be Hannah's surrogate. But as these two families embark on an incredible journey toward parenthood, a devastating tragedy puts everything at risk of falling apart. Poignant, twisty and refreshingly honest, The Choices We Make is a powerful tale of an incredible friendship and the risks we take to make our dreams come true.

'An irresistible, feel-good story infused with infectious humour' - Miranda DickinsonThe sun is shining in the quiet little seaside town of SandybridgeSandybridge is the perfect English seaside town: home to gift shops, tea rooms and a fabulous fish and chip shop. And it's home to Grace - although right now, she's not too happy about it. Grace grew up in Sandybridge, helping her parents sort junk from vintage treasures, but she always longed to escape to a bigger world. And she made it, travelling the world for her job, falling in love and starting a family. So why is she back in the tiny seaside town she'd long left behind, hanging out with Charlie, the boy who became her best friend when they were teenagers? It turns out that travelling the world may not have been exactly what Grace needed to do. Perhaps everything she wanted has always been at home - after all, they do say that's where the heart is...

A new adventure is on the menu . . . Juliet has learnt that life is too short not to chase your dreams. But when she buys an old watermill in France, her tranquil new start is quickly kneaded into something far more ambitious when the local mayor offers her a deal she can’t refuse: reopen the village’s derelict boulangerie. With a formidable rival – the owner of the local bread vending machine – determined to crush her, Juliet faces disgruntled villagers, her own lack of baking skills, and hidden secrets within the mill itself. But with help from her outspoken neighbour and the charming Tabac owner, Juliet battles to bring back the aroma of freshly baked bread – and with it, the heart of the community. Can she prove that even the biggest dreams start with just a little pinch of courage? ______ Praise for Jo Thomas ‘Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book’ Veronica Henry ‘Joyful and life-affirming’ Milly Johnson ‘Filled with fun and summer sunshine in the south of France!’ Jill Mansell ‘A delicious escape to the sun’ Phillipa Ashley