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Reading lists

The best books about friendships

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Must-read books by women, as chosen by our readers

A Story of Love and Friendship

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
For the first time, go behind the scenes of the beloved TV show Gavin and Stacey with the must-read memoir from the BAFTA award-winning writers Ruth Jones and James Corden. 
 
THIS IS THE MUST-HAVE BOOK FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES GAVIN AND STACEY 
 
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the story of how Ruth and James turned their little show about ordinary life into a full-on cultural phenomenon. 
 
As they recount the highs and lows they faced along the way, Ruth and James explore the journey of their real-life friendship, the making of the show and the relationship between Nessa and Smithy that had the nation glued to their screens. 
 
Full of revelations and anecdotes to working scripts and never-before-seen photographs including: 
 
•The story behind Nessa’s iconic look 
•The original treatment for the show 
•And maybe pictures from that fishing trip… 
 
This one-of-a kind memoir takes you behind the scenes of one of the most iconic and beloved shows in British television history. Here are the details of what’s occurred every step of the way, from initial pitch to final day of filming, and all the love that followed. 
 
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the perfect final chapter in this incredible story and is essential reading for all Gavin and Stacey fans. 
 
READERS LOVE WHEN GAVIN MET STACEY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN: 
 
‘I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing all the way through’ ***** 
 
'A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the show' ****** 
 
'Brings that feeling of being part of something so precious, the magic of Gavin & Stacey' *****

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
For the first time, go behind the scenes of the beloved TV show Gavin and Stacey with the must-read memoir from the BAFTA award-winning writers Ruth Jones and James Corden. 
 
THIS IS THE MUST-HAVE BOOK FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES GAVIN AND STACEY 
 
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the story of how Ruth and James turned their little show about ordinary life into a full-on cultural phenomenon. 
 
As they recount the highs and lows they faced along the way, Ruth and James explore the journey of their real-life friendship, the making of the show and the relationship between Nessa and Smithy that had the nation glued to their screens. 
 
Full of revelations and anecdotes to working scripts and never-before-seen photographs including: 
 
•The story behind Nessa’s iconic look 
•The original treatment for the show 
•And maybe pictures from that fishing trip… 
 
This one-of-a kind memoir takes you behind the scenes of one of the most iconic and beloved shows in British television history. Here are the details of what’s occurred every step of the way, from initial pitch to final day of filming, and all the love that followed. 
 
When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the perfect final chapter in this incredible story and is essential reading for all Gavin and Stacey fans. 
 
READERS LOVE WHEN GAVIN MET STACEY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN: 
 
‘I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing all the way through’ &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; 
 
'A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the show' &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; 
 
'Brings that feeling of being part of something so precious, the magic of Gavin & Stacey' &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088;

Ruth Jones (Author) 
Ruth Jones was born in 1966 and hails from Porthcawl in South Wales. She attended Warwick University and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is an actress, TV writer, producer and novelist best known for her role as Nessa Jenkins in BBC One’s multi-award-winning Gavin & Stacey, for which she won a BAFTA in 2025 for best female performance in a comedy. Ruth co-wrote Gavin & Stacey with James Corden, and the 2019 and 2024 Christmas specials of this beloved show garnered viewing figures of over 18 million and 21 million respectively. 
Ruth also created and co-wrote several series of Stella for Sky TV. Other TV work includes Hattie, Little Dorrit, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Nighty Night, Little Britain and Saxondale. In 2024 Ruth played Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical at London’s Dominion Theatre. Recent acting roles include Elena Ravenscroft in Harlan Coben’s Run Away for Netflix, and The Other Bennet Sister for BBC in which she played Mrs Bennet. 
Ruth’s four novels – Never Greener, Us Three, Love Untold and By Your Side – were all Sunday Times bestsellers and have sold over a million copies. Ruth was awarded an MBE in 2014 at Windsor Castle, for services to entertainment. 
 
James Corden (Author) 
James Corden is a twelve-time Emmy Award-winning host, writer, producer and actor. Born in Hillingdon in 1978, he grew up in Buckinghamshire where he attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School. Early TV work included Teachers and Fat Friends, where he met Ruth Jones before the two went on to co-create the BAFTA-winning Gavin & Stacey. Playing ‘Smithy’ was James’s breakout role, for which he won a BAFTA for best male performance in a comedy. Other notable TV credits include Doctor Who, Jez Butterworth’s mini-series Mammals and The Wrong Mans, which he co-wrote and starred in with Matthew Baynton. 
On stage, James starred in One Man, Two Guvnors – for which he won the 2012 Tony Award for best leading actor in a play – The History Boys and, more recently, The Constituent. 
In 2015, James made a monumental leap when he took over as the host of the iconic The Late Late Show in the United States. During his time as host, he won multiple Emmy Awards and launched globally loved segments such as Carpool Karaoke. 
In film, James starred in The Prom and received a 2021 Golden Globe nomination for best performance by an actor in a motion picture. His other feature credits include Into the Woods and Ocean’s 8. 
James also hosts the US interview series This Life of Mine with James Corden, on SiriusXM. 
In 2015, he was awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to drama.

