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Extracts

Love, Iris by Elizabeth Noble

The Family Holiday

Cosy up in the Cotswolds with the heartwarming new novel that will make you laugh, cry and feel truly uplifted, from the bestselling author of the Richard &amp; Judy selection Love, Iris 
 
'Wisdom, warmth and wit in a sumptuous setting - you won't be able to tear yourself away' Veronica Henry 
 
'Perfect to cuddle up with and escape from reality for a while' 5***** Netgalley Reader Review 
 
'I loved this book' Katie Fforde 
________ 
 
The only gift Charlie wants for his 80th birthday is his family all together again. 
 
Ever since his wife Daphne passed away, and the children grew up into their own busy lives, it's felt like they've drifted apart. 
 
So he's invited them all on a family holiday - their first in years. 
 
And by some miracle, everyone has said yes. 
 
Ten days all together in the Cotswolds . . . how hard can it be? 
________ 
 
'Tender, thoughtful and heartrending. The Chamberlains remind us of the strength and comfort of family bonds' Beth Morrey 
 
'The Family Holiday is a perfect read for those who can't be with our own families or go on holiday to get away from them' Red Online 
 
'An utterly absorbing multi-generational tale . . . her best yet. I adored it' Penny Parkes 
 
'With a charming storyline, a fantastic mix of characters and beautifully written prose, this book is perfect' 5***** Netgalley Reader Review 
 
'A fantastic feel good read about family, love, trust, letting go and moving on' 5***** Netgalley Reader Review 
 
Praise for Elizabeth Noble: 
 
'Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble' Sunday Express 
 
'Witty, pacy and immediately engaging' Glamour 
 
'Noble is a mistress of the tearjerking message of love' Express

Elizabeth Noble's unerring eye depicts family life in all its forms, good and bad, in a way we will all recognise. I loved this book

Wisdom, warmth and wit in a sumptuous setting - you won't be able to tear yourself away. Elizabeth's understanding of how families tick is second to none. A summer delight - strawberries and cream in book form. Wonderful!

An utterly absorbing multi-generational tale - the beautiful, relatable writing we've come to expect from Elizabeth Noble, with a touch of summer magic that makes this her best yet. I adored it

'I loved this feelgood, relatable family saga'

Tender, thoughtful and heartrending. The Chamberlains remind us of the strength and comfort of family bonds

The Family Holiday is a perfect read for those who can't be with our own families of go on holiday to get away from them

Packing in the style, detail and deftly weaving many narrative strands together, Noble produces an absorbing, moving and uplifting read

I utterly adored this book. The Family Holiday resonates with us all . . . you're going to love watching the 
Chamberlain family blossom

A novel filled with joy and heartbreak

Included in Zoe West's book club picks

A moving and warm-hearted novel about love in all its forms...Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble

Witty, affectionate and unashamedly tear-jearking

Tissues are essential. You'll ricochet between delicately watering eyes at the romance of it all and howling sobs at the unbearable tenderness

A moving and warm-hearted novel about love in all its forms . . . Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble

Noble specialises in warm-hearted tearjerkers with strong connections between women

Witty, affectionate and unashamedly tear-jerking

It would be a hard heart indeed that remained unmoved . . . the tender feelings that Noble engenders in her readers are to be cherished

Noble is a mistress of the tearjerking message of love

Elizabeth Noble's previous Sunday Times bestselling novels include: The Reading Group, which reached number one, The Friendship Test (formerly published as The Tenko Club), Alphabet Weekends, Things I Want My Daughters to Know, The Girl Next Door, The Way We Were, Between a Mother and her Child, Love, Iris and The Family Holiday. Between a Mother and her Child and Love, Iris were both Richard &amp; Judy Book Club picks. 
Elizabeth Noble lives in Surrey with her husband and has two adult daughters. 
Other People's Husbands is her tenth novel.

Charlie is determined to celebrate his eightieth birthday surrounded by family. The trouble is that ever since he lost his wife - the true north of the Chamberlain family - his children's differences have pulled them apart. 
 
His daughter Laura is divorced and struggling. And with her teenage son accused of a crime by his girlfriend's parents, she doesn't know which crisis to deal with first. Charlie's sons couldn't be in more different positions: Scott has recently married, acquiring two stepdaughters and breaking out of his 'confirmed bachelor' ways. Nick is still reeling from losing his wife in a tragic accident, and coping alone with their three young children. 
 
