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Extracts

A Cornish Summer: ‘In a blaze of glory, the beauty of the Cornish countryside suddenly unfolded dramatically around us’

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Features

A tour of Alliott Country

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Wish You Were Here by Catherine Alliott

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About Last Night… by Catherine Alliott

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Dear Reader: Catherine Alliott

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The Penguin Q&A: Catherine Alliott

Catherine Alliott talks about My Husband Next Door

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Catherine Alliott on writing tips

The heartwarming and emotionally gripping novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

My Husband Next Door

Step into Alliott country with the fabulously funny and wonderfully heartwarming story from the bestselling author of A Cornish Summer and Behind Closed Doors 
 
'I raced through it, completely gripped from start to finish' DAILY MAIL 
 
'An entertaining read that's as light as the summer breeze' DAILY EXPRESS 
_______ 
 
A modern marriage, or a big mistake? 
 
Ella was nineteen and madly in love when she married dashing young artist Sebastian Montclair. But that was a long time ago. Now Ella and the kids live in a ramshackle farmhouse while Sebastian and his paintings inhabit the outhouse next door - a family separated in every way but distance. Is it a marvellously modern relationship - or a disaster waiting to happen? 
 
 When charming gardener Ludo arrives on the scene and Sebastian makes a sudden and surprising decision, Ella sees a chance at a fresh start. Yet with two teenagers and her parents on the verge of their own late-life crisis, will Ella be allowed to choose her own path? And how long can she hide from the truth which haunts her broken marriage? 
 
 _______ 
 
'A captivating and heartwarming tale' Closer

Charming, clever, well-written, laugh-out-loud funny with a great plot

Another huge treat from Catherine Alliott.  It's hilarious yet poignant, with wonderful characters, including all the animals!  I lapped up every page

Catherine Alliott is the author of seventeen bestselling novels including My Husband Next Door, A Rural Affair, One Day in May, The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton, and A Cornish Summer and Behind Closed Doors. She lives with her family in Hertfordshire.

When Ella married the handsome, celebrated artist Sebastian Montclair at just nineteen she was madly in love. Now, those blissful years of marriage have turned into the very definition of an unconventional set-up. Separated in every way but distance, Sebastian resides in an outhouse across the lawn from Ella's ramshackle farmhouse. 
 
Then out of the blue Sebastian decides he must move away, catching Ella horribly unawares. How much longer can she hide from what really destroyed her marriage . . . and the secret she continues to keep?

The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton

From the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and A Cornish Summer comes a funny and heart-warming look at what happens when your whole world is turned upside-down . . . 
 
'Like a breath of fresh air. Warm, funny and has a lovely storyline' 5***** Reader Review 
'Giggle out loud funny. Well written and very entertaining' 5***** Reader Review 
'Funny and unpredictable. Like listening to a friend tell a good story' 5***** Reader Review 
___________ 
 
Evie Hamilton's biggest worry in life is whether or not she can fit in a manicure on her way to fetch her daughter from clarinet lessons. 
 
Little does she know that her charmed and happy life is about to be turned upside-down . . . 
 
For one sunny morning a letter lands on Evie's immaculate doormat. It's a bombshell, knocking her carefully arranged and managed world completely askew as it threatens to sabotage all she holds dear. 
 
What will be left and what will change forever? 
 
Is Evie strong enough to fight for what she loves? 
 
And can her entire world really be as fragile as her best china? . . . 
___________ 
 
Praise for Catherine Alliott: 
 
'Classy, wonderfully gossipy and breathless' Red 
 
'We defy you not to get caught up in Alliott's life-changing tale' Heat 
 
'Alliott at her best' Daily Telegraph

Praise for Catherine Alliott

Chick-lit at its finest . . . a real winner

An addictive cocktail of wit, frivolity and madcap romance

Classy, wonderfully gossipy and breathless

We defy you not to get caught up in Alliott's life-changing tale

Evie Hamilton has a secret . . . one she doesn't even know about. Yet . . . 
 
Evie's an Oxfordshire wife and mum whose biggest worry in life is whether or not she can fit in a manicure on her way to fetch her daughter from clarinet lessons. But she's blissfully unaware that her charmed and happy life is about to be turned upside-down. 
For one sunny morning a letter lands on Evie's immaculate doormat. It's a bombshell, knocking her carefully arranged and managed world completely askew and it threatening to sabotage all she holds dear. 
What will be left and what will change forever? Is Evie strong enough to fight for what she loves? Can her entire world really be as fragile as her best china?

The emotionally gripping new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

Behind Closed Doors

Get ready to escape with the page-turning new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Cornish Summer 
 
'Leaves you with a smile on your face and hope in your heart' MILLY JOHNSON 
 
'A fantastic, compelling story . . . The feelings on the page are tangible' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'Packed with fantastic characters, uncomfortable truths, and flashes of pure comedy. Who could ask for more?' JILL MANSELL 
________ 
 
From the outside, anyone would think that Lucy Palmer has it all: loving children, a dashing husband and a gorgeous home. 
 
