Love Factually by Laura Mucha

Poets, philosophers and artists have been trying to explain romantic love for centuries, but it remains one of the most complex and intimidating terrains to navigate. Most people are afraid to be open and honest about their relationships - until now. For Love Factually, Laura Mucha has interviewed hundreds of strangers, from the ages of 8 to 95 in more than 40 countries, asking them to share their most personal stories, feelings and insights about love.

These intimate and illuminating conversations raised important questions, such as: - How does your upbringing influence your relationships?- Does love at first sight exist? Should you 'just know'?- What should you look for in a partner?- Is monogamy natural?- Why do people cheat?- How do you know when it's time to walk away?Drawing on psychology, philosophy, anthropology and statistics, Love Factually combines evidence, theory and everyday experience and is the perfect read for anyone who is curious about how we think, feel and behave when it comes to love.

Available in hardback for £16.99.  Click here to order your copy.

100 Hugs by Chris Riddell

100 Hugs is a gorgeous collection of illustrated hugs from Chris Riddell, Children's Laureate 2015-2017. This is the perfect gift for a loved one, or to cheer yourself up on a dark day when all you need is a hug. The one hundred beautiful and intricate illustrations from the three-times winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal includes a hug for every emotion and occasion.

But one thing is for certain: every hug will touch your heart. In a perfect pocket-sized format, 100 Hugs is certain to comfort and raise a smile.

Available in paperback for £5.99.  Click here to order a copy.

The Six Loves of Billy Binns by Richard Lumsden

The Six Loves of Billy Binns is a deeply moving and honest debut set in London against the backdrop of the changing 20th century. 

I remember my dreams but not where they start. Further back, I recall some of yesterday and the day before that.  Then everything goes into a haze. Fragments of memories come looming back like red London buses in a pea-souper. Time plays funny tricks these days.

I wait for the next memory. I wait and I wait....

At 117 years old, Billy Binns is the oldest man in Europe and he knows his time is almost up.  But Billy has a final wish: he wants to remember what love feels like one last time. As he looks back at the relationships that have shaped his flawed life - and the events that shaped the century - he recalls a life full of hope, mistakes, heartbreak and, above all, love.

Available in hardback for £16.99.  Click here to order your copy.

Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan

The new novel from Ruth Hogan, the bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes - Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel is an uplifting novel of mothers and daughters, families and secrets and the astonishing power of friendship. 

Tilly was a bright, outgoing little girl who liked playing with ghosts and matches. She loved fizzy drinks, swear words, fish fingers and Catholic churches, but most of all she loved living in Brighton in Queenie Malone's magnificent Paradise Hotel with its endearing and loving family of misfits - staff and guests alike.

But Tilly's childhood was shattered when her mother sent her away from the only home she'd ever loved to boarding school with little explanation and no warning. Many years later, Tilda has grown into an independent woman still damaged by her mother's unaccountable cruelty. Wary of people, her only friend is her dog, Eli.

But when her mother dies, Tilda goes back to Brighton and with the help of her beloved Queenie sets about unravelling the mystery of her exile from The Paradise Hotel, only to discover that her mother was not the woman she thought she knew at all ... Mothers and daughters ... their story can be complicated ...but it can also turn out to have a happy ending.

Available in hardback for £14.99.  Click here to order your copy.

Christmas Ideas: Biography

The Diary of a Bookseller, Shaun Bythell - £14.99

Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown - Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea. A book-lover's paradise? Well, almost ...

In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books (both lost classics and new discoveries), introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.

Adventures of a Young Naturalist, Sir David Attenborough - £25

In 1954, a young David Attenborough was offered the opportunity of a lifetime - to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for London Zoo's collection, and to film the expeditions for the BBC for a new show called Zoo Quest.

This is the story of those voyages. Staying with local tribes while trekking in search of giant anteaters in Guyana, Komodo dragons in Indonesia and armadillos in Paraguay, he and the rest of the team battled with cannibal fish, aggressive tree porcupines and escape-artist wild pigs, as well as treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, to record the incredible beauty and biodiversity of these regions. 

The methods may be outdated now, but the fascination and respect for the wildlife, the people and the environment - and the importance of protecting these wild places - is not.Written with Attenborough's trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalist is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today.

Mr Lear : A Life of Art and Nonsense, Jenny Uglow - £25

Acclaimed historian Jenny Uglow brings us a fascinating and beautifully illustrated biography of Edward Lear, full of the colour of the age.  Edward Lear lived a vivid, fascinating, energetic life, but confessed, 'I hardly enjoy any one thing on earth while it is present.'  He was a man in a hurry, 'running about on railroads' from London to country estates and boarding steamships to Italy, Corfu, India and Palestine. He is still loved for his 'nonsenses', from startling, joyous limericks to great love songs like 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat' and 'The Dong with a Luminous Nose', and he is famous, too, for his brilliant natural history paintings, landscapes and travel writing. But although Lear belongs solidly in the age of Darwin and Dickens - he gave Queen Victoria drawing lessons, and his many friends included Tennyson and the Pre-Raphaelite painters - his genius for the absurd and his dazzling word-play make him a very modern spirit.