Gavin & Stacey’ is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators James Corden and Ruth Jones tell the full extraordinary story of how they turned their little show into a full-on cultural phenomenon. 
 
As they recount the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way to giving birth to their beloved comedy creation, James and Ruth also explore the flourishing of their own real-life friendship. While their now legendary on-screen characters Nessa and Smithy had a profound awkwardness to negotiate, culminating in that marriage proposal in the 2019 Christmas special, Ruth and James forged a magical relationship of mutual support based also on a deep, shared sense of subversive fun. 
 
Here, from their tentative initial pitch to the emotionally overwhelming final day of filming, the duo detail what’s occurred every step of the way, bouncing off each other in inimitable style. Full of revelations and never-before-heard stories, this is a one-of-a-kind book about a show that’s already gone down in history.

Love Untold

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
THE RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 
WATERSTONES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 
 
'Love, mess, secrets; this story of four generations of women is shot through with Ruth Jones's warmth and wisdom.' JOJO MOYES 
 
'A hug in a book' Prima 
 
'Her best book yet' Woman & Home 
 
'Compassionate, wise and life-affirming' The Observer 
 
The funny, moving and uplifting new novel from Ruth Jones, co-creator of Gavin & Stacey and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Never Greener and Us Three.Grace is about to turn ninety and she doesn't want parties or presents or fuss. She just wants a quiet celebration: her daily swim in the sea and a cup of tea with granddaughter Elin and great-granddaughter Beca. More than anything, she wants to heal the family rift that's been breaking her heart for decades. 
And to do that she must find her daughter, Alys - the only person who can help to put things right. 
But thirty years is a long time. 
And many words have been left unsaid. 
So is it too late now to heal the pain of the past? 
This is a story about mothers and daughters: the love inherent in that bond and the heartache that miscommunication can bring. More than anything, it's about the importance of being true to oneself. Meet Grace, Alys, Elin and Beca - a family you'll come to know, and to love. 
PRAISE FOR RUTH JONES 
 
'Heartfelt, joyful, brave, utterly compelling' RACHEL JOYCE 
 
'I adored it' JOANNA CANNON 
 
'Joyful, life-affirming' ADELE PARKS 
 
'Beautifully warm and totally absorbing. I cried and I laughed. I adored it' JANE FALLON 
 
 
READERS ARE OBSESSED WITH LOVE UNTOLD 
 
'Good grief. This is truly a novel that pulled on every last emotion.' 5-STAR READER REVIEW 
 
'Warm-hearted, beautiful and heartbreaking.' 5-STAR READER REVIEW 
 
'Ruth's best book yet... entertaining and incredibly moving.' 5-STAR READER REVIEW 
 
'A gorgeous, emotional read that I was completely immersed in.' 5-STAR READER REVIEW 
 
'I'm absolutely gutted it's over. . . loved every single page.' 5-STAR READER REVIEW 
 
 
Love Untold, instant Sunday Times bestseller, July 2023 
Richard & Judy Book Club Pick, Summer 2023 
Waterstones Paperback of the Year 2023 
 
****RUTH'S BRILLIANT NEW NOVEL BY YOUR SIDE IS AVAILABLE NOW****

Grace is about to turn ninety. She doesn't want parties or presents or fuss. She just wants to heal the family rift that's been breaking her heart for decades. 
 
But to do that she must find her daughter Alys - the only person who can help to put things right. 
 
And when she finds her - if she does - she risks betraying granddaughter Elin. Who is far less forgiving of the past, with its hurts and secrets and lies. Meanwhile Grace's great-grand-daughter Beca is oblivious to all these worries, too busy navigating the highs and lows of teenage life and keeping secrets of her own. 
 
All families have their problems. And most of them get resolved. But Grace's problem is thirty years old. And she doesn't have time on her side. 
 
So is it too late for her to make peace? Or is reconciliation still within reach? 
 
Love Untold is about mothers and daughters and the complex bond between them. It's about the heartache that comes from leaving things unsaid and the power of true forgiveness. It is a joy-filled, life-affirming, sob-inducing novel - with characters you'll come to know and love - from no.1 bestselling author Ruth Jones

Us Three

***THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*** 
 
Get ready to fall in love with the funny, feel-good novel and instant Sunday Times bestseller from the author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick Love Untold and co-creator of Gavin & Stacey. 
 
'A touching celebration of the beauty and endurance of female friendship.’ DAWN FRENCH 
 
‘Heart-warming, entertaining and, at times, deeply moving story’ The Observer 
 
'Best book of the year so far. To sum it up I'd say "it was bloody lush' 5-star reader review 
 
****** 
 
Friends forever is a difficult promise to keep... 
 
Meet Lana, Judith and Catrin. Best friends since primary school when they swore an oath on a Curly Wurly wrapper that they would always be there for each other, come what may. 
 
After the trip of a lifetime, the three girls are closer than ever. But an unexpected turn of events shakes the foundation of their friendship to its core, leaving their future in doubt - there's simply too much to forgive, let alone forget. An innocent childhood promise they once made now seems impossible to keep . . . 
 