Now, brought together for Charlie's birthday and two weeks away from the world, the family must untangle what divides them and discover, at last, what binds them all together . . .

Love, Iris

The SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER AND RICHARD &amp; JUDY BOOK CLUB pick from the author of The Family Holiday 
 
'A moving and heart-warming novel about love in all its forms' Sunday Express 
________ 
 
Did you ever have a secret you knew would change everything? 
 
Tess's happy childhood memories are mostly of the grandmother who helped raise her. And now she has a secret to tell Iris - one which will turn so many lives upside down. 
 
But how can you confide your future in someone who barely remembers her past? 
 
Tess knows everything is about to change. What she doesn't know is that chance will lead her into the lives of two strangers - and uncover her grandmother's secret from the past. 
 
A secret which will illuminate her own future . . . 
 
An uplifting, unforgettable story about keeping secrets, taking chances and finding happiness where you least expect it. 
 
Previously published as 'Letters to Iris' 
________ 
 
'Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble. An uplifting read written with wry humour, insight and sensitivity' Sunday Express 
 
'Noble specialises in warm-hearted tearjerkers with strong connections between women' Daily Mail 
 
'A beautiful tale of love, loss and hope' Sun 
 
'A heart-warmer' Prima 
 
'Packed with intrigue' Yours Magazine

Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble . . . An uplifting read written with wry humour, insight and sensitivity

With a collection of well-drawn characters whose stories intertwine, this is a heart-warming novel about relationships, secrets and love in all its forms

A beautiful tale of love, loss and hope

Noble specialises in warm-hearted tearjerkers with strong connections between women

A moving and heart-warming novel about love in all its forms: between parents and children, husbands and wives and the very best of friends

We all know the strange power of old letters . . . Could they be the secret to the missing pieces of her grandmother's life? Packed with intrigue

Prepare to be ensnared in a complex web of deeply satisfying secrets

Noble is the mistress of the tearjerking message of love

A wonderfully well-written book, full of emotion

Impossible to finish without tears streaming down your face

Incredibly thought-provoking and poignant

Tess has a secret - one which is about to turn her life upside-down. The only person she can confide in is her beloved grandmother. But Iris is slipping further away each day. 
 
Then chance brings a stranger into Tess's life. Gigi's heart goes out to Tess, knowing what it's like to feel alone, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. 
 
But something is holding Tess back - until she discovers Iris has a secret of her own. A suitcase of letters from another time, the missing pieces of a life she never shared. Could the letters hold the answers that Tess thought were lost for ever?

Between a Mother and her Child

Elizabeth Noble, the No. 1 bestselling author of Things I Want My Daughters to Know and The Reading Group, takes a look at relationships within families in her heartbreaking novel Between a Mother and her Child. 
 
For Maggie and Bill it was love at first sight . . . 
 
One impulsive wedding later and with the arrival of three perfect children, Jake, Aly and Stan, the Barrett family seem to have it all. Until the day their world stops turning. 
 
When Jake dies suddenly, they're swept away on a tide of grief that fractures Maggie and Bill's marriage. She and the children are left clinging to the wreckage of their family. And they need help, because in her grief Maggie is in danger of losing Aly and Stan too. 
 
Enter Kate, housekeeper, companion and shoulder to cry on. She's here to pick up the pieces and fix what isn't completely broken. But can Maggie trust Kate? And why is Kate so keen to help? 
 
When Bill falls for another woman, Maggie realizes she will have to fight to put her family back together - but will they still want her? 
 
Let the storytelling magic of Elizabeth Noble capture your heart in Between a Mother and her Child.

A moving story about love, loss and family ties

Poignant and realistic, you could be teary-eyed by the end

A great writer. You'll be rooting for Noble's protagonists as soon as you meet them

For Maggie and Bill it was love at first sight . . . 
 
One impulsive wedding later and with the arrival of three perfect children, Jake, Aly and Stan, the Barrett family seem to have it all. Until the day their world stops turning. 
 
When Jake dies suddenly, they're swept away on a tide of grief that fractures Maggie and Bill's marriage. She and the children are left clinging to the wreckage of their family. And they need help, because in her grief Maggie is in danger of losing Aly and Stan too. 
 