But when her marriage to Michael comes to an abrupt and unexpected end, her life is turned upside down in a flash. 
 
As the truth of her marriage threatens to surface, Lucy seizes the opportunity to swap her house in London - and the stories it hides - for a rural escape to her parents' farmhouse in the Chilterns. 
 
But Lucy gets more than she bargained for when she moves back to her childhood home, especially when it throws her into the path of an old flame. 
 
Coming face-to-face with her mistakes, Lucy is forced to confront the secrets she's been keeping from herself and those she loves. 
 
Is she ready to let someone in? Or will she leave the door to her past firmly closed . . . 
________ 
 
'Emotional and engaging, I was completely absorbed' Sarah Morgan 
 
'Compelling' Heidi Swain 
 
'I enjoyed every minute and couldn't put it down' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'Emotional and affecting, this is an absorbing read' Sun 
 
'Catherine Alliott is back with another warm, escapist read . . . wonderfully written' Woman's Weekly 
 
'Engrossing . . . sparkles with wit' Best 
 
Praise for Catherine Alliott: 
 
'A huge treat. Hilarious yet poignant' Sophie Kinsella 
 
'Warm, witty and wise' Daily Mail 
 
'Her writing is both intelligent and sparkling' Marian Keyes 
 
'Hilarious and full of surprises' Daily Telegraph

One of those fabulous books that leaves you with a smile on your face and hope in your heart

Yet another great read, packed with fantastic characters, uncomfortable truths, and flashes of pure comedy. Who could ask for more?

Emotional and engaging, I was completely absorbed

This engrossing story sparkles with wit

Catherine Alliott is back with another warm, escapist read. Big subjects are dealt with sensitively in this wonderfully written novel

Uplifting . . . Filled with colourful characters, this humorous story about families, ageing and moving on

Emotional and affecting, this is an absorbing read

A wry look at life in the wealthy environs of the Oxfordshire countryside . . . page-turning

A huge treat. Hilarious yet poignant

Her writing is both intelligent and sparkling

Catherine Alliott is the author of fifteen bestselling novels including My Husband Next Door, A Rural Affair, One Day in May, The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton, Wish You Were Here and A Cornish Summer. She lives with her family in Hertfordshire.

From the outside, anyone would think that Lucy Palmer has it all. 
But when her marriage comes to an unexpected end, everything turns upside down in a flash. 
As the truth of her marriage threatens to surface, Lucy seizes the opportunity to retreat to her parents' farmhouse. 
But Lucy gets more than she bargained for when she moves home - especially when she crosses paths with an old flame. 
Revisiting her mistakes forces Lucy to confront the secrets she's been keeping from herself and those she loves. 
Is she able to leave the door to her past firmly closed?

Wish You Were Here

Sink into the hilarious feel-good story of a family holiday gone wrong from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Cornish Summer 
 
'Wonderful story that made me laugh but also cry... great escapism' 5***** Reader Review 
 
When Flora, James and their two teenage daughters are offered a free holiday in a beautiful chateau in the South of France in return for an act of kindness, they obviously jump at the chance. 
 
A break from hectic London - what could be better? 
 
But Flora wasn't expecting a whole heap of family baggage coming along too - including some surprise guests. 
 
And especially not James developing a crush on their famous host. 
 
Perhaps this won't be the dream holiday she had in mind . . . 
 
If you like Jill Mansell, Cathy Kelly and Fern Britton you'll love this. 
_________ 
 
'Catherine Alliott at her best' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'A breezy, comic, summery romp' Sunday Mirror 
 
'Warm, witty, easy to read . . . a thoroughly engaging, entertaining read' Daily Mail 
 
'Hilarious and full of surprises' The Times 
 
'I fell in love with the characters' 5***** Reader Review

'Warm, witty, easy to read . . . a thoroughly engaging, entertaining read' Daily Mail

When Flora, James and their two teenage daughters are offered the holiday of a lifetime in a chateau in the south of France in return for one simple good deed, they jump at the chance. They exchange the confines of Clapham, the weight of the mortgage and anxieties over their future for a blissful break. 
 
But Flora didn't anticipate a mysterious guest and a whole heap of family baggage coming too. 
 
With James developing a schoolboy crush on a famous singer and Flora distracted by ghosts from her past, their dream holiday suddenly takes some very unexpected turns.

The perfect feel-good summer read about family, love and secrets

A Cornish Summer

ESCAPE TO THE CORNISH COAST IN THIS DELIGHTFULLY HEARTWARMING SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER 
 
'THE PERFECT SUMMER READ' Sophie Kinsella 
__________ 
 
Flora's been in love with her husband for twenty years. The trouble is, he's been married to someone else for the past fifteen . . . 
 
Now she's been invited to spend the summer in the sandy coves of Cornwall, which should be blissful. 
 
But there's one small snag: she'll be staying with her former mother-in-law, Belinda. 
 
And then her ex-husband shows up out of the blue, complete with his new wife . . . 
 