Packed with all the heart and empathy that made Ruth's name as a screenwriter and now author, Us Three is a funny, moving and uplifting novel about life's complications, the power of friendship and how it defines us all. 
 
Prepare to meet characters you'll feel you've known all your life - prepare to meet Us Three. 
 
Praise for Us Three: 
 
'A warm, smart, uplifting tale of true friendship.' BETH O'LEARY, bestselling author of The Flatshare 
 
'This novel oozes warmth and honesty. A big-hearted book that provides a cast of characters you'll lose your heart to.' ADELE PARKS, bestselling author of Just Between Us 
 
'I loved this brilliantly gripping depiction of the complexities of female friendship over the years. Love, betrayal, comedy and loss - Us Three has it all.' FIONA NEILL, bestselling author of The Haven 
 
Readers love Us Three: 
 
'I love the way Ruth Jones writes. The relationship between the 3 friends is perfect and a wonderful book to read about friendship' 
 
'I absolutely loved this so much. There were moments that made me cry and other moments that made me laugh.' 
 
‘The most enjoyable book I’ve read in ages. I laughed and cried, and at one point sobbed, my way through the book’ 
 
 
*** RUTH'S NEW NOVEL BY YOUR SIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER***

Friends forever is a difficult promise to keep... 
 
Meet Lana, Judith and Catrin. Best friends since primary school when they swore an oath on a Curly Wurly wrapper that they would always be there for each other, come what may. 
 
After the trip of a lifetime, the three girls are closer than ever. But an unexpected turn of events shakes the foundation of their friendship to its core, leaving their future in doubt - there's simply too much to forgive, let alone forget. An innocent childhood promise they once made now seems impossible to keep . . . 
 
Packed with all the heart and empathy that made Ruth's name as a screenwriter and now author, Us Three is a funny, moving and uplifting novel about life's complications, the power of friendship and how it defines us all. 
 
Prepare to meet characters you'll feel you've known all your life - prepare to meet Us Three.

Never Greener

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, PICKED FOR THE ZOE BALL TV BOOK CLUB 
 
'Ruth Jones is excellent on human nature and why we make the mistakes we do. I felt for every character. Unputdownable.' Jojo Moyes 
 
The past has a habit of tracking us down. And tripping us up. 
 
When Kate was twenty-two, she had an intense and passionate affair with a married man, Callum, which ended in heartbreak. Kate thought she'd never get over it. 
 
Seventeen years later, life has moved on - Kate, now a successful actress, is living in London, married to Matt and mother to little Tallulah. Meanwhile Callum and his wife Belinda are happy together, living in Edinburgh and watching their kids grow up. The past, it would seem, is well and truly behind them all. 
 
But then Kate meets Callum again. 
 
And they are faced with a choice: to walk away from each other . . . or to risk finding out what might have been. 
 
Second chances are a rare gift in life. But that doesn't mean they should always be taken . . . 
 
- 
 
In her unmissable debut, actress and screenwriter Ruth Jones shows us the dangers of trying to recapture that which was once lost and failing to realise the beauty of what we already have. 
 
Praise for Ruth Jones: 
 
'I love books about gnarly, messy relationships and this one kept me gripped from the beginning. A great read.' Jane Fallon 
 
'Heart-rending, provocative and astutely written, Never Greener is a love story about getting what you want and losing everything you need. Ruth's characters will stay with me for a long time.' Cathy Bramley 
 
'Easy to read and full of laughter - and truth.' Daily Mail 
 
Readers have fallen in love with Never Greener: 
 
***** 'Loved this book from start to finish.' 
***** 'I fell in love with all the characters and could not put it down.' 
***** 'Brilliantly written, laugh-out-loud hilarious yet tear-jerking.' 
 
****RUTH'S BRILLIANT NEW NOVEL BY YOUR SIDE IS AVAILABLE NOW****

Ruth Jones

DON’T MISS THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE BAFTA-WINNING CO-WRITER OF GAVIN & STACEY. 
 
'Ruth Jones writes with such warmth you can't help but fall in love with the characters she creates.’ JAMES CORDEN 
 
The joyful and life-affirming new novel from the co-creator of Gavin and Stacey and the Richard and Judy Book Club author of Love Untold. 
 
Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives. 
 
In her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement. 
 
But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years. 
 
What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse) with her arch nemesis Fergus Murray, and helped (and hindered) by local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew. 
 
Bursting with all the heart and humour that has made Ruth’s name as a screenwriter and author, By Your Side is about finding joy in the most unlikely connections, and the importance of holding onto friendship, love and community – especially when life gets messy. 
 
Praise for Ruth Jones: 
 
‘Ruth Jones is excellent on human nature and why we make the mistakes we do’ JOJO MOYES 
 
‘A cast of characters you'll lose your heart to.' ADELE PARKS 
 
'Beautifully warm and totally absorbing.’ JANE FALLON

Ruth Jones

Books by Ruth Jones

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Must-read books by women, as chosen by our readers

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