Enter Kate, housekeeper, companion and shoulder to cry on. She's here to pick up the pieces and fix what isn't completely broken. But can Maggie trust Kate? And why is Kate so keen to help? 
 
When Bill falls for another woman, Maggie realizes she will have to fight to put her family back together - but will they still want her?

The Way We Were

A beautiful romance about fate and finding happiness, from the Number One bestseller 
 
What if you had a second chance at first love? 
 
Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places. 
 
And not entirely happy - who is? 
 
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history? 
 
But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion. 
 
'Impossible to finish without tears streaming down your face' Daily Express

An extremely moving look at how it might feel if your life didn't work out the way you expected . . . You'll be gripped

A great writer.  You'll be rooting for Noble's protagonists as soon as you meet them

What if you had a second chance at first love? 
 
Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places. 
And not entirely happy - who is? 
 
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history? 
 
But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion.

The Friendship Test

A beautiful story of friendship from the Number One bestselling author of The Reading Group and Things I Want My Daughters to Know 
 
They say the friends you make at college are with you for life, and for Tamsin, Reagan, Sarah and Freddie that certainly seems to be the case. With student life stretching ahead of them, they bonded years ago over too many bottles of wine and great gossip; ill-fated love affairs and essay deadlines were the only clouds on their horizon. 
 
Although the four women have little in common this seems to make them greater friends, and they swear they'll always be there for one another . . . but twenty years is a long time to keep a promise. 
 
And so, when tragedy plays a hand, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Can they put their troubles and differences aside and remember the simple joy of their younger selves? After all, friends should always come first, shouldn't they? 
 
Previously published as The Tenko Club 
 
'Deliciously readable' The Times 
 
'I defy you not to cry at least once' Sun

It would be a hard heart indeed that remained unmoved . . . the tender feelings Noble engenders in her readers are to be cherished

They say the friends you make at college are with you for life, and for Tamsin, Reagan, Sarah and Freddie that certainly seems to be the case. With student life stretching ahead of them, they bonded years ago over too many bottles of wine and great gossip; ill-fated love affairs and essay deadlines were the only clouds on their horizon. 
 
Although the four women have little in common this seems to make them greater friends, and they swear they'll always be there for one another . . . but twenty years is a long time to keep a promise. 
 
And so, when tragedy plays a hand, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Can they put their troubles and differences aside and remember the simple joy of their younger selves? After all, friends should always come first, shouldn't they?

The Reading Group

The Sunday Times Number One bestseller 
 
A New Year. A New Page. A New Reading Group. 
 
Five women meet for their first reading group, little realising this social gathering over books and glasses of wine might see them share more than literary debate ... and will, in fact, take each of them to places they'd never imagined. 
 
Harriet and Nicole are the ringleaders, best friends who can't quite admit - to themselves or one other - they might be trapped in loveless marriages. While Polly, a determined single mum, finds herself tipped off course by an unexpected proposal. Susan, usually so carefree and happy, is forced to face a shattering reality and Clare, quiet and mysterious, plainly has more on her mind than next week's book choice. 
 
Over the coming year their worlds will intertwine in delightful, unexpected and surprising ways. Stories will be re-written as dreams are made and broken, but through it all they'll have the Reading Group, with friendship, tears and laughter featuring in every chapter of their lives.

A compelling read, with characters you'll really take to your heart

A New Year. A New Page. A New Reading Group. 
 
Five women meet for their first reading group, little realising this social gathering over books and glasses of wine might see them share more than literary debate ... and will, in fact, take each of them to places they'd never imagined. 
 
Harriet and Nicole are the ringleaders, best friends who can't quite admit - to themselves or one other - they might be trapped in loveless marriages. While Polly, a determined single mum, finds herself tipped off course by an unexpected proposal. Susan, usually so carefree and happy, is forced to face a shattering reality and Clare, quiet and mysterious, plainly has more on her mind than next week's book choice. 
 
Over the coming year their worlds will intertwine in delightful, unexpected and surprising ways. Stories will be re-written as dreams are made and broken, but through it all they'll have the Reading Group, with friendship, tears and laughter featuring in every chapter of their lives.

Alphabet Weekends

The ultimate romantic comedy from the Number One bestseller 
 
Natalie and her sisters have known Tom and his family forever. They climbed trees together, scraped knees on the same pavements and, in taking shared steps towards adulthood, shaped bonds that would last a lifetime. 
 