Can Flora spend the summer playing happy families with the woman who stole her husband's heart, and the mother-in-law who might have had a hand in it? 
 
Could a holiday romance help her finally get over her him? 
 
And will stumbling on the family secret change her mind about them all? 
 
If you like Fern Britton, Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell, you'll love this irresistible and heart-warming summer read from the bestselling author of Wish You Were Here and About Last Night. 
___________ 
 
'Oh how I enjoyed this! Yet another fabulous book, packed with glamour, delicious characters and myriad family complications!' Jill Mansell 
 
'I LOVE it. Catherine's writing is so warm, funny and heartfelt and no matter what's going on in your own world, you can curl up in Catherine's and feel her warmth like summer sun' Cathy Kelly 
 
'I've loved Catherine Alliott books since the first one. They're always a delight and this one's no exception' Carole Matthews 
 
'A wonderful story of family and love, secrets and sunshine' Milly Johnson 
 
'Another blissful read from Catherine Alliott' Hello! 
 
Praise for Catherine Alliott: 
 
'Warm, witty and wise' Daily Mail 
 
'Intelligent and sparkling' Marian Keyes 
 
'Hilarious yet poignant' Sophie Kinsella

Simply a delight: funny, intelligent and at times heart wrenching. It's full of such witty, entertaining characters, and best of all, it transported me away from real life into a Cornish holiday that I didn't want to leave. It's the perfect summer read

Oh how I enjoyed this! No one writes about Cornwall like Catherine. Yet another fabulous book, packed with glamour, delicious characters and myriad family complications!

I LOVE it. Catherine's writing is so warm, funny and heartfelt and no matter what's going on in your own world, you can curl up in Catherine's and feel her warmth like summer sun

I've loved Catherine Alliott books since he first one. They're always a delight and this one's no exception

A wonderful story of family and love, secrets and sunshine. Catherine Alliott is on top form with this

A magical mix of wit, warmth and poignancy

Trisha Ashley, bestselling author of The House of Hopes and Dreams

Alliott is always an absolute joy to read

Another blissful read from Catherine Alliott

It's full of Cornish colour and a plot that seems plausible from your deckchair

Flora's been in love with her husband for twenty years. 
The trouble is, he's been married to someone else for the past fifteen. 
 
Now she's been invited to spend the summer in the shady lanes and sandy coves of Cornwall. It should be blissful. 
There's just one small snag: she'll be staying with her former mother-in-law, Belinda. 
And Flora discovers she's not the only one invited when her ex-husband shows up out of the blue, complete with his new wife. So now there are two small snags. 
Can Flora spend the summer playing happy families with the woman who stole her husband's heart, and the mother-in-law who might have had a hand in it? 
Or will stumbling on the family secret change her mind about them all?

About Last Night . . .

Lose yourself in the immensely funny and heartwarming No. 1 bestseller from the author of A Cornish Summer 
 
Molly gets a second chance in life - but will she have the courage to take it? 
 
Molly has traded London for a dream home in the country - except it was her husband's dream, not hers. And David is, well, rather dead now. 
 
So when a distant relative leaves her a London townhouse, Molly is ready to quit 'The Good Life' and return to her good life. 
 
But there's a rather tall, handsome problem - a man who's already living in Molly's new house. And when a face from her past reappears, she's no longer quite sure where she belongs. 
 
Do any of the men in Molly's life have honourable intentions? 
 
Is she ready to ditch muddy wellies for high heels? 
 
Or is she saying goodbye to the delights of country life too soon? 
 
Readers love Catherine Alliott's books: 
 
'Like going on holiday and travelling by book!' ***** 
 
'Side-splittingly funny' ***** 
 
'A big slice of sunny escapism' ***** 
 
'Alliott always manages to write serious subjects with cracking humour' ***** 
 
'The mistress of this genre' *****

The immensely funny and heartwarming number one bestseller tells the story of a woman who gets a second chance in life - but will she have the courage to take it?

Praise for About Last Night. . .

An easy, entertaining and enjoyable read, About Last Night raises some modern moral dilemmas . . . and a little lust too!

Just as enjoyable as previous novels. A wonderfully easy read

Molly is living the country dream in rural Herefordshire. Except it's not her dream - it's her dead husband David's dream, and it's beginning to feel more like a nightmare. Between running a mail-order lingerie business and repackaging soaps from Newcastle as Savon de Provence, Molly is barely making ends meet. 
 
When Molly unexpectedly inherits a beautiful house in London, it seems like all her problems are solved. With one catch: the house is already occupied. 
 
Molly is determined to turf the tenant out - but she is immediately wrong-footed by Felix, his handsome son. Add in a face from her past and Molly's life suddenly becomes a whole lot messier . . .

Catherine Alliott

The heartwarming new novel and perfect summer escape from the Sunday Times bestselling author

The brand-new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Cornish Summer. Perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Trisha Ashley and Milly Johnson.

Catherine Alliott

The Pink House

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Summary

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