He speaks to us today.  Lear was a man of great simplicity and charm: children adored him, yet his humour masked epilepsy, depression and loneliness. Jenny Uglow's beautifully illustrated biography, full of the colour of the age, brings us his swooping moods, passionate friendships and restless travels/ Above all it shows how this uniquely gifted man lived all his life on the boundaries of rules and structures, disciplines and desires - an exile of the heart.

Freud : The Making of An Illusion, Frederick Crews - £30

From the master of Freud debunkers, the book that definitively puts an end to the myth of psychoanalysis and its creator. Sigmund Freud is one of the most influential figures of western society. His ideas transformed the way that we think about our minds, our selves and even our thoughts.

But while he was undeniably a visionary thinker, Freud's legend was also the work of years of careful mythologizing, and a fierce refusal to accept criticism or scrutiny of his often unprincipled methods. In Freud: The Making of an Illusion, Frederick Crews dismantles Freud's totemic reputation brick by brick. Looking at recently revealed correspondence, he examines Freud's own personality, his selfishness, competitiveness and willingness to cut corners and exploit weaknesses to get his own way.

He explores Freud's whole-hearted embracing of cocaine as a therapeutic tool, and the role it played in his own career. And he interrogates Freud's intellectual legacy, exposing how many of his ideas and conclusions were purely speculative, or taken wholesale from others. As acidic as it is authoritative, this critique of the man behind the legend is compulsory reading for anyone interested in Freudianism.

Charles Darwin: Victorian Mythmaker, A.N. Wilson - £25

Charles Darwin: The man who discovered evolution? The man who killed off God? Or a flawed man of his age, part genius, part ruthless careerist who would not acknowledge his debts to other thinkers?  In this bold new life - the first single volume biography in twenty-five years - A. N. Wilson, the acclaimed author of The Victorians and God's Funeral, goes in search of the celebrated but contradictory figure Charles Darwin.  Darwin was described by his friend and champion, Thomas Huxley, as a 'symbol'.

But what did he symbolize? In Wilson's portrait, both sympathetic and critical, Darwin was two men. On the one hand, he was a naturalist of genius, a patient and precise collector and curator who greatly expanded the possibilities of taxonomy and geology. On the other hand, Darwin, a seemingly diffident man who appeared gentle and even lazy, hid a burning ambition to be a universal genius.

He longed to have a theory which explained everything.  But was Darwin's 1859 master work, On the Origin of Species, really what it seemed, a work about natural history? Or was it in fact a consolation myth for the Victorian middle classes, reassuring them that the selfishness and indifference to the poor were part of nature's grand plan? Charles Darwin: Victorian Mythmaker is a radical reappraisal of one of the great Victorians, a book which isn't afraid to challenge the Darwinian orthodoxy while bringing us closer to the man, his revolutionary idea and the wider Victorian age.

Endurance : A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, Scott Kelly - £20

From the Nasa astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station - what it's like out there and what it's like now, back here. Enter Scott Kelly's fascinating world and dare to think of your own a little differently. The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for most consecutive days spent in space, Scott Kelly has experienced things very few of us ever have and very few of us ever will.

Kelly's humanity, compassion, humour, and passion shine as he describes navigating the extreme challenge of long-term spaceflight, both existential and banal. He touches on what's happened to his body, the sadness of being isolated from everyone he loves; the pressures of constant close cohabitation; the catastrophic risks of colliding with space junk, and the still more haunting threat of being absent should tragedy strike at home. From a natural storyteller Endurance is one of the finest examples the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the boundless wonder of the galaxy.

Christmas Ideas: Children's Gift Books

Greatest Magical Stories by Michael Morpurgo - £14.99 

Award-winning children's writer and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo has collected his greatest magical stories from all around the world and put them in one place. Here! From tiny heroes to talking frogs, and meddling fairies to mysterious sea creatures, this is a timeless collection to treasure forever. Beautiful colour illustrations bring the magical text to life.

There are lots of stories to choose from, including The Frog Prince, Sleeping Beauty, and a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk written by Michael Morpurgo. So whether you're looking for a quick read or a longer story to lose yourself in, something to read alone or a tale to share, there's a great magical story within for everyone to find. A sumptuous gift edition for young readers to treasure.

Harry Potter - A History of Magic : The Book of the Exhibition - £30 

Harry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and the brilliant

curators of the British Library. It promises to take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.

Each chapter showcases a treasure trove of artefacts from the British Library and other collections around the world, beside exclusive manuscripts, sketches and illustrations from the Harry Potter archive. There's also a specially commissioned essay for each subject area by an expert, writer or cultural commentator, inspired by the contents of the exhibition.  

Absorbing, insightful and unexpected contributions from Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake, who offer a personal perspective on their magical theme. Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon's blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch's broomstick, in a book that shows J.K.

Rowling's magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears. This is the ultimate gift for Harry Potter fans, curious minds, big imaginations, bibliophiles and readers around the world who missed out on the chance to see the exhibition in person.

Beauty and the Beast by  Katie Haworth - £14.99 

When a merchant steals a rose from the garden of a terrifying beast, his daughter, Beauty, agrees to go to the beast's palace to save her father's life. The classic tale of Beauty and the Beast is retold here in a magnificent 'pop-up' format. 