So when Natalie's long-term love walks out on her, Tom's is the much-needed shoulder she cries on. And Tom dreams up an ingenious way to dry her tears: a series of Alphabet Weekends - starting with A for Abseiling - to make her forget the heartache and, he hopes, to make her see what's been staring her in the face all these years. His genuine love for her. 
 
But as they tumble from A to Z, their families and friends face broken hearts and tragedies of their own. Can the Alphabet Weekends unlock love in all its many and wonderful guises? And not just for Natalie and Tom, but for everyone they care about?

Natalie and her sisters have known Tom and his family forever. They climbed trees together, scraped knees on the same pavements and, in taking shared steps towards adulthood, shaped bonds that would last a lifetime. 
 
So when Natalie's long-term love walks out on her, Tom's is the much-needed shoulder she cries on. And Tom dreams up an ingenious way to dry her tears: a series of Alphabet Weekends - starting with A for Abseiling - to make her forget the heartache and, he hopes, to make her see what's been staring her in the face all these years. His genuine love for her. 
 
But as they tumble from A to Z, their families and friends face broken hearts and tragedies of their own. Can the Alphabet Weekends unlock love in all its many and wonderful guises? And not just for Natalie and Tom, but for everyone they care about?

The Girl Next Door

An outstanding tear-jerker that will break your heart - from the Number One bestselling author of The Reading Group and Things I Want My Daughters to Know 
 
What makes a house a home? 
 
For Eve Gallagher, home is miles away in England since she and her husband relocated to an apartment building on New York's Upper East Side. And life isn't remotely coming up roses. 
 
What makes a neighbour a friend? 
 
Violet has lived in the building for decades but she's always kept herself apart, until Eve's loneliness touches her heart and friendship blossoms. 
 
What makes a wife a lover? 
 
Jason Kramer in Apartment 6A is no longer sure he loves his wife, but he's head-over-heels for Rachael Schulman in 6B. 
 
What makes the girl next door the woman of your dreams? 
 
Meeting Emily Mikanowski from 3A turns Trip Grayling's world upside down. It's love at first sight, but he needs help from Charlotte, the shy romance addict in 2A, if he's going to win the girl. 
 
Dreams come true, hearts are broken and no one is left unchanged when the secrets and desires hidden behind closed doors are finally brought into the light. 
 
'A wonderfully well-written book, full of emotion' Daily Mail 
 
'We loved it . . . we were totally hooked wondering what twists were coming next' Heat 
 
'This emotional read it full of fascinating characters you'll miss once the final page is turned' Bella

A wonderfully well written book, full of emotion

We loved it . . . we were totally hooked wondering what twists were coming next

This emotional read is full of fascinating characters you'll miss once the final page is turned

What makes a house a home? 
For Eve Gallagher, home is miles away in England since she and her husband relocated to an apartment building on New York's Upper East Side. And life isn't remotely coming up roses. 
What makes a neighbour a friend? 
Violet has lived in the building for decades but she's always kept herself apart, until Eve's loneliness touches her heart and friendship blossoms. 
What makes a wife a lover? 
Jason Kramer in Apartment 6A is no longer sure he loves his wife, but he's head-over-heels for Rachael Schulman in 6B. 
What makes the girl next door the woman of your dreams? 
Meeting Emily Mikanowski from 3A turns Trip Grayling's world upside down. It's love at first sight, but he needs help from Charlotte, the shy romance addict in 2A, if he's going to win the girl. 
 
Dreams come true, hearts are broken and no one is left unchanged when the secrets and desires hidden behind closed doors are finally brought into the light.

Things I Want My Daughters to Know

After a TOP 5 BESTSELLER outing in hardback, this knockout paperback is guaranteed to dominate the charts again this autumn

'Honest and beautifully written' Woman &amp; Home 
 
The heartwarming classic about love and family from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Love, Iris will make you both laugh and cry. 
_________ 
 
How would you say goodbye to those you love most in the world? 
 
it's time for Barbara to say a final farewell to her four daughters. But how can she find the words? And how can she leave them when they each have so much growing up to do? 
 
There's commitment-phobic Lisa. Brittle, unhappily married Jennifer. Free-spirited traveller Amanda. And teenage Hannah, stumbling her way towards adulthood. 
 
