Beth O'Leary studied English at university before going into children's publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being in reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
She is now writing novels full time, and if she's not at her desk, you'll usually find her curled up somewhere with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
Better Left Unsent (2024) Lia Louis "I am such a huge Lia Louis fan. BETTER LEFT UNSENT is an absolutely gorgeous, laugh-out-loud, heartwarming tale of a life fully lived, with one of the smartest rom-com concepts I've ever come across. Such a joyous read."
The Other Side of Disappearing (2024) Kate Clayborn "Totally original and so romantic, The Other Side of Disappearing gave me the moving love story I'm always looking for."
Seven Summers (2023) Paige Toon "A truly beautiful love story, heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal measure."
The Burnout (2023) Sophie Kinsella "I'll drop anything for a new Sophie Kinsella. The Burnout is hilarious, sparky and joyful - just the book you need if you're desperate for a break. I loved seeing Sasha coming back to herself on the windswept beach at Rilston!"
Reasonable People (2023) Caroline Hulse "I love Caroline Hulse's books. She has an amazing ability to take unlikeable characters and make me fall unexpectedly in love with them. Reasonable People is warm, thoughtful, clever - the sort of book you'll think about long after you've finished."
Just Another Missing Person (2023) Gillian McAllister "Another masterpiece from the queen of the emotional thriller. This book has one of the best twists I've ever come across. It's a super-smart detective story, a gripping missing-person thriller and a powerful mother-daughter drama, all rolled into one beautiful novel."
Seven Exes (2023) Lucy Vine "Seven Exes made me laugh out loud. It's fresh, fast-paced and joyous. Lucy Vine's writing is so warm and funny - her books are the literary equivalent of an amazing girls' night out."
The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything (2023) Kara Gnodde "The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is such a special novel. Tender, unique and uplifting, it explores sibling love, romantic love and the love between friends. Such an accomplished debut."
Maame (2023) Jessica George "I loved every page of this beautiful, heartwarming, empowering book. An exceptional debut from an incredibly exciting new talent."
Just Another Love Song (2022) Kerry Winfrey "ust Another Love Song is such a warm, funny, cosy read. It's as sweet and nostalgic as a great country song."
Honey & Spice (2022) Bolu Babalola "Honey and Spice is gorgeously written and heart-meltingly romantic. Kiki and Malakai have a rare, extraordinary, sizzling chemistry which has you rooting for their love story from the very first moment they cross paths. A triumph of a novel."
Nora Goes Off Script (2022) Annabel Monaghan "I loved this book with my whole heart. It's smart, fresh and romantic, full of humour and warmth. I didn't want to put it down."
Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic (2022) Lauren Ho "Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic kept me gripped from the very first page. It's full of humour and heart -- I couldn't wait to see how Lucie's journey played out."
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? (2022) Lizzie Damilola Blackburn "Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? was a total joy to read--it's hilarious, insightful, and so uplifting. Yinka is the most lovable character I've come across in a long time--I was cheering her on for every step of her journey."
On a Night Like This (2021) Lindsey Kelk "I fell head over heels in love with this modern fairytale. So funny, so romantic, so charming – the perfect book to curl up with when you want to escape the real world."
To Sir, With Love (2021) Lauren Layne "To Sir, with Love is a delight—as sweet and bubbly as a glass of champagne. I loved Gracie's fairytale take on the world, her wonderful friends and family, and her highly unusual romantic situation! Such a warm, lovely read."
The Lucky Escape (2021) Laura Jane Williams "The Lucky Escape is Laura's best book yet. It whisked me away on a much-needed holiday – this is exactly the book we all need right now!"
Malibu Rising (2021) Taylor Jenkins Reid "Heart-wrenching and utterly compelling, Malibu Rising is a story about the fierce bonds between four fascinating siblings. The novel immerses us in a glamorous, star-studded world but at its heart it's full of raw human emotion. Its characters felt completely real to me - each one is flawed and messy and impossible not to love."
The Summer Job (2021) Lizzy Dent "The Summer Job is a great read--fresh, funny and filled with delicious food and wine. It made me long for a summer in Scotland with Birdy and all the team at Loch Dorn."
Second First Impressions (2021) (Second First Impressions, book 1) Sally Thorne "I inhaled Second First Impressions! I had to force myself to slow down because I didn't want it to end. It's a truly adorable, heart-warming, swoon-worthy love story. A book hasn't given me the warm-fuzzies like this for a very long time."
The Kindred Spirits Supper Club (2021) Amy E Reichert "The Kindred Spirits Supper Club is such a sweet, fun read. It's warm, cozy and full of hometown charm—and there's a brilliantly quirky cast of ghosts, too!"
Mhairi McFarlane "[Just Last Night] manages to be both genuinely heartbreaking and hilarious...It's a gorgeously romantic novel, as well as a story about friendship and grief and loss; I never wanted it to end."
The Split (2021) Laura Kay "The Split has everything I love in a novel. It's hilariously funny, it's so uplifting, and its characters are irresistibly loveable."
Eleanor Ray "This book took hold of me and wouldn't let me go until I turned the final page."
Dial A For Aunties (2021) (Aunties, book 1) Jesse Q Sutanto "Whip-smart, original and so funny. I found it impossible to put down and lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud."
Asking for a Friend (2021) Andi Osho "Witty, pacy and joyful, Asking For a Friend is a truly uplifting celebration of friendship."
All The Lonely People (2020) Mike Gayle "A heartwarming story about the power of community and human connection. Hubert Bird stole my heart."
The Sight of You (2020) Holly Miller "I've just finished it and I'm in BITS. There are literally tears still dripping from my chin. What an extraordinary book. It's exquisitely written, incredibly moving and impossible to put down. It made me want to go and give everyone I love a very, very big hug. Who could fail to fall in love with Callie and Joel?"
In Five Years (2020) Rebecca Serle "What a clever, beautiful, special book. The writing is stunning, the concept is so original - it just has everything going for it. I loved every page!"
Grown-Ups (2020) Marian Keyes "This beauty of a book just took the crown as my new favourite Marian Keyes novel (and that is a HIGH bar). It's tender, hilarious, important, with characters who feel as real as your own family by the time you're done. I put it down and felt bereft."