Each page has three layers of paper, cut to give the impression of a 3D scene.  A triumph of paper engineering with wonderful illustrations by Dinara Mirtalipova. 

Dinosaurium by Lily Murray - £20

Welcome to the museum that is always open to explore... Step inside the pages of this beautiful book to discover galleries of dinosaurs, expertly curated to bring you the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the comfort of your own home.Dinosaurium features a wide range of dinosaurs from the most-loved Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex to lesser-known species such as Coelophysis and Tsintaosaurus. 

With stunning artwork from Chris Wormell (known for the cover of H is for Hawk and his picture books including George and the Dragon) and informative text with input from experts in palaeontology, Dinosaurium is the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in this fascinating field.Welcome to the Museum is a series of beautifully illustrated, stunningly curated, informative books for all ages.

From Animalium and Botanicum to Historium and Dinosaurium there is a book for everyone to discover and explore.

Untold Story of Father Christmas by Alison Battle & Mike Battle - £12.99

Have you ever wondered where Father Christmas came from? And how he ended up with a factory at the North Pole full of elves to help him make toys? A beautifully illustrated and timeless story about how a toymaker and his wife became Mother and Father Christmas for children all over the world.

The Snow Queen : A Pop-Up Adaption of a Classic Fairytale - £19.99

This new holiday book features amazing paper engineering and pop-ups from the same paper engineer that developed the best-selling "Snowflakes" title. This unique pop-up interpretation of a beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is destined to be another classic to be enjoyed for years by the entire family. 

Search and Find A Christmas Carol - £12.99 

Discover the world of Charles Dickens with Search & Find A Christmas Carol. The popular, magical story is retold in beautifully illustrated search & find pages where you can find the characters on the busy pages and follow them through the story. Each page is full of characters to find and details to spot in the busy scenes, such as Scrooge in his counting house, the arrival of Jacob Marley's ghost, the Fezziwig Christmas party and the Cratchit family at home on Christmas Day and many more.

Beautiful illustrations are accompanied by abridged text, perfect for sharing with little ones and introducing them to Charles Dickens' stories. 

One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundell - £14.99 

It's Christmas Eve and Theo - left at home with a babysitter - sees an odd-looking star out of his window and decides to make a wish.  He wishes that he had some friends to keep him company.  Moments later, the Christmas decorations begin to disentangle themselves from the tree behind him, ready to wreak a little havoc.....

Written with generous helpings of warmth and humour, this is a story about treasuring the people and values that really matter at this time of year from master storyteller and bestselling children's author Katherine Rundell. Emily Sutton's breathtaking illustrations perfectly capture the magic of Christmas in stunning detail.

Christmas Ideas: Children's Activity Books

Super Structures by Ian Graham - £14.99

From the Ancient Pyramids to the Eiffel Tower, get ready to take a close-up look at man-made structures. Super Structures is a unique interactive book that not only traces the history but also explores the science behind these incredible engineering feats. In addition, the book is accompanied by a model kit to make the different types of constructions and then conduct tests to see how they work!

The Kit includes a 48-page paperback book, pegboard and sturdy, card pieces, plus plastic nuts, bolts and string to make 10 structures.

I'm a Unicorn Hairdresser, illustrated by Karen Wolcott - £7.99

The first title in a unique new novelty series that features lovely hair that the reader can style! Create different hairstyles for your princess customer on every page by using the glittery plastic comb and hairbands. Will it be plaits or bunches today? A step-by-step guide will show you how to create the looks. 

A must-have interactive hairdresser novelty book that all aspiring little stylists will want, beautifully illustrated by Karen Wolcott.

Pirates Magnified by David Long, Harry Bloom - £14.99

Ahoy shipmate! Grab your magnifying glass and seek out history's most notorious pirates in this swashbuckling search-and-find adventure, packed with over 200 things to spot! 

Explore the lives of 10 real pirates and learn about life on the high seas, whilst using the free magnifying glass to spot more than 200 pirate-themed items in each eye-boggling illustration. Kids will have fun using the magnifying glass to search whilst learning about real life pirates in this seafaring adventure!

Nadiya's Bake Me a Festive Story by Nadiya Hussain - £14.99

Join Great British Bake Off sensation Nadiya Hussain for scrumptious stories and

delicious bakes that the family can enjoy together at Christmas. Christmas is a time when families come together. 

This unique combination of storybook and cookbook, with all recipes and stories devised and written by Nadiya herself, brings families into the kitchen to share this special time of year through cooking and stories.

• Go on an adventure to the Snow Queen's palace, then make her treacle icecream
• Make and decorate cheesy-feet biscuits, then read the story about where all the odd socks go at Christmas time
• Meet some very confused elves in The Elves and the Chouxmaker, then bake your own lemon choux buns- 
• Read Nadiya's version of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, then cook a scrumptious nut roast. 

Combining playful photography of Nadiya and her children with vibrant illustrations by Clair Rossiter, this glorious celebration of the joy of sharing food and stories is the perfect Christmas gift.