Barbara's answer is to write each daughter a letter, finally expressing the hopes, fears, dreams and secrets she couldn't always say. 
 
These words will touch the girls in different - sometimes shocking - ways, unlocking emotions and passions to set them on their own journey of discovery through life. 
__________ 
 
'Enchantingly clever. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't put it down' Penny Vincenzi 
 
'Irresistible' Glamour

Enchantingly clever. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't put it down

Her stories strike a genuine chord . . . an irresistible comfort read

This powerful tale packs an emotional punch

A journey through emotionally-charged mother-daughter territory . . . it may just kickstart the practice of letter-writing again

Tissues are essential. You'll ricochet between delicately watering eyes at the romance of it all and howling sobs at the unbearable tendernes

'My beautiful girls. If you've read this, you'll know it contains some - not all, but some - of the things I want my daughters to know. And the greatest of these is love ...' 
 
How would you say goodbye to those you love most in the world? 
 
Barbara must say a final farewell to her four daughters. But how can she find the words? And how can she leave them when they each have so much growing up to do? There's commitment-phobic Lisa. Brittle, unhappily married Jennifer. Free-spirited traveller Amanda. And teenage Hannah, stumbling her way towards adulthood. 
 
Barbara's answer is to write each daughter a letter, finally expressing the hopes, fears, dreams and secrets she couldn't always voice. These words will touch the girls in different - sometimes shocking - ways, unlocking emotions and passions to set them on their own journey of discovery through life.

Elizabeth Noble

A frank and believable account of friendship and a marriage under stress. I was moved

Rich and riveting . . . A perfect observation of the complexities and pitfalls of long-lasting friendships and their impact on family life

When it comes to writing about family life, Elizabeth Noble is pitch-perfect . . . Relatable characters in a real situation - a clever read indeed!

Beautifully insightful on long term relationships and friendships and the fractures a betrayal can cause. A gorgeous read

A fascinating insight into contemporary coupledom and family politics. A pageturner full of emotion and fabulous lifestyle detail

Perfectly observed, a reflection of real life we can all learn from

What a stunning story! I absolutely loved this twisty, intriguing tale of strong, loving relationships that begin to buckle under the strain of real life when emotions run out of control. Evocative and intensely moving

Almost painfully real and thoroughly well-written

Sensitive exploration of friendship, mid-life love, marriage and betrayal

Elizabeth Noble's unerring eye depicts family life in all its forms, good and bad, in a way we will all recognise. I loved this book

Witty, affectionate and unashamedly tear-jerking

A great writer. You'll be rooting for Noble's protagonists as soon as you meet them

An utterly absorbing multi-generational tale - the beautiful relatable writing we've come to expect from Elizabeth Noble, with a touch of summer magic...I adored it

A moving and warm-hearted novel about love in all its forms...Nobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble

Noble is the mistress of the tearjerking message of love

A moving and warm-hearted story of friendship and love . . . Elizabeth Noble writes wonderfully real and relatable characters and then puts their lives under the microscope, weaving their stories with tenderness and humanity

Other People's Husbands is a compelling, honest and uplifting tale which will have you hooked from first page to last

The emotionally gripping story of friendship, love and betrayal from the author of Love, Iris

Sometimes friendship crosses a line . . . 
A group of close friends, their bonds forged at the nursery gates two decades ago, have celebrated, commiserated and grown together: they thought they all knew each other so well. 
Until the affair. Now a crack appears in everything. Could one betrayal really destroy it all? 
Other People's Husbands is a story of friendship and love, crossing boundaries and breaking vows, of trying to fix what you believed could never be broken.

Elizabeth Noble

Praise for Other People's Husbands

A frank and believable account of friendship and a marriage under stress. I was moved

Rich and riveting . . . A perfect observation of the complexities and pitfalls of long-lasting friendships and their impact on family life

Pitch perfect. Very relatable, very real

A frank and believable account of friendship and a marriage under stress. I was moved

Rich and riveting . . . A perfect observation of the complexities and pitfalls of long-lasting friendships and their impact on family life

Pitch perfect. Very relatable, very real

A frank and believable account of friendship and a marriage under stress. I was moved

Rich and riveting . . . A perfect observation of the complexities and pitfalls of long-lasting friendships and their impact on family life

Pitch perfect. Very relatable, very real

Books by Elizabeth Noble

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Love, Iris by Elizabeth Noble

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