Virgin: one little six letter word that holds such incredible power. The power to pressure, to judge, to harm, to praise, to profit, to punish. But virginity is also just a concept, a label that has been pressed upon people for centuries in numerous cultures worldwide.

In this highly anticipated collection of poetry, Hollie McNish unpicks the role this word has played in her own life, as well as others, with her trademark mix of humour, fury and compassion. Whether considering if Mary was a fan of her own nick-name, to rejoicing her annual excitement in ice cream vans, to looking back on how ridiculously she ate creamy mashed potato with her family after apparently ‘losing’ her own virginity, she examines in her own inimitable way the tracks this concept makes throughout so many minds, and the possibilities of freedom.

At times hilarious, at times harrowing, always hopeful – a poetic love letter against the more nefarious effects of purity culture packed with stacks of honeycomb, hand holds and early morning light.

At forty-three, Christina Lennox thought her future was settled: marriage to Ed, children, a house of their own.

But this is not that future: her marriage has ended, fractured by the stress of five rounds of IVF and two miscarriages. Overwhelmed by grief and disappointment, Ed has relocated to San Francisco and Christina’s dream of becoming a mother rests on persuading him to let her go ahead with one final round of IVF, using the last frozen embryo they have stored at the clinic.

But when Ed drops a bombshell that threatens to undo everything Christina has strived for, she is forced, once again, to realign her plans: is this the end of her dream, or an opportunity to consider a different – perhaps happier – version of her future?

Montgomery, Alabama. 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend has big plans to make a difference in her community. She wants to help women make their own choices for their lives and bodies.

But when her first week on the job takes her down a dusty country road to a tumbledown cabin and into the heart of the Williams family, Civil learns there is more to her new role than she bargained for. Neither of the two young sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling their welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have them on birth control. When Civil discovers a terrible injustice, she must choose between carrying out instructions or following her heart and decides to risk everything to stand up for what is right.

Inspired by true events and a shocking chapter of recent history, Take My Hand is a novel that will open your eyes and break your heart. An unforgettable story about love and courage, it is also a timely and uplifting reminder that one person can change the world.

‘It was up to her now; everything was up to her;
she needed only to make a choice and step towards it,
out from the shadows and into the light.’

At forty-three, Christina Lennox thought her future was settled: marriage to Ed, children, a house of their own.

But this is not that future: her marriage has ended, fractured by the stress of five rounds of IVF and two miscarriages. Overwhelmed by grief and disappointment, Ed has relocated to San Francisco and Christina’s dream of becoming a mother rests on persuading him to let her go ahead with one final round of IVF, using the last frozen embryo they have stored at the clinic.

But when Ed drops a bombshell that threatens to undo everything Christina has strived for, she is forced, once again, to realign her plans.

Is this the end of her dream, or an opportunity to consider a different – perhaps happier – version of her future?

‘One of the maddest memoirs you’ll read this year… a beautiful, warm, funny book.’ –The Times

‘Extraordinary’ -The Guardian

‘A remarkable and wise book, two memoirs braided together with such tendresse that readers will come to believe the ironic title in earnest’ –LA TIMES

‘Riveting and hilariously funny’ – The Times

For most of her life, Chrysta Bilton was one member of a small, if dysfunctional, family of four. There was her sister, Kaitlyn, her hedonistic, glamorous, gay mum Debra, and Jeffrey, who Debra hand-picked, in an LA hairdressers, to be the father of her children. During Chrysta’s unstable childhood, Debra struggled to keep the family afloat and Jeffrey wandered in and out of their lives.

Then, in her twenties, Chrysta discovered that her father had secretly donated his sperm over 500 times – and that she had at least 35 other siblings.

A Normal Family is a captivating coming-of-age memoir about Chrysta’s reckoning with the secrets both parents had carefully kept from her. Heartfelt, warm and funny, it’s a story of embracing the family we have, in all the forms we find it.

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HISTORY REPEATS WHAT WE DON’T REMEMBER . . .

Montgomery, Alabama. 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend has big plans to make a difference in her community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she intends to help women make their own choices for their lives and bodies.

But when her first week on the job takes her down a dusty country road to a tumbledown cabin, she’s surprised to find that her new patients are just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling their welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her new responsibilities, she takes India and Erica into her heart and comes to care for their family as though they were her own. But one day she arrives at their door to discover the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same.

Inspired by true events and a shocking chapter of American history, Take My Hand is a novel that will open your eyes and break your heart. An unforgettable story about love and courage, sisterhood and solidarity, it is also a timely and hopeful reminder that it only takes one person to change the world.

—————-

Readers have been captivated by TAKE MY HAND too:

***** ‘Incredibly powerful, moving and heartbreaking’
***** ‘Realistic historical fiction at its best’
***** ‘Fans of The Colour Purple, The Help, Where Crawdads Sing and To Kill A Mockingbird will love this’
***** ‘Stunning, shocking, absolutely fantastic novel . . . I could not put this down!’
***** ‘Definitely a must-read. So, so moving. Can’t recommend highly enough’

When Miranda Ward and her husband decided to have a baby, they were young and optimistic. But five years, three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy later, she is still dealing with the ongoing aftermath of that decision, and the shadow it’s cast over her relationship to her partner, her body and her future. In this searing, lyrical and radically honest memoir, Ward charts her journey through the uncertain landscape of almost-motherhood, asking questions of geography on the most intimate scale. How can we learn to be at home in our own bodies, even when we feel adrift from them? What language do we have for the spaces in between, the periods of wanting and waiting? And how do we maintain hope as we navigate towards an unknown future?

Find the right combination of resources for you – to stay physically, mentally, and spiritually well throughout the menopause.

Your journey is unique. This insightful book will help you find the right combination of resources that work for you. It includes:

– Specialist expert writers for each section of the book – HRT, Natural Remedies, Exercise, Nutrition and Mental Wellness
– Practical strategies on how to manage menopause naturally and make it a more positive, empowering experience
– Symptom Finder in the introductory pages to help direct you to the correct section in the book

Coping with menopause can be tough, draining and sometimes utterly debilitating for women. For years it has been seen as an illness that needed to be cured. Natural Menopause takes a different approach. Throughout the pages of this calm, authoritative, beautiful reference book, you’ll be able to learn about the natural process of menopause.

Explore an extensive collection of natural menopause remedies and complements to hormone replacement therapy. Adopt yoga poses to reduce stress and help you sleep. Use essential oils to manage mood swings and soothe headaches. Discover detoxifying foods that aid weight management and regulate hormones. Find the best exercises to boost your mood and energy levels. Finally, use CBT and mindfulness to relieve anxiety and calm hot flushes.

Embrace the Change

Filled with a wealth of invaluable information, this book will help you stay physically, mentally, and spiritually well throughout your menopause journey. It’s perfect for women over 40 who are already invested in natural wellness and want to apply the same principles to their menopause.

The secrets of ageing well … a serious, evidence-based guide to what really works and why’ Sunday Times
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We have long been encouraged to think of old age as synonymous with a decline in skills. Yet recent studies show that our decision making improves as we age, and our happiness levels peak in our eighties. What really happens to our brains as we get older?

In The Changing Mind, neuroscientist, psychologist and internationally bestselling author Daniel Levitin invites us to dramatically shift our understanding of aging, demonstrating its many cognitive benefits. He draws on cutting-edge research to offer realistic guidelines and practical cognition-enhancing tricks for everyone to follow during every decade of their life, and show us what we all can learn from those who age joyously.