Author:Alison Sherlock
Violet Saunders is astounded when her boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes. But at size 18-20, the thought of finding a wedding dress fills her with horror. What she needs is a miracle wedding day diet.
So when a leaflet advertising a new diet club - New You! - that drops through her letterbox, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But the club is run by the terrifying Trudie, who secretly despises her fat clients, while pretending to encourage them. Things go from bad to worse; everyone just gets fatter on the horrible New You! drink shakes. At work, Violet's half-Italian boss - a man with a lively sense of humour - looks on in amazement and finally persuades her to take a break from New You! and lunch with him at his family's delicatessen.
Inspired, she persuades her fellow dieters to form a new club, with secret weigh-ins at her house - while pretending to Trudie, of whom they are all petrified, that it is the New You! diet which is transforming them.
Fabulous Italian recipes gradually begin to work their magic, but can Violet the duckling really become Violet the swan in time for her wedding?
This is the chick-littiest cover we've seen in yonks! The concept is pure chick lit too. We cannot wait for this one
—— NoveliciousLooks set to be a fantastic read
—— Trashionista.coma lovely debut novel from Alison Sherlock, and it certainly makes me want to look out for more of her books in the future... I'd recommend giving The Desperate Bride's Diet Club a read - it's a lovely and well written novel… it is an enjoyable read, and so recommended by me
—— chicklitchloeI laughed and cringed reading this story and found it a very relaxing read. Chick lit at its best
—— No1 MagazinePrepare to be transported by Joanne Harris as she revisits the characters and setting of her first bestseller, Chocolat...Deftly tackling the subject of religious intolerance, this bewitching novel stirs the senses
—— Good Housekeeping (Book of the Month)A wide-ranging, powerful and very readable novel. I loved it
—— RedLike Chocolat, this book is a feast for the senses. Every page of the book is steeped in scents, colours and tastes, without ever tipping into the pretentious or showy. The writing is seductive and engaging throughout; and the magic, too, is intrinsic without ever being soppy or embarrassing. What is magic (or religion), after all, if not an ability to understand the human heart? Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is a wonderful return to form for Harris
—— Literary ReviewFasting and feasting, magic and mysticism are once again at the heart of this author's storytelling sorcery
—— The LadyAbsorbing and atmospheric...Joanne bravely tackles religious differences head-on but very sensitively. It's expressive, rich, vibrant and even shocking in parts
—— Heat MagazineExotic, thought-provoking and wonderfully told
—— Woman & HomeAn enchanting read, ripe for summer picking
—— France MagazineWhat Joanne Harris has done with this brilliant novel is to define in microcosm the religious problems that concern the world - terrorism, race riots, honour killings, the sexual grooming of teenagers - and bring them to life in a community where everyone knows each other...she provides an indictment of prejudice that is exceptionally powerful.
—— Country LifeA literary sensation.
—— IndependentA word of mouth blockbuster.
—— Daily MailIt’s the book everyone’s talking about.
—— HeatThe book that made women want to have sex again.
—— Mail on SundayThe fastest selling book of the year.
—— GuardianThe world’s bestselling paperback.
—— SunOne of the year’s most talked about books.
—— Mail OnlineLike a lighthouse, [The Light Between Oceans] shines a light in dark places, and its emotional resonance will stay with you for days
—— Irish ExaminerA thought-provoking debut novel . . . this beautifully delineated tale of love and loss, right and wrong, and what we will do for the happiness of those most dear to us, is moving without being maudlin
—— Boston GlobeAn extraordinary and heart-rending book about good people, tragic decisions, and the beauty found in each of them
—— Markus Zusak, author of THE BOOK THIEFMesmerising...the sheer passion and poetry of Stedman's prose carries us on a wave of emotion and heartbreak.
—— Women's WeeklyThe Light Between Oceans unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Into the spaces between words, Stedman breathes an anxiety and pulsating intensity that roils with the ocean and the lighthouse beacon.
—— Sydney Morning HeraldPick of the month: The memorable and moving tale of one couple’s search for happiness
—— Woman and HomeA description of the extraordinary, sustaining power of a marriage to bind two people together in love, through the most emotionally harrowing circumstances.
—— Daily MailThe characters are beautifully drawn...A completely unique read. ****
—— Heat MagazineBook of the Week. Critics are buzzing about The Light Between Oceans, the gripping debut from M L Stedman.
—— Grazia Magazine